Look How Far Women's Rights Have Come

[Horserider]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27718059/?GT1=43001

[FrogInABlender]

"...You know what they say, 'Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.'"

:hysterical::hysterical: I LOVE that part!!

[Tatesgram]

Back in the seventies, I was a recently divorced mom with a 2 yo son. I made $2.00 an hour, the guys I worked with made $2.10 an hour. The owner said men needed to make more because they had familes to support. Both guys were eighteen and single, no kids.

I have come a long way and have seen a lot of things that women have put up with and endured to support their children. Worked in a steel mill where the men wouldn't help a woman move a 55 gal drum, because she had the audacity to work in a man's job. Though they would help another man. One of those women was a widow with five children to support, rather than collect welfare or food stamps, she went to work in a dirty, hot, backbreaking steel mill, because it paid well and had benefits for her kids.

I once told a boss that he didn't have to touch me to talk to me, in front of co-workers "gasp". I ended up sweeping aisles under heaters in July as my "punishment".

Yes, women have come a long way. But I credit hard work, education and "stick-to-it-ness", not marching in the streets or loud obnoxiousness from feminist.

Today, I sit in an office (ugh) and wear suits and dresses (again ugh), because I got myself back to school and got a better education.

And I make a heck of a lot more than $2.00 an hour. :)

[FrogInABlender]

Great post there!! :clap::clap:

I can't imagine the stress you must've gone through, trying to make a decent living for your kids, all by yourself. But you didn't lay down and give up. You did it, you pulled yourself up by the bootstraps, and you have my utmost respect. I'm glad you've got it a little easier now. You deserve it! :)

[Tatesgram]

Thank you. I have to admit that my current and last husband (28 years) has been there for me all the way. I met him at that steelmill. ;) I've always had to be careful with problems at work, he isn't the most PC where me or the kids are concerned. But he has learned that I will handle my own problems, right or wrong :( and he respects my decisions.

He wasn't one of the witnesses to my little confrontation with the boss, but he heard about it. :) It was before we were married.

[FrogInABlender]

...He wasn't one of the witnesses to my little confrontation with the boss, but he heard about it. :) It was before we were married.

Heh, I've been around enough Steelworkers to know that if he HAD been a witness to it, your boss would have been missing a few fingers or would have been wearing his nose in a different location. ;)

[rums_mom]

[QUOTE=Tatesgram;40682]

Yes, women have come a long way. But I credit hard work, education and "stick-to-it-ness", not marching in the streets or loud obnoxiousness from feminist.

QUOTE]

Congrats to you Tates........my mom also went to work in a "man's" profession in the 1970's. She ran an offset press, did all her lifting, maintenance on her press.....everything the men did, they also would not help her but would help another man. She made about 50% less then the men and when she found out, she pitched a fit, complained to management and made a lot of noise about it. She got a raise, but never the same pay as a man doing the same job with the same seniority. My mother was a feminist of sorts, she was for the ERA and women's rights and she raised her daughters to speak up for what they believed in and stand up for themselves. Can you tell?

Do not discount the feminists that went out there and marched in the streets and got loud and obnoxious to get their message heard. You and I would not have the right to vote if the Suffrajettes didn't get out there and risk humiliation, incarceration, and torture for what they believed in. Not to mention the right to own property, keep custody of our children, go to school and work where we wanted.

I recommend watching "Iron Jawed Angels" if you ever get the chance. I did some research and it is pretty historically accurate.

[Tatesgram]

QUOTE]

Do not discount the feminists that went out there and marched in the streets and got loud and obnoxious to get their message heard. You and I would not have the right to vote if the Suffrajettes didn't get out there and risk humiliation, incarceration, and torture for what they believed in. Not to mention the right to own property, keep custody of our children, go to school and work where we wanted.

[/quote]

I would never discount the women that first went out and fought for our rights. I was referring to the "modern" feminist that are riding on their coattails. Just because you can get on television and run your mouth, or some other venue, doesn't mean you are doing anything for women or their rights. I preferred to earn what I was payed by proving that I could do the work. I moved up the ladder because I proved I could operate machinery just as well as the men. Didn't take a lot of brawn. I also worked with women that would sleep with the boss to be given easier jobs.

Unfortunately, too many of todays feminist are no more than men haters that want to emasculate men. Or hate being women, I'm not sure which.

Kudos to your mom for standing up for herself and teaching her daughters to do the same. We should all teach our childern, boys or girls, that you work for what you want in this life, it's always better if it is earned.

[rums_mom]

I took my daughter to Sweet Briar College the weekend before last, it is an all woman's college established in 1901. They had a bumper sticker that said "At Sweet Briar College become the doctor your mother wanted you to marry."

I guess I just don't pay much mind to those types. Although, gotta admit I like some "male escapulation" jokes from time to time, especially when I am hormonal.

[FrogInABlender]

...I recommend watching "Iron Jawed Angels" if you ever get the chance. I did some research and it is pretty historically accurate.

Sounds interesting. I'll have to check that out.

You're right about the suffragettes and the Equal Rights Ammendment. They did all the protesting so we wouldn't have to. But there comes a point where you've gotten what you want and the protesting should stop. Some of women don't seem to realize that though. They don't appear to be happy unless they grind all men into the dust and that's just not good for anybody.

I do realize that there are still some throw-backs to the old days out there, and those need to be dealt with as you would any dangerous animal, but I think the vast majority of men are willing to give a woman in the workplace a fair shake if she pulls her own weight and doesn't try to play "the weaker sex" game when it suits her. Having a good work ethic and good negotiating skills will get you farther these days than screaming and obnoxious behavior.

[FrogInABlender]

...Unfortunately, too many of todays feminist are no more than men haters that want to emasculate men. Or hate being women, I'm not sure which...

Ain't that the truth!

I personally kinda like men ;) and feel like there's chivalry, honesty and decency to be found in even the worst of them if you dig deep enough. The trick is in knowing where to dig!

[Tatesgram]

I took my daughter to Sweet Briar College the weekend before last, it is an all woman's college established in 1901. They had a bumper sticker that said "At Sweet Briar College become the doctor your mother wanted you to marry."

I guess I just don't pay much mind to those types. Although, gotta admit I like some "male escapulation" jokes from time to time, especially when I am hormonal.

Truth is, I've worked with women that were bigger chauvinist than some men. They had definite ideas as to what was acceptable for women and what wasn't. Like cleaning the bosses ashtray was better than operating a tractor. Gross! Bet you wouldn't catch the same women cleaning a hoof!

But think about this, my mother and grandmother worked on the family farm. They did whatever was necessary to make the farm work. My sisters and I cut grass, worked in the garden, washed clothes, cleaned house. Jobs weren't divided by gender. So I guess that's the way I was raised, if your capable of doing a job, do it.

[Tatesgram]

...if you dig deep enough. The trick is in knowing where to dig...

Six feet in the woods is a place to start for some I've come across. :rolleyes:

[FrogInABlender]

Six feet in the woods is a place to start for some I've come across. :rolleyes:

LOL! Well yeah, I guess there's always that option.