CRJ #11 - Feminist Futures

There are two core principles that define what a feminist is. The first principle is that feminists concern themselves with the equality and justice for all women and seek to eliminate systems of inequality and injustice in all aspects of women’s live. In addition, they strive to celebrate women’s achievements and struggles and to create a positive vision of women. A pro-feminist man seeks to add his voice to the feminist movement and change the way that men feel and act toward women. They want to set women on an equal level in social, political, and institutional levels. I am able to claim that I am a feminist now. I have always been very liberal and strongly believe that everyone should have equal rights. I also think it is a travesty that women in less civilized countries are going through the hardships today that women in our country went through in the past. I think we need to help them learn from what we have seen, so that these women do not have to struggle the same. Without knowing it, I think I actually have always really been a feminist.

My experience in a feminist classroom has had an impact on me. Being an engineering major, this class is much different than any that I have experienced before. It made me leave much of my analytical thinking behind, and allowed me to think about how I really feel about society. Before taking the class, I really had the same stereotypical view of a feminist as most people in society do. I never would have wanted to be labeled a feminist. I am a very liberal person though, and after reading that feminist ideals basically come down to trying to gain equal rights for everyone I believed I might already be a feminist. The readings completed changed the views I have on feminists and after understanding what a feminist really is I would not be afraid to claim that I am one. I now see feminists in a very positive aspect and agree that these people are very necessary in our society today.

Before taking this class, I didn’t really realize how much of a struggle women still face today. I read about so many women that still today are fighting for their rights in the U.S. and especially abroad. After seeing this enthusiasm and drive from women still today, I think this will help me continue the drive to fight for my rights and women’s rights in the future. Also, I have from some of the modules I saw that I have some prejudices that I never realized before, such as against larger people. Now that I know this, I am able to work on facing this prejudice and hopefully I will be a better person in the future. I think the topic that relates to my future career the most is the section on women in the workplace. I think engineering is a huge field where women find they have a glass ceiling above them. Women have not been in the field very long, so I think their work is not respected the same as men’s yet. I think it is important that women with the same feministic ideals as I have continue to join the field and fight for women’s equality.

Event #2 - IWiN Informational Meeting

International Women in Need Informational Meeting
December 3, 2007
Women’s Center

A group met at the Women’s Center to discuss the new project for the International Women in Need (IWiN) organization. IWiN was a brainchild of an undergraduate student in 2004 who wanted to raise awareness and money for international causes. Projects have already been completed in Mexico and Sudan. This year’s project is called “Corn for Kenya – A power mill to empower women”. This purpose of the project is to educate the community about problems in Kenya and to raise enough money to buy a corn mill for a Kenyan village. The corn mill will be located in Ngeta Village. This village is composed of 200 households; the majority of the people here are children because the area has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic. The average life expectancy for women is only 49 years old. The women cannot own land; however, they do most of the farming in the village. The corn mill is something the women really need because they spend hours daily grinding corn and it is laborious work. Also, the nearest mill is extremely far away and is usually broken down. A small group of Kenyan women called the Koriko Moyie Woman Group has formed to try and help women of the village. Currently there are about 25 women in the group who have raised about $150 to support village women. The goal of IWin is to help this group by raising $3000 in order to purchase a 2-piston power mill and $4000 for a shelter for the mill and business organization. We brainstormed several ideas in order to raise these funds and plan to meet twice a month to move further in the project.

The focus of the event was discussing how we can help women internationally. Recently, we discussed how we need to take a global perspective on women’s rights especially when discussing sex discrimination. Sex discrimination is extremely visible in this Kenyan community. The women do extremely hard work on the farms, yet they are not able to own any of the land. Also, if a woman is seen thatching a roof or doing other “men’s work” she will be ostracized from the community. We have seen women suffer these hardships in our country and it is important to help eliminate these problems from other countries. The half the children in the village are orphans. Grandmothers and other women of the community take on the responsibility to raise these children, while the men take on no additional work. This shows how much extra work the women are doing that they are not getting credit for.

I actually really enjoyed this event. It brought all of the international hardships from the readings much closer to home. It’s unbelievable how something as insignificant in our society as a corn mill can be one of the most needed items in another society. I actually am excited to be involved in the organization and help with fundraising events next semester. I think it will really show me how lucky we are in this society, even though we still struggle with so much.

CRJ #10 - Gender and the State

The first piece of work I read was “Constitutional Argument” by Susan B. Anthony. This read dissects the establishment of our rights by the Constitution and explains that the Constitution actually granted both men and women equal rights. Anthony explains that the writers intended to set both men and women on the same plane and allow them the same opportunities. Since she says the Constitution supports women’s rights, the only way women can protect these rights is by having the right to vote. Anthony explains, “It is downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government - the ballot” (pg 638). This reading is different than most pieces I’ve read about equal rights because it goes back to the actual foundation of our rights. I always see it depicted that women were first denied the right to vote and had to go through a constant struggle to obtain that right. Anthony actually explains that we have had the right all along; all it takes is a closer look at the Constitution to realize this.

The next piece of work I read was “Unequal: A Global Perspective on Women Under the Law” by Jessica Neuwirth. Neuwirth begins by explaining how unbelievable it is that so many countries affirm the right to equality, yet they continue to discriminate. Even various legal documents are being hypocritical when they state that discriminatory law should be illegal; however, nothing is done to change the status of these laws. She then goes on to discuss instances in law which exhibit sex discrimination. Examples range from laws determining citizenship of children born to U.S. parents to the rights to family property of daughters in Nepali. The piece continues by proving sex discrimination can also be seen in the ways in which criminal offenses are treated, education, employment, politics, and many additional sectors. The United Nations is one group that has noticed the difference between what governments claim and how they actually treat their citizens. “The substantial gap between the rhetoric and the reality of sex-equality rights indicates the lack of meaningful commitment to applicable treaty obligations and commitments governments have made” (pg 640). Although special documents such as the Beijing Platform have been slow to adapt, the U.N. is trying to close this gap. Many other countries are following and trying to eliminate sex discrimination and abide by their constitutions. I was actually rather surprised about the U.S. law which states that children of U.S. fathers must take legal steps before the age of 18 to claim citizenship, while children of U.S. mothers have to take no action. It is actually shocking to see this discrimination against males, when most of the laws I normally see discussed focus on discrimination of laws against women. Being a feminist, I think it is important to change this law and give men the same rights. Since feminists seek to gain equal rights for women, they must assure that men have these rights as well. I think it is also very important to take a global perspective on the issue of sex discrimination. We have seen people suffer a great deal in our country because of the unequal ways they are treated. We should focus on teaching other countries what we have learned from these problems and eliminating sex discrimination abroad.

The final article I read was “The Postwar Movement: Lessons from Bosnia Herzegovina” by Cynthia Cockburn. Cynthia describes that the time directly after a war is a key time when policies can diversify again. She explains that the ability to bring about substantial piece and healing “depends on many factors, but one that is crucial and often overlooked is whether the transitions includes the questioning and transformation of gender power relations” (pg 661). The U.N. has called on countries to incorporate gender perspectives during postwar situations mainly due to the mistakes seen in Bosnia Herzegovina. When the war was called to an end based on a negotiation written in Dayton, Ohio, political leaders went on to rewrite Bosnia’s constitution; however, they left out details which would provide an empowerment for women and allow them to become equal within the society. When the society was checked on years after the constitution was implemented, people were shocked to see that there was “a total absence of women and of gender awareness in the Dayton peace process or in subsequent international interventions” (pg 662). It was assumed that the Dayton operation would be very successful, but there were many findings which proved different. Therefore, two main lessons were gained from the experience. First, we realized that it is essential that peacekeeping operations and postwar reconstruction keep gender awareness in mind from the very beginnings. Second, local women’s NGOs from the countries must be involved in the process and be able to have an equal amount of input. I’m glad to see we were able to realize that we did make some mistakes in our experience with Bosnia Herzegovina and that the way we conduct postwar movements must change. We didn’t hide the mistakes, instead we chose to acknowledge them and learn from them. Today, we are involved in so many disputes around the world that we must continue to improve the postwar process in order to bring equality into as many countries as possible.

Activity #10 - Is the gender wage gap justified?

I believe that women should have the same rights as men; therefore, the gender wage gap is not justified. I support many of the statements of Hilary H. Lips who believes that the gender wage gap is due to the undervaluing of women’s work. In contrast, I am surprised by many of the findings of June O’Neil who suggests the gender wage gap has been created by nondiscriminatory factors. Although the gender wage gap has closed considerably over the years, a gap still persists and the rate at which it is closing has greatly decreased. There are a variety of reasons why I believe the gender wage gap is unjustified. First, I will explain how the undervaluing of women’s work has created the gap. Next, I will discuss the affect of time at work. Finally, I will conclude by explaining occupational choice.

Lips’s main argument is that the foundation of the gender wage gap is built upon the fact that women’s work is undervalued. Between all races, men always fare better than women. Even with similar educational backgrounds, men fare better than women. Also, with comparable jobs and experience levels, men fare better than women. Women push to achieve the same status as men; however, sex seems to be the only barrier holding a woman back from earning the same as a man. This is because much of women’s work is undervalued. I think a lot of this is due to social construction. From the time that women joined the work force, they have been placed in less valued positions. They are secretaries for the important male bosses. They are teachers who work for their superior, male principal. Society has constructed the idea that a woman should be there to support her male counterpart. Even in the less valued markets where it seems women should have an upper-hand today they still do not. “In all but 2 of the occupations in which women formed the majority of workers, men’s earnings were always higher than women’s” (pg 215). This proves that even in areas where women probably have more experience, the male’s work is still being valued more. Also, women do not receive the recognition that men do at equivalent roles. Lips explains that men receive far more literary awards than women even when it appears women have made comparable accomplishments. This proves that society distinguishes and values the work of men more than that of women.

Many people believe that since women have to put a lot of focus on work within the home, they cannot compare to a men’s work input and therefore women should be paid less. O’Neil explicitly states, “The main source of productivity differences between women and men stems from the lesser amount of time and energy that many women can commit to lab-market careers as a result of the division of labor within the family” (pg 209). Women probably understand that they are not able to commit as much total time to their work, so they may be more productive with the time they have to put towards their work. This could allow them to achieve the same accomplishments in less time then men are able to. I do not think that men on the fast track put in more effort than women on the mommy track; however, I do think these men are able to put in more time. Therefore, a greater amount of time should have no reflection on effort; in addition, it should have no influence on the total pay a person receives. Also, the amount of work women are able to do from the home has significantly increased because of the internet. Therefore, women are able to reach the same amount of total hours as a man who works within an office. She should be awarded for this, especially if she outperforms her counterpart.

Finally, some people argue that “the gender wage gap is simply an artifact of occupational choice. They assert that the difference in women’s and men’s median earnings does not reflect any devaluing of women’s work or discrimination against women. Rather, it is an accidental result…” (pg 215). Due to the social construction of gendered work discussed earlier, many women do not think they have the same occupational choices as men do. It is not accident; it is a complete set-up. This social construction is completely based upon discrimination against women, and where society thinks women should be placed. Therefore, the gender wage gap is directly reflected by discrimination. June O’Neil argues, “Women make employment choices that ultimately determine their wages” (pg 207). I agree that women do make some employment choices; however, the work place also makes its own decisions about you that also go in to determining one’s wages. Men are the first to receive promotions. Therefore, the employer is putting them into jobs that bring a larger paycheck with them. Also, some employers immediately put women onto the mommy track and do not allow them to attempt the face track. This prohibits them from reaching many career opportunities offered to men. “The expectation of withdrawals from the labor force and the need to work fewer hours during the week are likely to influence the type of occupations that women train for and ultimately pursue” (pg 209). Being in the college atmosphere, I know women pursuing a variety of majors from business to engineering or from forestry to communications. I do not know one of them who has decided on a major based upon the amount of work she thinks she will be able to commit in the future. A person chooses a career path because he or she thinks the job is a good fit and that he or she will enjoy the job. I have almost completed my degree in chemical engineering. I know I will have to put in a lot of work to keep my career moving, but never have I thought that I should sacrifice my career path because I might have to commit too much time at home. This shows that women are able to go upon the same career route a man is, but they still cannot reach the same status.

People will continue to disagree on whether the gender wage gap is justifiable; however, I think it is unjustified and we must continue to try to close it. The numbers show that men and women’s wages have come closer but the rate of closure has hit a plateau. People most understand the causes of the gender gap to understand why it is unacceptable and must be eliminated.

Midterm II

Heteronormativity and How It Shapes Our Culture
Society has always expressed a negative attitude towards homosexuality; this causes people to fear this lifestyle of living. In addition, most events that occur in society are geared toward heterosexual couples causing homosexuals to easily stick out. One must be heterosexual in order to abide my society’s rules and to be looked at in a positive manner. This societal creation is known as heteronormativity, the way heterosexuality is conceptualized as the norm. Since heterosexuality is extremely visible to society in comparison to homosexuality, it has a great influence on the way many aspects in society are shaped. It especially has a key influence on defining masculinity, views on reproductive issues, and on gendered divisions of labor.

Heteronormativity can strike quite a fear in a man about being a homosexual. In order to prove that oneself fits in the realm of heteronormativity, he must assimilate to how heteronormativity shapes the idea of masculinity. What heteronormativity tells us is that homosexuality is a result of the failure to fit into the norm of heterosexuality. Kimmel explains that “Homophobia is the fear that other men will unmask us, emasculate us, reveal to us and the world that we do not measure up” (Masculinity as homophobia, pg 214). This fear is what drives a man to prove his masculinity, and that he fits the mold of heteronormativity. A man might not completely support the things he does; however, if it proves he is masculine he will do it. Katz describes that this “tough guise” is the attempt to show the world only certain parts of oneself that society has defined as manly. To be masculine a man must fit into the narrow box that defines manhood. Finally, heteronormativity says that to be masculine you must be better than the female sex in many ways and prove it. Kimmel describes this rule of masculinity as, “Be a big wheel. Masculinity is measured by the size of your paycheck and marked by wealth, power, and status” (Women’s voices, pg 465). It’s the bigger and better concept that pushes men to extremes, but it is heteronormativity that drives these beliefs.

Next, heteronormativity influences our ideas about reproductive issues, especially those concerning reproductive health, health policies, and technologies. Heteronormativity has caused people to believe that only heterosexual relationships are healthy. This has caused homosexuality to be looked upon as unnatural. This corresponds to the belief that since these relationships are unnatural they must also be wrong. This has impacted the extreme amount of homophobia that can be seen in our society today. Next, heteronormativity has caused an extremely negative respect towards homosexuals within health policies. It has especially influenced the policies on adoption. Even as people have become more accepting of homosexuality, it is still extremely difficult for homosexuals to adopt children. “It has generally been assumed by the dominant culture that children of homosexual parents will group up to be homosexual, although all the evidence shows that this is indeed not the case” (Women’s voices, pg 173). Heteronormativity has declared this “dominant culture” to be the heterosexual culture and that anything that influences a child to become homosexual is unacceptable. Therefore, it is much easier for heterosexual couples to adopt than homosexual couples. Heteronormativity has also influenced emerging technologies for conception. The idea of helping a homosexual couple have a child through surrogacy or by artificial insemination has carried a negative connotation since the technology was created. Many heterosexual couples believe that the use of this technology is wrong and that it is hurtful to allow a child to be born into a homosexual relationship. Many have even gone as far as petitioning for laws to be created to eliminate the use of this technology. A person’s reproductive policies should be his or her own, and heteronormativity has caused many people to try in invade what should be a private issue.

Finally, heteronormativity has created a gendered division of labor. It is quite prevalent in our society that women are paid less then men in comparable work. Shaw and Lee state that in 2005 the “median wages for women who work full-time, year-round, were 76 percent of those earned by men” (Women’s voices, pg 449). This is caused by the belief that heterosexuality is the norm, and men are the dominant sex in heterosexual relationships. Also, since men believe they need to prove their masculinity with a large paycheck, many women have been forced into doing all of the housework. If men do help in the household they do what many believe is more exciting work. “Women tend to do the repetitive, ongoing, daily kinds of tasks, and men are more likely to perform the less repetitive or seasonal tasks, especially if these tasks involve the use of tools or machines” (Women’s voices, pg 433). This work is usually believed to be more masculine and more important so it is withheld for the men. Heteronormativity has greatly increased the amount of work women do without the respect it deserves.

Most people do not even realize the significance of heteronormativity but it has a large impact on how many parts of society are shaped. Some of these areas include the definition of masculinity, reproductive issues, and labor division. It has caused many negative attitudes towards issues that I believe should be accepted.

Concepts of the Body
The body is a very private place; however, it is also an important site for personalized gender expression. Women are able to be involved in body projects and ideas that allow them to express themselves in different manners. This can be extremely positive and meaningful, yet also very trivial. The role of the media has taken different approaches in supporting this issue in both positive and negative manners. An extremely negative situation that can also occur from expression using the body is sexual violence.

Everyday women employ many disciplinary beauty ideals or practices in order to maintain our bodies in line with society’s standards. These practices are usually very petty; however, many women utilize them to feel more confident and beautiful and to fit in with society’s concept of beauty. Some of these practices include shaving our legs, styling our hair, applying makeup, and fake tanning. Some women go to greater extents by having plastic surgery, tattoos or piercings. These all allow women to share something about themselves and express our own ideas of what we think defines beauty. These ideals can have a negative impact though, when they begin driving people toward meeting a certain level of obscure perfection. They can be especially harmful to young people who may become depressed or encounter psychological problems when they first learn that it is really impossible to achieve this perfection. The ridiculous images seen in society “encourage people to pass for a younger age and have normalized cosmetic surgery (especially breast implants) as something ordinary women should seek and want” (Women’s voices, pg 241). These images are unattainable and should not be driving women’s standards; a woman’s own beliefs should shape who she strives to be.

The media has had a strong influence on how the body is portrayed. Recently, some companies, such as Dove, have supported women of all shapes and sizes. This is a very recent development, though, and most forms of advertisement show only the most perfect or beautiful women. The media portrays very unrealistic ideals of what a woman should be, and it is especially harmful in the eyes of young girls who are easily influenced. Since the media only shows thin, young, women with an immense amount of makeup or cosmetic surgery, it is basically telling many women that they are “not good enough the way they are but need certain products to improve their looks or their relationship” (Women’s voices, pg 141). The media is completely masking the image of what a real woman is and is therefore only diminishing women’s attempt to express themselves.

The media may cause a lot of distress in belittling women; however, it becomes extremely harmful when self-expression leads to sexual violence. Women have started to become more confident and have made great strives in gaining more success. Men become extremely insecure when they see women emerge in powerful positions; there masculinity is now at stake. This causes sexual violence because men must now take down women in order to regain their lost power. This violence is placed solely on the female gender and men have historically not stood up to help women; Shaw and Lee call this the “normalization of sexual violence” (pg 560). Men will not fight the violence and then it becomes even harder for women to a point where we begin to just accept it as a society. Women also have begun to express themselves by wearing more flattering clothing and experimenting with make-up. This desire to attract the opposite sex has also led to extreme violence such as rape. The National College Women Sexual Victimization Study estimated that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women experience completed or attempted rape during their college years (Fisher 2000). I think this figure is unbelievable and we must fight to decrease it. Yet, as women attempt to express themselves even more, the figures continue to become worse.

It is very uplifting that women are attempting to express themselves strongly in the male dominated society. Unfortunately, these self expressions have been reflected poorly by the media and have increased the level of sexual violence towards women. Women must continue to be confident and come together in order to turn the negative trend around.

Activity #9 - Taking Sides Should Same-Sex Couples be Able to Marry?

I believe same sex couples should have the same rights as opposite sex couples; therefore, they should undeniably have the right to marry. I completely support the findings of Lawrence A. Kurdek, while I am baffled by some of the statements by Peter Sprigg. Same sex marriage is an extremely debatable issue in society that has even worked its way into the law’s hands; however, I do not understand why there is such negativity towards the idea of same sex marriages. There is an assortment of reasons I have for supporting same sex marriage, but here I will only focus on a few. First, I will begin by discussing how it is a freedom that was established when this nation began. I will then move on to negate the belief that same sex relationships are flawed. Finally, I will conclude by discussing how same sex relationships can actually have positive effects on children.

This nation was built upon the foundation that all men and women are created equally. This principle is what makes the United States such a great place to live. It is shocking to me that states could actually pass laws that limit these inherent freedoms. The government has gained too much control over us, and I don’t think it should have any say in who is able to get married. Sprigg explicitly states, “The fundamental ‘right to marry’ is a right that rests with individuals, not with couples. Homosexual individuals already have exactly the same ‘right’ to marry as anyone else” (pg 158). I do not think Sprigg is grasping the point. Included in the right to marry, should be the right to choose who one wants to marry. There is no point in allowing someone to choose who to marry if he or she cannot choose his or her partner. Even worse is the idea that people actually support the government passing these laws when they completely are taking away one’s liberties. Throughout this semester I have learned how society has constructed an extremely negative attitude toward homosexual relationships. I can only hope states will soon follow Vermont’s lead by at least allowing “civil unions”. With one state breaking these social norms, it is a step that could lead to a greater acceptance for same sex marriages.

Even though many people do not accept same sex marriages, I do not think there is any evidence to prove that they cannot work. I do believe that same sex couples may experience an increase in depression and stress; however, I think this is due to the social construction of apathy towards same sex couples. Just as women and those from other races have witnessed increased struggles in this society, so do same sex couples. I think it’s very upsetting that Sprigg suggests that there is also increased mental problems among gay men and lesbians. The fact is that they are simply different; since these feelings are very foreign to some people, it scares them. Throughout this semester I have seen that fear is a very powerful driving force for many people’s beliefs. This fear of allowing people of the same sex to marry is what I think causes some people to have such negative feelings towards same sex marriages. This fear leads Sprigg to attempt to prove that people in same sex relationships have greater mental problems. I would like to see some data that supports his findings that it is not dealing with society’s response to homosexuality that causes many of these problems in people. I don’t see how this can be quantified. Sprigg actually concludes that, “Increasing the level of social support for homosexual behavior (by, for instance allowing same-sex couples to ‘marry’) would only increase these problems not reduce them” (pg 163). So abolishing slavery caused more problems in the African American community? I just cannot grasp how this idea can actually be suggested. Kurdek actually found, “Relative to heterosexual parents, partners from gay couples and partners from lesbian couples do not function in ways that place their relationships at risk for distress” (pg 155). It is apparent that both Sprigg’s and Kurdek’s findings may be swayed in some way; however, even if the amount of stress is increased I do not see how that can determine that same sex marriages would not work. No one should be determining the fate of one’s relationship other than the people actually involved.

Finally, I support same sex marriages because I think they might actually have a positive influence on children. In our youth, we learn a great amount that influences our beliefs and prejudices. Many people are scared of homosexual relationships because they were never presented the possibility as a child. From the onset, they learn that it is completely wrong. A child with homosexual parents, however, can see that there are a variety of ways one can live his or her life. People will not always be accepting of it, but I believe showing children these images at young ages will keep them much more open-minded in the future. I think it can even eliminate many prejudices that are found in society today. Kurdek explains, “Because gay men and lesbians cannot use the gender of the partner to fashion the content of their relationships, they must negotiate common couple-level issues such as household labor and family rituals in creative ways that do not involve gender” (pg 155). This supports the idea that same sex marriages can help eliminate many of the social constructions of gender as well. Children from same sex marriages will see that a certain gender does not have to play a certain role. When they grow older, they will be able to educate others about the positive effects of having same sex parents. Society can then begin progressing to accept this lifestyle. I’m surprised that Sprigg actually states that a negative outcome of same sex marriages is that, “Children of lesbians are less likely to conform to traditional gender norms” (pg 163). I feel that these norms are what we should be fighting to break down and Sprigg seems to be suggesting that he actually supports them. I think this statement clearly shows the close-mindedness with which he conducted his studies.

The issue of same sex marriage will continue to be debated; however, I am completely supportive of the right to same sex marriages. Allowing same sex marriage does not mean that everyone has to agree with it. What it does mean though, is that people believe that everyone should have these freedoms. I think there are many details people overlook about same sex marriages; however, the only way people will change is by hearing this information. I have allowed myself to be open-minded towards the issue, and I have decided that I completely support same sex marriages.

CRJ #9 - Family Systems, Family Lives

One of the first readings that really shocked me was “Cheaper than a Cow” by Miranda Kennedy. The story describes the flesh trade of young girls in India. Traffickers purchase girls from poor mothers and fathers who believe their child will be entering a better life. This is completely false. The trafficker ends up selling the girl for a lot more than he purchased her for, and sends her into an extremely dangerous world. Her buyer is allowed to rape her, torture her, and gives her absolutely no freedoms. What’s even worse it that the police have basically looked the other way when crimes like these arise. They know there is a significant shortage of women in India, and they are allowing this trafficking to occur. The unbelievable part is that this shortage is due to the fact that mothers only want to have boys and are aborting when they find out they are bearing a girl.

It amazes me that India is in such a dire need of women; however, they still continue to kill most of their women prematurely. I just cannot grasp this whole idea. It seems like it would be such an old tradition that I would read about in history backs, but it’s actually happening in our world today. Especially to make your girls perform sexual acts on a multitude of men. How could one subject a young woman to such things? It is unbelievable. This is proof that social construction causes women to feel so inferior in the world. If I was an Indian woman and saw most other Indian female babies being aborted, I would feel I was useless in the world. This would make it even harder when strangers were making sexual advances to me. Although I feel absolutely terrible for these women, it also reminds me how lucky I am to have the current rights I have. To defend myself, choose my husband, and have the right to decide want I want to do.

There is so much pressure on mothers these days to be absolutely perfect, that I can’t even imagine the day when I will have children. I enjoyed that “The Myth of the Perfect Mother” by Judith Warner brought this situation to attention and tried to make some suggestions to fix the problems. The reading begins by showing how mothers constantly try to meet society’s standards to be the “perfect mother”. They spend endless hours with their children and have no time to socialize as adults. The work is completely put on the mother while the father is able to go to work and socialize afterwards with no repercussions. “Thirty percent of mothers of young children reportedly suffer from depression” (pg 396). But they are supposed to hide this depression and pretend to be so happy that they are a mother. Then if they falter, mothers tend to blame themselves instead of society’s ridiculous standards. Judith then sets out several suggestions that may give mothers a break. These include tax subsidies for businesses to adopt family-friendly policies as well as government-mandated child care. Mother should not have to “face ‘choices’ on the order of: You can continue to pursuer your professional dreams at the cost of abandoning your children to long hours of inadequate child care” (pg 397).

Society is beginning to encourage women to become more independent; however, with the responsibilities motherhood brings, something has to happen to help women achieve this independence. After reading this selection, I can picture my mom in the same predicament and I just hope I didn’t put herself through the struggle that many women had in the readings. I definitely don’t want to experience any form of depression because of having children either. It should be completely opposite of that. The government helps many causes and I think mothers should be a priority on their list. It’s unbelievable how much work and stress a mother goes through and I definitely think the government and corporations should help them through this time. Motherhood should be something that women are able to constantly enjoy and not struggle with.

I did not enjoy reading the selection “Marriage and Love” by Emma Goldman. The reading begins by explaining how marriage and love have nothing in common. It is said that marriage is primarily an economic arrangement and brings with it insurance. The reading describes how from childhood girls are told how wonderful marriage and live is. She does not realize she is being “kept in complete ignorance of her only asset in the competitive field – sex” (pg 389). It moves on to say that if a woman does learn the mystery of sex, she will act on the urge and therefore be an unfit wife. The reading concludes by stating, “The institution of marriage makes a parasite of woman, an absolute dependent. In incapacitates her for life’s struggle, annihilates her social consciousness, paralyzes her imagination, and then imposes its gracious protection, which is in reality a snare, a travesty on human character” (pg 391).

Maybe I am just a dreamer, but I think marriage means so much more than what was portrayed in the reading. I believe that love sparks marriage and the reverse can occur as well. People may think that I believe life is a fairy tale, but this reading made love and marriage appear extremely grim. When I got to the last paragraph, I didn’t even want to go onto any of the further readings because those last words honestly appalled me. I think the reading was also quite sexist towards men. Being a women’s studies book I was surprised that it would include an article as such. In their younger years, sex may be the only thing that men seek out. But when marriage and love become real to a man, I think he no longer puts as much focus on sex. He can still enjoy it but now he actually cares about the woman and her feelings. She is not his private property but he wants her to have her own thoughts and ambitions. Luckily the readings got more positive after this selection, but I’m shocked it is in this book.

CRJ #8 - Resisting Violence Against Women

Throughout this course, there has been much emphasis on the products of social construction. This section of material has added another item to the list: sexual violence. In order to understand why there is gendered sexual violence one must look toward understanding gendered thoughts. As children, we are all taught that the female is the emotional sex which is able to exhibit sensitivity and dependency. Boys are told to hide these emotions because they show “weakness”, and therefore males are the empowered sex. Some explain that this relationship actually promotes violence between the sexes. Men are supposed to appear domineering while women are supposed to submit. With this sense of masculinity, a power issue emerges within the male psyche. They now feel like they have the upper-hand in both relationships and within the political/public sector. Some scholars entitle this the rape spectrum. “This means that all sexist behaviors are arranged along a continuum from unexamined feelings of superiority over women, for example, on one end to rape on the other” (pg 560). This continuum connects many aspects of women’s lives that may be very different. As men see women emerge in powerful positions, they begin to become angry or insecure about the new female power. This causes sexual violence because men must now take down women in order to regain their lost power. Women's success is not an attempt by women to overtake men; however, this is how males view it. In addition, males are driven by sex to an extent; over the years, some violence has been portrayed as erotic and therefore becomes sexual. Examples of this were seen in the previous unit with violence against women is in advertising to sexually draw a male’s attention. Finally, it has become an accepted fact that there will be violence in society. Shaw and Lee call this the “normalization of sexual violence” (pg 560). I witnessed this first hand in my interviews, when the participants answered that not much can be done to decrease sexual violence against women. They thought there were always going to be people who thrived on it, so all attempts will simply fail.

Throughout this semester, I have learned how male insecurity is a source of so many problems between the sexes. It denied women’s rights. It forced women to work at home. It rebelled against the idea of homosexuality. Now, I am learning that is also causes sexual violence against women. In all honesty, I think it is somewhat funny that men attempt to appear so confident when insecurity is really a large driving force in their lives. No way would they ever admit it, but there seems to be a lot of evidence to support these notions. I understand, though, that there is a lot of frustration among women about how to eliminate sexual violence. When asking the question in the interview about how to decrease sexual violence, I somewhat agreed with the interviewees. What can be done? But I know something must be done. Sexual violence cannot be eliminated unless the causes of it are known, and one major factor is gendered beliefs.

Activity #8 - Sexual Abuse

Most of the statistics I shared were from the website feminist.com. The statistics can be found at . Some of the most interesting facts I found included:

• 17.6 % of women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape. Of these, 21.6% were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 32.4% were between the ages of 12 and 17. (Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women, Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, November, 2000)
• The National College Women Sexual Victimization Study estimated that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women experience completed or attempted rape during their college years (Fisher 2000).
• Every 90 seconds, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)). RAINN calculation based on 1999 USDOJ NCVS data.)
• In 2000, nearly 88,000 children in the United States experienced sexual abuse (ACF 2002).
• About 81% of rape victims are white; 18% are black; 1% are of other races. (Violence Against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.)

The ones that I emphasized most were that about 1 in 4 college women are almost or completely raped in their college years and that of the 17.6% of women in the US that have survived a rape, more than 50% are less than 18 years old. I was shocked at the percentage of women that are raped in college. I have lived with 7 different females throughout my college experience. This statistic says that out of the 8 of us (7 girls plus I), there is a probability that 2 of us have been raped. Thinking about the girls that I have lived with, I can’t imagine that even one of them has experienced an attempted or complete rape. If any of them has, they have not let on any signs of this horrific ordeal. Also, most women that are raped are white. When there is such a stereotype that black men are more aggressive and violent, I would think that this would mean more black women are raped. This does not explicitly say that since most raped women are white, they have been raped my white men; however, it does seem to be evident that many of them are. This appears to show that although black men have this stereotype, white men clearly show that they have an extremely violent side especially in sexual manners.

I was surprised that most of my interviewees had the same responses to my questions whether they were male or female. Most of them were not surprised by the statistics that I told them; however, the results did sadden or frustrate them. One man explains, “It is sad because a woman being assaulted/raped is something that should not be happening, but I am not surprised because I am aware of recent studies within this field and as a college student I think I am more apt to come into contact with this information. Most of the reasons that the interviewees gave for why sexual violence occurs dealt with men’s control issues, anger, and jealousy. It appeared that most of them thought that it was simply just a behavior that some men could not help. One girl simply answered, “’Cause there are creeps out there.” Another girl mentioned the fact of alcohol abuse among both men and women. She described that most people lose their awareness of environment and become too trustworthy with alcohol. Finally, the men and women had somewhat different views when asked what should be done to eliminate violence against women. The men both thought that there was really no way to eliminate violence against women. One stated, “There are always gonna be people like that.” Both added, though, that increased awareness and education could help. Also, one thought that we should be more encouraging of women to come forward when they are abused. The women were both more optimistic about the question. They both took the thought of education somewhat further. One wanted “education for women about self-defense and about warning signs”. The other wanted education to emphasize how to avoid these situations and to also increase knowledge of self-defense. She also added that there could be harsher punishment for those who commit acts of sexual violence.

I was most shocked that the females were not taken aback by what I thought were some staggering statistics. I’m not sure if it was the fact that they were not really thinking about it, or that they really were not bothered by the results. I could never imagine the men who I talked to could commit an act of sexual violence, so I think this is why they may have just assumed that some guys “are that way”. I definitely agree with the interviewees that sexual violence has a lot to do with anger and jealously. I also believe that I am probably much too trustworthy even in the sober state, so the one girl’s answer made me really think about the people I trust. I think both groups were on point with some ways to reduce or eliminate violence against women. Maybe one day insurance companies will pay for self-defense classes. The first step to achieve these results, though, is to increase awareness.

CRJ #7 - Women’s Health and Reproductive Freedoms

Health is a very important concept in women’s lives. It is a very private issue which a woman should be able to determine and manage on her own. However, it has become an area in which the government, health industry, and many men have tried to invade. They have attempted to do this through several Supreme Court rulings and health procedure administering.

It was a long struggle through which women had to fight to achieve the legalization of abortion. Although some states had already reformed their abortion laws over the years, in January 1973, the Roe vs. Wade case passed which overturned all states’ ban on abortion. This ruling “held that the U.S. Constitution protects a woman’s decision to terminate her pregnancy and allowed first-trimester abortions on demand. It declared that only after the fetus is viable, capable of sustained survival outside the woman’s body with or without artificial aid, may the states control abortion” (pg 327). This ruling determined that a fetus does not have civil rights because it is not a legal person. It also did not decide religious or philosophical decisions about when a fetus actually becomes a person. Ever since the Roe vs. Wade ruling has passed, there has been a general chipping away at women’s rights to access a safe and legal abortion. The Hyde Amendment allowed states the right to deny the use of Medicaid funds for abortion. This amendment limited some women’s rights because they now had to be able to afford an abortion on their own in order to have one. The Beal vs. Doe ruling in 1977 and the Harris vs. McRae ruling in 1980 supported the Hyde Amendment by enabling states to prohibit Medicaid funds to be used for abortions and by allowing Congress to forbid states to use federal funds to pay for abortion services, respectively. Rulings continued to chip away at women’s rights when in 1989 the Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services case said that a state had the right to deny the use of “public facilities or public employees from assisting with abortions, to prevent counseling concerning abortion if public funds were involved, and to allow parental notification rights” (pg 327). There are many more cases which tried to overtake women’s decision making; however, the final one that will be discussed was the “Partial Birth” Abortion Ban.

An intact dilation and extraction (D&X) has been dubbed a “partial birth”. This is because the administration determined that a D&X is an blatant act to “kill a partially delivered fetus” (pg 329). Previously, a similar ban that was attempted to be used in Nebraska had been declared unconstitutional; however, after the declaration of the “Partial Birth” Abortion Ban, 23 states were able to pass laws banning this procedure. It has historically been a very controversial topic. People that supported the ban argued that a D&X is a horrific act and is never necessary to save a woman’s life. Those that supported a D&X said that it is usually only used when a mother’s life or health is in danger or when a baby is in very poor health. They especially expressed the fact that it was also a very infrequently performed procedure. I believe that the D&X may seem a bit frightening, but numerous other medical procedures give the same image. To my understanding, it seems that a D&X is only used in necessary situations, so it should be allowed. I also think that an abortion should solely be a woman’s choice and the government should not be able to intervene with her decision. Therefore, I support all forms of abortion and believe that it is a mother’s issue not a government issue. There are others that agree with my opinion. After the declaration of the ban, three U.S. district courts declared the ban unconstitutional because there is no exception in case of the poor health of a woman. These court rulings were affirmed by three courts of appeals; however, the federal government sill appealed these decisions. In 2006, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Stenberg vs. Carhart case and the Planned Parenthood case. Unfortunately, in 2007 the Supreme Court determined that the ban did not violate the Constitution.

This decision is sad because recent Gallup polls show that about 50% of voters consider themselves pro-choice, who are in favor or women’s choice to decide, while only 36% are pro-life, who are against almost all use of abortion. I can only hope that future court rulings and health procedure decisions will soon move into the hands of a woman. I really do not understand how it is legal to ban abortions under our Constitution.

CRJ #6 - Inscribing Gender on the Body

1. Define disciplinary “beauty” practices and give examples. Discuss the role of the media in the construction of the female body. What are the possible consequences for women of currently popular reality shows in terms of body management? How are these practices related to the development of consumerism and global capitalism?

Disciplinary “beauty” practices are everyday behaviors that we employ in order to maintain our body in line with society’s standards. These practices are usually very trivial and are taken-for-granted behaviors. Some of these practices include shaving our legs, styling our hair, applying makeup, fake tanning, and many more. Disciplinary practices are driven by the production and consumption of products; the use of these products is connected to media advertisement. Therefore the media is really the driving force for women being involved in these routines. The media portrays very unrealistic ideals of what a woman should be, and it is especially harmful in the eyes of young girls. The media constructs an image of the female body that is white, thin, beautiful, and extremely made-up. We are constantly seeing these images throughout the day through different forms of media and it is unrealistic. Currently, many women have been involved in reality shows that send the women away and promise to return them as prettier, better people. This is completed under extreme conditions such as plastic surgery, cosmetics, and other technologies of body management. “Such shows encourage people to pass for a younger age and have normalized cosmetic surgery (especially breast implants) as something ordinary women should seek and want” (pg 241). These shows portray very extreme conditions to recreate a person, and the average woman believes she must go through this process as well. It is unbelievable how much time and money these shows put into these makeovers and they are extremely unnecessary especially in terms of body management for women. Through the development of consumerism and global products, the corporate mind is telling many women that they are “not good enough the way they are but need certain products to improve their looks or their relationship” (pg 141). With these influences and the pressures of society, there has been an enormous boom in the industries with women trying to meet these extreme standards. The fashion, make-up, weight loss, and beauty industries have profited greatly and there numbers are increasing even more with the new technologies that are proven to “help” us become beautiful.

2. What exactly do you think the ideal woman’s and man’s body look like? How are power relations reflected and reinforced in beauty and body norms? How do beauty and body norms affect women and men differently? How do these ideals affect the ways you think about your own body?

When I think of an ideal woman’s or man’s body the number one criteria should be health. This body should be fit (not too skinny, not too muscular). Society has truly influenced my ideals of the ideal body though, because I also believe this person should be tan, tall, have well maintained hair, and essentially be beautiful. Power relations are reflected and reinforced in beauty and body norms because groups with more power set the trends for what the ideal beauty and body should be. They are very visible in the eyes of society and therefore can have a more powerful influence on the standards that we set. The incredible part is that these standards which we hold for ourselves are being set my other people, many times men. “Corporate powers, advertising, and the fashion, cosmetics, and entertainment industries all help create standards for us and reinforce gender relations” (pg 237). Beauty and body norms have a much greater impact on women then men. “There is a double standard of beauty for women and men: Physical appearance is more important in terms of the way women are perceived and treated” (pg 232). When a women ages she is immediately put in the spotlight as unattractive and younger men should not try to make a move on her. When a man ages, he can become sexier and more mature. It takes on a much more positive aspect for men then for women. Therefore, the woman must always fight to be seen differently from the very beginning, whereas men are already ahead. These ideals have a strong influence on how I see my body. As a little girl, I saw society influencing my mom to go to the beauty parlor, diet, and shop for expensive clothing. I use to watch her apply make-up as seen on tv and could not wait to do the same. Then as I grew older and started being immediately affected by these ideals, it became very depressing. It seems like it is always an uphill struggle to try to be beautiful in society and meet the standards. I have had some major body image issues that I can immediately recognize as being influenced by society. It’s hard enough to try to be beautiful, but then you also have to try to ignore society and realize you are ok the way you are. The latter is usually even harder.

3. Does the sexualization of women’s bodies (breasts, buttocks, legs, etc) vary by race or other subculture? Explain. Discuss the different ways that girls who are white and girls who are not white (white is normative, right?) understand “beauty” (beauty aesthetic). What is your experience of the relationship between race/ethnicity and the politics of “beauty”? (Remember white people have a race and ethnicity too).

The sexualization of women’s bodies varies greatly by race and other subcultures. White women attempt to attain the “Barbie doll” look. This woman must be blonde, extremely skinny, but yet have large breasts. It is usually much more acceptable for African American girls to be more curvaceous and to have larger butts. African American girls are more able to look past the beauty ideals and focus more on style. Chinese women idolize women with longer legs. They even have technologies that seem extremely painful that promise to lengthen their legs by a few centimeters. White girls basically understand beauty in the physical aspect. They may say it is what is on the inside that accounts, but in reality they are attempting to perfect their bodies everyday to look as society wants. African American girls define beauty “through attitude, style, personality, and presence rather than through attaining the ‘perfect’ look” (pg 261). Latino girls place much emphasis on grooming. In a way this is a physically related understanding as well because they must have all their clothes ironed perfectly and their hair clean. At times, I am even jealous of the beauty ideals that African American and Latino girls have. I think curves are beautiful and that white men do appreciate them; however, the media only allows these for women of other ethnicities. African American women are also seen as stronger and more confident and white women as a lot weaker. I do not fit this white “mold” and would rather have the African American ideals. Also, with the surge in Latino influence in the media, it seems that the Latino girl is the “sexiest” girl to guys. They also have the curves, the tanned skin, and the free-flowing dark hair. I want that standard. But the typical American standard is far different.

Activity #7 - Killing Us Softly

According to the Jean Kilbourne film, advertising sells a lot more than products. It also sells values, images, and concepts of love, sexuality, romance, success, and normalcy. These messages tell us what should be important to women. The number one thing that should be important to women is how we look. Advertisements are filled with images of beauty and the average person sees nearly 3,000 ads per day. Therefore, we are surrounded by these images and we learn from a very early age that we must spend ample amounts of time, energy and money to try to live up to these beauty standards. We need to care about these gendered messages because advertising is extremely powerful and affects many of us. These messages cause us to be “trapped in rigid roles and in very crippling definitions of femininity and masculinity.” These are basically the teachers of society’s standards, and they are sending very narrow messages. We need to change these attitudes that are found in advertisements because consciously or not they all affect us very deeply. By continuing to allow these sorts of advertisements, we are putting at stake our “ability to have authentic and freely chosen lives.”

The Dove film quickly flashes through pictures of what advertisements show should be our beauty ideal. The qualities include being gorgeous, skinny, scantily clothed, and overly made up. The film is trying to promote the fact that these ideals are unrealistic and children especially need to understand that. That movie ends by stating, “Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does.” The beauty industry has so much power that we cannot allow it to overwhelm and influence our children. Through our readings, it has been repeated multiple times that culture is composed in very complex manners based on ideals and trends in society. The group that has the most influence on cultural standards is also the most powerful. “Corporate power, advertising, and the fashion, cosmetics, and entertainment industries all help create standards for us and reinforce gender relations” (pg 237). These ideals are not being set by the average woman who is trying to live up to them. Therefore, the images become very distorted and unrealistic. Many times white men are constructing the beauty standards and therefore, women have no control on these issues. We simply continue to try and fit in and attain much distorted images of who we should be.

In a Maxim magazine, I found an ad for Tag Body Spray. It depicts a man sleeping in his bed while three women are bouncing on the bed in bras and underwear having a pillow fight. I suppose the ad is trying to say that wearing body spray will drive women crazy. This ad has many alternative messages. The women bouncing on the bed are all very skinny, quite young, and wearing very little. This is sending a message to young women about what guys want. Young girls may also think that flaunting your body in front of men is sexy. The girls in the ad appear so happy that young girls may try to reenact this. The website for this product is SleepLess-ScoreMore.com. It seems to be saying that women will become very promiscuous just because you change your scent. The ad is completely belittling women and their femininity. Good cologne is always a plus; however, there is no way just this would cause women to rip off their clothes and become so sexually playful. It all comes down to the fact that the ad is using sex to sell their product and disregarding all intelligence and power a women has.

When I was watching the Kilbourne film, I was honestly appalled at some of the clips from advertisements that were shown. Especially, the final ad which stated, “The more you subtract the more you add.” I have always believed that advertisements are very unrealistic and we should not allow them to affect us; however, this final ad is just obscene. With so much censoring that occurs on tv shows and movies, you would think that they would think to replicate these censorship ideas in advertisements. For marketing teams to try to sell their products with such demeaning messages behind them is absolutely wrong. I really enjoyed seeing the Dove film though. It sends a message that is very overlooked by society, but which needs extreme attention. It is good to see that some companies are taking these issues seriously and trying to make a positive impact.

Activity #6 - Tough Guise

Kimmel describes that the value of understanding masculinity as socially constructed and historically shifting can be found in “agency-the capacity to act” (pg 213). Society goes through phases of different cultures, and with these changes the identity of masculinity also changes. It is beneficial because it allows for the defining characteristics to change so that it does not reflect and out-of-date, dejected image. I believe that society has become more accepting of allowing men to show their emotions; therefore, the image of masculinity has somewhat softened. This “softer” image eliminates some of the competitive nature linked to masculinity.

The foundation of masculinity is based upon the competition and scrutiny between men. Many people believe that masculinity is based upon impressing women; however, this is completely the opposite. Kimmel describes that, “Manhood is demonstrated for other men’s approval” (pg 214). The opinion of other men is very important because it is they who evaluate the performance of a man. It is this approval that validates that a man fits within the masculine mold. This idea is linked to the belief that masculinity is a homosocial performance. Kimmel explains that “Homophobia is the fear that other men will unmask us, emasculate us, reveal to us and the world that we do not measure up” (pg 214). This fear is what drives a man to prove his masculinity, so one may claim that homophobia is the driving force of manhood. If one is linked to being a sissy or weak then he is also claimed to be homosexual. This tears a man up, because it is this characterization that disqualifies a man as masculine.

I agree with Kimmel’s discussion pertaining to “the fear of being a sissy.” If you are a woman and call a man a sissy he will probably be very angry; however, if a man calls another man a sissy he will probably become physically violent. I’ve seen many of my friends become extremely embarrassed if they appeared to do a “sissy” thing. They would immediately try and do something categorized as masculine in order to reclaim his manhood. It seems very juvenile, but I believe it is very real.

Katz describes that the “tough guise” is the attempt to show the world only certain parts of oneself that society has defined as manly. To be masculine a man must fit into the narrow box that defines manhood. They have to be strong and tough not wusses or sissies. This keeps boys boxed in and pressures them to conform. Katz also discusses that this tough guise portrayed in the media has constructed violent masculinity as a cultural norm. Men think that manliness can be demonstrated by acting out. In order to change these ideas about masculinity, men need to understand that putting on the “tough guise” is destructive to them. They need to pull the curtain away and share their stories to prove this guise is unnecessary. Girls and women need to validate the elimination of the tough guise by showing that they look for more than bad boys. In particular, women need to show that they actually reject bad boys. We also need to break the monopoly of media systems that are mostly run my rich, white men who dictate the stories of those men around us. The images portrayed in the media are very slanted and need this needs to be addressed. By doing these things, we should be able to change the ideal of this tough guise.

The material, especially that by Kimmel, opened my eyes to a new dimension of masculinity. I always thought that the basis of masculinity was the drive to impress women. I never even thought that it could be the need to impress other men. But, after the readings I believe that it does have much to do with claiming the acceptance of other men. Men should realize the struggle that they are creating for each other and find a way to change this; however, they seem to continue to put up more and more barriers.

The only material that I disliked was Kimmel’s discussion about the feminist definition of masculinity. Kimmel says that “Feminists observe that women, as a group, do not hold power in out society…They feel afraid, vulnerable” (pg 217). It gives the impression that women are weak and fearful of men. This seems to totally disagree with some of the other readings in the semester so far. I know that he is not claiming that this is the position women hold in society; however, I do not think it is a very good definition of feminist’s feelings toward masculinity.

CRJ #5 - Sex, Power and Intimacy

I had a slightly harder time supporting some of the readings in the chapter on Sex, Power, and Intimacy. I enjoy a man who is chivalrous and opens doors for me and some of the issues the chapter discussed seemed to say that we are all equal; men should not have these requirements any longer. I think men also enjoy being chivalrous at times because they know that it shows the girl they really care when they may not be able to put that into words. Also, I like being the emotionally intimate one in the relationship. Maybe it is because I grew up seeing my mom and dad fall into the roles discussed; however, I don’t mind the fact that men don’t open up as much “because of the anxiety associated with being vulnerable and potentially losing personal power’ (pg 177).

Although I did disagree with some aspects of the chapter, there were definitely points that I agreed with and even found very interesting. I have always believed a day such as Sweetest’s Day is a Hallmark holiday, but I did not realize what a history romantic love has with that of the consumer culture. As I watched some television commercials for perfume and make-up in the past few days, I began to realize what a dreamy, fantastical image that they were portraying; it also appeared that they were subtly hinting (sometimes not too subtly) that simply the use of these products would help you find a romantic love partner. This supports Shaw and Lee’s explanation that in the near past “Romance became a commodity that could be purchased, and it made great promises” (pg 174). I never realized how valuable romantic love is to consumer industries such as movie theaters, restaurants, and even the fashion industry. Trying to create “the mood” is what these industries are all about, and I have made ample use of them when going on dates. I do fall in the category of women who “spend enormous emotional energy, time, and money in the pursuit and maintenance of romantic love” (pg 174); however, I now understand that the consumer industries are not creating this atmosphere to help you, but to help themselves.

I was also very interested in the story of Emma Goldman. I did some research on J. Edgar Hoover and I now think I understand more of why he called Emma “one of the most dangerous women in America in the early twentieth century” (pg 171). To give a simple background, after graduating in 1917 and joining the Justice Department, John Edgar Hoover had the responsibility of leading a new section “that had been formed to gather evidence on ‘revolutionary and ultra-revolutionary groups’. Over the next couple of years Hoover had the task of organizing the arrest and deportation of suspected communists in America” (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhooverE.htm). He created an enormous card index of people with left-wing political views and advised the attorney general to round up and deport these people. To give him even more drive, on the second anniversary of the Russian Revolution, he had 10,000 of his listed individuals arrested. Most of the Americans were released; however, he decided he was going to make his “big” case on Emma Goldman. At this time, Emma Goldman had come to the United States from Russia and after some harsh experiences here “was drawn to anarchism and became a revolutionary” (pg 171). This made her quite a target for Hoover. She was encouraging people to rise up against government standards, she was from the communistic Russian background, and probably worst case she was a woman. I think Hoover feared the power Goldman was showing prior to the Women’s Movement, and therefore he was trying to have society agree with him my saying she was very dangerous. I thought it was sad that Hoover won and she was eventually deported back to Russia; yet, I was very intrigued that she was then called one of the greatest living women. She stood away from the crowd and spoke for women and supported just causes such as birth control, abortion, contraception availability; “she called for a transformation of values, particularly by women” (pg 171). This is remarkable because I think she really was before her time, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up to the American government that she was not native too. That she could be called a great woman proved that Americans were finally rallying together for the cause, and that Goldman had made a serious impression on society. I had not heard of her prior to this reading; however, I feel like I should be so proud that she was a women fighting for our sexual liberties to the point where she went through deportation. She was one of the reasons this chapter really opened my eyes, and I enjoyed this reading because of that.

Midterm I

Differences in Sex and Gender

Although the terms gender and sex are used interchangeably throughout society, there are definitive differences between the concepts that must be identified. In very brief terms, sex is set by biological aspects, including chromosomes, hormones, and sex organs while gender is the way society interprets these sexual differences. The actual definitions of these terms are much more in depth and controversial, however. In order to make better sense of the differences, three different frameworks will be explored. These will include viewpoints from Kate Bornstein, concepts using social construction, and finally an opposing view from essentialists.

Kate Bornstein is explicitly adamant on the fact that gender and sex should not be intertwined. She blatantly states that sex is simply the act itself. The only aspects that one can define using sex are “how you’d like to do it, and whom (if anyone) you’d like to do it with” (Gender Puzzle, 2). Sex is an extremely straightforward term, while gender has several aspects that should be taken into account. A general term of what she believes gender describes is categorization. The term encompasses aspects such as “assignment”, “role”, “identity”, and “attribution”. This may even include biological factors including hormones and genitals that most people lump into the “sex” category. Therefore, when one speaks of gender they should not be simply speaking in terms of male and female because there are so many gender possibilities that they cannot even all be categorized. Setting gender roles has led to the creation of a male/female dichotomy where many do not find a place. “We need to question our assumptions and that includes our assumptions about sex and gender, if we’re going to understand those aspects of ourselves and others” (Gender Workbook, 4). Bornstein is displeased with the “rules” of gender that are set and asks that people begin to see society as being genderless.

Another ideal that may be used to explain the difference between sex and gender is that of social construction. The theory of social construction suggests that gender is a process that evolves through human interaction and is constantly recreated over time. There is not a “natural”, hard-wired vision of sex or gender. Instead of the terms having selective definitions, there are external influences from society which shape how one perceives gender and sexuality. They should not be defined on simple platforms, but should be understood to change based on an individual’s perceptions. Cultural context changes throughout history and through cultural classes so one needs to understand that these different aspects will have an affect on how people react to gender and sexuality as well. Carol Vance, a major proponent of social construction, states that “…social construction theory strives for uncertainty through questioning assumptions rather than seeking closure…” (Social Construction Theory, pg 31). This means that the meanings of sex and gender are always being examined because the meanings do change over time and in different regions. Another aspect of social construction is that it is a learned process. Judith Lorber explains, “Gendered people emerge not from physiology or sexual orientation but from the exigencies of the social order…Most people go along with their society’s prescriptions for those of their gender status, because the norms and expectations get built into their sense of worth and identity” (Women’s voices, pg 143). Definitions for sex and gender are constantly changing and are reflected by cultural interactions.

In order to fully understand how to interpret gender and sex, one must also inspect a somewhat opposing view from essentialists. Essentialists believe that one’s behavior is independent of place and time; a person acts in a certain manner because he or she was born to operate that way. The foundation of this theory is the belief of biological determination, the belief that biology basically determines all of a person’s behaviors and actions. Behaviors are not set by social interactions as the social construction theory suggests; instead, they are based upon natural, unchanging influences of one’s genes. Our gene’s have a “programmed” sexual preference that reflects outward meanings. Therefore, most of essentialists’ beliefs are based upon concepts of science. Sex is determined by physical traits than can be identified. Since this gender sets a person’s sex, the two terms are usually not differentiated between. Sex and gender are in the same both predetermined by one’s genes.

Sex and gender may seem like simple terms; however, they can be explained in a variety of manners. Kate Bornstein completely separates the ideas of sex and gender and explains that gender has no set definition. The theory of social construction combines the ideas of sex and gender and explains that they are constantly changing based on societal interactions. Finally, essentialists define sex and gender all based upon scientific, biological data. It is up to one’s understanding of these different aspects to understand how to differentiate between sex and gender.

Relationships Between Gender, Science, and Technology

Ideals about one’s gender are made up of many relationships between knowledge, traditions, desires, and beliefs. This same definition translates to the makeup of the science and technological worlds. Just as culture reflects biased so do the science and technological worlds. Since science and technology are more than just physical objects and actually envelope beliefs and traditions, they are able to shape the understanding of gender just as gender shapes the ideas of science and technology

When people think of gender, the usually relate males to being strong, smart, and aggressive, while women are gentle, timid, and introverted. These ideas about gender can shape how we envision science and technology. As demonstrated by the Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers, many people believe that based on these characteristics men shall thrive in the field of science while women do not (Women's Voices, pg 66). Therefore, it has been seen in high school science classes, that boys are called on in math and science classes more than females. Video games are a main aspect of technology that greatly reflect the ideals of gender. In a game such as Tomb Raider, the leading woman is depicted as an extremely attractive woman who appears to be quite promiscuous. While, male dominated video games such as Halo reflect males as being strong and hardcore. This proves that these gender beliefs are literally being physically depicted in current ideals of science and technology.

Science and technology are also able to shape our understanding of gender. They are not simply sets of physical objects; they are able to express standards that form our understanding of gender. When thinking about technology, knowingly or not, most people relate the topic to men. Many people think of “relatively powerful groups of men developing or controlling key forms of technology” (Technology, pg 143). When a person sees war and new weapons of mass destruction being created they relate this to the masculinity and intelligence of men. Many women may be at the forefront of this technology; however, it is mostly shown to reflect the power of men. Concepts of science also are able to influence the understanding of gender. When describing reproduction, most people are taught that the egg is the dormant partner waiting for the diligent sperm to find its way. This introduces children to the idea that men are dominant over women. This again adds to the masculine characterization that characterizes men.

It is important to study the relationship between gender, science, and technology because they all reflect on each other so intimately. They cannot be viewed individually because they are all dependent on aspects of each other. Science and technology have constantly depicted men as the dominant sex. Unless these relationships are studied, women will never be able to achieve the same significance as men. Understanding these concepts will enable the stigmas and relationships to change.