After reading “The Politics of Housework” by Pat Mainardi, I understand the liberated woman to be free, to be herself, and to do things she likes to do unapologetically. The liberated woman is a feminist who doesn’t want to fit in the box of societies norms on women; the liberated woman is a rebel. The liberated woman does as she pleases without the concern or worry for others opinions, she dresses how she wants to without worry about how society will judge her, she stands on her own beliefs even if they may go against what other people believe, the liberated woman is one who doesn’t agree with conforming herself to make others feel better about themselves. The liberated woman is important for women’s liberation because they give a different outlook on women, they give different meaning to being what a woman is, and they give a different point of view from another woman’s perspective. The phrase “the personal is political” also termed as “the private is political” is a political argument used as a rallying slogan of student movement and second wave feminism from the late 1960s. These two pieces of work show that “the personal is political” because they represent how because women are portrayed throughout society as the housewife’s, mothers, and the overall caretakers however their struggles, issues, and concerns are not important enough to be seen as political issues that need a platform in which changes can be evoked and women can not only feel seen but most importantly feel heard. For as long as I can remember growing up, my mom had always raised me and my sisters to be able to know how to cook, clean, take care of ourselves, take care of children, and know how to attract the “right” man specifically by learning all these qualities. Therefore, in my short twenty two years of life women have always been raised to conform to societies gender roles and norms on how to be a woman even if many of these imaginary rules and regulations were more then likely not created from other woman but instead men. I can only imagine what it was like back then. “The personal is political” is portrayed throughout these two articles by representing the fact that just because women have more needs whether that may be needing more intimacy in their relationship, needing more help with the kids at home, or needing more time for themselves in general are all seen as private issues however, “the personal is political” emphasizes that these personal issues such as sex, childcare, and the struggles of being a mom are all political issues that not only need political attention but need to be taken seriously as well.

Suffrage, labor rights, Suffrage, labor rights, and the equal rights amendment are related to one another because they focus on one end goal above all their goals which is equality. Each three of these topics have turned into issues throughout history and even our current society today that all relate to one another because they want to create an environment that consists of fairness and the right to have rights no matter what age, race, ethnicity, or gender one may be. These topics are also all related to one another because they are about fighting for what is not only right but ethical and necessary for the world. Labor rights are also issues of gender justice because when we stand up, protest, and speak for others especially when it comes to fighting for fair and equal labor rights then we need to make sure to include and fight for all genders and not just a specific gender like women who may have more issues than another gender when it comes to the workplace like men. When we re-evaluate labor rights or workers rights they specifically focus on giving workers of all genders equal rights like the right to fair pay, the right to work overtime and get paid time and a half, the right to take unpaid leave, and more therefore, labor rights are also issues of gender justice because although labor rights are fighting for equal rights when it comes to working it still focuses on making sure all genders are included in the fight for change and to make sure that all these changes are included for everybody to receive. I see these historical issues enacted in today’s society because in certain career fields like broadcasting journalism, computer programming, or even being a pilot men still continue to get paid more than women despite their previous experiences, educational statuses, and accolades or achievements they may have received. This goes to show that women are still fighting for equal labor rights in our current society today and that the world is still biased when it comes to seeing men and women as equal beings who can achieve the same things despite their gender. Another way I see these historical issues enacted in todays society is the continued pressure of women working while maintaining the housewife and mother role; most people still see this as a challenge for women and feel as though they are better off repeating history as its always been with the mother being a stay at home mom and wife who caters only to the home, children, and husband without there being room for women to grow and flourish into their true selves instead of letting others limit them or conform them into a box they don’t belong in.

The article written by Constance Grady focuses on the waves of feminism and why people keep debating over them. This article dived deeper into the three waves of feminism and what in each wave was so influential during those points in time. I feel as though the first wave of feminism doesn’t get talked about as much anymore since we’re currently living in the third wave. The first wave of feminism, in my opinion, was the toughest. People were questioning if women were really human beings, if women deserved to have a place in society where they automatically obtained some form of power, but of course not too much power. The first wave of feminism beginning around the time 1848 and ending around the time 1920 was looked upon as “the West’s first sustained political movement dedicated to achieving political equality for women”. For 70 years these women marched, lectured, protested, faced arrests, judgment, and violence; it’s an understatement to say these women were strong. They fought through the obstacles to obtain the right to vote, for not just themselves but for women like myself who have the ability to vote today. The start of the first wave began with the Seneca Falls convention of 1848 where Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, active abolitionists, organized a meeting where over 200 women attended at a church to discuss “the social, civil, and religious conditions and rights of women” and agreed upon a list of 12 resolutions that consisted of specific equal rights including a woman’s right to vote. If we think about it, this was the very first meeting that sparked a revolutionary and reform type of social movement created by women to fight for women in not only their time but for the women to come in the future. One of the most important parts of this meeting was the women of color that attended such as Sojourner Truth, Maria Stewart, and Frances E.W. Harper who were not only key forces throughout the movement; these women not only spoke up for equal rights for women but they made to advocate and protest for specifically women of colors universal suffrage and inequalities. It’s important to note that when this movement first began, racism impacted the way white women viewed the women of color who spoke for and represented the women’s movement. In Grady’s article it states, “If educated women are not as fit to decide who shall be the rulers of this country, as ‘field hands,’ then where’s the use of culture, or any brain at all?” demanded one white woman who wrote in to Stanton and Anthony’s newspaper, the Revolution. “One might as well have been ‘born on the plantation.’” Black women were barred from some demonstrations or forced to walk behind white women in others.” This statement alone is powerful because it points out the first planted problem throughout this feminist movement, the idea that the feminism is focused on fighting for and protecting the rights of white women instead of all women. Even though women were granted the right to vote in 1920 by Congress who passed the 19th amendment, it was still a challenge for black women to vote, especially in the South. In my opinion, women made incredible progress throughout the first wave of feminism and start of the women’s movement however, throughout all the suffering and constant fighting for women somehow black women were still in some way excluded from it which did women of color a grave injustice and essentially set back the movement in a major way.

It is important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not an individual identity because if we understand patriarchy to only be associated with identity then we will never truly understand what patriarchy is and patriarchal culture. Patriarchy is a system that encompasses the world as a whole; we can see patriarchy as a blueprint for society; a guideline to know what is accepted and appropriate and what is not. Patriarchy is best described as multilayered and multifaceted. Although individuals or groups of people can enact patriarchy we must still remember that patriarchy within the world is a system that has been present throughout past societies. If we just conform patriarchy to be ‘blamed’ on a specific group of people or one person then we will never truly not only acknowledge the real idea of patriarchy but we can’t work towards real change to end the outdated patriarchy system. 

Although we know patriarchy is a system, individuals enact patriarchy in their personal thoughts, interpersonal actions, as members of institutions, and in the structure of our culture. Patriarchy might work at levels such as personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural/structural and those levels influence one another. Patriarchy can work on a personal level based on beliefs about others and attitudes about differences between others. For example, the traditional belief that men are the head of the households throughout every hospital is a form of patriarchy. If one believes that men are the breadwinners, the handymans, and the protectors in every household, or specifically every family then that is a patriarchal way of thinking. When men believe that women are only meant to be housewives or stay at home moms instead of strong, independent, and hard-working leaders more specifically equal to men then that is a patriarchal way of thinking about women. Patriarchy can work on an interpersonal level; this is because patriarchy can impact actions and behaviors. For example, violence between a man and a woman, patriarchy can impact interpersonal relationships because it influences a variety of factors from the motives of violence, to cultural, to social; more specifically, gender inequality. Patriarchy can work on an institutional level. For example, in some areas in the world like Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississspi it is illegal to get an abortion after six weeks; most women don’t realize, notice, or find out they are pregnant by or before that time. Patriarchy exists on an institutional level in areas like this because those specific social systems in those areas throughout the world are oppressing women and their rights to have an abortion. People in power throughout those areas are speaking for women and making rules and regulations for women to abide by but most of these people passing these types of laws are men. Men that can never understand, grasp, or know the concept of pregnancy and what it is like to get pregnant, be pregnant, give birth, and raise children. Essentially, these are organizations within social systems that oppress people both intentionally and unintentionally. Patriarchy can definitely influence and be influenced by culture because it is shown every day through different social media platforms. On social media, both men and women need to look their best and be at the best points in their lives at all times.

After completing the readings and watching the video “What is Privilege” I sat back and thought about certain ways in which I experience privilege. The fact that I live in the United States alone is a privilege because I have more freedom compared to other countries; I have more opportunities to accomplish my goals and make a better life than I had. Living in the U.S. you have the ability to study in any type of field you want while pursuing other careers and following other dreams. Another privilege I have is the fact that I can see a doctor whenever I feel the need to; advanced medicine and technology is accessible to me therefore, I never really have to worry if I am sick because I know there are people, places, and medicines that can help me get better. A third way I experience privilege throughout my life is my very light skin color; although I am Puerto Rican and Colombian my mom’s skin complexion is white and I took on her complexion therefore, a lot of the times people mistake me as a white woman and I feel as though I get treated in a way better than others who do not have my skin color. I don’t get judged or stereotyped as often as other hispanic people with darker skin complexions or people with darker skin complexions in general. Lastly, another way I have experienced privilege in my life is the fact that I grew up with both my parents; even though they were split since before I was born, I’ve always had both my parents in my life along with my siblings. I grew up with a family that is supportive in ways which they believe in me, they care about my dreams, and they help me reach my goals and accomplishments in a supportive way. On the other hand, there are some ways I’ve experienced oppression throughout my life. Living with my mom my whole life, as she was the primary parent, she worked two jobs; this included weekends, holidays, and lots of days of overtime. Therefore, my mom was unable to spend a lot of time with us due to the fact that she had to work so hard to provide for us. Another way I’ve experienced oppression is due to the fact that I was diagnosed with anxiety; people have judged me and treated me differently just based on the reality that I have anxiety. People treat me as though I’m extremely fragile and in ways broken. I was also bullied through some years of high school based on the ways I would try to deal with my anxiety like severe finger nail biting. I would bite my nails till they bled; they always looked ugly and people were sure to make me aware of that. Lastly, another way I experience oppression is simply the fact that I am a woman; I’m unable to freely express myself through my clothing because I have to be worried about the unwanted attention it would bring me every day. I’m also constantly worried about any form of harassment I can encounter just going to work or going to school. I feel as though men specifically see me as an easy target because not only am I a woman but I’m also very petite so I’m not viewed as dangerous or a threat but more as a friend or a friendly individual. From watching the video and evaluating the readings; they have helped me view the concepts of oppression and privilege from a wider point of view and understand them on a deeper level. Before the readings I mostly viewed privilege as something specifically people of white race had over every other race; however, privilege is a concept that can relate to everyone in some sort of way based on what is a part of their identity. Intersectionality plays a big part in that idea because the theory sums up the exploration on how individuals can face multiple categories of disccrimination and overall oppression when they belong to more than one marginalized group. Before the readings I didn’t have a clear idea of oppression but after I reflected on the readings, I view oppression as the element in which something or someone is caught between or among forces and barriers which are so related to each other that together they restrain, restrict, and prevent something or someone’s motion or mobility. Oppression is made to mold, immobilize, and reduce someone down to something that society as a whole can deem acceptable.