I have been thinking a lot about the question I posed at the beginning of the semester: what does it mean to be an American woman in 2008? I have come to the conclusion that in today’s society, there is no set role or idea of what a woman should be. A woman can be a stay at home mother, or work full time. She can work from her home office and be there when the kids get home from school. The stereotypical role of “woman as housewife” is no longer how a woman is perceived in today’s culture.

What does it mean to be an American woman in 2008? It means anything is possible. There is no right or wrong role. We are incredibly lucky to have come so far. I am reminded of a scene in the movie the “Mona Lisa Smile.” Katherine Watson, a professor at Wellesley, encourages Joan Brandwyn, her student, to go to law school. Joan recently got engaged and thinks she has to choose between school and a family. Katherine tells her otherwise. The conversation is as follows:

Joan Brandwyn: It was my choice... not to go. He would have supported it.
Katherine Watson: But you don't have to choose.
Joan Brandwyn: No, I have to. I want a home; I want a family, that's not something I'll sacrifice.
Katherine Watson: No-one's asking you to sacrifice that, Joan, I just want you to understand you can do both.
Joan Brandwyn: Do you think I'll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?
Katherine Watson: Yes, I'm afraid that you will.
Joan Brandwyn: Not as much as I regret not having a family, not being there to raise them. I know exactly what I'm doing and it doesn't make me any less smart.
[Katherine looks down]
Joan Brandwyn: This must seem terrible to you.
Katherine Watson: I didn't say that.
Joan Brandwyn: Sure you did. You always do. You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image, but you don't. To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.
Katherine Watson: [hugs Joan] Congratulations. Be happy.

When searching for information regarding women’s role in America today, I came across an interesting article in TIME magazine. The article discussed a survey conducted by researchers at Harvard and the University of California. Sexes were surveyed among 130 countries in order to rank the global gender gap. The ranking was based in categories such as: literacy, wages, seats in government, life expectancy for woman and others.

While reading this article I found it interesting to see how other countries ranked gender equality and how America ranked in categories such as: gender, education, work force, etc.

Survey Results

Progress:

· No country has total gender equality.

· Among the countries surveyed in 2007 and 2008, 87 narrowed their gender gap.

· Among the counties surveyed, 24 have closed the gender gap in education.

Countries with female presidents or prime ministers:

· Finland

· New Zealand

· Philippines

· Ireland

America’s rank:

· America ranked #31 in 2007. It is now ranked #27.

· America ranks the highest in “economic participation and opportunity” and “educational attainment”

Other countries rank:

· France moved from #51 in 2007 to #15 in 2008.

· Among Latin American countries Trinidad and Tobago were ranked the highest.

· Guatemala’s stance fell from #61 in 2007 to #113 in 2008.

· Israel, specifically Kuwait and Yemen, had the highest score in the Middle East. Its gender gap closed by 47 percent.

· Among African countries, Lesotho and Mozambique ranked in the top 20.

I was hanging out with a group of friends over the weekend and , inevitably, the topic of attraction came up. A few names were tossed around,celebrities and acquaintances, and each person differed in taste. It was interesting to me that some thought particular people were attractive, while others weren't attracted to the specific person in the least.

As we continued to discuss attraction, everyone agreed on the fact that someone can be the most beautiful person in the world but if he or she isn't personable, whatever the reason may be, the person becomes ugly.

Though it's such a simple concept, I was reminded that, no matter what kind of messages the media sends, beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder and attractiveness is as much personality as anything.

I have been reading your comments about what it means to be a woman in 2008. As I continue to think about women today I am amazed. I believe Abbey's comment is a true statement. The role of woman as homemaker is certainly evolving, if not completely evolved. It seems like today, women are expected to do it all: raise a family, keep the house in order, and be to work by 8 a.m.

I realize that some woman are particularly good at what they do, which allows them to balance their work and their family well, but I can't help but believe that woman today are juggling more than ever imagined. Look at women like Sarah Palin, Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, and many more women who seem to be playing “wonder woman.” It makes me wonder if they really are, or if their nannies are working overtime.

Dove's Real Beauty Campaign wants to redefine beauty. Its mission is to "help free ourselves and the next generation from beauty stereotypes." Dove continues to produce "thought-provoking ads, confidence-building programs and messages that embrace all definitions of beauty."

In 2008, have those stereotypes been redefined or is beauty still a definition every woman needs to squeeze into?

What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

The purpose of this blog is to generate discussion about what it means to be a woman in 2008. The role of a woman in th 21st century is unique. As seen in this year's elections, anything is possible. This blog is not from a feminist standpoint,rather its purpose is to discuss the different positions women hold in our society, and how men and women feel about those roles.