Blog15
1. In the interview with Pat Schroeder, regarding Hillary Clinton’s run for presidency, the discussion of sexism and the presidential race highlights our society’s view of women and their perceived role in American politics. As Hillary has put it, she has had to “break through the hardest and highest glass ceiling” in order to be even be considered a presidential hopeful. The struggle between maintaining femininity and showing power boils down to wearing a “pant suit and wearing pearls” and never wavering from a stoic front. After becoming too emotional for the general public to bear, she was immediately criticized as not being strong enough or tough enough to handle all of the stress the position will hold. We can clearly see the sexism in the youtube video, which plays on her emotional, ‘feminine’ side, where men can only think of her as their “nagging wives”. In the contrast between sexism and racism, sexism gets the short end of the stick, since if Hillary confronts the issues of sexism in the race, she will be thought of as not being able to “withstand the heat”. However, as Schroeder discusses, any racist attack on Obama would never go without an uproar of protest. Because Hillary is a woman, she is forced to combat sexism whether she wants to or not and her run alone is changing society’s view of what a great leader can be. Is it fair? No. Is it something she knew she would have to battle? Yes. Unfortunately, our Country is much more concerned about the role a female will play in power than in what their actual capabilities are and sexism is still very present.
2. The most frustrating aspect of this presidential race has been the fight over sex and race. As Gloria Steinem says, we as a party, should be united and not let these issues instead divide us. Both Hillary and Obama have “raised the standards” in terms of what our hopeful presidents should be, though it is added that perhaps it is more difficult to be a female in politics than it is to be African American. What bothers me the most is that this race should not be about a black man and a female. It should be about who is the best leader for our Country. Feminists believe they must vote for Hillary. African Americans believe they should vote for Obama. I would love to have a female president, however I won’t vote for Hillary just because she is a female. I won’t vote for a race or a gender just to chose a side, because it should really be about whom you feel will do the best job in leading our Country. As Steinem says, a “feminist can still vote for Obama”. People of color can still vote for Hillary. The media has manipulated the public and forced them to choose sides, not based on qualifications, or views on issues, but rather on whether you want a black man or a woman as your leader. “It is the issues that are important” as Steinem says, and the issue of race and sex should not be enough to divide us.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
blog14
Blog 14
1. Two of the main sources of feminism’s revival in the 1960’s and 1970’s occurred because of very tragic events. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated, causing an upheaval in emotional distress and eventually pushed women to work even harder for equality. Martin Luther King Jr. had expressed his ideas of nonviolence and that idea unfortunately died with him. This left women of color in disarray and many felt the need to take care of themselves so they formed feminists groups. Kennedy’s assassination also led women to fight for more equality and the term “women’s liberation’ was formed. Another source that revived feminism was the resistance to women’s contribution during the civil rights movement. While men took roles in power and credit in leadership, women were left to make coffee, attend to men’s needs and felt unappreciated. This also led them to focus more on their own gender and what could be achieved with equality.
2. Women were tired of being treated just as a sexual figure and the protest to the Miss America pageant in 1968 shows the importance of ‘women’s liberation’ during the time. Women were liberating themselves from the physical and sexual ideal men had placed upon them. Women didn’t think it was right to be judged by their sex appeal, measurements or what man thought a woman should be. The pageant didn’t even really represent America, since no women of color were included in the pageant. Women showed their frustration and appall by protesting the pageant and by throwing away all things that had to do with men’s attraction to women; lipstick, sexy clothes, bras and wigs. Women had had enough.
3. I don’t think that the war of the sexes is over in the 21st century. Although women have gained a lot of equality in the workforce, education and public domain altogether, there is still a lot of criticism and stereotypes as well. Many men still feel that women should play a subordinate role or are in some way lesser than they are. In terms of education, I think both men and women suffer in terms of opportunity, especially for minorities. Even though many women work in male dominated fields, they are often paid less. There are jobs though where women earn more than men, and I am sure this causes issues as well. I think that the struggle continues, but its struggle for both men and women in the 21st century.
Source
4. As a liberated woman in the 1970’s, Mary Tyler Moore was able to be everything a woman during the time wanted to be. She was financially independent, worked as a journalist, had stable relationships with men even if just as friends and was also beautiful. Orenstein compares Moore’s liberation with the liberation of the characters in the show “Sex and the City”. The women in “Sex and the City” are also liberated but more so in a sexual way. Although both shows represent women in the high powered workforce and financially independent, “Sex and the City” takes on more of a fun, single women’s life who focuses more on the now rather than on the future. Moral values such as good character and the importance of career over men lead Orenstein to make her judgments about both shows and the women in them.
5. I would not expect Walker to agree with Orenstein. Orenstein feels that women should focus more on their career than on their sexual relationships with men and Walker feels that sexual relationships are just as important. Walker acknowledges women as sexual beings and therefore understands and expects women to take part in those types of relationships. Walker thinks that sex is an important way for a woman to connect with her own body, while it also allows for change and growth to come from it. With sexual relationships, Walker feels women would better learn how to find themselves in healthy relationships since they would learn not only more about themselves, but also about their partner and about love in general.
6. “Sex and the City” does paint a realistic portrait of the lives of a lot of women. Especially since the four main characters really have very different ideas and views about relationships and sex. One wants a baby, one wants to focus on her career, one is all about sexual relationships and the other is more focused on being in an emotional relationship. The show of course, has to be entertaining and I think that it is. But I also think that the reason it is so popular is because women can relate to it. I think sexual liberty has gained enough ground for women to be as sexually active as the women in the program, but whether or not they chose to be is a completely different story. There are still many stereotypes about women and the way they view their sexuality that I don’t think are always portrayed in the show. The women in the show are also in their 30’s and don’t represent all women.
1. Two of the main sources of feminism’s revival in the 1960’s and 1970’s occurred because of very tragic events. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated, causing an upheaval in emotional distress and eventually pushed women to work even harder for equality. Martin Luther King Jr. had expressed his ideas of nonviolence and that idea unfortunately died with him. This left women of color in disarray and many felt the need to take care of themselves so they formed feminists groups. Kennedy’s assassination also led women to fight for more equality and the term “women’s liberation’ was formed. Another source that revived feminism was the resistance to women’s contribution during the civil rights movement. While men took roles in power and credit in leadership, women were left to make coffee, attend to men’s needs and felt unappreciated. This also led them to focus more on their own gender and what could be achieved with equality.
2. Women were tired of being treated just as a sexual figure and the protest to the Miss America pageant in 1968 shows the importance of ‘women’s liberation’ during the time. Women were liberating themselves from the physical and sexual ideal men had placed upon them. Women didn’t think it was right to be judged by their sex appeal, measurements or what man thought a woman should be. The pageant didn’t even really represent America, since no women of color were included in the pageant. Women showed their frustration and appall by protesting the pageant and by throwing away all things that had to do with men’s attraction to women; lipstick, sexy clothes, bras and wigs. Women had had enough.
3. I don’t think that the war of the sexes is over in the 21st century. Although women have gained a lot of equality in the workforce, education and public domain altogether, there is still a lot of criticism and stereotypes as well. Many men still feel that women should play a subordinate role or are in some way lesser than they are. In terms of education, I think both men and women suffer in terms of opportunity, especially for minorities. Even though many women work in male dominated fields, they are often paid less. There are jobs though where women earn more than men, and I am sure this causes issues as well. I think that the struggle continues, but its struggle for both men and women in the 21st century.
Source
4. As a liberated woman in the 1970’s, Mary Tyler Moore was able to be everything a woman during the time wanted to be. She was financially independent, worked as a journalist, had stable relationships with men even if just as friends and was also beautiful. Orenstein compares Moore’s liberation with the liberation of the characters in the show “Sex and the City”. The women in “Sex and the City” are also liberated but more so in a sexual way. Although both shows represent women in the high powered workforce and financially independent, “Sex and the City” takes on more of a fun, single women’s life who focuses more on the now rather than on the future. Moral values such as good character and the importance of career over men lead Orenstein to make her judgments about both shows and the women in them.
5. I would not expect Walker to agree with Orenstein. Orenstein feels that women should focus more on their career than on their sexual relationships with men and Walker feels that sexual relationships are just as important. Walker acknowledges women as sexual beings and therefore understands and expects women to take part in those types of relationships. Walker thinks that sex is an important way for a woman to connect with her own body, while it also allows for change and growth to come from it. With sexual relationships, Walker feels women would better learn how to find themselves in healthy relationships since they would learn not only more about themselves, but also about their partner and about love in general.
6. “Sex and the City” does paint a realistic portrait of the lives of a lot of women. Especially since the four main characters really have very different ideas and views about relationships and sex. One wants a baby, one wants to focus on her career, one is all about sexual relationships and the other is more focused on being in an emotional relationship. The show of course, has to be entertaining and I think that it is. But I also think that the reason it is so popular is because women can relate to it. I think sexual liberty has gained enough ground for women to be as sexually active as the women in the program, but whether or not they chose to be is a completely different story. There are still many stereotypes about women and the way they view their sexuality that I don’t think are always portrayed in the show. The women in the show are also in their 30’s and don’t represent all women.
Monday, May 19, 2008
blog 13
Blog 13
1. After gaining so many strides in the workforce in WWII, women were expected to go back to domestic duties when the men returned, changing the balance of society once again. During the Cold War, the media and government used propaganda to reform the society, a society that placed women back in domestic duties at home and men in the workforce. Women who did continued to work were viewed negatively since it threatened the ego of man and his role as provider. Some women were able to continue to be in the public and political domain by working for organizations that helped find communists. The major impact on women resulting from the Cold War was one of going back to traditional gender norms where the women is expected to stay home, raise children, and stay out of the workforce, leaving many, I’m sure, dissatisfied.
2. Historians were forced to rethink Betty Friedan’s interpretation of the “feminine mystique” because Friedan focused only on upper white class women who stayed at home and were ‘slaves’ to their families. She did not address middle or lower class white women, or women of color. Friedan also didn’t discuss women who were active in the workforce and the community or those who actually enjoyed being at home. Having only focused on one group of women, her thoughts and ideas could not be applied to women in general making her book completely from one point of view only, leaving all others ignored.
3. The activists in the 1950’s were mostly white, middle class, women who were a part of the workforce. After losing jobs and enduring pay cuts, women rallied for equal pay and opportunities. All women faced many difficulties, but women of color faced not only gender discrimination, but racial discrimination as well. Many women of color also had the added limitation of a lesser education making it even more difficult to compete for jobs. White women who did have an education stepped up to fight for women of all color, with women of all color, becoming activists not only for the workforce, but also for racial equality as well.
4. Women’s role as “bridge” leader proves how important women’s participation was during the civil rights movement. As a “bridge” leader, women were able to actively serve the community in a political way, though always under the shadow of a man. Without formal recognition, women had to fight to be involved, focusing more on the community, which enabled them to gain influence and a role leadership. Women such as Ella Baker, worked with the community as an organizer for the SCLC, however only until a male could be found to replace her. This was often the position of the women during this time. However, some of the most influential civil rights activists of the era were women, proving that the role of “Bridge” leader was monumentally needed and successful.
1. After gaining so many strides in the workforce in WWII, women were expected to go back to domestic duties when the men returned, changing the balance of society once again. During the Cold War, the media and government used propaganda to reform the society, a society that placed women back in domestic duties at home and men in the workforce. Women who did continued to work were viewed negatively since it threatened the ego of man and his role as provider. Some women were able to continue to be in the public and political domain by working for organizations that helped find communists. The major impact on women resulting from the Cold War was one of going back to traditional gender norms where the women is expected to stay home, raise children, and stay out of the workforce, leaving many, I’m sure, dissatisfied.
2. Historians were forced to rethink Betty Friedan’s interpretation of the “feminine mystique” because Friedan focused only on upper white class women who stayed at home and were ‘slaves’ to their families. She did not address middle or lower class white women, or women of color. Friedan also didn’t discuss women who were active in the workforce and the community or those who actually enjoyed being at home. Having only focused on one group of women, her thoughts and ideas could not be applied to women in general making her book completely from one point of view only, leaving all others ignored.
3. The activists in the 1950’s were mostly white, middle class, women who were a part of the workforce. After losing jobs and enduring pay cuts, women rallied for equal pay and opportunities. All women faced many difficulties, but women of color faced not only gender discrimination, but racial discrimination as well. Many women of color also had the added limitation of a lesser education making it even more difficult to compete for jobs. White women who did have an education stepped up to fight for women of all color, with women of all color, becoming activists not only for the workforce, but also for racial equality as well.
4. Women’s role as “bridge” leader proves how important women’s participation was during the civil rights movement. As a “bridge” leader, women were able to actively serve the community in a political way, though always under the shadow of a man. Without formal recognition, women had to fight to be involved, focusing more on the community, which enabled them to gain influence and a role leadership. Women such as Ella Baker, worked with the community as an organizer for the SCLC, however only until a male could be found to replace her. This was often the position of the women during this time. However, some of the most influential civil rights activists of the era were women, proving that the role of “Bridge” leader was monumentally needed and successful.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Blog12
Blog#12
1. According to the article, the work opportunities for women during World War II are not limited because of gender. Women make up about 87% of the Martin workforce and the numbers of women in the workforce is expected to rise when the war continues. The women may be limited because of experience, but as soon as they master a task they are set on a new and more difficult job, so they are always learning. Just as these women working for Martin are expected to work a man’s job, with all of the long hours and hard work, they are also paid the same as men and have the opportunity for advancement and raises and their gender doesn’t hinder that.
2. The audience for this article is women. Since the article was written for Ladies Home Journal, I can assume it was written for young to middle-aged women who have typically stayed home in the past. While many of the women who had been housewives are now in the workforce to keep the war going, this article represents the women workers as well as it paint’s the picture of the newly changed lives for girls no longer at home. It also shows the women not in the workforce how women have taken strides to participate in the war and tells of the daily struggles these young women go through.
3. I don’t think the women mind their work during World War II. They feel as if they are crucial to the war development, and war outcome, and they absolutely are. Even though they are living in less than desirable living conditions, they seem to be taken care of enough to enjoy themselves. While some girls paint their nails, others enjoy the afternoons after work though they should probably be sleeping. They work together by trying to be considerate of roommates and don’t complain too much about working. In fact, they only joke about some of the difficulties and leave it at that. Knowing that they are a part of the war effort, and that these jobs have to be done, keep the women going with a positive outlook.
4. Even though the article says that these women will do men’s work, work men’s hours, receive men’s pay and be treated as men, they still retain their femininity. They keep the social and comradely aspect of women’s inner circles by continuing to do normal things, like hang out in the apartment together, cook, and dance. Some of the girls keep their nails painted even tough they know they will get roughed up at work. There is also still a softness, or gentleness exuded by these women. They are optimistic and lighthearted as they joke about the job and what it does to their hands but they also have big dreams for the future and show their strength in terms of the reality of the war.
5. When the war is over, many women will go back home, and go back to being a housewife. Some will get married and become housewives and many will most likely continue to work in the workforce. The article doesn’t state what exactly will happen to the jobs, or the women who work them, but it implies that most women will leave the workforce to carry on duties that were previous to the war. Even the women themselves admit that when the war is over they’ll “probably go home again and wash dishes”. Some though, talk of their dreams to stay in the workforce and aircraft production.
1. According to the article, the work opportunities for women during World War II are not limited because of gender. Women make up about 87% of the Martin workforce and the numbers of women in the workforce is expected to rise when the war continues. The women may be limited because of experience, but as soon as they master a task they are set on a new and more difficult job, so they are always learning. Just as these women working for Martin are expected to work a man’s job, with all of the long hours and hard work, they are also paid the same as men and have the opportunity for advancement and raises and their gender doesn’t hinder that.
2. The audience for this article is women. Since the article was written for Ladies Home Journal, I can assume it was written for young to middle-aged women who have typically stayed home in the past. While many of the women who had been housewives are now in the workforce to keep the war going, this article represents the women workers as well as it paint’s the picture of the newly changed lives for girls no longer at home. It also shows the women not in the workforce how women have taken strides to participate in the war and tells of the daily struggles these young women go through.
3. I don’t think the women mind their work during World War II. They feel as if they are crucial to the war development, and war outcome, and they absolutely are. Even though they are living in less than desirable living conditions, they seem to be taken care of enough to enjoy themselves. While some girls paint their nails, others enjoy the afternoons after work though they should probably be sleeping. They work together by trying to be considerate of roommates and don’t complain too much about working. In fact, they only joke about some of the difficulties and leave it at that. Knowing that they are a part of the war effort, and that these jobs have to be done, keep the women going with a positive outlook.
4. Even though the article says that these women will do men’s work, work men’s hours, receive men’s pay and be treated as men, they still retain their femininity. They keep the social and comradely aspect of women’s inner circles by continuing to do normal things, like hang out in the apartment together, cook, and dance. Some of the girls keep their nails painted even tough they know they will get roughed up at work. There is also still a softness, or gentleness exuded by these women. They are optimistic and lighthearted as they joke about the job and what it does to their hands but they also have big dreams for the future and show their strength in terms of the reality of the war.
5. When the war is over, many women will go back home, and go back to being a housewife. Some will get married and become housewives and many will most likely continue to work in the workforce. The article doesn’t state what exactly will happen to the jobs, or the women who work them, but it implies that most women will leave the workforce to carry on duties that were previous to the war. Even the women themselves admit that when the war is over they’ll “probably go home again and wash dishes”. Some though, talk of their dreams to stay in the workforce and aircraft production.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Blog#11
Blog#11
Chapter 8
1. Yes, I think it is appropriate to speak of women in the 1920’s as “New Women”.
The women of the 1920’s reached farther into the political world than they had ever done before. With the right to vote, women continued to pursue activism in the political arena with organizations. Women also formed social organizations. The social aspect of the 1920’s created the most change for women, I believe. Styles were new, acceptable behavior for young women in terms of sexuality had changed. With the Flapper style, women took charge of their femininity and wore more revealing clothes and shorter hair. Their ideas of staying home changed and they spent more time in the public arena by engaging in more social activities.
2. Women in the 1920’s encountered so much difficulty accomplishing their political agenda’s because they had no real authority. Women also argued amongst themselves in terms of goals and the ways in which to go about achieving those goals. After the suffrage movement, and after the women won the right to vote, women began to unravel the threads that had tied them together and enabled them to get ahead under a common goal. Now, it was no longer about all women, but rather about personal and individual ideas that not all agreed upon. The fight to get ahead in terms of positions also created struggle and left women at odds with each other. With women divided, and common ideas seemingly defeated, women in the 1920’s had to fight just to keep afloat in the political arena.
3. Women during the Great Depression went back to traditional roles by caring for the home and family. You can see in this image that she is, at her best, the protector of her children, though she most likely does not provide material goods. Her children, being so close to her, allows us to see the forever important tie of mothers and children, and the bond that is created during times of great difficulty. They search her for some type of meaning though almost defeated. The struggle and pain the mother shows on her face tells us is she trying to hold on for them and is worried about the outcome of the depression.
4. The job loss during the Great Depression affected both genders but the men were more affected overall. Since men were still the main providers in terms of food, money and housing, the heavy burden of the losses fell on them. Emotionally, men felt a greater strain as their roles as great provider diminished. Men felt they had lost a part of their manhood and resented their feelings of inferiority to the women in their homes. This insecurity led some men to leave their wives because the mental and emotional strain had become too much. Men were failing and they didn’t know how to deal with that. Women on the other hand, were able to find work more easily than men when ‘women’s work’ became available again. This also stirred trouble since it didn’t seem fair that women could work and men could not. The tides had changes a little, but all suffered the results of the Great Depression.
Chapter 8
1. Yes, I think it is appropriate to speak of women in the 1920’s as “New Women”.
The women of the 1920’s reached farther into the political world than they had ever done before. With the right to vote, women continued to pursue activism in the political arena with organizations. Women also formed social organizations. The social aspect of the 1920’s created the most change for women, I believe. Styles were new, acceptable behavior for young women in terms of sexuality had changed. With the Flapper style, women took charge of their femininity and wore more revealing clothes and shorter hair. Their ideas of staying home changed and they spent more time in the public arena by engaging in more social activities.
2. Women in the 1920’s encountered so much difficulty accomplishing their political agenda’s because they had no real authority. Women also argued amongst themselves in terms of goals and the ways in which to go about achieving those goals. After the suffrage movement, and after the women won the right to vote, women began to unravel the threads that had tied them together and enabled them to get ahead under a common goal. Now, it was no longer about all women, but rather about personal and individual ideas that not all agreed upon. The fight to get ahead in terms of positions also created struggle and left women at odds with each other. With women divided, and common ideas seemingly defeated, women in the 1920’s had to fight just to keep afloat in the political arena.
3. Women during the Great Depression went back to traditional roles by caring for the home and family. You can see in this image that she is, at her best, the protector of her children, though she most likely does not provide material goods. Her children, being so close to her, allows us to see the forever important tie of mothers and children, and the bond that is created during times of great difficulty. They search her for some type of meaning though almost defeated. The struggle and pain the mother shows on her face tells us is she trying to hold on for them and is worried about the outcome of the depression.
4. The job loss during the Great Depression affected both genders but the men were more affected overall. Since men were still the main providers in terms of food, money and housing, the heavy burden of the losses fell on them. Emotionally, men felt a greater strain as their roles as great provider diminished. Men felt they had lost a part of their manhood and resented their feelings of inferiority to the women in their homes. This insecurity led some men to leave their wives because the mental and emotional strain had become too much. Men were failing and they didn’t know how to deal with that. Women on the other hand, were able to find work more easily than men when ‘women’s work’ became available again. This also stirred trouble since it didn’t seem fair that women could work and men could not. The tides had changes a little, but all suffered the results of the Great Depression.
Monday, April 21, 2008
blog#9
Textbook
1. Men and women migrated to the United States in the hopes of better opportunities. Most came from Asia, Europe and Italy. Although men and women came for the same goal, more opportunity, their reasons behind the move were very different. Many women came to the United States in search of independence and the opportunity to marry whomever they chose. Men, who also came for freedom, mostly came to work temporarily, then return to their homeland with money. There was a high labor demand in the United States which provided immigrants with work yet little pay. Both men and women suffered the low wages without gender discretion. Male immigrants initially came more frequently than women, but that changed with the demand from the garment factories which employed many immigrant women. Many women were sexually abused on the trip to the United States and some after arriving turned to prostitution. Both men and women had to face the difficulties of relocating to a foreign and strange place, but it seems as though the women found more independence and freedom in the United States than the men did, in comparison to their homeland.
2. Women involved in the industrial protest, the populist movement and the settlement house movement may have all come from different backgrounds or with different skin color but they all ultimately shared one common goal: equality. Women in the industrial protest, fought for better wages, working conditions and not for one specific factory, but for all factories. These women worked alongside men, truly making this a wage and labor cause not solely a women’s right movement, though women were crucial in implementing and creating this cause. The populist movement came from farmers in the south, most whom were in debt. The Populist Party brought white and black women together leaving behind racial tension and focusing on the common goal of women’s suffrage. Women of the settlement house movement, led by elite and middle class women, sought to transition immigrants slowly rather than immediately. This was done for the betterment of immigrant’s lives and also for the community. The differences among these women are the causes they were fighting for. But whether it is for labor laws, suffrage or social reform, women broke boundaries by uniting with those from different classes and race.
Source Interpretation
3. Addams “diversity of experience” focused on the different levels of class, and experience in the lives of immigrants living around Hull House. She saw the poor as poor because they were lazy and therefore didn’t work. She saw the rich as those who lived in specific areas, such as Hull House, since there were rich women living there. The ‘landlords’ were seen as benevolent, though didn’t earn much respect from the poor. The rich would give the poor money and they would try to copy what the rich were wearing in terms of style. Thus the poor immigrants essentially loss their traditional wear and style. The view of all around the Hull House contributed greatly to Addams writing because it provided her with a shadowed view of the complications of ethical standards and immigrantion.
4. Addams, coming from a well off family and being college educated herself, moved into the Hull House, with preconceived ideas and thoughts that soon would likely change. Addams soon came to see that although there were differences in the classes of people, the reasoning for these classes may not be as clear as she had thought. For instance, the poor, she came to realize, were not poor because they were lazy, but because they couldn’t do better for themselves, it wasn’t a choice they had made but rather a choice life had made for them. It was the structure of class itself that kept women in these ill defined roles and places in society. Addams saw that it was society that allowed for rich and poor to be divided so deeply since the rich controlled the money and wages that the poor worked desperately for. Her experience in Hull House allowed her to change her point of view, open her eyes a little wider and come to better understand women from all classes, including the rich and poor.
1. Men and women migrated to the United States in the hopes of better opportunities. Most came from Asia, Europe and Italy. Although men and women came for the same goal, more opportunity, their reasons behind the move were very different. Many women came to the United States in search of independence and the opportunity to marry whomever they chose. Men, who also came for freedom, mostly came to work temporarily, then return to their homeland with money. There was a high labor demand in the United States which provided immigrants with work yet little pay. Both men and women suffered the low wages without gender discretion. Male immigrants initially came more frequently than women, but that changed with the demand from the garment factories which employed many immigrant women. Many women were sexually abused on the trip to the United States and some after arriving turned to prostitution. Both men and women had to face the difficulties of relocating to a foreign and strange place, but it seems as though the women found more independence and freedom in the United States than the men did, in comparison to their homeland.
2. Women involved in the industrial protest, the populist movement and the settlement house movement may have all come from different backgrounds or with different skin color but they all ultimately shared one common goal: equality. Women in the industrial protest, fought for better wages, working conditions and not for one specific factory, but for all factories. These women worked alongside men, truly making this a wage and labor cause not solely a women’s right movement, though women were crucial in implementing and creating this cause. The populist movement came from farmers in the south, most whom were in debt. The Populist Party brought white and black women together leaving behind racial tension and focusing on the common goal of women’s suffrage. Women of the settlement house movement, led by elite and middle class women, sought to transition immigrants slowly rather than immediately. This was done for the betterment of immigrant’s lives and also for the community. The differences among these women are the causes they were fighting for. But whether it is for labor laws, suffrage or social reform, women broke boundaries by uniting with those from different classes and race.
Source Interpretation
3. Addams “diversity of experience” focused on the different levels of class, and experience in the lives of immigrants living around Hull House. She saw the poor as poor because they were lazy and therefore didn’t work. She saw the rich as those who lived in specific areas, such as Hull House, since there were rich women living there. The ‘landlords’ were seen as benevolent, though didn’t earn much respect from the poor. The rich would give the poor money and they would try to copy what the rich were wearing in terms of style. Thus the poor immigrants essentially loss their traditional wear and style. The view of all around the Hull House contributed greatly to Addams writing because it provided her with a shadowed view of the complications of ethical standards and immigrantion.
4. Addams, coming from a well off family and being college educated herself, moved into the Hull House, with preconceived ideas and thoughts that soon would likely change. Addams soon came to see that although there were differences in the classes of people, the reasoning for these classes may not be as clear as she had thought. For instance, the poor, she came to realize, were not poor because they were lazy, but because they couldn’t do better for themselves, it wasn’t a choice they had made but rather a choice life had made for them. It was the structure of class itself that kept women in these ill defined roles and places in society. Addams saw that it was society that allowed for rich and poor to be divided so deeply since the rich controlled the money and wages that the poor worked desperately for. Her experience in Hull House allowed her to change her point of view, open her eyes a little wider and come to better understand women from all classes, including the rich and poor.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Blog #8
Textbook
1. After the Civil War, women’s participation in the labor force increased dramatically. Industrialization played a major role in this since more factories, specifically garment factories, were prevalent. Typewriters were introduced after the Civil War and a new type of clerical work was preformed by women. Women were finding new independence by earning wages either just for material gains, such as clothing, or to support family members. Women’s wages were considerably lower than men’s though they worked the same amount of hours, and arguably more difficult jobs. The labor force divided women by their status, or class. The working class women worked long hours, with little pay and then also went home to care for children. The working class women produced more children than the elite and middle class and therefore also had more mouths to feed. The demand for goods set by the middle and elite classes, left working class women with much to produce, but not enough to move up in class. The elite and middle class women lived more leisurely. Though without formal education, they were educated in the ways of being a ‘lady’. Both classes were often times able to hire domestic servants, leaving them time to shop and buy the goods the working class women produced. This demand and produce cycle kept women in classes divided but provided stability economically.
2. The first image shows three Native American girls in their traditional garments. The second shows them after they were Americanized and attending boarding schools. The second image shows us that they no longer are wearing traditional Native American clothes, but instead are wearing ‘proper’ white American clothes. Their hair was also styled in American fashion and they appear to be more ‘civilized’ now that they no longer sit on the floor, but instead at a table. The governments desire to strip Native Americans from their traditional lifestyle and force them to acquire American traditions was done effectively though at the raw expense of Native Americans. The pain and sadness shown on these young girls faces allow us to see how hard it must have been for Native Americans to fit into the lifestyles White Americans imposed on them.
Source Interpretation
1. Bessie Van Vorst meets many different kinds of women while working in the factory. She meets women of all ages and learns that they also have different reasons for working there. Some need to work to produce food on the table at home, and to pay rent. Others are fully supported at home by family members, but chose to work so they can but goods for themselves. Bessie separates women at the factory by calling them bread-winners and semi-bread winners. This shows us the differences in the reasons why women were working. The bread-winners are more eager to produce more goods, if being paid by piece work, so they can make more money and pay the bills at home. The other girls are happy to just be there making extra money. Since the women are not all working for the same monetary goal, it is hard for them to all rebel and demand better pay. There is not enough incentive for the women choosing to work as opposed to women who have to work in order to survive. This shows us that there is even a division among women in the working class.
2. Van Vorst concludes that women are passive in accepting their work conditions because no one is willing to stand up for themselves and demand better conditions or better pay. She notes that they are not strong enough and lack in spirit. I do agree that these women accept their pay and conditions but not because of lack of strength. I think that it is a lack of strength in numbers since not all women are working for a common goal. That is why they are not strong enough and lack spirit. Some women who are working for personal pleasures might not be as willing to fight for better pay as are those who are trying to survive. Another reason is that the men refused to do ‘women’s’ work, such as cleaning, which the male bosses accepted. Since cleaning was already a female domestic duty the women were most likely not as hesitant to do the job, though they complained that they shouldn’t have to. But since it wasn’t crossing gender lines, as it was for the men, women didn’t fight as hard, if at all, and accepted cleaning as part of their jobs.
1. After the Civil War, women’s participation in the labor force increased dramatically. Industrialization played a major role in this since more factories, specifically garment factories, were prevalent. Typewriters were introduced after the Civil War and a new type of clerical work was preformed by women. Women were finding new independence by earning wages either just for material gains, such as clothing, or to support family members. Women’s wages were considerably lower than men’s though they worked the same amount of hours, and arguably more difficult jobs. The labor force divided women by their status, or class. The working class women worked long hours, with little pay and then also went home to care for children. The working class women produced more children than the elite and middle class and therefore also had more mouths to feed. The demand for goods set by the middle and elite classes, left working class women with much to produce, but not enough to move up in class. The elite and middle class women lived more leisurely. Though without formal education, they were educated in the ways of being a ‘lady’. Both classes were often times able to hire domestic servants, leaving them time to shop and buy the goods the working class women produced. This demand and produce cycle kept women in classes divided but provided stability economically.
2. The first image shows three Native American girls in their traditional garments. The second shows them after they were Americanized and attending boarding schools. The second image shows us that they no longer are wearing traditional Native American clothes, but instead are wearing ‘proper’ white American clothes. Their hair was also styled in American fashion and they appear to be more ‘civilized’ now that they no longer sit on the floor, but instead at a table. The governments desire to strip Native Americans from their traditional lifestyle and force them to acquire American traditions was done effectively though at the raw expense of Native Americans. The pain and sadness shown on these young girls faces allow us to see how hard it must have been for Native Americans to fit into the lifestyles White Americans imposed on them.
Source Interpretation
1. Bessie Van Vorst meets many different kinds of women while working in the factory. She meets women of all ages and learns that they also have different reasons for working there. Some need to work to produce food on the table at home, and to pay rent. Others are fully supported at home by family members, but chose to work so they can but goods for themselves. Bessie separates women at the factory by calling them bread-winners and semi-bread winners. This shows us the differences in the reasons why women were working. The bread-winners are more eager to produce more goods, if being paid by piece work, so they can make more money and pay the bills at home. The other girls are happy to just be there making extra money. Since the women are not all working for the same monetary goal, it is hard for them to all rebel and demand better pay. There is not enough incentive for the women choosing to work as opposed to women who have to work in order to survive. This shows us that there is even a division among women in the working class.
2. Van Vorst concludes that women are passive in accepting their work conditions because no one is willing to stand up for themselves and demand better conditions or better pay. She notes that they are not strong enough and lack in spirit. I do agree that these women accept their pay and conditions but not because of lack of strength. I think that it is a lack of strength in numbers since not all women are working for a common goal. That is why they are not strong enough and lack spirit. Some women who are working for personal pleasures might not be as willing to fight for better pay as are those who are trying to survive. Another reason is that the men refused to do ‘women’s’ work, such as cleaning, which the male bosses accepted. Since cleaning was already a female domestic duty the women were most likely not as hesitant to do the job, though they complained that they shouldn’t have to. But since it wasn’t crossing gender lines, as it was for the men, women didn’t fight as hard, if at all, and accepted cleaning as part of their jobs.
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