Fawzia Koofi, an Afghani mother and victim of Taliban abuse, is currently seeking to become the president of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is largely male-dominated. From a contemporary feminist perspective, the term "androcentric" often used to depict certain aspects of U.S. society is fully realized in the case of both a feminist oppression model and a literal oppression model. Fawzia Koofi serves as an excellent case study for assessing Afghani feminism.
Many Islamic countries are often recognized for the drastic cultural and social separation between men and women. This is the case in Afghanistan. By her own accounts, the best that an Afghan woman used to be able to expect was to marry off into another family and become a part of her husband's life. However, Fawzia Koofi describes a generational transformation taking place in Afghanistan, specifically relating to education. When she was a young girl, education was extremely far out of her reach. She considers herself lucky to have been able to get a good education. Now, however, when talking about her children's opportunities, she says that because of certain social progress, her children will not have to worry about not receiving an education. The universality of this transition in Afghanistan is hard to predict, but it can certainly be said that Fawzia Koofi is intent on ensuring that it and many other desired advancements become a reality in the near future.
Education and the societal role of women serve as a good focus for feminist oppression theory. However, women's oppression issues stem far beyond what some might call an "American" model. Part of the Taliban's mission in Afghanistan is the very physical and literal oppression of women. This is accomplished through instigating panic in small communities and beating women in the streets. Fawzia Koofi describes the impact of this oppression is having on Afghani culture. She describes witnessing a husband denying a woman to be his wife simply to protect himself from the punishment she was in the process of receiving. Thus, the literal and physical oppression of Afghani women can be viewed as a societal and cultural disruptor.
Fawzia Koofi argues that it is absolutely necessary for Afghanistan to remain a center of focus for the global community. She imagines a time when Afghanistan is recognized and depended upon for its cultural contributions, rather than just its current role as a terrorism theatre. To satisfy this goal, the conversation surrounding Afghanistan needs to shift from one exclusively characterizing it as a war theatre to one that focuses on the sociocultural issues as well. This can be accomplished through women's rights advocacy, the potential result of which would be to stem the severe androcentrism, promote social and cultural development, and lessen the Taliban's ability to terrorize local communities and inhibit national development.
Her website: http://www.fawziakoofi.org/
Interview on The Daily Show (expires after 3-4 weeks - highly recommended): http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-february-13-2013-fawzia-koofi
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Woman are fighters in more ways than one
This course lately has fueled my anger at how society chooses to look at men and woman and then relate this to how much they are making. In one area that woman have started to stand out in a male dominant field in my opinion is in martial arts and fighting. As someone who was the only teenage girl in a class of teenage guys and dads it pushed me twice as hard. My master pushed me just as hard to gave me just as many tips as anyone else. In an article featuring a female MMA fighter the comment was made, " I just think right now we had a hard enough time getting over the stigma of the men [fighting]"
I am not saying that fighting is the perfect career choice but woman should hold just as big of position as as men do. One possitive that i read in the article was from a female fight named Tara LaRosa, LaRosa comments at the end of the article referring to how much she gets paid for fighting, "LaRosa's skills have certainly been opening eyes. She won't disclose her exact purses, but says she'll make between $15,000-$25,000 per fight.. and that's definite progress, for males and females alike." This redefines both what it means to go against gender specified jobs as well as making way for a change. Girls were built tough, they give birth don't they. I couldn't really picture a man going through hours upon hours of pain. Also having female fighters strays people's view into the idea that girls only belong in tight outfits holding up the cards before every fight. I think all of this is what pushed me to start doing martial arts, I am proving to myself that i can defend myself and stand tall beside a guy. I thrived in an the environment that i could be competitive with a guy and hold my ground. I was told that i look really sweet and harmless when you first meet me( others said they couldn't picture me being a good fighter) but when i have my uniform on and going through drills my eyes are focused and i turn into a powerful warrior. So girls, no career is too masculine, if you find something that makes you happy then do it because chances are you hold up just as well as a man even if you don't get the same recognition( its what you feel about yourself, not how other people judge you). I have been told it not right to be a fighter and that i am going to get hurt or attacked walking around thinking i can take on a man but i say that the person yelling this at me is stupid because your putting me in this box of i have to be weak and that i need a man to protect me. I protect me thank you very much, I am not going to walk around my town looking stupid with a bodyguard because i am a woman. Thanks but no thanks, Ill just stick to kicking butt and watching my own back. Woman are changing what society expects from them every time a woman takes another step outside the gender box. Woman before us have fought for things such as the right to vote, so we need to pass on the fight to get equal recognition and pay. Show our children that they can have their dreams come true not matter what it is.
Resource: http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3158474
I am not saying that fighting is the perfect career choice but woman should hold just as big of position as as men do. One possitive that i read in the article was from a female fight named Tara LaRosa, LaRosa comments at the end of the article referring to how much she gets paid for fighting, "LaRosa's skills have certainly been opening eyes. She won't disclose her exact purses, but says she'll make between $15,000-$25,000 per fight.. and that's definite progress, for males and females alike." This redefines both what it means to go against gender specified jobs as well as making way for a change. Girls were built tough, they give birth don't they. I couldn't really picture a man going through hours upon hours of pain. Also having female fighters strays people's view into the idea that girls only belong in tight outfits holding up the cards before every fight. I think all of this is what pushed me to start doing martial arts, I am proving to myself that i can defend myself and stand tall beside a guy. I thrived in an the environment that i could be competitive with a guy and hold my ground. I was told that i look really sweet and harmless when you first meet me( others said they couldn't picture me being a good fighter) but when i have my uniform on and going through drills my eyes are focused and i turn into a powerful warrior. So girls, no career is too masculine, if you find something that makes you happy then do it because chances are you hold up just as well as a man even if you don't get the same recognition( its what you feel about yourself, not how other people judge you). I have been told it not right to be a fighter and that i am going to get hurt or attacked walking around thinking i can take on a man but i say that the person yelling this at me is stupid because your putting me in this box of i have to be weak and that i need a man to protect me. I protect me thank you very much, I am not going to walk around my town looking stupid with a bodyguard because i am a woman. Thanks but no thanks, Ill just stick to kicking butt and watching my own back. Woman are changing what society expects from them every time a woman takes another step outside the gender box. Woman before us have fought for things such as the right to vote, so we need to pass on the fight to get equal recognition and pay. Show our children that they can have their dreams come true not matter what it is.
Resource: http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3158474
Nail Savvy Spa
It is well known that Asian
American families ventures under the nail salon business. I am part of that
stereotype. My mother immigrated to the states from Vietnam to rebuild her new
life, however the weight of her expectations to the family had cost her
education as well as her dreams. I’ve asked her why did she give up her dream
to become a nurse and instead owning a nail salon? She simply answered, “I had
to do what I can to take care of you”. I kept thinking over and over again what
my mom had said. That was when I begin to think about all the other families
who are in similar situations, the fight for survival. America provides the
opportunity of education to everyone. But the idea to make quick money to provide
is the option to take sacrificing education along the way. Both of my parents
have given up their American dream, my mother who only has a high school
diploma, and my father who dropped out of his last term of college; have
complaints that cannot be answered unless they had a significant social
economic standing. My parents tell me that their problems cannot be solve such
as gender wage gap, benefits, pay hours, ECT is because they have no voice. Meaning
their education standing and socioeconomic worth makes no effect than those who
are. The issue I bring is that my immigrated parents and others who face the
same experience will continue to be part of the statistics. Their
unacknowledged issues will be ignored and unresolved. It is not because my
parents do not motivate themselves to speak up; it is because they do not have
the time to. Time is ticking and so is money. I believe this is a factor why in
class we have discussed, “The poor becomes poorer, and rich becomes richer”,
making quick money is the most logical path, and there is no time to explain.
http://www.nailsmag.com/article/40699/the-asian-influence
Women's pay gap begins right after college
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/24/women-pay-gap-student-debt_n_2008484.html
As we have read about in this class, women make about 77 cents to every dollar a man makes. This article relates to how this pay gap differs when only looking at men and women how graduated college. Unfortunately, within one year of finishing college women make 82 cents to their male peers who graduated within a year. Also, women are less likely then men to find full time employment within one year of graduating.
As we have talked about, this pay gap affects women in many ways. When specifically looking at college graduates we can see yet another burden this puts on women. Because college tuition is a set price at universities, women and men have to pay the same amount to attend the same school. After graduation men and women typically have the same amount of student debt and loans to pay back.. However these loans become much more of a burden for women and it will take much longer to pay off due to the wage gap.
But what causes this wage gap with graduates? This article explains what is partially to blame. Typically men are attracted to science and engineering fields which typically lead to higher paychecks. Women are more likely to be in the fields of education and social sciences which typically lead to lower paychecks. Women are less likely to value their work for what it is and typically do not negotiate on salary the same way men do. I thought this was an interesting point to make because it stretches back to those gender norms and attitude women are expected to have- vulnerability, passiveness, humbleness. It may feel wrong as a women to ask for a raise because women are brought up to be kind and docile. Men, however are expected to be more aggressive.
While a part of the pay gap can probably simple be chalked up to gender discrimination and their employer’s conscience or unconscious bias. I wonder if the bigger issue in the pay gap just goes back to the traditional gender roles. Women are excepted to be teachers, secretaries and so fourth, so that is the job they go for even though it is known those are lower salaried positions. Women are expected to be non-aggressive but what would change if women asked for those raises like men do and women questioned their employers on salary issues? It may be difficult but sometimes that is necessary to see changes.
Women in Combat
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/us/for-3-women-combat-option-came-a-bit-late.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
For 3 Women, Combat Option Came a Bit Late by Elisabeth Bumiller and James Dao
For the three women talked about in this article, and many more, the ban on women in combat was limiting to their careers and their dreams. Even though this ban on women in combat has been recently lifted, it came a little too late for these three women, who thought they had gained all they could from the military and have already moved on. This article discusses how their lives could be different now and their experiences improved if they had equal opportunities as men in their military careers.
Ms. Melki could have had an opportunity to join the Night Stalkers, a Special Operations aviation regiment and elite Army unit if she were allowed to be in combat. Seeing her friends and peers, some of which she "considered no better or more experienced then she was" (2) be accepted into the regiment while one of her only choices was to become a commander for basic training. She left the army in 2011.
Captain Bedell and General Reynolds made great accomplishments in the military, but also experienced similar limitations due to the ban on women in combat. And like Ms. Melki, Captain Bedell already gave up on her military career before the ban, so it's too late for her to take advantage of the lift of the ban on women in combat.
This article is not only a great example of unequal opportunities within employment opportunities for men and women, but also contains some similarities with what we've been talking about in concern to the wage gap. Women with equal skills and training, even women who might have more training, didn't get to participate in the same jobs as men within the military. Not only that, but women were discredited for things they did within the military as well. Cases that would count as combat experience for men and gain them opportunities, didn't count as combat experience for women.
Luckily, changes have been made and combat is now an option for women in the military. This success for women's equal opportunities in the military will hopefully be mirrored in other US jobs as well. This example of women with equal skills, training and education receiving the same opportunities as men with the same qualifications will hopefully get people thinking.
For 3 Women, Combat Option Came a Bit Late by Elisabeth Bumiller and James Dao
For the three women talked about in this article, and many more, the ban on women in combat was limiting to their careers and their dreams. Even though this ban on women in combat has been recently lifted, it came a little too late for these three women, who thought they had gained all they could from the military and have already moved on. This article discusses how their lives could be different now and their experiences improved if they had equal opportunities as men in their military careers.
Ms. Melki could have had an opportunity to join the Night Stalkers, a Special Operations aviation regiment and elite Army unit if she were allowed to be in combat. Seeing her friends and peers, some of which she "considered no better or more experienced then she was" (2) be accepted into the regiment while one of her only choices was to become a commander for basic training. She left the army in 2011.
Captain Bedell and General Reynolds made great accomplishments in the military, but also experienced similar limitations due to the ban on women in combat. And like Ms. Melki, Captain Bedell already gave up on her military career before the ban, so it's too late for her to take advantage of the lift of the ban on women in combat.
This article is not only a great example of unequal opportunities within employment opportunities for men and women, but also contains some similarities with what we've been talking about in concern to the wage gap. Women with equal skills and training, even women who might have more training, didn't get to participate in the same jobs as men within the military. Not only that, but women were discredited for things they did within the military as well. Cases that would count as combat experience for men and gain them opportunities, didn't count as combat experience for women.
Luckily, changes have been made and combat is now an option for women in the military. This success for women's equal opportunities in the military will hopefully be mirrored in other US jobs as well. This example of women with equal skills, training and education receiving the same opportunities as men with the same qualifications will hopefully get people thinking.
Economic Growth has surprisingly little effect on the wage gap
It
was a kind of shocking article to me. No matter how high economic growth
become, the wage gap between men and women doesn’t shrink. This topic was dealt
with in the class, but there are some specific reasons why women don’t earn as much
as men in this article, so I chose this one as this week’s material for my
blog.
The first reason might be obvious; discrimination against women. It might
be because of history people had in the United States, and because of the
social system that puts men at the center of everything. We have no way to
change the long, long history that has continued to subordinate women to some extent.
Women themselves distinguish themselves from men unconsciously and naturally.
Also,
knowing the fact that women sometimes less qualified than men is shocking. It seems that
the society itself kills the opportunity for women to get better job and higher
earning. Some people say that there is the way that women themselves don’t earn
so much money and instead ask their male partner help economically, which some
cohabitated couples actually do. But in that way, women cannot become
independent as well as men do. If they cannot be independent, they cannot earn
as much credibility as men do in the workplace, in my opinion.
This problem
seems to have no bounds. There is no fault if women cannot control their time
because of doing both housework and outside job. It would be the same if men
were in the same situation with their partners are in. Still it is considered
that housework and childcare is the task for women. It is not totally wrong. It
is said that women tend to be better at such a job like caregiving, cleaning,
and cooking. But men CAN do!
If the wage gap between men and women is concerned
as a serious problem, we should change the society.
http://www.economist.com/node/21530159
Women CAN and WILL Make the Difference
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-cover-stories/women-in-veterinary-medicine.aspx
There is no doubt issues in almost all higher level profession when it comes to women. When you think of any profession that is higher ranked you know that it is a male dominated profession. If a women does try to get into a male dominated profession there will be plenty of obstacles to get around and males will do anything to discourage her to stick with that profession.
Prior to 1972, which was only 40 years ago women were not even allowed to get into any veterinary medicine programs, because they were thought to not be able to handle the work. This is obviously not true and in the past 40 years there has been vast changes. Women now hold 78% of the seats in veterinary science program seats today. For having been a completely male dominated field that women could not even apply and to now be at this is absolutely amazing. Even males in veterinary science are saying that women are no worse than the males are in the profession. Now they say that women are actually more likely to stay at a practice when having a family contrary to popular belief that women having families will ruin their professionalism. Women have definitely took charge in the veterinary profession.
Not all is great in veterinary medicine and fair like it should be, but it is leaps and bounds better than it use to be. The wage gap between male and female veterinarians still exists and is still very much a problem. Another issue is that not as many women are in large animal, or food animal veterinary practices. More and more women are starting to take over the large and food animal practices and are creating a difference in how women veterinarians are looked at.
This hits home with me since I aspire to become a veterinarian in large and food animal practice. I am going to be making a difference in the veterinary profession alongside many other women. Knowing this I am glad to see such a turn around for women in the work place. Things are most definitely not as fair as they should be, but at least a difference has been made. This difference is going to only get better and better as the years go on.
Women are definitely making a difference in the bad hand that society has dealt us, but we are fighting back and taking action making sure to have things fair. The veterinary field is not the only place that women are making a difference in their professions. There are many more women going through professional programs. What programs that you are interested in that women are making a new place for themselves, and which ones also have men agreeing that the women belong?
There is no doubt issues in almost all higher level profession when it comes to women. When you think of any profession that is higher ranked you know that it is a male dominated profession. If a women does try to get into a male dominated profession there will be plenty of obstacles to get around and males will do anything to discourage her to stick with that profession.
Prior to 1972, which was only 40 years ago women were not even allowed to get into any veterinary medicine programs, because they were thought to not be able to handle the work. This is obviously not true and in the past 40 years there has been vast changes. Women now hold 78% of the seats in veterinary science program seats today. For having been a completely male dominated field that women could not even apply and to now be at this is absolutely amazing. Even males in veterinary science are saying that women are no worse than the males are in the profession. Now they say that women are actually more likely to stay at a practice when having a family contrary to popular belief that women having families will ruin their professionalism. Women have definitely took charge in the veterinary profession.
Not all is great in veterinary medicine and fair like it should be, but it is leaps and bounds better than it use to be. The wage gap between male and female veterinarians still exists and is still very much a problem. Another issue is that not as many women are in large animal, or food animal veterinary practices. More and more women are starting to take over the large and food animal practices and are creating a difference in how women veterinarians are looked at.
This hits home with me since I aspire to become a veterinarian in large and food animal practice. I am going to be making a difference in the veterinary profession alongside many other women. Knowing this I am glad to see such a turn around for women in the work place. Things are most definitely not as fair as they should be, but at least a difference has been made. This difference is going to only get better and better as the years go on.
Women are definitely making a difference in the bad hand that society has dealt us, but we are fighting back and taking action making sure to have things fair. The veterinary field is not the only place that women are making a difference in their professions. There are many more women going through professional programs. What programs that you are interested in that women are making a new place for themselves, and which ones also have men agreeing that the women belong?
Gender Wage Gap
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/The-time-is-now-for-pay-equity-4253436.php
After reading articles and stories about the gender wage
gap, I’m just stunned. Why does there need to be a wage gap in the first place?
Can’t everyone just be paid the same? It honestly doesn’t make any sense that
women have to be paid less than men. Women work just as hard as men do,
sometimes a little more depending on the situation. Single mothers especially, I
think, work the hardest. They have to support their children most of the time working
multiple jobs. It’s crazy to think that there are women out there working their
butts off and don’t make anything like men do. Women deserve every cent they
work just like men do.
The article “The Time is Now for Pay Equity” is exactly what
we’ve been talking about in class. President Obama’s quote from his second
inaugural address was mentioned, which was a nice touch for the article. And
then Governor Malloy asked his departments of Labor and Economic and Community
Development to look into gender-based wage disparities in the private sector in
Connecticut. Both the president and the governor are asking the same question: “Why
do equally qualified women make, on average, just 77 cents for every dollar a man
makes?” This problem has been going on for a while now, but why hasn’t there
been any sort of a solution, at a least a successful one?
“And the wage gap is not just a problem for women but for
families, who are trying to pay their bills, get ahead, and achieve the
American dream, and are getting less take-home pay than they have earned for
their hard work”. It’s sad to think that this problem is harming not just
women, but for families as well.
Women, single or not, who work don’t just work one job. I
learned this in class, and I think this is very true. Women who work a paying
job also have another job: caring for the house, children, husband, if there is
one, and all the side jobs that come along with all of that. Women kick butt,
but don’t get the praise or the recognition they deserve for all the hard work
they put into every day.
Misrepresentation in the White House
As we've learned in this course, what is perceived as the societal norm is actually a complete myth. This misrepresentation is especially apparent when it comes to the faces of the United States government. Though we have been conditioned into thinking it's normal to have the majority of laws and policies written, revised, passed, and enforced by one 'type' of person, this is far from being a representative group for a state, let alone an entire country.
It only makes sense to me that when dealing with issues that involve every citizen we at least make an attempt to speak to the needs of the people. How can you make policies over abortion if you don't have a vagina? How can you determine what 'marriage' is if you've never had your commitment to your partner questioned? How is it that you can determine what an undocumented worker is when you only know that they're great at cleaning your house and mowing your lawn? How can you decide how much college loan rates will be when your family paid for your ivy league education? The list goes on and on; those who are in power have often not had to face the challenges of oppressed groups.
This issue directly pertains to the things we've been discussing during week five. As we've learned it's not uncommon for many people to believe that a woman's place is in the home tending children. And though this number is decreasing, it is not translating well in regards to representation in the government. It is also connected in regards to women's pay. This could also be applied in regards to funding a female candidate for a governmental position. The Women's Campaign Fund has reported that the gap in funding for 2008 US Senate candidates was nearly $14 million dollars, in favor of Al Franken. This was an $8 million dollar difference compared to the 2006 election.
Not only is there a lack of women in government agencies but there is a lack of anyone who is not white, upper middle class, male, and very frequently, Christian.
The problem is screaming in our faces. What can we do to make more progress more quickly?
The Women's Campaign Fund has a great statistical page with further information that can be found at: http://www.wcffoundation.org/pages/research/women-in-politics-statistics.html
It only makes sense to me that when dealing with issues that involve every citizen we at least make an attempt to speak to the needs of the people. How can you make policies over abortion if you don't have a vagina? How can you determine what 'marriage' is if you've never had your commitment to your partner questioned? How is it that you can determine what an undocumented worker is when you only know that they're great at cleaning your house and mowing your lawn? How can you decide how much college loan rates will be when your family paid for your ivy league education? The list goes on and on; those who are in power have often not had to face the challenges of oppressed groups.
This issue directly pertains to the things we've been discussing during week five. As we've learned it's not uncommon for many people to believe that a woman's place is in the home tending children. And though this number is decreasing, it is not translating well in regards to representation in the government. It is also connected in regards to women's pay. This could also be applied in regards to funding a female candidate for a governmental position. The Women's Campaign Fund has reported that the gap in funding for 2008 US Senate candidates was nearly $14 million dollars, in favor of Al Franken. This was an $8 million dollar difference compared to the 2006 election.
Not only is there a lack of women in government agencies but there is a lack of anyone who is not white, upper middle class, male, and very frequently, Christian.
The problem is screaming in our faces. What can we do to make more progress more quickly?
The Women's Campaign Fund has a great statistical page with further information that can be found at: http://www.wcffoundation.org/pages/research/women-in-politics-statistics.html
Why are young women more ambitious than men?
Why are young women more ambitious
than men?
Here is an interesting report by the Pew Research
Center
Women’s strong aspiration for high-paying career has positive
influence on enhancing women’s participation in working place. I think the fact
that a great deal of women has ambition to take higher-wage career path
represents the success of former movements by feminist. More and more women can
believe in the success in working place. However, as the report shows, it is
not so easy to achieve reconciliation of work and family. I found two problems related
to gender gap in work inside and outside home.
Firstly, women tend to face difficulty especially when they try to
take male-dominant occupations which require higher education, and are
high-waged, and high-valued in the society. Most of the women in the poll must
have imagined such “masculine” jobs including engineers and mechanics as “highly-paid
career or profession.” As long as I learned from the reading, women struggle with
two types of by gender: horizontal segregation across different kinds of jobs and
vertical segregation within the same kinds of jobs. Women’s desire to get
higher-waged jobs itself does not eliminate these segregations but it is
necessary to challenge the status quo that men should be paid more or women are
not bearable to certain jobs. Also, as the article mentions in conclusion,
institutional change such as child care and flexible working condition is
essential to advance women’s labor force participation and address current
segregations.
In addition, I also think about the necessity of acknowledging the
value of housework as well as enhancing the opportunity for women’s work
outside the house. Working life and family life including having children seems
difficult when people have to constantly devote to the job outside the house
while they also have responsibility for house keeping. However, if labor in
house becomes valued as highly as outside works, it would be easier to keep
full family life with earning money inside the home. I do not say women should
take responsibility for house works and earn money by them, but I’d like to say
it will be beneficial for both men and women to admit the value of work inside
home in terms of sharing labors inside and outside home and support the family
effectively regardless of social expectations based on gender.
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