Women in society
How women are treated in US society has been on my mind recently. The other day I also saw an article about French women seeking greater equality. Italian women have expressed their own frustrations along with women from Islamic countries who live under highly restrictive laws. My question is, what do you all think? Do women need and/or deserve greater equality, respect, rights? Is it possible to legislate better treatment or are views of women too deeply engrained in their cultures?
11 Answers
I am a feminist, but I am not a gender feminist.
In my opinion, women in the United States are treated fairly. In fact, speaking from the perspective of the mother of anglo males, I sometimes believe that anglo males may be the last considered when it comes to hiring and opportunities for advancement!
I am very grateful to the women in my mother's generation who respectfully entered universities and professional schools or the work force and paved the way for the women in my generation.
I live in a community with significant minority populations. I see the female students of all ethnicities treated equally when compared to their male peers during school related activities.
Having said that, I would agree that there may be some subcultures in the United States that treat women as inferiors. When I see a young woman intentionally getting pregnant to "catch a man", it really breaks my heart. Many of those young women end up painting themselves into a corner. I have several former students who were such promising young women, and I was so hopeful they would break out of the cycle; many of them now have several children. It breaks my heart to see their exhaustion and their undeveloped talents. Where did they pick up the idea that they were not "good enough" to graduate from high school? It was not in the school; as educators we are constantly encouraging all students regardless of gender to reach for their potential.
What about the parents who come to parent teacher conferences, and the mother sits mute while the father pontificates about what his sons will do, while he ignores his equally talented daughter? Is this a commentary on U.S. society as a whole, or is it a commentary on the dynamics of specific families? I tend toward the latter. In fact, I am so proud of an exceptionally talented female student who came from just such a family. With zero familial support she was accepted at a Big Ten University with a full scholarship. She now has five advanced degrees. Her father died several years ago and he never told her he was proud of her. In my opinion, her story exemplifies what a woman can do in the United States.
Hmm, that guy holding up the orange banner is an idiot - putting it the polite way.
I am a female, so I guess I can't tell you what I think about this can I, I imagine you know what my views are, my being female 
At the present moment we have a female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, born in Barry, Wales - her parents having moved here in search of a warmer climate to aid a sickly child. Her parents, still living, have had the joy of seeing one of their two girls become the first female leader of our country (Australia). Julia presently lives with her partner and by choice has no children.. She is a fiery red-head, tempered by loads of compassion.
Also we have our first female Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, a Queenslander; in fact the first woman accepted to the Queensland Bar. She has two daughters, three sons and six grandchildren.
I don't always agree with the viewpoints of these two woman in our society but I take my hat off to them for achieving goals that would be unheard of in many countries around the world - even today.
There are a number of countries that have or have had women presidents and prime ministers. Unfortunately, the US isn't among them. I don't believe this is something that will happen anytime soon. In my opinion, women here are judged first on their physical appearance and second on their abilities. One of things that brought this topic to my mind is that I noticed the last half dozen or so headlines I've seen about Michelle Obama have been about which fashion designer's clothes she wearing to some event. Nothing about her work or thoughts. Really strong, powerful women in politics or business are viewed as *itches or *all busters. Women have made more advances in academic, scientific, and literary fields. Maybe because they can submit for publication with just their initials, i.e. JK Rowling.
I know that my heart truly breaks for girls born in countries where they are not "worthy" to be educated. Over the years I have heard of quite a few countries where girls are oppressed in this way.
I also feel sorry for girls in my own country who do not appreciate their freedom to go to school in a comfortable bus or family car. The school facilities are clean, beautiful and climate controlled. Some girls, even if they have the option of going to school, have to walk miles and miles each day, only to wind up with the type of school pictured below. The difference is...they are grateful!!!
The only solution to personal rights (whether for women, men, children, various religious groups, various other minorities, etc.) is education. The recent thread on "eating possibly contaminated food" made me feel some dismay. The knowledge and methodology of simple "food safety" should be so common that this subject would be ... boring! But instead it was frightening - imagine what it is like for uneducated, home-bound women ....
One of the best arguments for education of females is that all women (and especially those in countries, ethic areas, etc. which restrict a woman to marriage and child-bearing and no other occupation) need to learn about: childhood illness & treatment; basic first aid' food preservation, preparation & nutrition; simple psychology (in child-rearing); basic educational methods; dealing with pests & vermin; basic mechanical skills; and female anatomy, body function and pregnancy. No little girl will learn about these things at home, because her mother never learned about them, either! A simple school taught by persons of unimpeachable character will cure such ignorance --- and eventually lead these girls to think for themselves (as well as save many lives and a lot of misery).
And eventually, they will stand on their own two feet (and use their own brains) and that will lead to similar enfranchisement for everyone else.
I am a woman who was born in Australia, and I will never leave this country. I believe I have equal rights to any man, and the freedom to live my life the way that I want. I am proud of the woman who fought for equality in Australia, and even prouder of those woman who fight for rights in war torn countries.
I believe every woman (and man) should have the freedom to live peacefully, and the freedom to choose how they will live their lives peacefully. 
Actually, there is a place for everything in this world.
I was stunned, to say the least, to read about this new movement in the States called "Obedient or surrendered Wives".
Perfect wife for the guy with the orange banner if you ask me.
So , I mean to say, that there are so many woman out there who have to obey their husbands , their brothers, they are by law not allowed to vote, they even get mutilated....
so why would there be women who choose to surrender to a man with no apparent reason, is quite beyond me.
In reply to A-Annie's post...
"She is a fiery red-head"
Red heads have souls!
I think that is the right youtube, I can't click it, but it will do
To be honest about this in my opinion the last few decades of outright feminism has left many younger men wondering just what the h*** their role is in society.
They have been labelled in so many negative ways.
