Society Fuels the Fire to Real Life Resilience
On May 24, 1918 women had been given the right to vote in Canada. That was just a stepping stone for the long journey to equality that women still face today. This present society stands as a dystopia and women are the ones fighting for equality. For years women have been working hard in order to break free from living in the male shadow. To stand on equal ground in some of the most male dominated aspects of society: sports, the military and the workforce. Men may be physically stronger than women, but that does not mean that they are superior in determination, grit and skill.
Playing sports is an activity enjoyed by both men and women; unfortunately women’s pro-sports leagues are full of stereotypes and lack of media attention. For example, the Canadian women’s soccer team should be receiving a fair amount of hype as it is safe to say that the male team is “hopeless”. However there are assumptions about women’s pro-sports that prevent the well deserved attention from the audiences of Canada. Such assumptions are, “...the perception of the athletes as eye-candy, the absence of career prospects, the dearth of role models...” [John Doyle]. While society continues to turn a blind eye to female sports there are glimpses of “...women players who exhibit the most male characteristics of macho grit” [John Doyle]. Although meant to be a compliment, women are still being compared to men. Since there has never been a precedent set for “female grit”, women like Christine Sinclair (who broke her nose in opening the game but continued to play the rest of the tournament with a protective mask) are forced to be compared to men. In contrast to a majority of the sports that are male dominated, when it comes to soccer the Canadian women’s team is all that matters.
The path to equality is not an easy one but the military has taken steps toward making changes which will officially,” allow women to serve in military combat roles “ [Jenna Goudreau]. Detractors claiming the decision as “misguided” attempt to hold back on the progression to a more equal society by not allowing women to fill roles even though her skills might exceed that of her male counterparts. There was a movie that came out in 1997 called “G.I. Jane” about a woman who joins the Navy Seals and no one expects her to succeed.
“This film is a representation of the ideological social structure of gender roles in American society, which believe that women cannot succeed on paths traditionally sought by men.” [Morgan Tilton].
For a movie that was made 16 years ago to still be relevant in today’s society is unsettling. It seems as though, “… women will continue to endure different treatment regardless of what day and age” [Leanne Evalee]. How unfair is it that women are still fighting for equality in their own country? One might think that the lines between gender roles have already been thinned but in reality the more women fight for their right the thicker the lines become. The point is for men and women to be socially equal, to be told that they have the opportunity and it is their choice whether they take part or not. Male pathways and female pathways are ideas of the past and as intimidating as it is to the male population, women are becoming stronger and more resourceful.
Breadwinner is a term that was traditionally used for men in reference to their roles as the primary provider of their families. That term is now used for women as well as men, and in most cases today, there is no breadwinner but a shared responsibly to provide. Women everywhere struggle from discrimination especially when they attempt to make the crossover into the male dominated pathways such as the workforce. Veronica Dahl worked in the University scene for years, though not a piece of cake it was what she loved doing so she continued. She faced multiple obstacles with very little support as her department head was all men. Even little issues like, “she often received letters from colleagues addressed, Dear Sir” [Erin Millar]. This got to the point where she didn’t get a full professor position because “…she was told she didn’t have enough academic publications even though a male colleague has recently been advanced with fewer” [Erin Millar]. Society is holding women back, these perceptions that women do not belong in highly qualified institutions has got to stop. In the end Dr. Dahl was asked to be one of the “founding fathers” of a field of study that she had a major impact on. Dahl simply replied, “I would be very honoured, unless it implies a change of sex operation” [Erin Millar].
It’s fascinating how even today women are still doubted, penalized and stand unequally to men. This society is the exact dystopia that is thought to only be found in fiction novels. The stomach sickening reality is that even though it is a written law that everyone is equal the stereotypes are still there. The thing that is most empowering is that women aren’t giving up and are nowhere close. Women are resilient, deep inside they know they have potential, it may have taken a while to awaken but now there is no stopping it and no telling where it may lead.
Bibiliography
Doyle. "Soccer Offers Opportunity for Revolution in Women's Sports." Globe & Mail. N.p., 3 June 2013. Web. 4 June 2013.
Evalee, Leanne. "Women In Today's Society." Hubpages.com. N.p., 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 1 June 2013.
Goudreau, Jenna. "Will Allowing Women In Combat Roles Revolutionize Military Leadership?" Forbes.com. Forbes Magazine, 23 Jan. 2013. Web. 4 June 2013.
Millar, Erin. "Gender Equality Eludes Groundbreaking Scientist." Globe & Mail. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 4 June 2013.
Tilton, Morgan. "G.I. Jane Fights Gender Roles." Review. Web log post. Wordpress. N.p., 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 4 June 2013.
Evalee, Leanne. "Women In Today's Society." Hubpages.com. N.p., 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 1 June 2013.
Goudreau, Jenna. "Will Allowing Women In Combat Roles Revolutionize Military Leadership?" Forbes.com. Forbes Magazine, 23 Jan. 2013. Web. 4 June 2013.
Millar, Erin. "Gender Equality Eludes Groundbreaking Scientist." Globe & Mail. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 4 June 2013.
Tilton, Morgan. "G.I. Jane Fights Gender Roles." Review. Web log post. Wordpress. N.p., 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 4 June 2013.
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