Men's and Women's Movements

Ever since I was a little girl, I was told that women at a certain point in time were not allowed the right to vote. It was drilled into my head that men and women’s rights were different and that women were oppressed. It wasn't until later that I dug a little deeper into the root of oppression against women. That's when sexual harassment, unequal opportunities, violence, and other rights were put into play, and realizing that not having the right to vote was not the only disadvantage. But, the fact that women at one point in time were not allowed the privilege to vote, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement changed that logic, is the movement for women that I most identify with. This movement consisted of strong women that refused to back town to unequal rights. There was protesting and picketing, riots, injuries and many arrested women that contributed to this movement and without this, it would have taken much long for women to gain the right to vote, or it possibly could have never happened. This has an impact on me because I am a woman that plans to vote in the future. I have yet to vote but that is because I was late in the game to register, but plan on voting in the next election.

Men surprisingly have plenty of movements themselves. I had never heard of any until I read Chapter 4 in Gendered Lives but I admit I am happily surprised. There are movements that support feminism as well as fighting against violence and sexism. The movement I would identify the most with is the Mythopoetic Men Movement. I found it to be such a breath of fresh air to know that someone somewhere is trying to get men to get in touch with themselves and other men in a way that women would, but in as much of a masculine way as possible. But that’s not a bad thing because they are working on finding the deeper roots of masculine thinking and in hope that they will be able to restore men to their find their sprits and emotions without feeling less of a man. Most men believe that they are not "manly" enough if they show feeling or emotion, and Mythopoetic Men is trying to prove that men showing feeling is not a bad thing and it should be accepted. This has an impact on me because if men could show their true emotions and be able to be sensitive to subjects without judgment, I think males and females would find more peace in the world. Men have such a strong impression that they have to be tough, but they can be both assertive and show emotions when needed to. Speaking for myself as a woman, I think women would like that if men would soften up.