The Retort

FEMINIST (fem-i-nist) N.

April 19th, 2010 by Sayra Stiltner For The Retort

It seems to me, that in our community, the word feminist is usually followed with an intake of breath. The image one may get in their mind is a woman that burns her brassiere and wants to take “over” men’s work.

Yet, the truth is that a feminist is a person - male or female - that believes in equal rights, opportunities and treatment for women. Still sound scary? Okay, let’s use a comparison, which will show that we keep individuals from being themselves, in an environment they choose, because of automatic reactions we have learned.

Health care positions: Male doctor, Female doctor, Female nurse, and Male nurse.

Doctors—do males or females dominate the field? Do they make good money? Are male doctors or female doctors taken more seriously or with equal authority? Why?

Nurses—do males or females dominate the field? Do they make good money? Are male nurses or female nurses taken more seriously or with equal authority? Why?

Do you see it yet? The unfairness is obvious, maybe not right away, but once you hear about it, you notice things or judgments that may happen naturally, but are not really fair. Now that we can see things with new eyes, we can apply the same comparison to just about all of life and see that there is room for change. Change that will take our sons and daughters more seriously and with equal authority in the fields they choose.