Women's Liberation Movement - Essay Example

? Women’s Liberation Movements s Outline I. II. Thesis ment III. Introduction IV. Social organizations V. Sexism VI. Birth control VII. Economic shifts VIII. Dress codes IX. Women role in the society X. Conclusion Abstract The plight of a woman reached its epic in early 1960s. Women suffered a lot, but most of their suffering was never taken seriously because of man’s contribution. They suffered their problems in silence until they realized that they could be equal to men, work like men and leisure similarly. The women were forced; especially the American women used all the possible means to liberate themselves during the time. They needed to stand on the political throne, vote and receive votes just as the men and that Collins compared with the 2008 parliament. American women also got tired with the house slavery, as their chore was to rear children and keep houses while men get to work. The women also had the urge to work and earn income just like the men. In addition, economic situation in the 1960s offered them a lot for them in the job market. Life was not easy for women as men censored most of the things they did while no one, not even the legal system was on their side to defend their plights. The women had no option, but to receive a just amicable way of pleading for their rights. However; the government was adamant, Washington never took the time to address their plight thus they were forced to come up with more aggressive moves. At this time, the American women find it hard to live without controlling their dressing mode as this was governed and evaluated by the society. The women could not make their independent choices on their leisure activities, as travels, as well as they were not accepted in some modest places due to gender imbalances. They felt closed and enslaved that they opted for liberation measure. As Collins takes the comparison to today’s American woman has made a number of great steps, although all their expectation as equity is concerned have not been achieved. Thesis Statement Though, women are often despised, they have made a lot of progress and constantly struggled to liberate themselves from economic, political and social discrimination. Introduction Women liberation movements have immensely succeeded in many spheres of women life. Collins has produced a book, which significantly describes the effect of gender and societal perception on it. She gives a detailed account after account of women from 1950s to 2008 to draw the distinction of the position of a woman in the different societies over the time. She writes this based on researches and data from different times. She uses real people to show the reality of women situation across the times. Collins puts side-by-side comparison of the American woman before and after her fights for liberation. He depicts an enslaved 1950s woman and measures their achievement against those like Hilary Clinton. The books shows that woman liberation, although has been tough, has seen woman freer and more protected by her rights and economically. Social Organizations When women started to realize that they could preform equally like men, they started voicing their grievances, but Washington was so reluctant to help them, thus the women sought alternative measures. Although, the women got some support from some men, most of their queries were addressed by themselves. The period of history that Collins writes about is regarded as the time when life was much less enjoyable to the women, also referred what the women on ‘Mad Men’ know1. The book gives accounts of women from politicians to homemakers, underwent suffering due to their feminine nature. The societal values and cultural system gave the women the lowest state in the society. Collins accounts for the effects of the battles these women fought to achieve acceptability in the society. The book gives early lives of women like Phyllis Schlafly, who worked hard trying to convince her sisters about their state2. Comparison is also given to women like Sarah Palin and Rodham Clinton as the current world’s women. The changes were first witnessed during the 1960 election. This is the time the women organized Equal Rights Amendments to protect them on the local, state and federal law structure. They also organized many organizations to fight for their rights. The first women organization was the Equal employment opportunity Commission (EEOC). The main problem they actively sought to address was the women segregation in the employment fields. The women wanted equal representation in all the employment sectors3. Other organizations, which addressed various issues, included the National Organization of Women and the Women Bureau. In addition, there was the Civil Rights Movement that also addressed several issues. However, Washington never gave the women chance to be heard, despite these until they started by fighting sexism. Sexism The first women to address sexism4 were the flight attendants, who demanded to know whether the employers were selecting workers based on merit. This was against the scrutiny of employment where they were employed based on looks, marital status and size. The women objected the system vehemently, and this brought a bout a new perception on their employment. Today women are employed based on their experience and qualification rather the looks. This can be credited to the work of the women of this time. There is some fair opportunity at work that got boosted by the bumper economy in 1960s. There was a high demand for labour and women were needed, that is, in custom services. As a result, they easily pushed for they rights, most of which succeeded. When economic crisis started in 1970s and 1980s, women had to keep working to enable them support their family during the hard times5. By 1970s and 19760s, sexism still dominated employment fields since the women that forced them actively fight for their employment equity and position. Birth Control Women became too much conscious of themselves. Unlike in 1950, when babies would ground the women while men run their jobs and political systems, they wanted to work and represent themselves without worries of pregnancy. Birth control became an issue that they fought to solve. The women could then be able to enjoy equal employment opportunities without burdens of keeping their families. This was another opportunity for learning since education was very vital at this time for the American women6. Without much worry about pregnancies, the women could enjoy sex as much as they need just like the men. It was through birth control methods that the American women started to get keen on their beauty and leisure as well. Since they could afford makeups from their employments payment, they took their time checking into their beauty and well as their leisure. These were fruits the 1950 woman could not enjoy as a sign of the American women liberation achievements7. Since economy in best shape, things were very cheap women realized the need to explore world. Travel and food were very cheap. Unlike their parents, the new society women could now hang out with men of their choice. A virgin girl was treated the same way non –virgin girls were treated in the parent society. ‘Girls say yes to boys who say no’ was a message from Vietnam to the women8. Radical women rose to head the women like Gloria Steinem that were incomparable to the parent to the earlier wave headed by women, like Betty Freiden who were soft and timid. The society generally gained a new a reverse of the women when compared to the society of 1950s. Economic Shifts The dynamics of society have seen several changes in gender perception and equity. Today’s family has undergone several changes as compared thee family of 1950s. This is due to been hastened by economic and social changes in the society. Every individual seeks perfect personal fulfillment and both social and economic comfort. Work has been taken to be the most important economic and social factor in all respect of gender, race and classes. A woman of early 1950s whose work included cooking and taking care of the children, is seen to conflict with current expectation of a woman9. The social and economic shift have made almost everything different over the sixty years, however, the change is not complete. Women today are not tied to domestic undertakings, a fact that even men today accept and recognize. However, setting this program into practice in workplace as well as maintaining homes has remained a problem in many American families. A woman generally takes the larger portion in the family lives; job and family balance have not all that been easy10. The issue of ‘mommy track’ formed in 1990 is still a major concern among the upper and middle class. Despite the fact that women have achieved a lot in getting themselves into career lifestyle, poor payment and less prestige still affect their achievements. The leverage on gender equity balance on work has not stricken a balance in the psychology of both the men and women. Even today, some women still feel inferior to some job positions as they did in before 1950s. This makes the women still similar in many ways, despite the equity they strove to achieve. The couple today seeks commitment in relationship, but with autonomy with balanced work and home life. However, the fact that each group normally has different plans in life, this is unachievable. In an instance, men want to have their women partners who take care of them when they get back to their homes. On the other hand, women need job security to cater for their children’s needs and their wants to reduce their reliance on men. The issue of neo-traditional men and self-reliant women has never gone through well11. No man in a good career with a well pay is happy with the income their wives brings in. This has fallen short, according to Collins ‘an equal marriage of shared responsibility’. It is a common belief that is acceptable in the today’s society, for a woman to help the husband in his career. Collin also accepts this by 1980s ‘for all its achievement’s movements have not managed to solve the work and family divide’. This contrasts Collins title that not everything has changed yet several such changes, though not complete have been noted12. Juggling family and career in the feminist era has never been easy as compared to the older cohorts. The ideals of life of these groups are characterized by many expectation and controversies. The developing of mommy gap of deferring childbearing age for their career is ever on increase, especially in the upper and middle as compared to the poor who rush to marriage and childbearing before their careers. Nevertheless, both the group is in trouble of settling domestic equity. People in this era treat non-professional women with distaste, while at the same time women still need to multi-task in the offices to get equal recognition with the men. The modes of fashions have been greatly revolutionized, earlier models moms were oaky with sitcoms like Ozzie and Harriet, Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best, were the expected fashion designs at high profile places as compared to the today’s fashion, where women have shown many changes from the times of Claire Huxtable, Wonder Woman and Mary Tyler Moore were the stepping stones of the changes13. In today’s model half-nude, women carry out shows on stages. Fashion changes have entered offices, churches and schools. Dressing code was among the obstacles women faced, which can be seen to have completely undergone transformation and gained wide acceptance in the society. This is another aspect of the women’s achievement through their liberation. Although, women have not achieved the equity they demanded fully; great steps have been made, in the economical sector women have made a great step. This was taken from the enormous number of employed women in different sectors of economy. Women representation in the political arena has totally changed as compared to the 1950s as depicted in American political representation of women in politics14. Generally, the social state of the women has risen and gained acceptability as well as recognition among men. Dress Codes Collins addresses fashion as another important aspect of change that has occurred in the society. Women had specific clothes by 1950 that included long baggy garments that were considered provocative. The women found this insulting and they sought for change since it became a source of ridicule and harassment. Collins starts with a secretary, who got sent to change as a result of dressing in 1960. The poor woman was handling a speedy ticket to her boss when the magistrate sent her away to change since she was in slacks. Some clothes like the miniskirts and hipsters were not accepted in the society, but today they mark the codes of dressing among the women15. Women Roles in the Society In the society, a woman is depicted as a man’s property. The women in 1950s never had registration cards and it was the rule that they use their husband’s names on their identification cards. The women could not own any property since they were owned by men until they started fighting for the liberation. It was through their fight that they managed to get the voting rights against racial, ethnic and gender segregations. The woman’s duty was to take care of the husband and children by working around the house. Cooking and washing were part of her daily chores. The woman was expected to question nothing especially on the political scene and in issues pertaining to government. The emancipation of women for equality today has enabled the woman to own her property and express her freedom of speech in the political scenes16. Collins uses the current political women leaders to show how much the women have succeeded in political threshold. The author symbolizes Sarah and Clinton. She portrays the independency of the current woman in compared to the tied woman of the 1950s by the society values. Women have achieved in leadership and various field, which they were barred from in the parent society. Unbelievably, the women could not be allowed into some places such as the executive places and transport facilities. Women were served last in some counters since men needed faster service as compared to them17. Conclusion Women have made much achievement since 1950s to date. They have majorly managed to achieve a lot through their fight for liberation. The women fighters used protest as well forming action groups with political wings to solve their problems. The major issues identified across the period include the need for equity in employment, political representation and legal representation. The women cried for freedom in many instances. They were childbearing tools and housekeepers while they had the capacity to perform in other institutions. They felt like slaves of their state, as they could not dress as wish, they were denied chances to make independent choices, own property and visit places of their interest. Despite, the fact that women have not reached satisfactorily to the equity with men and achievement of their dreams they have immensely made some progress. Bibliography Gail, C. (2009). When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women, from 1960 to the Present. Boston: Little Brown and Co. Boston. Read More