Wizard Kim Homework
The Op-ed
What happened to the fight for equality?
The United States is on the verge of nominating its first female president, still feminism seems to have lost its place in society. Just recently the story of a woman who was sexually harassed and left by a dumpster, by Stanford freshman Brock Allen Turner, was released . How can this happen in a country in which women are allowed to vote, own property, and are protected by the law against discrimination? There needs to be a change in attitude and a spread of awareness amongst college students. If our future leaders believe that gender-inequality is outdated, issues such as sexual assault, sexist attitudes, and gender roles, will persist indefinitely.
A recent study by researchers T. Pagge and L. Whitley analyzes how sexism becomes institutionalized. Pagge and Whitley include various accounts of female students who were sexually harassed by professors and advisors, but were too scared to reveal their story; as it could cause “rage and revenge” by the accused as well as jeopardy of the victim’s career . This is a common occurrence in universities and colleges, transforming an educational environment into an unsafe and uncomfortable atmosphere.
Inappropriate treatment also takes place in the streets. In 2014, 65% of women, and 25% of males who mostly identify with LGBT, of 2,000 people surveyed, admitted to being harassed on the streets. Street harassment leads many women to have fear of walking out of their homes, and includes side effects such as “avoiding eye contact” and even “changing jobs”. And although these are serious issues , when young people are asked whether they support feminist ideals, answers such as “I couldn’t tell you what a feminist is”, or “I don’t find gender that important” are given.
According to a research that analyses the roots of sexism in college men, most men show sexist attitudes with hopes of gaining “approval” from their male peers . Why are men targeting women? Boys are often being raised to avoid “woman-like” behaviors, because of the assumption that femininity is associated with weakness. This pressure to show men-like qualities is still greatly felt by young men, and often leads to sexual abuse, victimization of women, and sexist attitudes.
While there might be argument that sexism is an issue without solution, it can be addressed through “Behavior intervention” (meaning to call others out for sexist behaviors and remarks) This is a possible answer to decreasing gender related conflicts, such as sexism and sexual assault. Not disregarding sexist behaviors, can cause a significant change in the way that gender roles are viewed by society.
Because there are laws in this country that protect women from discrimination, many might argue that inequality does not exist as women are entitled to the same rights as men under the law. According to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, it is unlawful to deny federal funds to any educational programs on the basis of sex. This along with several other laws keep men and women from being discriminated against. But, these laws do not do not necessarily change behavior. The fifteenth amendment for example, on paper guaranteed the right of black men to vote, but it took many years after its addition to the constitution, to take effect.
Laws do not work alone. Women are often subject to harassment in most environments; including educational, social, and professional ones. The word femininity, is looked down upon, explaining why many LGBT men suffer street harassment, as they tend to show what society labels as “feminine-like” behaviors. The fight for women’s rights has accomplished a lot over the years, and led to several legislatures that protect women from discrimination. But the feminist cause is not over. A change in attitude within this generation of college students needs to occur in order for change to take place.
Works Cited:
Whitley and Page. "Sexism at The Centre: Locating The Problem of Sexual Harassment." New Formations 86.86 (2015): 34-53.
Kilmartin, Christopher, Robin Semelsberger, Sarah Dye, Erin Boggs, and David Kolar. “Behavior Intervention to Reduce Sexism in College Men." Gender Issues 32.2 (2014): 97-110.
Stack, Liam. "Light Sentence for Brock Turner in Stanford Rape Case Draws Outrage." New
York Times 07 June 2016: A15. 06 June 2016. Web. 07 June 2016
Conner, Berkley. "Faces of Feminism: An Ideology Analysis of "Stop Telling Women to Sm Smile" 1-29. Web. May 2015.
"Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972." Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972. United States Department of Labor, n.d. Web. 09 June 2016.
Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. "Hillary Clinton’s Candidacy Reveals Generational Schism Among Women." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 22 may 2016
