Curiosity Project Post #4: Gender
This last week I wanted to discuss an important subject when it comes to the topic of gender, and that subject is about women. I wanted to learn more about how sexism affects women and how they fought for and continue to fight for their equal rights worldwide. As well as explaining how women in different cultures view sexism and oppression.
Firstly, we should start with how sexism affects women today. Sexism can have a big impact on the mental health of women. The lifetime and long-term exposure to sexism comes in various forms, such as through social inequality, which deprives them of equal rights and opportunities. Objectification, in which women may internalize society’s views of them as sexual objects for the gratification of men. And lastly, Hypervigilance, in that women tend to always “be on guard,” which creates greater levels of psychological stress. The World Health Organization explains that mental health issues like depression, anxiety are significantly heightened, related and influenced by sexism towards women. Marginalized women are even more likely to experience these mental health issues. Women of color, queer women, socioeconomically disadvantaged women, and women with other marginalized identities. (Thorpe, 2017)
An important historical point was the rise of the suffragette movement. This is recognized as one of the biggest movements in which women tried to make their voices heard and gain equal opportunities. Initially the suffrage movement addressed social and institutional barriers that limited women’s rights. This included family responsibilities, lack of educational and economic opportunities, and the absence of a voice in politics. (Women’s, 2007) A turning point came in the late 1880s, when women started volunteering for more progressive causes outside of the home. Many women became members of women’s clubs, part of professional societies, temperance advocates, as well as participants in local civic and charity organizations. (Women’s, 2007) This helped spark the rise of the suffragette movement and provided momentum for the movement. It wasn’t until after WW1 however, that in 1918, Canadian women got the right to vote. In 1920, women got the right to vote in the U.S.
During the war around 350,000 women served in the U.S alone, and more than 50,000 women served in Canada. This included Women Airforce Pilots, as well as women working in factory jobs and on other home fronts. In 1942, Congress instituted the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (or Women’s Army Corps). Which by 1945, there were more than 100,000 WAC members and 6,000 female officers. (History.com, 2010) The munitions industry heavily recruited women workers, as shown by the U.S government’s “Rosie the Riveter” propaganda campaign, primarily a fictitious character, though based on a real-life munitions worker. Rosie became one of the most successful recruitment tools in America, along with other similar posters to get women to join the workforce.
However, after the great depression and WW2, the family became the center of American life and women’s role became once again more domestic with affordable suburbs being built in the 50s for the middle class. As well as due to the new modern conveniences, like dishwashers, women had more leisure and were expected to stay at home and take care of their children and do housework. Historian Elaine Tyler May called this circumstance a kind of “domestic containment.” (Postwar, 2007) Data showed that in 1920, 47% of college students were women, but that number dropped in 1958 to 38% despite more available federal aid for education. Due to this change, many postwar wives and mothers, women who had taken over jobs that were usually done my men during WW2; started feeling increasingly frustrated by their lack of professional fulfillment. (Postwar, 2007) This may have contributed to a rise in women who wanted liberation in the 60s. As in this era, the women’s rights movement and the sexual revolution challenged the traditional notions of motherhood and marital relationships. Then by the 1970s many women in marriages worked in careers and jobs like their husbands. (Postwar, 2007)
Other cultures have different views and when it comes to women’s role in society. An often misunderstood take on the role of women, is that of Islam. Many outsiders looking in at Islamic women, share negative stereotypes that they live under oppressive dictatorship ruled by their husbands and fathers or they share the misconception that Islamic women are severely oppressed by their veiling. However, these ideals are customary and ingrained in the culture and many Islamic women feel liberated by their coverings. They feel it provides them with a sense of security, and as Naheed Mustafa states: “Muslim women feel that their coverings bring about an “aura of respect” and that they are recognized as individuals who are admired for their mind and personality, not for their beauty or lack thereof.” (Guzman, 2019) In fact, the Muslim community has progressed and moved forward with many modern views. Islam permits the women, within its culture, to voyage on the Hajj pilgrimage, to exercise the right to vote, engage in politics, to have a job and even run a business as the business owner. The Muslim community also encourages women to be educated and the Islamic world wants them to excel within their areas of interest and expertise. (Guzman, 2019)
Patriarchal societies (meaning male dominated) are the most predominant structure seen in most cultures. However, Matriarchal societies have existed. One such matriarchal group that still exists today, are the Mosuo. They are an ancient tribal community of Tibetan Buddhists in Yunnan, China, and the females are the leaders and are empowered to lead. (Voon, 2018) In this society, fathers don’t exist, neither does marriage, and women have as a few or as many sexual partners as they wish to have. Mosuo men have no responsibility towards their own children, and many Mosuo children will not know their fathers. However, they do have responsibility to the children in their own household such as any nieces, nephews, or even younger siblings. Mosuo men are the household’s second in charge, though the final say is always with the matriarch. (Voon, 2018)
All of these examples in history and of today, show that even though women have long had to fight (and still do) for the same opportunities and rights as their male counterparts, they have done so empoweringly and with strength. Women will continue to excel, and are limitless when it comes to doing great things. In conclusion with what I’ve learned from this project as a whole, I believe that your gender should not looked as a determinate of your worth, nor what you are capable of. Instead, it should be recognized as an individual social and cultural expression of the self.
Sources:
Guzman, A. (2019, February 20). The Role of Women in Islam. Beliefnet. https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/islam/the-role-of-women-in-islam.aspx.
History, Art and Archives. (2007). Postwar Gender Roles and Women in American Politics. US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/Changing-Guard/Identity/.
History, Art and Archives. (2007). The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1920: US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1920 | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/No-Lady/Womens-Rights/.
History.com Editors. (2010, March 5). American Women in World War II. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/american-women-in-world-war-ii-1.
Thorpe, J. R. (2017, June 9). Here’s How Sexism Can Affect Your Mental Health, According To Science. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/heres-how-sexism-can-affect-your-mental-health-according-to-science-62229.
Voon, S. (2018, June 5). This Place Is Feminist Heaven: Where Women Rule And Marriage Doesn’t Exist. Asian Money Guide. https://www.asianmoneyguide.com/mosuo-women.
