Feminism is alive, well and still needed (And blah blah blah)

Mpls (red)Star Tribune ^ | 5/7/03 | Jennifer L. Pierce

[Valin]

Almost 20 years after the creation of the University of Minnesota's Center for Advanced Feminist Studies, it is worth reflecting on why we still need feminism today.

When I teach undergraduates about the history of women and work in the United States, I often tell them the story about Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. When she graduated from Stanford Law School in the early 1960s with a distinguished academic record, no law firm was willing to hire her except as a legal secretary. While some of my students respond with disbelief about this fact, most are convinced that this kind of discrimination against women no longer exists. Everything is better now, one young woman announced to my class. In response, an older (nontraditional) student raised her hand and said, "Just wait 'till you get your first job, honey -- then you'll see how hard it really is."

[dark_lord]

At the same time, sex segregation in the United States persists: Most women and most men work in jobs that are considered respectively "women's work" or "men's work." For instance, more than 90 percent of clerical workers in this country are women, while more than 90 percent of truck drivers are men.

And of course this has nothing to do with the fact that most women want to go home at night and see their kids, and will tailor their job occupations around that. Nor does it have anything to do with clerical work being the most flexible, the easiest to find after taking time off to have a baby, or anything like that. Nope. Must be sex discrimination.

[Mears]

I'm a woman with many years behind me and as far as I'm concerned the feminist movement has made it tougher on women,not easier.This is especially true of women with children.

I see how hard my daughters and daughter-in-law work and I'm glad I was in the pre feminist era when raising my family.

We had far less material things but basically life was simpler.

[Desdemona]

There's a few things the feminists, in their quest for glamour and glory, seem to forget. One is that women still, in order for there to be more women, MUST give birth and raise the children. This is time-consuming and expensive. It is a gift a blessing and a virtue to be a good mother (and those of us who have aspirations of being mothers get ticked off when we read stories like this). Motherhood is a vital job, far moreso than some high paying professions out there.

The other is that women used to, when they were full-time homemakers, have a tremendous number of skills. And survival skills at that. Thanks to feminism, a lot of that is gone. It wasn't glamorous, but women knew how to cook a meal from scratch, sew their own clothes, etc. Not all women's skills were as good as others and some had natural abilities in traditionally male fields, but there was no reason to disparage "women's work." Cooking and sewing are actually rewarding, IMO. The food is good and the clothes fit.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Valin]

One is that women still, in order for there to be more women, MUST give birth and raise the children. This is time-consuming and expensive.

Really? Well that explains why mom was always cooking and washing clothes, cleaning the house. And why dad always seem to be working. :-)

[goodnesswins]

I guess the "feminist" who wrote this doesn't think women who stay at home "work" or do anything of value. (They aren't paying into SS or Federal Taxes, so I guess they don't count.) A little commie claptrap ..... from the mouth of the beast itself....of Minnesota's Center for Advanced Feminist Studies. I'm 52, and old enough to have done it all: worked, stayed at home, gone to school, been a single mom, etc.....and this woman is FOS...

[rambo316]

To all feminazis--

Why don't you go over to the middle east and fight for womens' rights. In the middle east, women have to still where burqas to not show their faces. And God forbid they show a smile or show some other expression on their faces because if they do, they get slapped or beaten by their male slave masters.

[Samwise]

When I was in college, Gloria Steinem said to our women's conference, "The women's movement will be successful when incompetent women hold positions of authority--like men do."

Look around.

The women's movement is no longer about knocking down barriers; it is about a leftist agenda that promotes mediocrity instead of excellence.

[honeygrl]

I guess the "feminist" who wrote this doesn't think women who stay at home "work" or do anything of value

You would be surprised at how many women think staying home with the kids is not work. Even many women who have had kids think that. My mom has made many comments about me not working. I stay home with a 2yr old and a 6mth old (that I'm still breastfeeding) and I know that I do more in a day than someone sitting behind a desk. My job is more rewarding that a desk job too. Luckily I have a husband that prefers I stay home and thinks it's great that I like it. Of course, he still thinks his 8 hour a day desk job is more exhausting than my 24 hour a day home job.

[jimt]

This is nothing more than self-aggrandizement.

She'd hate to admit that her department, and its "studies" are meaningless divisive BS.

Most exotic dancers are female. They make more money than me. Waaaaa ! I'm going to file a discrimination complaint.

[Valin]

why does she not try actually working in them

Because she's much to smart and good to sully her hands with actual labor. Besides if she did that she wouldn't have time to tell us how bad things are, and how evil men are.
Any similarity between the academy and the real world is purely coincidental.

[firebrand]

I think I know what she means.

[onedoug]

Feminists want Bubba.

[wbill]

Any similarity between the academy and the real world is purely coincidental......if I had a nickel for every time that I've said that.....

I thought that feminism was all about choice. If women choose to be CEO's, good. If they choose to be homemakers, I think that it's good, but I think most feminists would disagree with me.

From my own personal experience, my wife is the smartest woman that I've ever known. She holds a master's degree in education, and eventually will have her PhD. Regardless of her qualifications, she works in child care, because it's what she enjoys, and my work (computers) allows us the financial flexibility so that she can pursue what she wants.

To me, that's what feminism is all about.

[Samwise]

My older sister went against the tide in 1970. She was actually the first woman at her newspaper to return to work after having a baby. Personnel had no clue on how to handle the leave or the return. Her mother-in-law actually got into a big argument with her about deserting her baby to go back to work.

The irony is that in 1992, I went against the tide by staying home with my baby. People make rude comments and act as though I'm not pulling my weight because I'm an at-home mom. Then they want favors from me, because I don't work. (I freelance, but that doesn't count.)

I used to think I mught go back to work after the kid got older, but I see what the other kids in the neighborhood do after school. No Way.

No body ever went to their grave wishing they'd spent more time at the office.

[ClearCase_guy]

I often tell them the story about Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. When she graduated from Stanford Law School in the early 1960s ...

Feminism is still relevant, and here's a story from 40 years ago to show you why ...

[Samwise]

At the time, she had a point. Women just weren't able to achieve any level of success in most fields. If you had a female doctor, you knew she was brilliant because women just couldn't get into med school, law school, etc.

However, my point was that the barriers have been broken and feminists have refused to declare victory.

Merit has been replaced by quotas. When I was young, I wanted an equal shot at success--based on ability. Quotas promote mediocrity--a goal of the Left.

[Samwise]

My job is more rewarding that a desk job too.

Nobody ever went to their death bed wishing they had spent more time at the office. :^)