FWD from Week 2 discussion

I feel this topic of gender roles and equality and contrast amongst the sexes is
relevant to anybody, even if you aren't familiar with Beauvoir's writings. I find it fascinating, much like other discussions, that this was written in 1949, but yet, has so many connections with how we still live in 2008. There are some slight differences from quotes such as, "the two sexes have never shared the world in equality. And even today woman is heavily handicapped, though her situation is beginning to change. Almost nowhere is her legal status the same as man’s, and frequently it is much to her disadvantage. Even when her rights are legally recognised in the abstract, long-standing custom prevents their full expression in the mores." I do think that a lot of changes have been made in the last five decades, and I think the female's handicap she speaks of has evolved much more into an advantage, actually allowing them to express themselves if not more than men, especially in the workforce and consumer industries. I was cracking up from "shoes" bit from youtube.com because it is sadly true. It's like that mid-90's cult hit classic, "Clueless" where women have obvious advantages over men, especially when it comes to expression, clothes, fashion and beauty. Men are powerless to a beautiful woman, and although culture continues to change around us, the woman always has the power of choosing her mate, whereas if a male had the power to choose any mate, they would be considered an aggressor. Us men don't quite understand the fascination with materials and fashion, but we are internally jealous and fascinated with the results and power it has for our hormones.
I also found the following quote fairly interesting, "How is it that this world has always belonged to the men and that things have begun to change only recently? Is this change a good thing? Will it bring about an equal sharing of the world between men and women?" In light of John McCain's recent pick for VP in Palin, I feel that this quote has an interesting correlation with what could easily be the final string in world equality between men and women. With the entire world either in disgust or awe of American politics, a women Vice President can possibly have an influence for other nations to follow in the footsteps of gender rights. Beauvoir was merely skimming the surface. Although I'm not really a McCain fan, I do think that Palin as a VP in our government IS a good thing and CAN attempt to bring about an equal sharing of the WORLD and not just our nation.