In chapters five through eight, Hobsbawm looks into several progressive aspects of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Firstly, with the furthering of industrialization, technology begins to diminish the amount of people needed to complete jobs. For example, farming - fewer people are working on farms due to the use of machines. Many people were laboring during this time, especially in the states. People begin taking office jobs, working in shows and performing other services instead of just manual labor. Secondly, nationalism grows throughout the world and movements ensue. The middle class or the bourgeoise emerges as a political and cultural force. Lastly in this section, Hobsbawm explores the notion of the "New Woman" where around the world, specifically in Europe and in the states, women begin working outside of the home and earning wages, claiming more independence, and using their voices as a means to acquire personal autonomy.
What captured my attention in this reading was the fact that the movements regarding women's rights perpetuated similiar activity in neighboring countries and also in countries of equivalent status in the world. The first to take the streets in protest were the women of Britain. After this, it seems everyone followed suit, coming to the realization the worldwide women were constantly in inferior positions to men and sought change in this regard.
What's more interesting is that in the United States it has taken a century for women to be in a position where they have almost all the rights that men do. What change needs to happen in the Middle East for women to have equality? Perhaps a change in power or a government that is not a theocracy would make a definitive change. It's interesting to consider what has already taken place and what needs to before there can be significant change where women are able to have even close to the rights that men do.
I hope you all find this as fascinating as I do. Have a swell weekend, folks!
A. Gorno
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I also found the last chapter interesting. It is not just a high standard of living that promotes women's rights movements. I believe that for women to have equal rights in the Middle East, they must rally, protest, and stand firm in the belief that they are equal to men.
ReplyDeleteKayla O
I would also agree with Kayla. I think that it will be a combination of protesting for equal rights with an increased economy and increased standard of living, which would force both the man and the woman of the house to earn an income.
ReplyDeleteI think it will be very difficult for women to come to equality in the Middle East. Keep in mind the Middle East knew about Woman's rights movements when they happened about a century ago, and they proudly refused to follow suit. Other countries around the world giving women their rights seemed only to enforce their culture of female subordination. Whatever we do, they seem to do the opposite.
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