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Volume 1 (1999/2000) Volume 2 (2000/2001) Volume 3 (2001) Categories
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The DifferenceClaire EganNowadays, female lawyers, teachers, politicians, etc are not uncommon. So even in this day and age where the woman is clearly coming into her own is there still some stereotypes of the average woman? Sexism is a form of stereotype. It can be defined as 'the belief in the superior of one's own sex' and is often accompanied by preconceived ideas about the opposite sex, such as notions that all men are useless when it comes to domestic affairs and are lying, cheating love-rats and all women are bad drivers. Some men think that all women can cook (the builders who were working in my house over Christmas got the shock of their lives when it was realised I couldn't cook for them!). And its sad to say that in some countries sexism is more in control than ever with the man as the master. In some of these countries families see a baby girl as only costing them money so they are either killed at birth or allowed to die when they get ill. Arranged marriages are also common with normally the girl having no choice over her suitor who will thereby be allowed all her income if she happens to work. Just note your reactions to these two comments: 'What a misfortune it is to be a woman!' (Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855) 'Women should remain at home, sit still, keep house and bring up children' (Martin Luther, 1483-1546) You may say 'But this is what men said ages ago'. The sad bit is that some men (sad as it is) still think like that. Women do two-thirds of the worlds working hours, receive one tenth of the world's income and own one hundredth of the world's property. So girls, is this fair? These figures show that even though the status of women in Law has changed some attitudes haven't. So being a woman can't stop you from doing anything but people's attitudes might. So we've got the law changed and we can now stand for election to the Dail and Senate, vote, etc. but I feel it will be a while yet before attitudes change. But this doesn't mean that you have to put up with abuse. There are now laws enforced in the workplace so women that are being abused, discriminated, harassed, etc. can use these to their advantage. Women having full rights and the law on their side, when you think about it, have just really only come about in the last 200 years. It's a relatively new thing so maybe we shouldn't give the boys a hard time about it. After being 'kings of the castle' for thousands of years they suddenly find themselves out on their ear? Not! |