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

            The systems of privilege and oppression today function as race and social status. In society white people are always the ones who are privileged instead of those of color. For example, most of the time we see children’s books or books that are based on white people instead of other races. Now a days we see more books that are coming out that are from other races. Oppression is when someone who has power and takes advantage over someone else. For example, in society we have economic status of people in which those who are rich control the poor. In that case people who are poor and are working only make enough to have food and somewhere to live. We can combat these systems by not viewing people any way different and instead help each other by volunteering. 

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

            The concept of intersectionality is discrimination and oppression over gender, race, class, and sexual orientation. Intersectionality is important in women’s gender and sexuality studies because there’s always discrimination. For example, a women can be discriminated if she’s wearing something that is too revealing and if she has friends that are just guys. In the eyes of people, it may look wrong that she’s hanging out with just men or that wearing something too revealing is her throwing herself to men. In “Beyond the Gender Binary” by Alok V. Manon he mentions “40 percent of trans and gender non-conforming people have attempted suicide.” This shows that many of those who have been discriminated have tried to commit suicide. It’s sad to see that people are still being discriminated about their sexuality. Society should understand that everyone is different and has different likes whether it’s how the person dresses or them liking someone the opposite sex. 

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 in society men are the ones who have power over women. We have seen this in society where men think that women should be at home and be a housewife and take care of the children. Even back in the day women couldn’t really take the jobs that men had or have an education. In society today we see this happen in some countries in which women can’t get an education. Women should be able to have the same rights as men whether if it’s in a work environment or at home. Men should be able to support women’s right and there should be equality between both men and women. 

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

 Gender is constructed by the behaviors and roles of women, men, girls, and boys. In society gender is learned by how one is raised and their interactions with other people. We perform gender in society by when we are born. When we are born parents usually get things that are pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Even when buying a girl toy, they get toys such as dolls, doll houses, kitchen toys, etc. It goes the same for a boy a boy would usually get a car or anything that has to do with male toys. We usually see the roles in society as women and men that women should be staying at home and taking care of the children while the men work. Now a days we see that both roles can be played by both men and women. Even though in some countries is still believed that women should be the ones to stay home and the men to work. I believe that both men and women can work and take responsibility of the things that need to get done at home. 

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

            The different between sex and gender is that sex is referred to as biological and physiological features. Gender is the social and culture roles of male and female. Sex and gender are confused in our culture by not realizing the difference between sex and gender. Sex is based on when a girl or a boy is born based on their biological features. Gender in our culture is viewed as females wearing dresses or skirts and they don’t expect males to wear any of it. Now a days we see people dressing the way they want to and it’s something we see every day. We shouldn’t discriminate against those who wear anything different that wouldn’t be “normal” in society. 

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

            A double bind is when an individual or a group of people receive two or more conflicting messages. Double binds function in society by having oppression towards people. For example, Women can be oppressed by wearing something that is too revealing, and people would judge her for it and think that she is throwing herself at men or that she wants the attention on her. Women get judge for what they wear when it’s too revealing but sometimes, they want to dress that way whenever they’re going out. It’s not something that they wear every day. In society women are the ones to be oppressed because sometimes there’s men that control them and want them to treat them a certain way. Such as having the food done once they get home from work or not having the choice to work and be a housewife.