Well, damn, I AM a feminist

I came across a decently put together article (supported by, gasp, numerical facts) on how women's wages are slipping despite previous years of (moderate) increase. Naturally, I was interested, being a professional, working woman who has 1st hand seen all manner of sexism in the work environment (not necessarily towards myself). I took it as a social litmus test of how role shifts are settling and unsettling, basically re-shuffling into a new paradigm.

But I didn't honestly feel like I was hated because I had a innie rather than an outie until I read the comments. I really like the woman who suggested the word 'female' be replaced with 'black' to illustrate just how accepted it is to downgrade women.

Add to that the Muslim religion, even more debasing than Judeo-Christian role demands to females, has just overtaken as the world's largest following and...

And what? Can't stand on a mountaintop and shout inequalities, that would make me 'an angry feminazi'. Can't point out that women work full time AND STILL in the lion's share of cases play the primary parental role AND do on average 10 more hours of housework than their male counterparts regardless of work time outside of the home (meaning, all things being equal).

I don't know that anyone still gives a shit about lame jokes or typical ogling (and those that do are likely the very ones making it harder for the rest of us)- but the constant expectation that one should be silent and roll with it- hell, believe often times it's done as a test just to see if you can hang with the boys or if you're going to go 'tell' (like the veep comment)- is maddening. And to read bile indicating a woman should just feel privileged to have been let into the room instead of doing her civic duty by staying home and breeding and if she makes anything at all it's by the good grace of her male peers...

Well, damn, what century- or, all things considered- what decade are we dealing with?

Comments

[Xero]

Been a while since I have posted, or even read this blog, and low and behold when I come a check there is one post about a subject I fell passionate about, though sadly I side against the majority.

Though not true in the contemporary use of the term, I consider myself a feminist. No, this does not mean I give a rats ass about equal pay in the work place other than that all people should receive equal play for equal work, including quality of work and ability to fit in with the environment. Instead I believe that the trait of being feminine and the traditional feminine role is as important as the masculine one and that women who would rather achieve masculine goals are degrading their own genders importance.

Modern society has this idea that equality is the same as identicality, but this is not true. Two things can be equal without being identical. Yes this means it is possible for women to have equal compensation without identical pay. Women are generally given more leeway in regards to leave for family issues, tend to cost insurance companies more, and receive a number of other benefits that males do not.

What is even worse is that, although women's income does not match that of mens, they have closed the gap tremendously at the expense of mens income. On average the income of the average male has drop relative to incomes in the past 50 years. This does not mean much to those that live contemporary lifestyles with dual income families, but it is a serious kick in the pants to those striving to continue traditional families with a parent dedicated to the most important job in any society, the raising of children.

Just my opinion, based on facts known to me, so feel free to disagree, just think about these things with an open and objective mind.

[Jeff]

Huh?

[Cassandra West]

JustaGYnAZ,
I know exactly what you're talking about. While I preferred to be a stay at home Mom, I think I would make a different choice now, but we were at a crossroads at the time, torn between the new trend towards 'working' women, (as if staying at home wasn't work.g.), and being a traditional woman...
Perhaps I had been discouraged, since I actually had a man tell me at Dutch Boy Paints that; "You're an attractive woman- why not just shack up with some guy?" Can you believe it?!!! There is no way they'd get away with that now... Or would they?! I like to think not... But who knows?

[JustaGYnAZ]

Monku-tare. Or not?

I have a young daughter whom I tell every chance I can that she can be many things in life, perhaps even something we don’t yet have a name for. She does very well both in and out of school, not at all the stereotypical submissive Asian female of years past and certainly not the product of parents relentlessly pushing education above all else.

But she too will experience a point in her life where things may not be as easy as they once were, where her determination and character may not be enough, and where she alone may not be the sole factor in determining the results or outcome of what she seeks to change.

That is why she needs you, and others like you, to not give up the struggle for equality. Change of this magnitude is not easy and the timeframe given in the article is not even a blink of the eye in the span of humankind.

Where I work, I experienced first-hand similar treatment, though not for the lack of an “outie”. Regardless of the time put in and the results produced, there was very little if any appreciation given. Any mistakes made were magnified and in the absence of such, invented by others. Successes were “expected” and never enough to stand out amongst the accomplishments of a larger team. My VP told me I was the worst report he had and did so in the presence of my manager who up until that moment in time had given me high marks during our one-on-ones throughout the year. I was advised to seek employment elsewhere and to do so quickly.

But things change, given a halfway decent chance. I built an entirely new skillset and improved upon others. Without the benefit of a class, I took a training manual (and most of us know how technical training manuals are highly abbreviated) and taught myself what I needed to know. I had the benefit of a few others who were able to answer my questions outright or point me to where I could research the answers myself.

My situation has improved from what it was before, the proverbial “back against the wall” scenario. Though my lot in life is better now, the time to go will soon come again, though for very different reasons.

Persevere, though know your limitations. Make a difference. Never give up, never surrender.

(Ok, I stole that last line from “Galaxy Quest” --- but the sentiment is the same).

[Cassandra West]

Islam is the largest religion now. The entire human race, but especially women are in danger as a result. If we do not spend as much time and energy explaining to the mostly young, poor people- the MALE people attracted to islam, we are doomed as a species.
When 90% of the Saudis are YOUNG, POOR males while their royals live a lavish lifestyle, it's evident why the people in the Middle East with power encourage the hatred and violence of their people against the rest of the world.
Instead of bombs, we should have been sending books, pamplets of Western values, medicine and food. People resort to violence out of ignorance and desperation, and oppressing women is the easiest thing for them to do.

[Bob]

12 of the apostles need to be converted to women. And Mary needs to be a gay male transsexual. That would make Christianity pro-feminist.

:)

I kid, Jeff

[Jeff]

It exists. I think on the positive side, laws and general societal values have changed and are continuing to change, not sure I agree progress has halted. Morphing? Certainly. The long battle for equality is far from over, but before you paste Christianity as patently anti-feminist, it too is morphing beyond the actual text of the scriptures. Even the staid Cathoic Church is changing faster today than ever in history. What doesn't seem to change much is Islam, a WHOLE OTHER subject for discussion.