Reflection: How I Connected To the Reading
As a woman in society, I have seen, done, or felt almost all the things that Johnson mentions about the inequalities women face and I have talked about it to my male friends. One point he mentions is that men don't have to constantly think how to protect themselves when they step outside, like women do. When I leave a store, my keys are in my hand and I am unlocking my car before I am close to it. I'm checking under the car to see if someone will grab my ankles, I'm careful about where I grab the door handle in case there's a substance on it, and I am always checking my surroundings to make sure I'm not being followed. Women have to be consistently attentive in order to feel safe in society.
One gender inequality that he listed was that the standards used to evaluate women as women are different from those used to evaluate them in other roles. This resonated with me because I used to work with a woman who was very particular about designs and would firmly tell men in the field to fix it if done wrong. If it were a man telling them these things, they would realize he was right, but because she was a woman, she was thought of in a harsh way.
As an art major in undergrad, this article made me think of Linda Nochlin's Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? in which she argues that the absence of recognized "great" women artists is not due to a lack of talent or genius, but rather to systemic, institutional, social, and educational barriers that prevented women from pursuing artistic careers on equal footing with men. This is a great read if anyone is ever interested and has time!
I would like to ask my male classmates what they think about how women are treated in society. Do they think women are treated fairly to men? Do some men also face the struggles that women face?
Hey Amara
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this post. Its a shame that you and many other women has to feel like that. I completely understand how that is a problem and shouldn't be something anyone deals with. I still think that there has been progress made, but women are still treated differently. I think men do face some struggles as woman do but woman experience these more consistently.
Hi Amara! I can truly relate to you as a female and the experiences we have to face in order to stay safe in public. Additionally, I too applied it to one of my previous jobs where I had a female manager that other male coworkers of mine would always say she is "scatter brained" and "unorganized", when they too were not perfect, but it was never brought to attention.
ReplyDeleteHello Amara! You illustrated a portion of the reading that really caught my eye. Johnson says (on page 25) "To be white in America means not having to think about it. We could say the same thing about maleness or heterosexuality or any other basis for privilege."
ReplyDeleteI think that's a big part of what makes privilege such a difficult problem to grasp and/or fix. Privileged people generally don't FEEL privileged - many (most?) assume the advantages they have are the regular starting line for everyone. Conversely, lack of privilege is felt acutely, and the disconnect between the two sides makes it difficult to find common ground - even just for conversation about it.
Hi Amara, I think your post summarizes many of the key struggles women face in society. I relate to that feeling of anxiety, being alone, out in the open, constantly aware of every possible danger, and following a step-by-step routine to ensure you're protected. It’s something I’ve discussed with men who often write these actions off as dramatic or paranoid. They don’t understand that it's little comfort to know most men are not out to get you when interacting with a stranger, having no way of discerning who is and who isn’t. I know quite a few people who have been roofied. In each case, they normally protect their drinks, but that night it had slipped their mind. Thankfully, everyone I know passed out in a safe location and was not harmed. However, the fact remains, when a woman lets her guard down, she's vulnerable, no matter the odds.
ReplyDeleteHi Amara, I also made the same connections to my life and was reflecting on some of the individual qualities that can be seen as positive or negative depending on the gender of the person. For example, directness, when a man is direct, they area often described as being a good leader or someone who tells the truth. In contrast, when woman are described as direct, they can be called bossy or bitchy. I think this then leads to women trying to mask these things or appease others.
ReplyDeleteHi Amara, being a female I loved the way you touched upon this topic. You did a great job touching upon the few of many problems women can go through. What especially stood out to me is that you mentioned he didn't know how aware we as women have to be. I would go on to say that is privilege blindness. However just because he is a male does not mean he shouldn't understand. I also really enjoyed the images you put on here as they each draw attention to a different problem revolving around feminism.
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this. I often find myself checking the car before i enter as well. I always check the backseat! I fear for my daughter lol the time walking back from her bus stop. I check our tracking apps much more with her than i did with her brothers. Loved your reflection!
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