What have been some of the negative consequences of feminism and cultural diversity in Australia? And how can these problems be fixed for future generations?

Dear TRUTHNOW78,

You're asking two very large questions.
Due to the word limit - I'll try to answer them
one at a time as best I can.

Negative aspects of feminism?
Well, every "revolution" has its consequences,
its benefits and its costs. The revolution in
gender roles has helped reshape the workplace,
the family, and the relationships of the sexes,
but the feminist ideals of the 1960s, have not
always fulfilled the reality of the 21st Century.

Women who look forward to "having it all" are
finding that the rigours of pursuing their
careers, maintaining intimate relationships,
and raising children are often difficult to
balance. Some, who've put their careers before
marriage, now in their forties, regard themselves
as casualties of their own revolution, especially
if they did not marry and now face the prospect of
never finding a husband or having children.

Changes in women's roles have had an immense impact
on the family. Generations of children are being
raised by working mothers, who leave them in some
form of day care from an early age.

Additionally, women's new independence has made it
possible for them to contemplate leaving unhappy
marriages or raising children on their own. Partly
as a result, there has been a sharp increase in the
number of divorces, of births to unwed women, and of
female-headed households. Many of these women have
found themselves highly vunerable.

I'll write more later - I must run as I have an appointment
elsewhere.

That's all for now. It's just a start.

Feminism pluses - More financial independence for women as well as (partial) recognition of their skills and abilities.

Feminism minuses - The gradual deterioration of the Family Unit and removal of children from parental influence.

It's also been a valuable source of cheap non-imported labour for the growing western economies.

Who sponsored Gloria Steinem?

I've spent a bit of time thinking about a response to the question as asked. I've also tried to understand why the question might be asked. I keep coming up with the thought that what's bing asked would be better phrased as "Major problems with the move away from a sexist socially intollerant society". Feminism and cultural diversity are just two parts of that. I was reminded of a point which I've made often in the past that social change is a bit like moving house, no matter how good the new house things are often difficult during the transition. Stuff's not where you expect it to be, you don't know your way round inthe dark, your sleep patterns may be disturbed because you are not used to the local noises. The change society is going through is a bit like that, some stuff is not right yet. The kid throwing the tanty because they liked the old place better does not help.

We do need to look at the problems which have come with a move, there are things we can do better but to do so we need to look at them in conjunction with the benefits. What's working well, what can we do better.

Then I took a short look at truthnow78's posting history to see if my sense of the question was on the money. http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/user.asp?id=44104 I doubt that truthnow78 wants to know any of the good things about feminism or cultual diversity.

cont'd ...

Major problems with cultural diversity?

To most people, it's self-evident that their
own norms, religion, attitudes, values and
cultural practices are right and proper,
while those of other groups may seem inappropriate,
peculiar, bizarre, or even immoral.

The difficulty is, of course, that under certain
circumstances, these attitudes can lead to the
exploitation and oppression of other groups.

Of course the strong hostilities that originally
existed against Chinese, Irish, Italian, Greek, and other
immigrants has gradually lessened as these groups have
gained entry to the broad Australian middle-class,
where they are seen as equals rather than as rivals
for scarce resources.

Antipathy is now greatest against groups that remain
relatively impoverished, and this sentiment is
strongest among low-status whites who feel most
threatened by the economic progress and competition
of the minorities.

With time this will change - as each minority
group gains entrance to and acceptance in the
broader community, and another
group takes their place in being rejected.

R0bert: << Then I took a short look at truthnow78's posting history to see if my sense of the question was on the money. http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/user.asp?id=44104 I doubt that truthnow78 wants to know any of the good things about feminism or cultual diversity. >>

Yeah, well I just looked at the ridiculously broad questions and the fact that they were combined in one silly post and thought, "troll".

I'm surprised Graham let it through.

'Nuff said.