When talking about Gender Issues: Do you look at the big picture or just at yourself?

Question

Perhaps a better question would be:

IF you can distance your personal experiences from your opinions or thoughts on gender issues?

If yes or no could you explain why?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I take into consideration my exsperiance, what my children will go through, what my husband goes through, what my sister's go through (one is a bikini bartender one works in an office) What my mother went through as a woman coming of age during the height of the feminist movement, What my grandmothers have gone through. And do you know what I think? I think we are real lucky to be living right now and not 50 or 60 years ago. I also think that the origianl feminist got what they wanted, equal rights, and now the new feminist want special rights... thats were I draw the line.

Answer 2

If I looked only at myself, I would have nothing to say about the problems faced by men, spouses, parents, homemakers, or the wealthy, as I have no intention of being any of these things. So it's the big picture for me.

Answer 3

I must admit that some of my views are tainted by my own prejudices and biases, but atleast I admit it unlike a feminast. I aim for objectivity and justice but I am not 100% objective, no one is.

Answer 4

I think many women who answer here will look to any example other than themselves- preferably those examples (as few or irrelative as they may be) which may provide an opportunity for them to further their argument.

Answer 5

Have to look at both.

It's impossible to ignore whats happened to you in the past.

And it's foolish to think that everyone has had to some thing happen to them.

Answer 6

I managed to look at the big picture only because i experienced it in person.

I was very able and fortunate to have come out unscathed from that experience. However while i was still under going it, I realized how much more were the sufferings of those who are still stuck up there...While i came out unharmed(mostly). The agony of others is what inspires me to speak on the behalf of those who are/were less privileged/fortunate.

So experience to me was like a road leading me to the truth.

Answer 7

I try to keep the big picture in mind, but it's often our personal experiences which shape our views. It's difficult to feel strongly about a cause if it doesn't affect you or someone close to you.

Taking the gender pay gap, just the fact that I don't know any women who have personally been paid less than a man for the same job tells me that it can't be a widespread problem, otherwise it would affect the majority of women in the workplace. It doesn't mean that I don't believe there are incidences where women are paid less, just that I think it's an isolated problem. A woman who has been discriminated against in the workplace or knows many women who have will probably see the problem as much larger than I do. It doesn't mean that one of us is right and one is wrong, just that we see things differently because of our experiences.

I support men's issues too, even though I'm not a man. To have accurate information on those I rely more on other people's accounts and on statistics, so perhaps my views on issues which don't concern me are less biased.

Our personal experiences usually form our opinions; sometimes, even if the facts tell us something different, we're inclined to follow our instincts. But I try to be as logical as I can, and I listen to other people's opinions to help to clarify my own.

Answer 8

I think my biggest concern in relation to gender issues is the situation in Africa. I guess that's more big picture.

Answer 9

Big picture most definitely. I have very traditional views on women's role in society. I think that the standards for being a fire fighter or a police officer or PT test for the military should not be lowered for women. If you want to be equal, then be equal! There are women out there who really could do these things, but the ones who can barely get by with the "girly" standards have no business being out there.  

Answer 10

Jess - Where I live women have to take the same tests as men to become a fire fighter or police officer (my mother is a fire medic. She weighs 120 lbs and she's about 5'4. In order to pass, she had to climb a ladder carrying a 200lb man. Even the men struggled with this.). Although, since there is low enrolment for police officers recently, they have lowered their standards for everyone. That's comforting...

Anyway, I really look at both my personal experiences and the big picture. My fiance's dad went to prison for sexually abusing and raping his daughter. His daughter is one of my closest friends. She used to tell me what her "uncle" did to her...it made me sick to my stomach when I realized who was actually abusing her. The thing that hit me the hardest is how she was treated by her family. Her brothers ignored her, because she had "ratted out' their father. When he went to prison, she had to move out (as the house was sold). She was only 17 when this happened...and she was all by herself. She worked full time and didn't finish school. And, while she suffered, her abuser was given a nutritionist, medication, a salary (while he sat around all day), and free health care once he got out. The health care also included a counsellor.  And her father never showed remorse. Even today when we go to see him (he's our neighbor now, unfortunately), he still treats me and his daughter like pieces of meat. He has no respect for women. I think this has really influenced my thinking. Even the courts were harsh on my friend. It was just disgusting.

Answer 11

I look at myself, because in the long run my own advantage matters more to me than that of strangers

Answer 12

I look at the big picture, but at the same time I think it is natural to concentrate more on issues that affect us or our loved ones, and those we have direct experience of.  

Answer 13

I think that although many people apply this directly to themselves they can't help but looking at the macro and mezzo pictures.  Social policy is what dictates how people act and react and these are the basis of most oppressive laws that tend to marginalize and impact those with the least resources or voice.  Policy is what makes certain populations invisible.