Do women have it better today than they did in the 1980s?

Where I went to school, in northern Minnesota of the 1980's, women were treated poorly by men and society. My Mom was a nurse and she said that if they had a conference and a doctor entered the room and there were no chairs available, a nurse would give up her seat. Women were viewed as sex objects and used as verbal whipping posts. Of course, not all men treated women like this, but it seemed like most did. Do you think it is better today for woman than of the past?

I had girl friends in the 80's who had been sexually abused by their fathers and the male social workers did nothing abut it. When I started working in 1984 it was common for my female colleagues to be sexually harrassed in the workplace or forced to have sex in the male bosses offices. I was often sent off to get the boss KFC at dinner time quite a disgusting use of resources really. I was told once that as a young checkout girl that I should wear a tighter uniform and some lip stick to brighten up my face!! Women were treated quite badly and I think that as more people got educated they knew their rights and the responsibilities so theses days although women are still sexually harrassed and male social workers may turn a blind eye to sexual abuse I think its getting rarer.

I think that if anybody states that women were not badly treated in the work force or looked down upon then they do so because it gives them some sence of comfort but the realiyt is that girls and women were treated quite badly from sexist men.

Kiasister1- I disagree with you for a start women have always been portrayed as sex objects just look at Marylyn Monroe and others. Women have always been seen as fair game in the workplace and at home by their fathers as sex toys. Incest was occuring for centuries with fathers and uncles, brothers and grandfathers thinking it was fair game to have sex with young vulnerable girls, their daughters, their sisters, neices, granddaughters. It was never discussed but kept behind closed doors. In fact I have spoken to many lder women who have arrived to speak to me in my capacity as a Social Worker and advocate for their granddaughters. One elderly woman said to me " It happened to me and you just learn to accept it". In fact she was horrified that her 13 year old granddaughter was raped by her mothers second husband. All she could say was "If she had kept her mouth shut she would be at home in school not living in a refuge". And I have heard these comments quite often from elderly women whose view was that they had it hard and being raped by ones father was just an acceptable thing.

There is a very sad story Kiasister1 about manners of the people raised in the 30's, 40's and 50's. A woman spoke to me once about her father. He too opened doors and walking on the side of the side walk, stood up when his wife entered the room and to the outside world displayed great respect for women and the sexual abuse that this young woman was subjected too would change the colour of your hair. I am not talking about juts sex but quite sadistic sickening activities like she was some type of personal sex toy. This girl was 11 when the abuse started and 15 when she ran away and there are 100s of stories like that and it is truly disgusting. No there was no respect for women in those days 50's, 60's , 70's & 80'sjust a facade by some - not all devious men. The sexual harrassment and discrimination to women was rife.

Women were made to leave their jobs when they married - this occurred in Australia in many government positions. No you are quite mistaken and brain washed to be under the impression that all or even most women were respected. Today we have good laws established that aim to help women with discrimination or sexual abuse and women can have bank accounts, and keep their jobs and buy land etc. Yes the 1980's were the last remanant of sexual and physical abuse for women. Go and read your history if aboriginal women and indian women and other indigenious women have been subjected to abuse why not white women?

WHY is your answer so LONG? Take it easy. Report It

Yes they have it better today than back then in more ways than I care to spend the time listing. Much better.

I can only speak from experience. In my own life men's treatment of women has improved. In the late 1970s I was hired to work for the USFS for a job that men had always done. The boss hired two women because he'd taken a test that showed him he was prejudiced. But knowing why we were hired meant that the two of us had to work twice as hard to show him that he hadn't made a mistake. And he said at the end of our jobs that we had been his best employees. But ... it's taken until the last decade in my own academic discipline that women have been treated as full participants and worthy of notice. So .. I think it's getting better but I also think it's interesting that so many young women that are my students believe everything is solved now and we don't have to worry about women's rights anymore. Not all young women ... but many feel this way.

In the 1980's, feminism and female independence was constantly under fire from all sides 鈥?magazines, TV, movies, the fashion world, psychology, the workplace. It has toned down considerably since.

I think that you are sorely mistaken. I lived in the 80's and I don't remember women being treated like that. I think that is a line that the feminists are trying to feed to you to make you think that all men are useless. Even in the 50's women were more respected than that. As a whole Men have always respected women. The whole opening the door, pulling out a chair. walking on the outside of the sidewalk, standing when a woman comes in to a room, giving up your chair for a women, those types of things are centuries old. Men have done those things for centuries because they respect women. Men used to go to work and provide for their families out of duty and respect to their wives. They believed that women weren't built for labor. It wasn't an oppressive thing, it was more of a respect thing.

There have always been men who were jerks and berated women. There have always been men who did not respect women. But as a Whole Men have respected Women.

To answer your main question - Yes and No. Yes women have more freedoms now, than at any other time in the world. Women can be anything they want including CEO's- in the 80's you did not hear of high powered women a lot- they were just starting to delve into those fields. No women don't have it better now because in the 80's women did not have to work. It was okay then for women to stay home with their children if they wanted to. And there were more women who did. That really was when mothers started working and allowing their children to be raised by some cold daycare. Now most women HAVE to work- just to get by. In fact now- many men expect their wives to work. Those women who really want to stay home and not go to a job outside the home, don't always have that option. Men aren't always paid a living wage, because their wives can go to work. Women are more sex objects now than ever. Shows like desperate Housewives, were totally taboo in the 80's. Women still dressed modest and could buy modest clothing. Women weren't protrayed on TV (except on cable) as sex objects like they are now.

You are getting the wrong information from a very bitter feminist. I hope that you don't hate men. I hope that you can learn to respect men and to have men respect you.

The 1980s that I lived through were rife with misogynistic imagery-MTV, Dallas, Fatal Attraction, etc. It was also the heyday of Phil Donahue and Oprah's career was blossoming. Working moms, kids in daycare, the deficit, Nancy Reagan with all her little slogans, the 1980s were positively revolting.
I think that women a little further back on the time line had it much harder, but all in all, yes, we have it better now than in the 80s.
Good luck

It is definitely much better for women now but it depends on the culture I guess.