White Privilege
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Author Archives: Kevin Kimble
Fem
Content Response 1: Kevin Kimble
I found this week’s reading to be very eye-opening. On one hand, we have the feminist movement which is focused on identifying and preventing sexist thoughts and actions. On the other, we have one’s biological sex versus the cultural construct of gender. What I found most interesting was that both readings discussed the expectations that society has for each gender based on cultural or even religious teachings.
In Feminist Politics, the author states that America is a Christian society and so “masses of people continue to believe that God has ordained that women be subordinate to men in the domestic household.” Essentially women are still viewed as the homemaker whilst men are supposed to work and provide for their families. Of course, this issue of sexism is far deeper than that and I can honestly say I’d never considered how the fight for racial equality, specifically for women of color, would create a double standard of living for reformist feminists.
That said, it’s no surprise to me that gender is considered a social construct and essentially comes with its own set of rules and prejudices. As stated before, the gender assignment of females comes with the notion of being soft and submissive to their male counterparts. What I love about gender expression is that it creates the opportunity for a person to shake off the chain of expectations and to express themselves how they see fit. “A person’s biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are not mutually exclusive.” While there is plenty more work to be done if we are to reshape our society, I think we can see that change is coming.
Snapshot 1: Kevin Kimble
Hello Everyone,
Thanks for taking the time to review my snapshot. Based on the readings assigned, I decided to do some research about music created to inspire thought about gender identity, expression, and modern-day feminism. I came across a song entitled “IT” by Christine and The Queens and decided to share the lyrics here.
If you’d like to listen to the song, here is a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9XeN3MSbyk
The lyrics:
With it I become the death Dickinson feared
With it I’m the red admiral on his ship
And I raise with infants for my coronation
I’ve ruled over my all my dead impersonations’Cause I’ve got it
I’m a man now
‘Cause I’ve got it
I’m a man now
And I won’t let you steal it
I bought it for myself
I’m a man now I hit the bird-dogs who are pulling my hair
Because their teeth should ravage a golden beard
I’ve lost some eyeless friends whose blood runs cold
My new people
On silent heels pretends to be old’Cause I won
I’m a man now
‘Cause I’ve got it
I’m a man now
And I won’t let you steal it
I bought it for myself
I’m a man now
Oh lord She wants to be a man, a man
But she lies
She wants to be born again, again
But she’ll lose
She draws her own crotch by herself
But she’ll lose because it’s a fake
It’s a fake, it’s a fake, it’s a fake No! I’ve got it
I’m a man now
Yes I’ve got it
I’m a man now
And there’s nothing you can do
To make me change my mind
I’m a man now She’s a man now
She’s a man now
And there’s nothing we can do
To make her change her mind
She’s a man now
She’s a man now
She’s a man now
And there’s nothing we can do
To make her change her mind
She’s a man now
She’s a man now Oh, oh, she’s a man now (Oh, oh yeah)
And there’s nothing we can do
To make her change her mind
She’s a man now
Listening to the lyrics and reviewing some interviews that the artist completed, I realized that she achieved a form of sublime expression letting go of the notion of fitting into gender roles. Christine, who often goes by Chris, identifies as pansexual. When she started her career, she mentioned having trouble being taken seriously because she was a woman. “Man” used in this song is used loosely to represent a person who is in control.
