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WORKING-CLASS WOMEN.
Term Paper ID:25194
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Essay Subject:
Socioeconomic inequities & oppression, alienation from feminism, work, marriage & family, education, socialization.... More...
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5 Pages / 1125 Words
5 sources, 13 Citations,
APA Format
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Paper Abstract:
Socioeconomic inequities & oppression, alienation from feminism, work, marriage & family, education, socialization.
Paper Introduction:
Working class women internalize their own oppression. These women learn the stereotypes that define their lives at an early age. Working class women strive to maintain the traditional feminine ideal while simultaneously struggling with the limitations of class.
To a significant extent, the problems of working class women persist because they have not participated in the financial gains of the women's movement. Middle class women reaped the greatest benefits. They dramatically increased their presence in professional fields such as medicine, law, and banking: "in little more than a decade women increased their representation among the most prestigious and lucrative professions by 300 to 400 percent" (Ehrenreich, 1990, p. 217). Granted, middle class women still encounter the "glass ceiling" in their efforts to
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Another reason is male opposition to thepresence of women in these occupations. Girls must struggle with their self-identity at a time when they are forced to make career choices that willhave far-reaching effects on their lives: "With the 21st century in sight,secretary and nurse still often top the list of girls' career aspirations"(Schrof, 1993, p. To a significant extent, the problems of working class women persistbecause they have not participated in the financial gains of the women'smovement. 217). 43). 81). Working class womenare strong and enduring. Fear of falling. When the family is poor it isshe who must face the bill collectors and figure out how to stretch thelimited financial resources. . These women can now afford to be independent of men. Working class women must learn the benefits of protestand the need for radical change. Middle class women reaped the greatest benefits. (1972). Nevertheless, the women's movementsecured a definite change in fortune for women from backgrounds with highsocial status. This translates into securing higher-paying employment in previously male-dominated fields. . Part of the reason is some blue collaroccupations are in decline. By the time they reach college,females are less likely to earn degrees in math and science than their malecounterparts. 43). 13 -131). NewYork: W.W. 131).Other working class wives believe that comparable pay for comparable workdepends on whether or not the male worker in question has a family tosupport (Rubin, 1992, pp. Theydramatically increased their presence in professional fields such asmedicine, law, and banking: "in little more than a decade women increasedtheir representation among the most prestigious and lucrative professionsby 3 to 4 percent" (Ehrenreich, 199 , p. The occupational gains of the women's movement have not been asevident in the blue-collar fields. Sennet, R. The hidden injuries of class. 42-44. 42-48. Such fields asengineering and computer technology offer good opportunities for women buttoo few take advantage of them because of gender separations in asocialization process that begins early in childhood. Girls are encouraged to buy into the traditional feminineideal. The marital life of the working class woman is characterized by lackof financial resources and stress. Workingclass women strive to maintain the traditional feminine ideal whilesimultaneously struggling with the limitations of class. New York:HarperPerennial. Given the fact that the women's movement has had little impact ontheir lives it is not surprising that working class women take a dim viewof feminism in general. 1 7). Their wages areinsufficient to secure respect for themselves in their households or insociety. Many of these women buy into media stereotypes offeminists. If aprofessional woman marries, and later divorces, the specter of impoverishedsingle motherhood is rarely a threat. 217). Granted, middle classwomen still encounter the "glass ceiling" in their efforts to make it tothe highest ranks of corporate life. Schools contribute to gender sorting in the socialization process.Sennett and Cobb (1972) are among numerous social scientists who contendthat students do their best work in school when teachers expect highperformance: "What happens is that the teachers act on their expectationsof the children in such a way as to make the expectations become reality"(p. Ironically, the strengths that characterize working class women alsocontribute to their acceptance of their oppression. Unable to secure meaningful, lucrativeemployment herself, the working class woman must rely on the earning powerof her husband. They internalize their guilt and longing for abetter way of life. Girls experience social pressure to be "good," which usually meansnot being outspoken or taking intellectual challenges. and Cobb, J. Theirfinancial future is no longer based on marrying into wealth. Working class women will not end their oppression until they succeedin raising their financial status. (1992). As one working class wife expressed her feelings, "Thoselibbers, they want men and women to be just alike . New York: BasicBooks. Unfortunately, working class women tend to perpetuate theiroppression by their attitudes toward the world of work. Sennett andCobb (1972) argue that these limitations define the modern version of low-level work, "the kind of work where people do not feel they express enoughthat is unique in themselves to win others' respect as individuals" (p.74). U.S. Rubin, L. When teachers pay more attention to their male students itcreates a disincentive for girls to achieve. Males in blue-collar fields havebeen more successful at closing their ranks than males in the professions:"While the percentage of women in professional training was rising fromless than 1 percent up to 4 percent, the proportion of women constructionworkers and skilled craftspersons did not reach 1 percent" (Ehrenreich,199 , p. Thus the working classwife rarely exerts power in the household. The gap progresses asstudents climb the educational ladder: males score higher in math andscience on SAT and achievement tests, and on math and science AdvancedPlacement exams ("Girls'," 1998, p. Worlds of pain. Girls' math/science education.Education Digest, pp. Most working class women are relegated to the same low-paying service sector jobs they held prior to the advent of the women'smovement. (January 1998). She assumes the worries and the stresses thataccompany managing a home with so little money. Working class women internalize their own oppression. Asthe family's standard of living increases, the husband manages the money.Therefore, working class men retain their household dominance regardless ofthe income level. The gender machine. 131). Little latitude exists in deciding howsalaries are to be allocated to outstanding bills because there is rarelyenough to go around: "Decisions, then, are limited to which bills to paynow, which can be deferred--in effect, to assessing the best strategy forjuggling the creditors" (Rubin, 1992, p. They persist inthe outdated belief that women usurp jobs from male heads of households.As one working wife stated, "If a man with a wife and kids needs a job, nowoman ought to be able to take it away from him" (Rubin, 1992, p. Working class women are severely limited in their productive andemotional choices and in the realization of their potential. In contrast, working class women arestill largely dependent on the incomes of their husbands. News & WorldReport, pp. These womenlearn the stereotypes that define their lives at an early age. Working class husbands donot mind putting their wives in such binds because it frees them of theshame of not earning enough money to adequately support their families. Norton.----------------------- 3 (August 2, 1993). Although both sexes demonstrateproficiency in these subjects before the age of ten a gender gap begins toappear by the time the sexes reach adolescence. They're crazy notto appreciate what men do for women" (Rubin, 1992, p. Ehrenreich, B. Part ofthis silence occurs because of the loss of confidence that girls experienceas they grow up. Many are taught rules of conduct from their mothers and otherrelatives that are clearly outdated. When money is tight, these women are forced to handle thedaily grind of family finances. References Education Digest. As a result, girlsparticipate in class discussion at a much lower rate than boys. (199 ). An example of the gendered socialization process is the rate in whichboys and girls excel in math and science. When, and if, theworking class family is able to secure a better standard of living, buyingdecisions generally shift from wife to husband. Some schools recognize thistendency and are taking steps to correct it: "At least a few schools inall 5 states have hired gender-equity trainers" (Schrof, 1993, p. Schrof, J. The gendered socialization process leads to a dearth ofwomen in high-paying fields such as engineering, computer science, andnatural science. Sharp distinctions are drawn in society between people who exercisecontrol over their working and personal lives and those who do not.Working class women fall into the former category. Feministmyths are perpetuated in the lives of working class women despite the factthat many of these women suffer dissatisfaction in their own marriages. 43).
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