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VOL. 3 NO. 2

Monday, October 7, 2013

Layout Editor/Editor. Ulana Bounnak and Johnny McVicker

Before Roe v. Wade

By AJ NOVICK Abortion, a very controversial and debated issue, has had a very interesting history that many do not know of. Many people that have chosen a side thinks that their opinion is right and the other is wrong. This has been prevalent in almost all debates, arguments throughout humanity, and Abortion is no exception. What many people dont know is that abortion was legal and common in many countries as far back as 2000-3000 BCE. There are instances ranging from Asia in 2500 BCE, to Rome in the first hundred years of the New Era, and to the civilizations of America and England. The oldest record was in the Royal archives in China, which has shown a primitive

but useful technique of abortion. Another Asian record was when the Emperor, Shen Nung, created recipes for abortion remedies and birth control as he was making the foundation for eastern medicine. One area that had abortions commonly was the Roman Empire and its neighbor Greece. This is interesting due to the fact that even nowadays people do not entirely understand this concept. An abortion technique during 300 BCE was the use of the plant called Silphium for its abortive properties. The plant was found in North Africa and was eventually over harvested to its extinction. In the 100s, a Roman gynecologist Soranus wrote, A contraceptive differs from an abortion, for the first does not let conception take place while the latter destroys what has been conceived. Let us therefore call the one abortion and the other contraception. Around the 3rd century, Roman doctors used a certain abortion techthe man is out at work. This life style works for some women but is extremely depressing for some women. You dont have to live a alternative and independent life to agree that all women should have the option to live however they want. The first movement started in 1848. The first womens rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York. After 2 days of discussion and debate, 68 women and 32 men sign a Declaration of Sentiments, which outlines grievances and sets the agenda for the womens rights movement. Since thousands of events have shaped the rights of women to how they are today. Progress was slowly reached. As WW1 began the the working men left to fight. The women of america had to take over to fill the jobs they had left behind and help create weapons for our nation. This played a huge roll in the right for women to work and thus to be independent of men. Although we have came so far, men and women still arent treated equally.

nique using a mixture of Aloe, Opopanax root and Myrrh to induce an abortion, this procedure was commonly used for women who were could not safely give birth at the time. The first recognizable opposition against abortion was the Didache and the Catholic Church. The Didache was the first to fully question if the fetus had a soul at fertilization or birth. Later in 1869, The Catholic Church officially condemned abortion at all stages and decided to disregard the proposal of the 30 day until ensoulment idea. Due to the large involvement of the Church in abortion opposition in the late 1800s, a group known as the AMA or The American Medical Association was formed and set out to ban most to all forms of abortion. Due to the large amount of dangerous and fatal procedures in abortion acts in the early 1800s, the state of Connecticut passed a law that banned the act of abortion, making it the first to restrict abortion in the States. This followed with multiple laws restricting abortion or banning it entirely in many states. It was not until the early to mid 1900s that women started to oppose the abortion laws. During the Depression, many women tried to obtain abortions due to economic pressures, which resulted with the highest account of abortions in the states at the time with 681,000 abortions each year. Ironically to the large opposition to contraceptives by many, it was common to find condoms and other birth control items at pharmacies and gas stations.

Do gender stereotypes still apply today?

By JOHNNY MCVICKER Social construction: Individuals are taught how to socially behave in accordance with their biological sex. Gender socialization is thus the process of educating and instructing males and females as to the norms, behaviors, values, and beliefs of group membership. We have all heard a girl complain about boys rooms. We have all heard boys complain about girls cars. But what is the reason to why we assume these stereotypes? More importantly, why do we still label each gender? If you look at the picture below, instead of thinking, we are so different, cant we conclude that both of us just need somewhere to put all of our junk? But then it comes down to the other stereotypes that always start with immediate judgement. Have you girls ever heard I hope youre not the type of girl that eats salad on the first date? Well most girls I know, talk about how much they love eating. So why do boys automatically assume girls diets only consist of water and salad? Well the answer is Social Construction and us as a society are to blame. We all take part in the male/female role whether it is intentional or not. Quite frankly, it is in fact our fault because this is how we live in society. We are numbed and controlled by it because lets face it. It comes with a few perks, any guy can mess around and be themselves, most people say boys will be boys but when a girl does it, its not lady like and of course this can cause some conflict between us. The sad part is, that theres not much we can do other than be aware of it and when we see someone taking advantage of this or even yourself we remind each other that we arent much different. Of course we have our obvious differences. We are built differently by nature for many reasons and has since evolved. Now we as humans create these stereotypes ourselves to create this sense of independency to distinguish ourselves from the opposite gender. Why you might ask? because despite the fact that most people like, Social Theorists Judith Bulter believe Doing gender is not just about acting in a particular way. It is about embodying and believing certain gender norms and engaging in practices that map on to those norms. So in other words these stereotype are around because we allow them to, and it is up to us to change them.

Book Review:

The Girls Who Went Away

By ULANA BOUNNAK

A Long Journey to Equality

By LULA RICHARDSON Most people in America dont see womens rights as an issue. Even most women even dont feel oppressed in this day and age. Womens rights might seem insignificant to some but it has been a long journey of transformation to where they are today. A long battle fought by dedicated women and even men. Although our nation has come so far we still arent done in the complete equality of men and women. Throughout history women have played a specific role. A role designed by men and consequently to serve men. This stereotypical role in america usually entails baring children, staying home to take care of them, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the household while

This is where the current womens rights movement comes in. Did you know that often times men have a higher pay than women? Even if they have the same exact position. Women on average make only 77 cents to every dollar men make. Its even harder for women to get into colleges due to more females applying. Issues like abortion and birth control are oppressing women. Until we see more females in congress and even the white house how should the government decide whats best for womens health. Many issues are being brought to the table today regarding womens rights. Will we ever reach equality?

History of Womens Labor Movement

By MELINA SHAW
Starting back from 1909, women have been fighting for more labor rights. Over the years, accomplishing many tasks and even failing some. The following is a dated timeline of the struggles and accomplishments of womens rights, but most important, proof of womens effort for equality. In 1917 the Council of Defense set up the Committee on Women in Industry, including WTUL and Consumers League members, to advise it on means of safeguarding the welfare of women workers during World War I. In 1919, First International Congress of Working Women met in Washington, D.C. It lat er became known as The International Federation of Working Women with the promotion of the trade union organization among women as its main priority. In 1933, Frances Perkins is appointed Secretary of Labor by President Frank lin Delano Roosevelt, making her the first woman member of a presidential cabinet. In 1935, The National Council

In 1908 the Supreme Court viewed the case Muller v. Oregon which was about an Oregon law that set a ten hour limit on the workdays for women in factories and laundries. The supreme court thought men can have more working hours. Womens didnt have a right for anything. The book The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler is similar to the Muller v. Oregon case. The book has 100 and more different stories of woman who had to put their baby up for adoption. In 1960s and 1970s if you werent married and got pregnant, you would have to go to a young woman hospital center far away from your home, and have to stay with girls who are in the same situation. Basically if you werent married and you were pregnant you wouldnt have a choice. Or the other choice was to get married before you have the baby. In each story girls would talk about how they were judged for being pregnant or were pregnant. The author Ann Fessler, an adoptee found her biological mother when she was 56 and her biological mother was 75. Fessler collected their stores because she knew that those girls, who were pregnant were frightened and forced into surrendering their babies for adoption. This relates to the Muller v. Oregon because girl had to be sent away to have their baby if they werent married. They needed women rights. The government back then felt like young womans were irresponsible to take care of a baby because the young womans cant take of themselves. But thats not true, it just depends who you are, and what you do. Something I liked about this book was real stories about the girls history of their experience. While I was reading the book I wanted to cry because I was thinking if I was in there shoes I would feel helpless and loss. I wouldnt want to do this to my child. Something I disliked was how most of each story were the same, but just different wording. Ann Fessler could have just took interesting stories that were different and put it all together. Young womens thoughts on the book were just appalled because this is a serious matter for womens right. Amazing...Thanks to Fesslers book, The girls who went away finally have a voice and, hopefully, a path to healing - The Detroit News Online This is a must-read book for all those who feel they have the right to engage in any part of the debate on sex education, a womans right Does this look familiar? Society would to choose, or the impact of adoption - make us think that this is gendered Christine Todd Whitman behavior ery male dollar, an increase of 1 cent. 1983, Womens Rights Department was established. 1983, women earned 66.6 cents to every male dollar, an increase of 1.4 cents. 1988, women earned 70.1 cents to every male dollar, an increase of .2 cents. Women earned 77.9 cents to every male dollar, compared to 70.1 centin 1988. In 2002 at this rate of progress women will not achieve wage parity for more than 50 years. In 2008, women earn 80 cents to every male dollar, an increase of 3.1 cents. In 2009 the President Barack Obama signs into law the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which

of Negro Women was then formed by Mary McLeod Bethune to lobby against racism, sexism, and job discrimination. In 1940 slightly more than 11 million women held jobs. The War in Europe stimulated U.S. production, but men, not women, were the first beneficiaries of the increasing amount of jobs. In 1946, The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was formed. In 1949, The Womens Bureau investigated the future of women in the police force. 1955 The White House held a Conference on Effective Use of Womanpower, which the Womens Bureau played a

major role. It explored sex-stereotypes as limits to opportunities for women and made suggestions for increasing womens labor participation. In 1955 women earned 63.9 cents to every male dollar. In the 1960s, women earned 60.7 cents , a decrease of 3.2 cents. 1965, women earned 59.9 cents, a decrease of .8 cents. In 1970, women earned 62.3 cents In 1975, women earned 62.0 cents to every male dollar, a decrease of .3 cents.1981 women earned 64.5 cents to every male dollar, a decrease of .2 cents. 1982 womens earned 65.5 cents to ev

amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , giving victims of wage discrimination a new 180-day period for filing an equal-pay lawsuit with each new discriminatory paycheck. President Obama established the White House Council on young women to ensure that American women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy like equal pay, family leave, child care and others. He emphasizes that these are not just womens issues, they are family issues and economic issues. Women deserve equal rights, and equality must come today, not tomorrow, today.