Evaluating the Women's Movement
In the last 55 years the Women's movement has had negative and positive effects on society in the United States and elsewhere.
By Leland E Pulley
This article was written to analyze the impact of the women’ movement on women, on men, and on society itself. Remember, women and men are equally important and are of equal worth. They need each other very much. Keep this reality in mind.
In the late 1960’s and early 1970’ the women's movement began. It was an attempt to give women more opportunities and privileges like men had. After all, feminist leaders said, women can do most things as well as men. There was little concern over potential negative effects of the movement. Little did they know!
1969 my wife and I were married. We have witnessed everything that the women's movement has gone through. I told her at the time that the women's movement would know no boundaries, or it would not contain itself or restrict its influence. And this has literally happened.
The movement has been active in the United States for over 55 years. It has affected several aspects of our society. Let us consider some of the effects it has had on Individuals, marriage and family life, jobs, government, and other areas.
As you read through this article, decide for yourself both the positive and negative aspects of the women's movement. There are some positive aspects, but these could have been obtained without the many negative aspects that have also occurred.
Birth Control Methods in the 1960s
In the 1960s birth control pills became available to the public. The first ones were quite strong, but with time these became the quality that people expected and liked. Soon they became a reliable source of preventing pregnancy. For older teenagers and younger single adults these were viewed as a way to have sex without any consequences. However, this was not always the case because at times pregnancy did occur. The question we should ask is what should be the real use of birth control pills? For me they should be used by an adult woman and man who are married to regulate when the wife becomes pregnant. It is called family planning. Unfortunately, the pill has contributed to individuals having sex whenever they want and with whomever they choose. This is called fornication, which is sin, and sin never was happiness in the long run.
Another birth control method is the IUD which stands for intrauterine device. It is place in the woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy.
Eventually a third method called the depo shot was developed. It is really effective. This is supposed to last a few months with no concerns about pregnancy.
Some people have sex without thinking too much about the possibility of pregnancy to them. If this is a concern, there is always the morning after pill.
There can be other methods of birth control. Every method should be utilized to support marriage and having children when the married couple seeks to have them. Using these birth control methods to have fun or be immoral does not help the individuals involved and is a negative influence in society.
Changes in the Early 1970s
This is when the women’s movement really started to grow. Here are some of the changes that occurred.
Couples should have sex before marriage to make sure they are sexually compatible. This was a social endorsement of fortification, and it weakened the incentive to get married. The new term was living together.
Next came no fault divorce. Up until this time there had to be a reason for a married couple to get a divorce. This could include adultery, rape, serious abuse, abandonment, or other issues that would justify a divorce. Now you could get a divorce easily, and this once again weakened the marital contract.
Another social trend was to limit family size to only having two children. Of course, the United States was probably the richest large population country in the world. If any society could afford to have children, it was us. The idea here was to control world population, and we were going to be the example setters. What a satanic plan. God supports marriage and parenting.
A fourth objective was to get women out of the home. Who wanted to be a homemaker? This left the mother in charge of the kids and the husband controlling the money. It seemed he had the best deal, or many women began to think this way. Traditionally, most working women were nurses, teachers, secretaries, realtors, or retail workers. It was time to open more job opportunities for women.
In the 70’s more women began to enter the work force in different jobs. At the time we called some of these women super moms. They could be wives and mothers and have a career too. I was not impressed because this was a deceitful front that would eventually do more harm than good. Time has proven this to be true.
Politics Got Involved
In the early 70s feminist leaders pushed for the equal rights amendment. It was passed by Congress and many of the states. Fortunately, during the time period given for states to say yes or no, people began to wake up to the real ramifications of this amendment. Ultimately, enough states did not accept it, so it did not become law.
In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that a woman could get an abortion up to six months of pregnancy. The slogan was it was a woman's right to have an abortion. No one ever said it was a married couple's right to have an abortion. It was as though men were not included or not important. Over time feminist leaders and their democratic political friends pushed the six-month boundary to nine months. A baby could be born at nine months and then be put in a bowl for an hour to see if it survived. The mother could still decide whether the baby would live or be killed. The political arena had two groups of people namely pro-choice for abortion and pro-life for no abortion. There were some exceptions to pro-life. These were rape, incest, or the life of the mother was threatened. Then an abortion could be done. Fortunately, nearly 50 years after the original Supreme Court decision, the same court took away the liberal rules governing abortion, and Roe versus Wade was overturned.
It is only natural that as women became liberated from marriage and parenting, they wanted to have more influence in their society. Over the years more women have run for public office. Some are mayors and others are county commissioners. Many can be seen in state legislatures and as governors. They now hold higher offices like members of Congress and members of the President’s cabinet. They even want a woman president of the United States. When does all this seeking power end?
Political parties seek the female vote. In this country the Democrats, liberals, progressives, and socialists sell their ideology to women. They know women are more likely to favor government handouts and benefits as opposed to men. More women usually vote Democrat, and more men vote Republican. Unfortunately, our government is too big and any dependency on it ultimately enslaves the citizens. So, women, reconsider your voting patterns.
Jobs
In the 1970s and onward, women were encouraged to seek more education and job training. The percentage of college graduates that were women slowly but surely got larger. This has allowed them to get jobs traditionally held by men. Some examples are becoming a judge, doctor or lawyer. Why be satisfied with being a nurse when you can be a doctor. It did not stop here. Women were encouraged to start their own business.
There is a problem with women rejecting the homemaker role and choosing to work part or full time. Once women have a good job or a successful business, they are less interested in marriage especially during their 20s. It is easy to draw the conclusion that we do not need a man in our lives right now. Maybe we can get married in a few years in the future. Also, if they get involved with a man, whose job is more important when a transfer to a different city is demanded. Disagreements over jobs have split up many relationships.
Delaying marriage also leads to postponing parenting. If a couple decides to have children, who will give up their job to watch the kids? This becomes a problem when both mom and dad keep working, especially full-time. This creates a need for daycare services. It was not a coincidence that the daycare industry began to increase rapidly with the women's movement. Daycare centers sprang up all over the country. Today a woman who works full time has to find someone to watch her young children until they are in school. It should be noted that daycare is very expensive. I know young couples in their 30s who are paying $1400 to $1600 a month per child for daycare during ages 1-2. Then there are the preschool ages three to five, which also cost money for the parents. Eventually, you can get kids into school. Some parents now feel a little relieved. The public schools essentially become daycare centers and de facto babysitters. The new slogan is “children are expensive, and they can easily interfere with the career ambitions of mom or dad”.
The News Business
Decades ago, I remember three major television channels; ABC, CBS, and NBC. Each had a one-hour news broadcast in the early evening, primarily on weeknights. The one person doing the show was a man. With the women’s movement, eventually a woman showed up with the man. You may ask why are two individuals needed? The answer is only one person is needed. But the emphasis with the women’s movement was to thrust women into the center of activity. They are just as important as men, right? Since then, there is more news, and women are seen on every channel and almost every hour there is news.
By having women in the news business, you hear their thoughts and opinions. It tells society that we women should have a voice in public affairs. Having a man and woman share the news show partially satisfies this objective. But why don’t women voice more concerns about marriage, having children, improving education of young people, and other such topics. Instead, they want to discuss the same topics as men. My advice to women is to support family life more and offer solutions to women who are having a tough time in life. In this way they can complement men yet make important contributions of their own.
Sports
When I was in grade school, there was Little League baseball for boys. In high school the only sport for girls was tennis. They were not on the track team. The same limitations for women occurred in college sports. A friend of mine played on our college’s tennis team. However, it was years later that women athletes like her got their letter awards. Over time more types of sports and more athletic activities have been opened to girls and women. Some colleges had to decrease the money for men’s sports to have more funds for women’s sports. Professional sports now feature women.
Men have more interest in sports than women. Games between men draw bigger crowds. Male professional athletes are paid far more money than female athletes. This is fair because of ticket sales.
In recent years the transgender movement has pushed persons with a male body at birth to compete in female athletic competition. These individuals say they identify as female and should be allowed to play on women’s teams. Obviously, they still have a male body. This is not fair and should not be allowed. No men in women’s sports.
Related to sports is physical fitness. Working out in a gym has become a popular activity with many adults. Perhaps, this is because so many people are sitting in a chair on their jobs and getting no physical activity. Men have been doing this longer than women. There is nothing wrong with both striving to maintain their health and endurance. But I believe part of the female activity in physical fitness is related to their desire to keep up with and in some cases compete with men. For example, in my neighborhood I see a man running laps around the block and with him is his girlfriend or wife. I never saw so much of this activity years ago.
Education and Schools
When I grew up and attended public schools, they were very open to parents and parental concerns. The schools and parents were partners. A homemaker or mother working part time could visit the schools being attended by her children and meet with teachers. She could visit each child's classroom. She could see the types of books or reading materials the kids were using in the classroom. She could review the types of books in the school's library. She could look at the activity on the playground and in the hallways. This would give her firsthand evidence of the curriculum and environment at the school for each child and each grade level.
Positive values were stressed. There were dress standards also. There was no concern about the role of boys versus girls.
With the women's movement, many mothers left home and joined the workforce. This meant they had less time for parental duties and responsibilities. This decreased the time mothers could visit and monitor what was happening at school.
As the years have gone by, schools have played a greater role in the education and training of children. They decide what children will learn and experience. They have a great impact on the socialization of each new generation.
Unfortunately, there has been a big increase in teacher unions. This has not helped children to get a better education. The amount of money spent per child per grade has gone up without getting more results in basic skill areas such as reading, writing, math, and science.
The need is for parents and educators to become active partners for the benefit of all children and teenagers. For this to occur parents must be allowed into the schools with less restraints on what they can see and do. Teachers and principals must not assume they always know what is best for children compared to parents. Remember, the real solution is teamwork and mutual support.
Military
In grade school I used to watch two television shows. One was called Men of Annapolis. It featured male cadets receiving training to become officers in the Navy. The United States Naval Academy is in Annapolis MD. Another show was called Westpoint. It was for the Army academy at Westpoint NY. With time and political pressure these two academies eventually began to accept women. Privileges for women in the military did not stop at becoming a commissioned officer. Some have climbed the ranks and become generals. There is no need for women generals commanding mostly male troops.
Today many women serve in the military. One report I saw stated over 30% of the personnel in the military are women. This seems very high to me. What do you think? Another issue is roles in combat. I do not think women should be in combat units. They cannot carry the loads men can. They are a risk to men in actual battle because they are a weak link in the fighting unit. Also, it would be best to station most women in the United States and not overseas or out of the country.
In Summary - Men and Women Are Different
In the 1950s I remember a television show entitled Father Knows Best. I enjoyed it. My own father was smart and was head of his family. I am the head of my family. My wife is intelligent, gifted and strong. However, she is my helpmate, not my competitor. Over our many years together we have become one.
Throughout history the differences between men and women were recognized and respected. These last several decades of the feminist movement have brought about changes that are out of harmony with the distinct roles that the man and woman play. Each role has distinct features. Men and women think and feel differently. They also have some common or similar features. The goal should be to utilize the strengths of each sex. This is done best in marriage. As husband and wife, they should develop a strong and unified team. Unfortunately, the women’s movement has not pushed men and women together for unity and growth. It has put them in competition with one another. The result is more single adults, more divorce, smaller families, and more women being unhappy.
Another reality to consider is this. We all pray to a male God for good reasons. He is in charge. Civic and religious leaders have been men throughout history. You cannot change basic realities like this because of the women’s movement in this country during the last 55 years. Remember, the United States is not the only country in the world nor is its culture the only one. In some countries there is no women’s movement. Any variation to this ultimate reality will lead to the degeneration of any society.
Family Life Has Been Affected
God endorses family life. He encourages marriage between a man and woman. He expects us to multiply and replenish the earth by having children. These are not options in life, but serious business. Ultimately our individual judgment will be influenced by our respect for and compliance with these two fundamental commandments of earth life.
Giving birth to a child is a great blessing. That child should be welcomed into any marriage and family. During the early years of childhood 1-5, some important development occurs. This is not the best time to assign strangers to nurture your children. Mothers are the best ones for nurturing in any family. Women, wake up and recognize the importance of your heavenly calling. During the childhood years mothers are best at teaching children the basic laws and rules of life. Dad can assist and help, but the real star is the mother.
Jobs do have an impact on families. Here are three solutions to minimize this impact
When pregnancy and young children are involved, it is best for the mother to be a homemaker.
Let women work part-time rather than full-time. Another option today is to find a job that allows a woman to work in an office at home. This permits her to be with young children.
Over several decades of marriage, there can be lots of changes in marriage and family life. Each couple must adjust to circumstances. For example, there can be unemployment by either spouse. When this happens, the other partner will need to work full-time for a while. There may be times when the woman can make more money than the man. Maybe he could reduce work hours and be more involved in parenting and homelife.
Consider this illustration. My wife was a full-time homemaker for 14 years. During those years she had all her pregnancies. She was able to be creative and happy in the home life she created. With time we got our kids into school. It was after this that nursing work called her, and she went after this goal. But in those 14 years my engineering career was not competing with her nursing desires. Like us, sometimes the mothers of young children can leave the workforce and enter it later. There are still decades of years left to be in the workforce.
In Summary, Society Has Been Affected
Today it seems we have moved towards a unisex society. The distinct roles of men and women have been blended in many ways. Women have moved over to be more like men.
They wear more clothing like men. In the neighborhood and in stores, it is hard to see a woman with a skirt or dress. They wear pants of some type and tops like men’s clothing.
They stress physical fitness like men. For example, in my neighborhood I see women running outside like men. Couples run together. Gyms have both male and female customers.
They seek more education and job training. They want better wages and chances for promotions.
They seek positions of influence and financial gain. However, marriage and having children seem to hinder these goals for women more than men.
There is a social cost when women move towards men. As unisex creatures, they become more sterile or bland. For example, women are more creative than men. Many jobs do not utilize this creativity. Women are better at nurturing babies and young children. This is hampered when women work full-time outside the home. Women are more social on a personal basis than men. Job duties do not always take advantage of this. Women can be more sensitive to others and empathetic. Few jobs utilize this. This list could go on, but it demonstrates the many freedoms and types of fulfillments that women can have. As homemakers, they are free to do all these things and more. They are free to blossom like beautiful flowers. They can show their true individuality in an arena where they are loved and appreciated. Plus, they have complete control of all their time. They do not have a boss. Why did so many women give up this type of freedom and fulfillment?
Many women will not become full time homemakers for long periods of time. Instead, they learn to blend motherhood and employment. I see many young couples with their wives working until they decide to have kids. Then she quits work or finds part-time work that she can do during the pregnancy. After that there are several options. She can become a homemaker while there are children at home, and later work outside the home. Also, she can set up an office in the home and work part-time as an employee or even run a small business.
To really help women, we need to understand who they really are. We should recognize their strong points. We need to help them find fulfillment. They need male partners who complement them and reinforce the skills and talents they have. My wife has seen decades of fulfillment as she has learned and developed into a wise and fulfilled individual. We are a unified team. Doesn’t your woman deserve this too?
Conclusion
I am not expecting society to undo the women’s movement. We should keep its good parts. Eventually, we should strive to diminish and eliminate its bad parts. This all depends on each of us as individuals. We vote by what we say and do.
I love my wife and all the good she has done in the many roles she has played. I hope all women can find fulfillment in good ways. Then the women’s movement will truly be a success story.
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