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.