Eromidayo Olayiwola (Harmony)
Prof. Hollis Glaser
GWS 100-1300
Discussion 2
I became aware of my lack of knowledge of feminism and Sex/Gender after reading bell hooks and Sex and Gender 101 by Kyl Myers. It helps me better grasp what it means to be inclusive and knowledgeable. There is still patriarchy and gender discrimination in some areas of the region, despite the fact that I am from a civilized nation (Nigeria). Due to cultural barriers, one of my friends lost her inheritance to the family’s first son in 2008, leaving her as a female child with nothing. I think that by promoting “feminist,” we may attain equality and put an end to unfairness and inequality.
According to Bell Hook, a woman can assert that she would never choose to have an abortion while also stating that she supports women’s right to make their own decisions and that she supports feminist ideology. These are instructive to me to read, and I believe that any choices you make regarding your own body should be honored without prejudice.
I have this misconception about sex and gender and its well explained in “Sex and Gender 101” analyzing sex orientation which is biological and gender as an expression or creativity and is subject to change. I learned that one can be creative with your own body and appearance.
People used to refer to me as a “tomboy” while I was growing up because of how I liked to dress. The neighbors will stare at me, point fingers, and force me to change into what they consider to be “normal” because my mom always wants me to dress up in a certain way. Even as an adult, I frequently feel the need to apologize for being true to who I am and for being pressured to conform to society’s “feminine” ideal.
For me, “feminism” was more about attaining equality in terms of duties and rights in marriage, the workplace, and society as a whole, which was dominated by men. I learned more after reading “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand.” It focuses on the role that males may play in promoting gender equality for all, ending sex exploitation, oppression, and discrimination against non-conforming people of gender.
Discussion 2 and reflection 1
“a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” Explain what you understand this definition to mean.
In the introduction of the book “Feminism is for everybody,” the author kept preparing this phrase and even went into detail about what she meant. feminism is often looked at as a group of angry females who want to act like men and overall view men as the enemy. However, not everybody takes the time to go in-depth about what a true feminist actually want or try to understand what the issue is. This is connected with the article “sex and Gender 101” because society believes that gender has to play a “social and cultural role based on your biological sex”. That’s where the issue begins because not every female wants to be a stay-at-home mom or be what is known as “wife material”, women want to work as well and want to be respected. There should be nothing wrong with a woman asking to work in the same field as a man. There should be equal pay if both females and males are doing the same job.
How does this definition compare with what you thought “feminism” meant before you did this reading?
Honestly, I was in that small percent group that didn’t really know much bout feminism, I knew maybe that it had to do with women fighting for equal rights. I didn’t want to agree with the concept of feminism without knowing the true meaning behind it but I believe it is more than just rights, its equality, and respect towards one another. In the article ” sex and Gender 101″ what caught my attention was that women in the U.S. were earning more college degrees than men however its own country didn’t value women’s equal education. It is frustrating knowing that a female can go to school, spend hours studying, get a degree, and still get looked upon by the single fact that they’re a female. It took females a long way to get the right to work, to vote, and be heard yet you see that not every job would want a female instead a male because they’re stronger.
How does the reading Sex and Gender 101 compare with what you thought about gender before you did this reading?
The reading clarified a lot of things that I was always confused about but never had the courage to ask anybody simple fact that I dint want to sound ignorant. I have a friend who uses the pronouns they/them, this article hek]lped me understand a little bit more about gender. I had no idea how deep a gender can be and I’m sure there are still a lot of people who confuse sex & gender and think they’re the same thing when they’re not. gender assignment can be an individual who identifies themselves as female or male based on their genitals but parents play a big role here when a baby is born and their private parts don’t look “normal”. Keep in mind there is no such thing as a correct “normal” way external genitals should look. keep in mind as well that there is no such thing as a correct way to act for either a female or a male.