The past few weeks we have discussed the family life and career aspect of women. Although most of my fellow classmates thought these chapters were boring, I liked them. I think that it is interesting to see how far we have come and how far we still have to go.
While talking to several other students, it was great to find out that most have the same desire for equality. Although, the occasional few that don't are the ones that scare me. I don't understand why people are so opposed to being called or even linked to a feminist? Other than the upper class white male, who would oppose? Why is it that being called a feminist a negative thing? Why is it that society views feminists as bitchy, pushy, etc? I hope that in the future people will be proud to be called a feminist, I sure am!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Advances and setbacks for women
In today's society we, as women, are more capable of having a career than in the past. However, with the vast achievements in making careers easier for women to have, there are plenty of disadvantages.
In the 1960s, the U.S. was going through a political and social war basically. In this time two extremely important Acts were passed to help women succeed in the workplace. The first was the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal to openly pay a women less just because she was a woman. next was he Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, that said gender can not be used in criterion in employment except where there is a "bona fide occupational exception". These acts did help tremendously, but the disadvantages and backlash were far worse. The continuity of sexual harassment still occurred as well as gender segregation. In the gender segregation, terms such as the glass ceiling, glass elevator, and glass precipe started to form.
With such terrible setbacks in the workplace it is no wonder that it became so hard for women to achieve success. Not only were women penalized for being female they also were paid less. Still today women make 76 cents to the man's dollar. Since it is still an uphill battle for women to achieve equality, especially in the career world, we must not forget that we deserve these rights like men do. No matter what gender you are you should be able to achieve the highest success possible. If we continue to strive for success, we can eventually overcome this oppression.
In the 1960s, the U.S. was going through a political and social war basically. In this time two extremely important Acts were passed to help women succeed in the workplace. The first was the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal to openly pay a women less just because she was a woman. next was he Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, that said gender can not be used in criterion in employment except where there is a "bona fide occupational exception". These acts did help tremendously, but the disadvantages and backlash were far worse. The continuity of sexual harassment still occurred as well as gender segregation. In the gender segregation, terms such as the glass ceiling, glass elevator, and glass precipe started to form.
With such terrible setbacks in the workplace it is no wonder that it became so hard for women to achieve success. Not only were women penalized for being female they also were paid less. Still today women make 76 cents to the man's dollar. Since it is still an uphill battle for women to achieve equality, especially in the career world, we must not forget that we deserve these rights like men do. No matter what gender you are you should be able to achieve the highest success possible. If we continue to strive for success, we can eventually overcome this oppression.
Equal Partnership
As it is true in many households, there is an imbalance between partner's household work. For the majority of people, it is usually the women who end up working the "double shift". Although this has been common throughout history, I think the time has come to break away from this unfair tradition. The work among a household should be equally divided up. The ideal of equal partnership should be practiced in every household no matter what the employment circumstances are. Although one (or both) of the household members work outside of the home should not determine who receives the majority of household work. Now that women have more economical freedom, we should be able to have a career, a family if so desired, and not have to perform all of the chores at home as well. If equal partnership was the social norm, then there would most likely be less stress on the women as well as a more enjoyable life. Not only would it make women more happy, but also make the other household members lives more fulfilling.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
A Feminist and still Pro-Life?
It is not hard decision for me, but for some it may be. I firmly believe that you can not truly be a feminist and be a pro-life supporter.
I can personally say that I am a feminist who supports pro-choice. I do not understand or know for that matter, how people can say they are a feminist and pro-life. One of the main principles in being a feminist is to support equal rights for women. So agreeing that abortion is wrong because the fetus does not have rights, is saying that you do not care about the rights of the woman. Why is it that the pregnant woman has less rights than the unborn fetus? Why is our society so fixated on the idea that the fetus has the right to life, why not the woman? It just doesn't make since, the women should have more rights. It is there body, they should be able to choose what is best for them. I do not believe that your could possibly be a supporter of pro-life and honestly say that you are a feminist.
I can personally say that I am a feminist who supports pro-choice. I do not understand or know for that matter, how people can say they are a feminist and pro-life. One of the main principles in being a feminist is to support equal rights for women. So agreeing that abortion is wrong because the fetus does not have rights, is saying that you do not care about the rights of the woman. Why is it that the pregnant woman has less rights than the unborn fetus? Why is our society so fixated on the idea that the fetus has the right to life, why not the woman? It just doesn't make since, the women should have more rights. It is there body, they should be able to choose what is best for them. I do not believe that your could possibly be a supporter of pro-life and honestly say that you are a feminist.
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