Conclusions from last weekend..

This past weekend, my dad and I paid a visit to "Dick's Sporting Goods". After going throughout the store, walking through the kayak section, boot section, clothes section, etc. I noticed that there were no women answering questions or interacting with the costumers,  they were only present behind the counter checking out items as cashiers. I thought it was sexist due to the fact that if women are as knowledgeable as the men in these certain sports presented in the store, why not have them answering questions and interacting? It definitely bothered me, and made me wonder. There were only two women I saw at that store, meanwhile there were numerous men wondering around waiting to assist customers. I am going to the mall this weekend, and plan to continue my observations! 

Ready to Begin

Next weekend I will finally start my observations. Besides going into some stores by myself, I want to also go in with my dad or male cousins. I chose to do this because I want to see which one of us gets asked if we need help finding anything, myself or the guy I am  with. I plan to keep an eye out to see if there are any other females in the store and notice if they have any females working in the stores listed below. I am still going to use my phone to take notes on so I blend in rather than stick out with a notebook and pen, and, I plan to go sometime in the afternoon/evening. Excited to finally start! 

Seeing how Feminism Lives Itself!

It's research time! 
  I plan to observe how women of their own are looked at in male-dominated areas/stores. I want to see how people are treated, and if they were looked at with question. I also, would put myself in that situation to see on a first-hand basis. I chose to do this to really observe how feminism is lived in today's society. I plan to start my observations on Black Friday! And continue to carry it out for a few weeks to get a complete understanding in all different areas. Especially  since salespeople will want to sell their products and appeal to their usual customers. I suppose that I will be going sometime in the afternoon/night when these stores (which I listed in my previous post) would be most busy; to see if I myself get any attention from the workers there. I'll be taking account on my cell phone so I will not actually look like I'm observing people. I'm excited to see how things turn out! 

Research Method on Feminism

For this particular project, I believe that by going out and seeing how this issue lives itself if the best way to see in present day what is truly happening. I plan to go to various male-oriented stores or male sections of different stores, such as Home Depot, Gamestop, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. I also want to go to certain stores in which appeal to females, and compare how I get treated in both. I am a single girl, so in other words I do not have a boyfriend or husband where it would be more explainable in why I am in the men sections or in men stores. 

Women Dress for Success!

This program gives women another chance. If they were abused in any way, this non-profit organization helps women get back on their feet if at any time in their lives they were treated unfairly. This program asks for donations for clothing so women looking for jobs can have the right outfit, because we all know that especially in job interviews, people judge on appearance. This organization has helped over 200 women and 60 % of them returned for another suit, meaning they got jobs! Women still get mistreated, although there is help for them because everyone should be treated equally no matter what. 

I strongly believe in this program and thank all the women who try to help other women. No one should be treated unjustly and I love how people choose to help those who have been hurt in the past. You go ladies! 

This is the article to read more and get involved! http://www.stls.frb.org/publications/br/articles/?id=1076

In the Media

  The show Surivior, is a reality show that has been on since 2000. It consists of sixteen competitors of all different nationalities, of both male and female. They are on a secluded island for 39 days, where they have challenges and must fight for their survival in the game. The ultimate prize is to win 1 million dollars and the struggle to get to the end is both demanding and competitive. 

  In this episode, I noticed evident discrimination against women in competitions and even at their camp grounds. Men exclude girls left and right on this show, and in this particular episode, the men dominate their tribe and say to one of the other competitors which is a woman that she cannot compete in it because the men do not believe that she is physically fit enough. They have not even let this girl compete in previous competitions at all whatsoever, so they are basically judging on the fact that she is a girl and believe that is is not capable of the tasks asked of her. Why not give her a chance? Obviously the men do not think that she is even worthy of that..

Click here for the episode!  http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/

What women had to deal with...

I decided to take it back, and look at what women had to deal with and go through during the 19th century, just to be able to get their thought on paper. 

"Women had been made to feel that they were inferior by nature "...

-_-

     There were many great writers which were men that composed some of the world's greatest literature pieces. This article I read showed how women prospered in writing  and it really shows how Austen and Emily Dickinson were looked at with confusion, because critics didn't think that women had it in them to write at such a high literacy level. Many people looked down upon the feminist movement, and thought that women in literature expressed to much awareness. 

      Women began writing, which was always thought to be the "men's job". From the male-oriented society in which they lived, women decided to compose plays, poems, adventure and romance novels. As time progressed, feminists had advanced in confronting male dominance,  which lead to the overthrow of prejudices of men against women.

    I believe women encountered a lot, and if it weren't for those who decided to step up and take action against sexism, we would not be where we are today. Yes, people continue to be biased throughout the world, and I plan to focus from here on out on different countries regarding feminism. 

What about socially?

Article: "In Today's Society, Women are ALMOST equal to Men"

..Well at least we're getting there! In reading this article, there were many cases in which how women are still not 100 % equal to men, although I found one particular scenario extremely interesting, and thought I would share it!
  
There was a situation in where a women had gone to court because of a rape case. She was asked what was she wearing, like that mattered. I understand dressing in certain ways may give off a certain vibe, or send a certain message, but the way a women dresses is her own decision, it's not like she's holding up a sign saying that because of what she is wearing it's okay to commit this disgusting crime. Many took offence when this question was brought up and I am one of them. I felt numerous emotions while reading this and it's disturbing to think about. No matter the circumstances  no one has a right to harass someone else, no matter what the circumstance.

This basically meant that women continue to get discriminated against. 

Are females equal to men economically? Nope!

I previously read an article on how women are still not being paid as much as men. How pathetic.

"The men were earning 15 to 40 percent more. “My heart jerked as if an electric jolt had coursed through my body,” she wrote in her 2012 memoir, Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond. 

      Lilly Ledbetter said this statement in an interview which was recorded in 1998. She explains how she was never treated properly, and finally came to the realization that she was indeed getting paid less. 
       Even after President Kennedy passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, which banned“..discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by employers engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce.” Still, even after that, women continued to earn only 80 % of what men did only 3 months later, although both working the same job. 
       

A decade later, statistics show that women are only receiving 77% of what men earned in 2010. 

Feminism in Politics

Even though the US is known as a fair, free country, still there are male and female tensions regarding equality. Whether it be through businesses or politics, women of all ages still have it harder, regardless of our freedoms. After Sarah Palin's running for office, men concluded that women are weak, and foolish for trying to run for such high, political careers.

Palin's perseverance and courage truly helped her through the process, although she did not turn out to be our first female Vice President. From watching her experiences I believe that women today have more of a drive to prove themselves. 


http://www.redstate.com/imperfectamerica/2011/03/21/why-i-love-sarah-palin/

Why Feminism?

Feminism is the philosophy that men and women should be politically, economically and socially equal. 

I chose the topic of Feminism to discuss, because although women rights have already come so far,  females in the United States continue to fight for their place in society along the side of men. Females are viewed inferior to males still, in both relationships and politics. Why? Because simply women were and are thought to be nurturing and submissive.  

Women across the world today are being treated as property  to men and they do not think twice, which is, in my opinion sickening.  Although the United States is a free country, I want to investigate if women from other countries who have migrated over, are still being dominated by men and if so, where. And, what still has to be done for women to be treated with equality.