http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/11/women-govern-differently-than-men-better.html
As the article above explores the issue of female representation in the United States government, I have explored such at a local level here at TCU. A great example would be that out of 7 candidates for the SGA Student Body Officer elections this past week, only ONE female ran. Females make up well over half the population here at TCU so I find it completely ridiculous that we refuse to represent ourselves on higher level such as the student government association.
Just as the article discusses a severe lack of female representation in the government, I see such arguments in real life. While women continue to blame men and traditional gender roles for their inability to hold office, I blame them and their lack of effort. If women want things to change in America, we have to stop settling. We have to fight harder than any candidate and reach our fullest potential to reverse these socially embedded stereotypes that we belong at home and home alone. It's up to us and until we realize that, nothing will change.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Definition of rape now includes Men
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-01-07/opinion/opinion_matlack-men-rape_1_sexual-abuse-mad-men-victim?_s=PM:OPINION
In the article linked above, the Justice Department makes a decision to alter the definition of rape to include not only women, but men as well. This is interesting to me because it most certainly is a step in revolutionizing the traditional gender roles of past. With issues such as gay marriage becoming so prominent today, I think a change is taking place all across the board in the distinct separation of male and female that has ruled our society for so long.
These types of changes are important to me and my life because it gives me hope for women's progression in the future. The more similar the gender roles become, and the more it is accepted socially, the easier it will be for women to take on prominent roles in society. Currently, it is difficult for a woman to be taken seriously in a professional setting, simply due to preconceived notions of my gender and our traditional "role". This is frustrating, especially since we are half the population. We should half the prominent positions within our culture, yet we struggle to hold even a portion of that. Maybe things are really starting to change.
In the article linked above, the Justice Department makes a decision to alter the definition of rape to include not only women, but men as well. This is interesting to me because it most certainly is a step in revolutionizing the traditional gender roles of past. With issues such as gay marriage becoming so prominent today, I think a change is taking place all across the board in the distinct separation of male and female that has ruled our society for so long.
These types of changes are important to me and my life because it gives me hope for women's progression in the future. The more similar the gender roles become, and the more it is accepted socially, the easier it will be for women to take on prominent roles in society. Currently, it is difficult for a woman to be taken seriously in a professional setting, simply due to preconceived notions of my gender and our traditional "role". This is frustrating, especially since we are half the population. We should half the prominent positions within our culture, yet we struggle to hold even a portion of that. Maybe things are really starting to change.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Segregation is an issue that will always have its hold within society as long as any type of differences among individuals exist. People claim that segregation is a thing of the past however, deeming the Civil Rights Movement as the death of segregation. However, an article written by Motoko Rich in the New York times just yesterday (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/education/segregation-prominent-in-schools-study-finds.html?ref=todayspaper&moc.semityn.www) lays out in detail just how prominent segregation still is today.
It's no longer about whether or not people are following the law in regards to what is right and wrong. There are always options in which obey higher authority yet undermine it at the same time. This is seen in the rising number of students of caucasion ethnicity attending upperclass private learning institutions that lower income minority families could never afford, therefore installing a new type of segregation in America. In fact, one state pinpointed as a central location for such activity is my very home, Texas. In allowing this to continue, and limiting the opportunities of others through a financial hierarchy, I am ultimately only limiting myself as well as our country. Race and gender have no effect on an individuals potential when given the best opportunities if education. I am not competing among what is really the best and the brightest but rather the most rich and the whitest. Allowing segregation to grow only encourages a closed mind as well, ridding us of the very ideal our nation was originally founded on, tolerance.
It's no longer about whether or not people are following the law in regards to what is right and wrong. There are always options in which obey higher authority yet undermine it at the same time. This is seen in the rising number of students of caucasion ethnicity attending upperclass private learning institutions that lower income minority families could never afford, therefore installing a new type of segregation in America. In fact, one state pinpointed as a central location for such activity is my very home, Texas. In allowing this to continue, and limiting the opportunities of others through a financial hierarchy, I am ultimately only limiting myself as well as our country. Race and gender have no effect on an individuals potential when given the best opportunities if education. I am not competing among what is really the best and the brightest but rather the most rich and the whitest. Allowing segregation to grow only encourages a closed mind as well, ridding us of the very ideal our nation was originally founded on, tolerance.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/29/opinion/ghitis-sex-strikes/index.html?hpt=op_bn5
The above article has to do with the fight for democracy by the women of the small African country Togo. These women have fought with every tactic possible and are now launching a "sex strike" against the men of their country to replace the current dictatorship with a democracy. To me it's a very inspiring story as it high lights the determination and persistence of the female gender. Knowing how ardently these individuals must fight to obtain something I was born in to gives me appreciation for the land in which I live. I think it is important for the people of my country to understand how incredibly lucky they are to be ruled by a democracy and to stop complaining about our government and instead start taking advantage of it. Too many people complain about who is in office or what policies and laws were passed or rejected. Yet, ironically enough, those same people complaining are the ones who chose not to vote when elections rolled around.
Our government was created to give equality to all, allowing the representation of each individual. Whether or not the individual chooses to honor or utilize such representation however has become the issue. If our citizens could live the life of these women in Togo for just a week, maybe they would appreciate what is taken for granted as the first American citizens did. In all honesty, the majority of our government's problem is the lack of concern and interest of my generation. Apathy will be the downfall of our country if we do not start caring just as much, if not more, as the women of Togo.
The above article has to do with the fight for democracy by the women of the small African country Togo. These women have fought with every tactic possible and are now launching a "sex strike" against the men of their country to replace the current dictatorship with a democracy. To me it's a very inspiring story as it high lights the determination and persistence of the female gender. Knowing how ardently these individuals must fight to obtain something I was born in to gives me appreciation for the land in which I live. I think it is important for the people of my country to understand how incredibly lucky they are to be ruled by a democracy and to stop complaining about our government and instead start taking advantage of it. Too many people complain about who is in office or what policies and laws were passed or rejected. Yet, ironically enough, those same people complaining are the ones who chose not to vote when elections rolled around.
Our government was created to give equality to all, allowing the representation of each individual. Whether or not the individual chooses to honor or utilize such representation however has become the issue. If our citizens could live the life of these women in Togo for just a week, maybe they would appreciate what is taken for granted as the first American citizens did. In all honesty, the majority of our government's problem is the lack of concern and interest of my generation. Apathy will be the downfall of our country if we do not start caring just as much, if not more, as the women of Togo.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
The above article is a detailed account of the Republican Convention women and how they are contributing to a solution in the struggle of winning the women's vote in the United States. Personally, I think it's a little insulting to instead host a frilly party in pink to gain the approval of America's women, considering the women advocating civil rights wouldn't be distracted for a second by such a ploy. We want to focus on the issues, we want to continue the fight because if we don't, nothing will ever change.
Civil rights and social issues have a huge impact on my life, especially considering the fact that I am a woman. The option of an abortion, paying for birth control, and other issues are all factors that could play some role in my life so the decisions or opinions certain parties have on them have a large effect on where my vote and support goes. The Republican Party choosing to simply ignore addressing such issues for fear of losing votes only encourages me to further reject that party as a whole. You can not find a solution to a problem by simply ignoring its existence.
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