The Oscars came and went this week in a blur of glitz, glamour and political statements. While politics and the Oscars are a more unusual pairing, this year politics was as prominent a theme as the off-white frock, with actress Patricia Arquette’s politically charged acceptance speech a particular highlight.
During her speech, Arquette drew uproarious applause from the audience for her plea for equal rights for women in the United States of America: “To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America”.
While her comments (especially those made backstage after Arquette’s speech) have come under scrutiny from particular members of the public, it cannot be denied that her speech and the resulting media attention surrounding it, has ignited the gender equality debate.
Some have argued that Patricia’s speech was unnecessary. Fellow actress and conservative pundit, Stacey Dash was quoted saying “I didn’t get the memo that I don’t have any rights”. Furthermore, American author and social commentator Suzanne Venker, argued the issue of gender equality in itself is pointless. “The problem with equality is that it implies two things are interchangeable – meaning one thing can be substituted for the other with no ramifications.
But being equal in worth, or value, is not the same as being identical, interchangeable beings. Men and women may be capable of doing many of the same things, but that doesn’t mean they want to. That we don’t have more female CEOs or stay-at-home dads proves this in spades.
This doesn’t mean that men can’t take care of babies […]
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