The Role of Women
Women have come a long way both in society and politics. It's hard to believe they did not have the right to vote until 1920. And there were only a few serving in Congress until the late 20th century. Today women make up about 24 per cent of Congress and several have leadership positions. They are now serving in the military, many as superior officers. And this year six are in the presidential race for 2020.
In the religious world women have also made progress. Many women are pastors in various Protestant churches and a few have been ordained bishops. In the Catholic church they now have more leadership roles. Women are the mainstay of most churches although they are often taken for granted and underpaid.
But more and more women are making their voices heard. They are speaking out for their rights and the rights of immigrants, trafficked women, people of color, and other minorities. They are no longer looked upon as sscond class citizens, but as equals in most sectors of U.S. society.
This, of course, is not true in many countries. A woman is still forced to marry a man selected by her parents in many areas of Africa and Asia. Women are considered possessions instead of equal persons in some parts of the world. They do not have the right to vote or hold political office in many developing countries.
We have to keep fighting for equal status where women are treated as lesser than men. They are as intelligent and capable as men, and more qualified than some. They have proved to be noteworthy leaders, such as Angela Merkel in German; Julia Gillard, prime minister of Australia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia; and Tarja Halonen, president of Finland. Until all our sisters around the world are free and treated as equals, none of us are free.
In the religious world women have also made progress. Many women are pastors in various Protestant churches and a few have been ordained bishops. In the Catholic church they now have more leadership roles. Women are the mainstay of most churches although they are often taken for granted and underpaid.
But more and more women are making their voices heard. They are speaking out for their rights and the rights of immigrants, trafficked women, people of color, and other minorities. They are no longer looked upon as sscond class citizens, but as equals in most sectors of U.S. society.
This, of course, is not true in many countries. A woman is still forced to marry a man selected by her parents in many areas of Africa and Asia. Women are considered possessions instead of equal persons in some parts of the world. They do not have the right to vote or hold political office in many developing countries.
We have to keep fighting for equal status where women are treated as lesser than men. They are as intelligent and capable as men, and more qualified than some. They have proved to be noteworthy leaders, such as Angela Merkel in German; Julia Gillard, prime minister of Australia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia; and Tarja Halonen, president of Finland. Until all our sisters around the world are free and treated as equals, none of us are free.
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