Carly Tagen-Dye

4/24/14
Red Group

Women should be given the legal protection of a minority group, but to

an extent where it does not take away their rights. There is no escaping the
female species. We are fifty percent of the worlds population; take up fifty
percent of the planet. We are seen in workforces of all kinds, and are able to
compete with men at just about anything. These traits and these rights of
working under equal conditions with men should not be taken away. However,
women should be protected to fight out against rape and pornography. If
something makes them uncomfortable or causes emotional trauma, it should
be protected, just like any law. If you are protected under a law, that does not
mean that your rights are taken away too.
There have been many debates as to the extent of when women
should be given legal protection. This is only because of the many
circumstances that have put women at risk in the past. It is unfair to say that
all men are bad and that all men are sex fiends, but from the millions of
women who have been victims of rape and sexual abuse, the story seems to
spin a little differently. Many women who have been victims of rape, and even
some who havent, believe that women should be protected against rape.
According to author Susan Brownmiller in her book Against Our Will, To a
woman the definition of rape is fairly simple. A sexual invasion of the body by
force, an incursion into the private personal inner space without consent- in
short, an internal assaulta deliberate violation of emotional physical and
rational integrity. Brownmiller tried very hard for the ratification of the ERA
movement by publishing her book and drawing attention to the unfairness of
taking advantage of women. Back then, it was a problem. Once again, rape
cases have been rapidly appearing in the newspapers and magazines. It is
starting to once again become a big problem. More and more women are
getting pregnant, more and more of them are underage. Taking advantage of
a minor or a woman in general is against the law. If you assault a man against
her will, that is illegal. It should be illegal to assault a woman against her will.

Women should have legal protection when it comes to things like rape, yet
they should still be able to keep their rights as a woman and as a citizen.
When the feminist movement was at its peak and the ERA was about
to get passed, there were voices on the other side who apposed it. Probably
the most famous one was a woman named Phyllis Schlafly. Schlafly was seen
as the leader of the anti-ERA movement. She believed that if all women were
treated equal, it would mean that we would get the exact same treatment of
men, no matter how hard. Our daughters would be drafted into the military
and be forced to fight. She also deemed it as unfair that women were leaving
their husbands and raising children without fathers because they didnt want
to be treated as a housewife in a marriage. In an interview with Schlafly, she
states, The feminist movement is not about success for women. It is about
treating women as victims and about telling women that you cant succeed
because society is unfair to you, and I think thats a very unfortunate idea to
put in the minds of young women because I believe women can do whatever
they want. Schlafly did not like the idea of women feeling lesser than they
were. She was a mother of six, a housewife and an advocate in politics, yet
she did this all on her own, without the help of the ERA. Phyllis Schlafly was
apposed to the law passing because she believed that women were strong
people and could do what they want with the help of men.
Despite Schlaflys views, women could make it on their own in society,
without a man to keep them down. They should be treated as equals, but not
be used for mens pleasure. The subject of pornography is touchy. It has
become more available through internet porn websites, and more women
have gotten offended. Due to this, pornography should be viewed as a hate
speech. The definition of this meaning, according to americanbar.org, is is
speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color,
religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or other traits. Women
are getting demeaned and exploited through pornography. Many men do use
it as a way to give themselves pleasure, but also to keep women in their
place. According to Erica Szalkowski, I saw myself as being constantly
compared to an impossible sexual ideal, not just by society, but by the man

who supposedly cared deeply for me. The anguished feelings of despair and
exploitation of women in porn have increased over the years. It has caused
much emotional trauma, as stated by Erica Szalkowski, Men begin to view
women and even small children as sex objects, commodities, or instruments
for their pleasure. Because of this, pornography should be viewed as a hate
speech. If it offends someone, it should not be allowed.
The equal rights of women have grown very much since the feminist
movement began in the early 1900s. Women have ultimately received
equality in America, in the workplace and on the streets. Through protests
and activists such as Billie Jean King and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, women have
made a name in politics, sports, literature and just about everything else.
One hundred years ago, women would not have been allowed to be doctors
or firefighters or soldiers. The right to be treated equally has become more
important over the years. The right for women to be able to attend colleges
and play on teams is another thing. Women have become the focus of
television and movies. Women are allowed to vote in America and are able to
be in charge of their own lives. According to Katherine Switzer There isnt a
girl in this country who should grow up with a sense of limitation. This
statement is becoming truer every day.
In conclusion, women should be given legal protection of a minority
group, but not to the extent where it takes away their rights. In modern day
society, there are women doctors, police officers, soldiers, business leaders,
presidential candidates and much more. These hard workers should not be
ridiculed of their rights simply because of their gender. Women are capable of
doing much more than expected, which is why they should not be limited as a
minority group. However, it is unfair to put women on display as pleasure.
Women should have protected rights against rape and pornography. They
should not be seen as sex symbols, but as equals in a community.

Works Cited Page

"DebatingHateSpeech."americanbar.org.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Apr.2015.
students_in_action/debate_hate.html>.

Sachs,Andrea."PhyllisSchlaflyat84."content.time.com.N.p.,7Apr.2009.
Web.25Apr.2015.0,8599,1889757,00.html>.

Brownmiller,Susan.AgainstOurWill:Men,WomenandRape.N.p.:OpenRoad
Media,1975.Print.

Szalkowski,Erica."HowPornographyharmswomenandmen."dailycaller.com.
N.p.,16July2012.Web.25Apr.2015.16/howpornographyharmswomenandmen/>

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WomenwhomakeAmerica:ChangingtheWorld.pbs.org.N.p.,n.d.Web.25
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