Discussion

Respond in complete sentences to the topic in the Discussion area with a full, on-point reply. Be sure to make at least one reference to the course material or another resource. Also, reply to two classmates with thoughtful and substantive posts that further the discussion.

Discussion Topic	
•	Choose one article from either of the reference sections in the assigned readings for this unit to learn more about any gendered movement that interests you. 
•	Locate the article using the KU Library Super Search. 
•	Share one finding from the article that will help you better understand a specific gender issue in today’s global society.
•	Imagine that you were an active participant in the gendered movement that you read about in this article. What do you think your major contributions would have been to that movement? 

WIMS got it right 	
Edward Jackson 	
10/5/2013 3:39:02 PM	

	
The article that I have selected is Wednesdays in Mississippi: Uniting Women across Regional and Racial Lines, Summer 1964.  The main point of the article was people meeting together from all walks of life to overcome racial disparity.  In the 1960s, the civil rights movement was tearing away at the walls of segregation and the overall mistreatment of the African American community.  An assembly of diverse women came to together to form a group called WIMS…or Wednesday in Mississippi.  As the article’s name suggests, these women had a mission, and that was bridging the racial gap between the haves and have nots.

The main thing I took away from the article is that all things are possible when people come together; standing alone your voice may not be heard; but standing together, now that causes people to pay attention.  If I had been an active participant in the gender movement, I definitely would have reinforced everything that the women were saying.  I would have marched with them, donated money, and spread the word of the disparity between the sexes.  Honestly, I do that now as well…meaning I support women’s rights, equal pay, and I am just waiting for the ERA to be ratified.  I believe in equal pay for equal work; equal rights across the board really.  I cannot believe that the United States still has major issues in not mandating equality by law.  For example, women still make 23% less than men…doing the exact same job (Huffington Post).  What gives here?  It just doesn’t make sense to me.  Just like with the WIMS, I think it’s time for women (and men) to come together again.

                                                     Reference

Harwell, D. Z. (2010). Wednesdays in Mississippi: Uniting Women across Regional and 

         Racial Lines, Summer 1964. Journal Of Southern History, 76(3), 617-654.

Bassett, Laura.  (n.d.).  Women Still Earned 77 Cents On Men's Dollar In 2012: 

          Report. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/ 
   
           gender-wage-gap_n_3941180.html

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Eddie Jackson
GOK - Philosophy Major/Liberal Studies
http://eddiejackson.net/   university page	

RE: Initial 	
Edward Jackson 	
10/6/2013 12:48:21 PM	

	
You mention several good points about history directing women’s rights and really how women have been looked at, specifically not being the bread winners of the family.  The article I read Wednesdays in Mississippi: Uniting Women across Regional and Racial Lines, Summer 1964 was about women coming together; professional, homemakers, rich, and poor.  These women joined forces to challenge tradition.  I too think that the gender walls are slowly being torn down.  The only thing that I would respectfully disagree with is that women that are homemakers, degreed or not, fulfill a highly important role, and to me demands respect.  Anyone can sit in an office and answer phones, attend meetings, and put PowerPoints together.  Not just anyone can be a good homemaker…it takes a lot of hard work, consistency, and personal conviction to want to build a solid home.  But, nonetheless, I see what you’re saying.  I think, as a country, we are moving in the right direction…the only one thing I would caution is that we don’t forget the home life, even if it a shared responsibility.  It’s far too common that mother and father, husband and wife are working professionals, and no one is managing the home; this would explain a lot of the current problems in this country; rise in crime, school shootings, and increasing divorce rate.

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Eddie Jackson
GOK - Philosophy Major/Liberal Studies
http://eddiejackson.net/   university page	

RE: Unit 3 	
Edward Jackson 	
10/6/2013 1:05:59 PM	

	
Very informative post.  I read the article Wednesdays in Mississippi: Uniting Women across Regional and Racial Lines, Summer 1964.  What I learned from the article is that pretty much anything is possible when women unite.  The 1960’s definitely were a turbulent time in U.S. history; but there were reasons for that.  Every time a group people are discriminated against, there will always be those that fight for equality.  What really concerns me is that even though the 1960’s was successful in many ways, there is still much work to be done.  For example, the African American community and women are not 100% equal; far from it actually.  I would like to see our leaders pursue a more active role in seeking equality.  Perhaps in this next presidential election it will come up.

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Eddie Jackson
GOK - Philosophy Major/Liberal Studies
http://eddiejackson.net/   university page