Women are the most resilient and marginalized people in the world. Men have always dominated many industries, and women were subjects to the cult of womanhood where they could be child bearers and home keepers. However, as years went by, women became more accustomed to working than staying at home, which brought about tension between men and women. As men had already dominated the space, it was hard for them to embrace women who wanted the same things as them. Therefore, women have had a hard time relating to men. Women in the past and present have been discriminated against, excluded from various careers such as mainstream media, and jeopardized sexual health. However, they also rose to activism to fight for their rights and had governments and other organizations ensure there were measures for their advancement. The significant difference between women in both times is that trendsetters from the past have empowered the modern woman; thus, an increased number of women influence change and challenge patriarchy.
In the past and the present, men excluded women due to the misogynistic representation of men in mainstream media. Women were underrepresented in the newsrooms, production, and editing of media. The underrepresentation was high that the United Nations Decade for Women, from 1976 to 1985, pushed for increased media production that would share women’s perspectives in the media houses (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Additionally, the case is evident in today’s gender disparities in media houses, with a media house like Times Inc. having more men than women in their crew. Ann Moore shares her experience as one of the first pioneering women in the company and how she worked with more men than women in leading conversations concerning women (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Ironically, men are at the forefront, giving perspectives about women and what they should do with their bodies instead of giving women that avenue to explain themselves. Gender exclusion in media houses has been going on since the New Age, with women being underrepresented.
Additionally, there has been little reverence for women’s reproductive health until now. In recent years, sex trafficking and violence against women have been rampant. An article from the Women’s Edition Magazine proved that many sex workers in Nepali had been sex trafficked to the country (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Nonetheless, most of the sex workers reported that they experienced violence in their line of work. Studies show that women in South Africa experience a high rate of rape (Aragon & Miller, 2012). In the past, women were subject to the cult of womanhood, meaning that they were supposed to be caregivers, stay at home and look after their families. Most of them were necessitated to get pregnant and give birth, which compelled them to stay at home. Forcing a woman to choose what they wanted to do with their bodies was an act of gender violence.
Nonetheless, women have been experiencing gender discrimination for years. In the past, women were not allowed to vote or work and did not have equal rights as men. Similarly, in 2010, the Ukrainian government-appointed leaders were all men (Aragon & Miller, 2012). This regime denied women representation and caused the underrating of women’s rights. For instance, a feminist activist, Kateryna Levchenko, explains that she first faced discrimination in Ukraine when she was pregnant, but the doctor made insulting remarks about her as a woman. Levchenko wanted the doctor to move her appointment to a day she would not be training, but the doctor remarked that she was a woman and should not be working (Aragon & Miller, 2012). The slander showed how little reverence men had for women and how women have a specific caregiving role and give birth.
Both women in history and modern women have actively engaged in activism, most of them demanding equal rights. Women have had a tough time getting proper representation in the media; thus, they have fought for a place there. They did so by opening up women-based magazines such as “Ms Magazine” in 1970 in the United States of America and Gender Links in the 21st century in South Africa (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Women often never had positions in the media houses and would serve as assistants. Most of them could not explore their journalistic talents, such as being news anchors. With the protests against male-driven media houses and inadequate female-based magazines, empowering organizations decided to create their magazines as a form of activism for equal rights in media houses.
Moreover, organizations have strived to promote gender equality in the past and present. There were national and private organizations set up in different parts of the United States of America for women’s access and support. For instance, in 1920, the government developed the Women’s Bureau and the United Nations First World Conference in 1975 to advocate for women’s rights (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Currently, organizations develop feminist policies such as the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women (OSAGIAW). In 2010, the United Nations created a women’s department, UN Women, which would enforce these organizations, such as DAW, to ensure the advancement of women takes place.
The difference between women in the past and today is the growth in the participation of women in bringing change. Women today hold the power to fight for their rights, increasing their chances of ensuring gender equality. There are women in the past who spearheaded female rights activism, such as Christine Lagarde, who paved the way for other women to fight for their rights and work in male-dominated industries. Another instance is Ann Moore, who was an employee at Times Inc. and worked her way to become the chief editor of “People Magazine” and “InStyle” which are one of the biggest magazine companies today (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Moore’s input to the company contributed to the growth of the mother media house, Times Inc. When she was starting, there were fewer women in the company. However, her vast role and the significant changes she brought gave other women the confidence to gun for such powers, which increased the number of women. For instance, there have been emerging magazines, such as Women’s Edition, highlighting different women’s perspectives concerning their struggles, age, race, and culture. The limited number of women who participated in bringing change in the past has influenced numerous women to seek that influence.
Furthermore, recently, women have challenged political patriarchs and enabled women to take leadership positions. In the past, women such as Shirley Chisholm wanted to run for the presidential nomination in the 1972 presidential elections but failed. The failure made her withdraw her intentions without a further fight. In today’s events, such as in the Ukrainian male-dominated government, women can criticize the government’s decisions. A case in point is when Kateryna Levchenko sued the Ukrainian prime minister because he said women should not be a part of the people who make reforms (Aragon & Miller, 2012). Later on, her case was lost as the Prime Minister had the freedom of speech to make that statement. Although Kateryna did not win the case, she proved a point whereby men in political seats should not make debilitating remarks about women’s political intentions. Since the 2010 all-male government, there has been a 7% increase in women’s representation in the Ukrainian government (Aragon & Miller, 2012). More women in the present than in the past are challenging the government and influencing gender equality reforms.
Women’s lives are similar and different from the past to the present. Women have faced exclusion in workplaces since time memorial till date due to gender differences. Nonetheless, women’s reproductive health has been less concern in patriarchal societies such as Nepali, where sex trafficking of women is rampant. Additionally, women have been discriminated against in places and services because of their gender in the past and the present. Another similarity between women’s lives in the past and present is the activism for women’s rights. Some institutions have demanded the advancement of women’s rights in the past and present, including the United Nations. One of the significant differences is increased women steering change in different fields. Before that, few women then motivated women today to speak up and fight for positions. Additionally, women have been able to challenge male-dominated politics and bring change. There is increased power due to the number of women rising in the present to fight for women’s rights.
References
Aragon, J., & Miller, M. (2012). Global women’s issues: Women in the world today, extended version. Open Textbook Library. The University of Victoria.