Who Needs Feminism??

So fun to just type "Feminism" into Google and find all the awesome things that pop up. This happens to be one of them and it's just really cool to read all sorts of reasons why people want or need feminism in their life.

Who Needs Feminism?

Boys will be boys ;)

"Because of feminism, they say, America has been so focused on girls that we've forgotten about the boys."

Oh gosh, where to begin with this article. That quote popping up in the first couple paragraphs threw my mood with the whole article right away. How on Earth could someone think that in a MAN run society, one movement could make people forget about the boys?! HA! That makes me laugh out loud. Not at all do I agree with this statement. I also do not believe that feminism is why there is a "boy crisis". Of course the numbers are going to be higher for suicide in men.... there is a lot more pressure put on men to be at the top of the social class ladder and live up to the role everyone portrays them to live; Breadwinners, strong father figures, handyman, natural athlete, etc. 

"Culture of cruelty imposes a code of silence on boys, requiring them to suffer without speaking of it and to be silent witnesses to acts of cruelty to others."

On the contrary, when Kimmel shared this quote by Kindlon and Thompson, it brings me back to my childhood and memories of me holding a lot of emotions in because thats all I ever knew how to do. I totally believe that the majority of men hold things in and suppress their fears and emotions everyday. It's not considered "manly" to cry or talk about painful things happening or that have happened in their life. That's typically what girls do with other girls or even alone.

"We believe that masculine violence is intentional, deliberate, and purposeful. It comes from an attempt by men and boys to create and sustain a system of masculine power and control that benefits them every minute of the day."

I relate this quote back to Pollack's "Boy Code". He says on page 158 that "boys find the inauthentic voice of bravado and gratuitous violence." I do believe that it has to do with the environment you were raised in the societies general rules of being a man but also that men choose to be aggressive and act out themselves at a certain point. There really is no need for physical violence and it shouldn't be admired the way that it is. 

I stumbled upon this article and thought it was a good on to relate to this topic

La conciencia de la mestiza: Gloria Anzaldua

This land was Mexican once
                was Indian always
                                       and is.
                                               And will be again. 

Absolutely loved this article by Gloria Anzaldua. I have absolutely no idea what it is like to be a mestiza but the message this article is very powerful. First off, a mestiza would be considered a woman of racially mixed ancestry typically crossed between Idian and Latin cultures. Anzaldua portrays what it is like to try and cross cultures. On page 380 she quotes:

" As a mestiza I have no country, my homeland cast me out; yet all countries are mine because I am every woman's sister or potential lover. (As a lesbian I have no race, my own people disclaim me; but I am all races because there is the queer of me in all races.)" 

She brings up two huge things in this paragraph; First one being that she doesn't have a "homeland".  Obviously she does, but it is just multiple countries instead of just one. She is embracing her ethnicity and wanting to be apart of numerous cultures and love every one of them. Second, she brings up the fact that she is a homosexual biracial woman. which leads me into the next quote:

" Colored homosexuals have more knowledge of their cultures; have always been at the forefront (although sometimes in the closet) all of liberation struggles in this country; have suffered more injustices and have survived them despite all odds. Chicanos need to acknowledge the political and artistic contributions of their queer."

I do believe that being a homosexual woman AND colored affects the life she's lived more than just being a white homosexual woman. I feel as if she is wanting to show people that she embraces the fact that she is a colored homosexual and that makes it even better for her being a mestiza. I think Anzaldua wants to show that this can bring cultures together instead of pulling them farther apart.

"I will not be shamed again

Nor will I shame myself" 

This quote reminds me of the movie "Walkout".  Walkout tells the story about the Chicano students in 1968 who walked out of their East LA highschool to protest prejudice and dire school conditions. In this YouTube clip, they group of Chicano students who are planning the walkout keep saying "Que viva la raza" which means "long live the race". It's a breath of fresh air to see the biracial culture being proud of their heritage and wanting to not be ashamed of where they came from or how they were raised.

 

 

 

Oppression

op·pres·sion [uh-presh-uhn] 

noun

1. the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.

2. an act or instance of oppressing.

3. the state of being oppressed.

4. the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety, etc.

 

This article was short but full of information. How could you NOT google the word oppression immediately after reading it? At least dictionary.com could give me a better understanding of the word ;). Marilyn Frye is obviously a strong writer and brings up great points about oppression in both men and women. Clearly in the 4 paged article, the most common and discussed part is about the man holding the door open for a woman. I think that women are 100% capable of opening a door for themselves. Today especially, there are SO many strong willed, independent women who would LOVE to open their own door. On the other hand, my deceased grandparents would be appalled if my significant other/ date DIDN'T open the door walking into some place or the car door for me every single time. It doesn't mean that "women are incapable", as she says on page 177. In my argument, I just think it's apart of the man's nature to be a "gentleman" and do something sweet and simple such as open a door for a lady. She also briefly talks about the root of the word oppression being stemmed from the element "press". This leads into her debate about young girls being sexually active or inactive and how the people around her treat both kinds of young women. Frye talks about the PRESSure of young girls holding back from heterosexual activity and how men would treat a virgin compared to how they would treat a "slut". But WHY does a woman have to be considered a slut just because she engages in sexual activities or because of the way she dresses?!? The pressures of being a "cocktease" or a "loose whore" should only be debated and judged by the woman herself. I came across this article talking about how men oppress women and arguing the same points as Frye. 

I'm BAAACCCCKKK!!!!!

I apologize to everyone and anyone who noticed that I have not blogged since the first assignment. Unfortunately, my mother experienced severe kidney failure OUT OF THE BLUE!!! It was immediate and so severe that I had to take time out of my life and everyday routine to take care of the one person I love more than anything in the world. She was in ICU for 16 days and I *almost* lost her. BUT I DIDN'T! And I'm so happy that she's only an hour and a half away for me to take care on a weekly basis. SoOoOo... I'm very thankful that today we have a day to catch up and I'm going to quickly run through my notes and put up all of the bloggs that I've missed. 

XOXOX