Essay on Susan Mendus's Perspective: Democracy and Women's Conditions

This essay examines Susan Mendus's perspective on the significance of democracy and its impact on women's conditions. It delves into Mendus's arguments, highlighting the gender bias within democratic theory and its historical implications. The essay discusses Mendus's reasoning, emphasizing the need to recognize and address inequalities that have historically confined women to domestic roles and limited their participation in political and economic spheres. It explores the concept of gender equality, the importance of women's emancipation, and the necessity of reinterpreting democratic ideals to ensure fair and just treatment. The essay also reflects on the arguments, providing personal insights and concluding with the enduring relevance of the topic in contemporary society, emphasizing the ongoing need to protect women's rights and promote their participation in decision-making processes for sustainable development.

ESSAY

INTRODUCTION
This essay is based on gaining an understanding the significance of democracy and its
impact on the women conditions from the viewpoint of Susan Mendus. It explains about her
reasoning to make the concluding remarks and also included about opinions generated by other
authors to gain an understanding. The following is the statement of the topic” If democratic
theory is to be sustained and improved, it must recognize not only that difference is sometimes
ineliminable, but also that what counts as difference is not value neutral. It must recognize its
own gender- bias even (indeed especially) in cases where it seems to 'assist' women”.
MAIN BODY
Remark on topic by Susan Mendus
Susan Mendus has put insights on the democracy and its relevance during the time when
the entire world was celebrating its inclusion in people lives. The collapse of the Berlin wall led
in embracing of the liberal democracy and independence of former USSR from the clutches of
Moscow coup led to adoption of democracy through fostering fraternity and equality (Page no.
409). In regard to this, Susan demonstrated that democracy is an imperfect government form
that has been required and must be adopted to promote sustainability for longer run. Along with,
the democratic theory has an important part to play in gaining knowledge about the women
participation for improving the economic and socio-political scenarios of country. In order to
maintain the sustainability of this theory, there is a need to remove the differences that has been
prevalent from centuries and led to discrimination of women. They have been confined to the
role of nurturer by fulfilling the duties of domestic components and taking care of the kids
without any help and under complete independence (Page no. 416).
Additionally, these differences are the necessary evils which forced women to be trapped
inside the boundaries of their homes and never participated in the politics or performed any job.
However, these disparities were not valued neutral and mostly took place due to one dimensional
mindset. It was due to no participation of women in the political scenarios and thus, this made
them devoid of exercising any rights. Moreover, it reflected upon the need for women
emancipation (Page no. 409). It is possible when the scenarios are made gender equal in context
to overall contribution and participation in making decisions and formulating policies for the
betterment of the societies on the whole. This would pave the path to execute the human rights
by the women to bring changes at larger levels and also enlighten their contribution in more

effectual ways. Nevertheless, the gaps that have been existing between men and women at the
societal levels must be overcome by having clarity about the roles and responsibilities to perform
in equal, justiciable and fair approach. There is no requirement of assistance needed by the
women while exercising the rights and it has been understated that their roles are not that
important when compared with men in the world.
Reasoning about Susan Mendus's conclusion
Susan has emphasized on the inclusion of democratic approaches and the absence of
contribution of women in improving the conditions. There is existence of unequal opportunities
that needs a more robust summation to displace the inequalities in terms of the economic and
socio-cultural aspects (Page no. 411). Alongside, it was also inferred that there are two folds that
involve firstly about the justification on the undemocratic practice of implementing the
democratic theory in traditional ways and secondly, it emphasis on recognising the re-
interpretive ways to understand the democratic ideals of this theory (Page no. 410).
In addition to above, the notions where the women has always seen as low-paid,
unemployed and part-time workforce was termed as an unfortunate contingency. There has been
an under representation of women in the field of politics and lack of participation in making the
policies. Such perspectives led to inferior job role of women and demonstrated the gender bias
under the theory of democracy (Page no. 409). Moreover, the democratic theory has failed the
extensive critical examination and failed in the deliverables of understanding the contribution of
women in the political sector and job making. Their role is on an unequal terms and led to the
path of democratization through adoption of faith.
It has been understandable from Susan's point of view that political scenarios in both
theory and its practice must be reinvented to bring equality and help in restoration of faith to give
them equal status. Such aspects would remove the differences where the women are treated as
commodity and a disabled burden (Page no. 413). The women were assumed as home makers
whose responsibilities and existence was for fulfilling the needs of men. However, there was also
no economic power to exercise by the women which again pointed out the need for emancipation
(Page no. 412). Thus, it is needed to bring the women in front of the homes and give some rights
to bring economic growth in exponential manner and establish a balanced way of living.
Nevertheless, she also described the ideologies given by John Dunn about the dilemmas
associated with the application of democracy. He stated that it is the post industrial ideology for

human freedom and must be enjoyed by both men and women on equal levels (Page no. 410).
However, it highlighted the women participation is null and cannot be met in the modern states
due to prevailing inequalities. They have always been treated as subordinates to men and in order
to conquer a position, they must become equals and required to voice their opinion strongly
(Page no. 411).
Reflective
Personally, I felt that she was right and her arguments were reasonable and logical.
Consequently, Susan successfully shed light on the prejudiced notions of women being confined
to the homely affairs. Their existence has always been questioned on the basis of adoption of the
male model of normality. For instance, pregnancy had always been treated as an illness and the
maternity leave was considered as an excuse to take leaves in the name of feeling sick or unwell
(Page no. 412). Such treatment approach was not based on equality and tended to ensure the
lack of regulating the right to leaves and job security as well.
Subsequently, Susan has explained using illustrations and clear examples that showed the
discriminatory attitude the society had for the women and their contribution as feeble apart from
giving birth and doing household chores. There were assumptions made for the gaps in terms of
women inclusion in the socio-economic aspects of the entire society. From earlier times, they
were never given the title of citizens under democratic framework and thus, it led to exploitation
of their existence for enlarging the economic power (Page no. 411). Thus, Susan has beautifully
depicted the turmoil state of women from centuries and made appropriate remarks about the
imperative role of women at wider scales.
CONCLUSION
It has been summed up that this topic is relevant in today's time also when the women has
to prove their mettle and overall calibre to continue with policy making and support in decision
making for the upliftment of the communities. However, times have changed and brought radical
chances for women in political and social areas. Their contribution is appreciated and let them
give their perspectives to support the cause without any biasses. However, there are still chances
of improvements and safeguard the rights to promote the women participation and bring equality
in fair manner under the umbrella of sustainable development.