Forms of Gender Inequality

• Patriarchy refers to male dominance over women. There aren't very many known societies that are not patriarchal, although the degree and character of inequalities between the sexes varies across cultures.
•  Many women are poorly paid and have dim career prospects. Even women who are successful in the corporate world face discrimination in the form of cultural expectations about the proper role of women in society.
• The increasing number of women in the labor force has affected family responsibilities such as child care and housework. Though men contribute more to these responsibilities now than in the past, women still shoulder the bulk of the work. For working women, these household obligations constitute a "second shift."
• The ways schools are organized and classes are taught sustain gender inequalities. Rules specifying appropriate dress for girls and boys encourage sex typing, as do texts containing established gender images. There is evidence that teachers treat girls and boys differently, and there is a long history of specialized subjects for separate sexes.
• Violence by men against women occurs in many societies-in the form of spousal abuse, rape, and sexual harassment, for example. Some scholars argue that women are often the targets of sexual violence because men are socialized to see women as sex objects and to feel a sense of sexual entitlement to women.

Gender Inequality College Majors

There have always been gender inequality in what majors college students choose and how they differ between men and women. Males and females make different choices with regards to college majors. Two main reasons have been suggested for this gender gap: differences in innate abilities, and differences in preferences.Even though women earned 58% of all undergraduate degrees awarded in 2008, they’re earning less money on average than men. Out of the top ten highest-earning majors, none are dominated by women, which means that the degrees women choose are far lower in the salary hierarchy. In most cases, these high-paying majors are completely dominated by men – in 7 out of the top 10 majors, over 75% of the degrees go to men. These majors are aviation, aerospace engineering, computer engineering, engineering, nuclear engineering, information technology, and electrical engineering. The remaining three of the top 10 majors are roughly equalized between men and women: business administration, business, and economics. 

Gender Inequality: Hollywood

The "other USC," the University of Southern California, released data from a study on gender inequality in Hollywood. The study surveyed the top 100-grossing movies of 2009 and found that percentages of speaking characters were identical to those of the top-grossing movies of 2008.

Out of 4,342 speaking characters 32.8% were female and 67.2% were male.

Associate professor Stacy L. Smith is quoted in the LA Times, "We see remarkably stable trends. This reveals an industry formula for gender that may be outside of people's conscious awareness."

Through discussions of gender inequality just with my peers, I have realized that most people do not think that gender inequality still exists, or they would rather just not talk about it. But Professor Smith makes a valid point about gender inequality on a larger scale than just hollywood: that issues of gender inequality "may be outside of people's conscious awareness."

Findings on revealing clothing display a disparity between men and women as well. Women are more likely to wear more suggestive clothing than men. Age becomes a factor in nudity as well, as "revealing clothing and partial nudity was just as prevalent among 13 to 20-year-old female characters as it was among those 21 to 29, suggesting that females are sexualized on-screen ay young ages."

Those involved at the study at USC believe that one of the reasons that contributes to these disparities is the fact that more men are directing things behind the scenes. They claim that if things were to change behind the scenes then things would change on the screen as well.

I have to agree. According to the Motion Picture Assn. of America, the only area where women surpassed men in films in 2009 is that they bought more than 50% of the movie tickets.

Women of Brazil Advance Slower Than The Economy

With the recent seating of Dilma Rousseff in the office of president of Brazil, the country has seen dramatic changes.  Rousseff (who has been mentioned in previous posts), is the first female president of the country.  She is an accomplished economist, onetime Marxist militant and handpicked successor to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.  At one time, many wondered if she would be able to fill Mr. da Silva's shoes.  She has proven in her time in office that she can stand on her own two feet.  At the helm of the world's seventh-largest economy, her position is being looked very closely because of the current economic crisis globally but also as a representative of what women are capable of.  In her 11 months in office, she has un-apologetically appointed women to high profile positions like minister of institutional relations and chief of staff, with a third of her cabinet being women. However, even with her progressive thinking and placement of women in very influential positions, women in Brazil overall are not progressing as quickly.  Women have progressed in the areas of education, health and in the professions and technical fields.  However, their economic and political power has not seen the same rate of increase; in fact, it is growing quite slowly, as they are behind in managerial and senior positions.  It was found in the Executive Opinion Survey conducted by the World Economic Forum that executives rated Brazilian women's ability to rise to positions of senior leadership in business at 4.06 on a scale of 1 to 7.  Women only hold 9 percent of parliamentary positions which is very low compared to the world average.  Hopefully with Rousseff leading the way, women in Brazil will be able to close the gap in workforce.

Sleep On It

The New York Times is usually read by those who take news seriously.  It is one of the most reliable news sources in print media today.  However, recently The New York Times has come under fire by writer for The Huffington Post, Joan Williams.  Williams' gripe with The Times is that they have taken gender inequality to lightly to the point of disrespect.  The article in question begins making light of a study done at the Emory Sleep Center in Atlanta, where 3 out of 4 patients are women.  It makes light of a particular case in which a working mother, afraid of developing an addiction, would rather suffer from insomnia than to take Xanax.  This woman suffers from anxiety and felt anxious about taking an anti-anxiety medication (oh, the irony).  However this issue is one that should be taken more seriously.  This incident is not funny and is a concern of many working mothers (to varying degrees).  It can be very difficult to deal with the sleeplessness that comes as a result of pregnancy only to be followed by sleepless nights spent awake with an newborn. Women's bodies change and adapt to the lifestyle change causing biological reactions that may be unfavorable, like sleeplessness.  However, women going through this take this seriously and perhaps The New York Times should too.

Gender Inequality in the Courts

 I read this article entitled "Gender Inequality in the Courts," and found it quite interesting. It is a guide for the all of New Mexico state and federal courts. In the reading it provided specific examples of gender bias presented in the court. These included:
"1. A tendency by some judges to treat female lawyers with greater deference and courtesy than male lawyers. Male lawyers tend to see this behavior as favoritism toward their female counterparts. Female lawyers often find this behavior condescending and paternalistic.

2. Lack of sensitivity in the types of questions asked of victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence. Questions to a battered spouse about what she did to provoke a beating, or why she returned to the home, refl ect biased assumptions. When impaneling jurors, judges should be sensitive to the types of questions about the juror’s work, so that the nature of that work is not demeaned. Work within the home is no less important than work outside the home.

3. When judges look less alert and attentive, fail to take notes, or assume a bored expression when a woman speaks, they convey in a powerful way the message that women’s presentations are less important than those of men.

4. Some judges may be hesitant to respond assertively to gender-biased misconduct that occurs in their presence. If male attorneys engage in blatant or subtle forms of gender bias toward female attorneys or witnesses, it is important that the judge intervene to stop such behavior. Behavior or statements which are demeaning to women must be excluded from the courtroom. A firm reminder from the judge at the first instance of inappropriate behavior will tend to stop it, without major disruption to the proceedings or embarrassment to the woman."

These four are great examples of gender inequality in the courts.
http://www.nmbar.org/attorneys/lawpubs/genderequality.pdf

Gender Inequality:Child Custody

   In court cases about child custody, is where many memebers of society believes gender inequality exist dramatically. Many perceive th rulings to be very unfair and not right. The decision of the court seems not to follow the guideline as placing the child with the parent that will be more appropriate, providing a susatinable environment.
  In every child custody hearing, it is always more likely that the child, or children will be placed with their mother. Many believe that a child being with their mother is always better for the child. This is not always the case. Some fathers can provide more for a child, not just financially but emotional and supportive as well. Some mothers are fighting for custody just so that they can receive a child support check each month, which is their only motive. Where as a father motive is not to receive a child support check a month, but to just have the opportunity to see their child, or children on a daily basis. It is not always the case that a mother will raise a child more efficient than a man is the gender inequality argument.

Women in Public Service

Hillary Rodham Clinton

One of the main topics that has interested me most this semester is gender stratification pertaining to occupations. Why do women and men tend to drift towards certain occupations? Is it because of personal interest, or does society's influence have an effect?

Personally, I believe society still plays a role in leading individuals to choose occupations based on gender. Two common examples are men as engineers and women as nurses, but one that causes a huge concern for me is women in public service and politics.

According to MarketWatch.Com, 17.5% of the world's elected offices are held by women, and the numbers in the United States are lower.

There are individuals attempting to shrink the gap between women and men in public service. One of the most recent is Wellesley College (Hillary Rodham Clinton's alma mater) and the U.S. State Department teaming up to bring women the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Women in Public Service Summer Institute, which is a part of the Women in Public Service Project.

According to MarketWatch.Com, "The institute will convene fifty promising women leaders from around the world, including areas undergoing political transformations and social change, such as Arab countries in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. Participants will benefit from training and networking sessions with their peers and established leaders, a forum for shared learning and dialogue on leadership, and a global exchange of ideas and resources."

The Women in Public Service Project was introduced in March 2011 in efforts to attract and keep more women in politics. With programs like this, hopefully our government will move towards a better representation of our nation as a whole.

Foreign Assistance Gives Women Opportunities to Succeed

Many Americans believe that America should offer aid to developing countries as a matter of human interest.  Aid comes from America in the form of food programs, education programs, money, etc.  The recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to 3 women, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and peace activist Leymah of Gbowee of Liberia and Yemeni democracy advocate Tawakul Karman is proof that these programs can benefit humanity.  These women have worked hard to make strides in their own countries, for the well-being of their people and by extension, the world.  They represent social progress taking place around the world.  Due in part to aid from the United States, these women have all benefited from partnerships with Harvard University, the American Jewish World Service or the State Department's International Visitor's Leadership Program. 

 There is a correlation between gender and development around the world.  It is important that we  rethink the budget cuts being made to programs that not only support its participants, but also human freedoms throughout the world. 6 out of 10  of the poorest people in the world are female, and females make up 2 thirds of the illiterate worldwide.  Last month's Nobel Peace Prize winners are representatives of what can happen if women are given opportunities to succeed.

A Push for More Women in Elected Office

I read an article this weekend titled, “New Political Group Aims to Push Women to Seek Elected Offices.” A brief summary is that there is a new organization from Ventura County, California called The Ventura County Women’s Political Council who are trying to recruit and train women for public office. In the article it gives statistics that pertain to both the issue of women serving in Ventura County but also national statistics of women in office.

The statistics that this article gave were eye opening. At the state level, women make up 28 percent of the Legislature, while at the national level 90 serve in the Senate and House of Representatives, holding 16.6 percent of 535 elected offices, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.That is just a ridiculous amount of under representation; you would think that because women make up a little more than half of the population that they would be represented accordingly in our government. But I suppose it goes back to the debate as to whether or not someone has to belong to a certain group to represent them accordingly. There are certain politicians who say they are pro women but it’s debatable if they count as representation as they aren’t a woman.

Something that struck me as odd about this council is that their core teachings are issues that women usually go to school for or have some sort of background knowledge in; reproductive health, the environment, social, educational, and economic justice. Before this semester I had not heard much about these political schools so it's interesting to read about one opening up and the stats that come with it. 

Link to original article: 

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/01/new-political-group-aims-to-push-women-to-seek/

Gender Inequality: Nudity

Photo

One of the lessons of the world my mom had to teach me when I was young was why men were allowed to walk around with their shirts off and women weren't (the question stemmed from seeing men jogging or doing yard work without their shirts on.) I couldn't have been more than five at the time, but I remember my mom's reply, "We just can't. It's against the law."

I'm not proposing that women be allowed to walk around without their shirts off, but the whole idea of what is acceptable for women to wear and how what women wear directly effects how people perceive them is such an interesting topic to me.

On VH1's show Tough Love, one of the contestants gives up her job as a go-go dancer in order to please a man she is interested in. Later in the season, she admits that her career goal is becoming a Playmate and is afraid of telling her mother.

Some would argue that women being able to dress scantily and pose nude is empowerment. The key to this argument is choice, which I am all for in all aspects because, honestly, who likes being told what to do? But this idea is still hard for me to accept for myself. If it is indeed empowerment (which I don't think anyone will ever agree), it implies that I can get what I want only through my ability to be physically appeasing.

And I'm not saying that men don't get ahead because of their attractive qualities, because studies have shown that more attractive people in general are favored more. But, if a man chooses to pose nude he isn't judged the same way a woman is, and it is not assumed that he poses nude because he has no brains to accomplish anything else.

So, I am not judging women who aspire to goals like the woman from Tough Love, nor am I saying that women should have to cover up. But, I just wish people would drop the whole empowerment spiel, and stop choosing how to judge a person based on their sex.

Women Own 1% of the World's Property

There was a lovely article I read written by Soraya Chemaly entitled, "Women Own 1% of the World's Property. Occupy That!" The UN has a particular field just for women and researching the inequalities women suffer around the world. Well this article brought to light some of these statistics and one of the most shocking, being the percent of women who own property. She also discusses the belief that some people have that the Occupy movement is feminist at it's core, but she points out:

"Men's visits... have been consistently reported -- just perform a basic internet search for Michael Moore, Russell Simmons, Kanye West, Cornel West or Chris Hedges. But what about Naomi Klein, Barbara Ehrenreich, Eve Ensler and Susan Sarandon, to name a few?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/women-own-1-of-the-worlds_b_1076715.html

Few of the statistics that the article mentions:

• There is a direct link between increased female labour participation and growth: It is estimated that if women’s paid employment rates were raised to the same level as men’s, America’s GDP would be 9 percent higher; the euro-zone’s would be 13 percent higher, and Japan’s would be boosted by 16 percent
• Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property
• In Sri Lanka, food took up to a quarter of migrant women workers’ wages in 2008, so women since then have reduced their meals from three to two times a day and/or reduced the quality of their diet in response to declining wages and dramatic increases in the costs of basic necessities

http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/women_poverty_economics/facts_figures.php

Gender Equality: Monarchy

Sons and daughters in the monarchy now have equal rights to the throne. 16 leaders of Commonwealth countries approved the change unanimously at a summit in Perth, Australia.

This means that if the highly publicized couple William & Kate have a daughter first, she will be able to obtain the throne even if they have a son later. BBCNews

Personally, I cannot believe it has taken this long. The idea that a younger son would inherit the throne simply because he is male is ludicrous.

According to MailOnline:

• The ancient rules of royal succession have handed men the balance of power for hundreds of years.
• If the new rules had been in force in 1509 Margaret Tudor would have taken the throne instead of Henry VIII. That could have meant the Reformation would never have taken place and Elizabeth I would never have been Queen.
• If the practice had been changed as recently as the last century, Britain could have had two Queen Victorias back to back.
• Princess Victoria, the Princess Royal would have acceded to the throne in 1901 instead of King Edward VII.
• When she died just a few months later, her son Kaiser Wilhelm II would have ascended the throne – something which could have prevented the First World War.
• The Queen of England now would have been the completely unknown Princess Marie Cecile of Prussia

It will be interesting to see how the monarchy's new equality will shape history from this point forward. The recent changes display why something should not stay enacted simply because it is tradition.

Leading Ladies of Hollywood: Not Easily Forgiven, Too Easily Forgotten

Hollywood is riddled with scandal for the general public to watch almost as closely as the movies stars and starlets make.  It seems that all too often stars are caught in situations with the law for all the world to see.  Looking back, it would also seem that males seem to bounce back from these indiscretions more easily than men.  Through the years, men tend to repair their reputations merely by issuing a formal apology in the media and serving their sentence, while women of Hollywood, struggle to re-calibrate and  move forward in their careers.

For example, in 1996 Robert Downey Jr. seemed to have spent more time trying to sabotage his career than build it.  In June of that year he was arrested after being caught with heroin, cocaine, crack and a gun in his possession.  Three weeks later he was found passed out in a stranger's bed.  Four days after that he escaped a detox center, where he'd been placed by court order.  Between 1996 and 2001, he bounced in and out of prison for drug use and possession.  Many thought he would never come back from his legal woes and fight the demons within, driving him towards madness.  However, in a comeback that is so rare, he saved his career.  He cleaned up his act and landed roles in "Tropic Thunder" (which earned him an Oscar nod) and the "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes" franchises.

However, Winona Ryder, whose transgressions were far less than Downey's, has never been able to restore her image.  Once a sought-after starlet, starring in films like "Girl, Interrupted", "Heathers", "Little Women", "Mermaids" and "Beetlejuice" among other notable films, Ryder was arrested in December 2001 for grand theft after stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from a Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.  Her conviction was later reduced to a misdemeanor in 2004.  She paid her fines, attended counseling, and completed 480 hours of community service.  Despite repaying her debt to society, Ryder continues to struggle years later with her return to roles as a leading lady.  Since the arrest, she has been in supporting roles in blockbusters such as "Black Swan" and "Star Trek".  Her spotlight has gone dim after a single arrest that didn't involve drugs, sex or physical injury to herself or anyone else.  

Perhaps the difference between the two is that Downey had Mel Gibson in his corner, who paid for his insurance on the film "The Singing Detective", which aided Downey in his climb up the ladder to fame once more when insurance companies refused to cover him.  Ryder didn't have anyone to help her in such a way.

But, maybe the key is the amount of time spent in the spotlight as a result of scandal versus the amount of spotlight due to actual work.  Sean Penn, for example, spent 33 days in jail in 1987 for hitting a film extra and reckless driving and was later sentenced to 300 hours of community service in 2010 after he kicked a photographer.  These incidents seem to have had little effect on his career because he has been in the spotlight for far more films and well-played roles than for his run-ins with the law (he has two Oscars under his belt for "Mystic River" and "Milk").

However, the same cannot be said for the likes of Naomi Campbell who assaulted a housekeeper, police officer and her assistant between the years of 2000 and 2008.  It is thought that because she has spent most of her career in magazines, on billboards and on runways that the general public doesn't feel as much connection to her.

Chris Brown is evidence that males don't always need to put forth much effort to win back fans.  In 2009 when he assualted Rihanna, most people didn't believe he'd be able to rebuild his career.  Though he hasn't shed his violent image (he threw a chair at a window after an unpleasant "Good Morning America" interview earlier this year), he's maintained a successful career in music with his most recent effort, "F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies)" debuted at number 1 in March on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Chris Brown was forgiven, but the public has less tolerance for racist remarks as evidenced by Michael Richards, formerly of "Seinfeld".  After using racial slurs during a stand-up routine against two African-American audience members, he struggled to redirect his career in a positive direction. 

Lindsay Lohan could be doomed if she doesn't get her life together, but Britney Spears' triumphant return should give her hope of a return of her own, if she does the work. Spears had an unforgettable breakdown in 2007 which included her shaving her head and losing custody of her two children; no one believed she would be able to come back from.  However today, she is in a much better place, appearing to be healthier and happier than she did back then.  Her father seems to be the key to her success, having taken control of her assets in 2008 after Spears lost custody of her children and was put under involuntary psychiatric hold twice.

Lohan probably won't be receiving the same type of help from her parents anytime soon as her mom-ager Dina has allegedly been shopping a tell-all memoir and her father Michael historically uses his daughter's fame to propel himself into the spotlight.  

Fans could welcome Lohan back with open arms as they did for Spears if she would put more energy into working instead of partying and getting arrested.  But after a slew of arrests, and more mugshots than red carpet photos circulating, it's going to take a lot hard work to repair her image and return to the public's good graces.  Given the history of men and women in Hollywood who have found themselves in Lohan's place (to varying degrees, in fairness), Lohan has her work cut out for her.  Perhaps, instead of posing for Playboy to relaunch her career she should start shaking hands and kissing babies.

"Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race and Finding Home"

      Twenty years ago, in October, Anita Hill, a young female attorney, accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, for sexual harassment. This occurred during the 1980s, when she worked as his aide at the Department of Education. The debate was angry and intense, and prompted a public referendum on sexual harassment and gender inequality.Thomas denied the allegations and was confirmed by a vote of 52-48 -- the closest vote in Supreme Court history.Twenty years later, Hill is a professor at Brandeis University teaching classes on race and gender equality.
       The professor's new book, "Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race and Finding Home," illustrates she is still wrestling with those questions and not just about racial and gender equality, but economic, medical and societal equality. She has currently just began a book tour this month. When ask whats her look on the case many years ago, she replies, ""I think it was just a wake-up call to the reality of some of the discrimination that women experienced," Hill said. "And that women learned they could do something about it."Hill said her feelings about testifying about the qualifications of a Supreme Court justice haven't changed in 20 years."I testified because the integrity of the court was in question," she said.

     I personally think that this is amazing that after twenty years, Anita is still fighting for equality. For her to stand up for herself and report these allegations show her eagerness for equality, and justice. Many in her position would have stayed quiet, being discourage by a man's power, because of his job and position in society. Because of her, she has encourage another not to keep silence, but go after justice. And she continues to do so by publishing new books, and teaching at her university. Reaching out to females is her goal.

Gender Inequality: Military

Ray Odierno
Gender inequality is a hot topic in reference to the military as October comes to an end. According to an article by the Army Times by Lance M. Bacon on October 22, 2011, "Congress in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act required the defense and service secretaries to review policies “to determine whether changes are needed to ensure that female members have an equitable opportunity to compete and excel in the Armed Forces.” That report was due to Congress on April 15, but the Pentagon was granted an extension through October." Proponents of women being allowed in combat argue that women are already dying in combat, should be recognized for their service, and are highly qualified, therefore, should be used as an asset to the United States Military in all roles disregarding their female gender.

Bacon reports that few details are known about what is to come with the Nation Defense Authorization Act, but displays Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno's discrepancies as foreshadowing for what is to come. Odierno states that he is not pleased with what has been decided. Bacon conveys:

“I was not involved with this specific report. It was done before I got here,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said recently. “And the reason I want to clarify that is because I am not real happy with it. I don’t think it represents some of the things that our women are doing in combat.”

“We need them there. We need their talent,” he said. “This is about managing talent. We have incredibly talented females who should be in those positions. We have work to do within the [Defense Department] to get them to recognize and change. We did not get there at this time in this report, and I’m focused on this and I will spend some time on it.”

When I decided to do my blog on this, I was speaking with my friend who has honorably served four years as a marine straight out of high school. We both believed that the real issue wasn't that women were not fit for the same jobs as men in the military, but that we still socialize women and men in extremely traditional gender roles. Most women are not taught that service or even a career in the military is a primary goal of females as a gender, and most men are not taught that women could be assets during combat. In the same article by the Army Times, he story of Sgt. Christine Baldwin displays our feelings of socialization, but proves that initial feelings are not true to outcomes in all cases:

Baldwin recently returned from an eight-month tour with Operational Detachment-A teams 1324 and 1315 in Tahlequah, in northern Afghanistan’s Kunduz province. She served as part of a cultural support team that builds relationships with and serves the female population that will not respond to men.

Any time you are placed at the tip of the spear, you’d better be sharp. It was a lesson that Baldwin, a computer graphics artist, learned the hard way.

Her inclusion on the team started with a five-day assessment, which Baldwin called “the most intense five days of my life.” They were pushed to their physical limits. They wore rucks for 10 straight hours while conducting land navigation. Psychological evaluations were thrown in. They were deprived of sleep while their capability, capacity and endurance were tested.

“If someone had told me everything I had to do beforehand, I would’ve been like ‘There’s no way,’ ” Baldwin said. “Afterward, was like, ‘Yeah I can do that stuff, and I am just as tough as those guys.’ ”

Baldwin had nothing but comp

liments for her teammates, who she said fully accepted her as a member of the unit.

“I had my apprehensions about going in there,” she said. “But once we got in, we told them where we were coming from and they told us where they were coming from. We went out on a few patrols right away and showed them that we were physically able to do this and there were no issues.”

Sgt. Christine Baldwin, Left

Hopefully stories like Christine Baldwin's and influence like Ray Odierno's will lead us to more egalitarian gender norms, even outside the military.

Will Women Making Strides in Government Worldwide Spread Nationally?

In the last few years, women in the American government have been making strides towards higher levels of leadership in much larger numbers than in years past and with great awareness in society.  These women project to the world images of a newer, more forward thinking America.  For example, Hilary Clinton is the first woman to make a truly credible run at the Democratic presidential seat.  Though she did not win, she is seated very high up in the government and plays a huge role internationally as one of the major faces of America and American culture.  Condolezza Rice, Sonia Sotomayor, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachman have also helped open doors and keep them open for women in the American government.  Last but certainly not least, I would be remiss to not mention First Lady Michelle Obama, who is using her position to promote a healthier America.
As a result of this shift towards more female presence seated in high positions, analysts have noticed a spike in female leadership worldwide. For example, in Brazil, former economist Dilma Rousseff is the country's first female president, leading the world's seventh-largest economy.  In her company are Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Christine Lagarde, who is the new director of the International Monetary Fund and Michelle Bachellet, who is the first female president of Chile and the executive director of U.N. Women which is the U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
These women are projecting images of a new, forward-thinking world (not just a country); one which focuses less on supremacy of men and far more on the need for dialogue on who is best for the job regardless of sex.

Is the United States actually progressing slower than the rest of the world in terms of women being elected in to positions of power?  It seems possible, as the U.S. is still waiting for a female president, but hopefully soon, Americans will look less at gender, and more at qualification.  The international examples named above are proof that women are capable of handling the tough jobs; so why aren't they getting them in America, where there is supposed to be equality between men and women alike?

To Educate a Girl

I saw an awesome documentary called To Educate a Girl. The documentary is about girls in Nepal and Uganda who are out of school, starting school, or fighting to stay in school. I knew that in certain countries education was a difficult thing to access but it is a completely different thing seeing these girls and hearing there stories. There are many reasons why girls aren't able to go to school but it has been proven that when a group of girls within a community get educated a community thrives more. 


According to The World Bank, when girls receive an education they have healthier and fewer babies because they are more informed about family planning. Another benefit of girls attending school is that the girl will make more money in her lifetime than she would with limited education. Another reason would be that, according to the Basic Education Coalition, that women tend to put their money back into the home to better their families.  
 
This documentary was amazing and eye opening. Unlike some documentaries it was educational but also extremely interesting to the point where you get invested into these girls lives and sincerely want the best for them. I would definitely recommend everyone watch it. 

Here is a link to the documentary. 
To Educate a Girl Documentary

The FBI Changing the Definition of Rape

There was a campaign recently to have the FBI change the definition of Rape. The FBI haven't changed the definition of rape since 1929 so it does seem to be time for an update. The definition was, 

The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Included are rapes by force and attempts or assaults to rape. Statutory offenses (no force used- victims under age of consent) are excluded. 

An FBI panel composed of outside experts from criminal justice agencies and national security agencies voted to broaden the federal government's definition. The proposed definition is,

Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.

The FBI's current narrow definition of rape has also created complications for law enforcement agencies, who can't report all the rapes they prosecute for inclusion in federal statistics if their state or locality has a broader definition.

For example, in 2010, the Chicago Police Department reported nearly 1,400 sexual assaults. None of them, however, appeared in the federal crime report because they didn't fit the federal government's definition of rape.

This change doesn’t directly affect rape arrests, charges, or convictions–this is about records and reporting. But this can help keep the number of reported rates more closely in line with the number of actual rapes, meaning that federal resources can be directed to prosecution ofactual rapes.

Transgender Individuals and the Military: Fighting For Equality

Gays in the military has been a hot topic in the media recently, resulting in the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" which now allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military openly.  In Las Vegas recently, the first session of the OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit was held where active-duty military personnel were able to openly discuss the progress that has been made since the repeal of DADT and the work that still needs to be done in the quest for equality in the military.
Among the topics discussed, were repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars the recognition of same-sex marriages; working towards the Pentagon's agreement to partner benefits, which are not currently offered; and conduct that is deemed discriminatory within the ranks as well as bringing attention to the many contributions made by gay and lesbian personnel; last, but certainly not least, working to convince the Pentagon to change the rules in place which prevent transgender people from serving.
By far, discrimination against those transgender individuals who wish to serve their country is currently the most sensitive issue within the military's LGBT community and of all the workshop sessions held at the OutServe summit, was the only one which summit coordinators insisted be off the record for the media.  The repeal of DADT didn't cover those individuals who have had aw gender reassignment surgery or identify with the opposite gender.  While there is no explicitly written document from the Pentagon prohibiting the acceptance of transgender individuals into the military, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) considers transgender individuals to be suffering from Gender Identity Disorder, constituting a medical disqualification from service.
OutServe must appeal to the senses of the American Psychiatric Association.  The key to success in the area of transgender service is held by the APA.  In 1973, the association faced a similar situation, resulting in the removal of homosexuality as a medical disorder.  This overturn yielded the results necessary to topple a key barrier to military service.  The APA is currently revising its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V); the new version is due in May 2013.  Advocates for transgender rights are working to have their condition reclassified, so that under specific conditions transgender individuals would be eligible to serve in the military.  If this diagnostic label can be removed, it would open the doors of service to those who have been locked out for far too long.  Though OutServe is hesitant to openly discuss its agenda, they are working diligently to strategize and mobilize a plan of action to educate people prior to making their case to the public and the Pentagon.

The Daddy Shift

      

       There has been a general shift from past to present regarding child-rearing and housework among United States household.  Fathers are spending more time with their children and on housework now, than ever before.  Jeremy Adam Smith, a writer for the New York Times, writes about this child-rearing and housework shift calling it; “the daddy shift”.  He explains this shift as “the gradual movement away from a definition of fatherhood as pure bread-winning to one that encompasses a capacity of care giving”.  A cause of this shift can be traced back to a more common economic instability that exists today among American families.  According to Smith, families are shifting to a new family model that is more resilient to trying economic times.  This resilient family model consists of both women and men that are capable of earning a living and working at home.  Though fathers spend more time with their children and on housework today than at any at any other point since researchers started collecting data, a lack of support for men in their new care giving roles has begun to slow this shift.  Studies have consistently shown that eighty to ninety percent of mothers still expect their husbands to serve as primary breadwinners.  In order for this “daddy shift” to continue, fathers need continued encouragement from their wives to participate in family life.  I have criticism for Smith regarding an ideal family model.  I question whether or not an ideal family model exists? Just because one family is different from the next, does not mean one is more prone to gender inequality than the other.

Women Judges

     When you think of the characteristics of a judge, what comes to mind? Many will reply answers like, strong-minded, firm, leader, good judgement, and MAN. Why is this? Why are there so many more men judges than women judges? This has been the case for many years. When you think a bout a judge, you immediately decide that its a male. 30-years ago a remarkable thing took place in history. Sandra Day O'Connor became our first female justice, and held a 25-year career in high court. Why was this so remarkable? Because these positions were only held by men. Men held dominance over these seats.
      Women reports for half of the graduate students in law school. Even though this is the case, women only report for 22% of U.S. Federal court judgeships, and only a quarter of state judicial seats. In corporate legal offices, only 19 percent of the attorneys are women, and in private practice, only 19 percent are partners. A 2009 study shows that in the nation's 200 largest law firms, only 6 percent of managing partners are women. Why is this the case? If the graduating students of law schools are closely to 50:50 for the ratio of men to women, why aren't the percentages more closer related? Just another issue of gender inequality.

Gender Inequality in Sports

Growing up, some of my favorite memories were spent at my grandmother's house. Her walls were covered in framed photographs and newspaper clippings, plaques, and artifacts from around the world. One of my favorite pictures was of her softball team. When I asked her if she was any good, she replied, "I was the best on the team."

Sports were just one aspect of life that my grandmother pursued confidently. She denied my grandfather marriage seven times in order to finish her nursing degree (back in those days, if she would have accepted, she would have had to withdraw from nursing school). However, I resonated a lot with her involvement in sports simply because I was very athletic myself. Ask people about gender inequality in sport, and a majority would say that women's sports are just boring and not as exciting as men's. And this statement is fine, because it is their preference, but I think a lot of women and girls have to fight a lot of scrutiny to be taken seriously in sports. In many cases, women find popularity if they are not only good but also attractive; i.e., Skylar Diggins, Candace Parker, Maria Sharapova. If fathers want their daughters to play sports, they generally say they are raising their daughters like boys. Women sports are generally always looked at as second to mens, and women are more likely than men to be punished more severely for un-sportsmen-like behavior (even the name says something, un-sportsMEN).

One of my favorite movies that displays gender inequality in sport is A League of Their Own (1992) . One of the two main characters is named Dottie, which happens to be the name of my grandmother. The story is about how Walter Harvey proposed a professional baseball league for women during WWII.

Here are some quotes from the movie that display some common events/reactions to women and sports:

Mae Mordabito: [During the league's publicity drive] What if at a key moment in the game my, my uniform bursts open and, uh, oops., my bosoms come flying out? That, that might draw a crowd, right?
Doris Murphy: You think there are men in this country who ain't seen your bosoms?

Dave Hooch: I know my girl ain't so pretty as these girls, but that's my fault. I raised her like I would a boy. I didn't know any better. She loves to play. Don't make my little girl suffer because I messed up raising her. Please.

Ira Lowenstein: This is what it's going to be like in the factories, too, I suppose, isn't it? "The men are back, Rosie, turn in your rivets." We told them it was their patriotic duty to get out of the kitchen and go to work; and now, when the men come back, we'll send them back to the kitchen.
Walter Harvey: What should we do - send the boys returning from WAR back to the kitchen?

Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104694/

Alimony for Men???

     When it came to an individual having to pay alimony to their former spouse, it was always the man paying it to their wife. For years the judge was more likely to ruled in favor of the woman, for financial assistance. This has always brought the attention to discrimination towards men. Why are they obligated to help their former spouse? Even though men are still the one's mostly paying alimony, the percentage of women paying alimony has increased incredibly. What contribute to the change?

       Alimony is considered based on how long the marriage was, who was making majority of  the household money, what was the daily sacrifices for survival, and by getting divorce, due to the sacrifices will you be able to continue to survive. Men has always seen to be the "head of the house." which means they make all the money. Due to this, they are obligated to help their former wife, even if they are no longer together and divorce. But now, men are finding themselves more in positions where they can be receiving alimony. A number one reason for this is that women are starting to make more money then men. Another reason is women are now gaining more education, and when it comes to pursuing their career, men make major sacrifices, such as moving for a job opportunity for their wife. These factors have contributed to the changes when it comes to alimony. Even though many still believe the men percentage is still to much higher, when compared to women percentage.

Alcohol: Male or Female?

 Can a gender inequality really exist with regards to Alcohol?  Apparently the answer to that question can be put up for debate.  Alcohol has an unequal affect on men and women.  This results in the intoxication of women far faster with fewer amounts of alcohol than men.  It is common knowledge that this is partly due to the fact that women are typically smaller than men.  Also, women generally have a higher percentage of body fat compared to body water which affects alcohol absorption rates.  Another difference exists regarding the metabolizing process of alcohol between men and women.  This difference can be traced to the comparatively small amounts of an enzyme named gastric alcohol dehydrogenase.  This enzyme helps break down the alcohol in the stomach prior to absorption which helps decrease a person’s level of intoxication.  Because women do not have as much of this enzyme, their level of intoxication will be higher than men, even when weight is accounted for in the comparison.  When taking this information into consideration, one can see that there is a slight disadvantage among women and alcohol.  Using this knowledge, one can infer that women have a greater chance of reaching the legal limit of intoxication with fewer amounts of alcohol then men.  This may help to distinguish disparities that may exist among women regarding DUI laws.

Gender Inequality Amongst Company CEO’s

The push for gender inequality within the workplace has been a hot topic regarding employment for decades.  By examining the statistics regarding the number of males and females that hold white collared jobs in the United States from past to present, one can see that great strides have been made.  Today, women hold about half of all white collared employment positions here in the United States.  The numbers begin to shift drastically when looking at those who hold high prestigious positions within the company.  Currently, women represent 14.4 percent of executive officers at Fortune 500 companies.  Though this number has risen compared to past generations, the difference is still extremely high.  Only two out of the thirty United States companies that are observed on the Dow Jones are headed by females.  Taking into consideration the recent firing of Yahoo’s CEO, Carol Bartz, will this gender inequality that exists among CEO’s start to shift?  Some believe that the struggling number of 14.4 percent will only grow a little, if any given the current economic circumstances.  This can be due to the fact that many experts believe that unlike men, woman often have trouble finding mentors to help guide them through major career choices.  This might be an indication of gender prejudices that exist among those that hold executive positions.