Bra-burning and other myths of feminism
4 April 2007, 11:00 AM MDT
Read more about Martha Burk
Transcript
Gail Feigenbaum:
Are fewer women identifying themselves as feminists today than in the past? When asked by pollsters, how many people identify themselves as feminists.
Martha Burk:
I don't know if it's fewer, but younger women do shy away from the term. I'm often asked if we need a new word. My answer is that no matter what we call ourselves, people who don't believe in equality will demonize us.
If you poll folks and ask outright "Are you a feminist?" a majority (52% or so) say yes. If you ask "Do you believe in political, social, and economic equality between women and men?" which is the definition of feminism, the numbers go way up, in the 80% range.
If you poll folks and ask outright "Are you a feminist?" a majority (52% or so) say yes. If you ask "Do you believe in political, social, and economic equality between women and men?" which is the definition of feminism, the numbers go way up, in the 80% range.
Rick & Mary:
With an uber-conservative pope espousing the hardline for Catholics, including the backward church stand on "women's place" and original sin coming from the woman, do you see a darker time in the journey ahead toward recognition of women's rights?
Martha Burk:
I always worry about the gains we've made being eroded. Organized religion, led by fundamentalists in many faiths, has always been hostile to women's progress.
The present pope is definitely bad for women's rights, in and out of the church. BTW, I have said that if the feminists did what the priests have done vis-a-vis pedophilia, we would have been burned at the stake.
Thanks for your question.
The present pope is definitely bad for women's rights, in and out of the church. BTW, I have said that if the feminists did what the priests have done vis-a-vis pedophilia, we would have been burned at the stake.
Thanks for your question.
BiL:
With the differences in age and "generation gap" what do the "working for a living"and the "worked all my adult years" women have to share with the communities they live in?
Martha Burk:
We commonly say that women become more radical as they age. I think this is because when women first enter the work force, they don't believe they will experience discrimination. As they go up the ladder more slowly than their male colleagues, they realize they are not treated equally or taken as seriously in many workplaces.
Women of all ages need to continue to acknowledge that while we have made much progress, we still have far to go. Women make 76 cents to the man's dollar working full time and year round. There are only 8 female CEOs in the Fortune 500. That ought to tell us something.
Women of all ages need to continue to acknowledge that while we have made much progress, we still have far to go. Women make 76 cents to the man's dollar working full time and year round. There are only 8 female CEOs in the Fortune 500. That ought to tell us something.
Neezer Pelfrey:
Well, you had your 15 minutes of fame over that Augusta Golf Club deal, but nothing at all came of it. Just a lot of noise. So what are you doing now???
Martha Burk:
We said at the end of the protest in Augusta four years ago that we were going to concentrate on the companies whose CEOs belong to the club. These companies, like ExxonMobil and American Express, depend on women for revenue and have many women in their workforces. We suspected there was discrimination at the companies who were willing to be associated with such a club, and we were right.
We have filed two class action sex discrimination suits on behalf of women who work at these companies, and we are filing shareholder resolutions to stop their underwriting the Masters.
We hope female drivers will realize when they pay at the pump that Exxon will spend several million dollars this week entertaining their male clients at Augusta.
We have filed two class action sex discrimination suits on behalf of women who work at these companies, and we are filing shareholder resolutions to stop their underwriting the Masters.
We hope female drivers will realize when they pay at the pump that Exxon will spend several million dollars this week entertaining their male clients at Augusta.
Neezer Pelfrey:
(This question has been edited) Is there truth to the rumor that Gov. Bill Richardson has not been faithful to his wife?
Martha Burk:
No. Every male candidate is subject to these kinds of rumors, and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't start surfacing about Hillary Clinton any day. It seems to go with the territory of being a candidate.
The governor has been married to his wife for over 40 years, and they have a very committed relationship.
The governor has been married to his wife for over 40 years, and they have a very committed relationship.
Alan Porter:
Please comment about your views on current status of economic equality for women. Has there been any progress? What needs to be done?
Martha Burk:
In a couple of weeks, on April 24, we will mark "Equal Pay Day." That's the day in the new year when women finally catch up with the earnings men got by December 31 of the previous year. Meaning the pay gap for women working full time and year round is still about 24 cents on the dollar less than men's pay.
So long as we don't have family policies at work that encourage men to take family leave, that allow for workers to have a life, women will be behind because they are the traditional caretakers.
One thing that would help a lot is disclosure of pay statistics by gender and job category. That way we could see if companies are being fair to women. My guess is most are not, and many probably don't even know it.
That would be a good job for company accountants.
So long as we don't have family policies at work that encourage men to take family leave, that allow for workers to have a life, women will be behind because they are the traditional caretakers.
One thing that would help a lot is disclosure of pay statistics by gender and job category. That way we could see if companies are being fair to women. My guess is most are not, and many probably don't even know it.
That would be a good job for company accountants.
Jim W. Hammond:
Since image means so much, what is being done to alter or abolish the myths so we can see the new reality of feminism?
Martha Burk:
We abolish myths when we see that women and men who believe in equality are taken seriously. By the way, a majority of men identify with the definition of feminism. I think that's because families have changed, and men and women are now working and doing caregiving on a more equal basis. That said, we are a long ways away from full sharing of home responsibilities.
If we can get public figures to acknowledge the ideals embedded in feminist philosophy, that will go a long way. Tony Blair took family leave when his last child was born -- that sort of thing is a start.
If we can get public figures to acknowledge the ideals embedded in feminist philosophy, that will go a long way. Tony Blair took family leave when his last child was born -- that sort of thing is a start.
Neezer Pelfrey:
Humpf! You crypto-feminazis have an answer for everything! Why do you all hate men?
Martha Burk:
We don't hate men. I have a husband, father, two sons and two grandsons, and they are all the loves of my life. As for having answers, that's a good thing. The more people understand that feminism has answers for families, the more progress we will make. I invite you to study what feminism is really about.
Jim W. Hammond:
There was a wonderful movie a couple of years ago, The Contender, with Joan Allen doing a great job playing a woman in line for VP being harassed and asked questions no man would tolerate. Do you see this replaying the next Presidential race?
Martha Burk:
I did not see the Contender, but I think you are right on target about the presidential. Right wing pundits are already calling Pelosi "castrating" as the first female Speaker of the House, and that will spill over to Hillary Clinton soon enough.
The old saying goes that strong male leaders are seen as decisive, and women are seen as controlling or shrill. Clinton is going to have a hard time because there is still an element that does not think a woman should aspire to be president. I also think people in the media give themselves permission to take a shot at a woman that they might not take at a man.
The old saying goes that strong male leaders are seen as decisive, and women are seen as controlling or shrill. Clinton is going to have a hard time because there is still an element that does not think a woman should aspire to be president. I also think people in the media give themselves permission to take a shot at a woman that they might not take at a man.