I thought the chapter we read last week about women and education was hard to believe. To think that it wasn’t all that long ago that just because you were a woman, you had to endure the oppression that was dictated by white men in many ways, and even the right to receive a decent education. We really take that for granted now, and I am so grateful to women like Emma Willard who fought for and pioneered women’s colleges.
I think what impacted me the most was the notion that men dominated the household, and that when women were finally allowed to receive an education, it was still only to support their husbands and to make a “good wife”.
The thing is, was that in my opinion, women were made to believe that they were pampered housewives when they were doing all of the work in the home anyway. Not only were the women not getting credit for it, but also they themselves actually believed that that was their only role in society. It was hypocritical way of life for these women to have to learn by reading their husbands books, but they weren’t supposed to express their views or thoughts.
To me, it was another form of slavery and oppression by the dominant white males against even their own wives. They didn’t want their women to be too smart, to especially get to “big for their britches”, so to speak. As in all forms of slavery and oppression, it’s based of the fear of losing the power and control.
I am so happy I didn’t live during those times, but I wonder if discrimination still goes on in public education to day. For example, male dominated Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale. Women do get accepted and graduate with honors, but it still maintains a very white male dominated “secret society” type of culture.
This is my take on the whole discsrimination against women thing. It still goes on today, but to a much lesser degree. In the past, women were seen as "baby makers" who stayed home, cared for the children, house, and husband, and painted a pretty picture of their image and of their homelife. That was their duty. Of course women had no idea that this was opression since they had never learned otherwise. It took strong, aggressive women to realize that women had the ability to learn great things and succeed in ways other than just motherhood. Books were written to help men succeed, not women, resources were minimal for women, and their role in society was clearly outlined. It's really hard to think you're capable of more when every one around you thinks otherwise. So, men did a great job of keeping their women in the dark. To me, men didn't want to be challenged by their wives, rather, they wanted to be pampered by them. Apparently it was a scary thought to have your wife have an intelligent conversation with you!
ReplyDeleteThings have changed, and now women earn higher degrees, make good money, and have a say in the household, yet, it is still not equal. I really don't know if it will ever be equal, since it is ingrained in our society that men still dominate. I don't walk around whining, though, because I think I have it pretty good. :-)
I think prejudice and discrimination are still going on in our society. I believe it's more subtle, but it's there. There are a lot of jobs where men get paid more money for doing the same amount of work as a woman. I do not have any stats to prove it. But I know women who tell me about this type of discrimination all of the time. I know I need to be aware that prejudice and discrimination are still out there. If I am aware, I can give and try to treat people fairly.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to generalize and blame white men, because they are to blame, but you also have to remember that the vast majority of Anglo men were not landowners and could not vote. So, excluding the pampered minority, most white men and women were closer to being slaves than they were to the elite. These days,class trumps ethnicity,and rich women can still do whatever they want.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how much prejudice exists in society today...I know that certain professional professions more frequently hire men over women but I also believe that some professions are more quick to hire women before men. For example if a woman wanted to be a firefighter, (which is more uncommon that common) she would have a greater chance at getting the position over a man. This happens because so few women apply and if they pass the test then they have to hire them to avoid the prejudice threat. Several men apply to the fire acadamy and are turned down because it is so competitive. And look at the education profession, there is many more female teachers than males, does that have to do with our society being prejudice or just the fact that men are disinterested in teaching. If you look into professions involving the business world then yes, more men are hired and paid more in those types of positions. So in a sense prejudice still exists, although it is occurring less often and it also depends on the situation.
ReplyDeletecool comments...lots of food for thought.
ReplyDeleteif we're talking about women in america, then we have it made compared to other women in many cultures around the world...who still live in the dark ages. what about them?
stoning still goes on, with laws allowing men to legally beat the life out of their wives, even set them on fire if they are suspected of cheating, or even if the man just wants out. how about having to cover every inch of your body even your face and eyes in black wool? and education? daughter are sold if a family is too poor to eat. this is reality sadly...
i agree with louis as far as class goes to a certain degree, and yet, if you have made your own money and you're a rich woman, then men are afraid of you and call you names! if you marry a rich man, then you are a gold digger, and sometimes that also means letting the male dominate.
in my opinion it's still a man's world, but definitely better than things used to be. at least women can vote! :)
Yes, I feel that women have it just as hard, if not more so, to gain an education as minorities. How is it that some have blasted past these barriers? Is the country changing? Argentina had a female president, which I thought was to foreshadow the ‘08 election. Now Brazil, for the first time has a female president. There are women in high places. I understand oppression for I identify with who I am. But is that ever going to be similar, I mean on the same scale, as the oppression women feel? I wonder if I really want to know?
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