Even after the Civil War & the 14th Amendment...

After reading Cole's "Commonalities and Differences," I started thinking more along the lines of culture. When you look at someone who is ethnically Asian, it is fairly common to call them Chinese. The same thing happens with Hispanics, its easy to make cultural assumptions and call them all Mexicans. Not only is this absolutely disrespectful, its unfair. It robs someone of a part of their identity. But what is cultural identity worth anyway? Cole states that stereotypes drive how women are thought of as a whole. Her research shows that on average, women are more likely to be asked (in a non-condescending way of course) if they type but men are rarely questioned about such preferences. My favorite, and apparently Cole's too, is whenever a man and woman are in an argument and the woman makes a fair point, the man comes up with the witty comeback of "ok, ok don't get hysterical," making it seem like she is emotional and irrational all at once. (We can never win.) This article also describes how our society clumps all women together. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, southern, Asian American; all women are generalized as not as capable human beings. Look at Bradwell vs. Illinois. Myra Bradwell was a married woman in Chicago who was not applicable to be a lawyer for the sole reason that she doesn't have the Y chromosome. That imposed homogeneity deprives women of their individuality and in turn their chance to break social norms and become whatever they want to be. After most of the readings and discussions in this class, and just simple observation and even personal experience, I truly believe that our culture is constructed to make it more difficult for women to succeed anywhere except the home. I work in the development office here on campus and I deal with a lot of alum documentation. Most female Juniata grads, married, usually to a fellow Juniatian, (70% of us marry each other--stats don't lie!) or not, reply on our directory questionnaires that they are homemakers meaning they are not utilizing their 40k educations. If I wanted to be a pie-baking, laundry-folding machine, I would go to a big cheap state school, get my Mrs. degree and drop out, fully depending on the mister to bring home the bacon (that I will be frying bright and early in the morning for his breakfast). Never. Even if I can't find my ideal job, I promise you, I will not be cookin' B&Es and homemade waffles for a husband and 3 kids at 6am. I would rather work at McDonald's cookin' McGriddles for paying customers. Author Lord says "When a little girl has had a chance to learn strength, survival tactics, a firm grasp of reality, and an understanding of class oppression from the women around her, it doesn’t remove oppression from her life, but it does give her a fighting chance." When a little boy learns those same things, they gain status and respect. Fighting chance for girls--golden opportunity for boys. (Insert crickets for a moment of pondering here.) To a less extreme degree, women are often treated like slaves. Even after the Civil War and the 14th Amendment was passed, women still experience discrimination and oppression to this day. And they say we learn from history and improve through time. Clearly our nation has more compulsory needs to deal with like Prop 19. Weed rights before women's rights. I am so happy to hear that ladies take the backseat to a synthesized cannabinoid. But of course as a member of the oppressed female race, "I shouldn't get hysterical because I am just overreacting." Right?