American girls and women living in today's society enjoy so many advantages compared to women 100 years ago. We can vote, own property and hold the same jobs as men. As grateful as I am for these accomplishments, I refuse to consider the feminist movement over and worth only a few paragraphs in history textbooks. We still have a long way to go, girls.
The need for a feminist movement isn't over, it has just changed. Feminism is defined as a movement to gain equal legal, political, social and cultural rights for women. Women gained equal legal rights, but stereotypes and double standards live on. Now, more than ever, is when feminism needs support. Struggling to gain equal legal rights was not easy, but at least there were clear goals that could be accomplished, such as gaining support to pass equal right laws. Now that we have all the laws, it's harder to set and accomplish measurable goals. Congress can't pass a law forcing men to stop treating women as sex objects. What is needed is people dedicated to spreading awareness about the need for social change regarding the way women are portrayed and treated.
The problem is that most of today's young women are far from being proud feminists. They consider the struggle for gender equality to be over and don't want to be grouped with a bunch of radical, hairy, homosexual, bra-burning, bitchy, man-hating feminists. The fact that women who believe in equal rights are stereotyped so negatively is reason enough to consider a need for more support of feminism.
Many people are not aware that discrimination still takes place. Women are still facing some of the same types of discrimination that they were 30 years ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that in 1979, women working full time earned 63% as much as men. In 2002 women working full time earned 80% as much as men. This is progress, but we're obviously still not where we should be, and most people don't even know that the unfairness still exists.
Here is my view of what today's feminist movement should be like. It is more based on fighting for social equality and to end stereotypes and double standards than it is about fighting for legal rights. Today's feminists have more in common with, and can join forces with, other minorities. Blacks technically have equal rights just like women do, but they are also still discriminated against. Today's feminist should be concerned with equality for all people. Women need to demand to be treated equally and to be as open with their sexuality as men are. I will be very happy the day when women aren't considered sluts for having casual sex while men are high-fived for the same behavior. People need to understand that women and men are different, so are naturally going to be treated somewhat differently. The gap just needs to be narrowed. People need to be educated about the biological and psychological differences between men and women, and learn to respect each other for the differences.
I don't want to hear someone else say, "Well you feminists can't have it both ways. You want to be equal but you get mad if men don't hold doors open for you or pay for your dinner." I won't lie and tell you that I don't enjoy when men are chivalrous, but it doesn't mean that I require it. I'm fine with opening my own doors and I often pay for my own dinner, but I am also psychologically different from a man. Women do like to be treated well. It doesn't mean we deserve to be treated as the weaker sex.
Just stop using the word "feminist" like it's such a bad thing. The movement isn't over, it has just changed. Feminists have changed. They don't bite, I swear. At least not most of them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This is a great topic of debate. I really respect your opinions, and again I just can't help but agree with all of them. If I see another music video with women hanging all over men (the ratio usually being 8 “biotches” to 1 player/pimp), in less than a yard of clothing, I really think I’m going to puke. Or at least remain angry about the way in which woman are portrayed in some forms of media. I also am sick of woman being held up on a pedestal in the media as if they are pretty objects to look at, and only pretty objects to look at. Yes, I understand beauty and I think it’s great for woman to look pretty on television. But seriously, If you are going to cast some actress and 'make her all up' to some super-model while she is doing house work, or 'conquering the kids, husband, and corporate job' at least give her some intelligent dialogue. Anyways I'll stop now, ha-ha. Great post!
I really agree. I am not scared to say i'm a feminist, you don't have to be a bra burning hippie to want women to be respected and treated as equals in society. Todays culture doesn't help though. I wish girls had more positive role models to look to. Brittney spears and Paris hilton aren't doing the job! great post!
Post a Comment