Women in Society | elink

HISTORY

As mentioned in the video, women have had a very complicated and extraneous time fighting against the prejudice given to them by the higher-classed citizens of our society. The more they fought, the more progress that was made. Things that were previously prohibited to all women in the United States such as voting, owning property, serving on a jury, etc... were eventually lifted due to the thousands of brave, determined women that stood up for their roles in society. Extreme accomplishments were made when the 19th Amendment was ratified, as well as when Title VII of the Civil Rights act was passed prohibiting sex discrimination in employment. The amount of dedication and devotion provided by the multitudes of women, and even some men, throughout our past generations has given equality to all women in the United States today. However, women are still often viewed in the eyes of society as lesser than men and as the weaker sex all over the world. Expectations of women are high when it comes to housework and creating a family, but certain areas such as employment and education is deemed unnessecary for many, whether or not different governments have addressed women as equal to men.

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Gender Inequality

Gender inequality still exists today all over the world even though women have proved their worth and abilities in society. While the inequality may not exist specifically by law or by governmental controls in some countries, it can be expressed indirectly and directly through everyday interactions. Many still believe that women should play the domestic role in everyday environments, often denying them of a chance to succeed in the workplace, in public, or even at home. In the novel, "The Handmaid's Tale, women of lower classes are assigned specific duties by the new tyrannical government of Gilead. These assigned jobs include serving as a Martha( a chef), a slave, or being appointed to a designated couple in order to bear a child for them. These jobs oppress women and restrict their previously gained freedoms, thus resulting in women taking on the submissive role again. Everyday, women are being suppressed by the views of people in society and told that they are only useful for domestic activities, but this is not true. Women deserve to be treated equally in every continent. Women deserve respect for all that they do and accomplish within our atmosphere. Women play an extremely important role in developing our society, much beyond that of what others believe they are here for. It's time that humanity understands and learns to accept women for their importance rather than degrading them morally and socially.

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Labels Against Women

Women are often faced with the issue of how they are viewed in the public's eye. Labels exist and cause for many women to feel and be unsuccessful in their environment. Standards of women continue to inflict upon their opportunities to get jobs, have families, and become of higher importance in our society. Assumptions of what women can do and accomplish should not be made upon their gender. Women can succeed and should be able to hold such power as a man can, without being judged differently. Once these labels on women are lifted, equality will pervade and women will become more confident in their abilities.

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Violence Against Women

While oppression is a serious issue that exists against women in the world today, so is the issue of abuse. Violence against women exists in many forms, whether it be physical or mental. Many women are abused and mistreated by partners, coworkers, family members, etc... everyday. Sexual violence has been and continues to be a very urgent conflict around the world, for at least 35% of women all over have experienced sexual assault at some point in their lifetime. In the novel, Offred, the main character, is given off as a handmaid to a very powerful couple who use her solely for her reproductive system. Once a month, Offred must give her body away for the Commander's use and pleasure without any sort of resistance or she shall be punished. While the government doesn't view this conduct as sexual assault, it most definitely is. It is important that people are informed of violence against women and understand what it looks like in order to help prevent it from occurring. While many governments have addressed violence against women and created laws to protect them, some governments still deny this assualt as wrong and allow women to continue to be mistreated. Power is all controlling and without the help from their government in certain nations, women will continue to suffer physical, mental, and sexual abuse until something is done to cease it.

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