Women’s Studies 101 | Extra Credit Essay | | || Christine Roman | 8/7/2009 | |

Women’s Studies – Historical Issues The first issue that I will be talking about is gender and the labor force. Since the beginning women have always taken the back seat to men when it comes to the work force. To start with, women were not allowed to have any kind of former education in order to pursue their dreams. They were limited in what fields they could do. For example the generally took jobs like teaching, service types and jobs that were not considered to be of any value or wealth to men. The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions set the start of women’s right to further their education. This would allow them to go to colleges or universities. As time passed other issues were being addressed such as wages. Women were paid less than men were. A report was done by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research done in 2002. White women were making $.70 to ever dollar men were making. Asian-American was making $.75 to ever dollar and African-American women were $.63 to ever dollar men were making. In 1964, The Civil Rights Act, Title VII was established to give fair and equal employment opportunities to employees and job applicants. The person’s race, religion and national origin could not be used against them in the whether or not they got the job. Also, with the Civil Acts Rights, gender could not be used. So based on the sex of the employee or job applicant, (female or male), could not be used against them either. When making a decision on who is the best one for the job, it should be based on education, skills and experience and work history of the applicant
The second one is that of women’s health and reproductive rights. For years women were excluded from any research because of the following; fear that trails would affect childbearing and unreliable because hormonal fluctuations due to women’s menstruation. Do to clinical studies generally done with men lead to misinterpretations of findings. Women were believed to be nagging and complaining, so this lead to stereotyping when it came to health issues. Because doctors are not willing to see they need to recognized the differences between men and women’s bodies and how it works women will get the right treatment. With not the right treatment women will have higher increases in health issues such as disabilities, diseases and death rates will all increase. Men and women health needs should be addressed equally. The second part of this issue is reproductive rights. Women should have the right to choice what they do to their body. If she wants a child or doesn’t want one is her decision alone. In the past there have been barriers that have kept women from making the choice to have or not have a child. These barriers are the following; religious convictions, parental consent for minors, and the cost of different types of birth control. Also, doctors could not give any information out concerning contraceptive literature. At that time, it was considered obscene. Allowing doctors now to give information about birth control helps men and women make their choice more effetely. Rode vs. Wade give women the freedom to choice for themselves. Men and women should have the same reproductive rights and be able to seek all avenues in their decisions in or when they have children. You can find this information in the following articles; you can find this information in the following articles, “What A Difference An X Makes” and “The Politics of Women’s Health in the United States”, plus more.
There are still issues concerning gender and labor are the following; is women have family responsibility that can or does interfere with their ability to earn and plan for their future. Do to periods of no income, due to raising a child and taking care of parents causes lower retirement fund. Women work in a low wage positions that offer little in the way of pensions. Women also work 27 compare to men’s 37 years of paying into social security. When social security figures out the benefits they take 35 years of wages and average them out, then the years that have no earnings you receive a 0. When this happens it lowers the amount you receive. For a woman that is a lot compared to men. Men and women who hold the same job in some cases are still making less money.
Some of the issues dealing with health care are that with it becoming more private enterprises, the motivation for health care is profit not ones medical problems. No matter how much effort consumer and government tries to push for reform there is too much resistance. Even with corporate managed care, they still cannot control medical care and cut prescription drugs that are excessively high. Single individuals who have low incomes and no benefits but make too much money for help is not fare. Still need more research and studies for women health.
Feminism deals with different issues faced by women. Feminism is a political discourse aimed at equality for women, gender differences and equal rights & legal protection. Without the women’s movement we would not have or been able to achieve our goals and dreams in life. Feminism set the road for women to be treated fairly and have a better quality life. Women’s movement has given me the chance to further my education, make better money and have opportunities to go after jobs that women historically in the past would not have done. The doors in my life have more choices than ever before. The one thing I am taking with this class is better appreciation for the choices I can make, goals and dreams I can achieve because of the women who push for our equal rights and legal protection. Also, for breaking the gender barriers. I am great full for the work women have done so I can have a better more full filled life.