Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman ...

final essay two

Final Essay Two
What is Feminism?

Feminism is defined in different words by different people. The movement is viewed as good by some and as the most detrimental action against women ever. You both agree with it and love it or you are adamantly against it. The definitions to the word feminism are as varied.
The Encarta Dictionary; belief in women’s rights, belief in the need to secure rights and opportunities for women equal to those of men, or a commitment to securing these rights. A feminist is a woman who peruses these rights. The text book had several other definitions this is a favorite one “Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.” (Cheris Kramerae, The F Word p. 1) There are others and some of them will be covered in this essay.
The Women’s Movement started in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Women began to push for the right to vote. They were feeling that surely if the black man received the vote, that surely the women would also, this did not happen and it was many years and a long extended fight for the ladies to finally get the vote in 1920. It appears that to change the minds of men is a most difficult and evolved process. It is amazing how very stubborn and set in their ways they can be, even when proven that there is a better way, they hold on to traditions and “it’s the way it has always been done” attitude. During this first wave of feminism the emphases was almost entirely on the right to Vote. Just getting this done took approximately 80years. It is amazing that prohibition, which was more designed to take away man’s pleasures, than women’s voting was took much less time to get done. But, when one considers that prohibition did not last long, perhaps the long struggle for emancipation for women’s vote was for the best in the long run; because we still have the right to vote. It would make a great impact on political policies if the young women of today would exercise that right. During the second wave of feminism the main focus was on equality in the workplace and for the right to get an adequate education in order to be able to fill the better high-level jobs with women. We did not want all the top jobs, just a fair share. The second wave achieved some head way but there is still so much to be accomplished.
This third wave is left with the tremendous job of completing what the second brought to light. Equality for everyone is quit a job assignment. In this world of racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression, the third wave must do the impossible; finish what the second wave started.
Gender must be studied and understood, sexual preferences must be allowed, racism must be eradicated, equal pay must be the norm, paid leaves for pregnancies must be made available on the job, battered families must cease to happen, women and men should have the right to chose if a child is to be born (birth control should be free and abortions should be a free choice), and so many more issues.
It is amazing that the one word feminism and its movement includes the battles to solve the issues listed above, but it does and will more than likely take on more as time passes. How will women manage to solve these issues witch directly affect them in one way or another is left hidden in the future, but solve them they will. Women are not ones to easily stop and lest an issue die, they will keep at the makers of the laws and at the need for education children from pre-school up in how to treat each other in a fair and equal way. It will not be done over night, but some day, perhaps, there will be equality and peace between the races and the sexes.
The best way for women today to battle the issues of feminism is through politics. They must get involved and voting is the start of becoming involved with the community and the government. The power that a united woman’s movement would have is enormous. The politicians do not pay attention small groups, but a very large enough number of people will be heard and headed, especially if their jobs are threatened.
Homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexuals. If they chose to take on all the problems, as well as the pleasures of marriage, they should be able to have that choice. If children are a part of family, why should the privacy of the bedroom have a part in the right to have kids or not? Children by the hundred come to those who do not want them. So, why deny them to those who do want them?
Sexual freedom is another of the second wave issues and thought had been achieved with the right to abortions passed and the pill in production and available. But it seems that it is still a very large problem. Being with someone we chose is a basic liberty. “The Pursuit of Happiness” this should not be an issue for the government or anyone outside to be involved with. It is personal and should be a private matter. A worse issue is battering.
Battering has always been a part of man’s history. There are men who have the need to beat upon persons who are weaker than they. Whether it’s a man/woman beating children, a husband beating his wife, beating another person is wrong and should not, must not be tolerated.
Laws preventing this are not effective and must be made so that the punishment for battering is greater that the persons need to beat. Usually the beating is to control the other, so if the law punishment is really harsh, perhaps the satisfaction of beating will not be worth the punishment and it will stop. There has to be a way to keep children and women and men safe from loved one hurting them. Education is another way to assist in stopping abuse. Education for all involved in the situation will help and ongoing check-ups for those who have been battered or were batters may keep it from reoccurring.
Feminism needs to be published in all Medias. There should be movies, newspaper ads and articles, T.V. news items, and other means of getting the message out. If necessary, perhaps the protest movements can be reinstituted. Anything to bring attention to the needs and issues women face in today world. Women must take an active and productive role in the future. Quoting Bell Hooks “While visionary feminist thinkers have understood our need for a broad-based feminist movement, one that addressed the needs of girls and boys, women and men, across class, we have not produced a body of visionary feminist theory written in an accessible language or shared through oral communication.” And she continues with “Most people in our society do not have a basic understanding of feminism; they cannot acquire that understanding from a wealth of diverse material, grade school-level primers, and so on, because this material does not exist.” (Feminism is for Everybody p.112) This is very good advice and should be followed up by every woman and man who believes in equality and the fair treatment of our citizens. The white upper class women have always been the leaders of the movement. It is now for other women, women of color, to take the lead and push for equality in their own right.
Not alone, but along with the white woman, whether she is rich or poor, joined together women would be a driving unstoppable force. Personally I would love to see the peace protests resumed and end this endless war and to promote the women’s issues again. Women made a difference in the past; there is no reason except the lack of interest, for them not to make a difference in the future.
“Because feminism is a movement to end sexism and sexist domination and oppression, a struggle that includes efforts to end gender discrimination and create equality, it is fundamentally a radical movement.” (Bell Hooks, FIFE, p.113) This is my favorite definition of feminism and one I can associate myself with. I have always been on the radical side and the fighting for simple equality and freedom is one I have always pursued. There is no doubt that I am a feminist and will die one. I wish I was able to be as active as I once was, because the job is not done and the movement needs to be pushed, enlivened, and the young women of today have so much more to offer and to gain by being involved with the policies that will affect their and their daughters in the future. If I could bring to them some of the feelings and enthusiasm of the seventies I would do so, but how I don’t know. They hold not only the future of feminism, but the history as well in their hands. It is with prayer and hope that I hope they will not let it die a slow death of neglect and loose the hard gained progress Women’s Lib has gained over the last one hundred and fifty or so years.

final essay one

Final Essay One
Readings;

The five readings that will be reviewed and this essay are White Privilege and Male Privilege by Peggy McIntosh; Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher; The Will to Change: Man, Masculinity, and Love by Bell Hooks; Fresh Lipstick by Linda M. Scott; and The Opt-Out Revolution by Lisa Belkin. These readings brought to the reader insight into many of the issues which continue to be unresolved and of great importance to the feminist movement. Each of these readings approached one or more of the inequalities and suppressions of women that are continuing unresolved issues of today. It is the intention of this essay to explain the main thesis of each article and how they work together in showing how much of the issues facing the third wave of the women’s movement are still unresolved and requiring the attention of all young women of today.
The fight for equality and the freedom to choose one’s own pathway in life started many years ago by women fighting for the right to vote. In reality they were fighting for the recognition of being human with all the rights that entailed. They achieved the vote, but did not gain the equality of being a reasoning human being. Women remained constrained by social and traditional boundaries which limited their roles to those occupations which were considered proper for the ‘weaker sex’ that being ‘women’s work’ such as stay at home mothers, teachers, waitresses, nurses, and the other womanly work.
In White Privilege and Male Privilege by McIntosh the privileges of being male were demonstrated by revealing some of the rights that are so taken for granted that most are totally unaware that everyone does not have these ordinary rights. The really surprising things she had to explain were the rights of being white. Some of these privileges are so common place that it was difficult to realize that they were actually a privilege. These rights were everyday happenings that when explained in the terms of privileges those of us who are white were quite surprised to realize that we were unconsciously being racist and suppressive of others. To quote McIntosh “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege….I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was “meant” to remain oblivious.” She lists forty-six ways whites enjoy privileges over other races. They range from being able to find and share ideas with people of the white race anywhere at any time. To being able to find employment, entrance into schools, and to finding housing in any part of the country without difficulty and harassment these are a few of the white privileges mentioned.
As for the male privileges these transcend the race barriers and are found in almost every society. Men have always had the top and women have always been secondary to them. Even today, although not as much, men still are in the positions of control and have the higher incomes, which give them the authority both in public and in private life. McIntosh writes “I have…noticed men’s unwillingness to grant that they are over privileged…, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. Denials that amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages that men gain from women’s disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully recognized, acknowledged, lessened, or ended.” If we are unable to get men to realize that they have unfair advantages, they will never acknowledge that women are kept at a disadvantage yet today. The work started by our ancestral grand-mothers is not finished. There is a very long way to go to reach economic and other types of equality. Some of those are the subjects of the next four articles.
Reviving Ophelia is an essay written about young girls and the way they are stereo-typed into being the little ladies that society expects them to be. By the time a girl reaches early adolescence they are expected to fit the mold of womanhood. Society neatly packages boys and girls in to what they think they should be, but this mold does not always fit the individual and this causes the child to feel bad about his/her self and girls according to Pipher;
Something dramatic happens to girls in early adolescence.
Just as planes and ships disappear mysteriously in the Bermuda
Triangle, so do the selves of girls go down in droves. They
crash and burn in a social and developmental Bermuda Triangle.
In early adolescence, studies show that girls’ IQ scores drop
and their math and science scores plummet. They lose their
resiliency and optimism and become less curious and inclined to
take risks. They lose their assertive, energetic and “tomboyish”
personalities and become more deferential, self-critical and
depressed. They report great unhappiness with their own bodies.
This is not necessarily true for all young girls, but it does occur in more than just a few and it is a product of our society. The media and the expectation that women and girls place on themselves to fit the perfect mold that our culture has placed upon the females in our country are unrealistic and unreasonable. The gender difference here is very pronounced. There is much less pressure on boys to meet a specific body model. There are social pressures on boys to be “men” and this is also unfair. Children should be allowed to be children and to become androgynous to find the gender fit that makes them happy and content to be themselves. This gender theme is carried along with Bell Hooks essay The Will to Change; (Being a Boy).
Hooks writes quoting Christina Sommers; “….feminists thinkers are as critical of sexist notions of femininity as we are of patriarchal notion of masculinity. It is patriarchy, in its denial of the full humanity of boys, that threatens the emotional lives of boys, not the feminist thinking. To change patriarchal “traditions” we must end patriarchy, in part by envisioning alternative ways of thinking about maleness, not only boyhood.” So, not only must we stop the way we think girls should be raised, we must also change the model for our sons. Hooks spends some time on the fact that mother’s, especially single moms, are afraid that if their boys do not have a male role model they will somehow grow up to be weak men and unable to compete in today’s society. “Homophobia underlies the fear that allowing boys to feel will turn them gay; this fear is often most intense in single-parent homes.” (Hooks 45) This article brings to attention the fact that not only to girls suffer from gender inequality, but so do boys. The inequality of gender is a two way street and in order to bring women gender equality; we must bring men the same equality.
Linda M. Scott takes a totally different look at the feminist movement and makes an argument against the reasoning that the movement is for all women. She writes that only the women who have the economic and class advantages to dress the part have benefited from the movement. Scott has made the movement a fashion argument, not a political one.
She writes:
…feminism’s antibeauty ideology serves the interests of the few
at the expense of the many. The social superiority of feminist dress
reformers on dimensions of class, education, and ethnicity is
recurrent: Inver generation, the women with more education, more
leisure, and more connections to institutions of power –from the
church, to the press, to the university—have been the ones who tried
to tell other women what they must wear in order to be liberated.
This was a very different and interesting view, but not one that is necessarily of much importance in the movement of women’s rights. It was never a matter of consideration. You were allowed to dress as you chose. There were and are much more important issues in the women’s liberation movement than dress and apparel. The point of class and economics is of value; these women were able to do more and spend more in advancing the movement. They also, were able to influence more of the government as well as the press in the changes that needed to be made. There is no way the movement would have made as much progress as it did, without those rich and generous women, who talked and talked to the men who changed the laws.
There are many issues witch still are in need of work by the feminist movement, yet without the young women taking an active role both in the home, at work, and in politics; both voting and running for office, there will be little gained.
It is to be hoped that they do not take the easy way out and do as the rich women in The Opt-Out Revolution by Lisa Belkin did. Even when it becomes difficult women should always find ways to stay in the working world and if not to stay active in the political world. Opting out is not a good way to live your life. Quitting is not a satisfactory way to solve any kind of problem. These women were able to just stay at home because of the income their husbands had and were not dependent upon their jobs. Most women do not have the choice to opt out and must work to support their families.
It would be great to see a world or just this country with equality and fair treatment to all its citizens, but humans being human, this will probably not happen with out a great deal of change. Changes in attitudes, changes in outlooks, changes in acceptance of differences, and many others, but there is always hope and that inch by inch, little by little, man and woman are reaching out to each other and trying to find that balance that will set us all equal and free.

Readings F-Word 9,10, 11, and FIFE 18 and 19

Reading 9, 10, & 11==Are about politics and feminism and the need to continue the battles in the legislative arena. It is vital the women become even more involed in the battle against laws that allow the continued inequality and abuse toward women and children in this country. It is impossible to envisison a nation where there are no women's issues, but that is the ultamate goal of all feminists. The slow, but best way is through education and the changing of laws. This can only be accomplished if women become more and more involved with not only taking offices in the government, but being active on the homefront; voting and being a part of the communities around them will greatly help the efforst being made.
FIFE 18 & 19 = I did not quite get these chapters. Is feminism a religion? I never thought so.
I agree that is visionary and that a lot of the goals are probably unattainable in the forseeable future, but I don't feel that it is a religion. As far as finding feminism is the present religions, anything is possible in God's Way, so if you want your God to be a Lady that's Ok Too.

Week 13: Center for Women Policy Studies

The Center for Women Policy Studies was founded in 1972 as the nation's first feminist policy analysis, research and advocacy institution. Their mission today is what it was then--to shape public policy to improve women's lives.
Can be reach at 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 450
Washington, DC 20036 Website: http://www.centerwomenpolicy.org/
From the start the Center has brought the needs of women and girls to major public debates and continues working on such issues as; equality at workplaces, educational equality, violence against women and girls, reproductive rights, and health care cost for women. They address many other issues that affect women and women's issues. This has always been an affective and powerful organization. They consider the combined impact of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Here's hoping that their tasks get completed and equality and humanity toward our fellows is obtained sometime in the near future.

http://c/Users/Rose%20Z/Documents/The%20Eternal%20Feminine.mht

The Eternal Feminine NOTE

When opening the site you get a page saying the link is broken. Do the Google search and then under 9results stored on your computes hit The Eternal Feminine.mht link and the site will open for you. Rose

Week 11 The Essays

Essays by Enloe, Darraj, and Kumar/Ryan==

coffee workers in Central America, they work for an American Company.

Enloe wrote about global politics and how more women are needed in controlling positions to keep women issues addressed overseas as well as on the home. She was very informative about American companies (Nike) moving factories into third-world countries and paying very low wages and having little control of safety,etc. conditions exercised by the host countries.

Darraj wrote about women in Arabia and the new developments of feminism taking place in that country. It seems to be a very slow process, but spreading into even the most closed societies.

Arabia

Kumar/Ryan essay was written about Asia and the progress of feminism there. According to Stuart Hall as the essay quotes the civilizations of Asia are Diasporic meaning these people are not going to change, but Kumar and Ryan state there is evidence that they are slowly beginning a feminist movement among many of the Asian countries.

India China

Blog 9

Planned Parenthood

I support Planned Parenthood this organization supports those who wish to have control over reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases. It is a natural right to be able to determine how one's body is used and having babies is a big project for the female body. The child shoves everything else aside and takes what space and substances it needs. It is much like a parasite. I think that every woman has the right to say how many times her body gets used this way.

Planned Parenthood is a related organization that lobbies the U.S. political system for pro-choice legislation, comprehensive sex education, and access to affordable health care during and after pregnancy.

The organization has it roots in Brooklyn, New York where Margaret Sanger opened the country's first birth control clinic in 1916. Sanger founded the American Birth Control League in 1921, which changed it name to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. in 1942.

Sanger went to jail 7-8 times for her stand for birth control which she had reasons for as described on the right side of this blog.

Dealing with sexuality, the organization is often the centre of controversy in the United States. The organization's status as the country's leading provider of surgical abortions has put it in the forefront of national debate over the issue. Planned Parenthood has also been a party in numerous Supreme Court cases.

Cecile Richards is the present president of the organization.

Planned Parenthood have provided access to birth control to those who cannot afford it. Abortion is a personal choice. If birth control was used an abortion most likely would never be necessary. There are and always be those which are necessary; to save a mother's life, to aide a child or adult woman of rape residue, and those which nature has caused the death of a fetus.

But to end the right to choice to just these considerations is wrong. No one has the right to force another to have an unwanted child.

A Few Steps in Mary's Shoes

4/1/2009 A Few Steps in Mary’s Shoes Rose Harris

What are some of the difficulties of working at an entry-level job as a life-time occupation with the problems of parenthood and family needs that depend upon your low-salaried, no-benefit, non-secure job and what gender problems arise and how are they dealt with when customer satisfaction is a large part of your work, also can a woman work at one of these jobs and raise children on the income and with the demands of a entry-level job?
Mary Somebody works as a waitress, an entry-level job, in Norman, Oklahoma. She has worked in this field of employment “nearly all my life.” She started working at the tender age of fourteen as a waitress in a small restaurant in Norman and has remained for nearly 35 years in this entry-level work, because Mary has only and 8th grade education. Mary may have only an 8th grade education, but she has a master’s understanding of how to deal with the demands and needs of her customers. She states “I have raised two children and now raising two grandchildren as a waitress and it has not been easy.”
As a waitress Mary makes less than $3/hr, making her salaried income less that $5,500/yr., before taxes. The minimum wage for wait staff in Oklahoma is $2.85/hr. This is not close to subsistence wage in today’s economy, but the government apparently thinks that wait staff make-up the shortage of their salaries with tips, the sad truth is that they barely make enough to pay their bills. Most don’t make enough they fill in the gaps with food-stamps and assistance from other family members when that is possible. Other wise they simple do the best they can and frequently have to do without water, gas, or electricity, because they can not pay the bills.
This inability to pay over time only increases the bills to unbelievable amounts.
Mary has to pay a % of every order she fills in taxes. She pays taxes on her “tickets” whether she received tips on them or not. Mary stated that her salary check giver her “enough money to buy gas for my car, so I can come back to work.” Then she laughs and says that her tips in her real pay. Making it necessary for Mary to please each and every customer, it does not matter if the customer is demanding and unreasonable, it is her job to please the customer no matter what.
Waitress work is very hard and demanding work. It is not a difficult job and requires no special skills that can not be easily learned. There is also the problem of being crowed-out of their jobs by younger women who are working to supplement their incomes; example: college students, because waitressing is one of the entry-level jobs that are easy to get because they require little training and have a large turn-over. What make it difficult are the long hours on your feet, the heavy trays of food, the unpleasant customers, the competition for customers, and the totally not sufficient salaries. The lack of respect for waitress is frequently apparent and can be just shy of being degrading. Most long term waitresses are not doing this job as a fill in to another income, but this is the main income, the only income, upon which her family depends.
According to the Living Wage Campaign, Let Justice Roll; the fight for equal pay; at
http://2.ljworld.com/news/feb25/coalition_takes_pay_pay_battle_local/
“…the federal minimum wage (increased) from $5.85 an hour …to $7.25 and hour in 2009” but is increase does not include wait staff. Waitresses salaries will not increase will remain at less than $3.00 per hour plus tips. The problem is tips, there is an illusion that tips bring in more than minimum wage in pay to worker. This may be true in a high priced restaurant where tips are usually large, but in most average restaurants they get low tips usually less than 10% or none at all, because people do not realize that waitresses do not receive minimum wage or they simply don’t care that she is working to support her family.
With all these problems and difficulties, Mary a most amazing woman, has managed not only to raise her children, but to raise grandchildren as well. Without a high school education, without a husband, without much family support, Mary provided for her children and found spiritual support within her church and her belief that God would provide. She has my respect and admiration, because I know that I would not have been able to do what she has done without losing my sanity. I will always be sure to leave an adequate tip for the services provided to me by waitress.
Word count=798.

wk 8= Belkin article

Her main point was that the eight master degree women that she interview were making the choice to leave the work place to stay at home and raise their children. This included herself. These 9 college degree to masters degree women were in her opinion showing a trend where women were "opting-out" of working and choosing to stay at home. But, even within her own paper she discussed reasons other than having children that caused these well-educated women to quit their high-level jobs. The inflexibility of the jobs and the lack of understanding on the part of the companies for whom they worked was more or less a great part of their incentive to quit these jobs.

It is possible to be a mom and work at demanding jobs In the articles against the opt-out article this was proven over and over. According to ChristinePercheski;(found on 3/9/09, at http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/90214/?type=blog by Kathy G. and on http://www.truthout.org/article/joan-c-williams-the-opt-out-revolution-revisited?print by Joan C. Williams) another Princeton graduate, who has researched the subject thoroughly, only 8% of the total of professional women "opt-out" the other 92% continue on working, adjusting their lives to children and work, by making many personal sacrifices; especially with their private time. They manage quite well. It would be easier for them if work-places were more flexible and understanding of the needs of the working mom, but until this occurs the other 92% are not opting-out of the work force.

Ms. Belkin, also left out the larger proportion of working women who were not of the wealthy upper-class a voice in this "opt-out" revolution of which she assumed was a trend of the working women of the United States. She did not include the hundreds of women, educated professionals, who chose to work around the problems with inflexibility and male dominance in order to provide a better life for themselves and their children. These are the women who deserve recognition and salutations for their fortitude and determination.

Ms. Belkin's article was a red flag to women, especially those of the feminist movements. Her indication that the "opting-out" was a chronic thing occurring among high-level women of higher education status was totally misleading, but it did cause all to take a closer look at where women actually are in the workforce and the need for more intensive work to make the workplace a place of equal opportunity is not finished and needs continued effort to reach those goals. It, also brought to the attention of everyone just how much has been accomplished and how professional women are taking more and more places in the higher levels of management and high-status jobs. At the same time it brings to attention the short-comings and the male dominance that continues to exist in the lower levels of the work force.

wk 8= F-word, chap. 6 and chapter 9 in FIFE

This chapter is a look at where the feminism movement is today. Telling where they were in the early to middle second wave and where the movement is today. Discussing the achievements of women over the last 40 years or so. There are more professional women in the work force than ever before and they are achieving land mark advances in the top level jobs in this country, yet there is much left for the movement to accomplish, such as; equality in pay and benefits to men at the same job, equal opportunities for advancement, greater flexibility in the time schedules and work days for women with children. This chapter give great hope that the ideal working situations for both men and women is possible and will over the years will become a necessity for workplaces to bend to the needs of employees, men and women, both with and without children. The jobs will have to be filled and to get the better employees they will have to become very flexible.
Bell Hooks in FIFE, chapter 9, wrote about the women who have no choice. The women in the workforce that has to work to support herself and her family. These are both married and single women, but Hooks refered mostly to the women who were single and usually poor class or working class, caught in a trap of economic necessity where they have to work. They have not the privilege of choice. These women have not received the benefits of the feminist movement that the upper to middle classes of women. They are still in an economic stranglehold that keeps them from achieving any degree of advancement from the necessity of work. They are working in low paying, male dominated jobs, that keep them from the better jobs. Jobs where men are shown preference in advancements as well as pay and benefits.

wk.7; F-Word, chapters 7 & 8

#7 This chapter talked about the loss of identity a woman experienced and does even at time today. When a women marries she becomes the man possession. Even her name becomes the mans. Her identity becomes a part of his and this lead to a loss of self-worth for a woman. It would appear that this happens in any relationship, that the dominate individual takes the major part of the identity for the partnership and the submissive one is left without self. It is necessary for everyone in any relationship to be able to identify who they are and what their roll in life is, to determine if this is the roll they choose to play and the person they wish to be. "Do your own thing and be happy" is good only if your partners are also happy doing their own things.

#8Between a Rock and a hard place is about the current place in which single mother find themselves. It would seem that that they are in the eye of the storm. It is the old thought that women can't raise men without a man's input, but this is not necessarily true. I have seen situations where the child was blessed when the man was a part of the equation. Every single parent man/women needs as much help as possible. The work positions clash with their school hours; this is one of the biggest problems. It is impossible to be in two places at the same time.
I tend to feel that kids need both parents and whenever possible, even with separated parents, the parents work together to teach their children to respect each other and to respect the other sex as well. Respect and Love is the way to raise kids, both respect them and teaching them to respect others.

wk. 7 FIFE-Readings

#13; Feminist Parenting= The need for feminist,as well, as everyone else to teach their child about how to be a person who loves each other without sexism. All parenting; single woman, single man, father and mother, or otherwise needs to recognize the messages they are teaching their children, both boy and girl. Ms. Bell was very emphatic that raising children should be a major concern of the feminist movement. " Children need to be raised in loving environments. Whenever domination is present love is lacking. Loving parents, be they single or coupled, gay or straight, headed by females or males, are more likely to raise healthy, happy children with sound self-esteem."
# 14; Liberating Marriage and Partnership= "feminist from the onset of the movement challenged the double standard in relationship to sexuality which condemned females who were not virgins or faithful lovers and spouses while allowing men the space to do whatever they desired sexually and have their behavior condoned."This basic unfair attitude the double standard is still a hot bed of controversy and the fight for sexual freedom goes on with the complication of serious sexual diseases adding an unexpected problem. It is difficult for a woman to know or question her prospective partner about his/her sexual background. 'Just how dangerous is a relationship with you going to be to my health and well-being?'is a very difficult question to ask.
#15A Feminist Sexual politic, An Ethics of Mutual Freedom= The feminist movement "immediately challenged sexist sexual stereotypes. It helped that this challenge came at a time in our nation;s history where dependable birth control was made accessible to all." The discussion of the past was very interesting, it brought back memories of my mother who said she did not dislike sex, but was always worried that there would be another child and she was tired of being 'with child all the time' She did not know how to tell Dad; No. I don't want any more children. and for her there was not much in the way of birth control.
#16 Total Bliss was about the part Lesbianism had in the feminist movement during the 60s and 70s and about how they have the same domestic problems that face and partner relationship of give and take and compromise for the good of one's partner is sometimes very difficult for people to do.
#17To Love Again= " women and men want to know love, we have to yearn for feminism. For without feminist thinking and practice we lack the foundation to create loving bonds" Perhaps, but a few have found love without being a feminist. Christian love and teachings have taught some very sound messages lately. And the teaching of mutual respect is a lesson that some learned years ago. Respect for each other and their needs is a basic need in any relationship.
Men have a need for love and respect the same as women and this feminist movement should be able to include the needs for respect that every human; man, woman, and child, needs in this life. Respect must come before love. this would bring about the end of domination and many of the great variety of other problems within the family, partnership relationships.

wk. 7 Movie Review "Taken"

This movie was fast paste and full of action. Some of the action was very graphic and startling.It starts with a divorced Dad showing up at his seventeen year old daughters birthday party. The ex-wife was anything but Paris both girls fall victims to the sex-for-sale business that is very successful in Europe. They steal young pretty girls, drug them and sell to who ever will pay for them. The more innocent the girl; the higher the price was to buy her. It was "Just business, not personal" as one character states in the movie. The father of this young girl takes it very personally and the rest of the movie is his pursuit and destruction of those involved with the kidnapping of his daughter. The twist is that this father had worked for years with the government, doing jobs that dealt with preventing this type of businessmen from succeeding with their works. He was a retired international under cover cop. Taken is a thrilling yet brief action charged with the emotional fervor of a dad racing against the clock to save his only child. It could also be seen as an exaggerated cautionary tale about the dangers of traveling abroad. The performances are strong, the action is riveting and if you ever doubted Neeson’s “leading man” skills then Taken will make you a believer. I liked the movie. I do not take movies seriously, but I suppose kids would. The usage of young women on this movie by adult males is very degrading and shows how helpless girls on their own can be. White slavery has always been a fact of history and probably always will be and as long as there are unfeeling men and helpless women sex will be a most profitable business for men. Usually they are wealthy White men.

'Taken' - Trailer No. 1 - Moviefone

'Taken' - Trailer No. 1 - Moviefone

Beyond the Beauty Myth and Fresh Lipstick are two books I wish to have in my library, you know that library of books your going to read when you find the time. According to the sections of the books we read. These will be great to any feminist's library. I wonder who thought up the idea that women had to be beautiful and who decided what that standard should be. Who ever it was It must have been crazy. Women are much more that a pretty face and a slim body. In fact most women with slim bodies are not healthy and get sick quicker that a girl with nice healthy body. Looks soon fade away, believe me I know, for I was one of those pretty girls. Years, unless you have tons of money will catch-up and if all you had was pretty. You'll be in big trouble down the road. Try to have a full life with friends who like you and have a bunch of interesting things to keep your mind full and you will be happier. Keep fighting for women's right to be just women, after all men are just men.

wk-6; Feminist Class Struggle

Hooks; these ladies broke the class barriers, They came and do come from all classes and races. They seek equality for women and are willing to fight for it.

I was glad to read this article it was most informative about a subject that is still somewhat taboo. Most people feel shy about talking about those who have selected a different life style, but this sixties woman says, as always, if you don't hurt anyone and your happy with what you are doing. Then do your own thing, Baby!. They were often among the leaders at the protests I went to and took part in, so I am glad to see them still in there fighting for the right to be happy. Which is what equal right is all about.

wk6, (Ad is below wk 5)=reading FIFE 5,6

Hooks; Our Bodies, Ourselves= As the female of the species we have spent centuries on how we look. From one extreme to another. But, this is OK. We as individual human beings should be able to say what we wear and how we look, but this should only be to please our selves the decision to have children should be our own. The man after the child is conceived should have some input, but it is not his body that has to change and go through so many dangerous changes. Having a baby is not fun and should be handled with the seriousness of buying a new house or planning for retirement, not 30 seconds of "fun." I would hope that everyone agrees with the right of choice.

wk five= FIFE #7 & # 16

#7 FEMINIST CLASS STRUGGLE;
There are about as many classes of women as there are women. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. The class division of women has been a problem in the feminist movement from the beginning. The women of color and the working down to the poor women are not recipients of the benefits of the movement, at least when the benefits first were achieved. It took much more hard bargining and work to gain the same for all the other classes, esp. those of color. I found the article to be a sad commentary on the women of the movement and found that the sisterhood divisions were caused by the selfishness of the rich white women, who were afraid of upsetting the men in their lives. Freedom should be the right of all even the detested DOMINATE MALE.

#16 TOTAL BLISS; The message here seems to be that all women from straight to gay are the same when it comes to achieving the equalitiy rights of the Feminist Movement. Hook made it very clear the role that lesbianism has and does play in the movement. It was good to read a writing about lesvianism that was told about the human side of these women and should how they live their day to day lives fighting the same battle as the straight women in our society. They also have to endure the prejudice of being different from the "norm". A Good reading.

wk. five; readings

The reading by Hooks, Being a Boy, left me upset. Is the anger of men so common placed that it is totally not seen or are we so adjusted to see the signs of it that it goes unnoticed by the public at large. I was not aware of it being so universal. I know that teen violence is a great concern today, but it has always be a concern of the adult generations for as long as there has been teenagers. The way that boys are raised is not conductive to their being able to handle the suppressed confusion and anger that they apparently hold all of their lives. There seemed to be no solution that would be consider a quick fix or anything except a complete change of society to one of a less rigid standard of masculinity for boys. I would hope that men were able to see what this "Macho" image did to them and would try to change the way they treat their own sons, but apparently this is not the common results, but just the opposite men are raising their sons to be just as angry and hurt as they were themselves. Perhaps women could also change their ideal of what a man should be and openly love and accept both the men and boys in their lives.

2/21 wk. 5 Gender Songs

There is a lot of put down in some of these songs and they all present a stereotype of man or woman that is what our society see as what men and women should be. Some give bad messages and some give good images, but all give impossible expectations to the humans listening to them. At my age gender is not much of an issue as it is an amazing changing kaleidoscope of new to old=old to new. I see things today that we very much there in the sixties. The songs I selected are a mix of pop, rap, and country. Each song shows sex and gender ideals that are either impossible to live up to or just plain a disappointment of expectations. There is no one who can live up to the modle of female and male ideals that the U.S. society has and will probably always set fort as the perfect man or woman as the case may be. I would like to see just ordinary people pictured in the songs, but that won't happen because ordinary does not sell. Sex sells!! These songs are sex, and gender ordered the one I especially like is A Boy Named Sue. What a bad thing to do to your son when being masculine is such an issue now-a-days. I also, like She Let Herself Go. It is about what a woman can do without a man to hold her back, and yet she made herself over into the picture of the beautiful women that society says we must work hard to be. Some of the songs I just like and listen to them occasionally. When I get to feel sorry for my self I listen to the Overnight Male by George Strait and soon find I am happy to be right where I am in my life. I hope you like my list and will let me know what you think.

wk 6=Ad for positive gender messaging

This is a very positive male gender message ad. It portrays a man as a sensitive and caring individual who is able to be a caregiver without loosing his over-all masculine appeal. He comes across as a man who is comfortable within his own skin and not afraid to assume stereotype women's roles in life, ie: caring for baby and cooking the meal. It leave one with the idea that it's OK to be a gentle loving man who does not need to hide behind what is expected of him. Ad's own message is;"Life is short, but Childhood is shorter. Feed it well." I like this statement, but the picture indicates that fathers as well as mothers should be involved in the child's life. Teaching by example is absolutely wonderful.

wk 6= Ad for negative messages.

This is an ad for Belvedere vodka and although I like their vodka
I do not like this ad from Belvedere. I now find it very sexist and demeaning toward women. It gives us the impression that young beautiful women will be available to even this less than acceptable type of man, if she is drunk. The message to men= Get her dunk and even the pretty-ones can be yours and life becomes 'LUXURY REBORN'. The way the black girl is dress is an open statement of availability, which is demeaning to her and her race. The dresspresents her as cheap. Just a few drinks of vodka and she is yours. I resent the male in this ad for not being the "steretype mascline male", as are the women, "Need a Hunk here", but he just looks somewhat demented and waisted. Not at all attractive, making it look like the women have no disgression with whom they run with.

I am starting to really resent this ad!

wk. four=WHITE PRIVILEGE AND MALE PRIVILAGE by McIntosh

A very thought provoking essay. Being white I have never realized the privileges she spoke of in my conscious mind. Although, I recognized the privileges when they were pointed out. They are similar to the man's assumed rights over women. I also felt guilty for not being aware of those freedoms I have and being so priviliged simply because of the color of my skin. I am sorry that we have to be so very color conscious in this country. With some many diverse people living here it is sometime difficult to admit that racism remains such a big problem.

If we solved racism, would we continue to have equality problems between men and women?

wk. Four= F-word,Chapter 4, FIFE, Chapter 4

F-Word, chapter 4= covers the gap that is growing between the generations of feminists of a few decades ago and the women of today. Many of the problems have changed, yet look on the surface the same. The problems facing the young women of today are different and much more complex than at an earlier time. The issues need careful study and need to be approached with the idea of solving the problems completely, not just placing a bandage over them. So, many women's issues get a thought, but not complete and careful study by the "men" people in charge of making any changes.

FIFE, chapter 4=encourages education for critical consciousness. No one can learn to much. There is always new ideas that require thought and consideration.

Women's Studies are the future of the Feminist Movement, classes and institutionalization of the gender issues will give the arguments a firmer foundation and support. Education of its members will give the women's movement new and needed strength.

women's studies courses at OU

I would like to achieve a Masters in Women's Studies if possible. The courses offered all sound very interesting and race, gender, and equality have always been of interest to me. The society of differing people have been of great interest also. I am a historian and societies of man seem ot fit very well with that profession. I plan to take as many of the courses as I can in order to gain my bachlors and then my masters, and possibly, if I live long enough, I'll go for a Doctor's degree.

I do not plan to work again, but when I did I worked at a very female job. I was a nurse for 42 years. But, I was aslo very active in the feminist movement of the 1960's.

wk. Three= FIFE; chapters 1,2,3,11,& 12

One; the need to bring young people in to the public and voting arena. The necessity of the young making themselves heard through the poles. How do we get them to vote?

Two; Bringing awarness to the young people of this generation. How to get more envolved with the movement and it issues.

Three; Sisterhood power, combined together, we have a powerful voice. All women; the young, the middle-aged, and the old. We were a force to be recond with before and can be again. No one has to stand alone.

Eleven; The violence toward women must stop. It is imparative that we find solution to all forms of abuse toward women. The answers are there, it is a matter of finding them and puting

them to work.

Twelve; Feminism should not be just for women. Men should be included in the movement. Gender studies should be about both the male and female. If we want to be equal, then men

should also be equal.

wk.three= Iron Jawed Angles, movie in class

The picture is Alice Paul.
This movie is about the first wave of the feminist equal rights movement. It is a great move. The story is well told and hold the attention all the way through. The story of Alice Paul and her friends and associates and how they struggled to get the 19th amendment passed. I did not realize that the black women did not get full benefit from the 19th amendment, due to the Jim Crow laws and the prejudice that still held them back. I assumed that the right to vote was for all women. Some themes were women are people. Women were not free. The vote should be available to all people, including women. There was tensions caused by events that happened. some wanted to waite for the men to decide when they should push for the vote, others wanted to push now. Race was an issue, women not wanting to lose their jobs was an issue, women not wanting problems at home was an issue. they did not overcome all of them, but managed to work for the good of the entire group and for the ideal of voting. They were imprisoned, mistreated, misunderstood, and suffered greatly. both emotionally and physically. The final victory was sweet, but it came with a great cost, even life was lost in the battle for the right to vote. Loved the Movie.

wk. two= interview with 45 year old woman

I interview my step-daughter Pamula. Shown here with her sister, Candy.
Pamula has worked for Sears for 25 years and has alway been a feminist.
She said her first realization that she was a girl and could not do what she wanted because of that fact was when her brothers would not let her play with the boys.
They told her that girls "were not allowed" which made her very angry. She fought them then and now. She had spent her life showing the "boys" that there is very little that a "girl" can't do.

Feminism is a radical notion that women are PEOPLE.

My experience; During my youth I spent the summers on my grandparents farm. I was allowed to drive the tractor which pulled the hay wagon across the field. When I turned thirteen I was told by my grandfather that I could no longer drive the tractor or be any where around where the young men were working because I was now a young lady and it was not proper for me to be around where the men were working. Very effectively spoiling my summer vacations, because now I had to do women's work and I have never had a fondness for women's work.

wk.one=Chapter two

A TSUNAMI in HISTORY

In this chapter the three waves of the feminist movement are explained briefly. I would have enjoyed more detail about this times in history. It was a very brave and courageous movement that was started by our great- grand mothers. They paved the way for us. The inital battle for the vote was a long and perilous struggle against men, who the women loved, a time of changing perceived notions that had existed for centuries. The second wave for "equal pay for equal work was just as difficut It seems to me that the third wave has the hardest road because the battle is harder now because men feel that women have reached equality and should be happy with the progress thay have made and stop demanding more than what is their fair share. Young women of today will have to have more courage and more determation than those of the first two waves to continue with the battle.

wk.one=chapter one

This chapter discussed the problems associated with being a feminimist.

The usual insults to women who take control of their own lives. There was some questions as to what feminism means. Has the movement changed or are we stuck in a rut? Do we continue to spout the same old lecture on equality or has there been a new wave developing? From what I was reading it seems that the young women of today are totally disillusioned with the movement as it stands at this time or prehaps the Forget Apathetic, Try Dissatisfied section(p.11) was more about what the movement is called than what it is fighting for. The image of a feminist is all wrong, the picture in this note is of Heidi Montag and Heidi Montag is a "Feminist Hero"! She diffinately is not what most people think a "feminist" should look like. It is time to change the image of the Woman's movement.

wk. two=Reading: F-Word; Chapter 5; Signs of the TIMES: DEFINDING the Third WAVE

I found my self lost here. I have not kept up with the women's movement.

I got involved when I was in my twenties and early thirties, but children and

family, along with my nursing career, caring for severly handicapped children,

I lost tract and now find that I don't understand Waves, to me it sounds like the

same battles.

It appears that we have made some giant leaps toward equality,but lost the interest of the young by being stuck in the same old lines and the same old thing.

We need to liven up the Women's movement and make is interesting.

I agree that titles and tags are confining.

So, what do the young women want? How would they suggest these goals be reached?

It was from the youth that the movement began, sowhy not let they become the vital force which will move the movement forward.

Most men will listen to young vital women. And, if there are enough of them saying

the same thing, then changes will happen.

I would love to hear what they have to say about feminism. How do we get more of them voting and speaking out about the inequalities under which they find their choices limited.?

wk. two=Reading: F- Word; Chapter 3- A New Cultural LANDSCAPE

I was very disturbed reading this chapter. I brought back many of the problems that mygeneration faced. I am sorry to read that most of those problems remain in todays world.

Although, many solutions have been reached, it seems that the knowledge of the freedoms and choices that girls have, remain unknown to them. I was very open with my step-daughters and my grand-daughters and told them and took them to places where information on their sexually freedoms were explained and available to them. I had hoped that todays young girls were all aware that the choice to be sexually active carries great responsiblilities as well as freedoms. The information is free and should be made available through the schools.

I was alarmed and very sorry to hear that it is not. This was one of the causes my friends and I fought for in the sixties. It is also discouraging to read that equal pay for equal work had not been achieved.

The freedom to work where you want is much greater now than in the sixties, but it should not

been a problem in the twenty-first century. I did not realize that women still receive lower pay.

This makes me not only sad, but angry that men and women still do accept this. It is so very unfair. Jobs and pay should not be a sex consideration, but based on education, skills, and experience.

wk. two=TAKING SIDES: Clashing Views in Gender

The debate over the equality of men and women is discussed in this reading.
The No side of the debate was about men and women notbeing equal.
It was written by Professor Browne.
He states that there very basic biological differences between men and women.
That these differences cannot be changed.
These biological differences will always cause men and women to be unequal.
He supports his assertions with reports from different psycologists and research facts.
He admits that the differences are a matter of degree and preception.
But men and women will always be different.
I don't see how being different means they can not be equal.
I suppose it would depend on what you call equal and what you call different.
The issue was not solved as far as I could determine.
Professor Browne left men with the thought...Just like a MAN!!
For me Professor Browne tended to sterio-type boys and girls.

Monday's Assignment January 26th, 2009

My name is Rose Harris. I am 63 years old and I am going to college to fill my days with learning. I retired from nursing several years ago and due to my health am not able to return to full time work. Not being able left me with lots of empty time and little to do. I needed something to give my life some reason. I have always enjoyed learning new things. Taking college courses fills my needs to prefection. It keeps me busy and my mind working and fills a long term wish for the answers to questions that I have continued to seek.

I enjoy the challenge of competing with the young adults in the classes. My mind workers slower, but with hard work I eventually learn and have been able to keep up with them.

I am taking this course on women's studies because in the sixties I was envolved in the equality movement (for the same job, same pay movement for women). I was part of the rallies (protests) and the excitement of those days still linger in my memories. There are still many questions and many things that need to be addressed even to this day.

But , I hope that women will still remain women and not become equal to the point of sameness with men. There are many areas where women have always had the advantage over men. These advantages they need to idenitfy and keep. It is ok to be different, but should be equal when it comes to eduacation, reconition, pay, and the right to improve oneself and one's situations.

Questions:

1. What makes a lady? Is a lady different from a woman, girl, female, etc?
2. Are women equal in the present time?
3. How does a woman become a feminists?
4. Why aren't all women feminitst?
5. Will women ever be seen as just human and not as the weaker sex, who have to have men to protect and take care of them?