hat the women who have distinguished
eautiful nor the most gentle of their sex.”
I have been watching women
fighting for their rights over
many years, clear up to the present time culminat-
ing in #MeToo. I personally never had a problem or
disadvantage because of being a woman. Being fe-
male never prevented me from following my goals
for education, work, recognition, relationships. I
never once suffered any sexual harassment (too
ugly?). This led me to consider the topic of men’s rights in
general. I come from a family of strong females, in-
cluding my grandmother, my mother, my sisters,
sisters — in — law, daughter, a niece, daughter-in-law,
and granddaughters. I always made family deci-
sions, controlled the family money, travelled at will,
worked professionally according to my own expec-
tations. All the women in my family have done so,
and continue to do so, as well.
Recently the club’s film group presented me with an
honorary Oscar at the Oscar Party. I was very grate-
ful for their generosity, but also because I had never
won an Oscar at any of our annual parties. There
I was: holding an Oscar in my hand. That meant I
was clutching a naked man around his bare butt
and private parts. Oops! Why have men never risen
against this sexism via a statue? Do they consider it
a reference to Greek sculpture? How would women
deal with being a naked statue, being “touched” by
men? The most important men in my life: father, husband,
brothers, son, and a nephew, follow the lead of
their women, doing whatever is required of them.
They work faithfully in their jobs and turn over the
money to the head of the family: the woman. My
father went to work every day, until he died of ex-
haustion at age 52 (my mother lived until she was
90). My husband went to work every day, gave me
the bank account, and asked me if I was “happy.”
Now, young men today have ever more responsi-
bility taking care of children. Who takes off a day
of work, when the daughter is ill and cannot go to
kindergarten? My nephew does, not his wife.
#MenToo
Perhaps now women can use their newly won rights
to help men become their equals.
by Becky T .
I have been
similarly dis-
criminated against by my employer at the time,
a Public Notary. This was 60 years ago but it still
incenses me. I was 6 months pregnant and my ma-
ternity leave was due in 3 months. When I applied
for leave my employer flatly refused to pay for ma-
ternity leave. Instead I was fired a month later. He
told me I could sue him but he would win the case.
Maternity Leave
Photos from Unsplash
His argument: he had been intending to reduce his
work load for some time, this was known by his
friends and colleagues and was stated in his letter
of dismissal. This was 1953, I chickened out and
did not offer a “good fight” but it still grates me.
by Heidi K .
www.awchamburg.org
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