Category: DB1

Coming into this class, my initial impression about “feminism” was just women who fight for rights and equality and just wore feminism shirts, and pins, and protested so that they can be equal to men. My impression of “sexism” is men being superior and the lack of equality and rights towards women. I believed “gender and women’s studies” was based on the role women play in society and their history and elevation.  One quote that tries to imply what feminism is “Simply put feminism is a movement to end sexism. This was a definition of feminism I offered in Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center more than ten years ago. It was my hope at the time that it would become a common definition everyone would use. I liked this definition because it did not imply that men were the enemy. By naming sexism as the problem, it went directly to the heart of the matter.” A line that indicates some type of evolution is “Women’s studies programs, now common, were rare on campuses just a few generations ago. The evolution of the discipline, and its status in academe today, are the subjects of the essays in The Evolution…” 

Some of my initial impressions of the term feminism are the same as it has always been, to fight for equal rights for women and that women and men should be treated equally in every area. For sexism, it’s being treated unfairly and differently because you are a woman. How men and women are treated differently in society because of something they control, and for Gender and Woman Studies, my first impression of this was how it presented itself title-wise. So just the study of gender and woman studies, my guess was gender identities and expression, maybe how it affects people who go by other than cisgender female/male. Maybe also how there is such a big understanding gap between males and females. For the women aspect, I figured it’s just the study of women. How they are treated, some history, some facts, statistics, and all. 

I want to speak about “feminism”, “sexism” and “gender and woman studies”.

I think that feminism is movement where are women and men who try to protect rights of women. In our society, women and men do not have equal terms. Women are under the press and stress by our society. Women have a lot of restriction from childhood. If you are a woman, you must rise a child, serve your husband, stay at home and you must note be ambitious. Feminists try to wake up people and they say to us that the above mentioned obligations are not correct. Women is a person, she is a daughter of the god and everyone is equal in god’s eyes. If your husband and members of family hurt to you and If you are humble by them you must protect your-self. According to the reading, ,,…Feminism is a movement to end the sexism”. They do not mean that men are enemy. They just mean that women and men are equal they must share household chores and parenting and they must have works where is a same terms for both sex. In the reading, we tread that church has a huge influence on the women. According to the ,, Christian” culture, woman must serve the men and it is not norm. Women need to wake up.

I believe that sexism is an ideology that main idea is that different sex people do not have a equal rights. For example: ,, you are a woman, what do you know’, ,, she is a woman and she can not rive a car” and etc.

A lot of people do not understanding sexism and they think that it is not a problem. Some of them think that women juts seeking to be a equal to men. Woman are fighting for them rights. White women-socialism, black woman – civil rights, black liberation and native American Indian women – indigenous rights. Men wants to lead and they want women to follow. Unfortunately, there are females who are sexist as well.

Lastly, I will speak about Gender and Women studies. I think that study about gender and women is a subject where students get more information about this problems in our society. It is a very important thing because that it will have a huge mite in order to have a better generation.

According the reading, women’s studies started 40 years ago. There is speaking about women’s and gender’s issue and gap in our society and college.

Db1:

The first term “feminism” wasn’t used to refer to men being the target or in other words them being the enemy. All these three words “feminism”, “sexism”, and “Gender and women studies” are fighting for the same purpose but because of media individuals misunderstand the big picture behind it. According to the reading it states, “They know from mass media that women’s liberation focuses on the freedom to have abortions, to be lesbians, to challenge rape and domestic violence. Among these issues masses of people agree with the idea of gender equity in the workplace — equal pay for equal work.” This quote states that we are not seeking just for women’s equality but for everyone else whether your male, female, heterosexuals’, LGBDQ, etc…..

It was obvious that men wanted to lead and make women follow along but everything has an end to it. According to Bell Hook “famines” and “sexism” almost mean the same thing, but the overall idea is not to exceed man particularly but to be equal. While on the other hand, Audre Lord talks about how it’s not just about different sex, there more to it. Age, race, class, etc.. are also conflicted societies. I agree more with Lord than Bell because the majority of society is not aware that when we talk about the word “feminism” we are not just referring to one group but the whole community.

I am really glad I got to read the passage even though I am a little behind since I am getting used to this new system. But this got me thinking about the word, “feminism” even dipper. I quote that grab my attention was, “Even though individual black women were active in the contemporary feminist movement from its inception they were not the individuals who became the “stars” of the movement.” Since I started learning about the feminism movement they made us believe that it was mostly colored women who were fighting for equality but in reality, other groups were involved.

When I hear the terms Feminism, sexism, and gender and women studies I think of oppression, and people wanting equality. Feminism defined is a range of social movements, political movements, and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. When some people hear feminism they have this negative beliefs like they are women who hate men. Which is not true. To better put in words “Feminism is a movement to end sexism”-Bell Hooks. I really like this definition because not only does it address the issues of feminism but also sexism because they both tie into one another. The overall goal of feminist is not to be better or more superior to men but to be equal to men. In Audre Lorde: Age, Race, Class, and Sex, she highlights how issues in certain communities and groups goes beyond just gender, race, etc. How we ignore differences within our similar communities. Shew specifically says ” ..not the differences that separates women but our reluctance to recognize differences..” This really resonates with me because of how true it is. or when she says ” the three ways we react to differences: ignore it, copy it if dominate, or destroy it if subordinate.

Coming into this class, what are some of your initial impressions of the terms “feminism,” “sexism” and “gender and women’s studies?” How do this week’s readings define or explain these terms? Use specific quotes or examples in your response.

When coming into this class, I had an idea that feminism is when women want equality. Sexism, is when discriminated based off gender and gender women studies is  examining social and cultural constructs of gender.

This weeks reading really got me thinking on the word feminism. How it was viewed before and the ideas people thought feminism is. Yet some people in this day still have the same beliefs of feminism as back then. A lot of women still don’t believe in feminism and believe as women we should still cater to men.

A quote that stood out to me in the reading Feminists politics: Where we stand by bell Hooks. would have to be “As all advocates of feminist politics know most people do not understand sexism or if they do they think it is not a problem. Masses of people think that feminism is always and only about women seeking to be equal to men. And a huge majority of these folks think feminism is anti- male. Their misunderstanding of feminist politics reflects the reality that most folks learn about feminism from patriarchal mass media” This stood out to me because I do believe patriarchal mass media does play a role on the misunderstanding on feminism. Usually paints the picture on society that women are anti-male. Which does a play a role on why a lot of women still haven’t considered on joining the movement based on the things they only have seen on mass media.

Coming into this class, my initial impressions of the terms “feminism”, “sexism” and “gender and women’s studies” were standard. What comes to mind when sexism and gender are involved is the idea of dominance vs subordinates. There is an under lying connection towards feminism, sexism and gender (of women) when it comes to the concept of dominance and subordinates because of how society has portrayed the relationship between men and women. In the articles, “Feminist’s Politics: Where We Stand” written by Bell Hooks and “Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference” by Audre Lorde touches on the subject of sex (women) and how it corresponds to the power structure.

Men, the dominant race, has always found a way to perpetuate their leadership over any other race and/or sex. Therefore throughout history they have showed countless times and situations where they have considered, “women right’s when the granting of those rights could serve the interests of maintaining white supremacy” (Hooks). In our eyes, men will always be seen as the higher upper, the CEO, the boss, the leader. We as a society tend to cater towards the idea that men must have a certain type of masculinity which therefore promotes their leadership and power. Due to this mentality we are in a never ending cycle of promoting male dominance. In a social construct,

“we have learned to deal across those differences with the urgency of all oppressed subordinates. All of us have had to learn to live or work or coexist with men, from our fathers on. We have recognized and negotiated these differences, even when this recognition only continued the old dominant/subordinate mode of human relationship; where the oppressed much recognized the maters’ differences in order to survive” (Lorde).

To conclude, society has fixed a sexist definition of gender and women to allow many and myself to believe that sex will always be affected by power and those that hold power will continue to do so even after many years of countless fighting for civil rights for men and women of different races and sexual orientation. The terms “feminism”, “sexism” and “gender and women’s studies” means to me, what society has made us to believe it as.

“What do this week’s readings have you thinking about? Select a quote from each reading that caught your attention. Discuss the author’s meaning and why these lines stood out to you.”

This weeks readings have me thinking about the word feminism. Modern day I would think many women are with the movement. That is still not the case though, many women still choose or unconsciously follow mens orders, if it is not because of culture it is because people still blindly keep on being a subordinate to men. I really enjoyed reading Feminists politics: Where we stand by bell Hooks. It was so clear and really explained feminism.

A quote that stood out to me in the reading Feminists politics: Where we stand by bell Hooks. would have to be “A woman can insist she would never choose to have an abortion while affirming her support of the right of women to choose and still be an advocate of feminist politics. She cannot be anti-abortion and an advocate of feminism.” The author ties this point to sexism, we live in a world that christian point of views are heavily weighing many individuals down. This lines stood out to me because I am pro choice and believe if a woman does not wan to have a child she should not have to go through and have an unwanted child. Psychologically that affects both the mother and the child in the future. The said child could grow up with an unhealthy view of attachment because the mother didn’t want it. I link mothers with Mary Ainsworth attachment theory, I believe it is true. The way the child is treated will affect the way the child develops themselves and socially. I also think that Hooks mentions abortion because if a women is not willing to have an abortion even if there are circumstances that are not okay such as rape or incest and even illnesses deep down she does not want others to have one as well and that traces back to sexism.

A quote from the reading Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference by Audre Lorde that caught my attention was “Some problems we share as women, some we do not. You fear your children will grow up to join the patriarchy and testify against you, we fear our children will be dragged from a car and shot down in the street, and you will turn your backs upon the reasons they are dying.” There is an inequality gap that is so big white women to white men and the gap is bigger with white women and black women. I think that until people stop saying “I don’t see color” we will see a greater change than what we have right now. There are different struggles women of color endure and people need to be actively listening, which is a problem on its own. We don’t do much of active listening we are always waiting to speak and what is trying to be said is not fully comprehended. Which the quote “Certainly there are very real differences between us of race, age, and sex. But it is not those differences between us that are separating us. It is rather our refusal to recognize those differences.”

  A quote from  A Look Back At Women’s Studies Since The 1970s that stood out would be “I would say the first thing is that academic disciplines departments were remiss in their lack of attention to issues having to do with, not just women, but issues having to do with race and gender and so forth. So women’s studies, is not just about looking at women. It is also about looking at ways in which societies imagine or treat women and gender issues.” I think its also one of the reasons why I decided that I if I want to understand individuals I have to take this course. I know it will be eye opening and I already loved chicano studies. The author/ interview is focused on educating people on what and why people should take GWS it will be the gateway to understanding the struggles of minorities and women. 

This weeks readings were fantastic at tackling the subject of intersectionality in feminism. I’ve identified as a feminist from a young age, however only in the past handful of years I learned about how incomplete my definition was.

“Masses of people think that feminism is always and only about women seeking to be equal to men. And a huge majority of these folks think feminism is anti-male. Their misunderstanding of feminist politics reflects the reality that most folks learn about feminism from patriarchal mass media. The feminism they hear about the most is portrayed by women who are primarily committed to gender equality — equal pay for equal work and sometimes women and men sharing household chores and parenting; they see that these women are usually white and materially privileged.”

Bell hooks points out exactly why I think my initial definition was lacking so much substance, that my primary education about feminism was coming from a patriarchal mass media source and a place of privilege.

In Lorde’s writing, she explains why you can not be a feminist if you are not also committed to anti-racism and the acknowledging the experiences black women and women of color.

“On the other hand, white women face the pitfall of being seduced into joining the oppressor under the pretense of sharing power. This possibility does not exist in the same way for women of Color. The tokenism that is sometimes extended to us is not an invitation to join power; our racial “otherness” is a visible reality that makes that quite clear. For white women there is a wider range of pretended choices and rewards for identifying with patriarchal power and its tools.”

That quote stood out to me, especially as a reminder of my privilege and responsibility to be aware of it.

Finally, I want to add Dr. Guy-Sheftall’s definition of women’s studies; the study of women and issues surrounding women such as: race, class, gender, sexuality. As the other writings point out, it is sometimes forgotten and misunderstood what the study of women is really about or all the facets it includes (particularly with race and class).

When I first heard the term “Gender and Women’s Studies,” I was immediately intrigued by the thought of taking a class where I would essentially be with like-minded people. I am well aware that we all have different life experiences, and our thoughts/ideas will vary. However, I believe that taking a class such as this means that one would be open-minded and overall willing to be challenged to think outside their own being. I at least see this to be true for myself.

As Audre Lorde states, “Oppression is as American as Apple Pie,” in the simplest way, acknowledges the norms of white supremacist ideals in America. That, therefore, hinders the ability of all women to break free from systemic oppression. Hooks makes the point “white women, ceased to even consider revolutionary feminist visions, once they begin to gain economic power within the existing social structure.” Understanding that a successful future for ALL women comes only when the “existing social structure” is ultimately erased and redesigned. However, this process only happens when we embrace differences among women; age, race, and class.

“Even though individual black women were active in contemporary feminist movement,… they were not the “stars,”… who attracted mass media,” stated Hooks. When this movement first began, I imagine that it came with the notion that it would benefit all, in due time. Inevitably losing the vision for all women, and leaving, specifically women of color, behind.

Alice Walker, American Novelist, author of The Color Purple, said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” I believe this class serves as a stepping stone that instills and gives knowledge to men and women to produce lasting change in a world that is pitted against them.