Durant wrote:
> > What role has technology played in the advance of women's rights? While many
> > deplore the "working mum", others applaud and encourage women to enter the
> > workforce and compete with men on a level playing field. In large measure no
> > one planned the technological changes which to some degree have made possible
> > the release of women from age-old roles.
> >
>
> I don't think technology had a lot effect in women's emancipation,
> which is still in it's infancy, specially globally.
> In the West, women still spend inordinately more time with housework
> than men whether they work fulltime or not, and the responsibility of
> keeping a family together is still assumed to be their role and "new
> man" at best is supportive, but not yet an equal sharer of this
> responsibility.
> Most of the lowest paid and less prestigious jobs are still
> filled by women. Women even in the US still earn a third less than
> men. Whatever change their was, it happened due to
> political pressure on the establishment.
> As soon as there is an economic crisis and rising unemployment,
> suddenly the arguments about family morality and the need of a full
> time mother is on the agenda.
> Where does technology come into it?
>
> Eva
>
You're right, of course. What gains women have made are pretty spotty globally. But
just as technology has made possible the consideration of a 4-day work week, it is
at least plausible to argue that domestic technology (automatic washer/dryer, vacuum
cleaner, microwave oven, frozen dinners, automatic dishwasher, personal computer,
etc.) has enabled the homemaker to enjoy a modicum of spare time to devote to other
enterprises, which may include putting "political pressure on the establishment".
But plausibility may be a far cry from reality and, in the final analysis, there are
numerous factors at play here of which technology may not be the most significant.
--
http://publish.uwo.ca/~mcdaniel/
