Activity 5
Kate Bornstein wrote “My Gender Workbook.” She discusses and analyzes the concept of gender and what gender really is. Kate understands gender and discusses it as being a pyramid kind of like the food pyramid, with the things on top (or the gender on top) being the least important and only being needed in moderation. She describes this gender as being a white, heterosexual, well-educated, wealthy, attractive, male, with power. (shorter list)
After taking the Gender Aptitude test I was little surprised by the results. I have always thought of there being two distinct genders. After reading Kate’s Gender Workbook, I realized that many other people do not see it that way. The test made me realize this. I believe that this test was made to do exactly that, to make people aware that gender is not something distinct and black and white, but there is some grey. I believe it can help us understand more of who we really are, and more aware of the other people around us. In the section of “Who’s on Top” where it talks about gender being pure and simple if you are pure and simple explains that gender can be very simple only if you know who you are and you are pure with your identity and know who you are and are comfortable with it. Kate says, “Pure identities are valuable things,” and I believe this is the most eye opening quote in the whole writing.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
CRJ #4
CRJ #4
Are men overall predominantly stronger than women? The “answers” are everywhere, or at least what our society thinks are the answers to that question. When it comes to which gender is preferred over another, is it male or female? Our society would also agree that being a male is much more preferred, because you have more respect, you aren’t a sissy, and you have more opportunities. But does all this apply anymore? Are women still the weaker, less respected gender? Specifically, when it comes to sports, are men better than women?
When it comes to men and women athletes, men are always looked at as better. Though at first glance, every observation points at that answer, the further you look into it, the more you begin to see that that is not at all true. Being a female student athlete myself, I know the things people say about women and sports: “Men are better athletes.” “A girl could never play that.” Or “ Oh, it’s because she’s a girl.” To be honest, it gets rather annoying to hear those things come out of peoples’ mouths. I do not at all believe that women are worse athletes than men. Though there are some sports that women do not play, I believe that a woman could do and succeed in any sport she wanted to.
There is recent evidence out that suggests that one day in the future, women will surpass men in sports. These conclusions, that are told in Nelson’s writing, are based upon the statistics that women are increasingly improving times and stats and men have come to a level in which they are not improving at as fast a rate. These findings are due to many things. Nelson points out that women did not start competing in sports are early as men did. We are relatively new to the athletic world, therefore, have not had as much time to train, get the technique, or get in the kind of shape we need to be in, as Nelson points out with her story about the Lanes in swimming. There are already stats out that show that women are better at marathon events and other events that do not require upper body strength. As time goes on though, women will get better and better at each sport we play and someday, maybe we will be respected as the individual athlete that we are instead of whether we are male or female.
Are men overall predominantly stronger than women? The “answers” are everywhere, or at least what our society thinks are the answers to that question. When it comes to which gender is preferred over another, is it male or female? Our society would also agree that being a male is much more preferred, because you have more respect, you aren’t a sissy, and you have more opportunities. But does all this apply anymore? Are women still the weaker, less respected gender? Specifically, when it comes to sports, are men better than women?
When it comes to men and women athletes, men are always looked at as better. Though at first glance, every observation points at that answer, the further you look into it, the more you begin to see that that is not at all true. Being a female student athlete myself, I know the things people say about women and sports: “Men are better athletes.” “A girl could never play that.” Or “ Oh, it’s because she’s a girl.” To be honest, it gets rather annoying to hear those things come out of peoples’ mouths. I do not at all believe that women are worse athletes than men. Though there are some sports that women do not play, I believe that a woman could do and succeed in any sport she wanted to.
There is recent evidence out that suggests that one day in the future, women will surpass men in sports. These conclusions, that are told in Nelson’s writing, are based upon the statistics that women are increasingly improving times and stats and men have come to a level in which they are not improving at as fast a rate. These findings are due to many things. Nelson points out that women did not start competing in sports are early as men did. We are relatively new to the athletic world, therefore, have not had as much time to train, get the technique, or get in the kind of shape we need to be in, as Nelson points out with her story about the Lanes in swimming. There are already stats out that show that women are better at marathon events and other events that do not require upper body strength. As time goes on though, women will get better and better at each sport we play and someday, maybe we will be respected as the individual athlete that we are instead of whether we are male or female.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
CRJ #3
CRJ # 3
When Carole Vance presents the idea of gender and sexuality not being understood as “natural” or unchanging “truths” but as “social constructions,” she is going against many people and taking a stand against how she thinks society should be. Gender and sexuality has always been looked at as the “natural” and unchanging “truths,” and she says that it should be looked at as “social constructions” which is being more “fluid and changeable and the production of human action and history.”(29) Which means, Vance believes that when you are born there should not me a set way in which you are to live your life sexually. You should be able to change what kind of person you are sexually attracted too, whether that is a male or female. Essentialism is the belief that your human behavior is indeed biological and that you can not change it under any circumstances. Biological determinism is the predisposition to see women only by their reproductive and biological selves and nothing else. This biological determinism sees women one certain way and leaves no room for any change. Which leads to the social constructionist view, in which women go against the “biological determinism” view and may change their sexual identity. Being lesbian or gay is considered to be socially constructed, because people do not believe it to be real, therefore, constructed and unreal.
Historically, men have had all the rights and have held the upper hand in society. When we talk about women starting to get rights and become equal to them, men do not realize how bad our situation really is. The quote, “the fish is the last to discover the ocean” by Kimmel, is referring to this problem. They have not discovered how we feel in society because they have always lived one way and don’t notice it. They take the life they have for granted and don’t realize anyone else has a problem because they have never walked in our shoes. Therefore, I believe, not only do feminists have to try and get women more rights and become more equal, but should also strive to inform and help men understand where we are coming from so they appreciate what we are trying to do more.
When Carole Vance presents the idea of gender and sexuality not being understood as “natural” or unchanging “truths” but as “social constructions,” she is going against many people and taking a stand against how she thinks society should be. Gender and sexuality has always been looked at as the “natural” and unchanging “truths,” and she says that it should be looked at as “social constructions” which is being more “fluid and changeable and the production of human action and history.”(29) Which means, Vance believes that when you are born there should not me a set way in which you are to live your life sexually. You should be able to change what kind of person you are sexually attracted too, whether that is a male or female. Essentialism is the belief that your human behavior is indeed biological and that you can not change it under any circumstances. Biological determinism is the predisposition to see women only by their reproductive and biological selves and nothing else. This biological determinism sees women one certain way and leaves no room for any change. Which leads to the social constructionist view, in which women go against the “biological determinism” view and may change their sexual identity. Being lesbian or gay is considered to be socially constructed, because people do not believe it to be real, therefore, constructed and unreal.
Historically, men have had all the rights and have held the upper hand in society. When we talk about women starting to get rights and become equal to them, men do not realize how bad our situation really is. The quote, “the fish is the last to discover the ocean” by Kimmel, is referring to this problem. They have not discovered how we feel in society because they have always lived one way and don’t notice it. They take the life they have for granted and don’t realize anyone else has a problem because they have never walked in our shoes. Therefore, I believe, not only do feminists have to try and get women more rights and become more equal, but should also strive to inform and help men understand where we are coming from so they appreciate what we are trying to do more.
Friday, September 7, 2007
CRJ #2
After finishing the readings for this week, I started thinking about many things concerning privilege in our society today. In the article “White Privilege and Male Privilege,” McIntosh points out some very interesting ideas. She says that it is easier to grant others having a disadvantage than it is to say that we are overprivileged. In the matter of female and male privileges, males are definintely more privileged than females. Society tries to fix that problem, but instead of lessening male privilege and saying they are way to over privileged, they only point out how under privileged females are. In this way, it doesn’t at all make a male feel bad for being who he is. It protects them from having to give up their rank in society or to face reality.
The same principle of white being over privileged goes for your race. In our society today, white’s still have more privileges than African Americans. Although, some are not very obvious, under the surface, African Americans are still judged and looked down upon by many people. I have not personally felt like I had more privileges than an African American, but I do understand that the problem is still out there. When McIntosh talks of the white privilege being an “invisible package” she means exactly that. Many white people do not think they have more privileges than others, but if you really look and examine our society, you will see that there are still stereotypes and prejudice against African Americans and other races that white people never have to experience.
In the readings, they explain the bootstrap myth. It is the myth that if you can not provide for your family and pull yourself up by your bootstraps then you are not smart and have certain deficiencies. To be honest, I wasn’t really completely sure what this myth really meant and how it had to do with feminism, but I think I may have an idea. If men usually have the income of the family (go to work) and women are the home makers, what the bootstrap myth is saying is that women are deficient and aren’t as smart and successful as men are. The effects of this myth are that feminism is stronger and there is just one more thing for antifeminists can point out as to why men are better than women.
The relationship between homophobia and sexism is not a very good one. It has a very negative effect on feminism because of the stereotype that feminists are all lesbians. Homophobia is the fear and hatred towards gays and lesbians. Therefore homophobics do not like feminists. Since this dislike is so strong, they make sure that feminists are put down and not made anything in society. In reality, feminists do not have to be lesbians. In fact, most “lesbians” are not lesbians at all. They are just perceived to be one because, according to Pharr, they do not have to be sexually or economically dependent on a male As soon as this society can stop judging people and having a “normal” then I think we will have made a step towards having everyone become equal in this world.
The same principle of white being over privileged goes for your race. In our society today, white’s still have more privileges than African Americans. Although, some are not very obvious, under the surface, African Americans are still judged and looked down upon by many people. I have not personally felt like I had more privileges than an African American, but I do understand that the problem is still out there. When McIntosh talks of the white privilege being an “invisible package” she means exactly that. Many white people do not think they have more privileges than others, but if you really look and examine our society, you will see that there are still stereotypes and prejudice against African Americans and other races that white people never have to experience.
In the readings, they explain the bootstrap myth. It is the myth that if you can not provide for your family and pull yourself up by your bootstraps then you are not smart and have certain deficiencies. To be honest, I wasn’t really completely sure what this myth really meant and how it had to do with feminism, but I think I may have an idea. If men usually have the income of the family (go to work) and women are the home makers, what the bootstrap myth is saying is that women are deficient and aren’t as smart and successful as men are. The effects of this myth are that feminism is stronger and there is just one more thing for antifeminists can point out as to why men are better than women.
The relationship between homophobia and sexism is not a very good one. It has a very negative effect on feminism because of the stereotype that feminists are all lesbians. Homophobia is the fear and hatred towards gays and lesbians. Therefore homophobics do not like feminists. Since this dislike is so strong, they make sure that feminists are put down and not made anything in society. In reality, feminists do not have to be lesbians. In fact, most “lesbians” are not lesbians at all. They are just perceived to be one because, according to Pharr, they do not have to be sexually or economically dependent on a male As soon as this society can stop judging people and having a “normal” then I think we will have made a step towards having everyone become equal in this world.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Activity #4
Activity #4
After viewing “A Girl Like Me” and reading, I came to a very harsh realization: In society today, the way we look and our ethnicity make a great deal of influence on how we are seen by others. When it comes to race, it can either hurt or help us. I believe that the concept of race in African American’s decreases self-worth. When watching “A Girl Like Me” during the part when they had the children pick which baby they would rather play with, most all of them chose the white doll. I think the reason that they did that was because they have grown up thinking that white people always have the upper hand in society. It is discouraging because it may make them believe that they can’t succeed as well as a white person. When it comes to white people though, I think the concept of race neither enhances nor decreases self-worth in a child. A white child has never known being “less” than anyone else so there is no decreasing or enhancing.
I believe when it comes to the issue of skin color and hair texture in valuing a person, I don’t believe there should be a reason for a stereotype for who is valued more than someone else. Society on the other hand has made it clear that there is something that is considered “normal” or “better.” In our society, light skin is much preferred over dark skin. Not only is being “white” supposed to be better but also among African Americans, they believe they will be given more respect if their skin is as light as possible. Being lighter skinned is much preferred and found to be much more desirable. I never realized this until after watching the film clip. Though, I believe different skin color is valued more than others traits, I do not believe that a person’s hair texture is. In the film clip it says that “wild and untamed” hair was not desired at all, though I do not see our society judging hair texture at all, and if it does, I have missed it.
Is there really such thing as a mythical norm? In “Women’s Voices, Feminist’s Visions” it states that a mythical norm for women is middle class, white, heterosexual, thin, young, and able. Is this really true? Are women really judged in society by those criteria? The film that I watched talks about how lighter skin females are more desirable and are considered better than darker skinned females. I think this shows that even still in society today, white women still have privilege over dark skinned women. The mythical norm states that you have to white, and in the film, the African American women all wanted to get as close to “white” as possible. Some of them even going as far as bleaching their skin to be more appreciated in society. I do not believe that skin color should be a judgment of character at all and I think it is a shame that this society still has a stereotype for what a “normal” women should be.
After viewing “A Girl Like Me” and reading, I came to a very harsh realization: In society today, the way we look and our ethnicity make a great deal of influence on how we are seen by others. When it comes to race, it can either hurt or help us. I believe that the concept of race in African American’s decreases self-worth. When watching “A Girl Like Me” during the part when they had the children pick which baby they would rather play with, most all of them chose the white doll. I think the reason that they did that was because they have grown up thinking that white people always have the upper hand in society. It is discouraging because it may make them believe that they can’t succeed as well as a white person. When it comes to white people though, I think the concept of race neither enhances nor decreases self-worth in a child. A white child has never known being “less” than anyone else so there is no decreasing or enhancing.
I believe when it comes to the issue of skin color and hair texture in valuing a person, I don’t believe there should be a reason for a stereotype for who is valued more than someone else. Society on the other hand has made it clear that there is something that is considered “normal” or “better.” In our society, light skin is much preferred over dark skin. Not only is being “white” supposed to be better but also among African Americans, they believe they will be given more respect if their skin is as light as possible. Being lighter skinned is much preferred and found to be much more desirable. I never realized this until after watching the film clip. Though, I believe different skin color is valued more than others traits, I do not believe that a person’s hair texture is. In the film clip it says that “wild and untamed” hair was not desired at all, though I do not see our society judging hair texture at all, and if it does, I have missed it.
Is there really such thing as a mythical norm? In “Women’s Voices, Feminist’s Visions” it states that a mythical norm for women is middle class, white, heterosexual, thin, young, and able. Is this really true? Are women really judged in society by those criteria? The film that I watched talks about how lighter skin females are more desirable and are considered better than darker skinned females. I think this shows that even still in society today, white women still have privilege over dark skinned women. The mythical norm states that you have to white, and in the film, the African American women all wanted to get as close to “white” as possible. Some of them even going as far as bleaching their skin to be more appreciated in society. I do not believe that skin color should be a judgment of character at all and I think it is a shame that this society still has a stereotype for what a “normal” women should be.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Activity #3
I have just completed the IATs and reading the hidden bias tutorial. After taking the tests I was a bit surprised by the results. Though I kind of have opinions and tend to sway one way or another when it comes to my opinion of differnt types of people, I did not expect for a test like that to pick it up. I believe this assignment and these tests were a good way to open up discussion to how society today really infuences how we think, whether we realize it or not. I think we can learn from these tests that even if we act like we have no prejudice and we think we don't make stereotypes, we do and we need to start changing that. I think it is important to start thinking about biases and prejudices because if we are aware of where we have biases, then we now what areas to work on changing that bias. After taking the gender test, I also chose the sexuality test (gay vs. straight) and the weight test (fat vs. thin). I chose those tests because I did not think that I had strong biases towards any of those groups or liked/disliked one more than the other. Come to find out, in my unconcious thoughts I DID have a bias towards one. These biases that I have I beleive come from society and like the "Hidden Bias" article says, though I dont know it, I am conforming to what society wants me to be and wants me to beleive even if i dont realize it.
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