Women Now a Majority in American Workplaces

Many of my recent articles have discussed the difficultly women have had in the workplace. They believed that they were not given equal opportunity or pay as men. However, the whole idea of male dominance within the workplace has started to change. Due to the poor economy, men have been losing their jobs faster than women causing "women to outnumber men on the nation's payrolls" (Women Now a Majority in American Workplaces). Historians believed this to be a monumental moment because of the progress women have made over the past century. No one in the 1920s would have believed that women surpassed an employment rate of fifty percent. Back in 1964, "less than a third of the nation's nonfarm payroll jobs were held by women" (Women Now a Majority in American Workplaces). This further proves the significance of the historical jump women had in the workplace. In past decades, women were seen as objects, and had typical, low-wage jobs such as working in their home. Even though many women still work in their home, there are plenty of other jobs now offered to women that never would have been considered in the past. It is clear that they have gone against the stereotype of being "objects" and have further progressed to having successful and well-paid jobs. The main reason for the increase in women's payrolls is the recession. Although both sexes have suffered greatly, men have lost 7.4 million jobs, whereas women have lost 3.9 million jobs. The large gap between men and women is explained through the type of job they hold. A typical job for a man, such as working in industries like manufacturing, will rise and fall depending on the economy. Women on the other hand, "are more likely to work in government, health care and education, among the safest categories in a downturn" (Women Now a Majority in American Workplaces). However, I believe that this fact should not take away any pride from women. They have come a long way from where they began, and will hopefully continue this trend for years to come.
In the beginning of this article, it mentioned that men were losing more jobs than women were. It did not give the reason why until later in the article, but my first guess was that it was possibly because women are paid less. Paying women less than men would make them more affordable, and in the time of a recession, that type of cheap labor is exactly what companies are looking for. I thought that this article would be an example that women are in fact still paid less than men, however as I kept reading, it said that it was because the typical jobs of women are safer during the recession than the jobs men have. From what I have learned from past articles, the typical jobs of women are still somewhat low paying jobs. This goes to show the increasing amount of women with jobs because even if they are getting paid less, they are exceeding men in the nation's payrolls.

Rampell, Catherine. "Women Now a Majority in American Workplaces." NYTimes.com. The New York Times. 5 Feb 2010. Web. 8 Feb 2010.

Women Still Earn Less Than Men Because Of Sex Discrimination

Many articles have agreed that women bring it upon themselves to be looked at as less than men in the workplace. However, this article proved that there is still a gap between how much men and women make due to sex discrimination. Evelyn Murphy and E.J. Graff argued that even though women have made successful progression in the areas of education, experience, and opportunities, they still make twenty three cents on the dollar less than men. Some may beleive that twenty three cents does not make that big of an impact on the income of women. This is because they do not consider how much money it could have added up to in their lifetime. They do not realize that the difference women make compared to men could affect their retirement fund, mortgage, food budget, and many more. Along witht this, employers do not see how their unequal technique of payment is affecting the lives of women. Many families have to go through the struggle of only relying on their mother to bring home enough money. This brings up the question, "Why should families be punished simply because the breadwinner is a woman?" (Women Still Earn Less Than Men Because Of Sex Discrimination). It seems unfair that a family should have to suffer because they are victims of sex discrination. Women should be paid equally if they have the same skill as men, but that clearly cannot be the case in our society today. This is especially important for women that bring in the majority of the family's income because they could have a harder time helping their family simply due to their gender. Many of the excuses companies use have to do with women having babies that they choose to take care of. They said that this causes the women's average wage to be lower, however "Only full-time workers' wages are added in" (Women Still Earn Less Than Men Because Of Sex Discrimination). This proves that this is no excuse for companies to be using. What they do not want to admit is that it is their discrimination against women that cause the gap. The authors then brought up the point, though, that sex discrimination isn't necessarily intential. Sometimes "Much of it happens through mindless bias and careless sterotyping" (Women Still Earn Less Than Men Because Of Sex Discrimination). But reguardless of whether it's intential or not, is it not the responsibility of our country to fix what is unfair? Companies have preconcieved notions about women not having the same ability as men, which causes women to be cheated unequal wages. And although many will protest again the progression women have been able to make, this process must continue until women are considered equal to men, especially in the workplace.


Graff, Evelyn Murphy and E.J. "Women Still Earn Less Than Men Because of Sex Discrimination." Opposing Viewpoints: Working Women. Ed. Christina Fisanick. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 8 Feb. 2010 .

She's A Money Player Now

In the previous article, Andrea Poe discussed how we would never see a multi-million dollar football player be a women. She believed that our society could never take a female football player seriously enough to give her the same respect male football players recieve. This theory was proven correct after Heather Sue Mercer filed a suit against Duke University in 1997. She claimed that the Duke football coaches cut her from the football team because she was a women. She said that she was treated differently from the male players, thus, the university violated Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 prohibiting gender discrimination.
After starting on her high school team, Mercer wanted to be the first female Division I kicker. As a Duke walk-on, she kicked a 28-yard field goal earning her the opportunity to play on their team. Soon afterward, former head coach Fred Goldsmith banned her from summer training camp and season practice until he made the decision to cut her altogether. He then continued to ask her, "Why do you insist on playing football?" and "Why not try something like beauty pageants?" (She's A Money Player Now). Not only do these type of statements imply sex discrimination, but it also shows men's lack of respect for women in sports. Goldsmith clearly believed that football was a sport for men, and strictly men. He crushed the dream of Mercer, and disregarded her skills in football. Along with that he added in a stereotypical comment about pageants, going back to the idea of women being treated as objects. He did not take her seriously as a player, so he tried to convince her to participate in an activity that he saw as more appropriate for women. I believe this comment is as sexist as can be because of the little value he sees in women. He makes it seem that women are only useful for physical needs, and does not take their opinions and feelings into consideration. However, after a two week trial, Goldsmith got what he deserved. The jury ruled that Duke discriminated against Mercer, and awarded her with two million dollars in punitive damages. Although Duke planned to appeal the jury's decision, the case still had a major impact on the number of women who played on their school's football team.
Duke University could still say that Mercer's skill was not good enough to be on the team. Regardless of that, though, Goldsmith never should have made those remarks referring to Merce's decisiion to play football. It shows that even today, men consider women to be extremely unequal in sports, but how can they know that if they never give women a true opportunity to play? Mercer took a stand against this unfairness, and in the end succeeded. This could only be more motivation to women everywhere to play sports even if they're against the odds.

Perry, Joellen. "She's a money player now.(Heather Sue Mercer wins sexual discrimination case against Duke University)." U.S. News & World Report. 129. 16 (Oct 23, 2000): 18. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 8 Feb. 2010 .

Women Are The Victims of Sexism

This article discussed how sexism is still common within American society. It continues to be evident based upon the fact that women still have not gained equality in business, the military, sports, politics and even in their own household. From multiple sources of background information, I have come to the conclusion that women refuse to challenge traditional gender roles. Instead, they carry on the typical positions of women such as a teacher, cook, or housewife.
The author, Andrea Poe, tries to convince feminists to defy this stereotype, and become even more active in today’s culture. She demonstrated the need for change by explaining how some aspects of our daily lives have still not progressed over time. In the business world, “Some women have found cracks in the glass ceiling, far more have not” (Women Are the Victims of Sexism). The reason for this is because women are not trusted with the jobs of corporate America. Men have little faith in the capabilities of women, showing why only a small amount of them have found those "cracks" in business. With sexism in the workplace, it is no wonder why "Women continue to be the primary engineers of the cooking, cleaning, and the running of time-consuming household chores " (Women Are the Victims of Sexism). Society makes these unwritten rules too difficult to change, therefore making women continue these trends currently, and for years to come. Women also tend to struggle in having a big role in politics. We still have not had a female president, however we have made progression after Hillary Clinton's campaign. Once a woman becomes president, I believe there will be much more respect for women all over the country. That action would show that Americans have begun to make real gains in providing women with equality.
Even though the struggle for equality continues today, Poe believes that "It may be women, more than men, who perpetuate traditional gender roles" (Women Are the Victims of Sexism). This explains that women are in their current position because of their own choices and actions. Poe further discussed this idea by mentioning some of the traditions of the American home-life. On Christmas, parents usually give their daughters dolls, make-up kits, or a kitchen set, which only allows the present gender roles carry on. They get their child the typical gift instead of getting them a soccer ball, or some other gift that may be given to a boy. In this case, society is not having any input in the decision of the parents. They are following the trend of each gender role, and increasing the chance of their children doing the same thing. With this idea in mind, are women really the victims of sexism like the title implies? It seems that even though women keep fight for equality, at the same time they are pushing themselves farther from any real achievement. And in some ways I do believe that it is the women's fault for conforming to the opinions of society. However, there are many more cases that still need to be fought against that make women the victims. I do believe women should be treated fairly in business, especially when it comes to being paid the same amount as a man. Women deserve to have equal opportunities, but that chance can never come without the effort and unity women had in the past.

"Women Are the Victims of Sexism." Opposing Viewpoints: Feminism. Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 5 Feb. 2010
.

Turned by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

After reading Women and Economics by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, I felt that it was an obvious choice to read one of her many short stories as a literary connection. In Women and Economics, she discussed the small role women had in the economy. She explained that this trend continued due to the pressure of society to keep women out of the workforce. In her short story, "Turned," Gilman focused more on the topic of marriage, instead of women's attempt to work. The main character, Mrs. Marroner, discovered that her husband had been cheating on her with their maid, Gerta. As Mrs. Marroner reflected upon the beginning of Gerta's services, she remembered her physical beauty and willingness to learn. Along with these traits, Mrs. Marroner described Gerta as "perfection in a servant, but almost a defect in character" (368). This description troubled me even before I knew that Mr. Marroner and Gerta had an affair. It was obvious that Gerta was so close to perfection that any man would be physically attracted enough to cheat on their wife. When Mrs. Marroner first discovered this, she was outraged with Gerta. She ordered her to, "Go and pack your trunk" (371) clearly taking her anger out on Gerta without thinking of the part her husband took in the act. Mrs. Marroner's lack of anger towards her husband proved the respect women had for men. She believed that her husband was the only way to achieve happiness, so she did not put the blame on him at first. However, Mrs. Marroner came to the realization that although she was hurt by the situation, she felt more pity for Gerta than anything else. She stated, "All that splendid, clean young beauty, the hope of a happy life, with marriage and motherhood, honorable independence, even-these were nothing to that man" (373). Gerta had hoped for all that the typical women had wanted during this era. While she became emotionally attached, this was a simple fling for Mr. Marroner. He had taken advantage of Gerta's vulnerability without considering her feelings throughout this affair. This demonstrates the lack of respect men had for women at this time, and in some cases, still do today. They believed they could ignore any emotions, and do whatever they please because they were superior. Women were just objects to them, and although he may have loved his wife, it didn't affect the actions he committed to fulfill his happiness.
Mrs. Marroner's response to the cheating could be considered a solution to women being taken advantage of due to their role in society. She left her own house with Gerta, and took put her life into her own hands. She supported herself instead of relying on the job of her husband, and along with that, she took care of the "sacrificed and injured" child. The way Mrs. Marroner handled her situation is an example of how economic independence would release women from their subordination within marriage. She was able to leave her marriage, which was so important to her, and make a provide a sturdy foundation to start a new life.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "Turned." Scribbling Women. Ed. Elaine Showalter. New Jersey: New Brunswick, 1996. 367-376. Print.

Where I'm At Now

Throughout this project, I have been overwhelmed at the amount I could discuss about women. However, after getting more background information, I believe that I have a solid foundation for what I want to discuss. One thing that I have found especially interesting was women working while the men were fighting in World War II. I think it shows a great demonstration of the power of women because in many of the other topics, they talked about the incapabilities women have to have a part in the workforce. With the information that I have so far, I think it all surrounds women trying to become equal to men. I have not really discussed any ideas about the present problem with sex discrimination, but I definitely want to continue looking into it. The idea of women in sports seems interesting, however I have not learned as much about it because my main focus has been on the rights of women in the 20th century.

Women and Economics

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was best known for her book, Women and Economics. She discussed how women could have a positive impact on the economy, however they are never allowed the chance to become involved. They are stuck behind the superiority of men, which gives them the credit for human progress. The reasoning behind this is that women succumb to the roles of women working in the household, which typically was passed down to their children. They never had to give them opportunities to have more successful jobs because they of how common it was to be an unpaid worker in their own home. Gilman best described the little chance women had in the job world when she stated, "She might work as she had worked from the beginning,-at the primitive labors of the household; but in the inevitable expansion of even those industries to professional levels we have striven to hold her back" (AR 355). Even though new advancements were being made, women took no part in them due to their obligation in the household. It was the goal of many men to keep it that way, and make sure women stayed out of the job of a laborer. Gilman found that if women had been accepted into this type of work, the economy could have seen far more advancements. However, Gilman stated that "The smothering 'no' which crushed down all her human desires to create, to discover, to learn, to express, to advance..." (AR 356) overpowered the women's voice in anything but the typical job of mothers. Because of all the negativity towards women working, Gilman believed that women started becoming more dependent on their husbands. It was a necessity to be married in order to receive, "Wealth, power, social distinction, face-not only these, but home and happiness, reputation, ease and pleasure, her bread and butter,-all must come to her through a small gold ring" (AR 356). This demonstrates that women began to believe that because they could not have a real job, the only way to happiness was through marriage. Having a husband would have them to have enough money and a stable lifestyle instead of depending on themselves to get the job done. I believe that we had society to blame for women believing this. It was the creation of the Women's Independent Citizenship Act that made women believe that being married was everything they needed. The act said that women could not even gain citizenship without a husband, so instantly it was implanting the necessity of a husband in their brain. By women having this lack of motivation to work, it becomes no surprise that they do not have recognition for success in America. However, I do agree that the power of women could have improved the workforce like how it does currently.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, "Women and Econmics." The American Reader. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: New York, 2000. 354-356. Print.

Women's Liberation Movement

No matter how many protests they had or how many new laws were enacted, women could not win the battle for equal rights. In the 1960s and 1970s, women still struggled to break free from their traditional roles in society. Most would view women as objects, and inferior to men in every way. For that reason, the Women's Liberation Movement used the Miss America Pageant to protest male oppression and racism. They viewed the contestants in the pageant to be perfect examples of women being treated at "things." They also fought for the rights of other races because the pageant had discouraged nonwhite contestants from entering. The women tried to prove their point when, "They threw away bras and girdles, tore up an issue of Playboy magazine, and shouted 'Liberation Now!'"(Women's Liberation Movement). By throwing their undergarments away, I believe they were showing their strength in that they weren't just there to look a certain way. They wanted to be noticed for their feelings and opinions, so they were throwing away the objects that enhanced their physical appearance. Along with that, ripping up pictures in the Playboy magazine demonstrates the same idea as women being seen as objects, not humans. It shows women acting a certain way in order to please others-typically men. They were not allowing the ideas of the female be heard, but just being used for their physical attraction. By ripping up the magazine they are making it away that they will not be used for entertainment, but to finally let their voice be heard throughout their whole community. During this time, government hired very few women as professionals. At Universitites, only ten percent of the faculty included women, and although women mainly made up most of the staff at elementary schools, very few were the principal or superitendent.

Berkeley, Kathleen C., The Women's Liberation Movement in America, 1999; Hoff, Mark, Gloria Steinem: The Women's Movement, 1991; McQuiston, Liz, Suffragettes to She-devils: Women's Liberation and Beyond, 1997.

Women's Liberation Movement

Equal Pay Act

The success women had in the workplace during World War II was only the beginning of their fight against sex discrimination. Employers were still unfair when it came to women working, forcing Congress to pass the Equal Pay Act of 1963. The act was an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act because women were being treated severely different than men when it came to getting paid. The Equal Pay Act allowed women to receive the same amount of money as men for jobs that required equal skill, effort, responsibility, and work conditions. It also made sure that an employer could not discriminate against women when hiring someone for a job. Although this seems like a very positive action for women, there are loop holes similar to many solutions of the government. What was not correctly defined in the act was the definition of "equal work." Jobs did not have to be identical for them to be considered equal. Because of this, "It did not prevent employers from reclassifying certain types of jobs according to a lower pay scale" (Sex Discrimination). This demonstrates that a woman could be doing the same work as a man, but because they are not referred to as the same job, a woman could potentially be paid less. Once again, women were being treated similar to blacks in the way they were cheated when being paid for work. Blacks were taken advantage of because they were willing to do difficult labor for a cheap price. Although women were not doing the same physically demanding work as blacks, they were still being treated as if they were worth less than a white man. Reading this article made me gain much more respect for women that are on the higher end of the working scale. Those are the women that were able to defeat the loop holes of this act, and show the true capabilities of a woman. I believe that because this act is still in affect today, it has only caused a greater tragedy. Any person that wants to base someone's salary off their gender does not believe in the power females have. Even though we have laws forbidding discrimination in the workplace, our society continues to find way around this law due to the lack of appreciation there is for women.

"Equal Pay Act (1963)." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. .

Equal Pay Act

Sex Discrimination

Although the Ninteenth Amendment was a major achievement towards women's rights, the fight against sex discrimination was just beginning. The government still believed that women were inferior to men, so in 1922, they passed the Married Women's Independent Citizenship Act. This act made women unable to gain citizenship without a husband. The government treated women as if they were second-class citizens, and ignored most attempts they made at equality. However, this perception of women was turned around during the time of World War II. While all the men were busy fighting, it was clear that America would only be able to win if they enlisted a large number of women for employment. They needed women to do very untraditional jobs such as building planes, tanks, and ships in order to fight in the war. It became the "patriotic duty" of women to go out and work, ultimately making them successful in the workforce, and more powerful within the government during the 20th century. I see this as a very crucial time for women because they were able to experience a sense of social and economic mobility. Women were suddenly faced with choices, and by exercising these choices they were able to explore their own individuality and independence. The government was able to change as well seeing the great impact women could have on the economy. Congress passed the Equal Pay Act of 1963, "mandating that women receive equal pay as men for equal work" (Sex Discrimination). Following this was the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Even though women were gaining more civil rights, there were still political groups trying to prevent them from earning anymore. This forced the creation of the National Organization for Women (NOW). I believe one of the most interesting accomplishments of NOW was that, "It stipulated that every federally funded college and university had to provide equal opportunities for men and women in their varsity sports roughly equal to the proportion of each gender in the school" (Sex Discrimination). Because I play volleyball, I think it's imperative that women and men have the same chances when it comes to sports. Schools often feel that that men's sports are more important, but NOW was able to change that by defying any public or private sports program that targeted women for discrimination. Many of these cases were brought to court where women used the Fourteenth Amendment to prove certain laws as unjustifiable. This technique was used during the Plessy vs. Ferguson case when they tried to prove that the law "separate, but equal" was unreasonable. This further proves the connection between women and blacks. They were both treated as inferior to white men, and frequently had to fight for equality through laws that were unjust.

Mansbridge, Jane J., Why We Lost the ERA, 1986; McGlen, Nancy E., and Karen O'Connor. Women's Rights: The Struggle for Equality in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. New York: Praeger, 1983; Shipley, Amy, "Playing Field Levels at Texas," The Washington Post, July 7, 1997.

Sex Discrimination

Women Suffrage Movement

Allowing women the right to vote was a major stepping stone in providing equal rights to all women. This was no easy task to accomplish seeing that everyone considered women inferior to men. In 1848, the first women's rights convention took place in Seneca Falls, New York, where Elizabeth Cady Stanton asked the assembly to vote on a resolution demanding suffrage for women. The assembly made no effort to fulfill Staton's request. However, their unappreciation for women's rights only made them want to work harder towards their goal. After the civil war, Stanton continued with her fight along side of Susan B. Anthony. Susan B. Anthony is one of the most well-known women that fought for women's suffrage for more than fifty years. They strived for equal rights, however when the Fifteenth Amendment was created giving African American men the right to vote, Stanton and Anthony, "felt the amendment merely expanded male suffrage." I believe it is extremely unfair to start giving black men more freedoms, but completely ignoring the proposals for women. It shows the male dominance during this era and the little respect men actually had for women. I could only see this obstacle as motivation for women to work hard to gain their rights, and that's exactly what Stanton and Anthony did. They started the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) in order to try and appeal the Fifteenth Amendment to include women, too. Along with this organization, Anthony tried to vote in 1872, but was arrested and found guilty. This reminded me of Rosa Park's attempt at equal rights when she refused to sit in the white section. Women were treated with the similar disrespect as blacks because they were somehow "inferior" to men. Women had to fight for laws that women today often take advantage of. When I reach the age of 18, there is no doubt in my mind that I plan on voting, and would be offended if anyone ever questioned my freedom to vote because I am a women. I could only imagine the unfairness that women had to suffer through in the 19th and 20th century. Anthony refused to conform to the lack of rights for women no matter what the consequences were. She collected 10,000 signatures from 26 states to present to the Senate. To much disbelief, they "responded with laughter." This demonstrates that even the government had no respect for women's rights. The government during this time was clearly biased and only worked against women in fighting for what they believed it. Although it took many decades, women worked to display their power to the government. In 1919, Congress approved an amendment that would guarantee women the right to vote. Without this amendment, the opinions and power of women would still be looked at as inferior to men. Along with this, Stanton and Anthony are perfect examples of the power women do have to change society and the government.

Graham, Sara Hunter, Woman Suffrage and the New Democracy, 1996; Spruill Wheeler, Marjorie, One Woman, One Vote: Rediscovering the Woman Suffrage Movement, 1995.

Women's Suffrage Movement

Women

My topic for the research paper is women. This topic is interesting because I have to go through the advantages and consequences of being a woman. Over the past years, I have learned about the determination of women to be considered equal to men. Even though we are supposed to be treated the same, are we actually? There's always a silent prejudice against women in the government, sports, and even in every day jobs. Just recently there was an episode of Desperate Housewives that showed one of the main characters, Lynette, being fired from her job because she kept her pregnancy a secret. Had she voiced her pregnancy, the company would have let her go due to the money a company loses with a pregnant worker. Although the company is legally not allowed to fire a woman for being pregnant, they always try to find the loop holes. Women face disadvantages every day, but I find the power women have had in the past to be inspirational.

Response to Obama's State of the Union Address

Barack Obama's State of the Union Address was said to be defiant, similar to Ronald Regan's address in 1983. He admitted to the many problems with our country's economy, however, he had an optimistic tone when referring to our future. One of the main topics of Obama's address was the job crisis in America. Due to the poor economy, finding a job has been a difficult task for those looking for work. One of his solutions was to export more goods because increasing the amount of productivity would give the opportunity for more jobs in America. During the next five years, Obama plans on doubling exports in order to provide two million jobs across the country. He then continued to discuss the need to help small business owners maintain their jobs. The problem with small businesses is that banks are only willing to lend money to bigger companies. To solve this, Obama proposed that thirty billion dollars from Wall Street banks be given to less significant banks in order to support small businesses. There would also be a tax credit for small businesses to hire new workers or raise their wages. I found this topic to be extremely important seeing that my father owns a small business. I know that he was in favor of Obama's proposal because small businesses employ almost half of all Americans. By allowing smaller businesses to expand, Obama is helping to decrease the problem with America's unemployment rate.

Obama continued by describing our country as every day being election day. Since Americans tend to look for embarrassing headlines about the opposite party, they are not playing to win, but for the other party to lose. We feel the need to obstruct every single bill just because we can. I believe this shows the high level of competition in our society today. The poor economy has brought American citizens to work against each other instead of focusing on improving the conditions of our own country. After Obama discussed topics that I was somewhat unfamiliar with, he touched upon the idea that all men are created equal. He insisted that if you abide by the law, you should be protected by it, too. To further encourage this idea, Obama plans on strengthening laws to protect against those affected by hate crimes. This includes the argument over gay marriage. He agreed on working with congress to allow gay Americans to be married. Obama also mentioned the idea of freezing government spending once the country was done hurting, and also touched on the idea of health care. Regardless of the amount of applause President Obama received after each section of his address, there is no doubt that many disagreed with his ideas. Members of the Supreme Court made it very evident that they opposed some of his solutions by remaining silent as the rest of the administration applauded him. Even though the two parties will not be agreeable on every topic, President Obama seems eager to begin the process of rejuvenation of our country.