Gender issues

Many may think that women’s rights are only an issue in countries where religion is law, such as many Muslim countries. Or even worse, some may think this is no longer an issue at all.

Women often work more than men, yet are paid less; gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lifetime; and women and girls are often are the ones that suffer the most poverty.

Though women’s roles in the world are changing rapidly in high-income nations, many still face problems regarding poverty through all sociological perspectives. Not all women will grow up to become doctors and lawyers, as these fields are still dominated by males. According to the glass ceiling idea, women can only go so far in their dominated jobs. However, the glass elevator idea lifts men to reach even higher than women in female-dominated jobs, such as nursing. Men are typically paid more and regarded as being able to handle more complicated problems (so they are well-suited to move up in companies and manage others). Therefore, women without husbands to help them may not be able to provide the usual income it would take for her to live above the poverty level. This is restrictive to single mothers who are trying to provide for themselves as well as their children. If they cannot move up in their job, they will not be able to provide money for food, housing, child care during her work hours, and other basic necessities (such as clothes for her children). She may get help from the government, but as soon as she gets above a certain income level (which is still on the poverty line), she is cut off of federal aid. It will then take her months to get back into the system, even though she has already been in it before. This creates a cycle of poverty for the woman and her children, who, growing up in poverty, will be more likely to be stuck in poverty throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, the inequality of women in the economy and government as compared to men burdens them in different ways. Since the government does not bother to consider these differences when coming up with plans of action, poverty is still perpetuated.

However, the government has tried to cut back on poverty by giving states incentives (additional funds) for having less poverty. This legislation (is known as B.O.B.) encourages states to solve the poverty problem from its roots to wipe it out. Resolutions have also been introduced to reinforce less discrimination against women.

In conclusion, before the law, women are seen as equal today, but that is not the truth. They still face obstacles to be able to be seen as equal.

Women’s liberation

The Women's Liberation Movement began in 1960s. It was started by women who were concerned about their identity, their role in society, and their work, and about the view of women that many people held.

Women's liberation, or Women's Lib, is the name of a broad-based but informal popular movement. It embraces widely vary­ing organizations, people, and ideas. Some are moderate; some are radical. All are concerned with changing the role of women in contemporary society.

This movement is not a political party. It is more like a forum or platform from which feminists (supporters of women's rights) speak out on women's issues. In books, articles, lectures, feminists attack the timeless inequities built into a male-dominated social system, and suggest possible remedies.

Many women want full equality with men in every aspect of life. In marriage, they want husbands and wives to share all the work and responsibilities of a home and a family. In work, they want women and men to have the same jobs and the same chance to succeed. They want women to be paid just as much as men for the same work. Other women agree with some of the ideas of women's liberation. They want the same pay if they hold the same job as a man. At home, however, they do not expect their husbands to share in the cleaning, cooking and other household jobs. In every male-female relationship, must the woman always play the secondary role?

All housekeeping chores, such as cooking cleaning (dusting, vacuuming, laundry), food shopping, diaper changing and child rearing must be divided equally. Household expenses are also shared. Women may keep their maiden names after marriage, to maintain personal identity.

Having children must be a free choice for both men and women. Women must have the right to end a pregnancy for any reason Women who choose not to have children should not lose status.

The work of raising children must be shared equally by the mother and father. It should not be, considered a full-time job for either one. Maternity leave must be given not only to mothers but also to fathers, so that they, too, can stay home from work if the need arises.

Jobs must be available to both sexes on the basis of individual ability, without the presumption that one sex is more capable than the other. This means that women will enter many lines of work traditionally open only to men.

Many people agree with the ideals and goals of women's liberation. They feel that women ought to be considered equal to men in every way. They feel that a woman shall be able to decide to stay at home and raise a family, or to stay at home and not raise a family, or to go out and work, or to have a job outside the home and a family as well.

Other people are opposed to women's liberation.

The Women's Liberation Movement is trying to give women a chance to show what they can do.