"sexism in america: alive and well, and ruining our future"

[niyad]

turned on booktv this morning, in time to catch a segment by barbara j. berg on her book of the above title. as a life-long feminist, one who has worked on so many different aspects of the problem, it was disheartening to see how much of a backlash there has been, and how far we have to go (like a person the other day who said it was bs that a male boss would make a very demeaning, insulting comment without immediately being hit with a lawsuit)

one of the things she pointed out, in terms of backlash, was the current popularization of the word "housewife"--a term feminists worked very hard to eliminate from our vocabulary. women, after all, are not married to their houses. but look at the prevalence of shows with that word in the title--and look at the stereotypes portrayed therein. just one small example.

From Publishers Weekly
Sexism hasn't gone away, argues journalist/activist Berg, it has simply adapted to our changing culture. Berg offers a refresher course on the 20th-century women's rights movement and its unexpected devolution in recent years, drawing on aspects of culture like advertising and reality TV, scientific research and an online survey of 300 not-so-randomly selected women and interviews with 200 more. Contemporary women, Berg says, are encouraged to imitate vapid media darlings instead of breaking glass ceilings (or breaking even) in academia, business and government. Containing the requisite—and accurate—feminist media criticism and movement history, updates to the 2008 presidential election and Obama's first few months, this is an excellent, easily decipherable text for history, sociology and women's studies students—and even older feminists looking for an update. Berg uses short chapters for flowing discussions on work, reproductive rights, health and activism. She focuses on working women's issues, and more discussion on women who choose to be full-time homemakers and their particular concerns would have added balance. But Berg still offers a wakeup call for young women entering the cultural and career trenches on what went wrong and how to fix it.

http://www.amazon.com/Sexism-America-Alive-Ruining-Future/dp/1556527764/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262564091&sr=1-1

[thunder rising]

1. As well as homophobia, agism and racism. Yep, they're all still alive.

[Possumpoint]

2. Yawn!

Tempest in a teapot. Much to do about a word. Creating controversy to further one's agenda. Housewife, homemaker, domestic engineer, etc. etc. all words to describe a woman who stays home and takes care of the house and any children who are involved. These are some of the hardest working women in the world.

What words do you use when a man does the same thing and do you consider them to be sexist?

[NMDemDist2]

3. i think you've missed the point

women my age worked hard for progress, the young women today aren't or don't realize how far they came on our shoulders

worldwide, women's lives are still mostly grinding poverty and fear.

the fight isn't over any more than the civil rights needed for LGBT and immigrant communities.

yes, she's talking about a word but it's a word that still has negative connotations to many who will respond to the word with 'oh, so you don't work?'

think it through

[Possumpoint]

4. No

I'll stand by what I said. Read my words and look through the smoke and mirrors to see the agenda behind it. Women throughout the world get the dirty end of the stick time and time again. We've only been able to do so much about it. To hold this word up for ridicule as a method to correct that is a joke.

[NMDemDist2]

6. yes

words have power.

[niyad]

5. your comments are exactly the sort of thing she is talking about.

you focused on one word, not the issue itself. nice try, but we know the drill.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Women STILL feel compelled to say.."I'm not a feminist, but...." other minorities are not pressured

to say things like that.

[seabeyond]

8. talking to female principal that i know pretty well after years....

i addressed an issue and told her upfront (living in a very fundie area) that i was addressing this more from a feminist stand point than a fundie

after talking it thru and her stating was absolutely inappropriate and not acceptable she said, this is not a feminist issue, it is simply inappropriate.

ok i say, fine

but this woman is so right on.... older, well educated, career she has kicked ass in, raising children well ..... and no way, no how would she accept feminism.

[niyad]

9. I AM A FEMINIST--proud of it, and of the work feminists have done.

[lukasahero]

10. I am a feminist and proud of it

Back when I was a kid, we called ourselves "Women's Libbers". Damn, I feel like we need an AA meeting or something.

I am proud of the work WE have done. And proud of you for taking this to GD. :hug:

[Captain Hilts]

11. Say it loud, I'M A FEMINIST AND PROUD!!!

[One_Life_To_Give]

12. Desperate Housewives vs. Edith Bunker

Lets see Bree runs her own buisiness and is a successfull author. Lynette is/was VP at Carlo's advertising firm. Gaby is struggling trying to home school her step-daughter and had to take in a housekeeper to try and keep up. And Susan is an author.

By comparison Edith Bunker was the servant/slave to Archie. (Yes Archie, oh of course Archie, whatever you say Archie.) Mrs. Jefferson again a housewife of the 70's and likewise in the way she responded to George. Not merntion the June Cleaver characters of the 60's. I don't see that the word today has the same connotation that it held 30 years ago.

[ismnotwasm]

13. "Sexism hasn't gone away"

Hell no, it hasn't.

I do find very odd opinions from certain folk about what they think sexism is, and/or what it means.

It goes something like this; if someone is benefiting from what is clearly sexism--an extremely destructive and equally extremely common force--the mental gymnastics conducted to deny any sexism, or to claim it's actually beneficial to women, or to blame women themselves for sexism seems to be part and parcel of our culture.

Feminism is the truest thing in the world. Feminism is the only way of thinking I know that allows us to face all, and I mean every one of our societal demons past and present, and gives us the knowledge and ability to excise them.

People fear change, yes, but they fear loss of privilege more.