You've Come a Long Way - Baby?

Were that saying as true as advertisers would have us believe, the woman being congratulated for her progress wouldn't be referred to as a "baby." Clearly women haven't come far enough to escape demeaning terms of reference from strangers such as "honey," "chick," "dear," or "baby." Which leads to the question :

How far have women come in their quest for equality? A 1950s home economics text instructed high school girls in :

Have dinner ready....This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.

Make him comfortable. Have him lie down in a comfortable chair or suggest that he lie down in the bedroom.

Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Speak in a low, soft soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him....Let him talk first. Make the evening his.

Many of us would look at this list and think "Well, that was forty years ago. Relationships have changed. No woman would take such advice seriously now." Let's look, then, at the February 1996 issue of Cosmopolitan. Here's their advice about :

Bake him chocolate-chip cookies--serve while still warm....Make fresh-squeezed orange juice and serve him breakfast in bed.

Match up his socks....Take his ties to the cleaners.

Laugh at his jokes. Ask him to repeat them for friends.

If he doesn't want to talk, let him be....Watch a whole football game without chatting.

Make love even if you have a headache....Fake a colossal orgasm once in a while....Tell him you admire him--the ultimate compliment....Let him sleep after sex.

Say "I'm sorry" first...even if you aren't.

The 1950s and 1990s messages to women are clear--and the same. The role of the woman in a heterosexual relationship is to please the man, to make his life easier and more pleasant, to take care of him, and even to lie to him for the sake of his ego and greater happiness.

IS THIS HOW WE WOULD DEFINE "A LONG WAY"?

We asked women on this campus if they feel women have made adequate progress in their professional fields or their lives. While they often recognize the changes that have occurred, they know there is still much work to be done before equality is reached. Hear their voices:

During the past two decades, women have received degrees in most fields and have entered most professions in proportion to their representation in the population (51%). The notable exception is in the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering where women constitute just 16% of all employed scientists and engineers and only 12% of the engineering and scientific labor force in industry. (KSC professor)

Things have improved in broadcast journalism as can be seen in a recent statistic that 2 women had the most stories for 2 of the major networks. They were covering the White House. Things still remain to be done because none of the major networks have a woman anchor. (KSC professor)

Twenty years ago when my mother was in college, she went first to find a husband and second to get an education. Today a husband is the farthest thing from my mind and going on for more education is my focus. But while this has changed for me, it has not changed for all of society. (KSC student)

While there are more women support groups and women can find help and feel less alienated when something bad happens to them, the bad is still happening. Women still fear walking alone at night and domestic violence. (KSC student)

Women have clearly made progress in many ways, but when relationships are still defined in terms of submission, when women still have not achieved job equity, and when women still have to fear for their safety.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.