Feminism, Sexism, Misogyny, Misandry in the US - Term Paper Example

The evolving roles of men and women in our utopian experiment, America. “Have you noticed that male chauvinism is making a comeback? Thirty years after the feminist revolution, if you look at the rap videos on MTV or BET, you will find that "ho" and "bitch" are just about the nicest words used to describe young women.” (Brooks 22). President Barrack Obama during his inaugural –address clearly stated that, the journey to gender equality is incomplete and that man is still in the midst of a global struggle so as to enable women and girls have equal opportunity (Musil 16). It is, therefore, clear that women and men will never achieve equal legal, domestic, educational, and employment status; because the gender inequality is an undeniable reality in our society; because of the biological difference between women and men; the increase of poverty rate among women, the unequal treatment for women; and the lack of self-determination and liberation of women, which means that there is still a huge gender gap in today’s society. The primary authors for this argument are David Brooks, Jones Mother, Laura Bates, and Monica Potts. In connection to this, the following sources are the primary sources. Bates, Laura. “The year of sexism." New Statesman. December 2012-January 2013. Print Brooks, David. “The return of the pig: The revival of blatant sexism in America culture has many progressive thinkers flummoxed." Atlantic monthly. 2003. Print. Mother, Jones. “The rise of the programmer is tech new macho swagger turning off women?” Foundation for National Progress. July/August 2012. Print. Potts, Monica. “Why aren’t you married yet?” The American prospect Inc. 2011. Print. As a female, it is easier to suffer harassment and be despised by others. Women have been victims to gender violence. For instance, the number of women in Canadian prisons is alarming high. In addition, there are women who have disappeared without a trace. The government that is responsible for their protection shows laxity in finding out what happened to these women (Robyn 2). The Canadian immigration and citizenship laws also tighten up day by day. This means that women without documents are exploited in their areas of business. They are not well paid, work under poor conditions this is because they have no one to complain to (Robyn 5. During a luncheon of Ms. Magazine, Gloria Steinem cited that many women in the United States of America were killed by their boyfriends and husbands. She equated the number to be more than the people who died in the twin towers (Mikhael 56). In Afghanistan where sharia laws are the order of the day, a number of girls were killed in cold blood by bullets in their quest for education. Not to say the one those that were gang raped and brutally murdered (Mikhael 58). The leading magazine called the maxim has a page of models, women of course who are mainly topless and have swimsuits too. A man exists at crossroads that include babes with lingerie. This degrading woman to objects of advertisements and making shows popularly. The sad thing about this sexism is that feminists are not able to deal with at all. They are confused whether to condemn it or just allow it because the women give themselves out to appear on the shows and magazines. (Brooks 23) An online developer community came under fire for advertising a video with a woman dancing with a t-shirt of Geek list and underwear. Geek list community had to apologize officially and do the necessary that was taking the video down (Mother 8) in November a play station decided to do the craziest thing ever. They advertised their new vista console using a picture of a woman with two sets of breasts but no head. What message are they sending to the young people in the society? A US radio show host called Sandra Flake ‘slut’ and a ‘prostitute’ for supporting the use of contraceptives. It is healthy for a pregnant woman to put on weight after giving birth. Surprisingly the media and fans for not cutting off weight publicly lambasted an Indian actor. Todd kin shocked the citizens of America by saying that women bodies were magically able to ward off pregnancy in case of a legitimate pregnancy. One remains asking what if the rape was illegitimate (Bates, 18) feminism is shunned because it is said to ruin men. Women of today get married at older age than in the earlier days. They want children and husband but then, they have to wait longer. Finish high school, get a degree and masters and a well-paying job, and that is when they will think about marriage (Potts 6). It is awful that the poverty rate among women has increased conspicuously than men. A woman has to work for two weeks to earn what a man can earn within a week. This means they have to get more than two jobs to earn as a man. In the school, too we find that there are more men than women. The number of women in the congress, for example, in America has increased to 21. Gone are the times when we will have only one woman. In countries like Canada, there are many women graduates who work as caregivers. Doing the feminine jobs lie cooking, laundry and washing the house. Does this menial jobs are meant for women (Robyn 2) This is also proved with the fact that women presidents have moved from 3% to 26% but still we need to hit the 50-50 goal ( Musil 20). Women have also done well in sports like athletics and am glad to note that there are football teams and rugby teams for women. Although the teams that are given more support are the men teams. Women are linesmen in games, in games too and this shocks people because it is always a man’s work as depicted by the name (statesman, 2012- 2013). In magazines, women are reduced to a cleavage (Atlantic, 5) .this show where the society places women. While men are executives dressed in suits. Van Hord said that he could get a job at Diggs by sending the founders ‘bikini shots’ of nude calendars’ that he had made from photos of his fellow students at Arizona University. (Jones 8). He seemed to be enjoying his talk but in the real sense, no one enjoyed it. Since women are not well educated compared to men, they end up giving birth too many children. They know nothing to do with contraceptives. Some religions and faiths too do not allow the use of contraceptives, e.g. the Muslims and the Catholics. In careers such as engineering information technology and computer, programming the number of females is less. Women are believed to be studying journalism, public relations and other courses that are why women end up being. Netmums terms feminism as dead. He goes ahead to prove it by saying one out seven women are feminists. The rest have no idea about feminism (Bates 5).How are they supposed to know about feminism yet they are not educated on their rights? It is disastrous that women are suffering many unequal roles in the society and church. Religion should champion gender equality; sadly enough even the bible says that women should not speak in public, and them submissive to their husbands. Women have been denied leadership positions in mosques and churches too. For some time, women could not study theology; they were simply not allowed to. At the end of the day, they will not get employment. To avoid such incidents they decide to study other courses that offer employment to them. In areas like Middle East, Syria to be, specific women are targeted during wars. Their constitution clearly states that women and men should be treated equally, how ironic. DR Mary Mikhael wanted to study theology. She wrote her application and gladly submitted it, only to be rejected not because she had failed in her exams but because theological schools did not admit women. Women have no say in religious say. Their house is the kitchen, laundry and bringing up children. Mikhael compares this to Mary Magdalene and Martha at the time of Jesus. She says women are still treated as Martha who cooked food for Jesus’ disciples (all were men), and this seemed abnormal to her because she complained when Mary Magdalene sits at the feet of Jesus. The bible itself says,” women should be silent in churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate as the law also says” (first Cor. 14; 34).Paul again says,” wives, be subject to your husband’s as you are to the lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, just like Christ is the head of the church." (Eph. 5; 22-23). This means that for Christian women, since religion is always right, their quest for leadership in churches and gender equality in their homes, is not far from impossible.Sharia laws in Yemen and Syria are used for violence against women. For example, being stoned to death because of adultery, denied education, being lashed publicly for disobedience. The women particularly Muslims cannot talk of their rights, only Christian’s women who are few (Mikhael 59). Religion has been used to deny women education and a state in religious institutions and made to stay home and be women. Those women in churches that have decided to openly talk about equality feel guilty of misleading the others. They would rather keep quiet and remain at their ‘place.’ The government and social departments are supporting women by saving them, but the best thing is to support them liberate. ‘Saving’ women are not enough; in the first place what are you saving them from? In Afghanistan, women and children were bombed in bid to save them from Taliban and their religion. Their voices of reason are not heard. Saving women while, in real sense silencing, them was notably exemplified in the plea by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. This was before the war and again in 2008. They women said bombing them did not make them safer but harmed their liberatory movements. Women rights continue to be used as a tool to destroy feminism. Mubeenah Muhgal, organizer around women’s rights and against islamphobia, has been involved in fighting against Quebec’s recently imposed ban on the bra in the public domain. She thinks that no one has the right to dictate the way women dress and express the religious affiliations.” Women should be allowed to choose what to wear and how they want to represent their beliefs." She was addressing the dressing code of Muslim women (Robyn 5). Caryn also noted that despite the escalating numbers of violence against women, the republicans in congress attempted to prevent the renewal of the Violence against Women Act. For the liberation of women to be, successful,’ vigilance is eternal for liberation. Said Ida B. Wells a courageous journalist, civil rights leader and a champion of anti-lynching movement. Women should not give up in the fight but unite and fight (Musil, 18) Although the government has passed many acts to provide women with more equality in the society, it is important to remain an equal opportunity for women and men not only in society but also in school because as having higher education, the improvement of gender inequality will be easier. Educating women and girls improves the harvest, leading to better nutrition, reduced family size, improve the health of families, positive influence on family decisions, improved economics in our countries, and reduction in the number of violence against women and reduce unwanted pregnancies. Nobelist Amartya Sen (2004), says that “crucial role for primary education for all-and women education in particular-are so badly needed in facilitating the social and economic challenges in this world, We should also ensure that every child either female or male graduates college with the ability to use gender as a category of analysis, as a lens through which to interpret the word. This skill will be of great help to everyone and a lasting legacy of the contemporary women movements (Musil, 23). Amartya stresses a critical point that,” the reach of people’s democratic voices can be much steadier, firmer and more extensive when political opportunities are supplemented by social empowerment through education." Therefore, education is the key to every desired dream in life for women and everyone else. Conclusion. As noted earlier, the fight for gender equality is far from over. Be it in our economic, political and social setups. We need to join hands and ensure that men and women enjoy equal rights in every aspect of life. Women are not objects for advertisements or shortcuts into getting jobs (Jones, 8). They are our sisters and mothers. Just the way one can treat their sister or mother they should treat other women too. With much respect and love. Harassing women and degrading them is denying them their rights because they need to have a family, they yearn for chivalry and romance. If they are treated as objects, we may as well forget about families. Women are voice of reason, and we know of great women like Mitchell Obama the first lady of USA, Margret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Mother Teresa, and Oprah Winfrey. They are just a few examples. These women have made positive change in the society because they refused to believe women are weak and cannot be any good except in the kitchen. Women should put their personal and political differences in order to succeed in the liberation of women. They should believe that, however, small the change is it could make a big difference. Feminism and women rights should not be used for the wrong purposes but the right one, which is, liberating women. As noted by Caryn, ‘a world that is good for women, is good for everyone, so let us all stand and make it happen. References Bates, Laura. “The year of sexism." New Statesman. December 2012-January 2013. Print Brooks, David. “The return of the pig: The revival of blatant sexism in America culture has many progressive thinkers flummoxed." Atlantic monthly. 2003. Print. Mother, Jones. “The rise of the programmer is tech new macho swagger turning off women?” Foundation for National Progress. July/August 2012. Print. Potts, Monica. “Why aren’t you married yet?” The American prospect Inc. 2011. Print. Mikhael, Mary. “Women in Eastern Societies and Churches.” World Council of Churches, Ecumenical Review 2012.Print. Musil, Caryn Mctighe. “Who needs it? Gender Equity.” Liberal Education Summer 2013. Print. Robyn, Maynard. “Fighting colonialism, racism and imperialism.” Canadian Dimension Nov/Dec 2010, 44 (6). Pg. 34-36. Read More