OPINION Freedom for women means making choices pWMr^' General License I Stepfume Sisson I try to stay away from worn on's issues. Thero uro loo many fomalo journalists who can't scorn to forgot thoy'ro women long enough to tuke a stand on any thing else However, this year is sup posed to be the "Year of the Woman.” So, just out of curios ity, I asked some of my friends to define the role of women in Uxluy's society. In the 1990s, what does it mean to be a woman? It means that if a man makes unwanted sexual advances to ward you. you can accuse this man of sexual harassment and be believed, even if this man is a U S. senator. It also means a hypersensi tive woman in the 1990s often confuses respect with chauvin ism Women are encouraged to be outraged by "negative" treat ment by males, such as having doors held open for them or ixv ing called "ladies." If you are a woman in the 1990s, you can choose the ca reer you wish to pursue, and you have a good chance of get ting a job based on your ability rather than your gender. it also means you will proba bly he paid less than a male in your position. Although you've come a long way. baby, you still have a longer way to go on the pay scale. In the pursuit of your aimer, as a woman in the 1990s, you have the option of waiting to settle down and begin u family until it's convenient to do so. It also means that you, as a young woman in the 1990s, hear society tolling you to put your career before everything else, including marriage and children. Thirty year* ago. women were encouraged to put their families first and discard goals that did not include their hus bands Today the pendulum has swung the other way As men are beginning to take on domestic responsibilities, you. as a woman, are being pres sured to strive for promotion and put dreams of a family on the back burner As a woman in the 1970s and 1980*. you could run for public office. As a woman In the 1990s, you can win You can do this now because sometimes you are the best candidate for the position It also means that a woman in the 19