Washington State U. Student: Convenient feminists cheapen the movement
We recently featured a piece on “Freedom Feminism”, which is a movement to reclaim real feminism from progressive and often hypocritical radicals.
Washington State University – Pullman student Michelle Chan, a sophomore animal science major, offers a true “Freedom Feminism” analysis in The Daily Evergreen.
I describe myself as a feminist, an advocate for equality in the social sphere and in all aspects of life.
Because of this, I can’t condone the hypocrisy of cheapening feminist ideals by only applying them when convenient.
For the most part, feminism has opened opportunities for women, especially when it comes to economics. In 2009, about 47 percent of science and engineering degree holders between the ages of 25 to 39 were women, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
A study cited in AOL Jobs noted that people working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers make $34,420 more in comparison to the national average. This means as more women enter male dominated STEM fields, we begin to close the wage gap between the genders.
Overall, more women are receiving a paycheck in the economic world. The increased female presence in the workforce indicates the slow movement towards equality.
This is surely a positive change, but as men and women begin to reach financial equilibrium, we must consider what this means in a holistic and social context. Some women adhere to strict and traditional expectations when it comes to social behavior. They often take offense to a man who suggests splitting the check on a date. Others find it terribly rude when a man fails to hold the door open for her.
I condone courtesy and politeness in all matters of social behavior, but at some point, some women expect too much. Of course, I do not criticize all of the feminist movement; however, I shake my head at the women who demand to be both in the playing field and on the pedestal.
The definition of true equality should be the same for both men and women. Equality means freedom of the social constructs and rituals that confine both men and women. By breaking the expectations derived from gender roles, we give both men and women the equal opportunity to succeed both in the workforce and in society.
…We live in a progressive age—one that grants both genders more freedom than ever. In favor of moving ahead, we must abandon the age-old gendered traditions that have bound us for so long. These dated social practices have no place in a modern world.By abandoning antiquated practices, we engage in a new and more relevant form of equality.
Comments
What the heck are they teaching in animal sciences that leads her to think that there are not statistically valid statements regarding sexual based behavior in humans?
Yea – right.
And the MINUTE that real equality hampers her decisions, choices, or a real dose of responsibility comes her way … my bet is she goes right back into the fold.
Is she now going to fight for equal sentencing? To force the DV shelters to take in men? For one of her friends who falsely accuses a man of a crime to spend time in prison? Is she going to demand that women pay more for healthcare – since women USE more money for the same premium? (because apparently in auto insurance that’s ok, but not for health where women would have to pay more)
Is she going to demand that men, now a serious minority on campuses get the slots that she may want, but has to lose out on due to “equality” (of outcomes). Will she demand that as long as women have access to abortion and can give up a child to adoption that men can also opt out with a paper abortion? Will she demand that women who commit paternity fraud, essentially enslaving a man (with the very real threat of prison) to be a wage slave, receive a prison term?
These are but a few things where I never seem to see any “new feminists” actually putting any effort into.
It’s all well and good during some philosophical discussion and naval gazing session to want to “break the mold” and “want real equality” – right up until it costs them social perks, financial opportunity, costs in professional opportunities, or if they or their friends might be held to a single standard of real consequence.
Sorry – not buying it.