I discovered today that I've made progress since high school. FINALLY.
I was up in Flagstaff today attending a conference for work at NAU when I realized that the last time I was in Flagstaff was in the summer of 1998.
I picked up a copy of the Lumberjack, NAU's student newspaper, and it brought back a flood of memories from the 10 days I spent at journalism camp at NAU. We lived in one of the dorms, ate at the cafeteria like one of the big college kids, and produced a newspaper.
I could barely write one article at that point--let alone dozens. I had never lived on my own at that point. I had never had a boyfriend nor a heartbreak at that point (yeah, late bloomer but made up for it). I had never had an argument with a roommate, a boss, a colleague at that point. I had never ran a 5k, worked out at a gym regularly, taken a firefighting test at that point. I had not lived in China for a year at that point. i had never read a book in Chinese at that point.
I learned a ton at that journalism camp for minority high school students. In fact, it led me to my first job in college, which was a reporter for the Arizona Daily Wildcat. Regardless, my point is not about the journalism experience but the fact that I've actually progressed a lot since I was 18 when I used to wear black Vans and a blue hoodie every single day and was too shy to talk to anyone until now as a hopefully wiser 31-year-old.
Perhaps I have grown up after all this time (sigh of relief).
Friday, April 8, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
More Thoughts About Feminism
I am not an expert on feminism. I took two women's studies classes in college, which were both cross-listed in the history and political science departments. I never finished reading Betty Freidan's The Feminine Mystique-- I tried reading it twice and just could not get through the book.
However, there are a couple of points I would like to make about feminism that have influenced society today.
1) The Pill/birth control. I realize that a lot of guys will shy away from anything that is related to feminism or women's issues. The mere reference to anything female-related beyond the superficial just freaks some guys out. However, the truth of the matter is that without the Pill, a lot us would be knocked up/baby daddies/mamas by now. Thanks to feminism, the Pill is widely available to everyone in this country with or without insurance and it's affordable too. Now, I don't know about the historical accuracy of Mad Men, but the secretary who was hired at Don Draper's firm goes to the doctor in the first episode gets a prescription for birth control and the doctor tells her that it'll cost her $11. Certainly, inflation has occurred numerous times since the 60s but somehow the Pill isn't significantly more expensive than $11 today. Now, guys, think about how many times your asses have been saved because of the Pill. Nowadays, you can meet a girl at XYZ bar and hook up with her that same night in your apartment or her apartment and never see her again and since she's on the Pill, it saves her from getting pregnant. The chances of you getting a phone call a month later from some stranger telling you that you're going to be a baby daddy has decreased significantly because of the Pill.
2) Title IX. Now this is for all the guys who drool at the sight of that hot female volleyball player. Thanks to feminism we have female athletes -- Title IX had a direct impact on high school and collegiate athletics.
"Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was originally written in order to end discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, the act tremendously helped to energize the women’s rights movement which had somewhat slowed after women’s suffrage in 1920.[2] On the same token, while Title IX is best known for its impact on high school and collegiate athletics, the original statute made no explicit mention of sports.[3]" This is from Wikipedia. You can easily read more about Title IX on the Internet.
Title IX is controversial and some believe it may have hurt male athletes but regardless without it we wouldn't have the female athletes we have now. Believe me, Title IX doesn't exist in China or the rest of Asia. Except for Olympic athletes, I rarely see any Chinese women engage in sports. I would see some women run at the gym, dance, do aerobics but nothing too intense. Yes, women walk way more in China than they do here and probably have healthier diets, yet the women don't do a ton unless they are poor and have to work jobs that require physical activity. Interestingly enough, Patsy Mink, a Congresswoman who is Japanese American from Hawai'i, spearheaded Title IX.
However, there are a couple of points I would like to make about feminism that have influenced society today.
1) The Pill/birth control. I realize that a lot of guys will shy away from anything that is related to feminism or women's issues. The mere reference to anything female-related beyond the superficial just freaks some guys out. However, the truth of the matter is that without the Pill, a lot us would be knocked up/baby daddies/mamas by now. Thanks to feminism, the Pill is widely available to everyone in this country with or without insurance and it's affordable too. Now, I don't know about the historical accuracy of Mad Men, but the secretary who was hired at Don Draper's firm goes to the doctor in the first episode gets a prescription for birth control and the doctor tells her that it'll cost her $11. Certainly, inflation has occurred numerous times since the 60s but somehow the Pill isn't significantly more expensive than $11 today. Now, guys, think about how many times your asses have been saved because of the Pill. Nowadays, you can meet a girl at XYZ bar and hook up with her that same night in your apartment or her apartment and never see her again and since she's on the Pill, it saves her from getting pregnant. The chances of you getting a phone call a month later from some stranger telling you that you're going to be a baby daddy has decreased significantly because of the Pill.
2) Title IX. Now this is for all the guys who drool at the sight of that hot female volleyball player. Thanks to feminism we have female athletes -- Title IX had a direct impact on high school and collegiate athletics.
"Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was originally written in order to end discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, the act tremendously helped to energize the women’s rights movement which had somewhat slowed after women’s suffrage in 1920.[2] On the same token, while Title IX is best known for its impact on high school and collegiate athletics, the original statute made no explicit mention of sports.[3]" This is from Wikipedia. You can easily read more about Title IX on the Internet.
Title IX is controversial and some believe it may have hurt male athletes but regardless without it we wouldn't have the female athletes we have now. Believe me, Title IX doesn't exist in China or the rest of Asia. Except for Olympic athletes, I rarely see any Chinese women engage in sports. I would see some women run at the gym, dance, do aerobics but nothing too intense. Yes, women walk way more in China than they do here and probably have healthier diets, yet the women don't do a ton unless they are poor and have to work jobs that require physical activity. Interestingly enough, Patsy Mink, a Congresswoman who is Japanese American from Hawai'i, spearheaded Title IX.
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