Women's Independence in Today's Society

Introduction

Up until the last few decades, society was essentially male dominated. Men ruled the world and made all the important decisions. They were responsible for and authorized to handle things as they pleased. Women had little to no say in the way things were done. However, the last century has changed all that. Women are now far more independent than they were before. Women now stand next to men in every walk of life. In fact, it would not be incorrect to state that the only element preventing women from standing shoulder to shoulder with men in some areas is women's decision not to do so. Modern society has evolved to give women consideration and recognition in every area of life they wish to enter. The system makes no discrimination between men and women. In essence, women are now playing their role in the entire value chain of society. This discussion will shed light on women's independence in today's society. In order to do so adequately, the paper will engage in a multilateral discussion on the role and relevance of women in society through history and the degree to which women have made a difference in society. The discussion will give regard to notable characteristics of women's independence and the impact that woman's independence has on society. It merits highlighting that the discussion will use women's role in leadership positions as an indicator of women's independence in modern society.

Discussion

Women were initially considered to be the weaker sex. They were instructed to remain in their houses and engage in affairs that did not have any real meaning. Women were told to remain in a glass encased world that was far from the true realities of life (Chapman). However, as time passed, it became evident that a woman is capable of doing just as much as a man. While the transformation of society's approach to women's independence was slow in the beginning, it eventually caught on as writers and poets of the feminist movement of the early twentieth century began to challenge the norms that held women in their homes (Chapman). As the industrial revolution came by, the role and relevance of women became undeniable. It was at this point that the gate for women to enter mainstream society was finally opened. As they joined men in the assembly lines and trudged with them through coal mines, it soon became apparent that women were an underutilized resource and could contribute infinitely to the development of society (Heron). It merits highlighting at this point that women did not have to be given a chance to prove their worth. Their contribution in the development of society was more than enough to prove their worth; and it was not long before women began to become visible in positions of strength and power (Chapman). By the middle of the last century, women were leading men in politics and business around the world.

There are different schools of thought about the role and relevance ...