Thursday, October 29, 2009

It's not all about winning...

article:

Palestinian women have been trying to fight for equality for women since the early 1920s; however, still after almost ninety years, “women are often considered secondary and their work without economic value” (el-Raifi). Since there are constant political problems with neighboring country, Israel, finding equality for women in Palestine seems like one of their last problems. Sexism in this extremely male dominated society is practically normal. Women are frustrated with these circumstances.

However, yesterday, Palestinian women definitely caught the world’s attention. For the first time ever, Palestinian women played an international soccer game, outside against Jordanian women. In the west bank, there were 10,000 screaming fans, men and women alike, cheering for a women’s soccer team. Women ran around the soccer field and ended up tying the game 2-2. Their coach, Rukayya Takrori said, “in our culture, Palestinian women work side by side with men in the fields and factories. They fight together, demonstrate together.” She then exclaimed, “Palestinian women can do everything--even football” (Kershner).

After I read this inspirational article, I started thinking that if a predominately, male-oriented society would allow and support women’s soccer, then how is it possible that still today in America, women are not treated completely as equals to men.American women play sports, vote, have successful jobs, take care of their children, and can even support themselves; yet, there are still subtle inequalities in our society. America too is still a highly patriarchal society.

For example, many people still believe that women should not study math or science. In schools, little girls are usually discouraged to study math and science, and are encouraged to study language arts. Although there are many female doctors in America, these women had to go against the norm throughout their schooling to get where they are today.

Sexism is also extremely common in the workplace. Women are still paid less than men in our society: “white females earn 73 cents for every dollar earned by a white male, according to a study released last month by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in Washington, D.C” (Lewis 1). Also, women often have to deal with hearing sexist comments from fellow coworkers.

Women also are expected today to partake in homemaker activities and raising the children as their main priority, while these tasks are only somewhat important to men. Women are innately given these maternal attributes, while men are only seen as the money providers in the family. Mothers and fathers should play an equal role in their child's life. It is their child.

America is a progressive country, however to have such inequalities in our country still is very shocking. Americans should look to this story of the Palestinian women’s soccer team as inspiration and believe in what their coach said, women can do anything. Yes, in America we say we believe in this; yet, women must overcome the social norms in order to achieve what ever they want to. If Palestinian women can stand up for themselves and end this hierarchy of gender, the women of America can as well.




Palestinian Women

The inequality in the workplace
fromgaza

1 comment:

  1. The suppression of women is a global issue affecting numerous societies in visible or hidden ways. Samantha’s article demonstrates the success of determination and the benefits of taking a nonviolent path. The goal is to eradicate these gender barriers through participation in sports. She focuses on the profound effect of a Palestinian women’s soccer and how in the patriarchy of Palestinian society the established sexism “is practically normal.” However, it is normal. Sexism is one of the many defining characters in the Middle East, but also in America. It’s present and it’s accepted because it works.
    In addition, the cheering fans are a representation of the encouragement to give women more power, more freedom, and more spirit to take a stance against the leaders of the country— men. Certainly, it is inspirational to capture this piece of history from such a restricted country, but one must also note the differences in cultures and beliefs that characterize America from the Middle East. For instance, I just viewed the documentary titled “Beneath the Veil” a shocking chronicle of the violence, the torture, the injustice created by the Taliban in denying women from the daily privileges that American women do have. The women under this regime are unable to work so they beg, they’re unable to commit adultery or they’re shot in a stadium of spectators, they’re deprived from an education or they’re hanged because they are inferior. They are the victims. This is an important component that must further develop into her critical opinion piece because although patriarchy creates a gender imbalance visible in Palestine, it takes another form in America through socialization. The unfairness in wages, the second shift at home as a caretaker, the sexual and degrading portrayals seen in the media are invisible and they are subtle as Samantha states, but our acceptance of these just lets it continue. So the actions of women in the Middle East makes them appear as rebels, the actions of women here are seen as movements yet nothing is done in either because patriarchy works.
    Moreover, it would’ve been more interesting to read how her view of this social dilemma is internalized into young children and how they show this in school. What are some behaviors, other than choosing math vs. language arts, that demonstrate a child’s concept of being a female or male and how do they show it through play or conversations? To extend on this with an anecdote or an example would show the relation between the story and education.
    Finally, Samantha does note the importance of America saying they believe in women overcoming this inferiority status, but not actually acting upon it. The fact that we don’t move forward only lessens the possibilities that other societies will.
    However, to state that Palestinian women “end this hierarchy of gender” isn’t true because it only means that they’re taking a step towards change. They haven’t ended anything because patriarchy is such an accepted and effective tool that the efforts taken now are seen just as acts of resistance.

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