I wonder who devised this topic. Was it a man, trying to be sensitive, knowing the truth to the question? Or was it a woman, hoping to offer a catalyst for an open and honest discussion? Regardless of who gave time to think about the merits of this question, it definitely deserves to receive several articles, allowing the viewpoints of many to add to the discussion about how the women of or world are regarded and treated.
We have just completed a ground breaking election cycle, which heralded the changing of the guard in the pantheon of races that have held the office of the President of the United States. For the first time, someone other than a person of the Caucasian fraternity will be called the president of the United States. Also a part of this race was a woman, Sarah Palin, who was nominated to be the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. On a side note, I find it interesting that the Democratic party, one which is suppose to promote socially responsible values has never sought of push a woman candidate for President until this year.
Regardless, this article is about whom society favors. Obviously it is men. I expect many women had diverse opinions about the candidacy of Sarah Palin. Was this the kind of woman they would have chosen to carry forth the banner of progress for their sex as a whole? She had some radical beliefs that unfortunately will be superimposed over the whole body of the female race to shape the perception about where women stand right now.
If you will allow me to take you back in the history of our country, there was a common bond in the mid to late nineteenth century between the African American and women's groups regarding the right to vote. The most prominent woman to be involved in this was Susan B. Anthony, who was certainly ahead of the other women of her time. Ms. Anthony was not rewarded for her activism, however. She in fact, felt betrayed by the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868 that provided criteria for establishing citizenship in the United States. Believing to have met these criteria, Ms. Anthony responded as a responsible citizen by voting in the presidential Election of 1872. A few days later she found out that women were not considered part of the class covered by the 14th amendment when arrested for her patriotic act.
Two years earlier, another amendment, the 15th had established that no one could be denied the right to vote due to the color of their skin. Unfortunately it would take another fifty years and much more blood, sweat and tears to get the same right for women. Finally, with the adoption of Amendment Twenty to our Constitution, women were able to voice their opinions.
Many men feel that women's opinions are not pertinent. I am not among that crowd. How can we determine that women are pertinent when it comes to making a home, caring for our children or fulfilling our sexual desires, but they have no right to the same salaries, positions or offices of leadership? Sure, there are some women, as there are some men, who do not have the skills required to handle the awesome responsibilities of leading a country, or a business. But we cannot summarily exclude women just because of the fact that they don't look or act like us.
Will it be fifty more years before a woman is given the opportunity to lead our nation? I do not think so. There are some really inspiring examples for the women to grab onto as their goal. Look at Margaret Thatcher, or Corazon Aquino, the former Philippines President or Angela Merkel, the current Chancellor of Germany. All these women are fine examples of the ability of human beings, even female to lead their countries confidently and positively to great advances.
Our society is geared toward envisioning women in as least an amount of clothes as possible, which I think robs women of an important power. Yes, God created women to be a help mate to a man. But that should not mean they are subservient and must never aspire to have any power or authority over a man. Sometimes it is the women's ideas that will make much more sense.