Here are some possible terms that may be defined in Unit 2:
Green Construction
Sustainable Design
Energy Efficient Design
Eco-friendly Materials
LEED certification
Friday, March 27, 2009
The history of mankind has, no doubt, shown evolving prejudices towards women. I say evolving because historians hold a wide consensus that women were respected as equals in the hunter-gatherer age of humans, which is widely believed to be the interaction taking place at the start of the homosapien experience. The idea was that in order for these early peoples to survive they had no time to play favorites or express prejudices; they needed to work together as effectively as possible. However, as agricultural societies developed, women were less needed for supplying the once needed nutrition because men were able to plant and harvest large crops. As a result women tended to stay at home and raise the children, while the men were out providing food and shelter. This led to the intense attitude of superiority by males towards women. This attitude has plagued society even up to the present-day.
In life, right eventually prevails. That said, something had to be created to stop this unfair treatment of women. What was brought about is known as feminism. So, what is feminism and why is it important to understand the reality of this concept? As an existing species, it is detrimental to our success to define certain prejudices and their opposition to allow for beneficial change to society. Feminism plays an enormous role in the daily lives of arguably everyone on this planet. For this reason it is imperative that we understand the implications of this term.
Feminism is a devout disagreement and stance against the inequality, unfair treatment, and stereotyping of women in relation to men. Foremost on the feminism agenda is equality. As noted by Cassandra L. Langer, "[Feminism's] mission is to achieve full equality for women of every race, religion, ethnic group, age, and sexual orientation. It is important to indicate that the parameters surround specifically women and men to clarify the subjects of the debate (Note how it almost sounds grammatically incorrect to say women before men). However, feminism is not man vs. women, but equality vs. inequality. This idea coincides with Langer's depiction of feminism, as she states, "The central goal of feminism is to reorganize the world on the basis of equality between the sexes in all human relations" (570). Many men have the perception that they are somehow more capable than women, which feminism attempts to refute. Furthermore, it does not only have to be men that hold this outlook of superiority; some women can also see themselves as inferior. In this case feminism challenges women to become enlightened about their place in society. Moreover, feminism not only questions our legal sytem with respect to women but also improper stereotyping. As Langer notes, "What unites all feminists, what they all have in common that makes them 'femenists,' is the belief that they must question and challenge sexual stereotypes"(574). We can't make stereotyping illegal; after all that would be a blatant encroachment of our first amendment right, and we all know how important human rights are. So, we must combat stereotyping through intelligent and dignified arguments.
The argument of what feminism is cannot bear completeness until we can explain what it is not. Feminism does not make the claim that women are superior to men. This could be a common misinterpretation, which brings us back to equality vs. inequality and not man vs. women. Feminism does not accept the standards of patriarchal society. However, Joan Williams seems to believe that feminism must put women in the workplace with men. Williams claims that women must go to the workplace and then "return home to the second shift" (594). Feminism does not press the idea of women performing the same functions in society as men; it simply argues that women should have the choice to do this as equals to men. Women should have freedom of choice. In addition, feminism is not a prejudice towards men, which has been a perception of many people. Williams claims that most feminists are "...'strident' and 'ballbusting'..." (594). This may be a real attitude of some women who claim to be feminists, but that does not mean that it is feminism. Feminism is an intelligent movement for the betterment of women's equal place in society and better quality of life.
So, what can be gained from this new definition of feminism? Well, the dignity of future debate relies on the precise understanding of this controversial movement. We cannot continue to have the popular belief that feminists are purely and simply women who hate men and will do anything possible to gain the upperhand in society. By acknowledging feminism as an intelligent ideology in opposition of prejudices, we, as a united whole, may focus our efforts on more important issues, which have more tanslucent boundaries.
In life, right eventually prevails. That said, something had to be created to stop this unfair treatment of women. What was brought about is known as feminism. So, what is feminism and why is it important to understand the reality of this concept? As an existing species, it is detrimental to our success to define certain prejudices and their opposition to allow for beneficial change to society. Feminism plays an enormous role in the daily lives of arguably everyone on this planet. For this reason it is imperative that we understand the implications of this term.
Feminism is a devout disagreement and stance against the inequality, unfair treatment, and stereotyping of women in relation to men. Foremost on the feminism agenda is equality. As noted by Cassandra L. Langer, "[Feminism's] mission is to achieve full equality for women of every race, religion, ethnic group, age, and sexual orientation. It is important to indicate that the parameters surround specifically women and men to clarify the subjects of the debate (Note how it almost sounds grammatically incorrect to say women before men). However, feminism is not man vs. women, but equality vs. inequality. This idea coincides with Langer's depiction of feminism, as she states, "The central goal of feminism is to reorganize the world on the basis of equality between the sexes in all human relations" (570). Many men have the perception that they are somehow more capable than women, which feminism attempts to refute. Furthermore, it does not only have to be men that hold this outlook of superiority; some women can also see themselves as inferior. In this case feminism challenges women to become enlightened about their place in society. Moreover, feminism not only questions our legal sytem with respect to women but also improper stereotyping. As Langer notes, "What unites all feminists, what they all have in common that makes them 'femenists,' is the belief that they must question and challenge sexual stereotypes"(574). We can't make stereotyping illegal; after all that would be a blatant encroachment of our first amendment right, and we all know how important human rights are. So, we must combat stereotyping through intelligent and dignified arguments.
The argument of what feminism is cannot bear completeness until we can explain what it is not. Feminism does not make the claim that women are superior to men. This could be a common misinterpretation, which brings us back to equality vs. inequality and not man vs. women. Feminism does not accept the standards of patriarchal society. However, Joan Williams seems to believe that feminism must put women in the workplace with men. Williams claims that women must go to the workplace and then "return home to the second shift" (594). Feminism does not press the idea of women performing the same functions in society as men; it simply argues that women should have the choice to do this as equals to men. Women should have freedom of choice. In addition, feminism is not a prejudice towards men, which has been a perception of many people. Williams claims that most feminists are "...'strident' and 'ballbusting'..." (594). This may be a real attitude of some women who claim to be feminists, but that does not mean that it is feminism. Feminism is an intelligent movement for the betterment of women's equal place in society and better quality of life.
So, what can be gained from this new definition of feminism? Well, the dignity of future debate relies on the precise understanding of this controversial movement. We cannot continue to have the popular belief that feminists are purely and simply women who hate men and will do anything possible to gain the upperhand in society. By acknowledging feminism as an intelligent ideology in opposition of prejudices, we, as a united whole, may focus our efforts on more important issues, which have more tanslucent boundaries.
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