women oppression as well as the reason why the act is carried out
Several theories and concepts have been used to explain and describe women oppression as well as the reason why the act is carried out. One of them is the structural functionalism theory. The theory claims that a state of balance is maintained in society through the parts of the society’s function. The concept also agrees on the general nature of unfair treatments and dysfunctions within the community. Therefore, based on this theory, men bring disruption to women in society intending to make them oppressed; thus, they cannot rise to challenge them in social matters. Men enjoy the stability of being supreme, and they are not ready to lose the supremacy to the woman. Therefore, the threat of women trying to realize their potential in society is destabilized by men who do not offer the chance to enjoy their full possibilities.
The other concept explaining the oppression of women by men is the conflict theory. It argues that the group that has dominated will remain at the top and do everything possible to oppress the inferiors so that they cannot rise above them. Basing on this concept, men believe that when women are equal chance like the men, they will become dominant over them and men will not be able to control them. When the women rise above men the issue of sexism will be eliminated and that is the greatest fear that makes men not to allow women to have a change of growing. To suppress this, men create social problems by oppressing women. Historically, power has been maintained by men through causing conflicts which results in women suffrages experienced.
Experience and Treatment
The history of America reveals how women have been oppressed socially, politically, economically and physically. The discriminatory practices has resulted has led to negative implications in women lives as they interact with institutions like health care, faith, economic, social and educational facilities. The oppression they faced is described below:
Social Oppression
Several social types of oppressions have been subjected to women in America. The first type of social discrimination is classism and barrier to services, women were seen as being the less fortunate in the society and they were not allowed to cross class in any circumstance. For instance in mass congregations, whenever any women stood up to raise a point, they were neglected and the point that was suggested by men were taken into consideration. Also, the women found it hard to access some services especially when the staff were mainly from dominant group. For example, in health centers, women were discriminated by staffs and they had to wait much longer to receive services. Sexism is another social oppression that women faced. The Americans believed that men are superior over women and this forced women into being subservient where they had to respect men always and do as they are directed. The social discriminations faced by women affected them in many ways as they struggle for liberation.