The last one

After reviewing this weeks reading one sentence jumped out at me. Allan Johnsen wrote, "There is no 12-step program, no set of instructions that will turn it [patriarchy] into something else." The first thought that pops into my mind when I hear "12-step program" is alcohol. The next would be drugs and then it turns into a struggle. One participates in a 12 step program to help rid themselves of a horrible habbit or problem as well as gain support from other people in a similar situation. Before taking this class I could never see patriarchy as a habbit or problem that needed a 12-step program. I knew what patriarchy was, I had read about it countless of times. I read about it in the Bible and I read about it happening in different cultures. I read about it but was never really touched by it until this year. By this class. The bible, although known about it's sexist content, is a history. I read about what life was like for women of the time. I can imagine their struggles of daily life. I then think about what my life is like. I can see a difference in our lives, not just because of the difference in date. Everything I have is because of women who took a stance against patriarchy. It wasn't that they hated men, although some might have, it was that they took a stance against societal structure. It is human nature to want something better. Ever since the beginning, feminism has be linked with strongly opinionated women and has been seen as negetive. Even though it is seen that way now it's meaning is changing into something more positive. A 12 step program can only truely work when a person is ready to move forward. Women, and some men, are always ready to move forward and Maya Angelou's first stanza in Still I Rise illustrates this as well as captures the spirit, and history of feminism.

Still I Rise~Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You ma trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certanty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
SHoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefullness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the ride

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wonderously clear
I rise
Bringing the figts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Response #10

Synopsis: Labor and pay are gendered due to the continuance of traditional sexual division of labor.

Traditionally women have worked in fields that cater to their 'nature'. In other words, any job that involves nurturing or caring in some way women have dominated. It is in a man's nature to be strong, handy, and protective so they have traditionally worked as policemen, contractors, farmers. In fact, men have always been seen as the primary bread winners of the family so it is understandable that a sexual division of labor was formed. While men worked the higher paying jobs women took what was left, what was undesirable, or what was considered more 'woman's work'. Now, during more current times, women are working in the fields that used to be off limits to them. There are women doctors, lawyers, scientists, mechanics, mathematicians, and even Nobel prize winners. Men too have entered into fields that previously were female dominated. These fields include nursing, librarianship, elementary school teachers, and social workers. Men working in these fields are actually at an advantage and this is known as 'The Glass Escalator". Men are encouraged to move up while women are encouraged to stay put.

Pay, as well, is gendered. According to Ellen Bravo and Gloria Santa's article, "most women do the same jobs they've always done, and those jobs pay less than comparable jobs done by men." In addition, most jobs that women have are lower paying jobs. Teaching and social work are excellent examples. The pay for both of these jobs is pennies compared to what a businessman or politician makes. Even though women are lawyers and doctors, they tend to work more in family practices and this pays less than other areas of both fields.

The concept of 'the Glass Escalator" interests me. Christine Williams talked about discrimination in hiring in her article. She said that, "...the more female-dominated the specialty, the greater the apparent preference for men". Three different movies come to my mind when I read this quote. Although, these movies do not specifically point to the preference of men in these occupations, I think it helps them to be a bit more accepted by society. These movies are Meet the Parents with Ben Stiller, the television movie The Librarian with Noah Wyle, and The Ron Clark Story with Matthew Perry. In Meet the Parents, Ben's occupation was of a male nurse. There were a few references during the movie that made fun of his occupation or his masculinity due to his occupation. In The Librarian, Noah is a librarian who finds ancient artifiacts that have the power to destroy the world and he ends up having an adventure to save the world. Noah also faces comments about his job as a librarian. Due to the stereotype that librarians, at least male librarians, are weak nerds it is hard to believe that the action hero of this show is indeed a librarian. On my part, at least the libraian is a cute looking nerd :) In addition, there have been movies made about male teachers. Matthew Perry, from the hit series Friends, portrayed a male teacher who taught one of the toughest teachers in Harlem. This is really the only movie that touches on pay. Matthew Perry's character did not teach in Harlem because the money was good. In fact, he took on a second job as a waiter to help support himself. He took the job so he could help children.

*Sorry the pictures won't work for me. I ment to have them in the last paragraph.*

#9

The message of this week's reading can be summed up perfectly by a quote from Jean Kilborne's film Killing us softly. Jean stated that, "media reflects and reinforces gender ideology." The forms of media that the readings referred to were commercials and television programs. Jennifer Maher wrote an article that focused on two television programs on the TLC channel. One of these television programs is called A Baby Story. This program follows a short time before the birth of a child through the first few days at home. Having a baby alone does not reinforce gender ideology but the focus on the family. The families that are filmed for this program are heterosexual couples who generally recieve lots of love and support from the extended families. These families are never struggling financially and it is safe to say that they are middle, upper middle class families. It is rare to see a family of a different race or a multi-racial family. In all of these families the father works and the mother stays at home. I have seen this program a few times and one specific one sticks out in my mind. The soon to be father was putting together the baby stroller. He was having a difficult time putting it together and refused to take the directions out of the plastic bag. He made a comment that was along the lines of, "a man doesn't need the directions." Anyways, essentially this program focuses on the "ideal" American family. This ideal is that there are two parents, one or two children, and everyone lives happily ever after. Media reinforces this ideal because they aren't showing the "broken homes" or children born out of wedlock families.
I became a televisionholic at a young age. My parents were divorced and the television became my best friend. I remember watching Xena:Warrior Princess on Sunday afternoons. I don't remember what exactly attracted me to this television show. Perhaps it was the greek mythology that I became such a fan of later on in life, or maybe it was that I was in a "girls kick boy's butts" group at school and Xena was my roll model. Who knows. Xena was a woman who stood up for herself and kicked major butt. She was the only person in telvision to do such a thing. Don't get me wrong, Sunshine bear from the Care Bears was pretty sweet too. Not many girls can have hearts erupting from their stomaches. I was also attracted to Xena's partner in crime, Gabrielle. Gabrielle was ying to Xena's yang. Looking back on the program I wonder about a few things. The main purpose Xena fought was becase she was trying to redeem herself from her violent past. To save her homeland she and a brother gathered an army to fight off invaders. Many people were killed including Xena's brother. Xena was blamed for these deaths and ostricised as well. One could look at this incident and say that Xena took on masculine qualities, but negetive things happened due to this new found masuclinity. In addition, Xena became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Instead of quitting her warrior ways she gave her son away because she was ashamed of her past and did not want her son knowning her sins. Who knows what would have happned if Xena had been married. Perhaps she would have kept her son and settled down, perhaps not.



Xena how you shined
kicking butt and saving innocent lives
You had a son but gave him up
in hopes he would have a better life without you
You removed yourself out of your child's life

Gabrielle what a rock you were
fighting for those who couldn't but always searching for peace.
You married and had a child
looking forward to a life with your happy family
Your child became the center of your world

S/R #9

Synthesis: Gender roles have shaped America’s views on what makes a family and what roles parents play in this family. These gender roles have turned into cultural norms and have really become expectations or assumptions. These expectations/assumptions are difficult to get out of.

In the past the traditional and accepted family is made up of a father (male), a mother (female) and children (either sex) but this traditional family is having a difficult time surviving. Males have always been referred to as the “bread winner” of the family. This generally means that they are the sole financial provider of the family. Women have always been known as the “home maker” or more commonly referred to as “Martha Stewart”. In other words, the woman takes care of the home and the family. These traditional roles have been enforced by the media and can be seen in television commercials for children’s toys. Girls get the dollhouses, or cooking stations. Boys get cars, trucks, or doctor’s kits. Within the past few decades new work opportunities have become available to women yet they are still expected to keep home and take care of the family. Where the pressure to be this “super mom” has begun to steadily increase, there is almost no pressure on the father… or is there?

Kathleen Gerson wrote an article talks about the dilemmas of being a father. In this article she says that, “social disapproval and economic inequality put full-time domesticity out of reach for almost all men.” The social disapproval comes from the traditional gender roles and the assumption that men are not domestic and make all, or most, of the money. I believe the phrase; “married to one’s job” fits this assumption. Economic inequality also plays into society’s assumption of a man’s role in the family. Due to the traditional role that women take care of the family makes it easier for them to take time off of work. It is also common for women to receive pay during their time off. This is often used when a woman is pregnant or adopting a very young child. This paid time off is known as “maternity leave”. This does not exist for men. It has become a norm to have a two-income household. In many cases now days, even with paid leave, a family cannot afford to have both parents take time off of work.

This specific article was especially interesting to me. I have lived in both a two-parent home as well as a single parent home. I don’t personally remember what it was like to live in a two-parent home but my mother has told me about it. At the time of my adoption my father owned his own construction business and my mother was a full time speech pathologist but reduced her hours by half. My mother did not need to work because my father’s business was very successful, but she enjoyed working. As a business owner my father could make his own hours, especially after they received me. He did not reduce his hours and I never received an answer as to why. A few years ago I read an article that talked about Sweden trying to entice men to take a “maternity leave”. The government was attempting to keep men in the home after the birth of their children. The government was essentially offering a “maternity leave” for men. This included paid time off as well as some family benefits. I wonder if this would be a program for America.

I’d also like to briefly touch on the documentary that we say today, Daddy and Papa. In this documentary gay fathers were interviewed and their stories of adoption, in all but one, were told. After watching this documentary I wondered what these men did for a job. In two of the cases, children were raised in a two-parent household, but one household had infants. I am curious if both of them had jobs and if so was a type of leave taken.

S/R #7 "Choice"

*I tried to find pictures that were not very graphic*


I have been racking my brain trying to think of a simple way that all of these readings are connected. For some reason it has been hard. I mean how does one connect circumcision, sex trafficking and sterilization and put it in one nice bundle? Then it hit me they are all connected by choice or lack of. These girls who are being circumcised have no choice in the matter. These girls and women who are in the prostitution business really don’t have a choice either. Women who are facing sterilization hardly have a choice no matter what people say.

Female circumcision is a tradition that still continues. Typically a girl will be circumcised between the ages of six and eight. The type of circumcision can vary. A girl’s clitoris will be cut off, a girl’s clitoris and inner vagina lips will be cut off, or a girl’s clitoris and inner vagina lips will be cut off and her outer lips sewn together with the exception of a small hole.



This small hole will serve the purpose of letting body fluids out and in theory provide much more pleasure for a woman’s husband. Female circumcision is one I would not be looking forward to. Included with this glorified act girls can expect a variety of medical problems that can include pain, lack of sexual drive, pain during intercourse, infections of the cut off parts, urinary infections, miscarriage, and death.

What really struck me while reading this day’s reading was how these girls really have no choice in the matter. In the reading a mother told her story about how she and her husband did not want their girls to be circumcised, but one day while both parents were at work the girl’s aunts took them to get circumcised. Imagine being a parent and having your family betray your wishes. What was really interesting to me about this story was that the girl’s uncle was very angry with his sisters for doing this to his nieces. There was a story of hope for one girl. Her mother actually helped her escape to a different country even though the mother was defying her family.

Wednesday’s reading talked about sex trafficking and “comfort women”. Both of these topics occurred in Asian countries. Though sex trafficking is very common “comfort women” are not. “Comfort women” existed predominantly during World War II. Women were take prisoner by the Japanese and forced to care for the Japanese soldiers in all ways, shapes, and forms. The majority of “comfort women” were Korean. These women had no choice they had to serve the Japanese or die. Either way the majority of them died and those that survived became outcasts.

Sex trafficking has had an interesting beginning. At first country girls were sold out of necessity. There were too many mouths to feed and not enough food or money. These girls did not have much of a choice and it seemed like they would have a better life if they left their family. Once they were sold into a brothel then the girls had no choice at all. They could not escape, they had enormous debts to pay off, and even if they were to be thrown out of the brothel they would die. They would not be able to work or find someone to take them in. As the years passed, selling girls to brothers became profitable for families. The girls were sold more for profit than out of necessity. For the girls the situation remained the same. They had no choice.

I first learned about “comfort women” this past summer during my trip to South Korea. There was a pamphlet at the Demilitarized Zone that described in detail what a “comfort woman” was. I was quite appalled. What was not mentioned in the reading was that the Korean women were often used as human shields when the Japanese would come across Korean forces. Imagine having to fire at and kill your mother, aunt, grandmother, sister, cousin, or child. Unimaginable.

Sterilization or rather forced sterilization is a rather disturbing topic. A women would be forced to have an operation where the surgeon would remove her reproductive organs so she would be unable to reproduce. The original reason behind sterilization is from “eugenics”. Eugenics is the idea of selective breeding. Even within a few decades ago sterilization was happening to Black women in the United States without their knowledge. They would go to the hospital to deliver their baby and with out the woman’s consent the doctor would remove the woman’s reproductive organs. Sterilization has also been used in countries with huge populations such as China and India to help control the populations. Even in these cases, the women have very little choice and face enormous pressure from the government should they not be sterilized.

Choice is important and is a basic right. In all these cases even men have a choice. They can say no. They can say “no” to female mutilation and choose to do something to change it. They can say “no” to sex trafficking and choose to do something to change it. They can say “no” to sterilization and choose to support their spouse in their decision.

Body image across the world

Out of all the readings done for this past week, I was amazed and floored by one poem. When I think of body image I think of that perfect body. You know, the one that’s on the cover of all the fashion magazines, in the movies, and on television. The body that has the flat stomach with a little bit of definition, the long and skanky legs, a cute butt, and some nice big boobs.


MTV's The Hills star Audrina Patridge

Yes, you know the body I’m talking about.
Surprisingly, this poem talked about a different kind of body image, the kind of body image that not many people understand or experience. This poem was written by Nellie Wong and titled When I was Growing Up. This Chinese American poet talks about her personal experience wanting to become white when she was younger. This body image isn’t about the legs, butt or boobs. Instead it’s about the color of one’s skin and wanting to fit into a different culture. As I read this poem I felt like I was struck by lightning. When I was younger I thought I was white. It wasn’t that I WANTED to be white, I thought I WAS white. As I got older, I realized that I was not white because that body image was completely unattainable. That is, unless, I wanted to bleach my skin like Michael Jackson, get some hair implants on my eyebrows, and get surgery to change the shape of my eyes. The next body image I began to assimilate was from Asia. Wait, that didn’t really work out either, I mean I’m not small by any means. I’m a towering 5’8. 5 with broad shoulders, long legs, and big boobies. After a bit I became more or less ok with my body, I didn’t fully fit either body image, I was like a mutt. A very loveable mutt! After thinking about it I had the best of both images because I have the obvious Asian features as well as the long legs, and boobs Americans want.

Sadly, I didn’t stay at that happy medium of body images because I was going back to the land of my birth. I was going back to that country where the women are short, pale, fashionable, they live in heels, and everything I was not. I was going to Korea. Oh lord, shoot me now or let the plane crash. All I wanted was to fit in….ok well at least not draw any attention to myself more than I had to. I was traveling with a white/blonde American, so much for not drawing attention…haha. My body image got so contorted. I suppose my body image is like looking at a mirror. Instead of a nice flat mirror, mine became a crazy mirror from a fun house. I wanted to cut my legs, pull a Michael Jackson, and have my boobs detached from my body. Then I arrived in Korea.

Oh lord, the women were short! They had bobs and bangs and looked exactly like a very pretty doll. The men were tall and lanky, I didn’t expect much from them. The majority of Asian males have a very hard time building muscle. Then I began to see some taller women, even with heels!! Sweet! I began to realize that most of my body image was just a mind game that I had put in a blender and still tried to play. I actually made a very interesting discovery while in Korea. The younger generations of Koreans have become vastly influenced by the Western culture. There are American clothing and shoe brands, food places, coffee shops, music and movies all over. I was told that for younger Korean men, their ideal female body image is a mix of Western and Korean. They refer to this as Eurasian. The men want a girl with the boobs and the butt.


South Korean Model Im Ji Hye


Men on the other hand value their masculinity. They take jobs that are considered masculine, and some even show their masculinity through their body. I'm not quite sure what exactly this body image, but I'm guessing that this body will be defined. I say "defined" because it is harder for Asian men to gain muscle. At least how Americans think of muscle. Eg weight lifters.


South Korean Olympic Swimmer Park Tae-Hwan



American Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps




Looking back on this experience and particular conversation I am struck by the similarities in female body image. Who would have thought?

blog #4

Many issues can be connected to Patriarchy, some of which include, inequality and privilege. For this blog, I will be concentrating mostly about patriarchy and inequality.
Patriarchy essentially is about “the valuing of masculinity and maleness and the devaluing of femininity and femaleness.” Well, that isn’t surprising. The Latin word for father is pater and mother is mater. Even looking at the word I can see that males take priority. I suppose that’s my embedded Latin from 6th grade coming out. Gee, I guess I did learn and retain something from that class! Anyways, from these readings, I believe that patriarchy is a main cause for feminism. The reason for this is because of a certain quote in one passage. “So change typically gets limited to the most oppressed, who have the least to lose and are in the weakest position to challenge the system as a whole…” In other words, women were able to change patriarchy. Women were oppressed by the patriarchal system. Women had to dress the way men wanted or deemed presentable, cook the food men wanted, submit themselves to men in all ways, shapes, and forms. Women had nothing to loose by rebelling against the patriarchal system and they had everything to gain.
In addition, under the patriarchal system the women were also facing inequality. Before the first feminist movement, women did not have the right to do anything but what the head of their family said. Throughout the many years since the first feminist movement, inequality has been a reoccurring theme. To be general, and blunt… White Anglo women were the first feminists. Due to inequality, black women formed their own feminist group to deal with issues that went hand in hand with their race and specific needs. These women have named themselves “womanists”. After watching these two groups of women band together to fight for their rights and goals, another group joined the fray. The Mujerista group was formed. Like the womanists, these Latin women have their own agenda. Though the womanists and mujeristas are branches of feminism they all share the same origin. The origin was from patriarchy and the inequality that was instilled by that system.
Patriarchy… I know the word but only one or two examples come to mind. The main example is the Bible. The bible is chalk-full of examples of patriarchy. I suppose I should say that there aren’t many current examples of patriarchy that I see and affect my life. Perhaps the main reason for this is because I was raised by my mother in a single-parent home. Patriarchy wouldn’t directly affect me in anyway. Patriarchy for me in this current time is crap that has been thrown out the window. I’ve never had a “head male” in my life, unless you count my mother who has had to play both roles of mother and father. Haha, I call it dictatorship (just kidding!). Instead, I know of a thing called respect. “Respect your elders” and such similar phrases.
There’s a song that I heard in my later years of high school. In fact, it was quite popular with my graduating class because there were many die-hard hockey enthusiasts. The song was from a very popular cartoon show called South Park. The whole song talks about “blaming Canada”. How does this fit into this week’s bog you might ask? After this week’s reading and my 20 years and some months of experience of male rule, I would like to change the chorus to, “blame men”. (Just for fun!)

Times have changed
Female single parents
Are more popular
Should we blame to government?
Or blame society?
Or should we blame the images on TV?
No, blame men
Blame men
With all their laziness and macho-ness
And flapping heads so full of crap
Blame men
Men

Original lyrics…
Times have changed
Our kids are getting worse
They just want to fart and curse!
Should we blame the government?
Or blame society?
No, blame Canada
Blame Canada
With all their beady little eyes
And flapping heads so full of lies
Blame Canada
Canada

Blog #3

I’ve always been under the impression that history is recorded for a reason. The reason is to remember and learn something from the past and apply it to benefit the future. In other words learn from the past and don’t make the same mistakes. For me, this week’s reading has really reinforced this impression. The feminist movements have kept repeating, but always moving forward and learning from the past.
I’ve never really paid much attention to feminists. In fact, until this year I never truly realized what feminists have done for me. The only thing I remember from high school that touched on anything related to feminism was about women who burned their bras. I never really realize how much blood, sweat, tears, burned undergarments, and time went into the rights I have today. I don’t see “feminism” anymore I see a movement. A movement that continues to fight to give me more rights.
In class a metaphor was made about social movements. These movements push till they hit a peak and then they slowly fade into the background only to repeat the process. Social movements are like a wave against the shore. The waves start as little ripples and grow bigger as they gather strength. Eventually, a huge wave will reach the shore and will wash over the shore. After all the energy has expanded it will slowly back up and repeat the process. The water is like many social movements and the people’s discontent. The shore is like the rest of society, unwilling to move or bend to anything else until overwhelmed and then it will give a little.
So far throughout history there have been three distinct social movements or waves that pertain to feminism as a social movement. The first wave occurred in the 1840’s. This movement brought to light human rights, oppression and inequality. In addition the biggest victory of the history of feminism happened during this wave. The 19th amendment occurred. The second wave happened in the 1960’s. This movement demanded birth control, pro-choice, legal rights (NOW), to name a few. The third wave occurred in the 1990’s. This time the focus is on inequalities of all types. This wave isn’t as specifically geared towards previous feminist goals, but instead humanism.
I wish that feminism, especially as a social movement, were taught more in depth in high school. I feel like I have missed out on so much important history. The lessons that might have covered these topics were few and far in between. By understanding the history of how feminism came to be, I understand how they got such a negative reputation. This weeks reading has definitely changed the way I view feminism, and social movements. I eagerly await the ending of this third wave and the beginning of the next one.

S/R #2

This week’s reading generally focuses on women, but more specifically what they wear. One question that sums up all the readings for me would be, “Is it the clothes that define the women or is it the woman who defines the clothes”? What sets Muslim women apart from other women would be the clothing they wear-specifically the veil. Western women generally are under the influence that what defines the women are the veils. “The veil symbolizes the women’s oppression!” On the other hand Muslim women would say that the veil represents what they want it to represent. It amazes me how one subject or object can have so many different concepts. The readings give us as readers a deep understanding of many stereotypes for Middle Eastern women. The reading essentially breaks down for the reader how the Western culture’s beliefs and stereotypes came to be.






Untitled

I am a woman
I have long hair and exotic eyes
I have long shapely legs that are strong from walking
I have breasts that provide food and pleasure
I have organs that allow me to produce life
I am atomically the same as any other woman

I am a woman
I wear long clothes to hid my body from the sight of men I do not know
I wear dark clothing because white is too revealing
I wear a veil to protect my head and face from the elements
I wear a veil to show my religion
I wear a veil because of all it represents
I wear a veil because it shows how comfortable I am and how at ease I am with my body

You are a woman
You have light hair compared to my dark
You have long shapely legs just like me
We are the same and take pride in the same things…
Family, friends, faith and love

What makes us so different? A bit of cloth?