1. In a way you could call a woman in the 1920’s a “New Woman” because the roles had slightly changed. Women were working more and had more responsibility. In a way they changed and were considered to play more significant roles. ”Contemporaries in the 1920’s either celebrated or condemned what was widely viewed as a female sexual revolution” (493). . Women were using high tech appliances that they had never seen before, and they were introduced to different things such as perfume and cosmetics to indulge themselves. Women were changing a lot in the way they looked and acted. Also the idea of female sexuality was being increased and women were acting more independent and free. This all was a newer and more modern version of what women became.
2. During the 1920’s things were changing for women in politics, “women from all groups were now prepared to make women’s votes count” (482). White women formed the League of Women Voters in which they educated others about politics and tried to teach other women had to be the right citizens. However they were having problems because “before national suffrage was achieved a great many women equally excluded form this basic right of citizenship” (483). Women were more interested in less important things than politics which stood in the way. Class and gender was a big problem because African American women separated from the White women. They felt that the White women were not supporting them, therefore there was a separation.
3. The picture on page 499 is actually very sad. There is so much struggle and sadness coming through this woman’s eyes that you know she is going through a difficult time in her life. She has both of her children on her shoulders, and it looks like they are crying. The great depression was a horrible time for people. It says that this family had been “living on frozen vegetables and birds that the children killed” (499). It seems as though this woman is struggling to do whatever she can for her families survival. People did whatever they can to find some food and feed their children during this difficult time.
4. In the beginning of the World War women did not have any rights to work. Then in mid-1942, when the men got drafted, new opportunities started opening up for female war workers. Women became a big part of the war because they were being used for propaganda campaigns such as “The More Women at Work the Sooner We’ll Win” (page 510). “Women responded eagerly to expanded job opportunities, not just in defense industries but in other sectors of the economy as well. (510). Women were now seen as more important in society and it seems as the stereotype for females was beginning to change. And the “defense work did improve women’s economic situation” (510). However it was not the same for African American women. People did not want to hire black women until they were very desperate for a worker. There was mixed feelings about everyone. People began hiring Chinese women, since their main enemies were Japanese people, they had no problems with Chinese. As for Mexican American people, they had a big advantage because since people were so desperate for workers, they did not care if people were legal or not in the country. Women worked a lot during the war, but once it ended that did not last long. “Surveys of women working during the war indicated that a significant number had hoped to continue to work outside the home after the war” (517). But that wasn’t the case because they were mostly laid off.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Blog # 10
1. How did African American women approach the issues of reform and suffrage?
During this time, African American women were treated differently because people were prejudice against them. They were not involved in many of the things that others were, causing them to be separated. White women were allowed to have education, while African American women did not have that right. “New areas of women’s paid work were beginning to emerge in the early twentieth century” (Pg 408). However, they fought back and made different organizations to become just as successful as the whites. For example, there were female clubs that allowed them to teach and educate them themselves and their children. Soon black women became doctors, nurses (in particular) and held normal jobs like everyone else. One woman by the name of Madam C.J. Walker “built an immensely successful hair care and cosmetics business” allowing other women to work for her and make some money (pg. 424). Even though the NAWSA tried to hold them back from a lot, they didn’t give up and continued to be successful. Walker was also a provider to the National Association for the Advanced of Colored People’s antilynching organization (pg 24). These poor African American women had gotten so much trouble from a number of different organizations, from the AFL to the WTUL, but that never stopped them from being successful.
2. What were the main differences between the emerging feminist movement and the suffrage movement?
To start off, both the feminist movement and the suffrage movement worked towards women trying to gain some kind of freedom, or to prove a point against their gender. Since women were not able to vote and do a lot of the things that men were, the suffrage movement took place. This was a group of educated women who fought for the sake of politics and involvement in that area. However, the feminist movement was a little bit different. Feminists were basically women who thought that they were being treated different just because they are females. “Feminist ideas in the early twentieth century created a fervor of excitement among young women eager to challenge the gender role” (Page 434). This was about things such as “sexual restraint by insisting that women had sexual desires as well as maternal capacities” (page 435). These women were trying to prove that everything is about men and that things such as birth control were not being used effectively. Women wanted to have “greater amounts of sexual intercourse freed of the threat of pregnancy” (page 435). I think that if it wasn’t for these brave women who fought for all of this, the lives for women nowadays would be very difficult.
Textbook document
1.What were the various definitions of feminism according “Talks of Feminism.”?
“Many definitions of feminism were given, differing in details, but agreeing in the essential fact that the movement sought freedom for women” (page 460). Some women said that feminism was more of a fight or a form of fun. I think that the main answer to this is that women should have the same rights as men and be treated the same. That is why the idea of feminism started in the first place right? I really agree with the comment that it “means that woman want to develop her own womanhood (pg 460) and just have the right to do the same humanly things as men. Everyone had something different to say which all pretty much lead to the issue of inequality, whether it was for womanhod or education.
2. What role does women’s economic independence play in feminist thought?
Women’s economic independence is veryy important. The reason for this is because women now are not dependent on their husbands. Most women are strong and knowledgeable to survive on their own if needed. Now men and women are looked upon more equally because a lot of women are more successful than their spouse. And also women don’t need to be objects anymore, and don’t need to turn to prostitution for money. Even a female that comes from a family with no money, there are still opportunities through education and can still have a chance to live normally.
2. What is your own definition of feminism?
My own definition of feminism is just the idea that women are called a “feminist” because they want to be treated exactly like men, and no different. However in a world like this, we will always be differentiated somehow. Women just want to have the same power and be looked at the same way as a man. For instance in a job, you want to be treated just as seriously with important issues as a man. Females have become so powerful and independent that now a woman does not need a man to survive. I think feminism is a very STRONG word and it represents that strength in women that we all have. No woman likes to feel any less than a man or be treated any less.
During this time, African American women were treated differently because people were prejudice against them. They were not involved in many of the things that others were, causing them to be separated. White women were allowed to have education, while African American women did not have that right. “New areas of women’s paid work were beginning to emerge in the early twentieth century” (Pg 408). However, they fought back and made different organizations to become just as successful as the whites. For example, there were female clubs that allowed them to teach and educate them themselves and their children. Soon black women became doctors, nurses (in particular) and held normal jobs like everyone else. One woman by the name of Madam C.J. Walker “built an immensely successful hair care and cosmetics business” allowing other women to work for her and make some money (pg. 424). Even though the NAWSA tried to hold them back from a lot, they didn’t give up and continued to be successful. Walker was also a provider to the National Association for the Advanced of Colored People’s antilynching organization (pg 24). These poor African American women had gotten so much trouble from a number of different organizations, from the AFL to the WTUL, but that never stopped them from being successful.
2. What were the main differences between the emerging feminist movement and the suffrage movement?
To start off, both the feminist movement and the suffrage movement worked towards women trying to gain some kind of freedom, or to prove a point against their gender. Since women were not able to vote and do a lot of the things that men were, the suffrage movement took place. This was a group of educated women who fought for the sake of politics and involvement in that area. However, the feminist movement was a little bit different. Feminists were basically women who thought that they were being treated different just because they are females. “Feminist ideas in the early twentieth century created a fervor of excitement among young women eager to challenge the gender role” (Page 434). This was about things such as “sexual restraint by insisting that women had sexual desires as well as maternal capacities” (page 435). These women were trying to prove that everything is about men and that things such as birth control were not being used effectively. Women wanted to have “greater amounts of sexual intercourse freed of the threat of pregnancy” (page 435). I think that if it wasn’t for these brave women who fought for all of this, the lives for women nowadays would be very difficult.
Textbook document
1.What were the various definitions of feminism according “Talks of Feminism.”?
“Many definitions of feminism were given, differing in details, but agreeing in the essential fact that the movement sought freedom for women” (page 460). Some women said that feminism was more of a fight or a form of fun. I think that the main answer to this is that women should have the same rights as men and be treated the same. That is why the idea of feminism started in the first place right? I really agree with the comment that it “means that woman want to develop her own womanhood (pg 460) and just have the right to do the same humanly things as men. Everyone had something different to say which all pretty much lead to the issue of inequality, whether it was for womanhod or education.
2. What role does women’s economic independence play in feminist thought?
Women’s economic independence is veryy important. The reason for this is because women now are not dependent on their husbands. Most women are strong and knowledgeable to survive on their own if needed. Now men and women are looked upon more equally because a lot of women are more successful than their spouse. And also women don’t need to be objects anymore, and don’t need to turn to prostitution for money. Even a female that comes from a family with no money, there are still opportunities through education and can still have a chance to live normally.
2. What is your own definition of feminism?
My own definition of feminism is just the idea that women are called a “feminist” because they want to be treated exactly like men, and no different. However in a world like this, we will always be differentiated somehow. Women just want to have the same power and be looked at the same way as a man. For instance in a job, you want to be treated just as seriously with important issues as a man. Females have become so powerful and independent that now a woman does not need a man to survive. I think feminism is a very STRONG word and it represents that strength in women that we all have. No woman likes to feel any less than a man or be treated any less.
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