The rhetorical situation of modern day feminism is quite different than what is was in the 1960s. As a result of the 1960s feminist movement, there are equality laws to prevent gender discrimination in the workplace. Moreover, society has created numerous institutions to provide opportunities for women in various careers.
But has it gone too far?
While his views might be biased, Timothy Rollins believes that there is now a case of reverse discrimination. In other words, rights and opportunities are being given to women at the cost of removing them from men. The rhetorical situation he describes is one of double standards and twisted affirmative action. An example of a double standard is seen when men and women are charged with sexual misconduct. Men are often given much stricter sentences than women even when their actions were similar. Affirmative action was established to "correct the wrongs from the past" but now it simply takes jobs from qualified males and gives it to less qualified females. The overreaching arm of modern day feminism truly is the cancer of society.
Great analysis of the situation; I agree very much with what you said. The feminist reform movement of the 1960s attacked a serious and demoralizing social construct which desperately needed to be changed. Today, as the social dynamic and male-female interaction has changed, so has the rhetorical analysis, yet many feminists seem to think that it hasn't. I would be lying if I said that men and women are always treated in exactly the same way, but the modern feminist movement has gone much to far. By no means are we living in a society where women "belong" to their husbands. What we should focus on instead is equal respect for ALL people regardless of their race, gender, religion, etc.
ReplyDelete-Corey Ferrick
It is definitely true that the feminist movement has gone a bit too far. As Shirley Chisholm puts it in her Equal Rights speech, "regarding special protection for working women, I cannot understand why it should be needed." I think what she said is extremely relevant to the case you're making. As the social dynamics have changed, enforcing affirmative action is not only purposeless in modern times but also degrading to the feminist movement itself.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analysis. I can see the author's point of view. I always think of how teachers always seem to favorite girl students. I definitely think that now women don't need more protection in the work place. Women need to work hard to get high position job. I wonder, however, what you think of the Equal Pay Act. Should women and men be paid the same for the same jobs?
ReplyDeleteEmily Camardo
Well written analysis. I do believe in some cases affirmative action has caused men to lose out on employment that they qualify for, but not so extreme that it should be referred to as "cancer to society". As a whole nation men still hold the majority of high rank positions so this is not a case of reverse discrimination where the majority is now the marginalized minority.
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