Reflective Journal 3: Reflect on the changing roles of women. You may choose to consider how the changing roles of women in society made an impact on you by drawing on examples from China, the United States and/or Singapore.
The roles of women, the world over, have changed drastically since the turn of the twentieth century. The role of the feminine has evolved from its most primitive form of a mother and child-bearer, a household caretaker, to that of being part of the workforce and being held in equal regard to men in society. Now, women are able to pursue their own careers and life passions/goals, enabling them to find individual fulfilment, something which has been denied from them in a male-dominated society.
I think that the single biggest step that changed the role of women forever was entitling women to vote. The campaigns and progress for feminism freed women from the chains of societal norms and expectations, while bringing women a step closer to the ballot box each time. By empowering women with the voting slip, women now officially commanded political power and owned a stake in the future of the nation. It established women a new social presence, paving the way for the liberty and rights of women.
The 19th amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America enabled women to break free of the social barriers and stand firmly on their feet from then on, shattering the traditional roles of women, such as performing domestic duties and being the caring matriarch of the family. It empowered the women of America with the right to vote, giving them a stake in the political arena, a voice in society, while bringing them freedom from conventions. It paved the way for their advancement in society, to take on careers and pursue their individual dreams. All these were a stark contrast to women in the earlier days of America. Political activism was the defining factor that changed women’s roles. Gone was the apathy and the exemption of women when it came to politics. Women now constitute half of Americans at the polls. Courageous women also joined politics, by taking on political roles, a prime example of which would be current US secretary Hillary Clinton, who was a presidential candidate in the 2008 elections.
For instance, throughout the Roaring Twenties, the boom of the American economy reverberated through society, shattering yet more social barriers and signalling the rise of a new generation of brave, young women who dared to venture out. Women joined the workforce and did things which were taboo formerly. Lengths of skirts shortened from the ankles to the knees, the number of women smokers doubled, and women speculators joined the crowd of frenzied men at the stock exchange. This new generation of women broke convention and did certain things which even the faint-hearted man would shun from undertaking.
More recently, women in China have begun to catch up with their counterparts in the West. Ever since the economic reforms in the 80s, women in China have become more ambitious and more powerful than before. Equipped with a good education, many women in cities now choose to prioritise their personal careers over motherhood. Rather than becoming a mother and providing for her children, a growing number of women in China are becoming individualistic choosing to satisfy personal desires over performing traditional duties. Now, many married women in China also adopt the role of breadwinner for the family. By maintaining a work-life balance, they are able to have a family, but at the same time not at the complete compromise of their individual pursuits. These capable women have carved out a new role in Chinese society, a role which has been gaining prominence among women in China.
The changing roles of women in societies worldwide have deeply impacted and changed society’s perceptions. From the primitive role of a housewife, women have joined the workforce becoming a force to be reckoned with in the economic sphere, where they compete with men for jobs. Becoming more financially independent, their purchasing power increased. They formed part of the work force, and were a force to be reckoned with in the economic sphere. Aspiring and talented women have given men a run for their money in corporations. Numerous talented females have replaced men in the top-jobs such as CEOs, positions which men had so comfortably sat on in the past. This is becoming a common phenomenon in cities such as Singapore. As women in Singapore now command a higher education than in the past, many choose to pursue their aspirations and careers, while not neglecting having a family in the process. This new role played by women in Singaporean society clearly reflects how the roles of women have changed. Personally, I support this new role of women. Besides giving women equal chances to be successful in life by having a career, it does not neglect the prevailing role of the women, which is to be a caring mother for her children.
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