Author Archives: Ayleen Zapata

Ayleen Zapata- Reflection #4

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 “Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, Them, or Us” by Allan G. Jackson examines how the notion of patriarchy is a system rather than an individual personality. Patriarchal culture, according to Johnson, is “how social life is and should be, about what is expected of individuals and how they feel, how they are supposed to seem and behave.” People must comprehend how social systems perpetuate societal issues as a society. Johnson explains that in order to build an alternative socialization system, we must first comprehend the patriarchal system. While we all participate in social systems, we have the ability to change the system. Yes, it may appear that nothing has changed, but if we look attentively, we may see that we have gone a long way. But it doesn’t mean we should give up trying to make things better because there is always potential for improvement.

In “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions,” Audre Lorde discusses her identities and position as a member of oppressed communities. In the passage she goes over how sexism, heterosexism, and racism all work together as oppressive systems. What made her passage interesting is that she includes her experiences, the hardship she has to go through for being the person she is. Lorde says that in order to have a future where things are workable there shouldn’t be hierarchies of oppression. Nowadays, there are Black people who claim that being Black is normal, but this was not always the case. She recalls that historical period and the difficulties she faced just because of her skin tone. She continues to battle for her children because she wants a better world for them, herself, and the community. After reading these two sections, I felt like I had a greater comprehension of what was going on around me.

Ayleen Zapata- Discussion #6

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The well-known definition of patriarchy is that the father or eldest male would be the head of the family. That is the definition I always went by. During the reading “Patriarchy, the System: An It, not a He, a Them, or an Us” by Allan G. Jackson, discusses how the concept of patriarchy is a system rather than being an individual identity. According to Johnson, patriarchal culture is “how social life is and should be, about what is expected of individuals and how they feel, how they are required to appear and behave.” As humans we tend to blame things on other individuals. We don’t usually go farther than that, we should ask why society would allow this or so on. Why is it important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity? Well, if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t see why it was important to recognize patriarchy as a system rather than it being an individual identity. Reading the passage, I was able to see why we should. Jackson says, “If we see patriarchy as nothing more than men’s and women’s individual personalities, motivations, and behavior, then it won’t occur to us to ask about larger contexts—such as institutions like the family, religion, and the economy—and how people’s lives are shaped in relation to them.”  What I believe he means by this is that if we always focus on an individual’s doing, we wouldn’t see the bigger picture. We must identify and address the societal foundations that produce and nourish the social problems that are reflected in and displayed through individual conduct. This is greater than us. 

As mentioned in “Thoughts on Discussion 4,” there are several levels of oppression. These levels include Personal, Interpersonal, Institutional, and Cultural/Structural. Why are we discussing the different types of levels of oppression? how patriarchy might work at each level and how those levels influence one another? Before reading these passages, I didn’t realize how closely related these topics were. Oppression is the abuse of authority or power that is unfair or harsh. Personal are the feelings, thoughts, beliefs about others and attitudes about differences. Interpersonal is language, action, and behaviors. Institutions are rules, policies, practices and procedures, both written and unwritten, that an organization has that function to intentionally or unintentionally, advantage some individuals and disadvantage others. Cultural/Structural is considered “true,” “right,” “normal,” and “beautiful.” We are surrounded by these; they are part of our daily life. Patriarchy, like most types of tyranny, attempts to persuade us that things are the way they are because they have to be, that they have always been that way, that there are no alternatives, and that they will never change. The issue is whether it will remain that way.

Ayleen Zapata- Discussion #3

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The book Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon, gives the reader very detailed information. Growing up we were taught that male and female are the only genders out there. This concept is called the binary gender norm. I won’t lie and say that I knew all these different concepts then this class wouldn’t have made sense to take. While reading this book, I was able to gain a better understanding of being non- binary or a non- conforming person. According to the book, a non-binary person is someone who’s neither exclusively a man nor a woman. While a non-conforming is a person who visibly defies society’s understanding of what a man or a woman should look like. Effeminate is another word that I learned while reading this book. The meaning of effeminate is (with reference to a man) having characteristics and ways of behaving traditionally associated with women and regarded as inappropriate for a man. What I believe it means to move beyond the gender binary for Alok Vaid-Menon is to acknowledge that male and female aren’t the only genders a person could be referred to as. Don’t we have freedom of speech and expression? According to Beyond the Gender Binary, why are there trying to ban them from public accommodations, denying them access to legal protections at work, or barring their access to healthcare. It doesn’t stop there. In South Dakota they are attempting to ban transgender athletes in high school. They even go to the lengths to prohibit them from going to public places, highways, schools, and parks. We were taught that boys are strong, and girls are weak, boys are rational, and girls are emotional since we were young. Since our birth, we have been classified as either male or female. These are the two genders that society accepts. I feel that if we teach the young that there is more to being a male and female, things will change since they are the world’s future. Vaid-Menon is arguing that it shouldn’t matter how you represent yourself, whether it’s via your gender, how you dress, move, apply make-up, or whether you wear sweatpants or a hoodie. There is nothing greater than being yourself. Yes, there will be individuals who will criticize you, but this is because they lack the bravery to be themselves. The binary norm holds that there are only two genders. How does my gender identification differ from the norm? Women who dress in men’s clothing, on the other hand, are looked down upon by society. I’d rather wear men’s clothes, but I’d also wear dresses, I’m emotional and have “woman problems.” You only live once, so don’t worry about what others think of you. Instead, enjoy it for who you are.

Ayleen Zapata- Reflection #2

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Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon is such a well written book. What I realize when reading Beyond the Gender Binary is that it inspires readers all across the world to believe that anything is possible inside themselves. Alok Vaid-Menon wrote this book as if we were there and experiencing everything with them. Vaid-Menon discusses how gender binary enforcement begins at birth and impacts people at all stages of life, with people of color being more vulnerable owing to Western views of gender as binary. Gender assignments provide a narrative for how a person should act, what they are permitted to enjoy or wear, and how they express themselves. Punishment for nonconformity creates an inextricable relationship between gender and shame. Vaid-Menon deconstructs common arguments against gender nonconformity into four categories: rejection, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope (fear of the consequences of acceptance). Headers in strong type make it easier to go from one analysis to the next. The text has a conversational tone that seems as intimate and sensitive as a discussion with a best friend. In other words, Beyond the Gender Binary, spoken word poet Alok Vaid-Menon encourages the world to view gender in full color rather than black and white. They demonstrate that gender is a changeable and creative form of expression by drawing on their own experiences as a gender-nonconforming artist. Your imagination is the only limit. “People judge gender nonconformity because they are insecure about their identities,” Vaid- Menon explained. I agree with this statement because they are envious of others’ ability to express who they truly are. The second greatest thing for them to do is to criticize people who are courageous enough to be themselves. This book was eye-opening.

Ayleen Zapata- Reflection #1

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First and foremost, I’d like to state that before reading these papers, I knew very little about the issues that were discussed. I used to believe that sex and gender were interchangeable terms. According to Kyl Myers’ article “Sex and Gender 101,” these two constructs are not the same. When the author mentions sex, he or she is referring to anatomy and physiology. The appearance of a person’s external genitalia is used to identify biological sex. Male, female, and intersex are terms used to describe biological sex. Of course, I was aware that a male has XY chromosomes and a female has XX chromosomes. When they mentioned intersex, I had some knowledge of what they were referring to. What was new to me was that intersex people can have a number of distinct sex chromosomal variants. As we know, sex refers to your anatomy, so what does gender refer to? I’m still a little confused about the definition of gender, but what I gather from the reading is that gender refers to the social and cultural roles that men and women are expected to play depending on their biological sex. At a young age, we are taught that boys shouldn’t like the color pink, play with girls’ toys, show no emotions, and so on. Girls were taught to like make-up, dress-up, like the color pink, be emotional, caretakers, and so on. Growing up, I wasn’t your typical girl. Instead of doing all the girly things most girls would do, I was playing sports, getting dirty, and always hanging with the boys. I was what people consider a tomboy. Sex orientation is a topic that I hope we will cover in greater depth in the department.They are some sex orientations that I don’t know the meaning of.

“Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks writes about the real meaning of being a feminist. I knew the movement was about fighting for women’s equal rights. What I heard the most about the movement was people’s (mostly men’s) negative reactions to it. Things that were being said about those who took part in this movement were that they hated men, were angry, why did they want more rights, were crazy, and the list continues. The question is, if sexism wasn’t introduced to the world, would the feminist movement be part of this world? According to Hooks, sexism is the problem, but is it the only problem? At a young age, we are taught that this is a man’s world. With that kind of power comes benefits. Of course, these are to be let go. That is why a man would do anything in their power to not let that go. A long time ago, I learned that people can’t accept change. Most of us are what one would like to call passive supporters, which means that they understand the change that is happening but are inactive. Most of the time, the thing that’s stopping us from being active supporters is our fear of the unknown. What surprised me in the reading is that she waited 20 years for a book like this one to appear, but it never happened. Before this book appeared, we knew so little about the concept of being a feminist and the movement. People should be more willing to help with this movement now that they have this book.

Ayleen Zapata- Discussion #1

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Hello,

  I’m Ayleen Zapata, and I’m 21 years old. My birthday is the 1st of November. She/her/hers are the pronouns I use. I’m half-Peruvian and half-Mexican. In Mount Vernon, I live with my family. I’m the oldest of three children, but also the shortest. My favorite colors are blue and yellow. When I’m in a new environment, I’m the shyest person you’ve ever met. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and watching anime. My major is Psychology, and this is my final semester at BMCC. I plan to continue my education after graduating from BMCC.  A big aim I’m now pursuing is graduating from college with a strong grade point average. If I achieve this objective, I will be the first person to do so. I want my siblings to know that if you put your mind to it and work hard, everything is achievable. I was never particularly bright in school. I found it difficult to understand what was being taught. On top of that, I was having trouble with my speech. It made pronouncing words difficult, making the concept harder to grasp. I’m different from others, what others can grasp quickly, I require a little more time to completely grasp. Having a learning disability makes me unique. It demonstrates that I will not give up on my ambitions no matter what.  College is not the same as high school. If you didn’t have an assignment in high school, the teacher would come for you and treat you like a child. College is different in that the professors treat us as young adults, which I guess I’ll have to get accustomed to. In high school, I had an IEP that permitted me to take tests/quizzes or complete work on my own schedule. I now have more time for tests and quizzes. I just need to get acclimated to the new adjustments that are an impediment to my progress. Shyness will always be a barrier for me. I’ve become a timid person as a result of negative events. Diabetes is another challenge for me. If I don’t take care of myself, I’ll become really unwell and have to go to the hospital. It won’t be good news for me because it’s difficult for me to focus on work while I’m at this stage. This would be a step backwards in my efforts to reach my aim. There are a lot of ways to not let these obstacles get in the way of achieving my goal. Even though my learning disability wouldn’t disappear, there are ways to understand the concept better. I could make a study guide, ask for help from my professor, ask family to quiz me, watch videos, go to one-on-one meetings with the professor, read the textbook, make flash cards and many more. I would try to be more social and think that it would bring me one step closer to my goal. As for my diabetes I would just have to take my medications. My back-up plan is to take summer classes. Just know I wouldn’t give up and it’s ok if you take more than 4 years to finish your education. Take your time but never give up. This course sounds very interesting just by the name. Out of all the classes I had the chance to choose, this course caught my attention the most. As a woman, I’m not sure what role they play in society. We were taught as children that this is a man’s world. This course is for me because I want to learn more about gender and women. There are many issues concerning women that I am unaware of but would like to learn more about. So, good luck this semester and I hope to get to know everyone better.