Question for the women of yahoo answers, and men too...?

Question

As a whole, when you look at the modern day woman, either the girl next door, or the glossy celebrities, do you see a difference in her and the modern day woman of the 80's, 70's, 60's? 50's? etc.
All of these women fought for us to be seen as equal. To not be objects or baby machines. To be able to pursue any career, dream, pasttime, hobby we want. When I look at women today, I see a bunch of girls. Silly girls. Men don't have to objectify women, women do it to themselves now. Am I alone in my sadness towards the loss of the strong woman? Am I alone in mourning the true women's movement? Not the femi-nazi's, they are a different bunch. The women who truly just wanted the same rights as the men. No special treatment, just equality.

Let me add this on...
I was around during the womens movement. I know there are strong women out there today, and I sure as hell don't get my facts or opinions from tv. It is

Erica, let me add this, I have absolutely no problem with women, or men, who stay at home with their children. That is a choice completely up to the individual. I am not a femi-nazi, I think women and men of all races should all be treated the same. I think my message isn't coming through clearly. I am speaking of the teens and early twenties set.

The Girls Gone Wild girls, the sex bracelet girls, the girls who when polled, rank giving a guy oral sex the same as a kiss goodnight. That is who I am talking about.

Answer 1

TV is a huge problem. My husband and I spent a great deal of time trying to educate our daughters (our sons, as well) about how they should be treated in this society and to fight for that respect. They now are doing it with our grandaughters. Unfortunately, the "old boy networks" still exist and hold the power and have trained their sons AND Daughters to carry the torch. It is disheartening to see GIRLS like paris hilton, but, remember she is only one of a very few. It has gotten somewhat better but there is still a lot to be done.

Answer 2

There are lots of strong modern women. Many of my friends are professionals - lawyers, doctors, business owners & etc.,
some like me chose to give up careers ( I am an accountant)
to raise wonderful children & families. I too was around during
the women's movement & it was all about choice. None of my friends are silly girls & would be shocked to be called such a demeaning name. Those who rock the cradle rule the world.

There are plenty of strong women from Condeleeza Rice & Hillary Clinton to my friend Marilyn. They are just over the age of 30 usually, we all had to mature into our own minds.

Now men are a different story, what is with married men hitting on me. I have been married 33 yrs & would never break my commitment. Men need to grow up - I do not remember them being so immature.

Answer 3

ok, i am pushin 40, here, and I will say this: in the 50's women stayed home,raised babies,and were basically " the little woman"< in the 60's, they were hippies,maybe had a kid if they wanted,and did drugs, in the 70's they were recuperating from the 60's, and the 80'was the "me" generation,and the 90's, they finally got a clue!! and now,we can be/do/ whatever we freakin want!! Well,i come from a looooong line of women's right's activists. My great granny raised 13, yes that is not a typo,13 kids,but she let my great grand pappy know who wore the pants in THAT family!! So did my granny, but she has this idea that a man needs to take care of a woman. My mom,was waiting tables in 1945,and was a very head-strong woman,and actually was there when doe vs. wade came about. I,am the baby of 5 kids,and my two oldest sisters have gone 2 college,and one was a stay at home mom,who homeschooled her kids and my older sis, was a cop. So,i think tha women have alsways had the power to make their own choices. I had that option,but i chose to be a stay at home mom,as i beleive the core of a strong child is his/her mommy. Laugh all u like, but my mom worked too,and to tell you the truth, i couldn't handle a 9/5 job. I am happy being a domestic diva. I couldnt do the job/pick up the kids/ make dinner/ take the kids to soccer practice and do all the stuff i would have to do b4 going to bed at night. I think it is up the indivual woman. If it makes her happy to work, more power to her. I want to be a writer,and I want to be in control of my destiny. Who is to say i am not when i chose to be a stay at home mome. Think about it: I stay home, emphasis on the words stay home. And i make HIM go to work.... Ps, if he has to work, he can't mooch off me for bills and such.

Answer 4

This is a very impressive and well-thought-out question.

I think I see many women who are doing well as professionals, and I see quite a few girls as well. I don't think one overwhelms the other and I don't think it is necessarily bad to be one or the other. The best women are probably a mix of both.

Women are making some serious gains in the corporate world, in academia and in the media.

Many men are not advancing their careers. I think I can say I see men who are to be admired and I also see quite a few boys.

I was around in the 50's and the decades beyond. In my opinion, much of the Women's Lib movement was a turnoff both for men and for women who saw the traditional role as wife and homemaker as a valid role.

I don't want women to be men. I want them to be as good as they can be, but I want them to be different enough that I can still appreciate their femininity and inherent strength.

At the same time, I want to be strong in my own masculine way. I hope I am.

Good women bring out good men, and I hope it works the other way as well.

Answer 5

I love your question, but what is making you think these things?
I look pretty good, I'm rather strong, maybe not physically,
but mentally & I think the women I know, are ignoring this
administration's view of women & doing their own thing just fine.
Paris Hilton is good role model - I don't care what people
think of her. She has millions & works because she Wants to.
Laura Bush is an awful role model, first, she was a Democrat
& let marriage change her, second, she looks like a maniquin.
She is pro-choice, but you never hear her say it.
My Mom stayed home while my Dad brought in all the income.
Those days are over - she has her own money & her owns
her own home now.
Women are doing great - don't fall for anything less.
Rock on, Girl!

Answer 6

Why should you be sad? Strong women are still out there, why bother concentrating on the ones you see on TV. I go out on the street and I see strong women everywhere and they deserve not only respect and equality but also admiration. It doesn't matter how many women still respect themselves and fight for equality,as long as someone believes in those principles then they exist one way or the other. If all the other women in the world objectify themselves except you, then you hold within yourself that belief and that virtue. It exists through you and it can be as powerful as you let it be.

Answer 7

Today I see them as more beautiful
Some more bold, not strong bold, but mouthy bold.
Many are still objects and want to be objects.
Noboby sees them as baby machines, not even them
Dreams, pastimes and hobbies cost money and they spend.
The strong women are busy attending college pursuing careers and have the resources and intelligent parents (2) to do so..
They are the lucky ones and will do well in every area of their lives.
Fear not, they all do grow up, things will be different but better. I have seen that through several generations of women..

Answer 8

I completely agree with you. It's disgusting that women think they need to act like sex obects in order to have any self worth. It's disgusting that I turn on the TV and see acommerical for Girls Gone Wild which is a bunch of drunk girls taking off their clothes and pretending to be 'lesbians' just to have a spot on a trashy porn video. It's a shame that most female celebrities who could use their fame to empower women, intstead make it seem like you need to be a sex slave to men in order to make it. It's pathetic, really, and I am happy being indepandant and knowing that I will never have to stoop that low.
Howard Stern is a pig who objectifies women. Sorry I had to add that. I hate that guy.

Answer 9

Huh? The women of today (the ones you call silly girls. The previous generations called you all that.) are feeding off of the previous generations. They don't have to fight as hard to get their rights. Each generation feeds off previous generations. Each generation has its own struggles and problems to deal with. Each generation has to define itself.

Up until 1920's women were not allowed to go out on their own, not allowed to vote, not allowed to wear pants, not allowed to drive, etc (kind of like the Middle Eastern countries now). Many women and men fought for the rights for women to do the above. And so it goes.

Answer 10

Equality has its price, and there does seem to be some back sliding of late when it comes to young women accepting the role of female object. In other ways (towards men) modern women seem pretty bold. Yeah I'd agree that they are different.