Recently my English teacher has become obsessed with convincing my class to follow feminist beliefs and I can't help but think this is completely ridiculous! He wants us to know how hard it is for women to get along in today's society and how much we need to keep fighting for our rights. Now, I am a girl and I've spent my whole life growing up in America and witnessing how how women have progressed in society. We are business women, artist, teachers, doctors, scientist, everything and anything we want to be. It's hardly a manner of sex anymore, it's all about talent and connections. In my opinion 21st century feminists are a dying breed and those that do exist are simply trying to cause trouble. Everyone has a right to their opinion, the right to speak out against what is wrong; but who has a right to say that just because we are women, we are weak, or overly emotional, or constantly searching for a way to reach the same equality level as men? It may be my unique school, or great variety of friends but I have never felt oppressed or treated unfairly by others simply because I'm a girl. Feminism was certainly a powerful thing back in the 1920's and it has brought us into a greater and more acceptable world, but it's hardly an issue anymore.
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.....studies have show for one that a women with a bachlors degree makes less than a man with a high school diploma...thats not about skill. saying sexism doesn't occur is like saying rasim no longer exists.
Yup you're right, sexism, along with racism, will never be erased. But you're only looking on one side of the coin. If a guy declares that he is completely adept in all of the things that women are particularly good at, there will always be women who say that he is not as good as them in those areas because he's a man. I'm not saying that you think that way. Anyways, there's a real biological difference in men and women's brains which cause them to be different and be better adapted to certain types of skills. I'm all for equal rights between everyone, no matter what gender.
-Cheez Out-
Those "real" brain differences between men and women are not concrete. They are only general, and between genders there is great variety in what a single person's brain is more adept at. Below is a link to a test that can tell you whether you brain is more typically "male" or "female".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/add_user.shtml
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
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I think you should take into account how feminism can be different into today's society. Look at abortion. That is a feminist movement. Obviously we aren't fighting for the right to vote, and by no means have I felt supressed by society due to my gender, but some things are a bit skewed. Women have made great strides, but just because we aren't opressed here doesn't mean the same is for other countries. I think we should take full advantage of the liberties given to us that a lot of women are lacking around the world.
There is really not as large a need for an Elizabeth Cady Stanton or a Betty Freidan, but right now, though I think the feminist movement is lessening, we do still have some rights and responsibilities to sort out.
-- Amber
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/akoenig
Women are subject to discrimination in the US, but it's simply more subtle then it has been in the past (though post-Ledbetter, I don't know how much longer it will have to remain subtle). As long as such discrimination does exist, there will always be the need for a Cady Stanton or 10.
"We cannot redeem evil, we must combat it." -- Jean Paul Sartre
I agree with you. Perhaps women aren't directly discriminated against in the U.S. at this time. The author is very lucky she hasn't been shamed or harassed or prevented from doing what she wants to do just because she a girl.
But today, there are many problems that plague women directly, although the consequences affect all of society. The feminization of poverty, lack of affordable, adequate childcare, rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse are all problems that feminists are working to alleviate.
But they are plenty of instances of discrimination and oppression of women in other countries, which feminists in this country can help with.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
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Although I would argue that Ledbetter demonstrates that women are still directly discriminated against in the United States, they are just discriminated against in ways which are not obvious unless you look into the issue or experience it first-hand. Consequently, we still need to focus our attention here rather than assuming the problem solved -- or even mostly solved -- we should keep attempting to fix it as if it weren't.
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"We cannot redeem evil, we must combat it." -- Jean Paul Sartre
Out in the real world. Sexism still exists, we just choose to pretend that it doesn't. The same is true for racism. For proof of the former, I suggest that you read Justice Ginsburg's dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear.
"We cannot redeem evil, we must combat it." -- Jean Paul Sartre
thanks for your views. I feel like I haven't really expressed my idea clearly though. I in no way meant to say that women are not being oppressed or abused to subjects of sexism any more. I just find it ridiculous that in high school they are trying to teach us something that isn't true: that the second I graduate and go into the "real world" I'm automatically going to struggle and be persecuted directly for being a woman. Society isn't perfect, thats obvious, but the whole world isn't as cruel and violent to specifically women as is taught to us every day.
A wise man once said "I don't know ask a girl."
*Emily*
I'm glad that you're lucky enough to never had been beaten, raped, sexually abused, sexually harassed, or called a slut or a whore just because you had sex or hooked up with a guy. I'm glad that you've never been on a girl's sports team that had to play on the shitty field or use the old equipment, because the boys team got the good ones. I'm glad you've never been told that "Boys will be boys" so you should just excuse or ignore them. I'm glad you've never been told that you should be "nice and kind" and not complain or speak out because that's what girls are supposed to do.
Because all of those things, those things that apparently have never happened to you are sexist and wrong. But I guess you're just lucky then, because all those things make me angry.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
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I think you are right. I spend alot of time in the "real" world. I don't see women being treated unfairly. The feminist movement is dead and as you said with the exception of the few who are troublemakers. I hate feminism personally.
I personally enjoy having my man pay for meals and I like the fact that he is stronger than me. I like to have the door opened for me. I do enjoy the fact that I can vote. I am thankful for that. But there is no issue today that the old fashioned feminist needs to stand up for.
I believe we are equal as humans. men and women have proven that they can do an equally good job at whatever it is they decide to do.
I personally think men can be just as emotional as women.
~Heather
You haven't lived until you come live amongst our redneck men and culture down heah in the South. Then you'll be proud enough to claim 'discrimination'!!
I'm from Texas, I know what it's like to live down south, and trust me it's not as bad as everyone might think. And another thing, we don't wear cowboy hats and we are not all rednecks. I hate stereotypes and you can't say that just because someone lives down south or in the ghetto or any where particular that they are going to know the world better or less than anyone else.
A wise man once said "I don't know ask a girl."
*Emily*
I agree with you for the most part, but we do have to take in an overall view and think about other countries. The women in the US are doing fine, but what about other countries? Unfortunately, there is still a lot of harsh treatment against women.
http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/00women3.htm
This is a link to a list of some women who have served as prime ministers. I thought everyone might find this interesting, because it supports both sides. On one hand, most of them are from countries other than the U.S. so other countries are certainly progressing at a pretty good rate. But then, how many female presidents have there been? there aren't that many congresswomen or female senators either, so maybe we aren't doing as well as we thought.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711