As I read this I agree that this Men and Women equality issue should blossom. I no longer want to be a part of a community which man is the superior being or anyone in general if that matters. Everyone talks about teams and are on teams well, Why can't we all just work together as a team? A marriage or any relationship is close to the heart why would you want to degrade your spouse or someone which you love? There are many complaints about how women have been treated as less than men and until recent years women have actually gotten out of the old persona of being the suburban house wife. Religion once again interferes with everything. Many followers seek a way to explain life or be reborn. The day which we find true equality among all of our peers is when our country will find peace from within. I agree that women have had it tough throughout the years but hasnt everyone? The constitution our government was written by white, male, and religious men. The traditional values and morals have still not been forgotten in todays society. I am not saying religion is all bad but why live and dwell on the past when today is what is going to transform you into the person in the future? This is my favorite statement in the article given: “In entering upon the great work before us, we anticipate no small amount of misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule; but we shall use every instrumentality within our power to effect our object. We shall employ agents, circulate tracts, petition the State and national Legislatures, and endeavor to enlist the pulpit and the press in our behalf. We hope this Convention will be followed by a series of Conventions, embracing every part of the country.” This quote is inspirational and gives hop I believe to everyone to not give up. The tools to fix this problem have always existed it is up to a person or even better a team to come together and resolve these disputes not just on man vs. Women. Why do people say mankind? This is not just a man’s world it is everyone who makes this world a world. Either good or bad everyone has a place in society.
Here are some interesting websites which contribute to this cause:
Paper I wrote :
Equality among the Sexes
By
Teshia Cates
Thomas College, Waterville Maine
Introduction:
“The problem that has no name”. - (Betty Friedan) Betty Friedan was a stay at home mom that gave up her life as a journalist to care of her children. “Friedan helped establish The National Organization for Women, National women’s political caucus in 1973, National Abortion Rights Action League, and was asked to address the First National Conference for the repeal of Abortion Laws”(‘In Our Own Words’,p.288). She was an activist for women’s rights but also she cared about equality for both sexes. Her revolution in the making was to get rid of the suburban household wife persona and create equality for both sexes. I am very sympathetic to her ideals because I myself want to pursue my own career and be financially stable; before I start having children. I do not believe people should start thinking of children till they are financially stable enough to support one. Accidents do happen if certain precautions are not taken. Life is a crazy rollercoaster and you never know what is going to be thrown your way. True equality among the sexes will create peace and generate a new profound love.
Denigration and Stereotyping
To continue, Denigration of men and women ruins a relationship. Denigration means to treat someone as lacking value or importance. Men tend to sometimes resent women because they are struggling to keep up with the masculant persona of being the hunter and gatherer. The stress you could only imagine to keep up with all the bills and taking care of your wife and children is immense. On the other hand, Women have it hard taking care of children, some examples of a traditional household wife are: preparing meals, shopping/ budgeting, getting kids ready for school, cleaning house, keeping up with the lawn, and helping children with their academics. As you can see there are several jobs in being a stay at home mom. Being a mother is not every one’s dream job or destiny some are destined to become entrepreneurs, big business leaders, law enforcement officials, and the list goes on. Referring to the older generation- “They learned that truly feminine women do not want careers, higher education, political rights, the independence and the opportunities that the old fashioned feminists fought for.”(‘The Feminine Mystique’, p. 16) Jealousy arises and thrives to weaken the relationship and possibly diminish because of the resentment towards each other. “Women to be rewarded by being self- determined people liberated to creativity beyond motherhood to a full human creativity” (‘In Our Own Words’, p.288).
Continuing Stereotyping and the physical differences between the sexes and why men tend to get more strenuous jobs
Furthermore, women are regarded as sex figures that are put on a pedestal and left in the safety of their home, which their partner who has provided for her. If women were to not be put on this pedestal and given the choice to be the bread winner; I do believe stress would slowly drift away, in result jealousy and resentment would disappear only leaving the love they have for one another and the comfort to rely on each other would reunite and make each other one and sympathetic to both sides. “She does not know who she is herself. She waits all day for her husband to come home at night to make her feel alive. Now it is the husband that is not interested. It is terrible for the women, to lie there, night after night, waiting for her husband to make her feel alive.” (‘The Feminine Mystique’, p.29) Women tend to feel vulnerable, unwanted, and unappreciated due to the every day burdens that a man undergoes being the provider. Men that are stay at home dads go through this to. The stress and pressures from the workplace are brought home leaving resentment and conflicts between the couple. Having two incomes, communication skills, and better time management skills a lot of stress would be relieved. This approach would be very beneficial to a healthy relationship for the whole family or couple.
Giving women the choice of being out in the workforce gives them pride and excitement in life to do all they can do and be all they can be. Staying at home all day bores them and the only excitement is to see their spouse and talk to them about their day. Women enjoy sexual pleasure just as much as men do and maybe more why should women be thought of as sexual beasts that uses seduction to persuade our partners. Why does sex mix up emotions and always seem to leave women wanting more and UN satisfaction always lingering?
Full time motherhood and fatherhood would be a choice between the couple and not expected upon an individual because of traditional values that have been passed on through the influence of religion and family values.
Opinions from couples in the Working Environment
“Yes equality and the choice among sexes would improve a relationship tremendously but that is if the women want to do the motherhood role or not” (Rebecca Cameron). “I disagree with the stereotype that men should be the hunter and gatherer: it depends on the couple’s status if they just have a child it is a biological fact that a child needs its mother. I think everything should be equal and planned out with the couple and what suits them.” (Matt Walker).
“If women are the stay at home housekeeper then it totally relieves the men of the household chores. Men in the working world can make more money than women because it is proven because men have more testosterone and strength in average than women does to do strenuous jobs which tend to pay more. For example, logging, carpentry, crab fishing, and masonry; are all jobs men over populate.”(Jacob Morrison). “The idea of being a man is to support your family and having your wife help support makes me feel belittled that I am not doing enough for my family. Stereotypes may not be a good attribute to the overall population but that is what people generalize each other into. I am 6’10 therefore stereotypes is an everyday thing for me one can thrive off a stereo type but it can also degrade my self -esteem because I am looked at as the big strong guy or the big mean giant. Being a strong man, jobs can happen very easily for me practically falling in my lap. Working in the public for example, fast food many people would be intimidated by me. In return I most likely would not be the guy for the job. That is where the double standard kicks in. Women, now days have control of the workforce and swing both ways being a mother and also a provider.” (Jacob Morrison).
“My boyfriend does not like how much I work, but I have to be able to support myself through school and any financial troubles that might swing my way . I on many occasions resent my boyfriend for only having to work and to come home. I work full time, go to school five days a week, and try to find time to be with him after I do my school work . Jealousy does arise often of our roles and results in many disputes. I accept that in order to keep our lifestyle going that I need to be more sympathetic and to ask for help when needed. After all in a relationship you work together to get through those tough times”(Teshia Cates).
Summary
In a broad sense this subject can go many ways. One way is that the men can be the sole provider or that a woman can be that and more. This subject is one that has no name because there is no real solution. This is based on individuals more than groups. People have many attributes to bring to a relationship that others do not have. To exemplify this, would be that a person could be scared of bats and the other is not so they can go to the attic and turn on the breaker. (this is what happens, when I use the blow dryer and am scared to go in the attic) No one is perfect everyone has fears or insecurities and sometimes they are not tangible enough to fix so that hinders one from completing a task, but if you have a partner to help, it accomplishes and gives them a sense of being. Everyone in this world either man or women has a place for themselves, nothing can disturb ones dream if their mind body and soul is set upon it. Life is what you make of it and if gender bias continues the world will never live up to its full potential of being untied and reliant on others to give up their pride to receive help from others; for the better being.
Betty Friedan inspired me to think of the alternatives and to not be gender bias. She has shown me that true equality is something that can be acquired through self- determination, hard work, and to be humble enough to let someone else do the job. Motherhood is not for everyone and sometimes abortion is necessary for individual growth to strive for a better life, to someday provide for a child and raise them with the right values and opportunities that you yourself could never dream of. Will this problem ever be addressed or just buried in the soil that consists of lust, motherhood, and unfairness for both sexes? Will the gender barrier that has been built brick by brick over the years ever be shattered, or will couples continue to be tattered and torn by the stereotypical gender bias world which devours all? I leave you with these questions to ponder upon.
References
Bibliography
Friedan, B. (1963). The Feminine Mystique. New York: George J. Mcleod.
Goodwin, S. R. (1999). In Our Own Words. New York: Kodansha America, Inc.
Interviews
Rebecca Cameron, (2010, October 19) Night Manager, Burger King Corporation
Matt Walker, (2010, October 19) head of Drive-Thru, Rebecca’s boyfriend, Burger King Corporation
Jacob Morrison, (2010, October 19) Logger, Morrison Logging, my boyfriend
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