Week 3: Difference, Inequity, and the Roles of Feminism

The reading I chose to reflect on this week is called "Shedding the Superwoman Myth" by Debora L. Spar. This article can be accessed at:
http://m.chronicle.com/article/Where-Feminism-Went-Wrong/141293/?cid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm+medium=en

In this reading, the author illustrated many interesting points about why women are simply unable to fulfil the role of being a superwoman. Although the author argues women cannot successfully have both a career and family alone, most evidence points to the underlining fact that we can have both, we just require the help from men in order for this goal to be achieved.

The most controversial point in this article states that women cannot have both a professional career as well as a family. Clearly this is not a fact, because many women attempt to juggle a job and children at the same time. However, the author feels that society holds unrealistic expectations in regards to this matter. She states that women can't work a sixty hour workweek in a high stress job and be the same kind of parent she would have been without the job and stress. This just happens to be true because of the amount of household chores us women are expected to complete on a daily basis. After arriving home from work, we must cook dinner, clean up the kitchen, help the children with any unfinished homework, wash a load or two of laundry, and prepare for the next day. If we didn't have this large amount of responsibilities to do around the home, there is a good chance we could be a successful career woman and a excellent motherly figure at the same time.

The next question the author proposed was whether or not women can find a way to balance their personal and professional lives. She asked if we could pursue our dreams (all of them) without losing our sanity. Is this possible? I think the answer to this question depends on who you are, where you're at in life, and what dreams you would like to follow. In addition, the author makes a valid point when she offers the fact that we need to realize having it all means giving something up. I agree with this 100% because realistically we simply cannot have it all. This is especially true if the journey in life we plan to take forces us to take an alternate route.

The last point I will be discussing from the reading is the first biological way that men and women differ. At first glance, this part of the article may seem obvious, but the author illustrates interesting facts that may not have been previously considered.

The first difference the author provided was sexuality. She explained that women are often interested in romantic entanglements rather than casual affairs. Is this true? The author adds that we are also more inclined to seek solace in relationships. Isn't that a normal reaction? And in regards to workplace complications, the author explains women would prefer to have a relationship rather than a sexual encounter. Why is this?

With that being said, the author feels that this puts us women at a disadvantage. I can't help but disagree. Just because the majority of men aren't looking for commitment and the majority of women prefer to be in long-term, serious relationships, doesn't mean that some men want a relationship while other women may like one-night stands. I feel like this is how stereotypes are produced. Individuals are often grouped together because they have similar interests and thus, the norm is created.