This blog is a course blog for GWSS 1001 - Gender Power and Everyday Life: An Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Minnesota, Spring 2007.
The course has ended.
Please feel free to browse the site, and remember blogs happen in reverse chronology, so if you want to start at the beginning, click HERE and scroll to the bottom, or browse the links on the right-hand sidebar.
Enjoy!
I am a GWSS minor who forgot to take this Intro course to GWSS. While I thought that it wasn’t all that important in the first place, hence the skipping of the course, I’m glad that I waited so that I could take this course with Rachel. When I first started taking classes I heard that the intro class was deadly, that you had to read ridiculously long and boring articles, and arguments always broke out in class about differing opinions of Women’s rights. Well, that didn’t happen at all. I was pleasantly surprised with the readings, and the text book. Almost all the articles that I read were wonderful, and I learned to analyze more critically what I read and how that related to the larger picture. The integration of media and interaction in the class was enjoyable. It made the class fly by and it was easy to pick and choose a response on the blog that sounded interesting. Rachel is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, and her approach and experiences really shaped the way she taught (in a good way) and her response and insight into different topics. I’m glad that I waited, but I know that the intro class is very important, and the complete opposite of dreadful.
Outfront’s JustFair Lobby Day 2007
I attended Lobby Day with my partner, Dana, and my parents. My parents actually reminded me of the event this year. This was their second time at the Capitol, and their increased support and outspoken excitement of gay rights efforts makes me feel proud and grateful that they stand behind me (as many parents of GLBT do not).
Lobby Day is an event organized by Outfront Minnesota, an organization that assists in community-building and political lobbying for GLBT Minnesotans. Every April they organize a Lobby Day to connect GLBT and allied constituents with their legislators in an attempt to expose the needs and power of the GLBT voting base.
The day opens up with a rally. This year there were multiple speakers. After the rally is followed by individual appointments with Senators and Representatives. Dependent on your district or precinct, Outfront helps set you up with the appropriate legislator and schedules the appointments ahead of time.
In the past, I have had a difficult time getting my views “through” to my legislators. I am originally from Minnetonka and anyone who knows the suburb could guess that it has solely Republican representation in the Senate and House. This year my Representative met with my district and spoke with us about his views on GLBT issues. This mainly focused on marriage or “civil unions”, along with adoption, hospital, insurance laws lacking representation and equality in the law. The conversation went better than expected and I left feeling that there was somewhat of a chance of change.
However, there were some major problems that I see with Lobby Day. First of all the GLBT community represented and spoken for at Lobby Day is the privileged middle to upper class white and older couples; for the most part. I saw less than 5 people of color at the Lobby. There was a speaker of color, but he didn’t speak about the fact that he is well represented in the GLBT community. The GLBT aspect of Lobby Day is also ridiculous because the Transgender community is rarely talked about and laws do not include them. The Bisexual community isn’t acknowledged what so ever, and they are shamed out of the gay and lesbian community. So, while Lobby Day was a great event for starting community development and a “bridge” between people and government, they failed to address many pressing issues. Women were not spoken about, nor were transgender individuals. Power systems were not talked about, they were reinforced. The speakers spoke about equality, but they themselves are not treated equally by the GLbt community. There is only the use of the common equality for all speeches, equal rights, equal voice, and while this is a nice thought, it isn’t reasonable because it fails to acknowledge who is left out and who is negatively affected by the work of Lobby Day and organizations associated with GLbt organizing for equality and heteronormativity within the GLbt communities.
I find it to be too bad that women are not allowed in combat in the military. If a woman is capable and willing to go into combat and fight for her country, than she should be allowed to do it. The army should have its best fighters go into combat, and we don't even know what women could do and how much of a help women could be if they were allowed to in combat in the military. I feel this is reflected of our patriarchical society where men are supposed to lead and women are supposed to follow.
I found it disappointing but representative of male gender roles that there was only a small number of males who were in this course or what take women's studies courses in general. I think many males would really find this course very interesting but would probably never take it because they don't want to be known as a guy in a women's studies class. I think there needs to be more males who try to take women's studies courses, and more males who are aware of feminism and what it really is.
I remember seeing a commerical for Comcast a few months back with Jessica Simpson as her character from Dukes of Hazzrard. She mentions a feature to the package that is being advertized, and says that she doesn't even know what that means, but she wants it. The commercial puts across the message that women are stupid and buy things that don't understand what they products they buy do, nor does it matter. I thought that this commerical was relevant to the class because of the way it portrays women as stupid and gullible.
My friends and I were hanging out a few nights ago, and the topic of boys crying came up. Two of my friends, one being a boy and one being a girl, thought that it was weird for boys to cry and that they should not because it is uncomfortable when they do. I thought this was an interesting conversation because my two friends have both apparently decided that boys should be tough and should fight the urge to cry. I thought this was a good demonstrating of genderization.
On April 28th, my friends and I attended the Young Women's Leadership Conference in Duluth. This program is sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation. The program begins at around 10:30 and ends at 5:30. This one-day conference focuses on issues important to women and the often overlooked connections between reproductive rights and health, sweatshop labor, HIV/AIDS, slavery and human trafficking, foreign policy, women in conflict, and violence. The program’s main focus is to promote the idea that women, especially young women, can change the current state of the world if they can only grasp how the problems are interrelated.
In the beginning, the only reason I was going to this conference was because I was visiting my friend in Duluth and it was convenience that I could attend this for extra credit. I was not even planning on staying for the whole day. But due to the high cost of the ticket price, my friends and I decided to stay. However, due to my surprise, I really enjoyed the program. It was very informative and interesting. All the guest speakers were very motivated and passionate about their topics.
We began the program at about 10:40 with an opening introduction from directors of different feminist’s organization. I was impressed that our senator, Amy Klobuchar was there also. Followed by the welcome statement was the watching of a short video called “They Lied”. Afterward, we went on lunch for about an hour. After lunch, there were more discussions on women’s issues. But that part of the afternoon was my favorite. First, Kirby Rafter presented us with the topic of women’s struggle across the border. Her main point of the discussion was that women everywhere should have the right to have access to reproductive health services and contraception. I really like this topic because I agree with what she had to say. In order for women to succeed, they need to have access to reproductive health services. They are entitled to their reproductive rights. If they cannot even control their own bodies than how can they succeed in any other field? Women in the United States need to come together to solve this issue. Only through this can women everywhere achieve equality.
Also, another activity in the program that I liked very much was the exploration of other cultures. In this one hour activity, we were able to ask questions and explore other cultures from a panel consisted of three speakers. I like this because I get to discover about the difficulties that women in other countries are facing.
Overall, I was glad that I decided to go. My friends liked it as well. The program was informational and engaging. I really enjoy talking to the guest speakers as well as hearing on what they had to say. Programs like this are very helpful, especially toward young women. The information that was presented in the program really goes along with the different topics that we had discussed in class. Besides that, there was new information about reproductive rights and women’s struggle worldwide that I was glad to learn. I came out of this conference feeling very informed and inspired. I would definitely recommend young women to attend this program. It may seems long but it is completely worth your time.
This video makes me think...
- if a supermodel like Tyra Banks can find a way to still love herself after a million eyes critique her, than so can I
- hmmmm...Tyra is not fat, how is she plus-size?
- what's the deal with Top Model? All those girls are really kind of...perfect. What message is that show sending out to all the young impressionable girls out there?
This video makes me...
- cry
- grateful for strong women, especially women of color who rock
- wish my little sister didn't have to put up with a double standard every where she looks
- annoyed with the media, Hollywood, celebrities, men and women who don't use their resources and influence to make the world a better place. Instead the media creates a model that no one can fit or should be able to fit, while Hollywood is just in it for the money, so many celebrities become as superficial as their characters, and a lot of men and women don't fight the system - they just perpetuate stereotypes, internalize oppression, and continue pass on sexism to our future generations. GRRRrrrrr.....
This video makes me think...
- that we still have a long way to go in erasing racism from our society
- i cannot believe that the studies still had the same results as years ago - it's just sad!
- that this world is really a sad one, all the internalized oppression that is still going on today is horrible
- the media as a lot to do with oppressing and helping people internalize oppression
This video makes me...
- feel the pain of years of internalized racism
- cry when the young beautiful girl was conflicted about which doll looks like her or which one she wants to associate herself with
- sigh with just being tired of social injustice and wanting racism to be over and done with
- wonder which doll I would have chosen
This video makes me think...
- Kanye sings about the hypocrisy of gold diggers, but I wonder what kind of women are flocking around him night and day
- Why is that a fat, old, ugly man can have all the beautiful women, as long as he is rich and famous, but the double standard dictates that old, bigger, and not so pretty women definitely does not get to roll around with beautiful men – even if she is rich, there she is still not has “cool” compared to a man.
- Who wants to be a video girl? How do you get in a position that you are willing to sell your body to be the woman of the day for a rapper or actor's entourage...it's demeaning
- I understand what Kanye is trying to say about trophy wives, but I want to know where the hell are his songs and videos are pointing out the hypocrisy of men. What now, Kanye?
- I think that this song trivializes everything that women go through: For example, trying to support a child, a family, fighting for self confidence, going against the media and the negative body images they present and competition against other women which is in no way productive to anyone.
This video makes me...
- laugh. The whole process of making yourself grade A 'le boeff" (name of Parisian girl in the video, which means "the beef") is down-right ridiculous
- annoyed at the double standard for men and women, especially as portrayed in the media
- wonder why Kanye's videos and songs such as 'gold digger' and 'workout plan' address issues in a way that targets women in such a negative light but never men. How is it always a woman's fault
- annoyed at Kanye
This video makes me think...
- If I am to be a “mindsticker” I have to have a shape he can’t forget
- That guy is so creepy! Like a stalker he watches her from afar
- A perfect shape is like an tab bottle. Hmmm..I can drink sugar-free, great tasting cola and use the bottle as a measurement for how my body should look. After all, when he is away I want him only to be thinking of me. Bullshit.
- That woman isn’t really playing tennis, she is just walking around looking pretty in her really short tennis dress…
This video makes me...
- almost glad I didn't grow up then, granted, it was a simplier time...but still...
- wonder why it is her fault if he cheats on her. If she didn't have the perfect shape is it okay for his mind to wander?
- tired of sexism
- annoyed with how advertisements like this are still visible today in our media, just a little more subtle, but still
This video makes me think...
* of all the times men in my life told me what to do and what to think and how to do things
* that sometimes I really do feel all alone and that no one will listen to me, and if I do speak, I can't help but be passionate and emotional about it which is not okay to the men in my life and that frustrates me
* that my daughter will not have this problem - I will make sure of it
* that sometimes I am helpless and can't say what is on my mind because of internalized oppression and I hate it!
* the reason I identify with this song so much is that sometimes I really am not at home in my own home. I come home thinking I am safe and put my defenses down, but no, have to keep those walls always up - you never know where the comment, "Man up!" or "stop being so emotional - it makes you weak!" comes from. It just kills me inside that my own brothers - the three men in my life who I love the most and really look up to would say something like that to me.
* Why is emotion so bad? It is just another level of communicating with someone...I don't get why it is disgraceful
* my crossroads are: 1) either close myself off to the comments and just keep silent, because that is a woman's place or 2) share my emotions, thoughts, opinions and be labeled a 'femi-nazi' or a 'lesbian.' Because, after all, what am I fighting for? Women can vote! The war is over...I am 'fighting for nothing.'
Listen I am alone at a crossroads I'm not at home in my own home And I've tried and tried To say whats on my mind
There was someone here inside Someone I thought had died So long ago Oh I'm screaming out And my dreams will be heard They will not be pushed Aside or turned
This video makes me...
* cry with regret that I had to fight so hard to gain control of my life
* bitter because I am not in total control of it
* sad that the men in my life, some of who I love deeply still don't understand, respect or listen to me
* hopeful that maybe one day I will find my own voice...my own complete voice...one that is all mine
* conscious of all the work I have to do to get over my bitterness and to use my experience to continue to grow and improve myself
* simultaneously tired with having to fight every battle because of my two strikes, (being a woman, and being a Woman of Color) and passionate to continue the fight - because I have to do it for my sister, my daughter, my future generations.
* wonder what it would be like if I didn't have to go through my experiences? what would I be like? my experiences cause me to grow, but the journey, it is so painful and heartbreaking. It would be nice to have the choice to step back from the war every once-in-a-while...
But now I got to find my own - my own
This video me think...
* of my Christian friend who lives in Pakistan and has to lie about her religion everytime she leaves her house and all her problems with her father that she has had
* uh, I wonder why a man is speaking about a Muslim woman's choice, "you know what I am saying?"
* I do like the whole idea behind the Hijab - a person looks at another based on their mind or personality versus their outward appearance. I also like the arguement that there is a double-standard: Nuns vs. Woman who wear Hijab - why is the later viewed as oppresson?
* of all the ways religious practices, rituals, customs, and strongly suggested rules are oppressive of woman
* that people are relgiious when it is convenient...it is so funny!
* think of all the American feminists, documentaries, and the US media, that feature Arab woman as oppressed and Islam as a negative relgion
This video makes me...
* laugh at the small truths in this video: I have totally witnessed women who choose to wear their Hijab inappropriately or incorrectly.
* wonder what I would do if I lived in a household or country that required or strongly suggested that I wear a Hijab
* agree with the author of this video - there is a difference between culture and religion and I hate that most people confuse one with another or insist that both go together
* ponder on whether or not Islam is oppressive of women, or Christianity for that matter
* consider the difference between culture and religion and it's affect it has on American feminists - viewing Islam as oppressive or Muslim woman as oppressed, maybe it is just a different culture? or maybe we should not judge...we have our own oppressive vices here in America, who are we to say another culture is wrong? But what if it is oppressive...? I am really at a crossroads here. I was raised experiencing four religions: Christian (me), Muslim (dad's side), Jewish (godparents, best friends, community, etc...) and Hindu (mom's side). Which is right? Are they all going in the same direction?
img alt="prussian_blue2.jpg" src="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/khanx089/mediajournal/prussian_blue2.jpg" width="300" height="300" />
So these two blond-hair, blue eyed girls: Lamb and Lynx Gaede sound like the most naive and sad little girls ever! They are brainwashed by their mother, who exercises her right to teach her daughters at home, by instructing them that the holocaust didn't actually happen and that the best thing they can sing about is keeping their race pure. I love how they identify with the Nazi swastika, when the original use of a swastika dates back to being used by people of color – Indians, American Indians, Mayans, etc… I looked up their lyrics and some of their music videos and found a lot of odd little underlying characteristics that I wasn’t expecting. They epitomize all things beautiful, in varying shades of white and use darker colors and blackness to symbolize evil and malevolent. Ironically, their voices don’t match their angelic faces; their voices sound like grating nails on a steel board. Maybe it was that I have a general disdain for the meaning behind their music or I am apprehensive about what it is that these young ladies will do when they “enter the real world” and realize that the world, really isn’t the place they were brought up to think it was. I just didn’t like their music, their lyrics, their voices, or their mother...but hey, who said this little review was supposed to be objective? :-)
ABC News: Young Singers Spread Hate
(http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1231684&page=1)
Thirteen-year-old twins Lamb and Lynx Gaede have one album out, another on the way, a music video, and lots of fans. They may remind you of another famous pair of singers, the Olsen Twins, and the girls say they like that. But unlike the Olsens, who built a media empire on their fun-loving, squeaky-clean image, Lamb and Lynx are cultivating a much darker personna. They are white nationalists and use their talents to preach a message of hate. Known as "Prussian Blue" — a nod to their German heritage and bright blue eyes — the girls from Bakersfield, Calif., have been performing songs about white nationalism before all-white crowds since they were nine. "We're proud of being white, we want to keep being white," said Lynx. "We want our people to stay white … we don't want to just be, you know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our race." Lynx and Lamb have been nurtured on racist beliefs since birth by their mother April. "They need to have the background to understand why certain things are happening," said April, a stay-at-home mom who no longer lives with the twins' father. "I'm going to give them, give them my opinion just like any, any parent would." April home-schools the girls, teaching them her own unique perspective on everything from current to historical events. In addition, April's father surrounds the family with symbols of his beliefs — specifically the Nazi swastika. It appears on his belt buckle, on the side of his pick-up truck and he's even registered it as his cattle brand with the Bureau of Livestock Identification. "Because it's provocative," explains April of the cattle brand, "to him he thinks it's important as a symbol of freedom of speech that he can use it as his cattle brand."
Teaching Hate
Songs like "Sacrifice" — a tribute to Nazi Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy Fuhrer — clearly show the effect of the girls' upbringing. The lyrics praise Hess as a "man of peace who wouldn't give up." "It really breaks my heart to see those two girls spewing out that kind of garbage," said Ted Shaw, civil rights advocate and president of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund — though Shaw points out that the girls aren't espousing their own opinions but ones they're being taught. On that point, April Gaede and Ted Shaw apparently agree. "Well, all children pretty much espouse their parents' attitudes," she said. "We're white nationalists and of course that's a part of our life and I'm going to share that part of my life with my children." Since they began singing, the girls have become such a force in the white nationalist movement, that David Duke — the former presidential candidate, one-time Ku-Klux-Klan grand wizard and outspoken white supremacist — uses the twins to draw a crowd. Prussian Blue supporter Erich Gliebe, operator of one of the nation's most notorious hate music labels, Resistance Records, hopes younger performers like Lynx and Lamb will help expand the base of the White Nationalist cause. "Eleven and 12 years old," he said, "I think that's the perfect age to start grooming kids and instill in them a strong racial identity." Gliebe, who targets young, mainstream white rockers at music festivals like this past summer's "Ozzfest," says he uses music to get his message out. But with names like Blue-Eyed Devils and Angry Aryans, these tunes are far more extreme than the ones sung by Lamb and Lynx. "We give them a CD, we give them something as simple as a stick, they can go to our Web site and see other music and download some of our music," said Gliebe. "To me, that's the best propaganda tool for our youth."
A Taste for Hate
Gliebe says he hopes that as younger racist listeners mature, so will their tastes for harder, angrier music like that of Shawn Sugg of Max Resist. One of Sugg's songs is a fantasy piece about a possible future racial war that goes: "Let the cities burn, let the streets run red, if you ain't white you'll be dead." "I'd like to compare it to gangsta rap," explained Sugg, "where they glorify, you know, shooting n****** and pimping whores." Sugg shrugs off criticism that music like his should not be handed out to schoolyard children, arguing that "it's just music, it's not like you're handing out AK-47s." Perhaps not, but Shaw says it's the ideas in the music that are dangerous. "When you talk about people being dead if they're not white," said Shaw, "I don't think there is much question that that is hateful."
A Place to Call Home
Despite the success of Prussian Blue and bands like Max Resist within the White Nationalism movement, most Americans don't accept their racist message. Like many children across the country, Lamb and Lynx decided to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina — the white ones. The girls' donations were handed out by a White Nationalist organization who also left a pamphlet promoting their group and beliefs — some of the intended recipients were more than a little displeased. After a day of trying, the supplies ended up with few takers, dumped at a local shop that sells Confederate memorabilia. Last month, the girls were scheduled to perform at the local county fair in their hometown. But when some people in the community protested, Prussian Blue was removed from the line-up. But even before that, April had decided that Bakersfield was not "white" enough, so she sold her home, and hopes that she and the girls can find an all-white community in the Pacific Northwest.
Drama by R. M. 7:38pm Saturday, Mar 3 2007
"Drama. It can mean passion, anger, confusion, and pain. It can be a club at school or a frustrating situation. I am choosing to address the type of drama that people experience negatively on a daily basis.
I think we can agree that a good amount of drama is instigated by those who are females. Although many females will admit this, I expect backlash from those who are too drama-oriented to accept the truth.
I have met many different types of women. There are those who can be around guys and just fit in, not seeking to be the center of attention or any attention at all. Then there is the polar opposite, the girl who takes everything you say the wrong way, twists it around and uses her limited, but well practiced, vocabulary to make your head spin.
I decided to make an equation for all of those guys out there are sick of dramatic women. Look at any girl, and run her through this:
C(M)=x
First, you evaluate how much clothing the girl is wearing. The less, the higher value C will be. Rate it on a level of 1-10. If she's wearing jeans and a tee, give her a 2-3 depending on how tight the jeans and tee are. If there is belly showing, add a point. If she's wearing a mini skirt and halter top, give her at least an 8.
Second, you evaluate how much makeup the girl is wearing. This is tricky because select few women are makeup artists, but they will be thinned out because they usually wear a decent amount of clothing. If the girl is wearing a little foundation and discrete eye-liner, give her a 1-2. If she looks like a stripper (as many girls do these days) she deserves a 9 or 10.
Run these numbers through the equation, and if the girl scores more than 70, stay clear. She will only bring confusion and anger to your life."
I wrote the following to the author (R.M.) who is actually a close friend of mine. Obviously, we don't see eye-to-eye on everything and as usual, I decided to add to the drama in his life by contributing my two-cents to his post and commenting on the other poster's thoughts.
*So the perfect woman for you would actually be a girl, (because you do use the word that refers to a young female) who doesn't call attention to herself at all and doesn't speak much? Why is her vocabulary limited? How is it well-practiced? A lot of women are silenced in and out of their home. Should this woman be repentant because she uses words that make your head spin? Whose fault is that? Sounds like a personal problem to me...
* Also, I am not sure what I think of your equation, only that it further proves my point that men are oppressive of women. Men size women up all day long and judge us from what we wear how we dress, even though we are really only trying to fit in with the standards set by, guess who? MEN! See the schism we are in? We are either the cock-tease virgin or the vamp slut...Just can't please anyone! Oh, and for the women who judge other women - that is a direct result of internalized oppression because we are so used to being judged by men that we have used the same standards on each other, which is admittedly detrimental in so many ways. Feminists are not calling for more rights or the extermination of men - we (men and women who call themselves feminists) just want EQUAL rights...which we still don't have by the way.
P.S. Social injustice = the consequence of White, heterosexual men having power systematically and institutionally.
I cannot take things like social injustice "lightly." Saying that "people should take things lightly" is like saying, women should get over not being heard or considered in important decisions that involve us every day. Feminists aren't about making white people, men, and heterosexuals feel guilty at all. We just want you to be aware of your privilege. Oh, and for clarification...that Adam and Even shit does not fly here with me. I (Eve) didn't cause any man (Adam) to do anything he did not want to do - there is always a choice...I just hate when people use the Bible as a crutch and revert back to it so quickly.
Drama (noun): any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results -or -composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character.
Key word: Emotional - tends to be used when referencing woman only...I wonder why? We could go into all the ways in which some things are masculine and feminine but that would be a whole other topic
One day I came across a pro-war group while browsing Facebook. I was intrigued and decided to investigate further, and upon doing so, I came across these three images that stood out ot me the most.
* Did the creator of this image purposefully mis-spell Koran and force and mis-use resort? I guess I didn't appreciate this image at all. I do support "our men and women" over in the Middle East but there needs to be a point in time where "some people" realize that the majority of Afgan / Iranian / Pakistani / Egyptian soldiers are just fighting to protect their country as well.
*Where in the Koran does it say that women are forbidden from receiving an education? I think this is a big indicator of the strong impact that the misuse of culture plus religion that has infiltrated our society. I won't deny that some Muslims have misused Islam to perpetuate their oppressive culture and some people of Arab descent have termed some cultural habits as religious rules...it's annoying! It has caused so much confusion and stereotypes that really hurt everyone!
* Yay! I love the exotification of my culture! This picture is SO accurate, because you know Afgani people travel via magic carpet ALL the time! So this picture is so accurate in it's portrayal of the US military forces versus the Middle East armies - It's unfair, is what it is!
“Rape Only Hurts If You Fight It” by John Petroski
Most people today would claim that rape is a terrible crime almost akin to murder, but I strongly disagree. Far from a vile act, rape is a magical experience that benifits society as a whole. I realize many of you will disagree with this thesis, but lend me your ears and I’m sure I’ll sway you towards a darkened alley.
If it weren’t for rape, Western Civilization might not exist as we know it today. When the Romans were faced with a disproportionate ratio of women to men in the early kingdom, they had to do something, lest their flidgling society die for lack of sons. To solve their little dilemma, they did what any reasonable man would do: they threw a festival for their Sabine neighbors, and then stole and raped their women. It’s quite logical; in fact I don’t understand why the settlers at Plymoth didn’t do the same to the local Indians–it certainly would have saved on shipping costs.
Obviously, in the case of the Rape of the Sabines, rape was a tremendous help to society. The Sabine women, for their part, didn’t seem to mind so much, as they threw themselves between their brutish old Sabine husbands and their charming new Roman ones to prevent bloodshed when the Sabine men came to reclaim their wives. Yet even when society was totally against a rape, the raunchy act has benifited society too. Where would the Romans be, after all, if it weren’t for the Rape of the Lucretia infuriating the people to the point of overthrowing their last king, Lucius Tarpuinius Superbus? If it weren’t for that event, the world might have never had the Roman Republic for a pristine example of a flawless government.
Rapes glorious advantages are not, however, exclusively found from 2,000 year old examples. In actuality rape advantages can very much be seen today. Take ugly women for example. If it weren’t for rape, how would they ever know the joys of intercourse with a man who isn’t drunk? In a society as plastic-conscious as our own, are we really to believe that some man would ever sleep with a girl resembling a wildebeest if he didn’t have a few schnapps in him? Of course he wouldn’t–at least no self-respecting man would–but there in lies the beauty of rape. No self respecting man would rape in the first place, so ugly women are guaranteed a romp with not only a sober man, but a bad boy too; and we all know how much ladies like the bad boy.
Ugly women are not, however, the only people who benefit from rape–prisoners enjoy as many perks too. What, after all, could be possibly be more boring than spending years of your life confined to some tiny cell 23 hours a day? The answer, of course, is spending years of your life confined to some tiny cell 23 hours a day and never getting some hot action. With rape, prisoners never have to worry about that. Instead, they merely need worry about treating their rapist with enough love and respect to earn a quick reach-around.
But if there is one bread and butter reason for why rape should not only be accepted, but even endorsed, it is because our news editors are in dire need of interesting stories for our front page. Bookstore stories? Fossils? One dollar coins? Please. Now, some saucy circle-jerk rape
I first came across this article in my Intro to Women Studies class and I was infuriated at the author of this article and just saddened by his ignorance and proclaimed naivety. In interviews with the press John said that he never meant to hurt anyone that he honestly thought that his satirical piece, which was printed alongside other regular opinion pieces, wouldn’t be insensitive at all.
I cannot believe the extent he went to in order to research this supposed satirical piece! I find it ironic that a heterosexual White male would write so ignorantly about the dangers of rape, I would never even write an article like this, even for satire. I guess I don’t understand his ultimate goal for this article. What is he poking fun at? Women who yell rape when they are raped? I don’t get it. There isn’t really a motive behind his writing this insensitive and ignorant piece. Who said that every single session of sex / intercourse with a man is joyful? Bah humbug! I say to John! He pokes fun at ugly and fat women, never saying anything about ugly or fat man that are always much more accepted in our society.
Why is that there is a double-standard for men and women? I also love how he pokes fun at women prisoners who long for nice session of hot steamy sex to break up the monotonous day of doing nothing in a cell for long periods of a time. They shouldn’t definitely worry about STI’s or HIV or violent abuse…nope, as long as they are getting the lucky chance of getting penetrated… hey, a win-win situation! I am glad that the author of this article was demoted, but I wonder what would have happened if the author were a woman or a person of color? Would s/he been fired?
* What a bitch! She makes me so mad! And she is so confident about her slur usage, it pisses me off!
* She looks like she is so fucking pleased with herself, I could slap her!
* I think she just says what she says to get attention, I am angry that she used the word 'faggot,' but even more angry at her self-confident childish ass!
* Hey! Her stupid crazy comments are assuring the Democrats of winning in 2008, I mean, if this doesn't what else will? She is making like P.Diddy in 'Rock The Vote' and really just ruining the chances for the side she is actually fighiing for.
* Political correctness does stifle authentic speech and a safe space, but only if those two things have created and it is understood that, that is what it is
* Even if she didn't mean any harm by her childish attitude, she still hurt and offended people, it isn't the intent we need to focus on, or else we are just victimizing the aggressor...which is not what is suppposed to happen.
* I hate Fox news, their coverage of this incident is so biased and one-sided, if I were to only watch them, I would totally be brainwashed
* So Ann says that her use of the word was to invoke a school yard taunt....hmmn...since when is she 12 years old and since when is the Republican convention a school yard? GRRR!
* How is faggot NOT offensive to Gay people? Ann makes me ashamed to be a woman almost, she sets us back hundreds of years...and it doesn't help that she is blonde - people will immediately fall back on the dumb blond jokes.
* So is Ann saying that he is a 'pussy' or a 'girlie-man?' if she is not calling him derogatory word? It still think it's wrong...the word doesn't really hold a lot of meaning for me because I am heterosexual, but I feel for my gay friends. She used the word inappropriately, in a professional arena and wasn't professional at all. It isn't the word really to me, it's how she said it and where she said it - that is what makes me mad!
I was reading a recent issue of People magazine and it was about the most beautiful people of 2007. The very first section showed photos of stars like Drew Barrymore, Jessica Biel, and Eva Longoria without makeup and showing that they're still beautiful even without the makeup. I think ti's sad that us women need to feel like we're beautiful and have products that cover up our true look .. they didn't have makeup through the 1800s or so .. so why now? The standard of beauty has gone up and so has the competition to look even more attractive to the male eye. I just found it rather funny and sad. Amazing how we have to buy so many things to make us feel like we're worth looking at.
About a month ago, I wandered into Amazon Bookstore (located at 4755 Chicago Ave So. in Minneapolis). It’s an independent, feminist bookshop that also sells some music and merchandise. Anyway, it is AWESOME, and if anyone is interested in reading up on feminist issues or looking for great books written by women, you should check it out! I browsed through Amy Sedaris’ “I Like You!” entertainment book while my friend Steve looked through memoirs (I guess I’m lucky to have a friend like him, who’s interested in feminism and who’ll also front me a whopping $30 for a Bust magazine and a hefty book on college women, “College Girls: Bluestockings, Sex kittens and Co-eds, Then and Now” by Lynn Peril). I’m excited to read it after school is out. I promise that the trek to South Minneapolis is well worth it for the bookstore- it’s even across the street from Turtle Bread Co. and the Parkview Theater (which, although dilapidated, is absolutely amazing). After having taken GWSS, I have a newfound appreciation for the books and resources they offer at Amazon (readings, etc.)
Overall I thought that the last set of group presentations were rather awesome. I especially enjoyed watching Women in Politics the most. I think that the group went that extra mile to make the presentation not only extremely informative and interactive with the class in a great way, but also the overall look and construction of the actual powerpoint presentation was very impressive. I thought it was a great idea to interview students on campus to learn what their knowledge was of certain issues that are very relevant to this class and day-to-day issues. Great job on the graphics and changing skin tones and faces on slides .. it kept my attention throughout the presentation, and if you can do that and learn as you're having fun, that will stay imprinted on a person for a long time. So great job everyone! ^__^
To be honest, I think the comedic “gender-bending comedies” that I saw as a child actually opened my mind to the idea of homosexuality and transgendered people.
One that jumps to mind (aside from the classics Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire, neither of which I’ve seen, surprisingly)—is a lesser-known Disney movie from 1998, “Mr. Headmistress”. The basic premise involves a guy who gets out of jail, man is followed by the mobsters that he screwed over before going to jail; man escapes on a train, and beats up an old woman in a train car, steals her clothes, and takes her identity (which is the new headmistress job at an all-girl’s school). That sounds pretty farfetched now that I type it out- it didn’t seem so back when I saw it at age 11. Anyway, it’s your typical man-dresses-as-woman, Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like A Lady” and Tom Jones’ “She’s A Lady” play in the background while man struggles to put on pantyhose and lipstick shtick (though I have to say, in my defense, that star Harland Williams pulls of the whole scene with particular aplomb).
Well, I can glaze over a few of the glaring sexist flaws in this film (he beats up an old woman, ties her to a chair, and we don’t care because…. She’s a mean old lady???). What made me really think about gender at the age of 11 was that a male teacher at this school was attracted to the cross-dressing Williams- they have several encounters, and the male teacher is encouraged even more. He tries to woo the male headmistress that he perceives to be female. Yes, this is aimed to get a laugh as opposed to make a social statement—but the questions that such an attraction raises are undeniable. The protagonist’s relationship with another female teacher at the school (who he was sexually attracted to) added yet another layer.
This made me wonder about attraction—what does it mean if you’re attracted to someone that you think is the gender you’re attracted to, but then discover that they aren’t biologically? Does this make you straight if you’re gay or gay if you’re straight? Even at a young age, I theorized about a spectrum. It must be an easy mistake to make! In a world where transgendered individuals can express themselves more than ever before, it can be very hard to tell what the biological gender of a person is. I think the shock or surprise at finding out that you are attracted to someone you hadn’t though possible must be our response to the compulsory heterosexuality (Feminist Frontiers, Tolman 307) that’s been imposed upon us growing up in our heterosexist society. Why should the biological gender of a person come into play, when all that matters are our outer perceptions (which can be fooled)?
The film Southern Comfort asks these questions, too—since the born-female-turned male character had a sexual, romantic relationship with a born-male-turned female person—if either one of them had been both transsexual and gay, they might not have been attracted to one another. Or would they? It’s so complicated! The nuances of psychology, biology—in the end, we’re dealing with human-to-human bonds, and these bonds defy gender and sexuality.
When I attended Jack Halberstam’s talk about animating counterculture, he mentioned that animated films can break certain boundaries but reinforce others (like racist stereotypes). These comedic cross dressing films do this as well—although they can challenge young minds to question gender and attraction, they include their fair share of gender stereotypes (thus the films are funny). Though I’d have to say we’re far from making perfect films that don’t hurt or offend anyone, my mind-bending experiences as a child were very important and noteworthy. I’ve come to have an open mind about gender and sexuality partly because of them.
I was surprised to find so many denim ads that used this exact same concept- a naked woman except for her jeans. Obviously, the jeans are "highlighted" by making them the only garmet visible, but it's pretty clear that these ads are selling trim model figures and not just pants. They are nearly naked, barely covering their own breasts. What struck me most about the first image I saw (Levi's Capital E jeans, on the right), was that both the man and woman were in the same nude position, but at different levels of power due to the fact that it's acceptable/legal for a man to be shirtless in public (but not a woman). The women are vulnerable in their topless states. It does not sit well with me.
I didn’t know what to expect coming into this GWSS class, and now coming out of it there were things I really enjoyed and some things I probably could have done without or just kind of disagreed with. Overall I really am glad that I took the class because it opened my eyes to a lot of issues, some I knew were out there but had never really discussed or approached from a different perspective and others that I had just never known about or been exposed to at all. One of the most horrifying and moving things we did, for me at least, was watching the documentary on the disappearance and murders of the girls in Juarez. The fact that such corruption, cold heartedness, deception and murder can go on basically in plain view and with so many people involved blows my mind. I can’t imagine what kind of life that would be, to live in constant worry that you, your daughter, your neighbor, wife or friend could be next. The acts in and of themselves are horrible and gruesome, but the fact that people know about what is going on, not just in the corrupt Mexican government and that of Juarez, but that there are people here in the United States who would have the power to make it safer or to intervene (those who own the factories or those who run them) instead turn a blind eye and do nothing. I don’t know what kind of people can do such a thing.
Other than the documentary, I really enjoyed listening to and watching the final presentations. There were some really interesting topics covered and it was great to see how they tied into feminism and especially on a local level. There were a lot of things that were scary about peoples points of view (from interviews), what they knew and didn’t know and the availability of different resources in the area. The difference in women’s pay to men’s pay here at the U was especially troubling, you would think that today even if there was a discrepancy in pay, it wouldn’t be so incredibly glaring. I guess things have changed, but they still have a long way to go.
As many of my fellow classmates have previously stated, this class has opened my eyes to alot of things that constantly surround me that you never really think about. Through readings, discussions and blog entries I feel I have learned alot about feminist theory, the progress that is and isnt being made and about myself through my own critical thinking on issues and others thoughts and opinions. I loved how the class was different every week, the topic and the format and enjoyed how much media was incorporated into everything.
To be completely honest the use of the web blog wasn't to appealing, but after a semester of submitting entries on here I have become quite fond of the idea. Some one else mentioned doing media journals online (meaning everyone) and including more incorporation between those and the entire class. Although for me it was hard to stay on top of a journal and putting my findings along with my thoughts into a common place, I did view news, magazines and other various sources of media in a different way and found a lot of very interesting stuff. I found that I talked alot about issues that were brought up in class while outside of school and with completely different people. At work for the past few weeks we have been talking about transgender youth and intersex babies. While doing clinical work on a labor and delivery floor I also found myself in yet another conversation about intersex and was entertained with the doctors and resident's responses when they were asked about it. This was interesting for me because my nursing classes the information is stuff I really enjoy learning about and it 100% useful; however no one wants to discuss how to catheterize a man over lunch...
I was pleasantly surprized to walk away from this class with the new base of knowledge and a new 'feminist' view of my own. It was nice that everyone was able to participate even though we all fit somewhere completely different on the feminist spectrum. I know my opinions were changed, strengthened and questioned throughout the course of the semester but I like walking away knowing I have real thoughts on pressing feminist issues.
I look back on this semester, and I'm really glad that I decided to take this class. I learned about subject matter that I had never considered before. I learned how I ,too, have been blinded by normative gender roles my whole life. This class really made me think critically about how I think about the world. I think that one of the most interesting things that I learned all semester was about blurring gender roles. Gender isn't biologically based; it's a societal norm. It really made me feel compassion for transgenders because I can't imagine the struggles that they go through day to day. Even something so little as deciding which rest room to go into would be a challenge.
I wasn't expecting that the class would have so much of a scholarly feminist background, but I think that it really added to the class. When you know that you're reading an article by someone who's educated about the topic and not just stating an opinion, it only adds to what you gain from the reading.
I agree with others in the class by saying that some sort of GWSS class should be a CLA requirement. The class really gives you information you wouldn't hear elsewhere. It forces you to think critically about the world in which we live.
Looking back on this semester, I would say that I learned a lot about feminism. Coming into this class, I really had a vague idea of what feminism was. I learned a lot about gender and how it is constructed by society. This class definitely helped me to learn to think critically and to think about everyday things, like what is on TV and on commercials, and how women are portrayed in TV and movies.
I am glad that I decided to take this class and I feel I learned a lot of things that I probably would not have learned somewhere else. I am probably going to take another GWSS class before I graduate if my schedule will allow it.
As I reflect over the past semester I am relieved and saddened that the year is almost over. Relieved, that summer is year and I can finally do nothing for three whole months! Saddened, that this class is over and I will have to actively look for new ways to educate myself about feminism and topics pertaining to feminism. When I first registered for this class, I had made an unofficial goal of answering my question: “Why do I want to minor in GWSS?” Now that it is the end of the semester, I really don’t have a concrete answer. Perhaps, it is merely that I am more educated on issues of reproductive rights, or that I learned how to be a better ally to the GLBT community, or maybe I am more on the up-and-up on feminism in the news, or I have thought of new and different ways race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability affect feminism and me. Maybe it is just a mix of all of those things…yes, that’s it. I have honestly, challenged myself and how I “do sexuality” and process sexuality as a socially constructed identity.
One thing I would suggest for the class: Improve or create a closer classroom by forming groups, and encouraging students to interact and get to know each other more. I left our class not really knowing more than five people very closely and less than ten names of my classmates. The blog really helped me to connect with other classmates, but I did not really read my friend’s posts, because their posts just got lost amongst the numerous other blog posts from everyone else.
Overall, I loved this class and I really enjoyed reading the articles in our textbook Feminist Frontiers, and I feel that the discussions we have had online and in-class have challenged my thought process and encouraged me to ponder feminism in new light and by using different lenses of analysis. I also have increased my blogging ability tremendously, which is way cool and I think that I will continue to add to my media journal for my own benefit of keeping track of interesting things I come across in the media and record what my opinions and thoughts are about them. Loved the class! Looking forward to taking more GWSS classes next year!
I’m glad to have covered as many topics and theories as we have in GWSS 1001—as thought provoking as they’ve all been, I’d have to say that what I’ve gotten most out of the class is a change in my own feminist perspective. A year ago, I gave a speech about feminism and porn to my entire high school. I wrote the speech as a response to my feelings about the porn my male friends watched. Although I tried to include many perspectives in this speech, I realize now that my reaction (and my resulting feminist stance) did not cover all it could have. My feminism has been born out of many years living a privileged, upper class white life.
By learning about the diversity of feminism and feminists, multiracial feminism, hip-hop feminism, punk feminism, male feminism, transsexual and transgendered feminism, I’ve become more aware of the multitude of backgrounds and experiences different feminists bring to the table. I feel a bit guilty knowing that some of my concerns really do result from growing up the way I did, and that many feminist measures (like workplace equality, etc.) do in fact address my concerns but not the concerns of others. I rarely have to think about racism, unfairness in welfare or gender binaries that make bathroom etiquette uncomfortable for transsexuals. We are all in this together, and there are definitely important issues that get ignored because those who have them lack power in our society.
I’ve really enjoyed this class; though I’d have liked it if the blog were more integrated into the class (perhaps links to people’s media journals would have been cool?) I had hoped to use it more than I’ve ended up using it. The readings on feminist theory have also been enriching (though I wasn’t as much of a fan of bell hooks). I still feel as though I have a lot to keep digging for- which is exciting, since I opted to keep my textbook. I want gender equality issues to float back into the mainstream! I’ll do my best to have conversations that will steer people in that direction. Thanks for a good class, Rachel!
So there I was, stuck with not being able to register for a class over winter break because of a time conflict. Because of this, I opted to broaden my global perspectives by enrolling into GWSS 1001. Little did I know that this would be one of the most rewarding classes that I am sure I will ever be enrolled in. I had no idea that the oppression of women, and the feminist movement for equality was as strong as it is. I was very glad that the instructor incorporated technology in all forms of learning from computer and blogging to various media clips that demonstrated readings in class. I think using technology to educate society about a hot topic is probably the best way to go because it gets them more involved and interested. I think this class along with others should be required by either the late stages of high school, or in your college years at some point. With more knowledge of the subject, there is a possibility of more respect for women including less abuse and oppression. With continued support from the voice of feminism, gender equality is a realistic goal for all nations. Once again, I am very glad I enrolled in this class, and hope that everyone has a great summer!
I watched Brothers & Sisters the other day and thought about how interestingly they portrayed the family. This Walker family is claimed to be a modern American family. The family is composed of Nora and William, the parents of Sarah, Tommy, Kevin, Kitty and Justin. I enjoyed watching this show because of the seemingly chaotic family. It made a crazy family back home seem normal. This show contrasts many of the family shows that I grew up watching.
Sarah and Tommy both work at their Father’s family business but they run into trouble. Nora finds out that her husband has been cheating on her with Holly for twenty-something years. When William dies, surprisingly of a heart attack, the Walkers’ find out that that William and Holly had a child nearly twenty years ago. Sarah is trying to figure out how to balance being a mother and run the family business. Tommy is trying to start a family with his wife Julia and also start a new branch of the family business. Kevin is a gay lawyer trying to find out how let others love him and how to love them back. Kitty is a right wing politician whose opinions are in opposition to the majority of the rest of his family. Justin is dealing with post war trauma and addiction. Each member of this family is dealing with their own issues.
I think that this family really drew me in initially because it was a big family. The first episode that I watched, I thought that it was one big loving family. Much to my surprise, I found out that the family was full of its quirks. I enjoyed learning about the personality of each person and what each person was dealing with. Despite all of the complications that the family member endures, the family really comes together to when anyone is in need.
I think that one of the biggest reasons that the dynamic of this show is so different from so many of the other shows that focus on “typical” family life is that the children of the family are all grownup. The dynamic changes because the children don’t all go to school together; they make an effort to see each other. The members of the family are extraordinarily different, yet all come home for the same reason. The sarcasm and the humor of the family are also particularly interesting and catchy.
I enjoy the show because it doesn’t portray an “ordinary” family as 5 siblings who fight only on the surface. I enjoy seeing families who resemble a family more like the one I grew up in. The family is portrayed as a family with lots of love to give and plenty of bitterness to go around. This family conveys my image of a modern American family much better than any other TV drama I have ever seen. I enjoy the effort that is being made. Of course, the show is not flawless, but it is a step in the right direction!
While I enjoyed all the presentations in class and thought it was a really nice way to end the semester, I thought the presentation about pornography was quite interesting! All of the group members seemed to be very mature with this topic that could be considered very uncomfortable. The presentation was very well rounded: history, governmental issues, porn videos/magazines, and different sex stores.
The comparison between “Sex World” and the “Smitten Kitten” was very important to discuss and very accurate. I have not been to “Sex World” but I have been to the “Smitten Kitten”. I went during this semester with a few girlfriends and I felt surprisingly comfortable. All the staff was very informative and nonjudgmental. It was great that they made this comparison because people need to know that there are comfortable sex shops out there!
I was really looking forward to taking this class and I was not disappointed at all! I have all my classes in the music building on the West Bank so it is always nice to have a little change. I thoroughly enjoyed the comfortable environment that was immediately established because I always felt comfortable sharing my thoughts during class discussions. The blog was really because I have never used one before and it allowed all of us to reflect on certain topics discussing in class but outside of the classroom.
I felt that every lecture was well planned and each issue was very interesting. I have never taken a feminist class before and I learned so many things that I would not have learned otherwise. This class taught me to look at issues we encounter everyday (i.e. women portrayed in the media, rape, reproductive rights, etc.) with a critical eye. It was really interesting to look at video clips like the Hip-hop/rap documentary, Libby Lou, transgender, etc. I had learned a little bit about the transgender community before entering this class but we went into much more detail which I found very helpful! I really enjoyed this class and I think everyone should take a class like this because it covers many issues that are important to our everyday lives: feminism, gender, and sexuality.
i didn't know much about the feminist movement prior to this class and i learned lots and lots and lots in this semester and i loved every minute of it. all of the readings were super interesting and thought provoking. it's so sad to think that there are a shit ton of people who will never be hit with this information and will continue to be ignorant and affect others negatively and believe all of the stuff that the media throws at us. it's also sad to think that i might never have became aware of this movement and all that it entails or stimulated my interest in these topics had i not taken this class.
this class challenged me and made me think critically about the world that surrounds me and i am foreva changed. feminism covers so much ground and includes so many people, ideas, theories, opinions and i am glad that i am more knowledgeable now.
of all the things that we covered, what resonates with me the most is the sex/gender distinction. it had never really occurred to me that sex was an ambiguous area. i know that gender can be bent and shaped and played with but the idea that sex is not clear cut was somewhat mind boggling. these concepts fascinate me.
i plan on reading grassroots and the rest of my textbook and other related texts this summer because i don't wanna stop.
I knew very little about this subject when I began this class. I took it because my sister is a feminist and what she talks about I find fascinating but most of the time I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about. I feel like at the close of the semester, I now have the tools to understand what she says and what's really going on in the world around me.
I find myself looking at things a little different now. I will see a commercial, or a tv show, or a song that before I wouldn't have thought twice about and now I will stop and think about the way a feminist would analyze it. I wouldn’t call myself a feminist yet but I definitely see the injustices in the gender, women, and sexuality studies and look forward to learning more about them.
The media and the way it was used in this class amazed me. I loved that we would read sections of the book and then come to class and discuss what was in them by watching a Pink music video, listening to a song, or watching a film clip. It was so exciting to have a class that I looked forward to; not only because of the content, but also because of the way it was presented.
I really enjoyed this class and would definitely recommend it to anybody and everybody (and I have!)
Most of my learning this semester was in handling of technology (Moodle, Bloging, etc.), but there were also many little pieces that added to my ever-growing and expanding interest and research of feminism. I see most of the problems and challenges we discuss in the course of this course as related to one another, for example: the gender/sex perception we are molded into, and our parents (or generally older generation) influences cause much ignorance and confusion about gender and sexuality. The religious/conservative perceptions and ignorance guide people to not instruct their children about sexuality and gender, and so they grow on false beliefs, traditions, stereotypes, gossip and media. The result? People think that gender and race are scientific facts while they are a merely social constructs. One most be a boy or a girl, no place for "others" (even if there is an acknowledgment that some "others" exist).
Men are socialized to be emotionally unresponsive and irresponsible, women are socialized to be object: to be passive, beautiful, receive whatever they get (whether it is violence or love, or mix of them both). I can go on and on, but to save poor Ms. Raimist-Glazes' nerves I will focus on the one issue that interest me the most: the connection between sex-work, media and men's violence against women.
So: most of the parents in the U.S. do not want to teach their children about sexuality, gender differences or sexual identities. The result? Media is source of knowledge (very skewed and corrupted source), and it teaches men to be violent/murderous rapists/serial killers. In a binary of offenders/victims women usually have to be the later one.
You cannot protect yourself from pregnancy, STI's HIV, incest, rape, abuse, harassment, etc. if you do not know anything about your rights as a human and about your own sexuality and gender identity (as well as others' identities and behaviors).
Ignorance breeds violence that in turn breeds ignorance, breeding violence...
Feminism is my new religion:
• Do you want to end the class struggle in America (or the world)? Feminism deals with that.
• Want to end sexual/physical/emotional violence against women, GLBTQQ's and women? Feminism is the right path for you (begin your education there and move forward to action).
• Worry about politics, media, sports, or whatever else? Check out feminisms- I am sure they have a say on each and every issue that may come to your mind.
I hope in the future feminisms will be present in every course in every course, university and college in America (and the rest of the world). This course was excellent, and more that it changed my life I hope it influenced many others, those who never thought about sex and gender and identity, or race or class or the media influence on their lives.
Thank you for all the students that hang in there for my groups 45 minutes presentation on violence against women, and to all those who got involved and express themselves during this semester.
And thank you Rachel for all the guidance and help with these tricky computer things, and all the rest.
See you all in the summer course (there is still plenty of space left).
There were a number of things that this class taught me. One thing that I found really useful was the ability to take the theory I read about and then to apply it to advertisement and media I see daily. This has given me to theory in which I can look critically at the world around me.
This class has also helped me in my activist work. Many of the theory that we read has application in the area of queer activist. Issues of race, class and gender affect us all, and the works written by many feminist activists have application in a vast array of social movements. Many of the theory can be applied to activists fighting for a new queer collective identity. The LGBT community today is a community were members are designated a letter then are at war with each other and within their own subgroups. My vision for the future of the community is where the factions can come together to form a new queer identity. A new queer identity that reaches across sexuality and gender lines on the issues that effect us all breaks out of single identity politics, that strives for grassroots community building, that fights against assimilation, that fights against political apathy, and one that fights against the destructive elements of heteronormativity. We can use our diversity as an asset to strengthen a movement of transformative social change. No longer will the letters of LGBT be fractured, but united in the experiences with we share. As queers we can move beyond single identity politics and work towards a new global future. A new global future that fights for the social equality of people across lines of gender, race, class and sexuality, these lines will become blurred lessening the effectiveness of wedge politics. As queers we can be part of something large, where all marginalized people take action, and the disenfranchised take to the streets creating something revolutionary.
I’m grateful for the focus this class had on the media: images, messages, effects, and structural hierarchy of the majority of the mass media system. I’ve been disgusted with the majority of media (especially magazine and television) viewing options for years. It’s invigorating to now have used intellect, analysis, and theory to study the negative images bombarding society. Instead of just attempting to avoid these mediums, I feel empowered to challenge them.
This course has also provided me with interesting, provocative, and diverse resources. The textbooks were effective in giving me an over-all understanding of the diversity and all-encompassing base of feminism. I’m looking forward to continuing my education on matters regarding oppression in a patriarchal society. Finishing the remaining articles of Feminist Frontiers and Grassroots will assist me in this endeavor. It’s not too often that I’m willing to read textbooks outside of class in my summer free time, so that is quite the compliment.
Now, for my rant, I purpose a question that feminism may or may not be addressing: Is the term “feminism” the most representative title for what it stands for? Part of me deeply appreciates a title focused on women, or what society relates to women. It’s something to be proud of and raise a fist in the air for. On the other hand, could the title be partly or greatly at fault for some of the stereotypes that are associated with the movement. I’ve posed this question for some very open-minded individuals who would be completely uncomfortable calling themselves “feminists” even after understanding that it stands for individuals against any type of oppression. Many men will not feel comfortable using such a feminine title. I would be resentful of a similar movement that was referred to as “masculinism”. It is just not inclusive; in fact, one of the friends I discussed this with asked me what I would call it, and upon no answer he suggested “inclussionism”. Considering the power language has on peoples, which we’ve learned about throughout class, I pose this title as an unfortunate problem, one that I find important to consider when talking to those people who share the same stance as feminists who could add knowledge and support, but will not refer to themselves as such.
I’m grateful for the focus this class had on the media: images, messages, effects, and structural hierarchy of the majority of the mass media system. I’ve been disgusted with the majority of media (especially magazine and television) viewing options for years. It’s invigorating to now have used intellect, analysis, and theory to study the negative images bombarding society. Instead of just attempting to avoid these mediums, I feel empowered to challenge them.
This course has also provided me with interesting, provocative, and diverse resources. The textbooks were effective in giving me an over-all understanding of the diversity and all-encompassing base of feminism. I’m looking forward to continuing my education on matters regarding oppression in a patriarchal society. Finishing the remaining articles of Feminist Frontiers and Grassroots will assist me in this endeavor. It’s not too often that I’m willing to read textbooks outside of class in my summer free time, so that is quite the compliment.
Now, for my rant, I purpose a question that feminism may or may not be addressing: Is the term “feminism” the most representative title for what it stands for? Part of me deeply appreciates a title focused on women, or what society relates to women. It’s something to be proud of and raise a fist in the air for. On the other hand, could the title be partly or greatly at fault for some of the stereotypes that are associated with the movement. I’ve posed this question for some very open-minded individuals who would be completely uncomfortable calling themselves “feminists” even after understanding that it stands for individuals against any type of oppression. Many men will not feel comfortable using such a feminine title. I would be resentful of a similar movement that was referred to as “masculinism”. It is just not inclusive; in fact, one of the friends I discussed this with asked me what I would call it, and upon no answer he suggested “inclussionism”. Considering the power language has on peoples, which we’ve learned about throughout class, I pose this title as an unfortunate problem, one that I find important to consider when talking to those people who share the same stance as feminists who could add knowledge and support, but will not refer to themselves as such.
Overall, I find the class enjoyable. There were many topics that I find interesting. One of them is transgender. Up until we discussed the issue in class, I have never really given it much thought. It really hit me when we talked about the lack of support we have for the transgender community. The fact that there is only one unisex bathroom in Coffman available is discouraging. In the future, I do hope that the U of M will make more of an effort to accommodate people that are transgender.
Also another topic that I like is the journal analysis. I did not realize the horrible messages that advertisement company are implying. The powerful effect of the media on our society is unimaginable. The rate of eating disorder has gone up, more and more women are obsessed with being skinny. Similarly, the one aspect that scares me the most is how the media affect young children. It is disturbing to see young children in makeup, wearing clothes that are age inappropriate. Stores like Libby Lue should really be banned. I really don’t understand why some people would think that it is cute. But to have people thinking that it’s cute only means that they are not educated enough about feminism. That’s why I think classes like this are useful. Even for those who don’t really believe in feminism completely, at least they can still acknowledge what can benefit women and what hurts them.
Last but not least, the reality TV analysis is also one of my favorites. I did mine on The Hills. I watch that show a lot but it wasn’t until I had to do the assignment that I started to notice the difference. That assignment made me realize how show like that can really influence young people. Now I don’t watch it that often anymore.
After looking back on this semester, I can really say that I am now a pro-chioce feminist. Before coming into the class, I didn't really knew what feminism entailed. I really was naive to it along with all the components wrapped around it such as gender roles, male privilege and white privilege, reproductive rights, and equality in the workplace. I really liked the week where we anaylzed advertisements and now cannot look at an ad in a magazine and think about how women are portrayed. I think I am much more willing and want to listen about political issues such as abortion, because I am educated on it and know both sides to it and where I stand. This is never a class that I probably would have taken, but I am really glad I did and have learned so much about feminism and about myself throughout the semester.
I was really interested in the group presentation last night on teaching sexual education in schools. When I was in fourth grade our parents got a letter explaining that sexual reproduction and puberty was going to be talked about to us. My parents signed me up. Parents could come to the discussions with their kids, and my mom joined in. In fifth grade we got a more detailed description of what actually is going on in your body and then in seventh grade we watched a movie of an egg being fertilized and then the baby growing and then the actual birth. As gross as a lot of this was to a kid in elementarty and middle school I felt that these classes were very important. One major aspect of high school sex ed that I found interesting was how my health classes didnt teach abstinence only. They told us that abstinence is the only way to avoid diseases and pregnancy but they also went into huge discussions about ways in which to protect yourself if you do decide to have sex. This I thought was great because the more you tell a kid NOT to so something the more they are going to want to do it. My high school even handed out condoms at prom. My mom has also been a huge part in this process. She made sex and puberty talks very comfortable. I still talk to her about problems. There are times we both say a little too much but I love knowing that I can go to her for anything I have questions about. She knows everything! I dont hide anything from her. I