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THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2003
NFWS
A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 54
OPINION
TALKTOUS
Kristi Henderson editor
editor
864-4854 or kenderson@kansan.com
864-4854 or khenderson@kansan.com
Jenna Goepert and Justin Henning managing editors
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Leah Shaffer readers'representative 864-4810 or lshaffer@kanasan.com
Amanda Sears and Lindsay Hansor
editorial opinions
864-4924-8300 amanda.hansor.com
Eric Ketting
business manager
864-4358 or adsales@kansan.com
Sarah Jantz
retail sales manager
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Malcolm Gibson
general manager and news adviser
864-7667 or mgibson@kansan.com
Matt Fisher
Matt Fisher
sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or mfisher@kansan.com
EDITORIAL BOARD
Students should take peace into own hands
If you want to change the world, it's been said that you need to start in your own backyard.
With the institution of a new minor in peace and conflict studies last month, KU students can start locally and move on to the international scene with this promise of a significantly broadened international experience and educational opportunities.
This minor is applicable in today's world.
The peace and conflict studies minor will both educate and empower students, not only by expanding their views of the world, but also by enabling them to take meaningful action in it.
By studying the various ways conflict has originated and then has been addressed and resolved, students will be more able to understand conflict on a wider scope and will gain valuable insight into international and domestic relations.
The department of Humanities and Western Civilization is offering this multi-disciplinary minor, which begs to be combined with many current courses of study, from anthropology to English to religious studies to sociology. Students can easily and beneficially expand their majors and their minds at the same time.
With similar programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Notre Dame, the Midwest is becoming the powerhouse of peace and conflict studies
We can make a difference, and the University has given students more opportunities to do so.
And we can start today.
Lauren Stewart for the editorial board
SUBMITTING LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions. For any questions, call Amanda Sears or Lindsay Hanson at 864-4924 or e-mail at opinion@kansan.com. If you have general questions or comments, e-mail the readers' representative at readersrep@kansan.com.
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LYDA'S VIEW
Mark Lyde for The University Daily Kansan
PERSPECTIVE
Redefine feminism this month
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2003
D erogatory, radical, negative, sexual, ignorant, offensive, hateful and violent. Yes, that is the social definition of our F-word -feminism, of course!
Unfortunately, that is at least how society has wrongfully and maliciously labeled the term. One would assume though, that at an educational institution such as the University of Kansas, such a closed-minded and uninformed view would not be prevalent. Yet it is.
The KU Female Student Needs Survey was conducted in the spring of 2002 to report on what female students thought about their needs and safeties and to ensure that women's voices were heard on campus. Surprisingly, in response to the question of this survey, "Do you consider yourself a feminist?" only 36 percent responded with yes. But the majority agreed that gender issues such as lack of equity in pay existed and were unfair
Dictionaries define feminism as the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. Individual definitions of feminism are as diverse as feminists themselves.
Fouzia Haq
opinion@kansan.com
Whether you are anti-abortion or for abortion rights, male or female, conservative or liberal - it is undeniable that injustices regarding gender exist. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice every-where."
GUEST COMMENTARY
Feminists have relentlessly fought not only for gender inequalities but many other social injustices such as, abolishing slavery,the right to vote, child-labor and child-abuse legislation,birth control, civil rights of minorities and women, welfare reform, conservation of natural resources, workplace safety and fair labor standards.
The diversity of these issues is quite indicative of the diversity among feminism, whether it is in demographics or ideology. To clarify, feminists are male or female, from any socioeconomic status, age, religion, culture, sexual preference, etc. Ideologically, feminism is stratified Different feminists take different routes to learning about and actively advocating issues.
I cannot tell you which approach is
right. If you are opposed to social inequalities, I challenge you to educate yourself and then — and only then — define what feminism means to you. The Commission on the Status of Women will be distributing buttons that say, "This is what a feminist looks like," on Wescoe Beach and in the Kansas Union for the rest of the month, Women's History Month. I challenge you to wear the button proudly throughout the month
As concerned citizens in a society dedicated to equality, together we must revive the true and progressive meaning of feminism. Only through unity can we fight for equality.
Dale Spender, a prolific author of feminist works, said, "Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its battles have been for education, for the vote, for better working conditions ... for safety on the streets ... for child care, for social welfare ... for rape crisis centers, women's refuges, reforms in the law. (If someone says) 'Oh, I'm not a feminist,' (I ask) 'Why not?'"
Haq is a Kansas City, Mo., senior in psychology and communication studies. She is president of the Commission on the Status of Women.
THE KANSAN ON-LINE
kansan.com
Go to kansan.com and click on the opinion section to check out the weekly online poll. Click on forums to post to the discussion.
Should an individual school or department ask students to contribute money to the cost of needed improvements?
Of 177 replies, 73 percent of voters said no, 9 percent said yes and 18 percent said it depended on the improvement.
Yes. The impending war in Iraq demands that we train ourselves to resolve problems without brute force.
Opinion poll: Should the University have a minor in peace and conflict studies?
Last week's results:
No. What good does idealistic debate between students do?
Free for All
Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to edit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
--haven't we had a female president? Why aren't there more female Nobel Laureates or tycoons? This is where the "glass ceiling" explanation comes in. Women are allowed to advance only so far in society until the patriarchal power structure erects the invisible glass ceiling to thwart them. In fact, the glass ceiling is really a biological one.
Could somebody please stop that incessant buzzing in the Union?
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For those of you who think America is a dictatorship, go live somewhere else.
I just got the mail, and I got ESPN, Esquire, Stuff and FHN magazines. Midterm, I'm just gonna have to study for you later.
I just got out of my calculus test, and my roommate and I are watching this car trying to pull into a spot that's half its size. What's wrong with these Kansas drivers?
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Bill O'Reilly is perhaps the greatest journalist ever.
I just saw a commercial for Jack Flanigan's that touted their world famous buffalo wings. First of all, since when did they become so world-renowned? And second of all, does anyone really eat there?
haven't we had a female president? Why aren't there more female Nobel Laureates or tycoons? This is where the "glass ceiling" explanation comes in. Women are allowed to advance only so far in society until the patriarchal power structure erects the invisible glass ceiling to thwart them. In fact, the glass ceiling is really a biological one.
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What is the significance of Geek Week?
I'm greek and I still think it's damn dumb.
I hate my cell biology teacher. If it's a 400-level biology class, we'd better know what a freakin' protein is. He doesn't need to ask us.
So they're looking for the next All-
American girl. Did they notice that Geri
Haliwell is British? What does she know
about All-American girls?
--haven't we had a female president? Why aren't there more female Nobel Laureates or tycoons? This is where the "glass ceiling" explanation comes in. Women are allowed to advance only so far in society until the patriarchal power structure erects the invisible glass ceiling to thwart them. In fact, the glass ceiling is really a biological one.
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Please cut my steak. I don't know how.
My mom used to do it for me.
I live on Templin 2,and we have a huge mole problem.
To study or not to study: That is the question.
I just wanted to say that I'm an evolution, but honestly, how many times do you hear someone cry out Isaac Newton's name during sex?
haven't we had a female president? Why aren't there more female Nobel Laureates or tycoons? This is where the "glass ceiling" explanation comes in. Women are allowed to advance only so far in society until the patriarchal power structure erects the invisible glass ceiling to thwart them. In fact, the glass ceiling is really a biological one.
I would like to make note of a national news broadcast which announced that the House — yes, our government's House — has decided to change the name of French fries and French toast to "freedom fries" and "freedom toast." Yet another example of how Americans are the belligerent teenagers of the world.
PERSPECTIVE
Gender differences prevent true equality
One hundred and fifty years ago, such eminent first wave feminists as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott (among many others) lobbied for basic rights such as university admission, the right to own property, and the right to vote. First Wave feminists had realistic, achievable goals. Their vision was not absolute equal gender parity in every profession and aspect of life. They simply wanted fair treatment.
"We ask no better laws than those you have made for yourselves," Cady Stanton said while addressing the New York State legislature in 1864. "We need no other protection than that which your present laws secure to you."
GUEST COMMENTARY
Arrah Nielsen
opinion@kansan.com
Were Cady Stanton and Mott alive today, they would surely be astounded at the progress women have made since the 19th century. Their goals of suffrage and property rights seem quaint when you consider that women are running Fortune 500 companies and states. Females in America can do any job they are qualified to do and even some they are not, such as being firemen.
The objectives of First Wavers have been met and even exceeded. But if society is so fair and equitable today, why
The obvious fact is that women give birth and lactate and men do not. Women more so than men take time out from their careers to raise children and they express a willingness to do so. Thus feminists and liberals alike make the case for greater flexibility in the workforce, government sponsored childcare and mandatory paid maternity leave.
This seems reasonable enough, as it
would allow women to pursue their careers without being penalized for having children. Europe has much more generous benefits for working parents, such as a shortened work week, government sponsored childcare and mandatory paid leave.
There are all sorts of neat programs the government could offer if money and productivity were not an issue, but money and productivity are an issue.
Children are not the only reason we see fewer women than men in high-ranking positions. In you accept that men and women are different, these differences extend beyond mere sexual plumbing, but are rooted in the brain and in evolution. It would follow that women, on average, have different natures and make different choices when presented with the same opportunities.
The problem is that these policies are so expensive; employers cannot afford to hire anybody. That is why Western European unemployment rates are so much higher than the United States. Additionally, their birthrate is below replacement level. Government sponsored childcare frees parents to work to pay taxes to pay for government sponsored childcare.
Certainly social conditioning is influential, but it is hardly the full story. Women, on average are more nurturing and less ambitious and aggressive than men. Aggressiveness and ambition are the sorts of characteristics it takes to rise in a patriarchy. Because fewer women than men possess these characteristics, we see fewer women at the highest rungs of the ladder.
Disparity does not always mean discrimination. Sex discrimination in this society is like syphilis. It exists and it is nasty, but it is not pandemic or a tremendous problem.
Those who hold a sort of transgendered vision for society in which men and women are as interchangeable as Lincoln Logs are destined to be disappointed, not because of the pervasiveness of sexism in society but because of the pervasiveness of sexual differences. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
As biologist and author Matt Ridley aptly put it in The Red Queen "Difference is not inequality."
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Nielsen is a Wichita junior in biological anthropology.
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