Discusses obstacles hindering women from reaching high management positions. Examines the history since WWII, pay, social bias and the old boys' network.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 8 sources, 1995, $ 79.95
From the Paper "The glass ceiling is a term coined only recently, and generally applies to women. It relates to the statistical phenomenon wherein almost half of the American work force, women, account for less than 10 percent of the upper management in the business world. Specifically, the glass ceiling that women apparently face is that, no matter their ability or accomplishment, male-dominated corporate America is unprepared to let them rise above an artificial, sub-executive level of management.
Glass ceilings affect other groups, minorities, many of whom have a long history of participation in the business world, but have been denied executive position on the basis of race, religion or ethnicity. Women, however, are the group most affected by glass ceilings."
Abstract This paper discusses the difficult lives of women in the American colonies, lives which revolved around the basic family unit and entailed laborous tasks to ensure the survival and continuity of the home. The paper shows that as time progressed and the colonies became more civilized, the roles of women changed. Instead of merely surviving, women began to have leisure time on their hands. Women also had time to educate themselves beyond their regular housewifery skills. Socially, women had time to entertain and lead more leisurly lives. The paper follows the changing role of these women through the Revolutionary War when they assumed a number of unfamiliar roles. It also shows how the development of the countryside and infrastructure changed the social life of women. Finally, the paper shows that women of this time had their lives shaped by extraordinary events such as political and economic upheavals, religious conflict, and intellectual transformation. It was during this time that women first started to establish themselves and their rights.
From the Paper "The practical and functional roles of women changed during the Revolutionary War. Women had to take up positions that they normally would not have had to before. They had to manage the house while their patriotic husbands were gone. This also opened other doors to women. For Deborah Sampson it meant cross-dressing as a soldier and taking up arms. She was placed into indenture at the age of ten and upon completion entered the army. (Ferguson 183) She was noted to be a woman who wanted to see the world. If not for the war, where would she have ended up, and what path would this creative, energetic and brave woman have taken? Her husband subsequently received a veterans pension for her efforts.(Evans 54)"
Abstract Study and investigation on the role and treatment of women in Islam nations show that Muslim societies and nations generally disregard the inalienable rights of women, as set out by the United Nations on Women's Rights. This stance is developed and proved in the paper, by discussing what these "inalienable" rights of women are and what steps feminist movements have taken for the preservation of the good welfare of women in these kind of societies.
From the Paper "Another article from the said issue of TIME Magazine is an article titled "The Women of Islam" by Lisa Beyer. This article offers a summarized view and report on the treatment of women in various Islamic nations. Iran is said to be "progressing" towards a greater consideration of the society towards its women by gradually removing the practice of segregation between men and women in public places; Malaysia now allows women to obtain and secure professions that are previously held exclusively by men, such as public (political) and corporate positions, although women are still required to wear head coverings; Egypt is allowing women to be granted divorce on her own initiative, although there are still restrictions, such as not being able to "leave the country without her husband's permission"; Saudi Arabia remains oppressive and discriminatory with its laws against women such as the prohibition for women to ?drive cars or fly anywhere without permission,? segregation in sex for job opportunities, and covering one's self completely in public; Pakistan also violates women rights by giving them an unfair hearing and trial during rape cases, wherein men are always favored against that of women; and lastly, Turkey is considered the most liberal Muslim nation today because of the equal opportunities it provides for women and men, such as the equal opportunity to acquire education, jobs, and other privileges of the country's citizens (Beyer 200140-7)."
Abstract The author expresses her view that while capitalism has benefits to some, it is a powerful pressure on women around the world. The paper states that despite all the advances women have made in American politics and attaining corporate power, globally, women are still the second sex victums. The paper discusses sexual stereotypes in advertising, prostitution, sex trafficking, package tours for sex and bride burning in India.
From the Paper "The pressure of encroaching capitalism, which is slowly emerging in developing nations of Asia, for example, brings with it a resurgence in prostitution. Women in Asia, particularly, are regarded as a commodity. Due to the globalization, the effects of capitalism and their governments' inability to provide employment, many of the women from Southeast Asia adopt prostitution. Most of these girls and women come from very poor places and slums where they do not have any food, shelter even clear drinking water. Often they carry the burden of supporting their families as well, and it is common practice for daughters to leave their home in the rice fields to go to the cities to prostitute themselves."
Abstract Examines the multiple meanings of the movement. Contends that it was more than a quest for voting rights; it was an international model for a pursuit of social justice. Discusses the investigative method of hermeneutics, and its application to the meanings of the British suffrage movement. Consideration of all aspects of society.
From the Paper "Introduction
This study examined the pursuit of women's suffrage in Great Britain. The thesis of his study was that the thrust of the women's suffrage movement in Great Britain was much more than a quest for voting rights: It was an international model for a pursuit of social justice.
The pursuit of social justice by women in Great Britain involved all aspects of society ? labor, family life, political participation, education, property rights, and full social equality. The quest for women's suffrage, thus, was a part of the wider pursuit for social justice; it was a step in the march of progress for women. Within this broader context, the women's suffrage movement in Great Britain was an early manifestation of the feminist movement (Garner, 1984)."
Abstract Examines how pornography interacts with sexual violence. Question of whether pornography promotes sexual violence. The objectification of women. Women as victims. Causal relationship between exposure to porno and the acceptance of rape myth. Desensitization of males toward rape. Pornography's message of male domination and contempt for women's dignity.
From the Paper "Pornography and Sexual Violence
Introduction
The question of whether or not pornography promotes sexual violence has been discussed by Scott and Cuvelier (1993) who make the point that there is a consensus that the amount of sexually violent material has increased dramatically in recent years and that the violence in pornography is associated with increased violence toward women. Barron and Kimmel (2000) note that sexually violent content in magazine, video, and Internet pornography tends to victimize women and present visions of women's victimization as acceptable forms of sexual activity. This brief report will examine the question of whether or not pornography promotes sexual violence against women and men as well as children.
This paper discusses the interaction between two themes in the paintings and drawings of Edgar Degas. The first is the study of form and shape, primarily of women. The second is his attitude towards the socioeconomic class of his subjects.
Abstract The writer argues that, because of Degas' upbringing in a family attempting to appear as nobility, he became interested in "class." Commentary on class structure was a deeply engrained part of the art world at the time that Degas was in the forefront of the field.
From the Paper "The later work of Degas began to concentrate on women in the bath, either actually washing, or getting in and out of various tubs. This was a focus on the female body in its most pure form. The fascination he had always shown with women was now given free reign, without clothing or background to complicate his work. It is interesting, though, to note that his interest in class, as well as gender, was still represented. The bathing woman has been separated from most of the social and cultural cues that give the viewer information as to her background. This is another way that Degas demonstrated that his interest in the female form cut across class boundaries."
Abstract Sylvia Plath's difficulty accepting quiet domestic life and inability to settle into a career as a poet are illustrated in her poem "Two Sisters of Persephone." The paper examines the roles of wives and mothers in the 1950s, and gives examples of Plath's own personal rebellion. The writer looks into several areas of Plath's life: her education, writing, sexuality, depression and motherhood.
From the Paper "Expectations for an American or British woman in the 1950s were fairly straightforward: Create a happy, healthy home for your husband. The reality was far more complicated. Working outside the home during World War II had given many women a desire for something more. They were no longer happy to merely press shirts and cook meals. These women longed to break free of traditional gender roles and have an impact on the fate of their family, the world, or both."
Abstract This paper examines how divorce in the United States is especially devastating to women and children because it contributes to the feminization of poverty. It looks at how divorce tends to be harder on women than men because men are more likely to have careers and jobs while the women are more likely to be dependent. Women thus emerge from a marriage on the average in worse financial shape than do males. It also analyzes whether whether delinquency and other social problems are the result of divorce itself or of the poverty that often accompanies it.
From the Paper "Women have assumed a dual role in the U.S. almost without it
being noted, and they have done so by combining work outside the
home with their domestic and child care responsibilities. Social
tensions producing more and more divorce contributed to the
growing number of families with women as head of household. Many
of these women are under-educated and under-trained and cannot
get good enough jobs to support their families, and in addition
they must continue in their role as mother (and now father) at
the same time. This is an unintended consequence of liberalized
divorce laws on the one hand and economic problems for certain
communities on the other."
Tags: delinquency, children, child, care, economics
Abstract This paper examines how there are currently two different strands of discussion dealing with the causes of domestic violence, or more specifically, the causes of male violence toward women. The first strand is feminist in tone, linking violence against women directly to sexism. The second strand is more generally psychological, viewing violence against women as the product of a multitude of factors. Through an extensive literature review, this paper looks at how violence is motivated and its relationship with the level of communication between the married couple as well as its treatment.
Outline
Introduction
Methodological Issues
Communication Problems and Violence
Differing Approaches
Treatment
Conclusions
From the Paper "It is also helpful to distinguish between types of abusers. In one recent, complex study, Jacobson and Gottman (1998) identified two different types of abusive men. One type - the Pit Bull - is depicted as driven by insecurity and dependence, while the other type - the Cobra - tends to view violence simply as part of life. The former type has more potential for change through the teaching of new skills, including communication skills. The Cobra, however, is described as more violent and more intractably violent. These are individuals who may have sufficient interpersonal skills, but may not use them."
Abstract By the year 2005, more than 60 percent of the American workforce will be women. However, the questions remain: What part of that percentage will be managers? And, does the "glass ceiling" really exist?To determine if the "glass ceiling" is, indeed, real, this analysis focuses on that question. The paper examines one industry -- commercial airlines and examines the role of women at Delta Airlines in the United States and Air France in France.
From the Paper "It is apparent that the lack of women in senior management positions in both airlines is a confirmation of Adler and Izraeli's 1988 seminal study that detailed corporate opinions of dealing with the two contrasting views of male-female management "equity," assuming a similarity between male and female contributions, and ?complementary contribution," assuming a noted difference between male and female management contributions. The challenge, say the authors, is for the corporation to strive to recognize the value of these differences (Adler & Izraeli, 1988)."
Tags: discrimination, Joan, Juliet, Buck, Sharon, I., Wibbem
Abstract The paper begins by explaining why the feminist standpoint theory appears to have much in common with the social-science methodology of Michel Foucault. The research sets forth the context in which feminist standpoint theory emerged, and then discusses how Patricia Hills Collins extends the theory to include race and gender factors of analysis and critique.
From the Paper "Feminist standpoint theory does not have recourse to Foucault's "structure" terminology, but the location of its beginning point is oppositional to dominant cultural ideology. Feminist standpoint theory, beginning, as the term implies, from the perspective or standpoint of women's relationship to dominant culture, considers the decisive social relationship to be power; and further, does not see women as a group in the position of social power, but rather distinct or different from that position. This implies that the position of social power will be the object of scrutiny from the perspective not of power but of its relative distance from power. Standpoint theory is at least as concerned with social and psychological norms, customs, practices, and attitudes as with physical strength, as far as power's primary indicators and legitimators are concerned. In Foucault's formulation, the power referent has to do not (or not merely) with the power relationships between criminal law and criminals, or even with the encounter between privileged and oppressed classes, but with the whole of ordinary social experience. Power, he says, "produces effects . . . at the level of knowledge" (1980:59). These effects represent factors of feminist analysis."
Abstract This paper questions when, why and how female victims of domestic abuse elect whether or not to leave an abusive relationship. The writer presents a three-stage cycle of a domestic-violent relationship and examines research in the field of why women choose to remain in such a situation. It examines financial concerns, fear of losing independence, fear of breaking up families and fears for their general safety.
From the Paper "A battered woman is faced with repeated acts of violence by her intimate partner (IP), who is can be a husband, boyfriend, or former spouse (Help for the. . ., 2000). Such abuse may be physical, sexual, and/or psychological, and can lead to serious physical or psychological damage and, in some instance, even to death. Over one-third of all female murder victims are killed by their male partners, a statistic indicative of the degree to which domestic violence has become commonplace in American society (Help for the. . ., 2000). "
Abstract This paper looks at the reports of women faking orgasms throughout history and their reasons for doing so. It examines an article by Laura Lewis, ?Why Women Fake Orgasm,? and then presents an argument against faking orgasms - from a feminist perspective and from an equal relationship perspective. The writer concludes that the worst result could be that a woman will feel obligated to continue doing so in the future, indefinitely perhaps, and never achieve the intimacy and joy that results from climaxing with their partner. Includes an outline.
From the Paper "Why would any person, male or female, fake an orgasm? Throughout history, women have reported faking orgasms much more frequently than men. The reasons are varied, and include the desire to please their mate, self-consciousness at actually achieving orgasm, and the lack of knowledge related to how their "plumbing" works. Most individuals have likely "faked" an orgasm at least once in their life. There will always come a time when one just wants to get the process over with, please their partner, and catch a few zzz?s. However, the reality is this: Orgasms are wonderful. Yet for many inexplicable reasons, thousand upon thousands of women fake orgasms on a frequent basis. They do not fake orgasms on occasion only, but rather fake the majority of time rather than the minority."
Abstract This paper discusses how Mary Rowlandson, Hannah Dustin, and Mary Jamison, were each in their own way, able to cope with their captivity. The paper discusses whether the captivity strengthened their understanding of Native Americans. It also looks at why some captives were treated harshly and others as family or tribal members. In addition, the paper explores why Native Americans took captives.
From the Paper "The story of Mary Jamison's capture is quite different from the other women's experiences. Mary Jamison was taken captive by the Shawnee tribe while she was still a teenager. Her family was killed and the tribe adopted her as their own. Jamison actually became a part of the tribe and took a husband and had children. Jamison coped with her captivity by assimilating into the tribe that held her captive. Her ability to be a part of the tribe allowed her to cope with the loss of her family and her captivity."
