Necessary Changes For Equality

In our modern day society there is still inequity and discrimination.  This inequity can be seen in the many different aspects of daily life.  Some of the more widespread and subversive discrimination comes in the form of gender inequality.  Feminist argue that major social, economic, and political changes are needed for women to achieve equality in such basic areas of life as work, family, reproductive rights, and religion.

         The first area that change is needed in is the workplace.  Workplace inequality is probably one  of the oldest forms of gender discrimination women have had to fight against.  Despite some gains for women, problems still exist.  Women still work in traditional jobs associated with women, such as clerical work, and they continually occupy lower paying jobs within occupations (Bravo et al. 181).  Women also make up a large part of the minimum-wage earners and part-time workers (Bravo et al. 181-183).  Because certain jobs, like clerical work, are associated with certain genders or races they are undervalued and underpaid (National Committee for Pay Equity, 185).  One solution proposed by feminists to solve the problem of wage earnings for women is the initiation of pay equity laws.  Pay equity essentially means that wages would be based on such things as skill and effort rather than gender or ethnicity (Committee for Pay Equity, 187).  Job evaluations would be used to determine  wages (Committee for Pay Equity, 186).  Laws with similar goals, such as The Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,  have been passed in the United States but inadequate and difficult enforcement of these laws make them virtually useless (Committee for Pay Equity, 185).  At their core both of these acts assert that wages for employees should be equal whether they do the same work or not and that wages should be free from gender or racial bias (committee for Pay Equity, 185).  Better enforcement of these laws would help to improve working conditions for women.  Unionization would also help to increase workplace equity.  Women who are a part of a union earn 34% more then non-unionized women because of an increase in bargaining power (Bravo  et al. 183).  Unions also provide job security and other benefits (Bravo et al. 198).  The organization 9to5, National Association of Working Women has helped make gains in the workplace for women.  The group has helped women win individual rights within their own jobs, lobbied for and won legislative changes, and won court cases against discriminatory practices and companies (Bravo et al. 198-199).  If more women joined groups like 9to5 it might be possible to gain better working conditions for  female employees. 

         The inequality in the workplace also affects the family life of women. Inadequate family friendly work policies creates many problems for many low wage earning women and single mothers.  Many companies do not provide their lower payed, hourly workers with services such as flextime, on-site child care, paid maternity leave, or paid leave to care for a sick family member or themselves. (Holcomb, 195).  Such policies can cause problems for mothers who must also worry about  getting children to school, taking them to doctor appointments, and about who will watch them while she is at work (Holcomb, 195).  Feminist believe that a few simple policy changes need to be made to improve the relationship between family and work.  They believe that both parents, male and female, should be entitled to a year of paid leave to care for a newborn child (Crittendon, 221).  This paid leave would also extend to parents who need to tend to a sick child (Crittendon, 221).  Feminists also believe that a shortened workweek would greatly benefit families by allowing parents to devote more time to their families (Crittendon, 221-222).       

         Another area in family life that needs to be addressed is the division of labor in the household.  In most families the majority of the housework is taken care of by the woman.  In many families the  man's career takes precedence over the woman's and when the couple decides to have children, it is the woman's career ambitions that are sacrificed in order to care for the children (Lehrer, 246).  Women are the ones in the family who must stay home and devote their time to raising a family while the man works outside the home earning money for the family (Lehrer, 246).  Fixing this problem takes effort and a conscious decision on both spouses parts to change. One feminist  created a marriage agreement which greatly improved the domestic life of her family (Shulman, 271-274).  A marriage agreement is a way of efficiently reorganizing the division of housework so that it is more equitably divided (Shulman, 271-274).

         Family life for women also needs to address problems with the definition of family itself.  Marriage is a basic unit of family life.  In our modern day society the definition of marriage is being challenged.  Many Christian communities, as well as some legislative groups, see marriage, as the basic building blocks of a family, as being primarily as between a man and a woman (Lehrer, 248-249).  The right of single-sex couples to marry, and thus have a family is in contention in many states. Their rights to raise their own children may even be taken away from them as in the case of Beth Brant who had her daughter taken away from her by her ex-husband because of her sexual orientation (Brant, 257-261).  The right to marry and raise children is a right that should be extended to same-sex couples. 

         Inequity in family life can have its roots in religion which is another area in which women are working for equality.  Many fundamentalist religions advocate patriarchy.  These fundamentalist advocate the traditional role of men as the heads of families, who are to be obeyed (Rose, 282-283).  Even religious institutions themselves remain highly patriarchal in their structures with most religious officials being male. This is true in both Jewish and Christian religions. Some women such as Laura Geller and Vienna Cobb Anderson are challenging this patriarch by becoming rabbis and priests in their communities (Geller, 280-281; Solari 303-308).  When women occupy positions of power in religious institutions the views of the congregation change and they may become closer and more open to both their pastors and God (Geller 280-281).  An increase in feminist religious scholars would also help to end patriarchy in churches, as the importance of women in the church is placed in a more positive, accessible, and widely distributed manner (Solari, 304-305). 

         Religion also regulates woman’s sexuality.  Many conservative religious groups advocate abstinence only policies and refuse to  teach sex education that involves the use of contraceptives as well as any other form of information on sexual and reproductive health (Rose, 284-285).  These same groups also believe that it is the woman's responsibility to prevent sex from occurring (Rose 285).  The establishment of such policies leads women to face higher rates and risks of pregnancy (Rose 284).  Many religions also enforce anti-abortion policies.  Today there is an ongoing battle between those who support abortion and those who oppose it.  As legislation is passed to try and limit access to abortions, many women, particularly low income and young women are denied their rights to this procedure which they many need for a variety of reasons, including economic and health reasons (Fried 367-368).  Many feminist believe that abortion should not only be legal but accessible to women of all social and economic lifestyles.  Reproductive rights is one final area that women are in need of more equitable provisions. 

         When it comes to reproductive rights the rights of the fetus are often put before that of the mother (Hubbard, 360-361).  Women are  increasingly facing infringements on their control over their bodies during pregnancy.  Many women are faced with court ordered caesareans, charged fetal endangerment on the basis that they ingested drugs during pregnancy, and denied jobs because if they ever become pregnant the fetus will be in danger (Hubbard 361-363).  In order to address this loss of over their reproductive rights major social changes are needed in educational, social, and economic areas of life so that women could live outside of poverty and thus create a better quality of life (Hubbard 364). Women are blamed for the high mortality rates because of what is perceived as reckless behavior rather than social inequity (Hubbard 364).  Once the problems causing this social inequity that causes infant mortality is cured, women will no longer be a source of blame and can thus remain in control of their reproductive rights (Hubbard 364).

         Gender inequality is still prevalent in our society. In areas such as work, family life, religion, and reproductive rights.  Feminist have addressed these problems and provided ways to eradicate this inequity.  These solutions are still a work in progress but steps are being taken to make our society one in which women have an equal status.                                                                                   

References:

All references used come from the anthology Women: Images and Realities, fourth edition, edited by Amy Kesselman, Lily D, McNair, and Nancy Schniedewind. The essay's used include:

“An Overview of Women and Work” by ellen Bravo, Gloria Santa Anna, and Linda Meric

“Questions and Answers on Pay Equity” by National Committee for Pay Equity

“Friendly for Whose Family?” Betty Holcomb

“The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued” by Ann Crittenden

“Family and Women's Lives” by Susan Leher

“A Marriage Agreement” by Alix Kates shulman

“A Long Story” by Beth Brant

“Christian Fundamentalism: Patriarchy, Sexuality, and Human Rights” by Susan D. Rose

“Reactions to a Woman Rabbi” by Laura Geller

“In Her Own Image” by rose Solari

“Abortions in the U.S.: Barriers to Access” by Marlene Gerber Fried

“Using Pregnancy to Control Women” by Ruth Hubbard