Faludi

The third piece I read today was Blame It on Feminism by Susan Faludi. This piece talked about what it meant to be a woman in America in the 20th century. The piece also gave a great definition of feminism, which I feel strengthened the argument of the piece and set the stage for a great conclusion. Feminism is often a word that is thrown around a lot, given extreme meanings, and sometimes even has a negative connotation. I liked how clearly Fauldi defined feminism when she stated, "Feminism asks the world to recognize at long last that women aren't decorative ornaments, worthy vessels, members of a "special interest group". They are half (in fact, now more than half) of the national population, and just as deserving of rights and opportunities, just as capable of participating in the world's events, as the other half". I think this quote clearly defines the goal of feminism and the overarching goal of females around the world: equality, nothing more, nothing less. Feminism has a very basic agenda, and I realized that while reading this piece. The piece also touched upon the role of women in popular culture, specifically in the workplace and at home. Women, for the first time in history, are beginning to make a move in the labor force, becoming dominant in certain fields of middle class labor. "Female" professions such as nursing and cuisine are no longer containing females as they are trying to break the mold and advance their careers as well as themselves. Yet the piece asks, "If the status of women has never been higher, why is their emotional state so low?". I thought this was an intriguing question and it made me wonder whether or not women liked their roles in society. Today, we are seeing an increasing amount of women in jobs that require physical labor and these women can often struggle to balance their family lives with the importance and emphasis they are placing on their careers. Can women do both? Can they be respected in a career as well as be a mom and wife? I believe the answer is yes, but only with the help of men. Without the support of men, it is impossible. I also wonder whether or not the man's ego will hold him back. Men are more reluctant to enter into previously deemed "female professions" than females are to enter into the man's domain. I believe if men do not take responsibility and help women in the workplace as well as the household, women will never truly achieve equality.