Step 1: Read and annotate Ch. 1 "Night" (Yes, it is a mere 1+ page long.)
You all will quickly realize that The Handmaid's Tale is a satire. It wasn't published in a vacuum; rather, it was published with a purpose and in a context. But is it still relevant today, 25 years post-publication?
Step 2: Listen to this interview with Margaret Atwood.
Step 3: In an effort to get an answer to the above question and explore more of what Atwood references in this interview, I would like for each of you to research and compose a brief report on the state of women somewhere in the world. Choose a place; tell us about the rights and lives of women there.
Two requests:
1. You can't post about a place that someone else has already posted on. Make sure you read the previous posts before you begin your response.
2. Include your source(s) in MLA format at the end of your response. Don't worry about parenthetical citations, though.
Be thoughtful. Be accurate. Be specific. Be thorough. Be current.
General length: 1-2 well-developed paragraphs
Value: 20 points.
I look forward to your findings. See you Wednesday.
The Catholic Church is one of the most harshly judged groups based on its inequality between men and women. The greatest offense is that women cannot be in positions of power like men of the church. No woman can be ordained, and thus, it is the men running the church from the Pope all the way down to the priest. Even certain Catholic beliefs seem to take away the rights of women such as the illegality of abortion and contraception. These beliefs seem ancient in today’s world, but they truly are based in ancient times, the time of Jesus. The Church’s beliefs on women come from interpretations of the scripture. Lines like, “Let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands,” found in Ephesians, enforce the subordination of women. The most widely used example is God’s choice to create man first and then make woman subordinate not only by creating her second but also by creating her out of man (his rib). Thus, the Bible and its interpretation have led to the subordination of women in the Catholic Church.
ReplyDeleteA faith rooted in tradition and unwilling to change, it is unlikely that women will ever be allowed to have the same power as men. They will never be able to rule the church as the Pope does or translate the word of God to a community as a priest does. However, many women are taking what they have been given and making the most of it. Pia de Solenni who completed her doctoral work in theology in Rome looks at the role of a priest not as one of power. Rather, a priest is someone who serves the people. If this service is put into the context of a spousal relationship, the husband loves his wife so greatly that he gives up his life for her just as Christ died for the church. It is this male connection between Christ and serving the people that influences the role of men so greatly in the church. Oppositely, women are those who bear life and their consent is what powers the church just as Mary said, ‘Yes,” to God and birthed Jesus. Although I don’t see how women are unable to do what men do and give their lives up to God, this is one of the more positive interpretations of the male and female roles in the church.
The Catholic Church does not change its doctrines very quickly and rarely at all. It took thousands of years for the Pope to say the use of contraceptives is okay solely in the case of HIV/AIDs. Thus, the Church’s stance on women is not going to change any time soon. Men will continue to dominate, and women will have to be second best, although they have slowly begun gaining some positions of power in working with the Church. Some women choose to fight the ancient rules while others choose to look at the positive aspects of being a woman in the Church. For now, however, women are still discriminated against and do not have as great of a voice in the Catholic faith.
Kaczor, Christopher. "Does the Catholic Church Hate Women? (This Rock: March 2006)." Catholic Answers: Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Evangelization, Catholic Teachings, Catholic Radio, Catholic Publishing, Catholic Truth. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
Pia De Solenni. "Our Role in the Church." Editorial. The Washington Post 24 Apr. 2005: B03. The Washington Post. 24 Apr. 2005. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
After reading the first chapter of The Handmaid’s Tale and listening to the BBC interview with Margaret Atwood then researching women’s rights in France I found some interesting and conflicting ideas on women’s role in society. In Atwood’s interview she describes the society in which her novel is set, the Republic of Gilead, as an oppressive far right Christian sect. Atwood also discusses the importance of reproduction to a totalitarian society in order to maintain the population.
ReplyDeleteWhile France is not under totalitarian rule, they do offer benefits for women who reproduce. The French government has taken population control in a completely different direction compared to the fictitious Republic of Gilead. After giving birth a woman is offered perineal therapy (physical therapy for new mothers) “free nursery schools, generous family allowances, tax deductions for each child, discounts for large families on high-speed trains, and the expectation that after a paid, four-month maternity leave mothers are back in shape — and back at work” all paid for by the government. The French government wants their women to be making babies and making babies fast.
While women are encouraged to reproduce in a positive and somewhat enticing way, this doesn’t mean they have earned special treatment in all areas. Women in France are still lagging behind powerful business executives that remain for the most part men. Women don’t earn as much as men and aren’t given positions of power in the workplace quite nearly as often. And by having governmental support to have children, women are spending more and more time at home. They stay in domestic positions while the men rule the business world. The women of France may be given benefits for having children but they are thus hindered from excelling in other fields besides the home. It is said “France crystallizes the paradox facing many women across the developed world in the early 21st century: They have more say over their sexuality (in France birth control and abortion are legal and subsidized), they have overtaken men in education and are catching up in the labor market, but few make it to the top of business or politics.”
The Handmaid’s Tale, I believe, is still very relevant in today’s world. Margaret Atwood said in her interview with BBC that if you accept things they way they are they will get worse, but if you try to fix it in a radical way, heads will roll. While the women of France may be happy now being paid to bear children, they won’t be satisfied for long. Soon they will be thirsting for power positions in the ever growing business oriented society we live in.
Bennhold, Katrin. "Where Having It All Doesn't Mean Having Equality." The New York Times. 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
As much as it seems forced marriages are a thing of the past, they are still very present in Afghanistan. Parents have been arranging their daughter’s marriages for years. These women’s futures don’t look bright. The Afghan constitution states: "Any kind of discrimination and privilege among citizens of Afghanistan is forbidden. Citizens of Afghanistan, men and women, have equal rights and responsibilities in front of the law." But this can only be put to practice when the women have their papers declaring them a legal citizen. And statistics say that only 1 out of 5 women have these papers. So when they are forced into marriage, and decide to do something about it, the process is very difficult when they show up without papers proving their citizenry.
ReplyDeleteAt the young age of 14 many girls are told they will be married and their parents will pay the dowry. “Forced marriage is a cultural practice in Afghanistan. Marriages are used to settle debts or to strengthen family status through social alliances. Poor families consider a daughter as an economic burden who must be married quickly to reduce the financial strain.” Their parent’s lives revolve around finding their spouse; once this is done they are no longer tied to their daughters. They have provided for them as they were expected to.
UNICEF’s solution for this is education. As women become educated they appreciate their rights more and more. And they want to utilize them, because they didn’t know their government cared for them so much. It’s a sad issue that’s been going on for so long, it’s sad more progress hasn’t been made.
Walther, Cornelia. "Forced and Early Marriages Still Common for Girls in Afghanistan." UNICEF. 18 Mar. 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
It is no secret that women in Saudi Arabia do not have as many rights as those here in the United States, or any other Western country for that matter. What the women in Saudi Arabia can and cannot do is strictly limited. The country follows the Sharia Islamic law and it restricts women from going out in public without an “abaya” (head to toe robe-like dress), studying certain subjects at universities (law and engineering), voting, and they are not even allowed to drive. It is also no secret that outside women and human rights activists constantly put pressure on the country to grant more freedoms to the women – who make up over half of the population. Within the country not all men are opposed. There are some more liberal Saudi Arabians who would not be opposed to women driving, or even holding an identification card. But what do the women think about the issue?
ReplyDeleteOne anonymous Saudi Arabian women believes that the outside world's view on the issue is often “exaggerated.” She believes that under Islam, females are given a kind of respect that is often not seen anywhere else, and that most women don't even mind wearing the abaya – after all, it's tradition. She says, “Reporters make a lot of fuss about the fact that women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, but it keeps 500,000 men in work as chauffeurs!” So does the outside world exaggerate the situation, or are many of the women fine with their limits just because any other way would be foreign to them? Either way, by looking at the lack of woman's rights in Saudi Arabia, it makes me feel blessed to be living in the United States.
Pejman, Peyman. "Saudi Arabia: Women Say Religious Traditions Block Their Rights." The Religious Consultation Home Page. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Ltd., Actis. "Eye On... Saudi Arabia - Women's Rights." Welcome to Global Eye. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
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ReplyDeleteJust because something is stated in a country's constitution, it is not necessarily going to be enforced and implemented into their society. Romania's constitutional laws express the belief that both men and women will be treated equally. However, this has not held true because many of the people in Romania do not want to accept women's equal rights. In elections, it is rare for a woman to be elected, simply because of her gender. Women also have higher unemployment rates, earn lower wages, and rarely hold high positions in their workplaces. These problems are difficult to solve because it isn't easy to change the minds of people who are set in their ways.
ReplyDeletePart of the Romanian laws against gender discrimination also include a law against sexual harassment. However, domestic violence, trafficking, and other types of harassment of women are extremely common in Romania. In a 2002 survey, around 1 of every 3 women acknowledged having been physically abused, with around 1 of every 14 women saying they had been sexually abused. Also, it is nearly impossible for a woman to prove she has been raped because she must obtain a medical certificate and a witness. Even if it is proven, the person who raped her may be excused from punishment if they agree to marry the woman they raped. However, an even larger problem than domestic violence and rape is trafficking. Although there are rules against it, women's trafficking is still extremely high in Romania with no sign of being put to a stop anytime soon.
If the people of Romania are unable to change their views of women, the government cannot do much to change those views. Even if the government has laws to give women equal rights, they are not effective, because many people will just ignore these laws and do as they please, because the mistreatment and inequality of women is not something that is very easy to accuse people of doing.
"Romania: 2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Romania." U.S. State Department: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 28 Feb. 2005. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
Women in Tunisia are unique in the Arab world because they enjoy near equality with men. Women are found working in almost all professions, and hardly any of them wear the Muslim headscarf. Tunisian women have the same rights to divorce as men and have had access to birth control since 1962. They have also had access to abortion since 1965 (eight years before Roe v. Wade gave American women the same right).
ReplyDeleteIn a recent interview I heard on NPR, a Tunisian female criminal lawyer named Irgui Najet explained that Tunisian women “feel more free and more civilized than other Arab women." She said "especially since our revolution, we pity the women in neighboring countries. Look at Libya where they have to wear headscarves and can't even talk with men. This is a catastrophe."
A 1956 civil rights code gave women in Tunisia many freedoms and equality. Tunisian women give credit to their former President and founding father Habib Bourguiba who led the independence struggle from France and wanted women to play a full role in Tunisian society. Women are also given equal opportunities because, unlike other Arab countries, Tunisia has an excellent education system that is open to all.
Currently women are playing a very important role in Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution. The people of Tunisia are attempting to overthrow their current president Ben Ali. Many people believe that Ben Ali pretended to supports women’s rights in order to please the west, but his return to an Islamist party may pose a threat to the current position of women in Tunisia. However, Asma Belkassem, a 31-year-old female lawyer, says "What is sure is that we women have rights in Tunisia, and no one can take them away now. Not the Islamists or anybody else."
Abdelhadi, Magdi. "How Will Political Change Affect Women in Tunisia?" BBC. 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
Beardsley, Eleanor. "In Tunisia, Women Play Equal Role in Revolution." Morning Edition. National Public Radio. 27 Jan. 2011. Radio.
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ReplyDeleteThe Chinese Constitution states that men and women should have equal rights in every aspect of life, and women’s rights has its own organizations that are able to effectively advocate on many basic human and women’s rights. However, women’s rights still take the backseat when there are Party or government policy conflicts. Even with these efforts, abuses against women are not reported in the media because the CCP believes that most news should be positive.
ReplyDeleteTwo main deterrents of women’s rights are education and equality and the one-child policy. Only 25% of undergraduate students are women and the number of rural girls not attending school is increasing. Because of this, 70% of Chinese illiterates are female. This is because rural parents don’t want to “waste” their money on educating their daughters because they will be passed on to another family to deal with them when they get married. The one-child policy, as well as the idea that sons are more desirable than daughters, is promoting violence and forced use of contraceptives. Women are While there are incentives offered by authorities to enforce this rule, such as educational and housing benefits, there are also punishments for those who do not comply with this rule, such as salary cuts or property confiscation. These consequences are enough to make women go through whatever processes necessary to ensure that they don’t have more than one child, even if it means unsafe abortions or abandoning their baby girls.
Lau, Charles. "China Human Rights Fact Sheet." Christus Rex. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
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ReplyDeleteBefore I started research on the rights of Cuban women, I had an idea that I would find unpleasant things due to the past treatment of Cuban citizens. However, this was not the case. I began to uncover a country that truly seems to value its women and works to provide equal care and opportunity to all citizens, particularly women. The women’s movement began in 1960 with the creation of The Federation of Cuban Women and since then has continued to pave the way for future women in all professions and walks of life. The Federation works with all groups to dissect problems concerning women and to offer a reasonable solution.
ReplyDeleteSexual discrimination is outlawed under the Cuban Constitution and many steps have been taken to enforce the law. This entails that women should be entitled to an equal basis when applying for jobs including public office, should have rights such as maternity leave and things of that nature, should be allowed to be active in the Cuban military, and should have an equal educational opportunities. The Cuban government and society has done an acceptable job at ensuring these rights to their women. Since the women’s rights section of the Constitution was ratified, women have come to occupy 44% of the total work force, including 51% of all doctors and 43% of all scientists. The country’s National Assembly is made of 33% women, which ranks as number seven in the world as percentage of women in government positions. In Cuba once a woman is six months pregnant she is guaranteed full pay and job holding for up to a year after the baby is born. If the family so chooses the father of the child can instead take the maternity leave after the baby is born while the mother returns to work. Every female receives a part military training and has the option to join the armed forces, including an all female guerilla group. Cuban education is equal for both genders but also promotes the advanced placement of women by teaching equality in schools.
The Cuban government is harsh when these rights are taken away from any individual. The courts have also been said to be particularly harsh in cases of domestic abuse and rape.
My ideas of women in Cuba have been entirely altered by this research. What I thought would be an oppressive society to women is in actuality a very accepting and equal society to both genders. In this way, I believe Cuba deserves some credit for how it has turned around its treatment of its people.
Horta, Lucila. "In Cuba Women Confront Gender Roles - New York Latino Journal." NY Latino Journal. 15 Dec. 2005. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
"Women In Cuba." Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Web. 31 Jan. 2011. .
In Mali, while the legal side of things say that Women are equal to men, there are many laws that contradict this and the social way that women are treated is degrading and completely unhealthy.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, due to the poverty and the amount of people with HIV many women in Mali are forced into prostitution which is legal in Mali. There are also laws against child trafficking but it does not address adult women and young women are often trafficked for involuntary domestic servitude and often for sexual exploitation. The family and marriage laws often put women down as well. Women are required legally to obey their husbands and the woman can be divorced for almost anything. Examples are refusing to have sex, burning dinner, or talking back to their husband in any way. If a woman's husband dies, she is only to inherit an eighth or her husband's property so the widow often has to move and find a place on her own. The legal age for marriage for women is only 15 while for men it is 18. It is not uncommon to see a 15 year old girl married to a 40 year old man in Mali because often enough the parents choose the husband for their daughter for money.
While this all sounds pretty terrible, probably the worst thing in Mali is the massive amount of female genital mutilation. 93.7% of women have major parts of their genitals cut off at birth, just before or after the birth of their first child, or whenever they are married. The number one reason for this happening is just because it is tradition to do so and the people there are not educated enough to realize the health risks and the ridiculousness of continuing this practice. Few women are educated and this education is often only equal to our elementary school or some high school and only 33% can read and write. Female genital mutilation very often causes intense pain, hemorrhage, disease, infection, tetanus, shock, damage to adjoining organs, and in increased risk of getting HIV. This is often because the cuts are made with sharp stones, glass that is jagged and broken, scissors, rusty metal objects, or razor blades; none of which being sterilized and the female not being under anesthesia. Sometimes we forget just how lucky we are in America to be able to at least have a right to our body parts.
Reymond, Laura, Asha Mohamud, and Nancy Ali. "PATH : Female Genital Mutilation – The Facts." PATH: A Catalyst for Global Health. Web. 01 Feb. 2011.
Stewart, Rebecca. "Mali Battles over Women's Rights | World News | Guardian Weekly." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. Web. 31 Jan. 2011.
With all the media’s coverage of the protests in Egypt, I chose to research the position of women in Egypt. In ancient times, Egyptian women had the same status as men. They could own land, choose to divorce, and even become the Pharaoh. Women were free to go outside as they wished and were unveiled. Though women did take care of their households and children, they were able to achieve high social positions, like “a non-royal woman named Nebet, who was “Vizier, Judge, and Magistrate.”” (Crystallinks).
ReplyDeleteHowever, as the times have changed, so have the roles of women. Now, the role of a woman is in the home, raising the children and taking care of the household. Marriage is an important part of Egyptian life. Once married, the role of the woman is to have children. Sons are especially valued, and each household strives to have two sons. Girls, while they are valued, are sheltered. They live under their father’s rules and live with their families until they are married, at which point they live under the authority of their husbands. Since Egypt is a Muslim country, many women wear the abaya and a veil to go out, though it is not required. However, some women choose to wear European and American dresses instead.
An article I read from the New York Times shared some statistics. According to the World Economic Forum, Egypt is ranked 120 out of 128 nations for gender equality. Of the 454 seats in the Egyptian Parliament, only 4 are held by women. And illiteracy rates are shocking: the Egyptian Market survey said that “47 percent of rural women and 23 percent of urban women can not read or write.”
El-Naggar, Mona. "In Egypt, Women Have Burdens but No Privileges." The New York TImes 13 July 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2011.
"Women in Ancient Egypt." Crystalinks Home Page. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. .
Aykroyd, Clarissa. "The People." Egypt. Philadelphia: Mason Crest, 2004. Print.
Mostly all racial and ethnic groups in South Africa have strong beliefs concerning gender roles that are mostly based on the idea that women are inferior and less important of men. People believe that they deserve little to no power. Males dominate most African traditional social organizations. During the 1950’s, most women lived in the former homelands opposed to urban areas where malnutrition, illness, and infant mortality were very large problems. Job of women typically includes being a temporary worker in agriculture or a part of the industrial work force.Today, women walk behind their husbands. Any of their contributions to society must be approved by a man.
ReplyDeleteNew political developments offered South African women with new opportunities and privileges. Many males’ jobs have required that they leave their homes for several months at a time. As a result, women have begun to take on many jobs that normally males would have done. They have to guarantee every day survival for their families while also carrying out financial and legal transactions that would have normally been done by their husbands.
Surprisingly, South African women, over the past four years, have developed several programs to promote women in the struggle for freedom and equality. The African National Congress Women's League organized more than 20,000 women to march on government buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws and other apartheid restrictions in 1955. Their protests failed. In the early 1960s, pass-law restrictions were extended to women and new legislation restricted black women without steady employment to stays of no more than seventy-two hours in any urban area. Also in 1964, many senior ANC leaders were arrested, and others fled from South Africa or went underground, and the ANCWL became almost defunct.
Women in Society. US Library of Congress. Web. .
I found the imagery in the first chapter of The Handmaid's Tale to be very detailed and I could almost see the gym and smell it, as if I were there. It was easy to read and I understood it. In the BBC interview, Atwood talks about how in some countries women's roles are beginning to change and become more like those of Western women. I researched how Greek women are treated now because I have a slight obsession with anciet Greece and was curious to find out how things have changed.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my source, "their common view about women was that women were inferior, sexually dangerous, and too vulnerable. In addition to that, they were allowed to exercise authority over others, but only to a very limited extent; very informally, and in only very specific parts of her social acquaintance such as her extended family." This was before WWII and also according to my source, the roles of women have become much more like that of "western women." In Greece, women won equallity in the 1950's, but just because something is made a law doesn't mean it is enforced as it should be. Women are still forced into marriages and men have control over the governmnt, but things are still looking up for most Greek women. however, in ceratin areas women are still treated as inferior.
A big role for women in Greece is to be the mothers and child bearers. In comparrison to the role of women in America, Greek women still have a long way to go, but they have their legal equality and the power to insight change in their world.
"Women's Role in Greece." GreeceGreek.com - Information on Travel, Ancient Greece, Mythology, Maps, Facts. Web. 01 Feb. 2011.
After thinking through and through about what culture I would post about, I decided to look into the Islamic culture and dig deeper into their views on womens' role in the gender dispute. Contrary to most belief, women are viewed as equals to men in the Quran. Men are known as the maintainers of women, but not believed to have more rights. Islamics believe that each gender has it's roles. Now in each circumstance, I'm sure this is up for debate. But by the book, women are said to be created equally.
ReplyDeleteOne might think that the cloth wrapped around their face, only exposing their eyes is a sign of weakness and conformity to the fellow man. But that is incorrect. They only wear hijab around unfamiliar men that are not relatives or their husbands to prevent acts of indecency on both the women and the mens part. You could interrupt this to American terms by saying that it is viewed as "slutty" or indecent to wear low cut outfits that expose too much skin. The Islamic faith, generally practiced by the Muslim people, is misconceived by many, including myself before this assignment. I no longer view the Muslim women as conforming women under male power, but as strong women who respect those much higher than themselves, not the male gender as a whole, but God.
CPS International. 1 Feb 2011. Web.
Treatment of Women in North Korea
ReplyDeleteWomen are equal to men in North Korea. At least, according to the law they are. North Korea has a Sex Equality Law and their constitution states that women are equal socially and have equal rights to men. But the law protecting women is not enforced and therefore is not preventing these women from being treated cruelly. Many women flee to China to escape the oppression, 80% of North Korean escapees in China are women, but their mistreatment does not end once out of the country. Most escapees are captured at the border and forced into marriages with Chinese men. Even if they run away from these marriages, they are most likely caught again and sold into another abusive marriage, as a concubine or are trafficked. The North Korean women are seen as weak and therefore men take advantage of them.
If the North Korean women are caught leaving the country by the government or are sent back by the Chinese, they face an even worse fate. Since leaving the country without permission is considered treason, they are sent to forced labor camps, where women who survive describe that they are treated like livestock. They are abused, and forced to do heavy physical labor only to be beaten more. Pregnant women are either physically forced to abort their child or kill it if it is born alive. It doesn’t matter what side of the Chinese, North Korean border these women are on, they can not escape the mistreatment.
Harden, Blaine. "North Korean Women Who Try to Flee to China Encounter Abuse at Home and Abroad." Washington Post. 10 June 2010. Web. 01 February 2011.
Seok, Kay. "Speak Out About Human Rights In North Korea | Human Rights Watch."
Human Rights Watch. 15 Apr. 2004. Web. 01 Feb. 2011.
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ReplyDeleteFear and horror coursed through my mind as I read The Handmaid's Tale. When I realized that this book is set in the US, I asked myself "how could this happen here?". We have laws guaranteeing my rights. Surely I cannot end up sleeping in a gym as a prisoner, willing to trade my body. Then, I began to think of Nazi concentration camps and other nations where women still do not possess equality with men. For example, in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, women are forbidden to wear pants or even ride bicycles. In a society where bicycles are the only way to get to a market, this can severely limit a woman's ability to help feed her family. Many women in Korea have become the breadwinners for their family since their husbands are required to work in low-paying factory jobs, and a fine amounting to a days wage or the confiscation of the bike can lead to the woman's family going hungry. This inequality has led to women being second class citizens.
ReplyDeleteThe DPRK is similar to Romania because its constitution provides women with equal rights, but the rights are seldom enforced. Many women prisoners have suffered rape and forced abortions. Also, the Party, or the Government, has had few women reach higher positions. When working in offices, women are usually secretaries. While women are required to work, like all able-bodied individuals, they must leave their children in the care of elders or state nurseries. Women are also rewarded for having at least three children because they will be paid for eight hours of work, but only have to work six. This is like bribing women to have more children! Unfortunately, like in China, sons are considered more of a blessing than daughters and women in light industry are paid less than the males in heavy industry. On top of lower wages, women are expected to work, do all the housework, and raise the children. Finally, the DPRK is like Romania because of the increased trafficking of women. Two-thirds of the refugees in South Korea have been women who were trafficked to China to be wives, concubines, and prisoners. While the DPRK claims that "women hold equal social status and rights with men," the government has yet to enforce women's rights.
Seok, Kay. Human Rights in North Korea. 17 Feb. 2009. Human Rights Watch. 1 Jan. 2011 .
North Korea: The Role of Women. 1993. 1 Jan. 2011 .
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of. 28 Feb. 2005. U.S. Department of State. 1 Jan. 2011 .
After reading The Sunflower this semester and learning about how the Jews were treated in Germany, I was very interested to learn about the role of women there also. I was curious to find out that if the Jews were treated so harshly, could the women have been treated harshly in that time period too? I was also curious to see how the roles of women have developed over the years.
ReplyDeleteThe progress of women seemed to seesaw back and forth before and after the war, especially in West Germany. "For centuries, a woman's role in German society was summed up and circumscribed by the three "K" words: Kinder (children), Kirche (church), and Küche (kitchen). " This quote shows that the role of women before the 20th century was that of a traditional homemaker. But, as the 20th century and World War II rolled around, many changes were made. Women assumed the roles of men as the men went off the war, and in the early times after the war, women still held roles outside of the home. In West Germany in 1949, the Basic Law, which declared men and women as equals, was passed. Although this law was passed, it didn't really come into effect until the civil code was changed to fit the law.
In East Germany, it was a different story. Women still held places in the workforce, even though the war was over. The government provided more education and job opportunities for women, and in 1950, marriage and family laws were rewritten to be more helpful to working women. Even abortion was made legal and paid for by the state in East Germany. Because of these steps forward, 90% of women were working outside of their homes. Although it moved slower, West Germany also made progress, but not as much as East Germany.
Today, gender inequality still exists. Like most places, women are still paid less than men in the workforce, and women generally do not hold powerful positions. Although women are still viewed as unequal to men, some women have been able to reach positions of power. In 1990, Rita Süssmuth was the president of Bundestag. She has been one of the most successful women in politics. Women's rights have improved tremendously since before and after World War 2, and hopefully things can only improve.
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Status of Women - Germany - 20th Century - Encyclopedia of Women's History." Women's History - Comprehensive Women's History Research Guide. Web. 02 Feb. 2011.
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ReplyDeleteWe all hear facts about how women are do not have access to their rights in many different places around the world. The numbers are shocking and the stories are devastating. But is this true for all women? Are there some positive, reassuring statistics that can give us all some hope?
ReplyDeleteWomen in the Philippines have known to be living a life with greater equality than a lot of other women in Asian countries. In the 1990s, women had a higher literacy level than men. Throughout the history of the Philippines, women have held many important positions in society such as senators, cabinet officers, Supreme Court justices, administrators and heads of major business enterprises. However, even though equal opportunity is available for all women and men, women only hold 15% of the top positions available. Why, even through equal opportunity for all, do women still lag behind men in this area?
In the early 1990s, divorce was outlawed in the Philippines. You could be separated but you could not legally marry again. On the outside, this would look like a law that takes a woman's liberty to free from an unwanted marriage. However, women of the Philippines saw this situation with a different perspective. "Indications were that many Filipinas viewed them as a protection against abandonment and loss of support by wayward husbands." Interesting, right?
Women of the Philippines give us all hope that, even through cultural barriers, we can achieve gender equality.
"Philippines - THE ROLE AND STATUS WOMEN." Country Studies. Web. 02 Feb. 2011.
Listening to the interview and reading the incredibly short first chapter made me think about how similar it is to topics I've heard at Model UN conferences in the past, which then made me think about the UN's Declaration of Human Rights, specifically of articles 1 and 2.
ReplyDeleteArticle 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. (1)
When I think about Europe, and nations like Switzerland in particular, I think of very forward nations, where it seems like equality should have been present forever. Yet, it very much hasn't. Just because a country has signed the UDHR, it doesn't mean that they adhere to what it says, if they did, there would be little need for regular meetings of the UN. In Switzerland, in one area in particular, women were unequal until 1971: voting. When I found out about this I was shocked because it was so much later than America. Then in 1996 a Gender Equality law was passed (2), but there is still inequality to be seen. In 2008, the wages that men and women were paid in Switzerland were different: Men got significantly more some times. (3) And while Switzerland is openly for equality in other areas, like LGBT, there is still a ways to go in this fundamental area.
1. "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." United Nations. Dec. 10, 1948. Feb. 1, 2011. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
2. "Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 11th edition." Council of Europe/ERICarts. 2010. Feb. 2, 2011. http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/switzerland.php?aid=4210
3.