LIB 495: Capstone – Advanced Research Project Prof. John McAteer 28 September 2015

  Women left the kitchens  Ventured into the new generation of :  Becoming artist's, photographers, and professionals  Transformed into an all new social structure across the globe. Women and the 21 st Century

 Simone de Beauvoir’s Philosophy  Women are viewed as the second sex  Therefore do not favor equality for women in or society  Beauvoir insist that women and men need to treat each other as equals  That their sexual differences be validated.

 Simone de Beauvoir Book  1949 book  French Existentialist  Deals with the treatment of women  Often regarded as a major work of feminist philosophy

  The Second Sex explains how women are considered the second sex and derived from the first sex that then places women in the position of "other.”  It exposes how masculine ideology has exploited the sexual differences to where it may create a system of inequality.  It further explains how women have been defined as the secondary sex to men who have been categorized as the primary sex.  The male is viewed as the rational being in which the female deviates from the male. It is understand that the difference between the two sexes deals with the different anatomy between the two sexes.  “A man’s body has meaning by itself, disregarding the body of the woman, whereas the woman’s body seems devoid of meaning without reference to the male” (The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, translated by Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier, 2010, Pg. 26).  The anatomy of women is what sets them up for the sole role that is to have children which in-turn they become mothers.  Could this be the reason why men do not view women as equals to them? This could be one of many reasons as to why men will not place women at the same level as them.  Men view women as the second class and for this reason they will not give them the proper respect The Second Sex

  First Exposes different ways in which masculine ideology may exploit the sexual differences  Second direction identifies a different way in which arguments for the same equality may erase the sexual differences in order to establish the masculine subject where it could be viewed as the absolute human type Sexual Equality takes on two different directions

  This simply states women must live and train like men in order to obtain the respect.  For this reason the sexual discrimination will remain at play as the men or those who emulate are the rulers. What does this all mean

  One can argue that men and women treat each other as equals in which such treatment will require that their sexual difference will need to be validated.  This brings up the question as to why women are viewed as the weaker sex.  What criterion is used when the assumption is made toward women being the weaker sex?  For this reason past or present history goes on to state the criteria used with this assumption is they have weak upper or lower body strength.  Does strength play any factor in this assumption when they speak of women being weak? Men vs Women

  There are biases in question to support the criteria in order to support the statement made.  There have been instances where either men or women are not able to lift heavy items. When these types of questions begin to surface and are not all supported by facts it becomes an unreliable assumption made towards women.  For this reason current day feminist conclude that women must act like men in order to either be accepted or be treated as equals in this world or to be taken seriously when it come to today's culture.  “The price of women's admission to this privileged class, however, is that they must train and live like men ” (Bergoffen, 2014, Para. 4). Bias about Women

  Choices play a big part in our lives and in this case the choices made by women may have lead them to different situations which in turn taught or showed them about aspects of one's life.  Experiences from the choices made helped them develop ideas and prepare for future.  We all learn from past experience either good or bad.  By looking at past or present information will help refine how women have dealt with being looked at as being inferior Choices and Experiences

  Things started to slowly change when America involved itself in the first and second war  Women were forced to step out of their kitchens.  At this time women saw they had an opportunity to advance in different jobs to include obtaining more education.  Once women saw they could advance in the man's world they became more vocal and proactive when it came to their rights. WWI and WWII

  Looking back at the 60s or 70s  Women did not seek out jobs or further their education  They married and their specific job would consist of being a wife and mother to their children.  This was viewed by men and women as being normal  Decisions were made by husbands. Women Treatment

  Comedy sitcoms depict society issues  Women’s fight for equality in our society  Portraying the changes that are happening in current society  Divorce rates on the rise  Traditional family values are NOT seen as important during this time  Family dinner time together was starting to diminish The 70s

 "All in the Family"

 Archie and Edith  Archie is the husband who makes all the decisions  Edith is the housewife who serves her husband

  Archie believes that Edith’s purpose in life is to be a housewife, to take care of him and to ensure he is feed  Archie feels he is the commander of the ship and Edith is simply a deck hand.  Edith’s place is at home as a housewife.  Archie does not see Edith as an equal partner and validates Beauvoir statement where women and men need to treat each other as equals but do not Archie’s view on women

  Our culture has placed this on not only men but specifically on women who to this date continue to fight for equality.  With women viewed as being different from men, sexist came to the conclusion that women were inferior to men.  This goes back to the TV sitcom "All in the family" where Archie never really saw Edith as being equal and for this reason he placed her below him. The Fight for Equal Rights

  Everyone has a responsibility on what path is taken during their lifetime  Every woman will decide which tools will be used on her path of knowledge, justifying existence either it be pragmatic or non- pragmatic in this world.  When someone is born they do not have the decision on what sex they will be  This identifies women as “Other”, leads to the loss of social and their personal identity.  We all have an inner voice when one is mentally thinking on what choices one needs to make concerning their lives.  Emphasis is placed on the freedom of the each individual who in-turn will choose his or her existence.  The freedom is the right to exercise free will that is considered a universal truth in existential philosophy. Choices

  “Although men and women are indeed sharing more of the domestic work than in previous generations, this labor continues to be divided into traditionally male and female chores, with female chores constituting most of the work that needs to be done on a daily basis” (Fetterolf & Eagly, 2011, Pg. 83).  Things have changed from the past as some men do help their spouse with chores within the household.  Was this the case with Archie when it came to helping around the house dealing with chores? I did not see him lift a hand when it came to helping with the house. If his hand was not lifting his dinner or a beer it did not happen.  Things have changed from those days and husband do help their wives with chores.  Women still find themselves working themselves to death as they now balance work and the house.  Another thing that has changed from the past is that women are educated to become equal to men  “Higher levels of educational attainment may foster greater gender equality in both paid labor and domestic work” (Fetterolf & Eagly, 2011, Pg. 84). Changes

  “The liberated woman must free herself from two shackles: first, the idea that to be independent she must be like men  Second, the socialization through which she becomes feminized” (Bergoffen, 2014, Para. 14). Today