Because it is so much more common than some may realize, it is critical to understand patriarchy as a system rather than a particular identity. Because of the patriarchal nature of our culture, men are misogynistic. Women have a lot of internalized sexism and can also be misogynistic themselves. Some principles are ingrained in us from birth and become deeply ingrained in our subconscious. This system also shaped others close to us, including our family and peers, thus the cycle continues with us. We can take steps to eliminate these patriarchal norms and concepts by admitting that, whether we like it or not, we all participate in the patriarchy. It won’t happen overnight, of course. We need to educate ourselves and unlearn patriarchal ways of thinking.  

The patriarchy can operate on a number of levels, including personal, interpersonal, institutional, and the structural or cultural level. Patriarchal beliefs and values can be seen in our own minds on a personal level. An intriguing example of how patriarchy affects women more personally, in my opinion, is the sensation of being “watched”—the urge to put on a show and look nice even if you know you are alone and no one is looking (but what if, hypothetically, someone—a man—is?). Sometimes there is a persistent urge to always be likable. The masculine gaze, which is a result of patriarchy, definitely perpetuates these emotions.  

The interpersonal level comes next. This includes expressions of misogyny in speech and behavior. As an illustration, imagine a man ordering his partner to care for the household, cook, and clean. Another possibility is that a woman is making another woman look awful in front of a man in an effort to get his attention. Cat-calling, preventing a mother’s son from playing with “girl’s toys,” and making fun of people for having “girly” interests are just a few examples. The list is endless. 

The institutional level is the third. There are a number of techniques that the government uses to punish women. Abortion restrictions are one that is frequently used and, regrettably, is still widely practiced today. Dress codes are another instance of institutional patriarchy, although on a much lesser scale. In schools, young girls’ clothing is frequently regulated and enforced to prevent “distracting” behavior. 

Finally, there is the cultural/structural level. This includes toxic beauty standards, homophobia, transphobia,  and the strong belief in traditional gender roles. At a young age, these kinds of concepts are introduced to our brains, and if we’re fortunate, we can eventually unlearn them and educate ourselves. 

The word privilege, which means a benefit experienced by a person or class that is greater than what is available to others, is derived from the Latin word privilegium. While I am significantly more fortunate than I give myself credit for, watching the film on “What is Privilege?” made me aware of how privileged I do feel in some respects that I take for granted. I have some advantages, such as coming from a second generation of immigrants. Due to the fact that my parents spoke both English and Spanish when I was growing up, I was lucky enough to be able to speak, write, and read both languages before starting grade school. I never knew poverty or lacked the resources I required to grow up because both of my parents were able to pursue careers. Oppression, on the other hand, is leading a life that is not just constrained but also shaped by forces and barriers. In all honesty, the readings and video from this week made it quite clear to me that I do not live under oppression—far from it. However, I have witnessed events that I believe only ever occur as a result of the privilege that those in positions of authority have. An older man made inappropriate comments to me at a previous job , for instance, and it was really uncomfortable for me. After complaining to a supervisor, I learned that he had not been fired, and my coworkers indicated that they had overheard the older man complaining that I was flirtatious, often smiling at him, and sending him mixed signals. The way it was handled made me feel absolutely barricaded. The supervisor had the power to handle the situation correctly, so I was most shocked that she chose not to. 

I came to the conclusion that my privilege is genuine in both microscopic and macrocosmic ways as I watched the video and studied the literature. “Some people are born into families where they have to walk miles just to get water,” the girl says at the beginning of the video. It’s a blessing that all I have to do is turn on the faucet. Even if that remark should go without saying, many people’s lives lack even these basic essentials. The movie was eye-opening because I could see how each person would advance or retreat, growing more apart from one another as the female read the statements. One African American woman was the only one there in the video at the very end, and she did acknowledge how uncomfortable it was for her. The emotions that were pushed to the surface made the experience for those in the film seem uncomfortable overall, especially as the distance between the participants grew larger. Although it absolutely saddens me to see how that privilege divides us from one another, it is crucial because the first step in correcting an issue is accepting that there is one. I believe that in order for oppression to disappear, individuals who are privileged should be aware of it and make use of it to benefit others who don’t. 

Alok’s Beyond the Gender Binary emphasizes that for Alok, moving beyond the gender binary implies having to coexist in a world as someone who does not fit into the conventional gender binary. Alok delves into various concerns concerning his daily existence as a person who is glad to move beyond the gender binary. One problematic statement Alok addresses that people still believe is, “It’s common sense that everyone is a man or a woman.” The issue with this belief is that it has been regarded as the status quo for so long that, while it is not true, it has been accepted and, as a result, has been the norm for years. However, it appears that we have failed to recognize that prejudice, enslavement, and genocide were the direct result of an opinion that was widely held for a long enough period of time. 

In “Feminist Politics Where We Stand,” by Bell Hooks, she describes feminism as a movement whose goal is to eradicate sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. According to this definition of feminism, this movement aims to put an end to the cruel and unfair treatment of people based on their gender and sex. In another essay, bell hooks claimed that some people mistake feminism with a desire to be equal to or hostile toward males. I agree with Bell Hooks since the mass media typically portrays feminism as radical, going to great lengths to struggle for equal treatment (equal pay to the opposing sex or even being treated equally to the opposite sex). I think everyone should be treated fairly regardless of their gender, sex, or race. 

My understanding of gender has improved since reading the article sex and gender 101. According to what I understand, a culture assigns a person’s gender based on the family they are born into. It looks like people are being forced to be something in this description that they may not want to be. I think that your internal feelings and the roles you feel most at ease in determine your gender. For instance, even though your assigned gender is female, deep inside you know that is not what you want to be. Additionally, I discovered that there are three different kinds of gender: gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression. The gender you are assigned is your gender. Whether you feel more feminine than masculine or more masculine than feminine, gender identification refers to how comfortable you are with yourself. Gender expression is the act of expressing one’s gender through one’s choice of clothing, makeup, and haircut. I thought the article’s discussion of sex focused more on the science vs gender debate. It also discusses the XY chromosome, which indicates that you will be assigned a male, and the XX chromosome, which indicates that you are assigned a female. Sex is more about your external genitalia. 

Hello everyone! My name is Crystal. This is my last semester at BMCC and I am currently applying for different nursing programs. I have always dreamed of becoming a neonatal intensive care unit nurse. I would love to spend my time helping and caring for tiny babies. I have lived in New York my whole life. I was born and raised in the Bronx. My family recently moved to Pennsylvania and I stayed behind because of work and school. It has been such a big change for me and I cannot visit them as much as I want to because I am so busy. I love to read romance novels and watch horror movies. Lastly, I love to spend time with my fur baby, Bentley. He is a 5 year old Shih Tzu and I don’t feel as lonely when I’m with him. I chose this class because I would love to know more about feminism and gender. I know we live in world where many people see things in life as black and white. This is why I love going into a class with an open mind. For a class suggestion, I always recommend Roxane Gay: Confessions of a bad feminist. I am looking forward to this class and getting to know everyone!