Blog 6 - Natasha Doty

Question 1:
According to hooks (2000), "Yet the fact that the privileged gained in class power while masses of women still do not receive wage equity with men is an indication of the way in which class interests superceded feminist efforts to change the workforce so that women would receive equal pay for equal work" (p. 39). I think that if working class women had received more attention from the media and made their struggle known, the issue could have been more about feminism and less about class. I think that women would have made more strides towards equality in wages and household work, but don't think it would still be equal. The masses have more power and voice than ever before, but women still do not receive equal pay for equal work compared to men.

Question 2:
Many women have been silenced in the feminist movement. "Initially when feminist leaders in the United States proclaimed the need for gender equality here they did not seek to find out if corresponding movements were taking place among women around the world. Instead they declared themselves liberated and therefore in the position to liberate their less fortunate sisters, especially those in the 'third world'" (hooks, 2000, p. 45). I think women in positions of less power, especially in third-world countries have been silenced. If these opinions were voiced, sexism, sexual exploitation, and oppression would decrease because these women would be given a voice to stand up for themselves and their rights. It seems that even now, the feminist voices in third world countries come from the elite few who do not represent the majority of the population. The following video is an interesting video talking about if feminism is failing women in non-western countries:

Are Feminists Failing non-Western Women?

(nonameisacat, 2010)

Question 3:

I think that whether women who stay at home get depressed because they aren't making money to help the family depends on the woman. Some women may be fine with it and feel that it's their role to stay at home while the male is the breadwinner. Others may feel uneasy with it and the responsibility of then having to take care of the home. I know my mom, who works full time but works a 40 hour shift on the weekend, sometimes probably feels like she has to justify being at home all week even though she does work. The women may feel like she both needs to take care of the home and make money for the family, but I can't say that I've ever heard a man get depressed because they aren't helping out around the home! :)