http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/fashion/07campus.html?scp=3&sq=more%20women%20in%20college%20than%20men&st=cse
This first article is about how there is an increasing trend of couples where the wife makes more money than the husband. However, I found the most interesting quote of the article to be, "We’ve known for some time that men need marriage more than women from the standpoint of physical and mental well-being...” from Stephanie Coontz, a college professor. Her assertion goes against all of the essays we have read regarding post-feminism and specifically the TV show Sex and the City. Of course it's not surprising that such a statement would come from a woman, and it is very unclear where the evidence for this comes from. Mainstream culture and media would suggest that it is actually the opposite. Perhaps such a statement is meant to be empowering for women, but it appears completely unfounded. On the other hand, perhaps her statement is true and it is the media which has worked to appease the anxieties of men by showing the opposite.
The second article discusses the recent trend in colleges of women outnumbering men. The article focuses on how the imbalance affects the dating scene and barely makes mention of the fact that such statistics show the progress women have made in education. Nor does it mention that even though women are topping men in education, the job market is still incredibly skewed male. While the article does point out many problems women have in college when trying to find a relationship that lasts more than one night, it fails to offer suggestions to change the situation and there is absolutely zero critique of the way in which college men treat college women. Thus it is not surprising that this article was written by a man, who most likely does not find any problems with the situation.
Both articles negatively spin what should be positive advancement for women. Because neither article offers a solution, both imply women must accept the situation. Furthermore, both articles imply that this female predicament is no one's fault but their own. I highly doubt that is the case.
No comments:
Post a Comment