Women in Culture in the 1930's-1940's VS Women in Culture Today - Research Paper Example

? WOMEN CULTURE IN 1930’S-1940’S AND TODAY There has been cultural conflicts and cultural defenses directed towards women over a period of time. For instance, female genital mutilation, forced early marriages, cultural practices after murder of a wife, traditional property ownership rules that disadvantage women, compulsory wearing of veil or scarf by women based on religious traditions among other cultures (Loy, 2001). The debates have hit the floor for some time regarding women in the past and women today. Moreover, social roles of women and girls are quite different from that of men. Workforce in early times was highly gender based which is somewhat contrary to today’s women. Today, women have much freedom and almost acquiring equal rights as men unlike in the early 1930’s. Women artist has been one of the outstanding and distinguishing activities between 1930’s – 1940’s and today. Female artists play central part in art industry, for instance textile arts and craft. In 1930’s, women artists encountered numerous challenges related to their success in art industry and these were gender based biases in the mainstream of fine art (Rosaldo, Lamphere & Bamberger, 1974). They faced challenges in training, travelling and trading of their work as well as recognition of their status in art industry. However late in 1940’s, feminist arts fought for their rights for them to be guaranteed the right to education and training in fine art. This impacted positively on women as they were allowed to train and acquire skills in fine industry. In the days of Great Depression (1930’s), a number of women made their own clothing. The time was so terrible that unemployment rate was very high. It was then that the fashion design made a step toward simpler lines reflecting the simpler lives of the people. Magazines displayed different kinds of clothing which customary middle women applauded (Loy, (2001). The fashions in the 1930’s were so appealing, attractive, feminine and absolutely gorgeous unlike today. The fashion took a stunning turn reflecting the austerity of the appalling economy. In the 1940’s, limited color highly characterized pictures and magazines unlike today as ink was expensive then (Rosaldo, Lamphere & Bamberger, 1974). Fashions illustrated in magazines revealed the clothing in sketch form instead of photographs. The gray outfit was a typical fashion design of 1932. Women empowerment and role assignment has taken a new picture today. This is mainly noted in factories and industries. For instance, Rosie the Riveter from the USA is highly recognized as a cultural icon. She represents the American women who worked in industries during the Second World War (Rosaldo, Lamphere & Bamberger, 1974). They took new jobs of men who were in the field of military. Rosie worked tirelessly to help the Americans who were taking part in war. During this time, women took over the male dominated trades though at the same they were required to return to their daily housework as soon as men in war came back home. Women were chiefly given the roles of housewives. They were asked to perform hard tasks which for them were hard to do. They opted to return to their traditional work basically to avoid such jobs and low payments (Loy, 2001). Rosie the Riveter finally died when her kidney failed to work after a plane accident. She had influenced American women to work in industries. It was evident that women proved it right that they could do and manage well the work that was mainly done by men. In 1942, the proportion of jobs acceptable to women increased tremendously. However, the payment terms of women were not favorable. Rosie had encouraged women to enter into workforce in large numbers, though women were discharged after the war to return to servicemen (Rosaldo, Lamphere & Bamberger, 1974). During the Second World War, women worked hard to take their positions. However after the wartime, they resumed domestic vocations and service work. Between 1930’s – 1940’s, the time for the second world war, many attribute it as a time women made a turning point of cultural life. Even though it took time for things to change, the time laid a foundation for contemporary women transformations. It is then in 1940’s that women who worked dominated the image of the public. More precisely, women were riveting, not housewives and mothers. The generations that came later in life (today), knew that to work in industries and factories was a possibility for women (Rosaldo, Lamphere & Bamberger, 1974). Today, women enter job market in large numbers with confidence that they at least have an equal chance of getting absorbed in factories and industries as men. Early in 1930’s and 1940’s, entertainment had a different perspective based on gender. Precisely, girls were never allowed to participate in dancing floor with boys. It looked so weird to have women mixed with men in entertainments. It was an abomination to hold women in public. This is because, then men were involved in war and thus there was no time to be with women (Viach, 1975). They were required to stay indoors and take care of the family and other family related obligations. To some extents, heavy penalties befell women who went contrary to the law. On the other hand, women today have much freedom in entertainment fields. They can freely take part and enjoy as much as they can. It is also outstanding that women rights have taken a new path because in any law enforcement and law implementation, gender must be taken into account. Life and culture was also much simpler before media and technologies were born. Then in 1930’s and 1940’s, social life was easy and cultural values were prominent. People obeyed the societal moral values which in the end bore fruits in one’s lifetime (Loy, 2001). For instance, virginity was highly valued and the fruits that followed virginity were excellent. Because in the days girls kept some distance from boys, respect and dignity for both sexes were high. Girls sought for permission to go out with boys which could otherwise be turned down by the parent. A virgin girl in some cases would be married after men have taken physical fighting and heavy dowry following (Viach, 1975). This is because such girls were very expensive and valuable. Today, virgin is not an issue because immorality has foreshadowed the lives of people. Young girls are sexually immoral, prostitution rate has escalated beyond control and the trust people had that there is a possibility of getting a virgin has almost gotten to zero. Nowadays, men do not value virginity as they used to in 1940’s. Today, moral values are abused and culture has taken a different path. Girls can go out with men without being granted permission by parents (Viach, 1975). There is much freedom for girls to explore life as they can. Women are nowadays involved in all immoral evils in the society, yet no severe penalties follow the consequences. This is contrary to 1930’s and 1940’s as heavy sanctions were the results of immorality (Viach, 1975). However, the cases of early marriages today have reduced. Early marriages were rampart in 1930’s and 1940’s because girls were considered the wealth of a family and therefore they could be sold at any time. Parents of the time never valued education for the girl child. The access to media and technology has impacted negatively to women today. Even though technology is advancement in the society, it has brought and raised cases of immorality. Women can access pornographic films other negatives media which otherwise influence them to engage in such immoral behaviors and thus forgetting the essence of culture. Access to technology has increased cases of prostitution, need for sex and rape cases. We cannot forget to highlight how the access to internet has developed depraved and dissolute minds in the girl child. There has been a challenge to restore morality in the society but it has been hard because of the bill of right and freedom for all. Early in the 1930’s, issues of immorality were rare and women obeyed men as heads in leadership. However today, the bill of rights highlights the equality of both genders. It is also pertinent to highlight how the culture of education for women came to take root today. Women education in early 1930’s and 1940’s was down to earth because men never wanted competition by then (Viach, 1975). Despite the fact that women wanted to get educated and trained in various capacities, men had the authority to dictate their destiny. They were assigned household work and family responsibilities. This was the time the Second World War was taking place and therefore men went to military training. This compelled women to take care of the family. The male child was elite to education and training because women were considered weak and incapable. Even those who acquired education never got good grades because of gender discrimination and despise. Later, they could be allowed to some extent to train but ended getting poor grades (Viach, 1975). Nobody valued girl educated, not even parents. In contrary, women have right to education and they can pursue education as far as they can. Freedom has increased and the rights for girl child today have expanded. The old culture of early marriages has been demystified and much light has lit on female child to education. Women empowerment has taken different dimensions in economical, political, social, educational and professional developments. The new era has highlighted the key and central role of gender in development thus debunking old ideologies of elite male. References Loy, R. P. (2001). Westerns and American culture: 1930-1955. Jefferson, NC [u.a.: McFarland. Viach, V. I. (April 01, 1975). The Significance of M. M. Bakhtin's Ideas on Sign, Utterance, and Dialogue for Modern Semiotics. Russian Studies in Literature, 11, 186-243. Leonid, M. (March 08, 2009). "No Need to Found an Archive, or Tremble over Manuscripts" (?). Russian Studies in Literature, 45, 1, 22-63. List of publications on the economic and social histoy of Great Britain and Ireland. (November 01, 1991). The Economic History Review, 44, 4, 683-720. Rosaldo, M. Z., Lamphere, L., & Bamberger, J. (1974). Woman, culture, and society. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Read More