This installation artwork by artist Judy Chicago is one of the first recognized “epic feminist pieces” and it is titled “The Dinner Party”. I chose the dinner party because I saw this installation as a kid and I remember it really sticking with me even though at the time I did not understand its message. The Dinner Party celebrates lost and under appreciated female culture and heritage through the array of dinner plates displayed, 39 in total. These 39 women are important historical figures who Chicago wanted to honor. Chicago also arranged to have 999 women’s names inscribed in gold on the floor below the table and 1039 women honored in the exhibitions rotating the table. Being that this piece was extremely meticulous and well researched, it was worked on from ’74-’79, 5 years. To conclude, the most significant thing about this installation to me were the points of the table. Not one placemat it seated at a point which would be a “head” of the table making it so each women is deemed of equal worth.

A topic I would like to discuss is the dehumanization of women in a new age of technology. Social media and the porn industry directly correlate with outdated and disturbing views on women that have a lasting psychological impact on men and women (especially younger men). Common tropes seen in this type of media are underaged women and normalized violence. While I won’t delve into specific categories and searches, it is quite shocking how much interaction these videos and posts get. For instance, when people view women getting beaten while simultaneously “enjoying” intercourse it is then believed that this is what all women must want and it desensitizes the viewer which puts women at risk. To speak again on the underage/teen content, especially seen on Instagram, I find it disgusting and egregious. Normalizing this justifies behavior such as pedophilia and exploits people who may or may not have given consent to have their bodies shown on a public platform. The porn industry is corrupt, and just like many industries they are able to hide it well. A piece that will forever stick with me is the documentary “Money Shot” which follows different sex workers as they tell their stories and the disturbing reality of the industry. 

I experience privilege by being white. I am very aware of this privilege and have noticed it even during childhood. I understand that being white means that I inherently get better treatment than non-white people. While this does not dismiss hardships that I have faced in life, I understand that my race is not a factor of my identity that causes difficulty in my life. Ways that I have been oppressed correlate with my gender. Being a woman has caused me to feel left out and limited in the past. During childhood when I was not allowed to play with the boys even though I loved to play sports and on a larger scale, during school projects and work I have been ignored and dismissed by men who felt that I wasn’t capable. Relating to my health, I experienced an incredible amount of dismissal and difficulty during my journey of getting diagnosed with endometriosis. Speaking of limitations, women’s health research and funding are extremely limited!! This has actually caused the deaths of many women but speaking from personal experience, I missed out on lots of schooling and had a major setback in my education because of the lack of care and attention from doctors. After watching the videos I better understand that privilege comes from many different factors and each individual’s privilege is unique to them because of their identity. What I did know before watching the video is that privilege essentially means advantage and people can use it in negative or positive ways. I also understand that oppression is always cruel and comes from a need to feel superior. Additionally, the video helped me better understand that ignorance is a choice and that educating yourself should be a responsibility, not something that is optional.

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Alok defines moving beyond the gender binary as adopting a fluid perspective on gender. Being able to realize that gender is on a spectrum and that external and internal characteristics aren’t always presented within the realm of “normalcy” (men who present masculine and women who present feminine) is what moving beyond that binary means. One significant thing I gathered from the text was Alok’s explanation of what really matters when it comes to gender: comfort. No matter how “weird” and “different” your identity may be to other people, comfort in your own skin matters the most. This is why I find it ridiculous when prejudice occurs against trans people for instance. What matters is that they are comfortable and this type of treatment is degrading and implies that people who stay ignorant and transphobic do not see them as humans.  

I identify as cisgender and use she/her pronouns. In this way, I do not go against the gender binary as I am comfortable with my assigned gender at birth. On a smaller scale, I have certain characteristics and aspects of my personality/way I present myself that some people consider masculine. In another way, I also identify as bisexual, which goes against the gender binary. This is because someone who fits the norm presents as female, and uses she/her, would also fit the norm by being straight which I am not. I would say that I also FEEL masculine on certain days and feminine on others. To feel more comfortable with these experiences, I find that dressing accordingly helps me feel closer to that identity/side of myself. 

I understand Bell hooks definition of feminism to mean that its ultimate goal is uplifting and liberating woman by dismantling a system that is made by men for other men. Sexism, exploitation, and oppression all exist because of power imbalances and existing beliefs that men hold. (Such as that we are inferior to them). I also see her definition as inclusive which is a very important aspect of feminism.

I would consider myself to be very open minded and I understand that feminism is a lifestyle and perspective as well as a movement. It is how you treat other people, and while activism is incredibly important it is not all it takes. That said, I did not include intersectionality into my feminism up until recently which is very detrimental. This type of ignorance can backfire in a movement such as feminism because it goes against everything we’re fighting for. The more and more I learn about the nuances of feminism, especially in this reading, I learn that feminism aims to make a pivotal switch in society that benefits EVERYONE, not just women. Men are also faced with consequences of the patriarchy.

Prior to reading “Sex & Gender 101” my understanding of gender was very similar to the reality of it that this article dives into. I understand that gender is socially constructed and varies over time and in different cultures. I also understand that biological sex is only related to chromosomes and secondary sex characteristics. It is universal. One thing I didn’t know/really understand until reading this article is the scientific break down of intersex persons. I was not aware of the many variations of intersex and also how common it is. This was a real eye opener for me because I am really just now learning about it. In a way my view on concepts that exist on a spectrum fluidly may always be a bit outdated. Social constructs are ever-changing and whether it be slow or fast I know it is my responsibility to be informed, kind, and understanding. At the end of the day, every human being is allowed to express themselves and be whoever they want as long as it isn’t causing any harm. This perspective has made me realize why these discussions surrounding gender and sexism are so important. Restriction and refusing change has always caused division and harm but acceptance, staying educated, and open mindedness has continued to bring peace and happiness.

Hello everyone, my name is Irina Nissen (pronouns she/her) and I am 20 years old. I am currently majoring in psychology (maybe changing/going for a dual major) and this is my second year now at BMCC. I was adopted from Kazakhstan but I have pretty much lived in Brooklyn my whole life. I hope this class brings some fresh perspectives as well as interesting discourse amongst my classmates. I am also interested in learning the complexities and nuances within feminism that I am not yet educated on. I love film, traveling and learning about different ways of life, listening and discovering music, going to museums and exhibits; essentially all things artistic. If I were to recommend something for the class it would be the film: “Promising Young Woman”. I think it would be a great watch for this class in particular as it explores feminism and the reality of being a woman in empowering and devastating ways. I think this film is important in that sense by highlighting this dual nature of womanhood.