The equality of men and women.
Evtushenko M. 11 “A”
CONFESSIONS OF A MALE FEMINIST
Male feminist? What the devil is that? Isn't that a contradiction in terms? Or even an oxymoron? No! It is not.
Feminism is the idea, and the organized movement that supports it, that advocates political, economic, and social equality for both men and women - the key word being equality.
A feminist is a person who believes in and supports this idea. So, a male feminist is a man who believes in equal rights for both men and women.
To answer often thought but unasked questions in some men's minds, no, this does not mean that women want to be the same as men; they simply want equal rights, and no, a male feminist is not a man who wants to be a woman; he, too, is a person who simply wants equal rights for both sexes.
Why are women making such a fuss about equal rights? They can vote, own property, and work just like men; and there are lots of state and federal laws about equal rights. So, in reality, don't they already have equal rights? Yes and no. They do and they don't. The main problem is that many men still have patronizing feelings about "We got to protect the little woman" and "Women just aren't temperamentally suited to think logically (like men) or to be administrators." Until these men learn that logical thinking and administrative ability are not based on gender but are the result of training, education, experience, and drive or desire, women will not truly have equal rights.
"The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female"
The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes is essential to human progress and the transformation of society. Inequality retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilization itself. The persistent denial of equality to one-half of the world's population is an affront to human dignity. It promotes destructive attitudes and habits in men and women that pass from the family to the work place, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. On no grounds, moral, biological, or traditional can inequality is justified. The moral and psychological climate necessary to enable our nation to establish social justice and to contribute to global peace will be created only when women attain full partnership with men in all fields of endeavor.
The systematic oppression of women is a conspicuous and tragic fact of history. Restricted to narrow spheres of activity in the life of society, denied educational opportunities and basic human rights, subjected to violence, and frequently treated as less than human, women have been prevented from realizing their true potential. Age-old patterns of subordination, reflected in popular culture, literature and art, law, and even religious scriptures, continue to pervade every aspect of life. Despite the advancement of political and civil rights for women in America and the widespread acceptance of equality in principle, full equality has not been achieved.
The damaging effects of gender prejudice are a fault line beneath the foundation of our national life. The gains for women rest uneasily on unchanged, often unexamined, inherited assumptions. Much remains to be done. The achievement of full equality requires a new understanding of who we are, what is our purpose in life, and how we relate to one another an understanding that will compel us to reshape our lives and thereby our society.
At no time since the founding of the women's rights movement in America has the need to focus on this issue been greater. We stand at the threshold of a new century and a new millennium. Their challenges are already upon us, influencing our families, our lifestyles, our nation, our world. In the process of human evolution, the ages of infancy and childhood are past. The turbulence of adolescence is slowly and painfully preparing us for the age of maturity, when prejudice and exploitation will be abolished and unity established. The elements necessary to unify peoples and nations are precisely those needed to bring about equality of the sexes and to improve the relationships between women and men. The effort to overcome the history of inequality requires the full participation of every man, woman, youth, and child.
The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights of real attainment. When the two wings ... become equivalent in strength, enjoying the same prerogatives, the flight of man will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary.
Men have an inescapable duty to promote the equality of women. The presumption of superiority by men thwarts the ambition of women and inhibits the creation of an environment in which equality may reign. The destructive effects of inequality prevent men from maturing and developing the qualities necessary to meet the challenges of the new millennium.
Equal access and full enjoyment of social rights are among the pillars of democratic societies. Yet, many women do not have equal access to social rights either because some of these rights are based on an outdated male breadwinner model or they do not take into account that women predominantly carry the burden of having to reconcile family and professional life. This is evident in many social protection systems, which in turn is one of the explanations of the feminization.
Feminism
Selivanova Galina 10 “A”
Many women would argue that there is a different half of nation, which gets less than its share of power, freedom and wealth: the female sex. In spite of considerable change in social attitudes since 1945, and particularly since the feminists revolution which began in the 1960s, women are still significantly disadvantaged.
Feminism is persuasion that women have rights for equal rights with men. According to doctrine of feminism women in modern society are at the unfavorable standing. Feminists have different points of view about base and reasons of patriarchy, right methods of struggle, the character and depth of changes but all of them agree that gender doesn't justify supremacy or submission.
Feminism is a social and cultural, political and public movement. It was formed in XIX century and became mass in XX century.
Problems discussed by feminists in XIX century differ very much: problem of influence of family on woman's personality; political rights of women; women's economical independence from their husbands and others. In XX century feminism developed from social movement for equal voter rights to movement for equal gender rights on work and at home.
Just from the time of born girl is oriented that she is "the second gender". For example, if you ask Chinese how many children he has he will count only number of his sons. At schools boys get more attention than girls. This doesn't depend from the country and its economical development.
Feminists don't like divisions of men's and women's roles in society invented by men and formed to laws and customs. Changing this divisions feminist movement includes people of both genders. Today for European people not to be a feminist is equal to be a racial or a anti-Semitism.
It seems that nobody calls in question of value of civil rights. But only under the influence of feminists in the list of infringements of rights and liberty were included oppression, violence, leading to degradation of women. One countries blame others for rights infringement of group of population on national, ideological, social or professional sign. But no countries are blamed for women discrimination. So damage inflicted to women in sphere of liberty, honor, dignity, accomplished because of connivance of world community.
After 1960s under influence of feminist struggle independence of women increased in Western countries; discrimination became more difficult and rare appeared. Also changed private life because change of dispositions in society. Women had entered the employment in increasing numbers and took part in public life. Raises per cent of men draw in household and raising of children. Nowadays nobody obstacle women in getting high education.
Feminist forces pay attention to the fact that women have no proper influence in all parts of social life. There is insignificant per cent of women in parliament and government. Today in spite of old ideas is known that men and women are differ only in physiological sphere. So women like men could play different roles in society, they are able to self-development and need in it. Feminist movement supports women's political rushes. They are interested in women's participation in structure of authority (not only a formal equality).
Discrimination ranges well beyond government. No woman has ever been appointed as a police Chief Constable. Fewer than 3% of university professors are women. It is difficult to think of many successful women in business or industry.
Undoubtedly all society will derive profit. Women's talents and abilities will be put into practice in social life.
Men will be obligated to lose part of power. Bat they just gain if they share power. Women in authority structures will bring a lot of good, useful ideas and decisions. Such qualities as ability to take care, inclination to collaboration got their development in women. Today comes time that such qualities are needed in public, international, global sphere to save humanity from catastrophe.