Thursday, January 26, 2012
I am a feminist, but that doesn’t mean I’ve burned all my bras or I hate men (ask my boyfriend). It doesn’t mean I believe we were all birthed from Mother Earth and somehow females are imminently superior to males. It doesn’t even mean I think we, as men and women, are inherently the same.
Like any life philosophy there are a hundred and one versions of feminism. In my mind, it’s pretty simple. Men and women are different. We experience society and culture and even heart attacks in different ways. Whether you believe in the science that says we think or feel differently, we are biologically dissimilar.
But as people, we’re equal. We deserve the same rights and the same opportunities. In this country, we’ve made enormous steps towards making that a reality beginning back in 1920. Here, unlike many countries, women have the vote. They can run for office. They can, and do, pursue higher education. They run businesses and raise families and they have legal rights to properties and children. In too many parts of the world, women are undervalued, disregarded, or abused. Women are ornaments, property, victims, or wards. They are aborted, beaten, enslaved, or oppressed. They often suffer the brunt of war, of tyranny, of violence.
So it’s easy to look at the U.S. and give ourselves a big pat on the back for having recognized women deserve better. And our accomplishments should be applauded and modeled.
But we must recognize our nation is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to women’s issues. As times progresses, issues become about more than suffrage or violence. They incorporate unpaid labor, discrimination in the workplace, sex trafficking, and single motherhood.
American women still earn less than American men, a lot less. Female veterans present new problems in terms of reintegration, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, unemployment, and homelessness. In the US, according to the Department of Justice, 25% of women experience domestic violence. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of American women have been raped at least once. In the US, families headed by single women constitute a significant portion of families living in poverty. Just twelve Fortune 500 companies are run by women. The United States House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, are 16.8% and 17% women. The US ranks 69th globally for percentage of women in government, tied with Turkmenistan. If you need to put this into perspective, Afghanistan ranks 30th in the world.
This is not a simple game of numbers. I’m not pushing for gender quotas in government or business because that’s a superficial solution to a much more complex problem. The problem isn’t necessarily that there aren’t equal numbers of men and women in positions of power. Male or female, any representative can advocate for a population of which he or she is not a member. The problem is that issues like those listed in the previous paragraph are messy and complex. They require analysis, evaluation, and then action. They’re not glamorous and they won’t be easy to solve, but if the US is to stake a claim as a global leader in women’s rights, they must be addressed.
— Danielle Onions is a junior in political science and women, gender, and sexuality studies from Shawnee.
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Comments
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
If you're not for quotas then why bring up the percentages? If you want more women to serve in office then convince more qualified women to go forth and campaign...and not just for the democrats. That is where the logic breaks down. Women want representation but only if it is in the democratic party. If you want to be in the GOP or conservative, hold on to your fannies because they are coming after you. Ask Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, or Condi Rice. I do have to ask you to rephrase that part about women bearing the brunt of war. Brunt being the main part and women bearing a secondary part. Believe me I know how tough it can be for a young woman to suddenly find herself a single parent and not knowing for some time the fate of her husband. War is still a man's area of responsibility though women are making inroads. I would like to hear the numbers on the wage differential between men and women. I don't think "a lot less" is very clear. Forbes says the current number is about 15.7% if that helps. http://www.forbes.com/sites/freekvermeulen/2011/02/28/wage-differences-between-men-and-women-sexist-or-functional/2/ I would call Ms. Onions a humanist instead of a feminist. The current crop of feminists leaders don't believe in a lot of that stuff Ms. Onions mentioned.
Oh, before some dumb *** makes a snarky comment that is not true, I have always believed that everyone should get paid the same for the same work and that goes way back before feminism.
FYI: some women got the vote before the 1920s. That was the right to vote according to federal law. Many western states had already given women the right to vote. Nellie Taloe Ross, of St. Joseph, MO, was the governor of Wyoming in 1924 after the death of her husband.
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
Thanks for the comments, Calvin. The percentages were included because they demonstrate a fact that many people don't realize, and likewise the comparison was included to put those numbers into perspective. I disagree wholeheartedly with your comment about women wanting representation only by Democratic women. I myself think Condi Rice was an excellent leader and continues to be a role model today. I also disagree with your claim that "they" will come after you if you are a female GOP member running for office. I assume you mean the media or perhaps the public, and is like to remind you of the hideous comments, attitudes, and actions faced by Democratic women like Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren. You may be correct about the use of the word "brunt," but I will not cede the fact that women suffer from war just as severely as men. Rape and torture have too long been used as tools of war, and women and children who are not on the battlefield still face the threat of death as civilians on a daily and nightly basis. And because they are often excluded from government, this war is very much not their own. Now, I will cede that I think you are thinking more in terms of American women at times of war while that comment was focused on women in developing nations. You are correct that I identify as a humanist, just as I identify as an American, a moderate, a Baptist, etc. But today I was not writing about those things. Again, thank you for the comments.
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
Calvin stole the words right out of my mouth. I believe equal work for equal pay, but statistics don't show that one might have the same position as a man, but the quality of work may be lacking. Let me be clear, I am not sexist by any means. But I have worked with women for a long time, and the quality of work by most, but not all women was lacking, so what is the incentive for the employer to give her a raise? Women love to complain about being discriminated against, but cannot handle when I man is critical of her work and reverts to calling him a sexist. Also, why do you fail to mention discrimination against men? Take a look at academia, I know countless women who have their grades improved simply because they go to their professor crying about a less than acceptable grade on a test, but if a does the same the professor says better luck next time. You cannot deny the fact that academia is geared toward women, and all she has to do is show weakness toward a professor and her grade will be fine. Equal rights are definitely important, however it should be equal on both ends. As for women holding positions of power, why do you fail to show the statistics of women WHO DONT WANT THE POSITION. Nobody is telling them they can't have it. Positions of power are earned, and if she puts in the work and whole hearted dedication she too can hold a position of power. Nobody looks at these women and says no you are a woman, you cannot be my boss. As far as rape and domestic abuse you are right on, it's disgusting and more should be done to help the victims and create awareness.
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
"Let me be clear, I am not sexist by any means. But I have worked with women for a long time, and the quality of work by most, but not all women was lacking."
I think I'm in love.
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
Mww7889, I think you are confusing this article with your own personal biases. What you are presenting is a scenario where an educator is academically dishonest. This, in my opinion is a completely different and less significant scenario than the one discussed in this article; women BY LAW earning less than men for the same work.
(If you are unfamiliar with this, I suggest you look up information on "Equal Pay Day," here: http://www.bpwfoundation.org/index.php/contact/info/equal_pay_day or here: http://www.pay-equity.org/day.html, and see hard and fast effects that the "equal work for equal pay" policy has had.)
You also have your facts wrong. Academia is definitely not geared toward women. In fact, traditionally, men are given more attention in academia than women. Males are generally coddled and disciplined more than females, especially in elementary classrooms. I think you should get your facts straight before you make that kind of assumption.
I also think you're wildly generalizing the idea of women in education and in general; that they can simply get what they want by crying. You're also assuming that women are CRYING to get what they want, instead of logically presenting reasons for a higher grade, the way, I'm guessing, you believe a man would. If your teachers are so sexist, maybe you should trying crying to them for a higher grade, and see if it works (or you could do the responsible thing and report said hypothetical teacher that is giving unfair grades).
Finally, I think you are misinterpreting the whole point of this article by using this scenario. The situation you've presented deals with a third party making the end-all decision. Women's rights is mine, your's, and everyone's issue, not a nameless third party who is proclaiming down that women will get less money than men. Our country is making these decisions every day. By playing along with the ideology that women make what they deserve you are enabling this vicious cycle.
To Danielle, I think you've doing a wonderful job highlighting the key points that feminists fight for. I work for a feminist organization on campus and I cannot tell you how happy it made me to see what I do in big bold letter in the center of the paper. Can't wait to read more by you.
-Rachel
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
"But I have worked with women for a long time, and the quality of work by most, but not all women was lacking, so what is the incentive for the employer to give her a raise?" Good lord.
"Also, why do you fail to mention discrimination against men? " Oh good God!
"You cannot deny the fact that academia is geared toward women, and all she has to do is show weakness toward a professor and her grade will be fine" JESUS CHRIST!
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
If you look at life inside a very narrowly defined focus then you can make a case that the US is not near the top of the list. I ask Ms. Onions (what is the source of that name?) which other country would you prefer to live in?
FYI, more rapes are reported by men (think prison population) than women. Rape is bad no matter who is the victim. Don't make it about sex alone.
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
Does the author saying that we as a society can do far better imply that she wants to move abroad? Love-it-or-leave-it is a pretty tired rhetorical device, don't you think?
Um, yeah, prison rape is bad, but where the heck are you getting the stat that there are overall more rape reports from men than women? And citing prison inmate rape isn't exactly a retort to her point about innocent women civilians "often" bearing the brunt of war, a completely reasonable statement. If I had to guess your middle name, I'd go with "Quibble."
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
I'm making the point (don't try to catch it, the point is over your head fiddleback) that women are not the only ones catching the short end. As much as I appreciate what she has written there is a little hyperventilation going on.
I never said anything about love it or leave it, you did fiddleback-b-bye. I asked where she would like to live if she wants to find more equality for women because her poll is a little skewed.
I think everyone else got that but you.
Onions: U.S. still has to work on becoming a world leader in women's issues
Yes, men in prison have it bad---another great moot point that's not so much a pop fly over anyone's head but more like another ground ball lazily rolling foul. Still waiting on that where you got that stat.
And it does really show how much you appreciate what she's written. I'm sure if she mentioned where she would consider moving, you'd offer her your sincerest hope that she stays, such a gentleman are you in all manner of discourse. Bravo.
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