Ann Cudd writes that women are indeed oppressed, but as a result of their own choices. Although Cudd concludes that these choices are rational based on the situations women find themselves in, one of the biggest questions in her article is how much of a choice women actually have. That is, while women always have a choice, all of women’s choices tend to have negative outcomes, and they are usually coerced, in one way or another, to choose the one that has the least negative repercussions for others, but the most negative repercussions for themselves. As an example, Cudd discusses the situations of a woman who must stay at home and take care of the children while her husband works. Although the woman and her husband believe in equality, the choice is rational as a result of the wage gap. The long-term consequences of this action, and the fact that oppression is still so prevalent economically, really got to me the most. It seems like what needs to happen is a legal, structural change in which employers are required to pay women the same amount as men. The interesting part about this? There is a law, its called the Equal Pay Act and it was signed into law way back in 1963!!
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