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

In today’s society, we have voiced our beliefs and brought awareness to many matters. As a result, we have seen our society reform for the better. One of the ways we were able to create reform was by adjusting our language. When we use to speak our minds unceremoniously society would call us hostile and ignore our concerns. Privilege has been one of the new terms we use to express our frustrations of inequality. Privilege means a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. Where there is privilege there are also those who are oppressed. While we have taken steps towards reform, the system of privilege and oppression still functions in our society. They continue to function within our society because those with privilege do not wish to acknowledge or surrender that privilege. For example, the feminist movement has been advocated for years, however, men often deny they have privileges that women do not have. Or on the rare occasion that men do acknowledge women are oppressed, they can’t or won’t assist in shifting the power/advantages men hold. In the reading, “Patriarchy, the system” by Allan G. Johnson, he states, “men feel defensive because they identify with patriarchy and its values and do not want to face the consequences these produce or the prospect of giving up male privilege.” This shows that men will not assist in the feminist movement because they are afraid of the social backlash they will receive from their peers. If they acknowledge their privilege and show support they have consequences, so they rather say their in support without doing anything to change the oppression women continue to face. Which continues the women vs. men stigma in feminism. In order to combat this system, we need to change our way of thinking. In the reading, “Feminism is for everyone” by Bell Hooks she summarizes that the feminist movement is inclusive to everyone, however, there are challenges that are in the way of achieving the movement because of our thinking. These challenges being understanding the actual message of the movement, disbarring those who have the privilege – in this case, men, and the fight with each other who participate in the movement. These challenges stop us from winning any movement. In essence, in order to combat the system of privilege and oppression, it requires efforts of advocation by not only women but everyone.

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

Intersectionality sounds like a big and frightening word. This is probably why people do not like to discuss the topic and become knowledgeable about what it means. Intersectionality is a concept that an individual, group, or community that is affected by discrimination or disadvantages from an identity they identify as. Intersectionality is important to women’s gender, and sexuality studies because these are both separate identities. However, everyone in this world is different and can have multiple identities. Women’s gender is a cultural construct that is used to characterize females. While sexual studies are the understanding of human sexuality. However, an individual can have multiple identities that face discrimination or disadvantages from one or both communities. This is how both the construct of gender and sexuality intertwines with the multiple identities a woman can have. In the reading “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions” Audre Lorde, starts off by identifying the communities she identifies as. She also goes on to say the communities she identifies with struggle. She can’t win within each group she is in. She says, “Within the lesbian community I am Black, and within the Black community I am a lesbian…. Any attack against Black people is a lesbian and gay issue, because I and thousands of other Black women are part of the lesbian community. Any attack against lesbians and gays is a Black issue, because thousands of lesbians and gay men are Black.” Lorde explaining her experience proves the effects of oppression that are present in people’s lives. Because of the intersectionality of her race, gender, and sexuality she could not live a happy life if her identities are are being oppressed by society and by each other. In order for an individual who has multiple identities to be happy all of their communities must be treated equally. 

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

Words like feminism, oppression, and patriarchy give off the impression there is someone to blame. That is why before anyone can talk about the word or their actual meanings it becomes an argument, and the problem never becomes solved. However, it is important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not as an individual identity so we as a society can make a change. Patriarchy is a system that we continue to uphold by calling men the oppressors and women as vulnerable. Individual identity is where we live our lives through socialization and blame others when something negative happens. Rather than questioning the system that produces social problems/inequality. In the reading, “Patriarchy the System” Allan G. Johnson explains the way patriarchy is part of our lives because we do not look past individual identity. He continues by using the example of a man raping, beating, and harassing a woman. We are more likely to ask why this man did these horrible things, rather than asking the real issue “what kind of society would promote persistent patterns of such behavior in everyday life, from wife-beating jokes to the routine inclusion of sexual coercion and violence in mainstream movies.” Johnson calls this the “path of least resistance.” In choosing the path of least resistance we are in this loop where change will never happen. In order to create change, we need to recognize patriarchy as a system, understand the system is the problem, and as a society change it by looking past individual identity. 

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

Gender begins to be constructed with knowing the biological sex of an individual, this is also known as gender assignment. For example, when a woman is pregnant the doctors look for the external genitalia to categorize the baby into a gender. After being assigned into a gender you are now put into this role where you become socially constructed to act like a female or male. In other words, babies are then socialized in line with the gender role they are given. Gender is constructed and learned differently in every society, in our society gender is learned through viewing others’ behaviors, understanding, and following the norms. According to the reading, “Sex and Gender 101” by Kyl Myers it says, “In America, boys are taught and expected to be tough, risk-taking, rowdy, athletic, strong, aggressive…girls are taught and expected to be soft, submissive, cautious, delicate, graceful, prissy.” These are the most common norms and the characteristics of gender. Babies then grow up to be treated into learning these norms/characteristics of their gender. In our society watching others’ behaviors is a big social construct. Individuals do not want to stray away from following the social norms of society because they will be seen as hostile. If we see a father playing football at the park with their son nobody would look twice, however, if we see a father taking their son to ballet people would stare and give judgemental looks. We perform gender more often than we realize. Until recent times it has been socially expected for males to approach females. Males were seen as dominant and superior, and females were seen as fragile and submissive. However, since the power dynamic of gender has been challenged, females now approach males. It’s not that women need to be the more aggressive gender and men should strive to be soft, but rather the messages we see on TV or hear in music should try to normalize the fact that women and men can behave however they like. There is no need for each gender to feel constrained to act a certain way. 

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 sex is biological while gender is social. Sex refers to the anatomy and physiology of a person. The term “sex” refers to the psychological differences between females, males, and intersex. Gender refers to the social and cultural roles that males and females are expected to subscribe to based on their biological sex. While the two are entwined they do not mean the same thing. Sex and Gender often get conflated with the idea that an individual is male or female based on their appearance. Till recently people in society thought both sex and gender are the same because people have just accepted the gender role they were assigned to and conformed as they grew up. However, gender identity is a choice. Gender identity refers to how a person thinks about themselves in regards to gender. Gender assignment and gender identity don’t always “match.” In the reading “Beyond the Gender Binary” Alok V. Manon states, “It’s curious where society locates the blame. What about gender-reveal parties, the birth certificates, the driver’s licenses, all the ways that society imposes gender on us all? When things like this are normalized, they become invisible and we don’t even question them.” This clarifies that society enables gender assignment and gender identity to mean the same thing. There is no clothing store with females that identity as males clothes section. Our society has conflated both sex and gender and as a result, it’s difficult for people within our society to understand the difference. 

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

A double bind is when an individual is in a situation in which either option does not benefit. When the individual is forced to choose an option, they face consequences from their society. As Marilyn Frye says, “you are caught in a bind, caught between systematically related pressures.” Double binds function within our society because when there are groups who are oppressed, any action that is chosen, the oppressed face consequences and limitations. In order to understand how double-bind functions within our society I will use the example of the way women dress. If a woman decides to wear a skirt that is before the knee she will be labeled by society as “slut, easy, and unclassy.” While on the other hand, if women were to decide to wear a full-length skirt she is labeled “prude, man-hater, and a killjoy.” In either option, the woman who chooses will face consequences because women are the oppressors and men are the superior. As our society continues to oppress there will always be limitations to those who are looked down upon. 

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

The systems of privilege in our society lean towards the race or gender of a person. If you are a white male in this society you’re privileged to many things without asking or wanting to be. White privilege is an example of privilege. Men will not accept they are privileged and say it’s not on them that they’re privileged. In the article White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McInotsh it says “I have often noticed men’s willingness to grant that they are over-privileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged.”  Oppression exercises the power to undermine people in systems. Systems can either oppress people based on the group they identify themselves as. People will not be able to fit anywhere due to oppression. For example in the reading There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions by Audre Lorde she talks about not being able to fit in any of the groups she identifies herself in. She feels like she cannot profit due to the oppression from the other side of her identity. She says “Within the lesbian community I am Black, and within the Black community I am a lesbian.” I feel like we can combat these systems by letting people be who they are no matter what gender, class, race or color they are. Liberation is the key. Privilege and oppression in these systems shouldn’t be over-privileged/over-oppressed.

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 important in women’s, gender, and sexulaity studies because its the different type of forms discrimiatction, how they are combined or overlapped. In the women’s, gender, sexuality studies it identifies how different types of groups get discriminated against. In the article Beyond The Gender Binary by Alok V. Manon it says  “According to the 2015 US Transgender Survey, 30 percent of trans and gender non-conforming people reported workplace discrimination resulting in an umeployment rate of three times more then the general population;” This explains the different type of discrimination there is for women, gender or sexuality.  

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 patriarchy comes in many shapes or forms. A patriarchy is a system where men or women can exclude someone from society. Both women and men can be excluded from society and be done by both sexs. If we recognize it as a system we call view all the parts and people manipulate it. In the article Patriarchy, the system An it, Not a He, a them, or an Us by Allan G. Johnson says “”When you say patriarchy.” a man complained from the rear of the audience, “I know what you really mean-me!” If bad things happen it is not necessarily because of an individual, there is more to it, there are a lot of bad people in society. Patriarchy as a system makes you see that there are different types of mindsets and multiple people. It is not an individual who holds the power.

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

Gender is built in our society while we are growing up. Gender is learned in our society by gender assignment. Gender assignment is when an individual categorizes what the individual is supposed to do, act or feel. For example in the article Sex and Gender 101 by Kyle Meyers says “Upon assiging a gender, children are then socialized according to the gender roles of the cukture they weerre born into.” If a child is born a masculine gender they are brought up to not cry and go to work to provide for their partner. If a child is born a feminine gender they are brought up to have emotions, stay at home and cook and attend to their partner. As we grow up we construct our gender and become who we want to be and identify ourselves as. We can perform gender by expressing ourselves of who we believe our gender identity is. This can be through clothing, make-up or hairstyle.

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

Sex is anatomy and physiology. It is the chromosomes, hormones, organs and external genitalia of an individual, as said in Sex and Gender 101. There are 3 different types of sex, male, female and intersex. This is determined through the number of chromosomes a baby is born with. Gender is the role that an individual plays in society and culture. The gender can be determined by oneself and not the chromosomes or external genitalia. It depends on how you were raised or how you identify yourself or express yourself. Gender and sex are conflatd within our society because if they seem a feminin gender dressing up as what a masculine gender dresses up they start to question why and how. The other way around, if a masuline gender wears make-up and society or culture determines that only feminine genders can wear make-up, you can begin to be judged or discriminated against.

Question 6: What is a double bind? How do double binds function within our societyDouble bind is a person in a conflict with their actions or decision making, having an inappropriate response . An example of double bind is when people say “damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” In our society, the double bind function is when a woman who works in a men dominated workplace, no matter what ideas or what she says will not be taken into accountability. No matter how hard a woman works for a promotion it may not happen because of her gender. Like how in the article Oppression by Marlyin Frye it says “A woman can become caught in a bind where, no matter what she chooses to think, say, or do, a bar puts difficulties in her path.”

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

Systems of privileges are socially constructed in a way where we grow into its acceptance making it very difficult to do away with. These difference in society where some particular group of people are seen to be more important and deserve a different mode of treatment which is way better than others ends up curtailing the privileges of others especially in States where white privilege is high, blacks suffer. Same way system of oppression is aligned and socially constructed, this mode is the vice versa of privileges where one is subdued and subjected to certain things and treatments that isn’t fair but they have little to do about it. To battle this canker, we must put in place a measure that would psyche people that regardless of races and other factors, they are one and must enjoy an equal share of things. The constitution one way or the other should be enforced to make sure rights, freedoms and privileges are on an equal level for all manner of people regardless their gender and race.

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

Intersectionality could be explained as an analytical framework which makes us understand how the aspects of a person’s social and sometimes political identities combine so as to create different modes of discrimination and differences in privilege. It then argues that sometimes some aspects of a society that contribute to discrimination could be roped together so as to prevent too much or an extreme form of any discrimination. It’s very important in women’s, gender and sexuality study because it improvises and settles mainly on feminism where it elaborates that one could be treated either fairly or not based on sex, gender and race. It could be explained with this loop and lapses that other than one factor that would discriminate, other factors could play a different role which might or might not favor a woman which means one way or the other, a woman could be treated on different grounds and not only because she is a woman. Intersectionality would then mean a point where we are then considered at points so as to prevent any form of discrimination through one of its many lapses.

Question 3. Why is it important to organize patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity

Patriarchy can be seen as a social system where men hold primary power and also are dominant in roles of leadership especially political, moral authority some social privileges among others. This style should actually be a system as it’s a practice among societies and not associated to personal identity because in as much as we have it’s social influence men have literally decided to make it a norm and attach it as a personal identity. It is very necessary to understand that because you are a man doesn’t give room or chance for you to associate yourself as the one who is always the head and should occupy certain positions, it shouldn’t be as if being born a man makes you that unique to capitalize on every opportunity and force women to play second. We should then make it clear that it only applies in some instances which could be overridden at any point in time because it’s a system not a personal identity.

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

Gender is a socially constructed mechanism that depicts the functions or rests on the functions attributed to masculinity and femininity. We then use being a man or man based on roles as the primary source to understand gender and construct it’s importance and functions. With that being said, we perform gender as we perform our various functions as being a man or a woman living in a society, we are to understand that it means a lot that we know which gender we belong to in order to know the functions expected of us and the fundamental way of knowing this is through being a man or a woman. Gender now constructed as such and its functions becomes its performance based on which side you allocate yourself with socially, we could say that, sexes play a vital role in understanding where you belong to and what is being expected of you.

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

Sex is basically understandable as biologically constructed as being born naturally as a man and a woman whilst gender is seen as a social construct to depict the roles played as being a man or a woman. Sexes can be basically differentiated by the reproductive organs where one could be physically categorized into one section and the other but gender can’t be physically constructed and as such would exist as a notion or a norm which allows people to associate themselves with where they belong depending on the roles they play in a society. We sometimes find it very difficult to differentiate between sex and gender where we think being a man means masculinity and being a woman as feminist forgetting roles played are actually highly possible to differentiate that at a point in time only the biological and social differences can be the only mode of distinction needed.

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

A double bind should be categorized as a dilemma in the mode of communication in which an individual or a group of persons receives two and sometimes more reciprocally conflicting messages. A double bind can be in the form where one hears a message verbally as he or she converses with another but sees a different body language reacting, it confuses people. Most at times we have the scenario while people laugh at things that was said which isn’t funny literally to make fun of the other, this is an example of a double bind. In our societies we have sometimes conflicting messages where we feel as though we have our freedoms and privileges as structured but certain limitations make it highly impossible to enjoy such instances. Some of the forms could include restrictions, statements that also take the form of rhetoric and those which have a question and an imperative at the same time are ways how double binds function our societies.

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

Systems of privilege and oppression operate in our society in a way that makes it difficult for us to imagine a world without them. Our laws, culture, social understanding, and work ethic are all laid upon the unified foundation of systematic oppression. Systematic racism, white privilege, gender discrimination, male privilege are all examples of this oppression. The systems we have in place all work in tandem to help continue these inequities. For example, the ways in which NYC schools are believed to be inclusive but actually when one does a bit of digging, we find that highschools have a big racial divide. These numbers are especially astounding when looking at specialized highschools like Stuyvesant where out of 749 new placements, only 8 were given to black students. This is no mistake, NYC is actually one of the most segregated school systems in America. To continue with the school system as a way of showing how systems of oppression function in our society, the term “school-to-prison pipeline” is a good example. The term is used to describe the ways in which schools help facilitate the incarceration of black students, through having police presence in schools, arresting students for petty crimes, among other things. Systematic racism is not something that only shows up in the individual psyche or only in some communities. It is systematic, meaning our society would not look the same as it does now, with the same people in power, the same privilege whiteness has, etc. To combat these oppressive systems we have to understand how much of society really functions around these things and understand what we’re up against. I think changing our history books and teaching the truth behind the history of America and it’s integral racism is a start, alongside other things the government would rather keep behind closed doors. 

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

The concept of intersectionality describes the relation of different social groups like gender and race that overlap and create a fuller identity. Intersectionality takes away the idea that we each have only one identity and only one way of experiencing the world that takes into consideration one’s privilege and disadvantages that one faces within systems of oppression. For example, if I told someone over the internet that had never seen my face that I am a woman they might have a different concept of me than if I said I am a white woman. Being a woman in America living in a male-dominated world has its oppression, but alongside the fact that I am white comes the immense privilege I have with being white in America. I also consider my priviege in being cis, able-bodied alongside my other social identities. The concept of intersectionality is very important for gender, women’s and sexuality studies because it makes the study of these things inclusive for everyone. In the past these studies, in academia were more geared for white, cis women because those were the identities that were accepted into college and classes like these. But, white women have only one experience that also aligns with white privilege and if we are the only ones that have these conversations then that directly harms those who are not of this experience because then our policies are not created in an inclusive way. The lack of intersectionality in conversation and practice is those who are not cis-white women are so targeted and and why it is so important to keep these conversations going. Accepting every kind of sexuality, race and gender is important so that we can continue to educate ourselves and others so that governmental policy and change can reflect intersectionality and support people of all backgrounds.  

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

Patriarchy is a term that is often associated with feminism. Both of which are considered to be a “woman’s issue”. The system of patriarchy is something that leads to sexual abuse by men, gender wage gap, different parent roles, etc. However, when a woman faces any of these issues it is usually seen as her individual problem and something for her to fix. Although, how is this the societal response when 1 out of 3 women are raped at some point in their lives. Even if a man is not seen as a typical sexist person he still has better prospects of being a boss in his life, or being a parent without the sole expectation of being a good dad like a mother is. Patriarchy allows and uplifts gender based violence, sexual exploitation, a male dominated world, harmful gender roles and a plethora of other things. Patriarchy is ingrained in our society and creates an environment where men think they know better than every woman. As an example this shows up in how we treat reproductive health care and put women’s bodies in danger at the hands of men who create laws unfit for every woman. 

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

A persons gender is constructed before they are even born, when a parent is given the sex of their child in the womb. Parents will then know whether to paint the baby room pink or blue, buy trucks or barbies. Children will be instructed differently based on their preconceived gender. Girls will be taught to listen well, given dolls that they will practice initial caretaking skills on. Boys will be told “boys will be boys” when they hit each other, kiss girls in the playground and do things girls would be reprimanded for. All of these behaviors begin a person’s life in how they will perform their gender. The term “boys will be boys” will follow the boy into adulthood when he is on trial for a sexual assault case and let off with a slap on the wrist while the girl will be subject to scrutinity for wearing a short skirt in the first place.  Women are taught to be desirable to men, to dress and look pretty, to cook well, to be well versed in the skills of emotional labor so that the men in their lives are supported in being the breadwinners, the people that we marry and take our last names after. Women are taught from their first step how to be the perfect support person for the man they will one day marry. 

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

Sex is biological and only explains the sexual organs one is born with. The misconception is that there are only male and female parts, without taking into account intersex biology as well. Gender is an indentity that has nothing to do with biological sex. They are conflated and taken to be the same thing in our society because that has become customary under our patriarchal system. Gender is assigned to someone at birth when the biological sex is accounted for by the doctor and from that day on the child is expected to fulfill that role. However, gender has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Gender is an identity that one feels they connect with. In this society many people may feel inside themselves that they don’t align with the gender they were assigned and have their own self-identity but don’t choose to express this to the public for fear of violence or scrutiny. This is why alongside gender identity there is also gender expression. 

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

A double bind is something like a paradox, it is a situation or a dilemma in which someone has to choose between two non-favorable situations and conflicting messaging from society, with no seemingly happy ending.  Double binds show up in our  society in many ways but the most commonly talked about is femininity in leadership. The double bind is that women want to be taken seriously and get more leadership roles but to do this one needs to assert herself in a way that directly goes against the socially acceptable way of presenting as a woman. Women are expected to be kind and docile and those are not traits that are seen as typical in leadership. Women in higher roles are usually scrutinized much more than their male counterparts, as well as their mannerisms, the ways they interact with the press, etc. This means women must choose between two lifestyles that are both bad in their own ways, one is presenting more like a “man” to be able to have a leadership role, the other is not having good chances at getting that role because she has womanly traits which don’t seem professional. 

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

Systems of privilege and oppression function through our own involvement in them. Allan G. Johnson wrote in Patriarchy, The System that all members involved in society partake in the patriarchy in some way, including women. We cannot detach because we each have a role in the system.Oppression goes hand in hand with privilege in that one cannot exist without the other. Privilege exists in certain races, gender, sexual orientation and more. However, these systems are combatted through activism. People who express their dissatisfaction with the patriarchy can influence others and create a ripple effect. 

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

The concept of intersectionality is that a network of factors interact to create an effect on one another ultimately affecting every individual in a society. That is to say that multiple social categories make up every individual and society’s treatment towards each of these categories is different thus affecting the general; treatments of the individual. Marilyn Frye explains it as a cage with wires interlocking to capture something, the wires are different social categories in this case. This concept is important to women, gender and sexualities studies because it is an issue that affects the perception of others. Women and nonbinary individuals face greater sets of obstacles specifically just for their identity. 

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

It is important to recognize the patriarchy as a system because if it is seen as an individual the blame is shifted and becomes particular to one side. This allows for division and separation between groups, specifically men and women. Feminism faces hardships because it is believed to be an attack on men by some. That is what occurs when a system is seen as an individual rather than a greater machine with multiple moving pieces. Men are usually seen as women’s adversaries in this case. Johnson writes that it creates this vagueness that doesn’t allow us to properly address the issue and the correct concerns. 

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

Gender is a social construct created by social norms imposed onto us as we develop and into adulthood. There’s expectations of what to wear, how to speak, even how to sit all depending on the gender one is assigned at birth. In our younger years we are given examples and models of various people and depending on who we identify with is the behaviors we reflect. We also are treated differently depending on our assigned gender and from this we are conditioned to treat others likewise. Gender is performed in many ways, it is expressed through the actions we can control. These things include clothes, makeup, actions of service and mannerisms. 

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

In the article Sex and Gender 101 by Kyl Myers, the author explains the difference between sex and gender. Sex is a gender assignment from birth related to one’s genitalia. Gender is an identity one can relate to. We know these two don’t necessarily align and it is because it is merely a construct. Sex and gender are words that are often used interchangeably and incorrectly. For example, it was only until recently that gender is given as an option when filling out forms instead of sex where the only two options are female and male. Still, people mix these up and assume someone’s gender or pronouns based on their sex or assumed sex.

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

A double bind is when someone is caught between two difficult positions and will be criticized for whichever they choose. If one is caught in a double bind they are oppressed groups that will be seen as a threat or wrong regardless of the choices they make. For example, Frye says that if a woman is raped she will be targeted and blamed regardless of her being the victim and regardless of her sexual history. If she was sexually active prior, she will be accused of enjoying it and thus its not rape. If she did not engage in sexual activity the same would happen. This also exists in the case of immigrants in the United States. If an immigrant comes to this country illegally they will be accused of being criminals, if they come here legally they will still be accused of taking jobs. Marginalized groups will be accused either way they go. 

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

In the reading “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, by Peggy McIntosh, McIntosh explains white privilege as “…in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group” (McIntosh, 1). A very classic and relevant example would be white privilege vs Black Lives Matter Movement. When a large group of white people gathered at The Capitol on January 6^th, initially, they were just coined as a group of ‘peaceful protestors.” While flying the flags of “Proud Boys of America” and “Trump 2021” flags, the protestors started to lose control. Instead of being armed with tear gas and crowd control weapons, many of the Capitol Police just let the protestors walk straight on into the Capitol Buildings which ultimately became known as the Insurrection of January 6^th. However, if we flipped the script around, whenever there was news about a BLM movement that was being organized, the local cops would arrive days in advance to put up barricades and show up in full armament they day of the protest. Even though the BLM protestors were more peaceful than the people who showed up at The Capitol, they were met with more hostility. The media would outright call the protestors at the BLM movements “Rioters and Looters” without hesitation, and they called the actual rioters at the January 6^th Trump Rally “Peaceful Protestors.” And that, by example, is what white privilege is. Due to the pigment of your skin, it doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges in life, but rather you won’t have to face many of the other challenges in life that other people will have to face due to the color of their skin. We can combat these social privileges and oppression through constant education and push for reformation .

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

Intersectionality is when an idea or message is common and shared amongst other groups, race, movement, gender, etc. This is important for women’s gender, and sexuality studies because they each share a lot of the same goals. Not only that, they also help each other define one another due to the reason that they share a lot of commonality. And according the piece “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks, Hooks defines feminism as, “Feminism is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes.” At the end of the day, all three of these studies are aiming for a common goal, equality and acceptance. And to be able to find commonality amongst one another is a great way to gain supporters and a better understanding. 

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 instead of an individual identity because patriarchy is oppressive and it spans amongst many other groups, cultures, race, society, etc. It is not just a personal, unique issue a solo individual may have or experience. Once we recognize that patriarchy is a system trained into individuals practically at birth, only then can we start to break the wheels of this oppressive system and begin the change that we need. If we only look at patriarchy as an individualist issue, we will never change the actual issue. 

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

In our society, gender is trained into us at birth. It can start from some things simply as clothing. Most of the time, for baby’s clothes, if its for male baby the clothing is blue and if its for a female baby the clothing is pink. It can also be taught to us through speech with phrases like “Be strong like a man” and “Run like a woman.” We perform our gender through our actions such as men cannot cry and is supposed to be able to do heavy lifting and women are supposed to show more emotions and be submissive. It is just one of the many ways we perform gender.

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

Gender is in reference to our innate sense of being meaning how we express ourselves and perform actions throughout society. It can either match up or be the total opposite of our sex. Sex is what we are biologically assigned at birth based on our physical characteristics (e.g. penis and vagina). Many times, gender and sex get confused because people think if you’re a male you have to behave like a man and like cars and if you’re a female you have to also be amazing at cooking and wear a nice dress. However, you can be male or female but express your gender in a whole other way. 

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

A double bind is a situation where a person is faced two hard demands and both of the demands are met with necessary but undesirable actions. An example would be if your romantic partner told you they don’t think that they are the right person to fulfill this romantic role anymore and that you should go find someone else. Double binds happen everyday in our lives! Especially in politics. We see more people pushing for a more diverse body in government to represent us (e.g. race, sex, gender, etc.) and yet, when people do push for a more diverse government body, many politicians and citizens give these said politicians a very hard time to put it in a nice way. 

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 due to an unwillingness of those with power to make any concessions to allow for a society that uplifts all of its participants and allows them to flourish. Those with the most privilege are by nature the least aware of it. One way to combat these systems is by those with power and privilege stepping aside and giving up their place at the table to allow someone else a seat. This can include listening to and reflecting on the experiences of marginalized people without questioning the validity of those experiences. This can also include donating money to larger organizations that benefit marginalized groups. Being an ally also means calling out the hate speech of others, especially when no one else is around to see you do it. 

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

Intersectionality is the concept that systems of oppression are intrinsically linked and therefore must be dealt with holistically. For example, it is not a sensible or intersectional approach to combat sexism while ignoring racism, and vice versa. Modern feminism prides itself on taking intersectionality into consideration in a way that previous waves of feminism hadn’t. The Riot Grrrl movement which occurred as part of third wave feminism was criticized as catering to white women and being exclusive of trans people. First and second wave white feminism has been criticized as only being focused on the rights of white women while ignoring racism and falling short as allies to women of color. Intersectional feminism recognizes that to ignore issues of race is racist, and there can be no justice without justice for all. 

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

Systems are made up of many parts which reinforce one another. There is no one person to blame for the patriarchy. Understanding that patriarchy is a system allows us to examine our roles within the system. Through examining these roles we can begin to question how we are complicit in the patriarchy. Examination helps us to choose actions which dismantle the system rather than reinforce it. Focusing too heavily on individuals who represent worst of the patriarchy detracts from the relationships we have with those around us that we are actually able to influence. Oftentimes this means family who disagree with us. We have a better chance of reaching them than someone they have no emotional attachment to. 

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

Before we are even born, the expectations of our assigned gender are placed upon us. Sometimes this is blatant as with a gender reveal party. Sometimes this is more insidious as brothers and sisters are socialized and treated differently by the same set of parents. From a young age, girls are encouraged to conform through playing with dolls and pink toys, and boys by playing with action figures and cars. We perform gender through conforming to behaviors that are seen as the most socially acceptable for our gender. For men, this may mean holding the door for women. For women, this may mean not leaving the house without makeup on. 

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

Sex is the sexual organs that we are born with. Gender is a social construct. Sex and gender are often used interchangeably and seen as package deals. In reality, a person with a penis can identify as female, a person with a vagina can identify as male, and a person with something in between can identify as somewhere in between, and all of the aforementioned combos can be scrambled interchangeably to produce innumerable amounts of gender identities that are as unique as the people who they belong to. Traditionally, non-typical sex and gender identities have been seen as strange, improper, and unacceptable by mainstream society.

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

A double bind is when a marginalized person’s actions will be criticized no matter which path they choose to take. An oppressive society paints people into corners, only allowing them to be one thing or the other. Either way they are doomed to fail. An example of this is women being criticized for showing “too much” skin but also being criticized for not showing enough. By showing too much skin, women are derided as sluts or “asking for it”. By covering up or dressing more conservatively they are seen as prude or stuck up. Ultimately, marginalized people are subjected to double binds due to the contempt of the greater cisgender white patriarchal society. 

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

Socialization plays a key role in how systems of privilege and oppression function in our society. Through socialization, we learn to navigate social life as the systems of oppression are intertwined in the foundation of American culture.  Allan Johnson stated, “through all of this, we develop a sense of personal identity-Including gender- and how this positions us in relation to other people, especially in terms of inequalities of power.” By then occupying social positions, we are involuntarily contributing to the systems themselves. 

In order to combat these systems, we have to be willing to go the more difficult route of rebelling against them. Audre Lorde stated, “ There is no hierarchy of oppression.”  Every person is a member of one or more groups of people who are actively oppressed and we must think about the equality of the whole as opposed to the equality of some. We can also individually acknowledge the unspoken ways in which we might have benefited from privilege to share the benefit from the positive and reject the negative advantages so as to break the cycle of oppression.

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

In order to combat societal oppression, we have to work together as human beings to set aside the systematic grouping of people and pursue equality for all. However, most people have been subject to oppression or have benefitted from a privilege linked to one or more of the groups that make up their social identity. This is intersectionality; the overlapping of oppressed social groups. This concept is extremely pertinent to women’s, gender, and sexuality studies as we are focusing on the social identities that come with each group and the oppression that they might face. Wendy Syfret stated, “The best way to make sure you’re able to stick with it for the long haul is to have a clear and deep understanding of what you’re fighting for.” (38)

By learning more about the oppression and privileges that exist for other social groups, we are being equipped with the tools to shake up the ‘norm’ and pursue equality for all.

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

Patriarchy, like other systems of oppression, is built into the foundation of our society. It encompasses and affects every person regardless of what additional memberships they might have with the other social groups that form their identity. By viewing patriarchy as an individual identity, we will overlook the fact that this is a system in which we are all participants. Marilyn Frye stated, “It is perfectly obvious that the bird is surrounded by a network of systematically related barriers…but which, by their relations to each other, are as confining as solid walls of a dungeon.” (13) 

In order to combat patriarchy, we have to address the system itself. It is not the individual wire created by one form of oppression or privilege but the entirety of the cage in which develop our social identities. Johnson states, “We cannot do this without realizing that we all participate in something large than ourselves..” This is why is crucial that address patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity. 

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

In our society, we are taught that gender is assigned based on the genitalia a person is born with. Gender, like patriarchy, is engrained in our society and influences our social identity. We are conditioned to behave in a manner that is culturally acceptable to the gender in which were assigned. Karl Myers state’s that “Biological sex is universal and static. Gender is a cultural construct that shifts between societies and across time and affects how people are treated based on their sex.” 

A man is supposed to be strong, masculine, and in control. A woman should be submissive, docile, and complacent with the burdens of motherhood. This can be expressed in clothing choices, body language, and a myriad of other socialized behaviors. It is by the adherence to the unspoken rules of gender norms that we perform gender. 

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

In our society, we are taught that a person’s biological sex is what leads to their gender assignment. Myer’s states, “Gender assignment means that a person is categorized as either a masculine gender (boy/man) or a feminine gender (girl/woman) based on their external genitalia.” While sex is something that we associate with biological differences in the male and female body, gender is something that was created and leveraged to dictate the norms of socialization. Sex has very little to do with the construct of gender except as a means by which to justify the social forms of inequalities. 

In this day and age, a person can choose to surgically alter their body so as to align with the gender with which they identify. That said, one can even maintain their biological makeup and identify with a gender that is not socially aligned with their sex. Alok Manon stated, “Gender non-conformity causes such a huge reaction because we’re consistently taught that there are only two fixed and universal genders. Seeing other people defy this mandate brings the entire system into question.” (29)  In order for the construct of gender to exist, for our society to maintain the status quo, we will see continue to see gender be linked to sex.

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

When a person receives two or more conflicting messages, they can find themselves in a double bind. Sadly, this is not something they can resolve nor is it something they can opt-out of. As with all other forms of oppression linked to our social system, a double bind can serve as a source of control. Allan Johnson states that “the patriarchal ideology that supports male privilege and women’s oppression devalues the human qualities associated with being female yet also sets men up to envy and resent women for being able to weave those same qualities into their lives.” (82) In our society, women live in a constant double bind as a result of patriarchy. Men benefit from the privilege that comes with patriarchy but can delve into misogynistic behavior as they blame women for the limitations patriarchy imposes on them. Double binds function in our society as they are a direct result of the systematic forms of privilege and oppression that are built into our culture. Participation is subconscious and absolute.

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

   Whether intentional or not, privilege and oppression can be observed in nearly all facets of society today as it was in the past. Systems of privilege and oppression function according to unequal power and benefits to groups or members based on perceived social constraints while limiting the same to other members. Privilege is an advantage given to people because of their social group or race. These privileges are sometimes unearned and exclusive to them. In our society, the system of privilege focuses on identification and dominance. Privilege allows members to enjoy some favor or preferential treatment while denying the same to other members. When we look at the system of white privilege, it is supposed to be white-dominated, and only white people are meant to occupy positions of power no one else. Been a white open different opportunity for them which are sometimes not earned but are just given to them because they are white. This can be related to our reading “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh which she said, “I have come to see privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets which I can count on cashing in each day.” Been white according to Peggy McIntosh set one aside for different opportunities and protection. On the other hand, oppression is exerting discriminative and often an unjust force on people through a combination of systemic power and prejudice. It is the union of prejudice that creates a system that discriminates against other groups and benefits another group. This system of oppression is mostly seen within people of color and people who identify with different sexualities. Been black or a woman opens one to the risk of being oppressed. Frye’s article “Oppression” explains diverse ways women are being oppressed in society, she said “If a woman is heterosexually active, she is open to different condemnation from people and sometimes can be called different names like a “Whore, loose or unprincipled.” A lot of women are always oppressed no matter the choice they make or choose whether right or wrong. 

  The only way society can combat and fight such systems is by speaking up when oppression is observed. Sharing resources and amplifying the voices of the marginalized while offering them support can help eradicate oppressive systems. Also, coming together and accepting one another no matter our race, gender, or color we are all one and we ought to have the same opportunities as others. 

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

   Intersectionality refers to a critical framework for gaining insight regarding how various elements of an individual’s social and political identities integrate to generate various aspects of discrimination and privilege. According to Kimberle Crenshaw, the concept of intersectionality “identifies a mode of analysis integral to women, gender, and sexuality studies. Within an intersectional framework, race, class, gender, sexuality, age, ability, and other aspects of identity are considered mutually constitutive.” Intersectionality is a new concept catching up within our social setup that tries to show the commonalities in a different kind of oppression. The concept aims to help society combat oppression by demonstrating that all oppressive acts based on race, gender, or other are linked in one way or another. Discrimination against women occurs in nearly all societies globally. Frye’s article “Oppression” talks more about this too which said, “Being a woman is a major factor of not having a better job, being a woman selects one as a likely victim of sexual assault or harassment; it is being a woman that reduces the power of anger to proof of insanity. If a woman has little or no economic or political power or achieves little of what she wants to achieve, a major causal factor in this is that she is a woman. For any woman of any race or economic class, being a woman is significantly attached to whatever disadvantages and deprivations she suffers, be they great or small”. Intersectionality is important because it gives permission to the fight for gender equality to become inclusive. It is also important in women’s gender & sexuality studies because it helps us identify and understand the complexity of prejudices people of color & women face in society. It explains the fact that people are often disadvantaged by multiple ways of oppression which includes their races, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, etc.  

   Being able to understand intersectionality is important in order to fight the prejudices people face daily. The idea of gender and the way a person’s gender is explained by others always have an influence on the idea of race and how race is interpreted. So, the idea of black and white most often impacts gender experience and there is no gender experience that is outside of race. Our experience of gender is often constructed by our age, sexuality, class, and our ability; in the same way, our experience of race is also influenced by gender, age, class, sexuality, and ability. Through intersectionality, oppressive practices against women and other marginalized groups will get the platform to be addressed through speaking up and initiating action to dismantle them. 

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

   Patriarchal systems allow male dominance over females by giving them primary powers in decision making, leadership, property ownership, and other social privileges. Patriarchy is a socially constructed system that affects both men and women in many ways although people see it as male domination over women and because of that should not have any effect on men rather it should give them more power and authority over women. This is wrong thinking because patriarchy is not an individual thing rather it is a system, it is something been given to people by society, and no matter how people try to run away from it, they still come back to it because that is how the system has made it and that can never be changed unless the people who made it change. It has been forced on people and they have no choice but to go with it. In our reading on “Patriarchy, the System” Allan Johnson also explains the concepts of patriarchy and said, “We are involved in patriarchy and its consequences because we occupy social positions in it which is all it takes. Because patriarchy is by definition a system of inequality organized around culturally created gender categories, we cannot avoid being involved in it. All men and all women are therefore involved in this oppressive system and none of us can control whether we participate or not.”  

  Patriarchy is more important and recognized as a system than an individual because traces of patriarchal practice can be observed in nearly all facets of society. Patriarchy is not just done by men it is given to people by society, and they have no choice but to go on with it and if we are unable to change those who made it, they will continue to give it. Addressing patriarchy as a system will allow society to recognize the existence of oppressive practices that are subtle or conspicuous and encourage people to speak up against them. Only through shedding light and talking of patriarchy as a system and not individual identity can we initiate the changes we all wish to see in society. 

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

  Gender in society is constructed by categorizing people through assumed characteristics and physical features seen as either male or female. This includes their behaviors, norms, and roles that are being given to women, men, boys, or girls as well as the relationship between each other. Gender is constructed by social expectations and our gender performance in society. Gender is also constructed based on the sex people are born with. If a baby is born with a female/girl reproductive organ, then your gender is female and if the baby is born with a male reproductive organ, then that automatically makes the baby male/boy. This is what society believes and this is what they also teach us to believe because that is the only gender approved and recognized in our society. Whatever gender we are born with society expects us to act according to it. People are taught to behave and do things according to their gender and are not expected to act otherwise. According to “Sex & Gender 101-Raising Zoomer, our society teaches and expects “boys to be tough, strong, risk-taker, and aggressive while girls are taught and expected to be soft, submissive, weak, delicate, and interested in domestic chores.” Also, society teaches people that as women we are expected to be under men and see them as the head and must always be obeyed. We also see gender at work in our education system and workplace. A lot of women are really struggling in other to fit in into the society or workplace where men are seen as the head. Sometimes we see women who work much more hours than men but their still get paid little while the men get paid higher because of the belief that a woman’s work should be at home taking care of the children, cooking, cleaning, and so on. When it comes to education women are always the best, they come out with good results than most men but when it comes to giving out jobs men are more favored than women sometimes even if they have better qualifications than men. Our society constructs gender in such a way that it is exceedingly difficult for women to belong or hold important positions in the country.  

In many ways, we perform our gender without even knowing that we are. Gender is performed by exhibiting certain behaviors deemed masculine or feminine. We perform this gender by the way we sit, the way we dress, what we drink, what we like to do, and what we listen to and watch. Also, the way we act, walk, or talk gives people an idea of what gender we belong to and act upon. Clothing is also another way gender practices; for instance, wearing dresses is seen as a female identity. Roles in society are also subjective to classification as either manly or womanly, with some seen as a man’s job and others as women. All these practices help perform gender within society.  

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

   Sex is a label given to someone after birth based on the reproductive system/organ they are born with and this label is divided by society into two groups, “Male & Female.” Sex is also the physical or biological feature present in humans and animals. Features such as chromosomes, hormonal level, and gene expression are some of the identities which help differentiate people as belonging to one sex and not the other. Gender goes way beyond one’s reproductive organs rather it’s about a person’s understanding of their roles in society, and their experience of themselves. Gender is a social construct that is shaped in a way in which men & women are expected to act based on their sex. Gender is a societal understanding and classification of people based on activities and other behaviors as either masculine or feminine. It influences how people see themselves and others, how they act & interact with one another, and how power & resources are distributed in society. Some examples of these gender & sex responsibilities can be related to the reading on “Sex & Gender 101-Raising Zoomer which tells us that “If a baby appears to be biologically female, they are assigned a feminine gender and if a baby appears to be biologically male, they are assigned a masculine gender and then allowed to socialize according to the gender roles of the culture they were born into.” Also, immediately after a baby is delivered, they are outfitted with their colors (a blue T-shirt for a boy or pink headband for a girl) so there can be no confusion in identifying the sex and gender of the child. Assigning colors to babies enforces a rule that they are meant to grow into it. If you are a girl, you must wear pink and if you are a boy, you must like blue and cannot use anything belonging to a girl like toys. We can relate this to our weekly reading on “Beyond the gender binary by Alok Vaid-Menon which said, “Babies are born and divided into one of two categories. These categories of boy or girl affect how we treat the baby when they cry, what clothes we dress the baby, what toys we allow the baby to play with, and so on” (pp.29). She also talked about how before a baby is born, well-wishes and family often ask, “is it a boy or a girl” (pp.29) because babies become more important when their gender is known and knowing if the baby is a boy/girl is also part of the culture. 

  Sex and gender are often conflated in our cultures and can manifest in certain ways, such as mode of dressing, names, and roles. For instance, dressing in certain ways or certain clothes are connotations associated with either masculinity or femininity. When one is born, they are expected to act based on their sex and gender roles been given to them by their society or culture because traditionally one can only belong to two genders either a boy or a girl, and anything out of that is not recognized as gender or sex. In a traditional culture, people are expected to exhibit a certain personality or behavior based on their sex or gender and if they do not, they are punished or pressured. 

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

   Double binds are situations mostly experienced by oppressed people. And according to our weekly reading on “Oppression,” Frye discusses the idea of the double bind and referred to it as the “Situations in which options are reduced to a very few and all of them expose one to penalty, censure or deprivation.” Frye uses this double bind to apply to the gender and dilemma women face today. A double bind is also a confrontation of two activities or choices with neither having a desirable outcome nor result. They are of conflicting choices and dilemmas that people face, and neither is of a lesser evil. Double binds manifest in situations that choosing one over the other will cause a failure of the other. It is a situation that demands one to make a choice, and whichever choice, a person will still lose out on the other. A double bind in society involves people making compromising decisions with their choices, such as a woman who stays in an abusive relationship to make her children happy or for financial reasons. Also, in our society today, double-bind functions and can be seen in the way women are treated and oppressed in society, unlike men.  

   We live in a society where it is neither acceptable for a woman to be sexually active or for them to be sexually inactive and still get called different names. Whether they get married to young or old men, women still get oppressed for no reason. Women are caged and meant to follow every instruction of men if they like it or not and they had no choice to either respond to or to resist. In our society “Women experience double bind not only on a small scale but also at a larger level where choosing an option that is not accepted by the society could lead to fatal consequences.” 

Emely De Los Angeles 

GWS 100 MIDTERM 

October 12, 2021 

Question 1: Privilege and oppression work hand in hand in today’s society. I always go back in history to thoroughly explain how privilege and oppression always narrow down to the root of racism and hiechary created with the white cis-gendered men. During the time of slavery the privileged were white rich cis-gender men, and since then, unfortunately not much has changed. These men were the ones with the most privilege, who were looked up to due to the fact that they had the funds to purchase slaves, had the “perfect life” with their wife in the kitchen alongside all their slave workers doing everything else for them. During this time, women weren’t allowed to work, get an education, or do anything else other than being a housewife where they would cook and clean for their families. Also during this time, the oppressed, or those who were treated like nothing were the POC slaves and the women, no matter their race. Because of this, we still like in a society where white men still have that same privilege, just masked in another way so that in legal society it isn’t frowned upon. If we look closely and pay attention to our surroundings, we would see that in the workplace the man would make more income than the women, even if they work the same exact position. It wasn’t until very recent history where we can see some ‘change’ where women were now allowed basic human rights like vote, go to school, and have actual jobs outside of the house. We can also see different unfortunate events where the oppressed still remain oppressed and are many times even wrongfully hurt by what we call authorities. In recent history, we have seen many rules and laws take action to prevent such things from happening and be a more “fair” society, however, those laws are masked to seem superficially appealing but in reality, have done absolutely nothing. Till this day, we see protests all over the country, where women and POC still have to fight for their basic human rights, like a say in what is done with their own reproductive system and protests against police brutality against POC. 

Question 2: Intersectionality is the connection between different categories such as race, class, gender, etc, and how they overlap in systems like discrimination and disadvantage. This concept takes a huge role in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies as these 3 categories can overlap a lot in society in systems where they have been unfortunately discriminated against. In one of the readings so far this semester, “Beyond The Gender Identity” By Alok Vaid, Alok shares a few points that give us a better understanding of how these categories in society have been pinned to be the main source for discrimination. In this reading, Alok explains how Alok explained how the bias and discrimination against this community are not only continuing but also being given a “green light” or the OK for it to be done with no consequence. Throughout the years there have been multiple rules and laws against discrimination with punishments that can lead up to jail time, however when it comes to the topic of women and gender binary that goes out the window and given little to no attention whatsoever. This topic is super important in this study because it not only shows us how these categories have been discriminated against, but it shows different examples of how it’s been done. I believe with the information we have gathered for this topic using the study of intersectionality, we can come together and make a difference in how we are viewed in society. 

Question 3: It is important we understand patriarchy as a system rather than individually because it comes to attack as a system and in the system, we are living by in this society. As mentioned in the reading “Patriarchy, the System, An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us” By Allan G. Johnson, when we think of “Patriarchy” we ALL automatically think of men’s privilege and their oppression of women. Unfortunately with time, the power of men never died down, it actually grew as they would reclaim the power of their ancestors and fight with the current laws established for equality to keep that patriarchy and oppressive side going.  If we take current society, we see how this patriarchy takes a role in things like sports, where it is extremely hard for women in the same exact sport as men to have any recognition or power of some sort and sometimes it’s even frowned upon. A great example of this is the NBA and the WNBA. A man in the NBA, in this case, Stephan Curry from the Golden State Warriors, signed a 4-year contract with the team for $215 Million dollars while in the WBA, Delle Donne, in a similar 4-year contract of $899,480. In this case, we cannot be mad at the individual team manager or those who create contracts but the system itself of patriarchy and how it works only in the favor of a certain category, men. Also, recognizing this as an individual identity will not get us far because we would not be going after the actual problem, we would simply be chasing the messenger. 

Question 4: In our society, the construct of gender is very close-minded. We have been taught that girls should play with barbies and boys should play with cars and have kept it at that for so long to the point where it’s hurting our comprehension of any other construct that can be brought to the table. For example, why has it been so hard for people in the LGBTQ+ community to come out? The fear they carry is not the fear of acceptance, it’s more so the fear of what can be done to them due to how they choose to identify and who they choose to love. In the reading, “Beyond The Gender Binary” By Alok Vaid, Alok explains how the majority of the conversations surrounding the topic of gender non-conforming and non-binary people, are mostly about peoples views and opinions on the topic rather than these people being able to open up about and sharing their personal experiences. This actively shows how even in places where these fold should feel free of pressure due to their identity, they still face the horrible spaces where they still can’t feel safe and comfortable in. It is important we realize that we as a society are far beyond the gender construct of boys and girls and barbies vs cars, and it’s time to understand that it’s ok to identify how you’d like and be comfortable doing what makes you happy without any consequences. 

Question 5: Sex refers to the anatomy and biological aspects of an individual, including sex chromosomes, organs, and external genitalia while gender refers to the social and cultural roles of males and females and what they are expected to do in society. For example, the social construct where men go to war, work, and be strong with little to no feelings, while the woman is at home, cooking and cleaning and being vulnerable. Because of such a construct, we see how there are some people who are way too bothered by men being feminine, painting their nails, or even showing the slightest window of vulnerability. Sex and gender have been confused in society due to how life was performed back in the day. In history, men went to war and were the “man of the house” because they brought home the income and were the strong figure in the house, while the women stayed behind cooking, cleaning, and being nurses for the men at war. Because of so many years living like this, the construct was passed down through generations, leading to the current society where we have finally been slowly able to break apart from this. Because it was passed down for so many years, individuals thought this was the way of life and anything other than that was super wrong when in reality there is nothing wrong with expressing how you feel without having to put labels on it or even make anyone feel any less of themselves for it.

 
Question 6: Double bind is the choice you are given where both options are set up so you are bound to lose. In history, we can see this happen around the time where slaves were “given” the right to vote. However, the only way they could vote was by passing a test and only if their grandfather was able to vote. This action was called the “Grandfathers Klaus” and we can see how double-bind took place at this moment because the only way these individuals would know how to take this exam was if they went to school and got some kind of education. However, given the history, we know they weren’t allowed an education due to being slaves so they were bound to fail this test. Also, we know that for their grandparents to vote, they couldn’t be POC or slaves, so there was no way they would have voted back then, also leading them to fail.  In today’s society, we see this happen, especially to the women gender where they are given the opportunity to do certain things, and work certain jobs, however when done so, they are super frowned upon and talked about in a very poor manner.