Modern Feminism: We’ve Come a Long Way? Umm, Maybe Not
by Candace Hardin
Clash Daily Contributor
The Sexual Revolution began in the 1960’s. Women began to demand equal pay for equal work. They began to leave the home in mass and enter the work force.
Today’s woman has the choice of careers and education. Things have really changed for the female in the last fifty years, or so it seems.
A long time past, the only way a woman could advance was to marry well. Her entire status and future depended on “a good catch.” Mothers would school their daughters on the importance of finding a promising match. Young ladies from the 20’s to the 50’s were sent to college in the hopes of landing a professional husband. Prior to that, parents sought out prospective suitors with the correct attributes to provide their daughters with the standard of living they desired. Many used their daughters to join family fortunes to create greater family fortunes with little regard to her feelings on the matter.
As the old cigarette slogan goes, “You’ve come a long way, Baby.”
Is that right?
Not so fast, it seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
In the news last week, Ray Rice and his fiancé, Janay Palmer, were indicted for simple assault and domestic battery. He is described as knocking her out with a blow.
A video was released showing Rice dragging his unconscious fiancé out of an elevator by her arms. He did not pick her up and carry her, just pulled her by the arms into the hallway.
His legal representative claims that the video is authentic, but incomplete. Another statement claimed that Palmer started the altercation.
It really doesn’t matter who started the fight. The problem is the total lack of respect and consideration for the woman Rice had asked to be his wife. This is the potential mother of his children. A man might be strongly provoked, but should be able to control himself, if he is a man.
The part that seems to come from the Dark Ages, is that a day after Rice was indicted on the assault charge, the pair got married.
My Mother always told me that all of the good treatment that a girl receives before marriage will drop down to about 50% or less after the marriage.
If a man will knock his woman out before marriage, what will happen afterward?
It seems to me that today’s women have moved themselves backward in various ways.
In many cases, they do not demand respect from themselves or others. They have forgotten that the “old fashioned” courtesies are very necessary when you are far along in pregnancy. Sure, you can open your own door when you are young and strong. However, when you have a baby, a diaper bag and a toddler by the hand, it is not so easy.
If the respect is not fostered in the relationship from the beginning, it will not develop after the fact.
The cycle of abuses and disregard will continue into the future generations. Boys will not learn to respect their futures wives from their father’s example. Young girls will not have the security of a father that is considerate of the mother. Their relationship with men will be colored by this vacuum.
In the year 2014, it seems that one might still consider it better to marry well, than to be treated well.
Image: Courtesy of: http://thesistersource.com/mobilize-monday/pass-the-violence-against-women-act-now
Candace Hardin resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She fluent in Spanish and a student of Latin and history. She is a columnist on PolitiChicks.tv. and has a blog, kandisays.blogspot.com. Originally from North Carolina, her writing and beliefs have been heavily influenced by the Appalachian culture and tradition.
