by MaryO

Created on: June 18, 2008

The times that the womens movement began in the US was a very tumultous time. Full of change and questioning, a misunderstood war, and an overall sweep of rethinking perspectives. When I think back on the late 60's and early 70's I remember it as a very confusing time.
The womens movement of course had value in opening opportunities for women and attempting to establish some level of equality. Like others who have responded to this topic, I agree that the movement went in several wrong directions along the way. One significant moment i still remember vividly was seeing women burning bras. For me this is when I began to lose interest and really start investigating the consequences of actions like this and what they meant in a larger sense.

I held to the ideal of opportunity for women and equal pay. I did not believe that as women we ever needed to compromise our feminity, or families. I questioned the idea of competiting with men, by learning to behave like them, dress like them and in the process to diminish the role of men to some degree.

It seems that something that began with good intentions turned into a monster. We, as women, in relation to the womens movement were in time not only given opporturnity but were expected to do it all. The role of motherhood became one of ridicule and weakness, something no longer honored or respected.The hardest, most noble and painstaking endeavor any woman could undertake lost it's value. Superwoman emerged juggling it all and looking good doing it. The more one juggled, the more liberated, free, independant, important, she was. In this same process the intimidated man grew into being. Men who no longer knew thier place. Who eventually took the low road of irresponsibility especially in terms of family. Men became confused and afraid. Do I open a door or will I get slapped for doing it. Do I pay for dinner?, support the family?

The womens movement did accomplish some of what it set out to do. With that it also created, in my opinion, a great deal of confusion, much more work for women, and a diminished respect of the value of womanhood. We became competitive, combative and pitted against each other to pick a side and defend it.

The days when a man automatically gives up his seat on a bus, or other crowded place for a woman are gone. The days when a man would help a woman struggling with something to heavy, or a car problem, for the most part are also gone. These are generalizations of course and there are still many respectful men in the world. It's just different and those things that were once not given a second thought are now met with hesitation or indifference.
The womens movement became unfocused and angry. It became more about rebellion and power than its origins in worth and equality. It lost something on the way.It became a greater burdon, seething with expectation, than a liberation.

It did succeed in opening doors to jobs traditionally held by men and in many other aspects of business in terms of the positions achevivable by women. It gave women a voice but not necessarily one that many women felt comfortable with. We are on the front lines now, raising families alone, working two jobs, trying to get more education. Trying to make it in a hostile world. We are collectively tired.

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