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Thanks for your note to FEMINIST.COM
and for thinking of us to help
with your debate. Here are some
things that might help with
your argument that parity--equal
numbers--is the only way to
equalize the workplace:
1.) Because women remain the
primary care givers of the children--they
are forced to take more time
away from their jobs than men
are. This therefore excludes
them from some jobs and jeapordizes
their positions in other jobs.
2.) Though some women have
succeeded in traditionally male
fields--banking, construction,
medicine, science, plumbing--professions
that remain dominated by women
(i.e. more than 70%) remaind
undervalued jobs when compared
to professions of equal skills
that are predominately male.
For instance, bankers make much
more than social workers, both
require some post-college study;
construction--which is building
homes is more valuable than
cleaning homes. Plumbers make
much more than child-care workers.
So we need to equalize the numbers
in order to increase the value
of certain professions.
3.) Also, you have to think
of this "equalizing" as being
to the benefit of men, too,
not just women--for instance,
maybe men will be relieved of
some pressure and, therefore,
able to spend more time with
their children. This stress
might also reduce the number
of heart attacks men have and
even increase their life span,
which is presently approximately
7 years shorter for men than
women.
I hope those suggestions help
with your debate.
—Amy
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