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Professor Shelia Fieldings

WRTC 103- 10:10-11:00

September 13, 2017

All for One, and One for Gender Equality
Society has a misconception on the meaning of feminism. Usually, females will shy away

from identifying as a feminist because of the negative stereotypes that are associated with the

term. Females do not realize that feminism means, the theory of the political, economic, and

social equality of the sexes.(Merriam Webster Dictionary). However, many people have false

perception of what feminism is; for example, the extreme idea that women are superior than

men. In fact, I did not believe in feminism because of the stigma that the world portrayed until it

was explained to me by my role models. My mother, grandmother, and nana are powerful female

figures in my life. Their determination, hard work, and patience has led them to success despite

discrimination. They have inspired me throughout my life to stand up for what I believe in and to

work hard toward my goal. My experiences taught me to embrace feminism because I fell victim

to inequality, discrimination and stereotypes in the work force.

The mantra of feminist is to have equality for all genders. Feminism started in New York

at the Seneca Falls women convention. In 1848, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

organized the convention to talk about topics that created problems for society. Over 200

women attend the convention to discuss these problems and solution. The main topic discussed

was womens voting rights. It is not until the 1920s that women got the chance to vote. In the

1960s and 1970s the feminist movement become popular causing various women to protest

against unfair treatment in the workplace. Throughout history women have been making steps

towards equality. In the excerpt, Night to his Day: The Social Construction of Gender, Judith
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Lorber talks about the inequality women have. gender ranks men above women of the same

race and class.(Lober 44). She talks about how men have always been in leadership roles, so

people have come accustomed to men in authoritative occupation. While women will take more

of domestic roles. Still to this day, men are getting paid more than women, and other

problematic issues that favor men over women. Inequality issues in the work force span back in

society, and still is a conflict in the 21 st century. Hence, why feminist is trying to promote

fairness among all genders.

Little girls believe they can do anything; however, as they grow up that idea soon withers

away through society norms, insecurities, and discrimination. The value of equality and girl

power diminishes. My values were diminished when a doctor in my desired field view me as

stupid and undermined my abilities. I applied to a competitive program to shadow a physician

assistant. Through intensive questioning and interviews, two other students and I were awarded

the opportunity to shadow a doctor. When I arrived on my first day, I was greeted by Dr.

Harrington, a resident. After we introduced ourselves, he looked me and said, Let us go over

some terminology so you are not confused. I nodded in agreement. Then he pointed to his

stethoscope and slowly said, This is a stethoscope. This is how I listen to peoples heart beats.

I looked at him at first and thought it was a joke, but he continued to slowly repeat basic

terminology. When he was done explaining, he talked to the two other male students and

conversed with them about the conditions of the patients on the floor. Throughout the day he

made stereotypical assumption of my abilities. I realized that he assumed because I was a woman

that I did not know as much as the male students; hence, why he addressed me differently. He

discriminated me based on gender; therefore, had no knowledge of the hard work I had to do to

get the shadowing position. Dr. Harrington treated me as though I did not have the intelligence
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which discouraged me from becoming a doctor. My role models helped me see that

discrimination does exist in the world; however, that should not define you. Along the way I

have learned that not all people in the medical world treat women in a discriminating manner.

Society uses stereotypes to characterize a group with similar traits. Many stereotypes are

racist, sexist, and insulting. Feminist try to break down those stereotypes that women are

classified too. When I got a job at a local restaurant, a waitress classified me into a stereotype. I

arrived and did all my responsibilities. Upon seeing my actions, an employ came up to me and

said, Maybe you want to tone it down. You are being little bit of a try hard She confused me

because she classified me as a try hard when I was doing my job. I realized that women in

authority positions are stereotyped as bossy and aggressive when they work hard. However, if a

woman were to be average at their job the society would suggest they would be better suited for

a domestic role. The stereotypes that society pins on women can discourage them from perusing

occupations.

The discrimination, inequalities, and stereotypes that I have faced throughout my work

experiences have triggered me to stand up for fairness among genders. Feminism has taught me

to treat everyone with respect. My role models influence my perspectives and will continuously

encourage me to follow my dreams in a man dominated world. I became a feminist to spread

equality, and share the importance of it. This day in age, people should be treating women with

the same decencies as men not only in the work force, but in everyday life.
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My friend and I are working on a project.

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Work Cited

Feminism. Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/feminism. 18 Sept 2017.

Offen, Karren. The History of Feminism Is Political History. The History of Feminism
Is Political History | AHA, American Historical Association, May 2011,
www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/may-2011/political-
history-today/the-history-of-feminism-is-political-history.

Judith Lober. Night to his Day:The Social Construction of Genders. Composing of

Gender, vol,1 no.22,1994, pp. 44