From Mainardi’s text I read the liberated woman to be one who has awareness of and actively tries to battle against their oppression, specifically that from men. They are able to analyze and identify different aspects on a micro- and macro- level of society that are enabling the oppression of women (i.e. politically, health/medically, personally, interpersonally and societally.)
The Liberated Woman is essential to women’s liberation. I think that it has been and always will be important and absolutely necessary for the voices of the oppressed to be heard AND highlighted in a movement. While it is important for the oppressed to be the leaders of the movement, it is more important for those who are benefitting from whatever system of oppression is being addressed to utilize both their voices and privilege to aid the fight for liberation. A good example of this in our current day and age is the Black Lives Matter movement was founded by a black woman. Black women are in more danger than black men, due to the added layer of oppression that comes with sexism.
Both pieces show that “the personal is political” by highlighting the systemic root of female oppression. It is societally taught to ignore the voices of women, and view them as quite useless beyond housework and motherhood. This is highlighted in Mainardi’s piece, “The Politics of Housework.” To this day, our society chooses to ignore or will degrade women’s sexuality. We still lack sexual education today. I have heard many statistics on the percentage of women who have even been able to experience orgasm; usually focused on heterosexual relationships because men are much more likely to be ignorant on the female orgasm and their sexual anatomy. In “The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm”, Anne Koedt, says “It has also been known that women need no anesthesia inside the vagina during surgery, thus pointing to the fact that the vagina is in fact not a highly sensitive area.” Many old misconceptions during her time period said that the clitoris or vaginal canal lacked the ability to feel sensation like a penis would, and therefore there was no need for thinking about anyone’s pleasure but the man himself. In reality, the clitoris is the “female equivalent” of the (head of the) penis. They are equally sensitive and stimulation is necessary for orgasm. Because of our obscene lack of sexual education in this country, we still have this problem today where the majority of men are ignorant about female sexuality, and only think about and care about their own pleasure. This leaves women unsatisfied and once again, left to solve that problem for themselves.
6 thoughts on “Dylan Dong Discussion 9”
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Hi Dylan,
I’d most definitely agree, Comprehensive sex education assists young people in postponing sexual intercourse, increasing condom and contraceptive use, and decreasing the number of partners. When youth do decide to become sexually active, this program reduces the incidence and frequency of unprotected intercourse. Furthermore, adolescents who participate in a version of comprehensive sex education that addresses gay, lesbian, and transgender issues report a less bullied and harassed school environment.
In general the idea that housework is the Women responsibility is odd. I think its something the world has just grown into and made the norm. I can see how A liberated Women will not settle for such sexist ideas.
In terms of historical reasoning/understanding, the idea that “housework is the women’s role” definitely does stem from during WW1 when men went off to war to women were left to manage the household alone, in addition to taking up some factory work.
I agree with you that the majority of men using their standard of pleasure to judge women’s pleasure during sex. But only the woman herself she is the one can be the standard and she is the one that can sense the pleasure. Unfortunately, because of culture, sex education and other reasons, women are always being told about how they should feel about their bodies or pleasure. Women are not treating as a human that can stand with her own opinion, most time it is like an object and only object can’t speak for herself. More articles like these being read, that can inspire more people to respect women’s voice.
Hello Dylan,
Something that you said that stood out to me was when you wrote “Both pieces show that “the personal is political” by highlighting the systemic root of female oppression. It is societally taught to ignore the voices of women, and view them as quite useless beyond housework and motherhood”. This made me think about what my mother told me towards how it was like being raised in Mexico. She was taught as well as prior generations that as a women her duty was to simply be a house wife, bear children, and to make sure there was always dinner ready for the husband as well as the idea that whatever the man says go. Not to mention how women couldn’t get an education, job, or wear whatever they wanted. However, both my mother and father made sure to not raise me with this idea. Yes they taught me to clean and provide but they also taught me to follow my dreams and to stand up for what I believe in.
I have definitely heard that experience. my grandmother had similar values, as she is an immigrant from China and 6 decades older than me. Growing up she really emphasized the importance of being a good wife by knowing how to clean and cook. Said we would never get a husband otherwise lol
Luckily my mother is more like yours and wants the best for me and breaks away from those cultural values driven by gender.