Perhaps my most well known example of oppression is also one of my earliest memories. My mother joined the Air Force when I was two years old. While I do not remember much during her time in Basics nor do I remember much about the initial first two years of her service, I recall a specific time while we were en route to a new state, a new home, and a new school as part of the traditional military relocation lifestyle. I remember my mother and father quietly discussing amongst themselves in the front of the car while I entertained myself in the backseat, counting the number of cacti that flew by on our way to Arizona. My parents were discussing how my mother had not received a promotional rank after the command leader said my mother could not receive any type of promotion like it due to the liability of placing a woman in that position. This came at a time where my mother had found out she was pregnant with my brother and it seemed that her "liability" was her pregnancy. It turns out, no woman had ever worked in the position my mother had been after, more than likely due to this oppressive way of thinking from the commanders.
Even though I was young at the time during this ordeal, I still remember feeling furious that my hard-working, brilliant mother did not receive something she had worked so hard for because she was a girl. This situation has always stuck with me, in anything I do or try to achieve, just to prove people like my mom's commanders wrong. A woman can do and be anything they wish, regardless of what makes them unique as a female. However, it is disheartening to see that this is the case for so many women in the workforce and within society; being told "no" or "it will never happen" simply because of genderism. This act of oppression is also a bias against women and prejudice that states women are not capable of everything a man can do. While society likes to label women who think this way as feminists, it is a simple act of being a strong human being with the knowledge that equity is needed and should be acknowledged.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI too agree with you, being around my husband while he was in the Air Force I saw things that I didn’t feel were fair, however, the military does. I’ve always been told that women should not be in the military and if they choose to join they also get treated that way. They are usually given the “women” jobs such as working behind a desk or in a hospital. I feel that a women if they can finish the training then they should be able to do whatever they want. Thank you for sharing.
This is not right this is awful. Women should be able to enter into the military and treated equal. I am so sorry she was treated this way. It is an ism as we learned in class.This class has opened so many memories for me as well.Women have the right to earn as much as men do .
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteI believe that prejudice,bias and discrimination against women is a rampant occurrence in most part of the world. There is always this notion that men are more powerful. In most organizations and institutions, women are denied of promotions and positions as a result of sexism with the belief that they are the weaker gender. Great Post!!!
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI believe that prejudice,bias and discrimination against women is a rampant occurrence in most part of the world. There is always this notion that men are more powerful. In most organizations and institutions, women are denied of promotions and positions as a result of sexism with the belief that they are the weaker gender. Great Post!!!