even death may die

domingo, abril 23, 2006

Equality for Women and What That Means [or Why No More Pots and Pans] ; 10:46 da tarde

[a pedido de varias famílias ;) ]

Pat Robertson tells us that "[feminism is] a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."Well, yes Pat, but only in our spare time.

Early feminists had an easy task at hand, with definite goals and a clear agenda: the right to vote; the right to learn; the right to work; the right to own property - yes, for there would be years before we could lay claim to our bodies, and the results of that are yet to be seen. The modern world learnt subtlety and suddenly western women are no longer kept under the oppressive rule of male domination. Or so men keep saying.

Apparently women in Africa and in the Middle East are oppressed but not western women. They have reached equality and they ought to be celebrating. And so, because they are no longer sold in marriage, and because they can vote and be elected and not be stoned to death on the grounds of adultery, they must be glad and overlook the fact that a great many deal of them are still getting paid less money for equal work; being denied jobs because they can get pregnant; being denied the right to abortion because their bodies are not their own; being deemed weaker, "emotional", and "angry at men" for remarking on the still existing differences in treatment for both genders.

A girl's childhood is spent among Barbie-dolls and fairy princesses who require being rescued by a prince in order to be happy ever after. And the girl is told "don't run", "don't shout", "that's not ladylike". And she grows up into someone who must, in order to succeed in life, be a wife and a mother and a career woman, and excel at all three. And what could otherwise have turned out to be a strong, confident, well-adjusted individual is still waiting to be rescued. And they keep saying there is no discrimination. And they keep shouting it.

Of course many people would point out that men are also discriminated against. I am not arguing that, I am sure they are in a great many ways. However, at a very primary level, this is still a world largely dominated by men and their rules: culturally, historically, and socially. It is patent in the very way we speak: words like mankind; the use of the masculine form to indicate generality; even the word "woman", some feminists might add.

It has been often said that it is foolish to pursue equality for men and women, since both genders are essentially different, with very unique, distinctive features. As I see it that is a very common misconception of what feminism aims at, which is not equality per se, but rather equal rights. It is nothing but the simplest notion that both a men and a woman are worthy of an opportunity and both capable of doing a good job. More than that, it is the realization that men are not "helping around the house", but only doing their fair share of the work, and that women do not require people to open doors for them. It is also the understanding that being judged for one's fabulous legs and wonderful breasts is not flattering but insulting and one of many ways through which women are objectified, not only by men but by themselves.

Some have argued that feminism is a way of self-discrimination, that through it women are adding to their own sense of difference and self-prejudice. However, the time for women to bow and serve and keep silent about it is long gone in the western culture. That was brought about by women who dared to remark on the difference and rebel against it. No one ever achieved anything by keeping quiet about it. Generations of women who still bow in the corner of their minds keep being bred by a society that perpetuates values of a dying world. And women want no more compromises. "Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less."

publicada por sancie # 10:46 da tarde

Comentários:

LOLOL

2 words: GO SISTERS!!!

and that's all i have to say about this... oh, wait, bloody brilliant too...

;) ************

# publicada por

marina : 11:16 da tarde

YEY! finalmente, tava a ver k nc mais metias aki o essay! eh pah, sinto-me como a mãe dos miúdos na Mary Poppins a cantar "well done, sister suffragette"!!

o essay ta brilhante, agora devias tentar publicá-lo! eh pah, qualquer coisa, o mundo devia saber disto! a sério, gosto mm do essay!

"Cast off the shackles of yesterday!
Shoulder to shoulder into the fray!"

quem quiser que vá ao meu blog k eu vou colocar la a letra! inspiraste-me (outra x)

********************************

# publicada por

joana : 1:25 da manhã

excelente!
clapp clapp clapp!
lindo do principio ao fim!

# publicada por

Tati : 6:43 da tarde

hahah nao ha nada melhor que o doce poder/promessa de uma pseudo-manifestação. esta pelo menos deu algum resultado hehe :)

agora sim uma pessoa pode descansar. deitar fora os planos de revolução, sit back and relax porque o mundo está um pouco melhor com esta tua obra-prima (yes i will go that far) cá fora :)

i bow to you.

beijo grande sancie*

(extremely well done :D)

# publicada por

sahara : 2:18 da tarde

Este comentário foi removido por um gestor do blogue.

# publicada por

*Jenn* : 11:19 da tarde

No need to thank me (sorry I took so long to answer). I definitely think your ego should be huge, you have an amazing talent. I hope to read more from you in the future.

# publicada por

*Jenn* : 11:20 da tarde

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