First off, I must say that there is scanty action here at Learning Curve, which is a bummer. I do hope that my friendly contributors will pick up some slack this week (ahem, yes you!) I wanted to post a few links here for further reading, both have to do with gender in universities and both can be found at Inside Higher Education: first here, then here.
In an effort to help you keep on keeping on, read these articles and formulate a response to one of them. I would shoot for roughly 200 words or so--
In Solidarity,
Dr. Fem
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Pervert!
This is a subject we talked about in some detail in our first week but this article just really stood out to me.
Don’t get me wrong I totally understand mothers wanting to protect their children but is this not going a bit too far? Now I’m not a mother clearly so I guess I just don’t have that super protective motherly instinct but this seems not only a little ridiculous but also very counter productive to what most women and specifically mothers say that want from a father, not to mention making a strong point about traditional gender roles. Traditional society would put men in the workplace so that MOM could afford to drive that Suburban to the waterpark and take pictures of the kids to show dad later. It was surprising to me to see that it was a band of mothers verbally attacking this seemingly caring, aparentally involved father. I would think that the mothers would be happy to see a father out with his children instead of the usual complaint about how dad won’t get out from in front of the TV to play with his kids. I guess that man should have been at the golf course or watching the game with his buddies instead of having a nice time enjoying some time with his children. Even though mothers are the group behind the complaint about uninvolved fathers, they are the ones perpetuating the notion that a dad SHOULDN’T be out with his father – lest he will be the target of some sort of social/societal punishment. I believe fathers should be equally as involved with their children as the mother should be and it is disappointing to see a group of mothers bashing a father for doing just that.
--Feminist Guy?
Don’t get me wrong I totally understand mothers wanting to protect their children but is this not going a bit too far? Now I’m not a mother clearly so I guess I just don’t have that super protective motherly instinct but this seems not only a little ridiculous but also very counter productive to what most women and specifically mothers say that want from a father, not to mention making a strong point about traditional gender roles. Traditional society would put men in the workplace so that MOM could afford to drive that Suburban to the waterpark and take pictures of the kids to show dad later. It was surprising to me to see that it was a band of mothers verbally attacking this seemingly caring, aparentally involved father. I would think that the mothers would be happy to see a father out with his children instead of the usual complaint about how dad won’t get out from in front of the TV to play with his kids. I guess that man should have been at the golf course or watching the game with his buddies instead of having a nice time enjoying some time with his children. Even though mothers are the group behind the complaint about uninvolved fathers, they are the ones perpetuating the notion that a dad SHOULDN’T be out with his father – lest he will be the target of some sort of social/societal punishment. I believe fathers should be equally as involved with their children as the mother should be and it is disappointing to see a group of mothers bashing a father for doing just that.
--Feminist Guy?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Women on the Job Market; Images of Harlem
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Entrenched, Systemic Sexism
In recent campaign speeches, the republican candidate for president, Senator John McCain, has emphasized his goal of protecting what he calls the “rights of the unborn.” It is in fact his goal to curtail and ultimately eliminate the reproductive rights of women in America. Senator McCain has repeatedly expressed support for a total ban on abortion and explicitly condemned any sort of exception for dangers to the health of the mother. He has also stated publicly that he is opposed to birth control being covered by medical insurance prescription drug plans, but is in favor of Viagra being covered. While this is no doubt a clear example of the influence of a powerful Washington lobby at work, the underlying motivations are undeniably sexist. The thunderous rounds of applause with which Senator McCain’s remarks were received are a clear indicator of the threat posed to women’s rights by Senator McCain and other conservatives in congress, but the underlying issue is not one of partisan politics, but of firmly entrenched, systemic sexism in America. The fact is, women’s reproductive rights are being threatened, and steadily eroded, by a legislative body overwhelmingly comprised of men. There’s something seriously wrong with that. I myself have very strong opinions on matters of female reproductive rights, but I firmly believe that I have no right to engage in the debate. I’m not qualified to weigh in on the subject. No man is. Simply put, as someone who does not possess a uterus, a man is utterly incapable of comprehending the physical and emotional complexities involved in decisions pertaining to such matters, and any man would be indescribably arrogant to assume otherwise. So until congress is comprised of a majority of female representatives, it should refrain from passing legislation that does anything but protect women’s rights to make their own decisions regarding their health.
-Numbereight
-Numbereight
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Let's Talk about Race
As I began class with last night, there has been much furor over The New Yorker's current cover featuring the Obamas in their full militant, Muslim, anti-American regalia. See here and here for some of the responses to The New Yorker's provocative choice of imagery. (see here too! and here for responses around the blogsphere)
Not only have both Obama's and McCain's campaigns criticized The New Yorker's choice, but there has been a broad-based backlash from liberals across the nation: the cover is racist, in poor taste, bound to be misused in the wrong hands, bound to be misunderstood by the majority of the population, sends the wrong message.
If you looked back on the covers of The New Yorker over the years, you would find a vast supply of political satire--we might say, the magazine has come to be count on for some searing cultural critique through its cover art. Why has this recent piece of satire apparently fallen flat?
How does race and racism factor into the satire and the overwhelmingly negative responses?
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Brothers & Sisters
These are loaded terms, as we began talking about tonight. In their worst light, they insinuate exclusivity like the sort produced and reproduced by sororities and fraternities; in their best light, they suggest solidarity across barriers, like that created by women's movements, civil rights, abolitionist, gay rights, and all sorts of other collectives. I'm curious to hear your experiences with solidarity and what brought whatever group you feel or have felt most connected to--and trusting of--into your lives. In the absence of any such experience, perhaps you can shed some light on that BSU (big southern campus) of ours--who do you see forming groups, informal or otherwise?
Did our discussion of the Greek system resonate with your own impressions? What do you think most troubling?
Do you feel a part of "third wave" feminism?
Open thread here folks to begin our chatting--go to town! Post comments at will.
Dr. Fem
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
And so we begin
A proper introductory post is to come but I at least wanted to say welcome to Women's Studies, check out the links on the side to begin with, and let me know (for now) in the comments section about other blogs/newslinks/sites you think relevant to our discussions and course.
Happy Readings--
Dr. Fem
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