MerryChristmas!, 5.2.09

Thursdays class exercise was very intriguing. Being a woman myself, I got a chance to speak up about the issues that feminists face and what it means to be a feminist. At first, I was reluctant to speak up because I was nervous. Contrary to popular belief, I wasn't nervous to talk about the issue of feminism in front of men, instead I was nervous to talk about feminism in front of women. This is because my ideologies most likely don't identify with theirs and I didn't want to offend anyone. However, I typically cannot hold back any opinions or thoughts of mine so I participated anyway.
One of my main concerns with the notion that men have control over women or they suppress women in a way in which women are deemed inferior to men was that this can only happen if we (women) let it happen. Being a strong-willed person myself, I do not allow men to control the things that come out of my mouth or if I speak up or not. If you allow men to have power over you, then they will. The same scenario goes for anyone, even single sexed situations. Another aspect that I touched on was the issue of men calling women sluts or whores. Sure, if we allow men to say these things or even say them ourselves, then they will perpetuate the issue. But, I believe that this can go both ways. In my perspective, it seems as though women talk poorly about men more so than men talk poorly about women.

So, what is the solution that feminists are looking for? Is it neutrality among both sexes? Feminists don't want to rid the world of the difference between femininity and masculinity, but rather change the idea that masculinity prevails over femininity.

My opinion of the matter from a neutral standpoint is that if we continue to victimize ourselves as the gender or the group of people that are suppressed in our society, then we are only contributing to the issue. By identifying or classifying ourselves as this, we are perpetuating the issue. Rather than complain about the way that it should be and recognize radical thinkers as feminists, why not just do it? Why don't we stop talking about doing it or the things that are wrong in our society and just prevail over men? It is statistically proven women get better grades and take more advanced placement classes in high school. Nearly sixty-percent of undergraduate college students are women, and women earn more bachelor and graduate degrees then men. If my sources are correct, then we are already on our way to equality.

Bell Hooks states, "Within a context where desire for contact with those who are different or deemed Other is not considered bad,politically incorrect, or wrong-minded, we can begin to conceptualize and identify ways that desire informs our political choices and affiliations." Hooks' quote is saying something similar to what I am trying to say. If we continue to victimize ourselves as being suppressed, then we will continue assuming we are and we will perpetuate the issue. However, if we think of the issue as not being an issue at all, we will be enlightened and will continue to achieve our goals of equality.