Affirmative Action and Its Effect on Women - Essay Example

Full Affirmative Action and Its Affect on women For centuries, women always had special roles in individual and corporate lives of people. They have been considered very important in the propagation of the human species and this is perhaps the reason why they were always seen as sexual objects by their male counterparts rather than people of the same level, having the same rights, physical, psychological and emotional needs. Through the years, women in most cultures have been viewed as instruments or properties and worst, as sexual objects who need to satisfy the fantasies of men. This paper discusses this certain issue on feminism wherein women are placed on a lower pedestal as prostitutes. The common perception that women are regarded as such is due to how men treat women in general and that women have the right for a better image than a lowly sex object. If prostitution is considered as a career, then women should be given equal rights as the men so that they will be able to step out from such a shameful status. The movie “Pretty Women” (Marshall) is the story of a prostitute, Vivian Ward portrayed by Julia Roberts who was hired by a businessman, Edward Lewis played by Richard Gere. The businessman was in Los Angeles for a week and he got lost in the city. That was when he met the prostitute who offered to bring the rich businessman to his destination. The man then hires Ward not as a sexual partner but as an escort to social events and the two agreed on the price. With the way Ward dressed, she was given queer stares from the employees and other clients of the hotel where Lewis stayed. With such dilemma, the man encouraged her to buy a new wardrobe. With much money on hand, Ward gleefully went to expensive stores but was given an unexpected cold reception. The salespersons did not treat her well because of the way she looked, obviously of an unsophisticated breeding. However, she tries to get back at them when Lewis accompanied her the following day to go shopping, approaching the salesladies that they made a big mistake. As the story unfolds, the protagonist finds herself in love with the businessman and the latter offered to find her a place to stay so they could continue seeing each other. However, affected by the play the two earlier watched, the woman identified her love story with the main characters’ so that she felt insulted with Lewis’ proposal. The man then leaves for work and the woman was left in the hotel. Later, a colleague of Lewis’ arrived at the hotel tried to sexually assault Ward after some argument. However, Lewis comes in the nick of time to save the woman. He then tries to convince the woman to stay with him but she refuses. The story ends the way the woman wanted to, with Lewis rushing to Ward’s apartment who did not walk through the door but climbed the fire escape ladder with a bouquet of roses clenched in his teeth. The two then kissed and the story ended with the classic tale of two lovers living together happily ever after. The film portrays a very sensitive social issue on feminism that could perhaps be one of the oldest social problems concerning the so-called “weaker sex”. First, the protagonist was shown on the streets at night, without regard to the dangers that might befall her in her job as a prostitute. The woman along with her companions did not seem to mind what kind of men they would sleep with as long as they have customers who would be able to pay them well and enable them to buy their necessities with their payments. Their job did not just expose them to sexually transmitted diseases but also to physical dangers brought about by criminal activities in their dangerous environment. This is similarly dangerous as other jobs with high health risks such as careers in mining and chemical companies. With the known risks in such work areas, employees are often guaranteed safety through frequent inspections of the work place, training sessions and provision of protective gadgets. However, for prostitutes, no such measures are done to assure them of their safety so it could be said that it probably is the most dangerous job yet. In addition to the dangers prostitutes face everyday, they are also considered with low regard just like the way Ward was treated by the salesladies. Moreover, the stereotype that has been placed on prostitutes sometimes, do not just affect them but includes other women striving to live moral lives. For instance, a woman who works as a waitress may receive treatments that prostitutes often encounter such as acts of lasciviousness and demeaning comments that put them in very low state. With such a wide affect, the issue should not just be taken for granted or should be considered only by the women but must become a concern to all people regardless of gender, race and age. One of the things that must really be thought about in this matter is the struggles that women also go through as they try to provide for their family or make a living for themselves. In the movie, Ward shows that she does not plant to stay as a prostitute for the rest of her life but has a desire to earn a degree to improve her status. Having earned much from her last customer, Lewis, Ward decided to go to San Francisco to pursue her studies. At this angle of perception, it should be understood that prostitutes also have dreams that do not come so easily to them unlike other people and prostitution is perhaps just the means they know that could provide for a good career path. What happened in the movie can be an awakening for people, to still consider and treat prostitutes as human beings with equal rights. If this happens, perhaps one day, there will be no prostitute on the streets anymore. One of the historical images who have been changed from having the lowly regard of people of her as a prostitute to a highly respected and popular follower of Jesus Christ is Mary Magdalene. She was known to be a prostitute (Pearson) who was delivered from seven demons (Mark 16:9) by Jesus. She had many critics and was judged as a sinner who was not worthy to go near the Messiah or even to pour perfume on his feet (Luke 7:36-50) but he was not treated the same way by the Lord. Instead, Jesus let her wipe his feet while he reclined at a rich man’s house in contrast to what was expected of him. Since Jesus did not drive the woman away from him, Mary probably somehow felt a sense gaining back her self-respect and this made her get rid of her former life as a prostitute. She then became a supporter of Jesus’ ministry and became a prominent figure in the New Testament. Similarly, the chance that was given to Ward in the film mentioned above was also given to Mary Magdalene which changed the lives of the women forever. In relation to this issue, Jennifer, a student from china says that affirmative actions indeed cause a great impact on women that could change their perspectives and propel them to the best that they could become. She shares that in China, many indulge in prostitution because of poverty. They use the job as a stepping stone to gaining an education which they believe would bring them better chances of a good future. Nevertheless, she adds that not all prostitutes are treated fairly rather are abused, being paid way below what is expected and sometimes, they end up dead on the streets when they try to assert themselves. Jennifer agrees that if prostitutes are only given the fair chance of being treated equally, first, as human beings and secondly as women who are trying to make ends meet, they will also be given the chance to improve their lives through the process. Lourdes, another student from New York says that indeed, there are many prostitutes who have gone up the ladder of success. She disagrees with the manner the women get their money but she does not condemn them rather tries to understand their situation. She places herself in the shoes of prostitutes to try to imagine the hardships they go through so that could relate with their issues. She further says that if only people will try to have such way of perceiving the matter, we would be more tolerant and understanding of the less fortunate women who have to sell their bodies in order to live. Nevertheless, what should also matter is the perseverance of prostitutes to move out of their lowly state and not just be contented in living the way they do. In the world of technology, prostitution has expanded in definition and form. Nowadays, prostitution does not just include being physically present with the customers in order to satisfy their fantasies but also includes virtual space with the use of computers. Pornography and phone sex are also considered forms of prostitution (womenslaw.org). With the easy access of prostitutes through the aforementioned media and the demand for the trade, newspapers and television news reports are often filled not only about women but also with abused children who are forced to become prostitutes. This should then become a worldwide concern that must become the responsibility of every concerned individual to do whatever action that needs to be taken in order to stop prostitution. As such, perhaps the United Nations Children’s Fund should work more vigorously as each of us work hand in hand to fight for the rights of women and female children. Biblical Archeology Society Staff. Was Mary Magdalene Wife of Jesus? Was Mary Magdalene a Prostitute? Bible History Daily. July 14, 2011. Web. November 25, 2012. . Jackson, Loudes. Personal interview. 18 November, 2012. n.a. Prostitution. Womenslaw.org: Because Knowledge is Power. June 21, 2012. Web. November 25, 2012. . Pretty Women. Dir. Gary Marshall. Perf. Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Jason Alexander. Touchstone Pictures, 1990. Film. Uy, Jennifer. Personal interview. 19 November, 2012. Read More