Blog 5

I chose "Black Eyes, Blue Tears" as the first song on my playlist because Shania sings about breaking out of her abusive, controlling relationship. She says that she's not going to stand being beaten and controlled, a common expectancy of women's roles in a relationship. 

"I'm Just a Girl" is also about breaking out of the stereotype of women being refined and pretty.

"DateRape" is about a guy taking advantage of a girl, and using her for his personal satisfaction. "Love Story" shows a picturesque idea of how love should be. The guy is the charming, daring prince, and the girl is the lovely princess. This song just strengthened the stereotype of how love should be. "Warning" also shows some stereotypes of women; "batt your eyes girl", "seduce a stranger". "The Waitress" is full of objectifications of women. They are "hot" and have big butts, and charm the guys with their looks. Both "Like a Boy" and "If I Were a Boy" show how women view men's actions and behavior towards them. They both talk about what things would be like if the roles were switched. "No Woman No Cry" includes the stereotype that women are emotional and need to be comforted when they are. "Complicated" is about the girl being confident in herself, while the man is the one changing himself to fit in or be someone else. I included this song at the end because I think it sends a message that men can be affected by their surroundings and change themselves.

My taste in music has indeed changed in the recent years.  I used to listen to main-stream music.   Now, I mainly listen to indie, and underground music.  Both of these, I find, to be less focused on material objects (yes, including women and their bodies), and more focused personal struggles, including love, and overcoming those problems.  At the time, I didn't think about all the degrading things that are said to and about women in the main-stream songs.  I still can't believe they play these songs on the radio!  What does that say about America?

In chapter 7 of Feminism is for Everybody, Hooks discusses the issue of class in the early feminist movements.  Before this class, I didn't know that this was even an issue.  I did know that working class women were involved, but I didn't realize that the upper class women were the prominent women.  I feel bad that the working class women had to work, and working wouldn't set them free, like the upper class women.  I also don't like that the class issue was mainly white supremacy, and that many women were left out of the movement.

In chapter 16, Hooks talks about lesbianism, and how it ties into the feminist movement.  I was surprised that in her black hometown community, being gay was more accepted than being lesbian.  It seems like the opposite in my community today!  I know that when a girl is a lesbian, or bisexual, a guy finds it attractive.  When a guy is gay, he is excluded extremely from his peers, and considered dirty and weird.  I also was surprised when Hooks said that the majority of lesbians aren't even involved with the feminist movement, for one reason or another.  If anything, I thought they would be the ones involved the most!

Blog 4

I plan to go into the health field, and right now I am leaning toward medicine.  One course in the Women's Studies department that I think would be helpful is the Women's Health class.  My future plans include working with both men and women in the health field, both as patients and as co-workers.  I will also need to know about the biological differences that men and women have in order to accurately diagnose and/or prescribe proper medications.  

In the past, I have worked with both men in and women in the food industry.  My first job was a waitress at Mazzio's Pizza here in Norman.  When I first started my job, the duties were different for men and women, for the most part.  Only women could be the "front girl", or waitress; Only men could be cooks and deliverers (with few exceptions).  I thought almost nothing of it then, I was young and it was my first job.  As time went on, I started to see more diversity within the job positions.  It was then when I saw what was going on, but I was pleased that the positions were no longer sex-based.

I now work at a women's clothing store, which is a much different experience, since all of my co-workers are women, and the majority of the customers I assist are also women.  I can admit that oftentimes when I see a male customer alone in the store I always ask him if he needs any help.  (A lot of the time they look completely lost) Most of the time they praise my assistance because they don't "know what she likes".  Also, when I see male customers with their partner or girlfriend, they always follow her around, holding her things, with a bored look on his face.  I do like working with all women.  I feel that we can connect better in the workplace, which helps me be more efficient.  

In Feminism is for Everybody, Chapter 4 talks about publishing women's works, as well as feminist writing in the industry.  I agree that it is a great way of spreading feminist words and thoughts to further expand knowledge over this subject.  I also agree that it has helped spread and strengthen the belief, for I have learned a lot about this issue from readings I have read.   

In Chapter 4 of The F Word, Finkbeiner lists the top 10 Social Issues among young women going to a university or college.  I definitely agree with this list, putting the issues very close on my list of social issues.  Of course, Gender equality is the top issue.  One thing that surprised me, however, was that education was listed as number Eight.  I would think that among young women fulfilling their education careers and choosing to further their knowledge would rate education higher on the list because of issues they may go through while going to school.  Another thing that stood out to me in this chapter was when Finkbeiner says that women on average earn less money than men in the workplace.  I have heard this before and this issue always makes me wonder.  What is still the problem here? Women have gained so much more equality than they had in the past, why hasn't this issue also been solved?  This question is often on my mind, but who knows if it will ever get answered!

Blog 3

Iron Jawed Angels was a really empowering and emotional movie for me.  I learned about some of the problems that women went through back when the American society was less equitable than ours today.  I was actually surprised about how cruel some people were about women standing up for themselves and their rights. Some possible themes of the film are:

1. Standing your ground produces results

2. Fight for what you believe in

3. Don't back down, even when nothing is going in you favor

One example of the tensions that women working for suffrage was the wife who's husband was a republican senator, and he did not approve or agree with women's suffrage or the activities that his wife was participating in.  She stood up for what she believed in and did not take the bail money or presidential pardon offered to her.  She joined her fellow women in the workhouse until they were released.

Another example was the struggles that the women had with the disapproval and dismissal of the issue by government officials, including the president. When war was declared, their problem only worsened, and their task made harder.  The president didn't want to even hear about women's suffrage, and couldn't believe when the women were standing their ground when he declared war.  The women kept pushing the issue at the president, as well as individual states.  By doing so, the women were able to accomplish their goal, and women gained the right to vote.  

Alice Paul and the other women fighting for equality were able to accomplish their goals by being educated about the subject and the issue, and by pressing the issue with great force, never letting up.  They also truly believed in what they were fighting for, which also helped their determination to accomplish their goal.  

I agree with Bell Hooks' definition of feminism, and I think it is one of the best definitions I have heard.  I also agree that sexism is the base of the feminist movement.  I love that Hooks mentions Native American women in their struggle, saying that all women have struggles with equality, even though some of them may be different.

I also agree with Hooks when she states that Feminism is a learned belief, for I have developed into one myself.  I thought it was interesting that Hooks said that early feminists had to be conscious of the sexism in their societies and lives in order to fully understand their argument for feminism.  

I was surprised at the experience Hooks went through with her college education.  I didn't think that the sexes could really be thought of still, as so different.  It also angered me to hear of the way women were treated in her co-ed school, versus an all women's college.  I disagree with what the male teacher told her about men being naturally smarter than women, I think both have the potential for equal smartness.

I agree with Hooks' argument about domestic violence.  I think it is wrong, and people should be educated about all the different kinds of domestic violence. 

I now understand why Feminism got the label of "radical, man-haters".  I do, however think that the women who started the radical movements had a right to be mad.  They had been in bad relationships with men who abused them; I would be mad too!

Blog 2

Karen Wheeler, Age 47

Karen is a single mother, who raised her two girls mostly by herself.  She feels very strongly about modern stereotypes of women because she runs her household as well as works full time at two jobs.   She believes that women, especially mothers, should not be stereotyped and expected to be a stay-home wife and mother, while the man in the family goes out to earn the money.   Her mother taught her to be a strong woman, and to stand up for what she believes in.  She says that from early womanhood, her mother, as well as grandmother taught her that women have the same rights that men do.  Karen defined feminism as believing that men and women are equal in every way.  One experience in her life that made her conscious of her gender was going through a divorce, and having full custody of her two daughters.  She said that the responsibility was something that she could handle, and she loved that she was the primary caretaker of her daughters.  

Wheeler, Karen. 27 Jan 2009.

Reading Response

I definitely agree with Finkbeiner, and her argument about sex education in public schools.  Girls need to learn about their bodies, and all that they are capable of producing, so they can be educated and be able to make the right decision when the time comes.  They also  need to know about some of the consequences that might come.  Most importantly, I agree that young girls should be supported through this rough, awkward time in their lives, and sex education, in this modern world, is necessary to help increase the safety of the young women.  

I also agree with Finkbeiner when she talks about the modern feminist movement.  The strong women in our past had won the right to vote, and the right to be in the workforce.  Our third generation of feminists are pushing for individual power.  The modern feminists want what's best for each woman, whether its a stay-at-home mother, or a working mom.  

 McIntosh's "White Privilege" was a really interesting read for me.  I am Native American and I have often thought about some of the Privileges that white people have.  I most definitely agree with the long list that McIntosh states because I have personally experienced some of those things, as well as other discrimination issues.  One thing disagree with in this piece is when McIntosh states "that your race will not count against you in court, should be the norm in a just society."  I think that this should not be the "norm", and that everyone, regardless of their race, should have a fair trial.  However, I know that this is not the case in our society, and should be changed.