Response Paper for Feminism and Sexual Revolution - Essay Example

Feminism and Sexual Movement As a response to Hilary Clinton presidential run announcement, Bryce Covert points out in “Our Problem With Powerful Women”, The New York Times, that America has not gotten used to women taking leading roles in both business and politics world. It is evident that less than 20 percent of people who have reached executive positions or Congress are women (Covert and Bryce). A glass ceiling naturally exists, and it is low. Feminists have won the right to vote and to get an education for decades.

But what have we done wrong?The sexual revolution has made the ideas of sex before marriage real. The acceptance of pro-choice, birth controls, and homosexuality has contributed to this. However, it seems that more problems or barriers are arising as we move forward to equality since we may be moving forward in a wrong direction.Looking back when Susan Anthony, a famous feminist who was arrested for voting illegally in federal election in 1872, on a tour and gave an exceptional speech that asked whether it is crime for any citizen man or woman of the United States to Vote.

According to the preamble of the federal constitution “We, the people of the United States …established this Constitution for the USA.” Anthony explains that “we, the people” phrase includes both men and women, and since women are also citizens of America, women must have an equal right to vote (181).Moreover, Anthony adds that women are not yet emancipated if women are excluded from voting. He cited a quote of Thomas Paine “The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected and taking away this right is to reduce man to the state of slavery” (196).

Therefore, it is wrong to discriminate any persons, against voting. Anthony’s speech inspired others and eventually led to ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 giving women the right to vote. However, as we are moving forward with the voting rights, another barrier appears. There is the need for women to work twice as harder as men do to claim the top positions. Do women have the right to lead? The 2016 presidential election result would answer this question.The sexual revolution is another indicator that casts doubt in the progress of feminism.

Joan Beck explains, in Chicago Tribune, that because of the changes in sexual behavior and moral choices, women are paying a much higher price for abortion, contraception, teenage pregnancy, and STD treatment than men (Casualties Of The Sexual Revolution). Women again lose and have to deal with both financial and emotional burdens. The sexual revolution and changing the amendments or laws does not lead to the absolute equality between men and women if society still disagrees. We need to change the direction, which is the way we and the society think of women.

The word “woman” does not mean less stable, less educated, and less rational. If a man can lead, women also can.Work CitedBeck,and Joan. Casualties Of The Sexual Revolution. Tribunedigital-chicagotribune2015: n. pag. Print. Covert and Bryce. Our Problem With Powerful Women.The New York Times.2015: n. pag. Print.Ferrell, Monique, and Williams Julian. On Womens Right To Vote.Looking for the Enemy: The Eternal Internal Gender Wars of Our Sisters.(2015): 179-99. Print.