In the reading “Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies” by “Miliann Kang, Donovan Lessard, and Laura Heston” it discusses many issues and situations that are going on in society concerning gender . There are binary systems and binary perspectives. This consists of making people believe that men and women have nothing in common. This out come results from stereotypes such as , men are strong but women are emotional and weak or men are leaders and women are to be submissive. This causes division , which has been proven through research especially in the work force field . Men who hold positions in female dominated positions still receive higher earnings that women who hold the position. This is a clear indicator of division which is also referred to as the glass escalator . A part in the reading that stood out me that was undeniably true was the occupations of female dominated positions . Which are nurses, daycare workers, nannies, babysitters, teachers etc. You only see women work in these fields 95% of the time , it is rare that you see men .
When it comes to our sexuality , society has automatically labeled what is normal and acceptable versus what is not . This is a built culture that we have been built on for decades. devising ” natural ” and ” defiant ” causes conflicts and disagreements between others and communities . Me being female it is expected for me to be heterosexual , attracted to men. Men are expected to be attracted to women, but when this isn’t always the case discrimination comes along and compulsory monogamy takes place. Being apart of a particular group can affect those on the outside in either a positive or negative way. Interestingly there are multiple ways of masculinity. When i thought of the term masculinity i only thought of men , however there is female masculinity as well. Judith ( jack) Halberstam connects maleness and power to female masculinity , such as a women dressing masculine or behaving with male tendencies.
Race is an issue even now currently today that is unfortunately still an issue. The tension between Caucasians and African Americans has been built on invalid assumptions and hate. After reading this section on race , i now understand that race in a social context form is more than the color of a persons skin but the constructions of race are foolishly based on intelligence, sexuality, strength, motivation, and culture. I say foolishly because further on in the book is validates that the concept of scientific racism is false. This concept held the theory of intellect based on the size of a person brain size , which was proven negative. Even in past history the binary systems between white and blacks have always been there. The stereo types that black people are more sexual than others. This invalid argument encouraged awful acts to be done towards African american women . Slaves were raped and this violation at time wasn’t illegal, why ? because of racism and gender. Male power against women, including race against one another .
Being apart of a particular class can again , bring false accusations towards the group. Middle class and/or low class people are unfairly concluded to a statement . People who fall in the group of low class are viewed as people who don’t work hard enough to have success. Leniency is granted more for those who are wealthy, middle class people may be viewed as hard workers and stable. This is not always true, there are many people who are born into wealth or became wealthy by doing very little believe it or not. All of these assumptions can make a person prematurely write another human being off because of their idea of who this person may be , due to the group they belong to.
In conclusion all of these concepts and examples all show how binary ways of understanding the differences between individuals are not true. This is not the way to try and understand the dilemmas that we have in human culture.
