Question 1: How do systems of privilege and oppression function in our society? How do we combat these systems? 

Systems of privilege and oppression function in our society by deeming certain characteristics as an advantage or a disadvantage. Oftentimes, this is expressed by skin color, socioeconomic background, gender, and sexual orientation. Whether we want to admit it or not, the United States practices under a vastly religious regime. Anything not associated with Christian beliefs is subjected to a harsh critique. This includes gender identity, sexual orientation, skin color, religious beliefs, etc. None of these characteristics are exempt from oppression. Whilst most often white, gender-conforming Christians have a significantly more amount of privilege and are least likely to face systemic oppression. In Peggy McIntosh’s, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” where they speak about how, “White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks.” Which is a perfect articulation of the many privileges that white people inherit as soon as they’re born, many of which go unacknowledged their whole lives.

Question 2: What is the concept of intersectionality and why is it important in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies? 

Intersectionality consists of analyzing what elements of someone’s identity combine to put them at a greater risk of discrimination and/or privilege. Women, for example, face discrimination just for being women. However, a black woman would face a different set of problems on top of gender inequality, as they’re now susceptible to racial bias. This concept works with men as well, as an Iranian man can be expected to not be picked over a white man for a work opportunity, despite being equally as qualified. In this particular example, their ethnicity, as well as their religion are aspects that could potentially affect the way that they’re viewed in society. On the oposite side of the spectrum, a gender-conforming, white male has a higher amount of respect in society.

Question 3: Why is it important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity? 

It is important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity because a system can be dismantled. An intangible construct is much harder to analyze as its ramifications are easily disregarded on the grounds of, “well, WE create the society we live in!” This mode of thinking is devoid of any responsibility, basically shrugging it off as, “this is just the way it is.” leaving the women that this system affects to continue settling for the short end of the stick. Examples of gender inequality include gender discriminations in the workplace, healthcare inequities, sexual harassment, forced arranged marriages, unrecognized domestic labor, etc. These problems shouldn’t continue to be ignored as their consequences lead to lifelong trauma, sickness, and even death for its victims.

Question 4: How is gender constructed and learned in our society? How do we perform gender?

Gender is constructed and performed before we even take our first blink into the world. Typically, the parent(s) of a child will conform to whichever sex the doctor tells them that their baby is, whether that’s discovered before or during birth. Many even begin buying their child items with colors associated with their gender, oftentimes this will include typically “masculine” colors for boys, like blue, green, brown, and more feminine colors for baby girls, like pink, yellow and purple. Many children grow up perfectly content with the expected behaviors of their preconceived gender, while others grow up feeling alienated as they do not resonate with the behavioral codes others of their gender seem to perform naturally. A little girl who shows more “masculine” traits is often labeled a “tomboy”. This is a faulty way of thinking as it suggests that male and female are the two default genders that a person could inherit and that any inclusion of the opposite gender in their personality can only be a subcategory of itself. 

Question 5: What is the difference between sex and gender? How are sex and gender conflated (converged and confused) within our culture? 

The difference between sex and gender is that sex is a completely biologically defined characteristic, whilst gender is a social construct many just adhere to. There are very particular stereotypes that each “gender” possesses that weren’t viewed as interchangeable up until very recent times. Now people have begun fighting back against the behavior that they are “expected” to have based on what reproductive organ they were born with. The world should be a safe place where anyone can express their gender identity confidently without having to worry about a hate crime or oppression. No one should feel tied down to what’s between their legs, it should be the least of anyone’s concern. 

Question 6: What is a double bind? How do double binds function within our society? 

A double bind is a dilemma where stereotypically “womanly” traits are viewed as valued but not respected. A woman who is nurturing is well-liked in most environments, however, she is not typically viewed as a leader by her peers. This Implicates that “feminine” and “masculine” characteristics cannot co-exist harmoniously, you have to be either-or. With the particular example of workplace environments, women who are respected and viewed as competent leaders are rarely liked by their peers. In the same vein, women who are considered “emotional” are viewed as “hysterical” or “irrational” whereas an emotional man is referred to as, “passionate”, “outspoken” or, “going against the grain.” These catch-22s can leave women feeling stuck between a rock and a dark place, as they must “check” their femininity at the door once entering their job to be viewed as competent as a  man.