Contemporary Connections

      My experience of 2013 as compared to the book Uncle Tom's Cabin is that very similar to my personal synthesis. I am currently in my 3rd year of college as a mother and wife and luckily my hubby is very supportive of my choices to be independent. I wonder if that is what men are afraid of, that women will become to independent and wont need them any longer. If that is the case I know many women that already don't need a man. Though I know many men, mainly my father and grandpa who don't think that women should do anything other than take care of the children and the house. This makes for very interesting family gatherings, however since I have started my journey through the women's studies field and taught my father about all the things that I have learned he has come a long way in his beliefs. I think the fact that he has me for a daughter and can't not love me for me has helped some but what I like most is that I have inspired my stepmother to challenge my father's ideas of society. I think our society is beginning to view women as more equal to men but it hasn't been an easy battle. Now it is more socially acceptable for a woman to work or get an education in something other than a secretary. It's still an uphill battle for women to be viewed as equal and I think that they wont be viewed as equal until a woman holds the office of President. I think that is the only way women will be able to nip this power struggle in the butt once and for all.         
     While reading about the Bird's in Uncle Tom's Cabin I thought about the power and gender roles in their relationship. I think that for now in society we have a lot of married couples like them. Outside the home the man is in a powerful position but at home the woman knows how to take that power back. Him being a senator and all he has to have some power at work but as soon as he gets home Mrs.Bird knows him so well that she has the power stand up to him. Perhaps she has the power to sway his beliefs as well. She did get him to help Eliza. People always say behind a good man there stands a great woman. I ask why does she have to stand behind him? Why can't she stand beside him?