This author, Barbara Smith, argues as one of her main points in her article Racism and Women's Studies that "white women" are racist, but do not realize it. I honestly do not believe this is true at all. To me, this article just sounds like Ms. Smith is trying to hunt down every reason other white women dislike black women, and turn it into a reason why white women need to be more educated. Quite frankly, I zfound this article to be rather irritating to read. While I do not disagree that black and white women have things to learn about each other, I do disagree that we are all still racist and do not know how to socialize with women of a different color. I think it would not be difficult to get women of all colors and "races" together to rally for total feminist rights. I think that "black" women and "white" women could find things to teach each other about their roles in feminism, and how their cultures come into play. However, overall I found Ms. Smith's argument to be largely invalid.
What I would like to bring up to the class is an issue that we talked about in my Biological Anthropology class. Race does not exist. It is a man-made, false concept which was created to assign new meaning to social order and class. I think if we focused on that, instead of bringing "races" together, we could get a lot more done. Why should someone be picked on because they have darker or lighter skin? It makes no sense.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
bwagh
it's going to be a wednesday morning sort of week. I had a midterm yesterday and i have one at 8am tomorrow and i just want to scream and cry right now because i'm so stressed >.< i just can't force myself to stay up and understand this right now. so i'm going to go cry and you shall all see my post around 10 am tomorrow. goodnight all <3
Sunday, October 2, 2011
People Like Us Discussion
So on Thursday we watched "People Like Us" which was a very interesting view into the lives of different people and how they handle wealth and social status. I think one of the stories that touched me the most was the one about the woman who walks a ridiculous distance to work everyday and still gets called terrible names because she can't afford to drive. I think that part really shows to me how our country focuses on someone's wealth rather than their determination, which is really terrible because there are so many people who work very hard justi to maintain a lower middle class status, but then there are people who barely do anything and still manage to be able to throw away millions on things they don't need.
One part that disgusted me was the part about the woman whose grandmother told her "not to let the poor people touch her" as though poor was a disease.
As far as the quote goes, I really don't agree with it at all. The woman I talked about in my first paragraph I viewed as acting very rationally. It is not her fault so much as it is the economy's, and she is trying as hard as possible to work her way to a better future. I think there are cases in which people who are poor spend the little money they have on frivolous things, because there was someone who worked with my brother (who is autistic and needs extra help) who could barely take care of herself and her child, and yet she was spending much more than necessary on video games and christmas presents. So there are times, but I do not think that there's a reason to generalize and stereotype.
One part that disgusted me was the part about the woman whose grandmother told her "not to let the poor people touch her" as though poor was a disease.
As far as the quote goes, I really don't agree with it at all. The woman I talked about in my first paragraph I viewed as acting very rationally. It is not her fault so much as it is the economy's, and she is trying as hard as possible to work her way to a better future. I think there are cases in which people who are poor spend the little money they have on frivolous things, because there was someone who worked with my brother (who is autistic and needs extra help) who could barely take care of herself and her child, and yet she was spending much more than necessary on video games and christmas presents. So there are times, but I do not think that there's a reason to generalize and stereotype.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Websites
So I admittedly spent a lot more time on the PBS website because it was more fun. I think the thing I found really interesting was that my expectations for the future labeled me as having a "trailer park" outlook, but when furnishing my "house", everything I picked was a display of money. I don't know why, maybe it's just because I have been really stressed this week, but I couldn't find anything pertaining to what we're studying in class. I have a total lack of concentration because of my upcoming psychology test. So yeah. But nonetheless, I'm going to try and write something that makes sense!
Economic inequality is a major feminist issue because without economic equality, women cannot live the same way that men do, which could mean anything from not being able to live without being married, to simply not being able to have the same advantages for her family that a man can with a larger paycheck. I don't understand why, at this point in time, we're still fighting for equality with pay of all things. I feel as though this issue should have been solved a long time ago when women started getting the same education as men. I was wondering if there were any statistics that showed whether women bosses were still paying women differently, or men for that matter. Having those statistics could hint as to whether changing the ratio of men to women in the workplace, as well as the importance of those positions, would be key to changing things once and for all. Anyone have any suggestions?
Economic inequality is a major feminist issue because without economic equality, women cannot live the same way that men do, which could mean anything from not being able to live without being married, to simply not being able to have the same advantages for her family that a man can with a larger paycheck. I don't understand why, at this point in time, we're still fighting for equality with pay of all things. I feel as though this issue should have been solved a long time ago when women started getting the same education as men. I was wondering if there were any statistics that showed whether women bosses were still paying women differently, or men for that matter. Having those statistics could hint as to whether changing the ratio of men to women in the workplace, as well as the importance of those positions, would be key to changing things once and for all. Anyone have any suggestions?
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Oppression by Marilyn Frye-Quotes
Quote 1: "We hear that oppressing is oppressive to those who oppress as well as to those they oppress."
This quote actually made me laugh the first time I read it, because it's very true. There is always a paradox to be found in situations like this. And in reality, the quote holds truth, to an extent. If someone claims to another that they feel opressed, the other person can always come back with "well I'm more oppressed because..." and it seems to be a never-ending cycle. There is always a way, it seems, for a man especially to come back at us with such a phrase.
Quote 2: "Both heterosexual activity and heterosexual nonactivity are likely to be taken as proof that you wanted to be raped, and hence, of course, weren't really raped at all."
This quote makes me want to like, kill somebody. I hate people who think that women are asking to be raped, or that they should like it, and things like that. The fact that anyone can think a woman wants to be sexually violated is sick. I would love to know why people think that way, because I really don't understand it...I did some research and here's an article I found on myths about women and rape: Myths About Rape
Quote 3: "People can and do fail to see the oppression of women because they fail to see macroscopically and hence fail to see the various elements of the situation as systematically related in larger schemes."
I think this quote strikes a chord in me because it is the same exact thing that non-heterosexual people are facing in today's society. Most people look at the little things, "oh, they have the ability to get a civil union", or "oh, they can have children", but do not take the time to step back and realize that the war for rights is still raging on, just as it is with women equality.
Points to Share
Today, I was getting into the car with my boyfriend and we happened to be talking about gender equality. He said "Well if women want to be equal, that's perfectly fine, but then they expect men to wait on them hand and foot. Where is equality when the bill comes at dinner?" I wanted to know what people think of this. I never thought of it that way, because women run around saying "chivalry is dead" and yet we are the ones fighting for equality with men. How does it apply in that situation? And do you think he's right, or should we still expect men to be as chivalrous as they were when they courted women without the rights and money we have today?
This quote actually made me laugh the first time I read it, because it's very true. There is always a paradox to be found in situations like this. And in reality, the quote holds truth, to an extent. If someone claims to another that they feel opressed, the other person can always come back with "well I'm more oppressed because..." and it seems to be a never-ending cycle. There is always a way, it seems, for a man especially to come back at us with such a phrase.
Quote 2: "Both heterosexual activity and heterosexual nonactivity are likely to be taken as proof that you wanted to be raped, and hence, of course, weren't really raped at all."
This quote makes me want to like, kill somebody. I hate people who think that women are asking to be raped, or that they should like it, and things like that. The fact that anyone can think a woman wants to be sexually violated is sick. I would love to know why people think that way, because I really don't understand it...I did some research and here's an article I found on myths about women and rape: Myths About Rape
Quote 3: "People can and do fail to see the oppression of women because they fail to see macroscopically and hence fail to see the various elements of the situation as systematically related in larger schemes."
I think this quote strikes a chord in me because it is the same exact thing that non-heterosexual people are facing in today's society. Most people look at the little things, "oh, they have the ability to get a civil union", or "oh, they can have children", but do not take the time to step back and realize that the war for rights is still raging on, just as it is with women equality.
Points to Share
Today, I was getting into the car with my boyfriend and we happened to be talking about gender equality. He said "Well if women want to be equal, that's perfectly fine, but then they expect men to wait on them hand and foot. Where is equality when the bill comes at dinner?" I wanted to know what people think of this. I never thought of it that way, because women run around saying "chivalry is dead" and yet we are the ones fighting for equality with men. How does it apply in that situation? And do you think he's right, or should we still expect men to be as chivalrous as they were when they courted women without the rights and money we have today?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A Tsunami in History- Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Fear of Feminism- Lisa Maria Hogeland
Hyperlinks, based on this passage from Fear of Feminism:
"For women who are survivors of men's violence-perhaps most notably for incest and rape survivors- the shift feminism enables, from individual pathology to systematic analysis, is empowering rather than threatening."- Lisa Maria Hogeland
This reminds me a ton of the SlutWalks, created because a police officer told some women that if they don't want to get raped they shouldn't dress in "inviting clothing". Origin of SlutWalks
This reminded me immediately of SlutWalks because it was created in response to a derogotory term used towards women, regarding the way they appear, and the fact that a police officer thought it was reasonable to blame the victim. The victims then chose to act in a way that no one expected them to. They took to the streets with their heels and push up bras and protested being thought of as having "asked" to be raped and violated. They stirred up cities from coast to coast and got their powerful, if not strange, message out to the world, inspiring other victims along the way.
To the class, I would like to bring up the topic of SlutWalks, because although I find them inspiring, other people have found them crude, vulgar, and pointless. Some people have even said they believe that SlutWalks are just excuses for girls to put on tiny skirts and walk around the street. I am curious as to how many people feel this way, especially ranging in gender, age group, and background.
"For women who are survivors of men's violence-perhaps most notably for incest and rape survivors- the shift feminism enables, from individual pathology to systematic analysis, is empowering rather than threatening."- Lisa Maria Hogeland
This reminds me a ton of the SlutWalks, created because a police officer told some women that if they don't want to get raped they shouldn't dress in "inviting clothing". Origin of SlutWalks
This reminded me immediately of SlutWalks because it was created in response to a derogotory term used towards women, regarding the way they appear, and the fact that a police officer thought it was reasonable to blame the victim. The victims then chose to act in a way that no one expected them to. They took to the streets with their heels and push up bras and protested being thought of as having "asked" to be raped and violated. They stirred up cities from coast to coast and got their powerful, if not strange, message out to the world, inspiring other victims along the way.
To the class, I would like to bring up the topic of SlutWalks, because although I find them inspiring, other people have found them crude, vulgar, and pointless. Some people have even said they believe that SlutWalks are just excuses for girls to put on tiny skirts and walk around the street. I am curious as to how many people feel this way, especially ranging in gender, age group, and background.
Friday, September 2, 2011
My Intro Post
So my name is Taylor, as you know. I have a brother, a rabbit, a bird (who bites) and 3 dogs, one of whom I got a week ago! Her name is Sophie (I picked her name, it's actually Sophia Luna). I picked this course because I find the subject of gender, race, sexual orientation, and religion affecting our society both fascinating and repulsive. When I'm not in class I like hanging out with friends, watching sci-fi movies and documentaries, and shopping. So far I love college, it's a lot more free, and easygoing as far as allowing people to express themselves. I feel more comfortable being myself around the people at RIC than I ever did with the 100 kids I grew up with in my town. Change is wonderful. I'm here at RIC for the next 4 years (unless I can take enough credits to graduate early), and then I'm off to graduate school to study clinical psychology. I really feel like this sounds more like an eHarmony ad than a blog post, so I'll end it before it gets worse. See ya :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)