21st Century Women

It’s been a while since my last blog entry, haven’t had much inspiration to do some writing. Been busy on the rat-race we call life. This is why my following post will tackle the subject of “getting ahead in life” and the many, many, many expectations placed on women by a western society.

In my early-twenties I feel the pressure daily to do and act a certain way which is perceived by society as “the norm”. In the 21st century women are expected to be polite, sexy, caring, amazing cooks, exceptional maids, smart, wonderful mothers, have an amazing body, be naturally beautiful and still have the time and energy to please their husbands/ significant others.

The pressures placed on women in today’s western societies to conform, fit in or to stand out are immense and begin at an early age. Toddlers take part in beauty pageants, cartoons and child shows depict  young girls cleaning, getting married at the age of 16, depending on the ‘prince on a white horse’ to rescue them (think Disney Cartoons like “Cinderella”, “The little mermaid” and “Snow White” to name a few). Things like these plant the seed of thought at very ripe ages. The seed continues to grow throughout the teen years, causing teenage girls to judge each other and compare their best features. 

One might ask, what the origin is of these expectations, how is it possible that women are perceived as having to conform to all these diverging roles. The answer that I’ve come up with is that the long-term lack of a female perspective in politics. Keep in mind that it wasn’t until the early 20th century that women were allowed to vote, let alone hold a position in office. The past decade has seen an immense contribution by women to the views and expectations of society. However, the damage was already done long before women could deter or even change society’s perceptions.

Even though the political arena is predominantly male, the few female candidates are blazing a trial for others to follow. Society needs more women in parliament, more women and politics. Women need to be part of the decision making process. 

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

The pressures placed on women in today’s western societies to conform, fit in or to stand out are immense and begin at an early age. Toddlers take part in beauty pageants, cartoons and child shows depict  young girls cleaning, getting married at the age of 16, depending on the ‘prince on a white horse’ to rescue them (think Disney Cartoons like “Cinderella”, “The little mermaid” and “Snow White” to name a few). Things like these plant the seed of thought at very ripe ages. The seed continues to grow throughout the teen years, causing teenage girls to judge each other and compare their best features.

One might ask, what the origin is of these expectations, how is it possible that women are perceived as having to conform to all these diverging roles. The answer that I’ve come up with is that the long-term lack of a female perspective in politics. Keep in mind that it wasn’t until the early 20th century that women were allowed to vote, let alone hold a position in office. The past decade has seen an immense contribution by women to the views and expectations of society. However, the damage was already done long before women could deter or even change society’s perceptions.

Even though the political arena is predominantly male, the few female candidates are blazing a trial for others to follow. Society needs more women in parliament, more women and politics. Women need to be part of the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

The pressures placed on women in today’s western societies to conform, fit in or to stand out are immense and begin at an early age. Toddlers take part in beauty pageants, cartoons and child shows depict  young girls cleaning, getting married at the age of 16, depending on the ‘prince on a white horse’ to rescue them (think Disney Cartoons like “Cinderella”, “The little mermaid” and “Snow White” to name a few). Things like these plant the seed of thought at very ripe ages. The seed continues to grow throughout the teen years, causing teenage girls to judge each other and compare their best features.

One might ask, what the origin is of these expectations, how is it possible that women are perceived as having to conform to all these diverging roles. The answer that I’ve come up with is that the long-term lack of a female perspective in politics. Keep in mind that it wasn’t until the early 20th century that women were allowed to vote, let alone hold a position in office. The past decade has seen an immense contribution by women to the views and expectations of society. However, the damage was already done long before women could deter or even change society’s perceptions.

Even though the political arena is predominantly male, the few female candidates are blazing a trial for others to follow. Society needs more women in parliament, more women and politics. Women need to be part of the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

One might ask, what the origin is of these expectations, how is it possible that women are perceived as having to conform to all these diverging roles. The answer that I’ve come up with is that the long-term lack of a female perspective in politics. Keep in mind that it wasn’t until the early 20th century that women were allowed to vote, let alone hold a position in office. The past decade has seen an immense contribution by women to the views and expectations of society. However, the damage was already done long before women could deter or even change society’s perceptions.

Even though the political arena is predominantly male, the few female candidates are blazing a trial for others to follow. Society needs more women in parliament, more women and politics. Women need to be part of the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

Even though the political arena is predominantly male, the few female candidates are blazing a trial for others to follow. Society needs more women in parliament, more women and politics. Women need to be part of the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

In my early-twenties I feel the pressure daily to do and act a certain way which is perceived by society as “the norm”. In the 21st century women are expected to be polite, sexy, caring, amazing cooks, exceptional maids, smart, wonderful mothers, have an amazing body, be naturally beautiful and still have the time and energy to please their husbands/ significant others.

The pressures placed on women in today’s western societies to conform, fit in or to stand out are immense and begin at an early age. Toddlers take part in beauty pageants, cartoons and child shows depict  young girls cleaning, getting married at the age of 16, depending on the ‘prince on a white horse’ to rescue them (think Disney Cartoons like “Cinderella”, “The little mermaid” and “Snow White” to name a few). Things like these plant the seed of thought at very ripe ages. The seed continues to grow throughout the teen years, causing teenage girls to judge each other and compare their best features.

One might ask, what the origin is of these expectations, how is it possible that women are perceived as having to conform to all these diverging roles. The answer that I’ve come up with is that the long-term lack of a female perspective in politics. Keep in mind that it wasn’t until the early 20th century that women were allowed to vote, let alone hold a position in office. The past decade has seen an immense contribution by women to the views and expectations of society. However, the damage was already done long before women could deter or even change society’s perceptions.

Even though the political arena is predominantly male, the few female candidates are blazing a trial for others to follow. Society needs more women in parliament, more women and politics. Women need to be part of the decision making process.

In closing, I would like to make clear that regardless of the past, the future is yet to be determined. A balanced society is within our grasp. In order to have a gender-balanced society, society needs more women involved in the decision making process.

Written by Mellaney Rodriguez

Career vs. Family – the 21st Century Struggle

The world we live in is one plagued with many injustices, discrimination and inequality. Society plays a significant role in how we perceive each other, our environment and ourselves, and more so on what we consider to be unjust, biased or unequal. On a more positive note, today’s society has come a long way in the past centuries, abolishing slavery, abolishing child labour, interracial mingling and the feminist movement, which laid the foundation for the establishment of equal opportunities for women. However, the past progresses can be misleading. Yes, slavery has been abolished according to history and society, but what about the increasingly vast amount of women and children sold into sexual slavery? Yes, child labour is illegal according to international law,[1] but what about the immense amount of children working in factories for less than a dollar a day? Yes, we have changed our views on interracial mingling, but still there are cultures that require marrying their own ethnicity. Yes, women have come a long way since being perceived as mere brooding machines and homemakers and have equal opportunities as men, but what about the choice imposed by society to choose between a career and a family?

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not deprecating the progress made over the past centuries. I am fully aware that had I been born a century ago I would not have enjoyed the same rights, privileges and experience that I enjoy and cherish today. I am fortunate to be of this age, having enjoyed education, a decent living, not experiencing war and being able to pursue my dreams without facing the obstacle of withheld because of my gender, because I’m a girl. However, it must be said, regardless of the progress made in the past centuries, society still determines the role that women take upon themselves.

Moreover, in today’s society women do have more possibilities and opportunities and are treated (partially) equal to men. However, there is still one issue which 21^st century women face, the issue of having to choose between a career and a family. Of course there are those amazing women who somehow make it work. Being able to work eight hours a day, cook dinner and tuck their kids into bed without seemingly breaking a sweat. However, there are negative presumptions surrounding the “career-mommy”, such as the effects it has on the children, the home and even the physical and mental health of the women. But the real question is does today’s society support, or better put, encourage either career focused mothers or stay-at-home moms?

Society seems to diminish the value of full-time motherhood. Ridiculing stay-at-home mothers because they are unemployed and their home activities do not contribute to society as a whole. Stay-at-home mothers will often be socially stigmatized as having too much time on their hands, not doing any work whatsoever and having rich husbands. Dealing with comments like; “When the kids grow up, will you get a real job?”, “If I had a rich husband I wouldn’t work either?”, “I’d love to have some extra time on my hands?”, and many more comments which demean the activities of stay at home mothers. The social stigma surrounding stay-at-home mothers clearly indicate that society is unsporting and discouraging towards women who chose their family over their careers.

Similarly, society also imposes a stigma on working mothers. Working mothers also deal with their share of unpleasant comments, such as “You must feel so guilty”, “it must be hard missing all the special moments” and “aren’t you worried your children will hate you because you were never home?” Society places working mothers in no better position than those who stay at home.

The 21^st Century is one of female importance and leadership. Many societies have accepted and embraced women, their strengths, contributions and attributes. Yes, hurdles, struggles and many challenges still lie before us, and societies social stigmas do not make it any easier. However, to end on a light note, the power to choose the course of their lives belongs to women. Women can choose to stay at home, or choose to be a working mother. Women have choices. Society will belittle either one, but it is not society’s life to live.

 
By Mellaney A.H. Rodriguez

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[1] International Labour Organization Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (date of adoption 17 June 1999, entered into force 19 November 2000 Geneva).

International Women’s Day

I have been busy the past few days trying to come up with a read-worthy topic for this blog, searching the web, reviewing books, watching the news and reading magazine and newspaper articles, but nothing.  Then it hit me, International Women’s day is coming up, March 8^th 2012 the international community will celebrate and pay homage to women the world over. This got me thinking the origins of International Women’s Day and the past accomplishments of women over the past decades and the challenges women still face today.

In today’s world, we often take for granted the opportunities and possibilities that are conferred upon us as 21^st century women. It was a little more than a century ago that woman weren’t allowed to vote, own property or be considered as individual persons as opposed to property of their husbands or fathers. The international community has come a long way from perceiving women as brood machines whose sole purpose was birthing children, maintaining the household and pleasing their husbands. Nowadays women have rights of their own, being able to vote, own property, attend school, enter into legal contracts without consent of their fathers or husbands, and even run for parliament and president. However, these rights and privileges weren’t always applicable to women. The progress made over the past century required the strength, determination and perseverance of several strong women to make the necessary changes to the male dominated world. International Women’s Day pays homage to all the women who have striven for equal rights and opportunities for women and also the achievements and struggles women faced throughout the past decades.

International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.[1] International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history. It is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men.[2]

At the turn of the 20^th century the world experienced a period of expansion, turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies.[3] International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.[4] The history of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the year 1909 when the United States observed the first National Woman’s Day, which was designated in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.[5] However, it was not recognized internationally until 1911 as a result of the Copenhagen initiative, in which more than one million men and women rallied together in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.[6] The rallies addressed the issues of women’s right to vote and hold public office, women’s right to work, vocational training, and for an end to discrimination on the job.[7]

Since its establishment in the early 20^th century, International Women’s day has assumed a new global dimension for women in both developing and developed countries. This new international women’s movement has been further strengthened by the United Nations and its many conferences on women’s rights, which aim at building support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.[8]

In short, International Women’s Day is a moment to look back and commemorate all the struggles and achievements made by women, for women. It is a moment to celebrate the tremendous acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have made considerable contributions to women’s rights and changed history for the better in their countries and communities. More importantly, it is an opportunity to look to the future and take note of the struggles still facing women today. These struggles may prove challenging and seem impossible to overcome, however, women have been in this position before and have succeeded in changing the way the world viewed them. Furthermore, it provides women with the inspiration and motivation to continue in the struggle of improving their lives for the better. It is a moment to call for change and focus on the improvements to be made in the future. Lastly, International Women’s Day comes but once a year, it commemorates the strength, courage and determination within every woman and demonstrates what women can achieve once they commit and organize accordingly.

 By: Mellaney A. H. Rodriguez

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[1] United Nations, Women Watch <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html> accessed 1 March 2012.

[2] United Nation, International Women’s Day <http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womday97.htm> accessed 1 March 2012.

[3] United Nations, Women Watch <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html> accessed 1 March 2012.

[4] United Nations, Women Watch <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html> accessed 1 March 2012.

[5] United Nations, Women Watch <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html> accessed 1 March 2012.

[6]United Nations, Women Watch <http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html> accessed 1 March 2012.

[7] Idem.

[8] Idem.