Hi! I am seventy years old so I have come across many occasions in which I was sexually assaulted – verbally, physically and in the work place. I was astounded initially when I found that I was being “managed” as a female professional accountant. One of my employers was asking clients if they would mind having a female accountant. A client did not trust my judgement and was speaking to my employer and confirming that everything I was telling him was correct. A fellow male accountant was talking behind my back to my employer running me down and my employer never came to me to request my response. I found this out much later. Male voices carry more weight. Male clients would undermine me in subtle ways. My employers felt that a “family man” who had a wife and two children and was years younger and no experience or similar education should make more money as I had a husband who worked, therefore I should subsidize their business. Women always made less money at this progressive male chartered accountancy office. My husband always accused me of “running around” when I attended end of tax season dinner with colleagues. The spouse felt that every dollar he made above mine was his to spend however he wanted instead of lightning my load of our financial expenditures. Many men felt it was alright to make statements such as “the accountancy fee could be taken out on trade,” or said something about my appearance. At home all inside work was mine such as housework and children which was not an equal share of the burden. The spouse would take vacations for sporting and use any extra money solely for his “wants” (boats, motors, new vehicles” while I drove very old small vehicles. Later on when I was bedridden, the spouse sexually assaulted me repeatedly apparently he felt he had that right. This sexism is in every part of women’s lives. My daughter at age twelve was sexually assaulted by a family member. My Mother was told what to do and never had any money of her own. She had no pleasures to call her own in her life. Women are held back at every point by any male they come in contact with. But there is hope. The younger generation are acting as if both sexes are equal. I have hope yet for this new generation here in Canada.
But the world at large does not provide much hope. Just looking at the USA Congress and Senate making laws that effect women such as abortion without one female representative. These males think this is their right to force women who become pregnant by males to carry a child and have the burden of raising that child ensuring the basic needs such as food, home, health care etc. while the male has no equal responsibility by law – the woman’s body is to be controlled and regulated.
