In this second bleak term of the Bush presidency, the Iraq war, health care concerns, immigration and income inequality have continued to push the issue of gender inequality out of the news. When it is discussed, there's a rotating group of pundits (think Christina Hoff Sommers or Ann Coulter) who insist that "we've come all the way, baby." Whatever do women want? The playingfield is level, perhaps even tilting our way goes the happy talk. Why, we havea woman Speaker of the House, a woman major party candidate for President and there must be more women CEO's, right? Wrong.
The good news for women is symbolic, at best. Here's an occasional reflection on the real results of sexism in America,this time brought to you by the World Economic Forum. For several years, the good people at the Forum have been issuing a Global Gender Gap Report. The Report measures inequality between men and women based on Economic participation and opportunity, including salaries and access to high-skilled employment. Educational attainment, both basic and higher level education. Political empowerment and health and survival.
Here are the top ten countries who came out the best in the report: Sweden,Norway,
Finland, Iceland, N. Zealand, Philippines, Germany, Denmark,Ireland, Spain.
What happened to the U.S.A? Well, we're number 31, down from 23 in 2006. The report summarizes the reasons: "The percentage of female legislators,senior officials and managers fell from 46% to 42% and the scores received on wage equality for similar work fell from 0.68 to 0.64. These two decreases were only partially offset by the increase in the ratio of women and men's labour force participation rates (this grew from 0.82 to 0.86), resulting in an overall drop in the United States' score on the economic participation and opportunity subindex, which in turn pulled down the United States' overall score and rank on the Index."
Sorry not to sound terribly happy here, but "we've got a long way to go, baby!"
What if Eleanor Roosevelt ran for president? Eleanor vs. Ike is the featured book in Fictions Readers, a group to discuss contemporary women's fiction, books, women's issues and much more. Click here to join the group.
You can also learn more at www.eleanorforpresident.com and www.robingerber.com.
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Comments: 6
Those of us who work, still find ourselves struggling to maintain a happy medium between family, marital and workplace needs. Something men rarely if ever need to deal with. Stay at home Mom's are offered no compensdation for the long hours they work, and very little recognition. Sweden and other more enlightened country's really outstrip us in this area and in others.
How do we change this state of affairs? Or is it possible?
about 30 years. Our bipartisan government, both parties has failed these citizens.
Together with this report Robin, do you have any constructive criticism of the status quo. Any suggestions for change. I hope your not advocating more affirmative action baded on sex. I disagree with that as an improper method unless it's based on
economic class, which helps those who need it only.
Why do women collectively spend billions of dollars to keep themselves fashionably thin? Because, we still deep inside recognize that we are at the mercy of men. Until that changes to a healthier dynamic, we will continue in our one man down position into the next century and beyond.
We have to change, not with stridency nor hate, but with a quiet and assured insistence on some form of true equality. One reason I believe there was a backlash against feminism, was because it appeared to come from a place almost of hate against men. When in most instances, it is our refusal to stand up to the men in our lives and insist we be given the respect we are due. I can say this because I did it almost constantly during 30+ years of marriage.