Summary and opinion of women study - Essay Example

Women in America are given more equal rights today than in the past, but there is still a long way to go. Women have not achieved the same status in social circumstances. Immigrants and minority women are still discriminated against. Hollywood and Popular Culture still treat women as either mothers or sex symbols. Rape and violence against women are still a problem. Men also still consistently make more than women for the same jobs. All of these issues are better than in the 19th and 20th century, but total equality still needs to be worked on.

Legally women are as equal as men in today’s society. However, that equality drops quickly in social settings. When a woman goes into an automotive store, the salesman treats her as if a child. Sports, especially male sports, are still off limits to women. Mixed Olympic wrestling, MMA, and other sports are still male only clubs. Some might argue that women are not physically capable of these sports. However, Chyna, Serena and Venus Williams, and other women are more physically capable than men.

The problem is men do not want to women to cross over into certain areas. NASCAR is a perfect example. Many owners do not want to sponsor a woman. Thus women tend to stay away from these areas. Women, especially minority women, are discriminated against. These women will take any job to help their families. Women with large families are discriminated against, married or not. Taunts are directed at these women of ‘Don’t you know what causes that?’ or ‘You can’t take care of what you have.

’ It is assumed that a woman with many children have a number of fathers for these children. The man needs to be held accountable as well. A mother is normally responsible for any children. Unwed fathers do not face the stigma of an unwed mother. Popular Culture tends to portray the mother or sex symbol. Ordinary women are overlooked. Hollywood ads and movies are not made about the Eleanor Roosevelts of the world. Instead June Cleaver, Roseanne, Jennifer Aniston, and so forth are promoted. Single women with power do not gain ratings.

Men, on the other hand, do not age. They can still be stars long after their middle age. A woman rarely makes it past her fifties in popular culture. Rape and violence against women is a major problem in America. Husbands killing wives are in the news. Scott Peterson, Drew Peterson (no relation), and others capture the headlines. Rape in many forms is still present. The violent rape is bad, but date rape leaves a woman devastated. The power that a man wants is taken during these actions. Some men need to feel the power that is denied them in other areas of life.

This is no excuse, but the reason some men turn to rape. Domestic violence is also an issue. Men abuse their wives. More needs to be done to address these issues. Women still are discriminated against regarding pay and job benefits. A pregnant woman cannot be hired at McDonalds. That is illegal, but managers come up with excuses to not hire them. Pregnant women have a disadvantage when hiring. Only well-established career women get the benefits of paid maternity leave, daycare options, and other benefits.

These benefits do not filter down to minimum wage jobs. Things are better than centuries past, but many women issues need to be addressed. Social circles, salary, safety, and other equality issues need to be addressed by the public. A woman needs to be more than a body. Women are more than sex symbols or mothers. They are unique individuals that should be appreciated for their personalities. When this is accomplished, equality might get better between men and women.