Tuesday, March 10, 1998
Equality of life
HISTORY: The battle that first received public attention at
Seneca Falls, New York continues today as women struggle for
national child care, academic progress and a shattered glass
ceiling
By Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Staff
Women have come a long way, baby. But there’s still a long way
to go.
March, which is Women’s History Month, has arrived at UCLA,
celebrating "The Empowerment of Women" over the last 150 years.
Since the first step in the women’s rights movement was taken in
1848 at Seneca Falls, New York, women have worked their way towards
the goal of equality along a bumpy road.
Not until 1920 were women granted the right to vote by the 19th
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
But the win was quickly countered with an immediate loss. One
year later, when Margaret Sanger formed the American Birth Control
League, which would later pave the way for Planned Parenthood
programs across the country, she faced much opposition and was even
imprisoned.
Throughout the struggle, women have felt both the pride of
victory and the disappointment of defeat. The Equal Rights
Amendment (ERA), first introduced to Congress in 1923, has still
not been ratified in enough states.
The Amendment, which demands equality for women, is a vague
document that faced much opposition, even at its height in the
1970s.
"The ERA had its moment, but I can’t imagine that it will be
revived," said Ruth Bloch, chair of the women’s studies program at
UCLA and associate professor of history. "I think it got a bum
rap."
Bloch explained that due to the vagueness of the Amendment, it
would have required much interpretation by the courts.
When the media focused on the potential extremes in which the
Amendment could result – such as unisex bathrooms and requiring
women to participate in combat – many people were offended, and the
ERA was not ratified by enough states by its deadline.
The ERA, despite its failed attempts at passage, brought about
many questions on the definition of equality, Bloch said. "What’s
equality? Maybe it’s sameness. Maybe it’s coerced sameness."
Even women can’t always agree upon that issue, and the resulting
conflicts within the feminist movement have created external
challenges.
"It isn’t a public mass movement that is visible in the streets.
The character of the movement has changed a lot," she said. The
shift of women into academic fields has been one of the most
beneficial ways of advancing.
"But (the movement) has never been that united. There’s no such
thing as ‘feminism.’ And there’s certainly no one ‘feminist’," she
said. "But it’s one of the things that make the movement healthy –
a lot of internal debate without people at each other’s
throats."
Despite the progress women have made in the last 150 years, many
feel there is still much room – and need – for improvement.
"Sometimes we need to catch ourselves," said Kristin Herdman, a
fourth-year psychology student and peer counselor at the Women’s
Resource Center. "If we as women buy into the stereotypes, then men
will too."
Herdman said that although she has not seen blatant sexism on
campus personally, she does think that it happens.
"UCLA’s diversity has a lot to do with it. I could speculate
about other smaller colleges or in other parts of the country…,"
she said. "But I know that being in the sciences, women can be
intimidated in classrooms that are male-dominated."
Bloch points to workplace situations as blaring proof of
inequality.
"There’s still a great disparity between wages and
opportunities," Bloch said, adding that many professions remain
voluntarily segregated, with certain careers having unbalanced
membership between the genders.
She attributed much of this to the "glass ceiling," a term that
describes women’s real or perceived inability to advance. "It seems
transparent," Bloch said. "It seems as though there’s room to
advance, but one often can’t go beyond that point."
The glass ceiling is a phenomenon that has been discussed for
years, and one issue that perpetuates it, Bloch said, is the issue
of child rearing responsibilities. In order for women to be equal
in the work force, much has to change at home.
"Child care is a big issue for women, even though it’s gender
neutral as far as kids are concerned. It’s still assumed that it is
primarily the woman’s responsibility," Bloch said. "In an ideal
society, men would participate a lot more."
Other issues that women face as hurdles are sexual violence and
sexual harassment. Although they have received a lot of publicity,
Bloch stresses that these problems affect and threaten men as
well.
Even with the obstacles that face women in the work place, at
home and in society in general, Bloch is encouraged by the
opportunities women enjoy today.
"Women have much more control over their lives than they ever
had in the past. If the goal is to be independent on career, sexual
relationships, all those things are a lot more free. There are
costs, however. Society needs to make some adjustments."
She suggested that the federal government step in and help
provide solutions for the problem of child care.
Because of the conservative political environment, however,
national child care doesn’t seem to be in America’s near future.
Although France and the Scandinavian countries have successfully
established nationalized services, the U.S. political climate can’t
support one.
"The liberal progressive politics of the 60s and 70s aren’t
realistic today. Feminism had a big resurgence at a very idealistic
time," Bloch said.
Despite slow movement at the federal level, many believe that
individuals can help out. Bloch’s advice to young women: "Figure
out what what you want to do as individuals. Pursue what you need,
push for positions of leadership. Be as foresighted as possible.
And don’t give up."