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The War on Women: The End of Men?
Sponsored by Women’s and Gender Studies ProgramThank you Kathleen Carot
Discussants:Greg Hamill, SociologyScott Johnson, English
Kristin McCartney, Philosophy(Marian Staats… feel better!)
ContextThanks Judd Apatow! (culture shifts)
Context• Educational attainment• Economic shifts
– Decline in real income– Unemployment trends during recession– Nature and complexion of work and workforce
• Purchasing decisions and power; domestic labor
• Political milestones• Erosion of abortion rights• Trivialization and/or misunderstanding of rape
• Continuing renegotiation of gender (masculinities and femininities) in society
Overview of Session
• Hanna Rosin summary (Scott)– Excerpt from The End of Men: and the Rise of Women– http://hannarosin.com/the-end-of-men/excerpt-from-the-end-of-men/– “Six Questions: Hanna Rosin”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFptwwg70TE– TED TALK: Hanna Rosin – New Data on the Rise of Women: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFptwwg70TE
• Stephanie Coontz summary (Greg)– “The Myth of Male Decline”– http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/opinion/sunday/the-myth-of-male-decline.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&
• Kristen: added dimension on intersectionality, especially race and ethnicity– http://www.oakton.edu/user/1/kmccartn/decline.html
Stephanie Coontz
• “The Myth of Male Decline”– http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/opinion/sunday/the-myth-of-male-decline.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&
Summary Overview
• Cultural anxiety results from…– Shift away from “patriarchal dividend”
• Educational opportunity• Employment and promotion• Pay, living wages• Household decisions, sex
• 2 Central Points1. Close examination of data does NOT support notion that women
hold the reins of power2. Argues: Traditional gender expectations limit men and women
• Trends are opportunity for ALL, rather than loss for some• Should focus on growing socioeconomic inequality
THE DATAEducational Attainment (By Sex and Race/Ethnicity)
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0230.pdf
Earnings
Earnings By Sex and Race
Occupational Segregation
Detail on Prof and Related– http://www.bls.gov/cps/wlftable11.htm (by occupation)– http://www.bls.gov/cps/wlftable14.htm (by industry)
– Professional and Related Category9% of women in this job category are in computer or engineering44% of men in computer or engineering
69% of women in education and healthcare 30% of men in education and healthcare
Politics• 2013… “the year of the woman”?– 81 in Congress (19%)– 20 in Senate (20%)• For more on state and local: http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu
– World Rank: 82 (2012) http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm
– Side note, women in law: http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-law-us
Supreme Court
Supreme Court– How many women in our history?– How many currently?– Gains on state and local level
Final Points
• Shifts are an opportunity for ALL• Open up notions of gender• Construct new social arrangements• Reflect cherished values
• Also, current debate deflects attention away from important growing socioeconomic inequalities.
Discussion Questions• 1. General reaction from the group?• 2. Did any particular point by either author resonate?• 3. Did any particular point by either author really tweak you?• 4. How are new forms of masculinity and femininity beneficial, rather than• troublesome?• 5. The debate and data reflect gender as malleable, rather than a• biological essence. Building off of this, what new forms of masculinity• and femininity would we LIKE to see constructed and what cultural values• do these support (e.g., social justice, equal opportunity, etc.)?• 6. What racial-ethnic, social class, or National groups are overlooked or• whitewashed by the authors?
