Final Blog
To start out, I have to admit this class was a bit of a struggle for me. My personality is very compromising and is always looking out for the best way to solve things. I then had to start reading very biased articles, and it took me out of my comfort zone. Sure, I knew that women were oppressed in society, but I didn't know how it came to be that way. For instance, I knew that there was gender and that there was sex. I did not know that sex was our basic male and female distinctions and gender was how we performed our sexes; I thought they were all one in the same. I found it very intriguing to see how men and women perform gender to try to fit themselves into the +5 system the best way that they can. Obviously, men tend to see themselves as the superior, but women are trying to prove to society that they aren't just women who have to wear make-up and put on sexy clothes to be wanted or needed in society. As I have learned about the oppression of women in class, I have been able to observe it on the school campus and in my own personal life. For instance, my brother has always made jokes that tend to be a little more degrading to women. Of course, he is very loving and caring, but I don't believe he always thinks before he says things. In our case, I'm always less than he is. He's always smarter than I am, he's always better at sports than I am, he's better looking than I am, etc. He is just kidding; I know that, but sometimes I take it personal. I'm older than he is, so he should look up to his elder and want to take advice from me, which is starting to happen. I also think it is apart of him growing up because he's learning how to perform his own gender and try to be "manly" and stick up for himself and not let his big sister tell him otherwise. Once I've taken this class, I've explained the importance of performing his gender in an appropriate manner. I've told him that he is in part of the +5 system in the sense that he's on top and needs to take responsibility for not using that against other people. I am also part of that system, but rather a +4. I've learned where I need to stand in society and how I can put in my two cents and try to make it a better place on my part. Everyone needs to be aware of oppression and how it affects individuals. Oppression is not something that goes unwitnessed, and that is how this class has opened my eyes and made me want to broaden everyone else's horizons in my life.