Last April Maria Shriver, First Lady of California, introduced her project, which she partnered with The Center for American Progress for, named “A Woman’s Nation”. This multi-year project includes reporting to uncover the accurate portrayal of women’s role in modern day society along with their actual impact on the world today culturally and economically.
Recently in America it has become not out of the ordinary for the woman to be the breadwinner for a household. Women also now, for the first time in history, represent half of the workers in the work force. Although women have overcome many hurdles in the past decades, Shriver wants to go deeper and uncover the next steps we have to take as a country to let the American Woman become more successful.
Throughout this project Shriver will also team up with Time Magazine for research and reporting. They will also be taking the project on the road hosting many round tables for men and women and town- hall meetings to discuss the shift in women’s current day roles. Interviews between many female icons and leaders will also be included in research.
Another thing that was noted was that the last time a government project similar to this was organized was by Shriver’s uncle, John F. Kennedy. In 1961, almost 50 years ago, he appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as a chair to a commission, to report on the status of women. The article describes how much the world has changed since then and how “A Woman’s Nation” would update, that very outdated report. The update will include what needs to be done economically, culturally and socially to make sure women continue to thrive in the present day and in the future.
Woman’s rights and equality throughout genders have raised many discussions throughout the years. What do you think about woman’s status in society today? Do men and women really have equal opportunities and rights? Do you think Maria Shriver’s report will raise awareness of equality? Is America truly “a woman’s nation”?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-shriver/a-womans-nation_b_187244.html
The status of women has significantly risen to a level that is only almost equal to men. Although women have risen above being the "stay stay at home moms", there are still obvious gaps between the two genders. Women are still paid approx. 75 cents to a man's dollar. Also, women also get away with particular things solely due to their "softer" ways. Examples include getting out of a speeding ticket, getting custody, getting away with certain crimes, etc. Hopefully, someday, gender roles can balance out even more.
ReplyDeleteI do believe woman's rights are almost equal to men, yes sometimes were not as strong but in the work force women can have any job that a man can. I agree with helenaxbee, that women get away with more than man can, especially speeding tickets. I know for sure that I could make myself cry. Maria Shiver's report will definitely raise awareness about equality. Any type of media brings people to recognize important ideas. I believe America is becoming an equal nation, not just "a woman's nation."
ReplyDeleteWomen's rights and equality in society has increased tremendously over the past century. I believe that the revolutionary and bold women in American history would be very impressed with how far we've come. However, I do not believe women are considered as equals. The stereotypes still remain and those false ideas are very difficult to break. On a national level, women are still paid less than men. Men are more likely to be offered higher positions especially in the corporate world.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is also important to look at the place of women within certain communities as well. Religion plays a part in women's "place" as does geographical location. Women are more likely to be seen as inferior in a rural area as opposed to in a very metropolitan urban setting.
Women have progressed but the progession needs to continue. I completely agree that SKeele's comment is more accurate, that we should strive towards and equal nation, not simply a "woman's nation."
In the past century, there has been enormous progress in the Women's Rights movement. But progress does not mean perfection. Why should we settle for only having more than we previously did?
ReplyDeleteBy not capitalizing on the rights we have now and pursuing those that we don't, we are doing a disservice to the women that sacrificed and toiled to grant us the rights we do have now. They wouldn't just be happy because their efforts granted us more, but limited equality. They would be ashamed that their sisters have settled, lost sight of their vision to perfect equality. Because partial equality was never good enough and should never be.
Yes, in comparison to women in previous decades, we should be thankful for the rights and treatment we have now. But when you really think about it- why should we be thankful for being considered 77% of a man (based on salary)? Why just be thankful that we aren't enslaved or chained to the home, when it is our natural right to have true equality? Not just this comparative illusion society would like us to believe.
And even when you compare us to other countries, where women are horrifically treated- we need to acknowledge their suffering and unite to fight for our international sisters as well as our domestic. Women cannot lose the force of hope that empowered the previous generation to always strive for that more perfect equality.
Women have come a long way in America. The gap between men and women has definitely gotten smaller but it's still not equal. Women do make only .75 to the dollar but I agree with Helena that women also get things because of their softness. I think this nation is becoming more equal, not a woman's nation. There are still stereotypes about men and women and maybe if these were broken we could have an equal society. But we definitely don't have a woman's society at all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helena that women can easily get out of some things. If a man cried when he got pulled over, the cop would just think he was pathetic but the cop would feel bad for a woman if she cried. I also agree with alicia in that we should not give up. Women today still need to fight for more equality. I don't know if men and women will ever be seen as being completely equal, just because of how we are. But it would definitely be good if society can treat women better and not think women can't do some things, because women can do anything men can. I know for me I play rugby and it is seen as being mostly a guy's sport. This is so not true. Many of the women I play against are even tougher than some guys I know. The women that play rugby get hurt every day and still push through the pain, just as men do. Women are just as tough, if not tougher, than men.
ReplyDeleteI belive that womens status now compared to 50 or 60 years ago has changed alot for the better. Yes there is the issue of wome not getting paid equally as men and that is something that many people do not realize. For some reason there is a similar blind knapsack in gender equality like Peggy Mcintosh viewed towards white privilege. I do believe Maria Shriver's report will raise awaremes of equality between males and females. When people realize this i think there will be alot changes happening in the sense of equality. America has somewhat become a womans nation bu there are still some flaws in terms of equality.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though woman's rights have increased a great deal over time and will continue to strengthen with Maria Shriver's report. As we discussed in our discussion on Tuesday morning, with our guest speaker, woman need to realize that things have changed and they have a right as a human beings to stand up for themselves. Our speaker spoke not only about race issues but gender issues as well. In this discussion I said that we will never find justice until we all accept that we all are different in our own ways and we need to learn to accept one another for all that we are. He also noted that he see's many-abused women who allow themselves to get hurt by their spouse. I think Maria Shriver’s efforts are extremely important because even though woman are now more equal then ever before, we have yet to stop the beating and we have yet to spread the word to all woman to make it known they are not inferior. Therefore, I agree with the blog above, which says, "we have become somewhat of a woman's nation but there are still some flaws."
ReplyDeleteI believe that there are different leniences for each sex, and whether that is fair or not is beside the point. Women, as previously mentioned, probably can get out of speeding tickets more easily, because they can cry or flirt with the policeman, while a male driver will probably be condemned for trying to appear macho. On the other hand, men will typically be viewed as more suited for executive jobs, and will get paid a higher salary than women. While neither of these situations should be overlooked with indifference (since both are unfair and are examples of gender inequality), the monetary discrimination against women in the workplace is probably a bigger deal than whether or not you receive a warning for speeding. I'm not a feminist, and I'm not saying that it's okay for cops to be lenient with pretty women -- in fact, I believe strongly that the law should be followed and, if broken, treated with adequate punishment. I simply believe that if both types of situations can be resolved -- if the situations in which men and women are treated differently can be leveled out -- I'm sure the issue of gender roles will be complained about much less in the future. Gender equality may never be attained, and maybe this vision of a woman's nation is unattainable, but it is certainly a goal worth striving for, and a cause worth fighting for.
ReplyDeleteI think women in society are definitely not equal to men but are pretty darn close! I think Shriver’s report will raise awareness and bring women closer to the status of men. Today we see women doing many jobs that are thought to be “a man’s job”. Jobs like firefighters and doctors have all been inhabited by women which is great! I don’t think America is truly a ‘women’s nation’ YET! The equality between men and women is still struggling but I think Shriver’s report will definitely have a positive impact.
ReplyDeleteI believe that woman's rights should be equal to men. However, I think that today it is not necessarily equal yet. It is getting really close, but not yet. I personally think that women should be able to be the bread winner in the family, but still today it is looked down upon in certain cases. This is not fair to me. Women are the same as men and can be just as powerful in the work force. I hope that someday it will be perfectly equal but I'm not so sure that will happen so soon. There are still people who are very strongly against it.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that woman have come a long way, even in the past 50 years alone. Hilary Clinton ran for president and was not taken as a joke, and Sarah Palin was close to becoming vice president. Although those are two important examples of how far women have come, we are still living in a man's world. Women still don't get equal pay and men still dominate high ranking business positions. Furthermore, woman are still portrayed half naked everywhere in the media, seducing men left and right. Why? Because thats what the public like to see, and from a business stance, thats what will get their attention.
ReplyDeleteI think that Maria Shriver's project definitely has the potential to raise awareness to women's rights. If it has a lot of publicity, good support I think it could be a success. However, if it turns into something such as the National Organization for Women, people may be turned off by its intensity.
As far as women's status in society, I believe that women are being taken more seriously than before. As my generation gets older it makes me wonder- When I finish school and enter the work force will I be taken seriously and be given the credit that I deserve? Will I be paid equally to my male coworkers? Will I someday have the power to run a company over a male? I sure do hope so. I have been working just as hard, if not harder, to be succesful in life as my male peers. So, I have faith that women will get to that point of equality.
Although women have come a long way since the beginning of our nation’s history, I today would not say gender roles are equal. There are still a few hurdles to overcome before the race is over. Progress has been made, and the vision of a nation of equality between the sexes is attainable. However, in order to make it possible more individuals need to jump on the feminism bandwagon, and I am not talking about just women.
ReplyDeleteA few of my male friends just recently joined the Facebook fan group “Women bringing you Sandwiches”. In order for equality to be reached, men need to stop treating women as inferior beings! Women have the power to accomplish anything we put our minds to, and we have come a long way since the 1950’s “typical” stay-at-home mom. We are more active in the workforce, and can achieve more than simply making sandwiches!
Just as Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was accomplished, I have hope that one day a nation of equality between gender roles will be achieved as well. I know I myself will not rest until more steps towards equality are obtained. I will settle not settle for anything less that the best!
Unfortunately, I do not think that at this point in time women have the same rights that men do. I think this goes back hundreds of years when men started our country. Our "founding fathers" started the nation, not the "founding mothers". I hope that someday women can progess to be equivalent to men but I also believe that for the most part men and women are doing all right. I believe that some jobs are better suited for women and some jobs are better suited for men. Do I think that women should be paid less? Of course not. I hope that some day men and women will be equal. However, men and women are two different kinds of people. Thats like saying a jar of pickles and a brick are "equal" because they are both inanimate. People are destined to be different. Instead I think that people should strive for balance.
ReplyDeleteThe status of women in today’s society has been continuously increasing in respect to what it was years ago. Their status is more respected and they are viewed as being able to do more things and be considered equal to men. Unfortunately, I do not believe that men and women have equal rights because women receive roughly 78 cents to the dollar compared to what men make. Also, when it comes to a job, I feel as if men would be considered more valuable or qualified, even if that was not the case. Maria Shriver’s report will definitely raise awareness because the government will be more aware of the situation, and businesses will not want to be caught undergoing these acts so they may be inclined to be more just. I do not view America as a “women’s nation” because I believe males will always in some way have more say over all matters.
ReplyDelete