Gibbs, N. (2009, October 26). What Women Want Now. Retrieved October 24, 2009, from Time.com: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1930277_1930145_1930309-1,00.html
Recent class discussions interested me in finding out where sexism stands currently. This month Time magazine featured ‘The State of the American Woman’ and included many articles and statistics about men, women, society, and ‘The Quiet Revolution’. Time surveyed individuals to find out how they feel about gender issues.
Over this past generation, women have quietly worked their way into being equal or dominating in several professions and are being recognized for accomplishments in the professional world. Women are still not as successful in equality regarding pay and other financial related matters. Women say that men have it better in the work world while men say that women don’t have barriers in the workplace as they did in the past. Something I found very interesting is that men consider marriage very important to happiness while women no longer see marriage as necessary to financial security or having children. Marriages now share resolving life’s challenges together as a team. They are also sharing more duties in the home. Overall, men are more accepting of women having careers and shared roles at home. I interpreted this article as saying most men are really OK with this whole revolution, whereas women are the ones that are less happy with what is going on. Could it be that women are still searching for the balance between work and home since it is a relatively new combination of roles and men welcome sharing the stresses of life?
The battle of the sexes is over as far as social acceptance according to this article. Ambivalent sexism is no longer prevalent. Institutional issues still prevail and need to change with the times to provide financial equality for women. Modern life has created many new stresses for everyone. Men and women are affected by these stresses very differently. Women have gained freedom and power in this generation, but the stress involved is costing them their happiness. As life continues to change, we have to learn to change with it. While I am a thankful recipient of the advances in equality, this article left the devil’s advocate in me wondering…have we, as women, have created more stress for ourselves in striving to eliminate sexism and creating equality?
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I feel pretty stressed, let me tell ya.
ReplyDeleteI won't presume to know how every woman in the world feels but I will say this: I have a 15 month old son, I work full time, and I go to school full time. My boyfriend stays at home with our son and does most of the housework. As an individual, I love my job and I LOVE going to school. As a mom, I sometimes feel like I am shortchanging my son because I feel like he needs his mom more. He never has to go to daycare or anything but I don't think his dad's constant presence makes up for my lack of presence on a daily basis. I spend all of my free time with him yes, but I still wonder, almost every day, if I'm doing what's best for him and if the role I'm taking in his life is adequate for what a mom is "supposed" to be. Long story short, I battle with the notion that I should be at home cleaning, cooking, and just raising kids. I don't know why, my own mom has worked my whole life. Hmmm...