Scorpio, 4/28

Today’s class was one of the most interesting I have ever participated in at Rollins. Theorists and feminists like Butler and Cixous question the structure of speech as inherently masculine. They also say the art of writing is owned by a woman. I agree that while men tend to be more outspoken in society, women are in the background and more passive than men. I think this is ingrained into us at a young age. Boys are raised to be social and aggressive beings that interact through team-oriented relationships. In a schoolyard, boys pick teams to belong to, where they have the ability to potentially lead the group. On the other hand, young girls are socialized in a much different manner. While playing with dolls (which usually never talk back to them) and having play-dates with one or two more friends, girls become accustomed to being “out-numbered” by boys. I think in a way this affects girls and self-confidence. In school, many girls feel there is pressure to be smart and well spoken. Therefore, they might not always speak aloud in class. Maybe boys feel more of a sense in security that they will not come off as dumb if they get the answer wrong. I question how many teachers also encourage girls to speak in the classroom. Dr. Casey practiced this theory in affect today in class. Although I can admit I was a little empowered, I also felt sorry for the guys in the class. They seemed to be unresponsive in the discussion. Maybe it was too much work for them to write their thought down on paper instead of speak to the class. The opposite goes for me; I would rather at times take notes and jot my thoughts down than speak out loud. This class made me wonder if I’m truly reaching my potential in the classroom if I am socialized to be silenced?