Chapter 23 (pp.
1137-1171)
Chapter 23 focused on capitalism and culture from 1945 and beyond. The section that captured mt attention the most was the focus on feminism and how at this time in America, society led to the second wave of feminism. Second-wave feminism widened the range of issues including sexuality,
the work place, reproductive rights, family, basic inequalities and
official legal inequalities. The second wave of feminism also focused on
the battle against domestic violence with proposals for marital rape
laws, the establishment of rape crisis and battered women's shelters and
the call for changes in custody and divorce law. A
women was expected to follow one path, marry in their early 20’s, start
a family right away, and to devote their lives to homemaking. Women had no right to their husband’s earrings and men monitored the women’s property and earnings. Working women's salaries were less than men's and they were denied opportunities to move up based on the premise that the women would become pregnant and quiet her job and unlike men, they didn’t have a family to support. The
feminist movement of the 60’s and 70’s original focus was on
dismantling workplace inequality, such as denial to better jobs and
salaries, via anti-discrimination laws. After World War 2, most job openings went to women and what
opened the door for women to pursue professional careers was access to contraceptives, meaning that they could complete years of training and
studying and launch a career without the interruption of pregnancy. The first wave of
feminism focused on mostly the woman's right to vote and gender
equality, but the second wave brought into focus many other issues that had
yet to be taken under consideration by our society and government.
Chapter 22 (pp.
1087-1119)
This chapter focused on the end of Empires but I decided to focus primarily on the independence of India. Although India shared some of the same ideals as
other countries that obtained their independence during the same time,
there were profound differences between the Indian independence movement
and other other nations. For example, unlike Egypt and some other
Middle Eastern countries, Indians have managed to preserve civilian rule
throughout the almost 50 years that they have been free. For the most
part, the Indian military has consistently supported a secular democracy
over religious extremism; the country as a whole is also a secular
nation. India Immediately After Independence: Although India has a
staggering problem with overpopulation, the country has a large science
and industrial sector, good communication and a strong bureaucratic grid
and a fairly skilled middle class that has been present since before
independence was obtained. During the years directly following
independence, India was governed by leaders who were deeply committed to social reform,
economic development, and the preservation of civil rights and
democracy. As a direct result of the growing capitalist sector in India ,
ambitious farmers, especially those in the northwest, introduced
improved seed strains, fertilizers, and irrigation as a means of
producing higher crop yield. This industrial and agrarian growth has
helped generate the revenue that is necessary for the Indian government
to promote ideas such as village literacy, village electrification, and
other rural improvement projects. Apart from all of these
advances, Indians have also developed one of the largest and most
sophisticated high-tech sectors in the world. However, about 50% of Indians
have gained nothing from these reforms. In
some ways, population growth seems to offset economic gains in the
country. Social reform has also been stunted in some areas more than
others. The rich landlords who initially had the nationalistic drive
still dominate government and economy.
Ch 21 (pp. 1035-1068)
Chapter 21 discusses socialism and the global reaction to communism. While the chapter focuses on several different questions, I was interested by the section on communist feminism. This section stated that communist nations pioneered the women's liberation that were later put in place in the West. Russia is a prime example as they gave women full legal and political equality. They also legalized divorce, abortion, and declared that working pregnant women be given pregnancy leave. A group in Russia, known as Zhenotdel, pushed a strong feminist agenda. This included publishing newspapers and magazines aimed at female audiences, teaching literacy and prenatal classes, and encouraging Muslim women to remove their veils. This transform the previously uneducated, illiterate females in the working class into stronger, independent women who knew their rights and a responsibility for what was happening in their country.
Chapter 20 (pp.
973-1017)
This chapter dealt with World war and the rebalance of global power.The
aftermath of the First World War saw the political, cultural and social
groups across Europe, Asia, Africa, and even in areas that were not
directly involved. Four empires collapsed because of the war, former
countries were wiped out, new ones were created, the borders were redrawn,
international organizations were set up, and many new and old ideologies
firmly in people's minds. The
great war was the first global war that began on the 28 of July
1914.The conflict was caused by the central powers of Germany .This
War involved countries such as Germany , Austria-Hungary , Russia,
England,France, United states destroyed empires , created numerous new
nation-states , encouraged independence movements in Europe’s colonies,
forced the United States to become a world power and led directly to
Soviet communism and the rise of Hitler. Before 1914, Russia was a
backward autocracy which means that Russia had a government led by one person
with absolute power. However, this was rapidly changing and Russia
was developed the institutions of civil society, including the
rule of law and representative government. The outcomes of the great war caused Germany to see society in a
different perspective. During the war, the percentage of women in the
workforce had risen to 37 and women had a significant role to play in
the German economy. The end of the war also had a large impact on
German Society. They had
immediately sued for peace and accepted the terms of the agreement, but
soldiers were led to believe that it was the result of Communists or Jews. So in the
immediate Post War era, there is a mass of suspicion within Germany.
Chapter 19 (pp.
931-957)
Chapter 19 discuss the changes that occurred in the Empires that were still standing. I took a look at the section focusing on the modernization of Japan. The first important fact is that the modernization that took place in Japan was defensive in nature and was a result of their fears that Japanese independence was seriously in danger. One of the first ways that the Japanese headed for more modern styles was through national unity they put an end to the unchecked power and privilege of the daimyo and the samurai. This led to all being legally commoners. Another way that Japan modernization was through a fascination with knowledge about the West, primarily America and Europe. They sought out mission trips by sending hundreds of students to study. Women took this fire for modern times as an opportunity to modernize their roles in the household and society. According to the Constitution of 1889, women's political rights were not discussed anywhere and the Civil Code of 1898 gave absolute authority to the male head of the family, while grouping all of the wives with the cripples and disabled.
