Jameson states, “the underside of culture is blood, torture, death, & horror” (485). i believe this particular quote to be applicable to our class discussion on tuesday and to Cixous' essay.
While biological differences in men and women and undeniable, there is a difference in the socialization of gender behavior norms. It cuts deeper than snide comments about cooking dinner and cleaning house. Jameson's quote about the dark underside of culture is certainly indicative of masculine socialization. I had a friend who was asleep in her bed last week and a group of boys came in and woke her up calling her a bitch, and commenting on her physical appearance negatively. Then they proceeded to talk about doing graphic and degrading sexual acts to her as she pretended to sleep, too afraid to confront them and let them know she was present. There is nothing in feminine socialization in our culture that promotes violent or hateful acts towards others. In our culture it is acceptable and even “normal” for men to be violent towards other men and women. We hear songs on the radio from male rappers and singers about killing other people, torturing them, and the most common—performing sexual acts not with but upon women. It kills me that all of the songs that are so popular in social settings not just at Rollins but in other college communities. It breaks my heart to hear girls proudly singing along to these songs alongside their male friends and boyfriends, having a good time, thinking they look cool and could be considered "one of the guys" as a result. So many of the songs they play in clubs or at parties have these graphic images. It is rare to hear a song from a female artist citing the same things. For example, Taylor Swift’s songs are about fairy tales and Miley Cyrus’ about about uphill battles.
Those attitudes pervasive in cultural outlets such as popular music permeate into our everyday lives and interactions. That is evident in the story of my friend asleep in her dorm room. We act in certain ways because we have learned these actions. I can't imagine a parent encouraging his or her son to act in a violent manner or to speak negatively and degradingly about women. These things are normalized in our culture. I'm not going to say that music is the only reason that male socialization is coupled with violent tendencies. There are obviously many factors that play into that.
I am going to ask, in the spirit of Cixous, (and with apologies to Lyotard): women...spread a reign of terror on the radio. Don't sing along, don't act like you think it's funny to talk about sexually assaulting and raping a woman simply because of her sex, don't call your best friend a whore as a term of endearment, don't give your approval to this. If being entertained means being in agreement, then detach yourself from this form of entertainment and deconstruct it for all of its meanings. I don't mean to shoot down the industry or freedom of creativity/expression/feeling/whatever abstract word you want to use in order to attempt to justify your disrespectful message, I am simply calling upon women, to abandon this behavior. It is upsetting to see a group marginalized by certain forms of media and entertainment in our culture taking part in their own degradation. By refraining to challenge these messages of hatred for our own kind, women are giving that effort their support. Acts of sexual violence are terrifying. I would argue that in some aspects, that underside of culture is violence directed toward women and expecting men to support this as well. It hurts me to know that some women are spitting out these lyrics and joking with their guy friends about things like this. Why do we take part in that? What is so desirable about being "one of the guys?" Why do we do our very hardest, as women, to appeal to men as both a laid-back girl who can hang out and as an unattainable sex object? Don;t say that we don't....if that were the case, push-up bras, make-up, and perfume among other things wouldn't exist.
It has become culturally acceptable and even preferable for women to dehumanize themselves. We shave our legs and arms, we wear deodorant and perfume, we buy control top panty hose and shaping undergarments, we wear make-up to hide our blemishes, we bleach our teeth to hide the stains that come from a process necessary for life: eating and drinking, we straighten and curl our hair in order to play a hand in the game of woman v. nature and attempt to defy our genetic make-up. I could go on for days. Men do not shave their armpits, they have no shame in their bodily functions and in fact often feel the need to draw attention to them. Men wear loose-fitting clothing and are considered "metrosexual" if they moisturize their face. Why are women so committed to appearing unhuman and yet acting in a way that makes them "just one of the guys?" Why do we do it?! Is it just the nature of our capitalist society? Is it the product of gender socialization? is it merely a specific mystery existent only in our culture? Either way, I have a lot of opposition to it and yet I still shave my legs, wear deodorant, make-up etc. Perhaps i am just the prime example of one who considers oneself outside of ideology and yet is operating deep within it. I have a lot of questions and strong opinions about the way that men and women are expected to act and treat one another. I just ask that others become thinkers, and question how these expectations got to be as well. Perhaps if everyone is aware, then the artist can still express him or herself freely, and in response the people would take his or her message for what it really is and not adhere to it as a life guideline for social interaction.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Trapnest, 5/3
The class this week was both enlightening and interesting. While a lot of Rollins College classes are based around discussion there is always a leader in the front of the classroom mediating it. I’ve never before been in a setting where there is almost a forum situation where there isn’t a single person leading. I did however find it interesting that even though this was the case one of the first things we did was appoint a leader from among us to oversee things. That we weren’t capable of remaining in an open Form setting, I feel that this can be looked at almost as us being set in the dominant ideologies that there will always be a hierarchy among us.
Another thing I noticed too was that people who never spoke up before were speaking. However, I question if this was because of the women in the class “finding their voice” or just because it was a more open setting without a dominant leader in the classroom. When Dr. Casey asked if having the “male” professor sit down was strange I thought about it. I think we as CMC majors are spoiled, having two very strong females as the head of the major. However, in a lot of other departments female professors are less. In thinking about it the only female professors I have had are in the CMC major. So it is interesting to me to think if I act any differently around a male professor, or see the professors’ role differently based upon the gender.
I also want to say I think the boys did very well. Even being a female if I have to sit and be quiet, and not get to say my opinion on something I would be going crazy too! So I was very impressed. I almost feel like a lot of what was being discussed isn’t that applicable in today’s day in age. Not that it isn’t important to study, but looking around the CMC major I see a lot of empowered women who aren’t afraid to find their voice, and let the world know when they have. And that’s a good thing!
Another thing I noticed too was that people who never spoke up before were speaking. However, I question if this was because of the women in the class “finding their voice” or just because it was a more open setting without a dominant leader in the classroom. When Dr. Casey asked if having the “male” professor sit down was strange I thought about it. I think we as CMC majors are spoiled, having two very strong females as the head of the major. However, in a lot of other departments female professors are less. In thinking about it the only female professors I have had are in the CMC major. So it is interesting to me to think if I act any differently around a male professor, or see the professors’ role differently based upon the gender.
I also want to say I think the boys did very well. Even being a female if I have to sit and be quiet, and not get to say my opinion on something I would be going crazy too! So I was very impressed. I almost feel like a lot of what was being discussed isn’t that applicable in today’s day in age. Not that it isn’t important to study, but looking around the CMC major I see a lot of empowered women who aren’t afraid to find their voice, and let the world know when they have. And that’s a good thing!
Savvy, 5.3.09
I went to a private all girls high school before attending Rollins. Our class on Tuesday was the first time that I experienced a class at Rollins that was dominated by female discussion. In high school women never were hesitant to speak or voice their opinions because they were in female company. The moment I got to Rollins, I found myself not being vocal in class. I would have a thought or an answer and not vocalize it. In most cases I held back when I had a thought. Often that thought would be vocalized by a male classmate and then I would get angry with myself for not speaking up. Over the past three years that I have attended Rollins I have started to get more comfortable in the classroom environment, and with that comfort I have been able to now voice my opinions and thoughts. Our class on Tuesday made me realize that I was not alone and that many other women often keep quiet and are reluctant to speak up.
My favorite quote from our class discussion is "Every woman has known the torture of beginning to speak aloud" (163). It has been difficult for women to even enter the frame of discourse. This can be seen throughout history with women's place in society. I love this quote because I feel like it is relevant to our society today as well as to women's place throughout history. A female student made a statement in our class discussion that has stuck with me. She was talking about feminism and why there is such a negative connotation to the topic and mentioned how we are all really feminists. Often in our society when people are dubbed being a feminist, they are very defensive to refute the term. I too wonder why being a feminist is considered to be seen in such a negative light in our society.
One of the most important topics that we touched upon at the end of class was women's relationships with one another. A male student voiced his thoughts on female relationships. We discussed how women become so defensive when men degradingly talk about women. In my generation, girls are constantly putting one another down and talking about one another in a negative manner. Girls are constantly talking about one another and calling each other "sluts" or "whores" etc. As the male student put it, why should we treat women any differently than they treat each other? If women talk about one another in that way, why is not okay for men to? This discussion that we had in class has stuck with me. Every time I here a female referring to another female in a negative manner I think about our class discussion. As women, we must first respect one another enough not to talk about each other in this manner. We must move beyond the pettiness. If we want men to respect us, we must respect the female. It starts with respecting ourselves and each other.
My favorite quote from our class discussion is "Every woman has known the torture of beginning to speak aloud" (163). It has been difficult for women to even enter the frame of discourse. This can be seen throughout history with women's place in society. I love this quote because I feel like it is relevant to our society today as well as to women's place throughout history. A female student made a statement in our class discussion that has stuck with me. She was talking about feminism and why there is such a negative connotation to the topic and mentioned how we are all really feminists. Often in our society when people are dubbed being a feminist, they are very defensive to refute the term. I too wonder why being a feminist is considered to be seen in such a negative light in our society.
One of the most important topics that we touched upon at the end of class was women's relationships with one another. A male student voiced his thoughts on female relationships. We discussed how women become so defensive when men degradingly talk about women. In my generation, girls are constantly putting one another down and talking about one another in a negative manner. Girls are constantly talking about one another and calling each other "sluts" or "whores" etc. As the male student put it, why should we treat women any differently than they treat each other? If women talk about one another in that way, why is not okay for men to? This discussion that we had in class has stuck with me. Every time I here a female referring to another female in a negative manner I think about our class discussion. As women, we must first respect one another enough not to talk about each other in this manner. We must move beyond the pettiness. If we want men to respect us, we must respect the female. It starts with respecting ourselves and each other.
Rico72, 5/3
I thought our final class was a great way to end the semester. It was an interesting excersise that I've never experienced before. It was interesting to hear new people in the class speaking, and the point of view of students and how the readings related to them individually. It also seemed valuable as it felt like Dr. Casey was showing us how we have all learned from this semester and can give new and valuable interpretations on these theorists.
One of the most important things discussed was the idea of feminists and the stereotype surrounding them. I think it's really interesting how feminists are portrayed in such a negative way, yet when we look at our own beliefs, most of us agree with what feminists are fighting for. As mentioned in class, in CMC 200 we read a book titled Getting Off which discusses the porn industry and the authors hope to eliminate the concept of "masculinity." This can be seen as being dominant over others, including women. The author wants us to stop trying to be men and just be human beings. It was interesting to see that some people agreed with this while others felt it was not possible or not the issue. I personally think that it should not/can not be eliminated but re-defined. There are differences between men and women but that does not make one superior to the other. Masculinity should be seen as a way to use the differences to benefit everyone.
This is one of the many valuable things I have learned through out the semester. The class was able to not only teach us how our world has changed over the years, but what continues to change (or stay the same) as we move into the future. One of the most interesting things discussed was Adorno's theories that none of us are individuals because we define ourselves with what we own. Although I never really thought about this, everything we own or define ourselves with is someone else's idea. Will we ever be able to change this? I don't think so, but we can at least try to create something others will remember. This should be our goal as we leave college and make our place in the world.
One of the most important things discussed was the idea of feminists and the stereotype surrounding them. I think it's really interesting how feminists are portrayed in such a negative way, yet when we look at our own beliefs, most of us agree with what feminists are fighting for. As mentioned in class, in CMC 200 we read a book titled Getting Off which discusses the porn industry and the authors hope to eliminate the concept of "masculinity." This can be seen as being dominant over others, including women. The author wants us to stop trying to be men and just be human beings. It was interesting to see that some people agreed with this while others felt it was not possible or not the issue. I personally think that it should not/can not be eliminated but re-defined. There are differences between men and women but that does not make one superior to the other. Masculinity should be seen as a way to use the differences to benefit everyone.
This is one of the many valuable things I have learned through out the semester. The class was able to not only teach us how our world has changed over the years, but what continues to change (or stay the same) as we move into the future. One of the most interesting things discussed was Adorno's theories that none of us are individuals because we define ourselves with what we own. Although I never really thought about this, everything we own or define ourselves with is someone else's idea. Will we ever be able to change this? I don't think so, but we can at least try to create something others will remember. This should be our goal as we leave college and make our place in the world.
ginger griffin, 4/30
I thought the exercise in class was extremely important in understanding what Cixous and Butler were talking about. After I got done reading their article, I really had a hard time understanding it, but when we went over it in class, as usual, I understood it a lot better. When Dr. Roger said that none of the boys were allowed to talk unless they relayed the message to another girl, then their voices could not be heard. I think this gave a lot of the girls in the class a voice for the first time all semester. I think that is a great thing, however, it is safe to note that it is unfortunate that it takes the men to be quiet for those women to talk. It was a very powerful thing for the women in the class to be able to read aloud what the men said, but the women had that power to choose. I feel this is something that men often have. But we took away their voices and put in ours. Although I do not consider myself a feminist, I do consider what we did in class very important.
However, I think that the fact that it took until the last class for this exercise to happen that it simply shows and proves exactly what Cixous and Butler were talking about. Why couldn't we have done this exercise earlier and why did it take these theorist for us to do this exercise? Just a few questions I have and a few questions I feel that Cixous and Butler might ask as well.
However, I think that the fact that it took until the last class for this exercise to happen that it simply shows and proves exactly what Cixous and Butler were talking about. Why couldn't we have done this exercise earlier and why did it take these theorist for us to do this exercise? Just a few questions I have and a few questions I feel that Cixous and Butler might ask as well.
aro0823, 5/3
Upon skimming through some of my classmates' posts, I came to realize that we all had essentially the same opinion on Thursday's exercise. The fact that we necessitated a specific exercise to allow women to speak was highly questionable, and I am pleased that others are recognizing the absurdity of that notion. I was excited by the anger and ranting that I read because it meant that individuals from both genders are realizing the applicability of the inequity and are bothered by it. Though these rants are only in the blogosphere, awareness needs to begin somewhere, and only in taking baby steps to gender equality will the problem ever achieve a resolution.
In class, after hearing several voices that had never spoken before, I was shocked to hear that culture actually DOES inculcate some people with the viewpoint that it is not societally acceptable for women to voice their opinions. The more I write the more passionate I become in my stance that WE ARE ALL HUMANS. Since this is my final post and I feel that I have proven myself, I feel it is an appropriate time to deliver a big F. U. to the media and anyone who attempts to stifle 50% of the population because they happen to have been born with the heinous, incurable disease of having two X chromosomes. Thus, what IS this mysterious "commonality among 'women' that preexists their oppression" that Butler discusses? Is it seriously the fact that we have two X chromosomes and in turn smaller biceps and less muscular pectorals?
By recognizing female subjugation, you aren't a "feminazi" or a radical feminist, you are a human being who takes action against something that is inherently flawed. Taking an oppositional stance to the produced message does not make you weird or abnormal, it makes you intelligent and aware. I am pleased to have spent class this year with a wide array of different people because we comprise the grassroots movement to make change. If awareness beings in all social circles and spreads outward, women soon may actually be able to involve our stories in (I lament using this word) history and finally elicit the respect we deserve.
In class, after hearing several voices that had never spoken before, I was shocked to hear that culture actually DOES inculcate some people with the viewpoint that it is not societally acceptable for women to voice their opinions. The more I write the more passionate I become in my stance that WE ARE ALL HUMANS. Since this is my final post and I feel that I have proven myself, I feel it is an appropriate time to deliver a big F. U. to the media and anyone who attempts to stifle 50% of the population because they happen to have been born with the heinous, incurable disease of having two X chromosomes. Thus, what IS this mysterious "commonality among 'women' that preexists their oppression" that Butler discusses? Is it seriously the fact that we have two X chromosomes and in turn smaller biceps and less muscular pectorals?
By recognizing female subjugation, you aren't a "feminazi" or a radical feminist, you are a human being who takes action against something that is inherently flawed. Taking an oppositional stance to the produced message does not make you weird or abnormal, it makes you intelligent and aware. I am pleased to have spent class this year with a wide array of different people because we comprise the grassroots movement to make change. If awareness beings in all social circles and spreads outward, women soon may actually be able to involve our stories in (I lament using this word) history and finally elicit the respect we deserve.
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