Happiness is an illusive trait that seems to be impossible to measure and yet desirable to obtain. Each human being views happiness differently and there has been a trend lately in surveys relating to happiness. The surveys show that women are becoming unhappy while men are becoming increasingly happier. While this may seem like a good thing to a man, to a woman it is a dismal outlook for the future. Different proposals have been brought forth as an explanation to this growing “happiness gap”, though few of them actually seem to fit the whole picture.
In an article written in the New York Times, a valid point was made about a woman’s role in society. The article described how women now have dual roles; they are housewives and career women. The business world is molding to the idea of women being equals in the office, now society needs to view them as equals at home. Throughout history women have had the responsibility of keeping a home, now if everything is going to continue to run smoothly men will have to pick up some of the slack.
Another article points out the changing and yet growing pressure on girls today. It discusses the lives of young, intelligent, beautiful, driven girls trying to get into college while being told they need to be perfect to achieve all that they wish to. It touches on how these great opportunities offered to women today also add a huge amount of pressure that has continued to build until the point it is now. Should teenage girls really have to feel that they need to be perfect to be accepted? I don’t think so and I don’t think society should ask it of them either.
If America is going to worry about the growing “happiness gap” then it had better be prepared to change the way it looks at a woman’s role in society. After all we are not super heroes, we can not do everything, and though we may try to be perfect we fortunately never will be, that would be a little boring don’t you think?
2 responses so far ↓
Gilhaus // October 18, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Nice work in terms of a concise summary of the issue. 25/25
Hannah // October 19, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I think you made many good points in your blog and I agree with many of the points you stated. Men do need to contribute more to housework and other tasks that aren’t affiliated with careers if people keep expecting women to handle everything. I also like how you stated that girls and women shouldn’t have to feel the need to be perfect to fit into society, though sadly, it seems as if they do. The way you concluded your opinion couldn’t have been stated better because people really do need to change their outlook on the “happiness gap” or things aren’t going to change. Joelle, your blog was beautifully written.