Top Ten Essays

Still Needing the F Word by Anna Quindlen
If Men Could Menstruate  by Gloria Steinem
Gate C22 by Ellen Bass
Eyes on the Prize by Seldon McCurrie
My Fight for Birth Control  by Margaret Sanger
The Way It Was  by Eleanor Cooney
Who Wants to Marry a Feminist by Lisa Miya-Jervis
The Politics of Housework by Pat Mainardi
She Said by Mariah Lockwood
Unraveling Gender by Cordelia Fine

Arise, Sisters

OK, I put this one up because I really like the picture and the message. This has been an incredible year with republican legislators enacting bills and laws that are cutting off so many different support systems and rights for women and children. I seem to keep going back to Quindlen's essay on still needing the "F" word but it really is true. The matters she discussed pale in front of the cuts and law changes women are facing today. Luckily women are organizing, but there is a lot that needs to be done. But I think there may be an upside to this republican war against women. Women are becoming angry at the loss of hard fought for rights and benefits and are fighting back. I believe a whole generation that may have taken certain rights for granted now see the need to organize and commit to keep and extend those rights.

Have you seen the facebook site War Against Women? a lot of good info and pictures.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

"You can't really understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes," is a saying we have heard since we were children. But these men are wearing women's high heel to bring attention to sexual violence against women. Our book reports that a sexual assault occurs every two minutes in the United States, and is largely under reported. The statistics for rape and physical assault are staggering. Georgia ranks 11th out of the 50 states and DC for incidences of forcible rape, but a GA state representative ( republican) wants to amend the state criminal codes, only in the matter of rape, stalking and domestic violence, to read "accuser" in stead of "victim".  In other words, if your wallet is stolen you are a true victim because obviously a crime really happened, unlike rape which is just what the women "accuses" the man of committing. You know, no real proof, she was probably asking for it, blah, blah, blah. It is horrific what the legislators (mostly, if not all, republican) are doing to women this year. Quindlen is right- we need the "F" word.

Travis' Seahorse

Our text book describes tattoos among young women as an example of self-expression. The book goes on to say that tattoos were traditionally a sign of male rebelliousness. But then states that tattoos among women have become so mainstream, that even the act of purchasing a tattoo can be seen as supporting a capitalistic system. The book adds that it would be more reactionary to actually work for social change, all true, I guess.

But our tattoos, my two daughters and I, have a special meaning for us. My son loved the ocean and the beach, as soon as he graduated he moved to Florida to live. He came home in 2008 but always wished to go back to the beach. In fact, he had a trip planned for the day after he died.  We each had a different seahorse tattooed on our arms to remember him by, of course we never forget him, maybe commemorate is a better word. When I see women with tattoos I always wonder what it means to them.

The Way It Was

               Eleanor Cooney in “The Way It Was” describes her own pregnancy at an young age and the horrors during her search for an abortion, pre Roe v Wade. Cooney explains that she waited too long and went to a series of so-called doctors who robbed her and made sexual advances but did not abort the fetus. Eventually, after telling her mother, she was able to have an abortion even at her late stage of gestation. In the essay Cooney describes in graphic detail the procedure known as a partial birth abortion which is often administered late in term. I think Cooney’s purpose in the graphic descriptions is to describe the dangers women face when searching for an illegal abortion. Cooney states a doctor said that deaths from abortions decreased drastically after abortion was legalized. Cooney brings up the late term abortions because she said the largest age group requesting this type of abortion is teenagers. She believes that proper education, and not strictly abstinence based education, is needed particularly around poor and marginalized girls.

                Many states have already, or in the process of tightening anti-abortion regulations. Some states are demanding parent’s signatures even when parental abuse is on the rise. Many states severely limit late term abortions but are also cutting programs that will assist single mothers, an example of “love the fetus, hate the baby” so prevalent in today’s society. Several states have enacted legislation requiring a vaginal wand examination which actually fits the definition of rape. Because the fear that tax payer money may be used for an abortion many states and organizations have cut or are limiting funds to Planned Parenthood making it difficult or impossible to get birth control or an abortion. Poor women, teenagers and women of color are disportiontly affected by these laws and may resort to illegal abortions to prevent pregnancy.

                 Terminating a pregnancy is a private matter, between a women and her doctor, even the laws that allow abortions is based on privacy.  As I have grown older my feelings about abortion are somewhat changing, the viability of a fetus is not quite as black and white to me as before, but my belief  in a women's right to choose has never changed.             

              

My Fight For Birth Control

               Margaret Sanger describes in “My Fight For Birth Control” the death of a poor women after her second botched abortion. After the first abortion the women begs Sanger for the “secret” believing rich, upper class women knew how to prevent pregnancy. The attending doctor told the woman to have her husband sleep on the roof. Sanger said she wanted to help women like Mrs. Sachs but was unable to offer anything but palliative care. After Sachs death Sanger vows to help women like Sachs learn how to control unwanted pregnancies. Sanger’s description of the young mother’s death from an abortion demonstrates how important affordable, safe birth control is for all women.

                The availability of birth control for women and even young girls is in danger of being all but outlawed. The Catholic Church wants to withhold birth control from its healthcare packages, stating that because the Church outlaws birth control they should not be forced to offer contraceptives, even to non-Catholics. The Church is also against contraceptives as part of the Affordable Health Bill. People say if it’s not in a health care package you can go to Planned Parenthood. But many states (and organizations) are cutting funds to Planned Parenthood citing the fact that PP offers abortions. Many young women use PP as a way to receive birth control and other gynecological services because they cannot ask parents (who may be abusive or religious) for support. Because of less financial support Planned Parenthood is facing financial difficulties and may need to cut service. Unfortunately, this lack of services will not prevent women from getting pregnant but it could increase the number of dangerous back alley abortions.

                Many of the same legislators that want to cut birth control funding and restrict laws allowing access to birth control are the same people that want to cut services to programs for pregnant women and children, it is such backward logic, an example of love the fetus, hate the child mentality.

Still Needing the "F" Word

In “Still Needing the “F” Word” Anna Quindlen writes that some women believe the need for feminists has come and gone, because we are living in a post-feminist era. In 2003 when Quindlen wrote her article it was a reasonable question; women were making strides in workforce, legislation regarding birth control, the right of choice and even voting were in place for decades. Today the choices Quindlen used for her essay in 2003, while important, cannot compare to the issues facing women today. She outline several college studies that verified college women were often more concerned about looking pretty than appearing smart, and wrote about a former governor that was a “serial groper.” Quindlen wondered then if perhaps we were slipping into an era of pre-feminism and today you must wonder if she is correct. She reminded us in the essay that we do need the “F” word now as much as we did in the years leading up to the 70s when many hard fought battles were won.

                Quindlen would agree that the actions of many legislators today would appear that we are living in a pre-feminism society. The contraceptive controversy regarding health benefits offered by Catholic universities and hospitals led to a senate panel consisting of all men refusing to allow Susan Fluke to speak before the committee. Later Rush Limbaugh referred to Fluke on air as a “slut” and a “prostitute” before asking to “see a tape of her having sex.” Many states are issuing strict abortion laws designed to stop all abortions. Many women are forced to have an unnecessary ultrasound with a vaginal wand prior to having an abortion. Recent law changes with regard to identification at polling places will make it more difficult for some women and other people to be able to cast their vote. Quindlen was right when she said Feminism. Feminism. Feminism.

               Quindlen was right when she said we needed to be vigilant not to fall back into pre-feminism. Although the political battleground seems to center around women this year, women must be sure not to allow hard fought for rights to be taken away. Although most of the legislation is enacted by white male politicians, many voters, male and female are voting the legislation into law. Sanger fought for decades for safe, legal contraceptives while Cooney and Quindlen remind us we can’t go back to pre-feminist ways. Quindlen was right we do still need the “F” word maybe more now than ever before.

Single Moms Cause Child Abuse in Wisconsin

A Wisconsin state senator has introduced a bill that claims single mother's (not single father's) unmarried status is a contributing factor in child abuse and neglect. Republican Senator Glenn Grotham, who has never been married and has no children, says children should only be raised by two biological parents and that the role of  fathers is the "primary prevention of child abuse and neglect." Grotham also supports policies that make it harder to access contraceptives "so that they are not in a situation ... to have an unwanted pregnancy." He has also sponsored a bill to repeal the state's Equal Pay Enforcement Bill stating that the "left and the social welfare establishment want children born out of wedlock because they will be more likely to be dependent on the system." He also believes programs like low-income housing assistance, school choice, WIC, tax credits, and food stamps make being a single mom more attractive than marriage. This is a blatant example of one man's War Against Women. Patricia Hill Collins explains in Towards a New Vision that many "key American institutions" are controlled by elite white men that structure oppression based on race, class and gender. In the end Collins calls on all of us to take a stand to end oppression. 

Limbaugh vs Fluke

"So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here's the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch." Just a few words, but so very powerful. After calling Ms Fluke a slut the day before Rush Limbaugh upped his rhetoric by once again attacking Fluke, misrepresenting the contraception issue (no one is asking tax payers to pay for anything, it is a benefit being withheld from certain institutions), insulting all feminists and just being a jerk. Beyond the obvious problems with his statement when did it become OK to be so uncivil to a young women (or anyone else) who just wanted an opportunity to speak? Particularly from the Constitution waving right wingers?

(Rethinking) Gender

Transgender model Andrej Pejic has recently been signed by Jean Paul Gaultier's design house as its new face for runway and fragrance work. Pejic, who answers to both "he" and "she" claims not to have a strong gender identify saying that s/he "identify[s] as what I am." This statement brings to mind what Debra Rosenberg wrote in (Rethinking) Gender, that as transgender people become more visible we need to ask ourselves does "gender come in just two flavors?" Rosenberg explains that gender is far more complicated than "what is between our legs" adding that is also different from sexual orientation, which determines "who we are attracted to." At Smith College, traditionally a women's college, some students describe enrollment as "mostly women" because of the large number of "transmen" who become male after enrollment. In fact, Smith has removed all pronouns from the student government constitution as a gesture of support for the transgender community at school. Unfortunately, in spite of some instances of high profile acceptance transgendered people are still discriminated against and are subject to hate crimes

Rosen vs Romney

The latest blast on the War Against Women front came from Hilary Rosen when she claimed Ann Romney, a stay at home mom, never worked a day in her life. The Romney campaign, anxious to get some street cred in the WAW, responded that raising five sons was work.  Unfortunately, this was just another example of the “mommy wars” fought every day between stay-at-home and working moms. Being a mom is hard work ; employed mothers often have hours of work once home while stay-at-home moms are frequently held to unattainable housework goals because she is at home. But Rosen’s comments brought out class issues, too. Many women said staying home with five kids when you are a multi-millionaire is not quite the same as a mom working several jobs to make ends. Even Jay Leno quipped “It’s easy to be a homemaker when you have ten homes to choose from.” An op-ed piece from the Washington Times Communities page even described Rosen as a bitter lesbian jealous of Ann Romney’s beauty, especially when Rosen’s own stay-at-home stint ended in a break-up. Probably the most important message we can all take away from this finger pointing is quite simple; women need to support each other  regardless of race, class, gender or any other constraint that divides us. 

Gate C22

I love Ellen Bass' poem Gate C22, the celebration of "mature" love. There is such a conceit that love, especially sexual love, belongs to just young people. During the student readings in my Creative Writing class many of the younger students write rapturously about their sexual experiences. And I get it, it is terribly important to them, as it is to me. Although, another non-traditional student and I laugh that the younger students would probably gag if we wrote about our latest sexual experiences. But if I could frame my words to tell my story the way Bass does, I sure would do it. When she writes of "lavish kisses" with the whole world watching, you hold your breath along with the all the other watchers in the airport, feeling envious of the lovers. It's really nice to see a depiction of mature love that isn't a commercial for Cialys or Viagra.

What's Your Nude?

A new Facebook site asks “What’s your nude?” The site is an attempt to mobilize lingerie manufactures to produce bras in more shades of brown than are available now. Bras sold today in “nude” shades are in a range of light colors, think blush, beige and tan. So women of color find it nearly impossible to find bras to match darker skin tones. The concept that “nude” is a beige color is so deeply ingrained in most of us that many women have never realized the stereotype presented in “nude” choices in clothing, hosiery, make-up and even band-aids. It is amazing how insidious words can be, and how without thinking we can contribute to an on-going stereotype. One of the women on FB wondered if perhaps the colors could be referred to as “natural” rather than nude, which is probably a good starting place. 

V-Day on the View

On Valentine’s Day/V-Day, the Hot Topic on the View was Chris Brown’s triumphant return to the Grammy’s on Sunday. Social media sites were divided on whether Brown had learned his lesson after his felony conviction for beating Rhianna in 2009 or if there should even be a connection between his music and personal life. The women on the View believed that he should have a second chance to prove himself particularly since he has taken anger management classes. But what everyone found incredibly disturbing were some of the emails and tweets from young women, not for giving Brown a second chance, but for their attitude about violence towards women.  One woman tweeted “Chris Brown can do anything he wants to me. I’d do anything to have him” another said “ Chris Brown can punch me in the face as much as he wants to as long as he kisses it.” It was shocking that young women would even joke about the possibility of domestic abuse or being hit by a man. Elizabeth Hasselbeck said it best when she said the problem was not with Brown’s music or his acceptance at the Grammy’s. The problem was these young women would accept physical violence to be with a man. It was about self-esteem and self-worth.  It was ironic that this was all taking place on V-Day. At my granddaughter's high school five young women have been beaten or raped in high profile cases in the last 4 years, you can only wonder what goes on that you don’t hear about. V-Day has a young girls site, I’m going to send it to my granddaughter.

Can't Pick Your Family

While doing my interview, my subject Deb said that she had a bias against “stupid people.” She was quick to point out she didn’t mean handicapped people or uneducated people, she meant narrow minded, bigoted, intolerant people. I didn't think much about it, but I did decide to leave it out of my paper. Later that week, I got into a discussion on Facebook with several friends and family members about the big contraception issue brewing with the Catholic Church hierarchy and the Obama administration. It was incredible how quickly sides were chosen, with finger pointing and misinformation flying all over FB. I found myself furious at my brother and my female cousin, neither of whom are practicing Catholics. How could they believe what they were saying, especially my cousin insisting she “supports women’s rights” yet agreeing with the Church’s stance on birth control and health insurance. I couldn’t believe how stupid they all were, couldn’t they listen to reason? I was disappointed in them; I thought they were smarter than that. Then I realized that I was being narrow-minded, too. I tried my best to change their minds with facts and figures. I talked about a women’s right to privacy, the slippery slope when an employer decides to claim a special exemption from a law; what's next, what if it was dialysis or blood transfusions. We all dug in deeper and harder, none of us changed our minds. I thought I would quit FB but instead I decided to keep my views to myself. I keep thinking maybe I could have been more open to their opinions but I just can’t accept the Church’s argument and can't help but be disappointed with a few members of my family. Yes, I feel just as strongly in my point of view as they do in theirs. I wonder if they think I'm stupid and narrow minded, too.

Feminist Theory at the SAG Awards

    Strangely enough, two of the speeches from last night’s Screen Actor Guild’s Award Show encompassed several of the issues we have covered in our readings. Dick Van Dyke, while presenting a lifetime achievement award to Mary Taylor Moore, “praised” Moore for being ''… one of the few performers — women — who can do a flat-out comedy scene and still be beautiful and feminine and adorable'' (Entertainment Weekly). There is no question that Van Dyke was heartfelt in his admiration for Moore but instead of honoring her for her acting achievement he places her in category defined more by her sex, looks and femininity instead of talent.

    When Viola Davis accepted the Best Cast award for The Help she said ''The stain of racism and sexism, it's not just for people of color or women — it's all of our burden, all of us can inspire change'' (Entertainment Weekly).  When hearing her statement you can almost believe that she has read bell hooks' essay from our text. I would hope that prior to taking this women’s studies course I would have noted these two statements but I am sure that as I continue my studies over the semester I will be able to hear the subtext of oppression in every day speech.

These quotes were taken from Entertainment Weekly’s Website, January 30, 2012.

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20560482,00.html#21112591

Intersecting Axes of Privilege, Domination, and Oppression

I found the “Intersecting Axes of Privilege, Domination, and Oppression” enlightening (44). In particular I found the issues surrounding ageism, lookism, sizeism and ableism interesting, especially for a woman. Most of these issues for a woman will actually push her further down the scale. As a man ages, his wrinkles are a sign of wisdom, he becomes craggy and stately not wrinkly and fat. If one uses a cane it can be seen as sophisticated for a man (think walking stick) but as a sign of weakness for a woman. More often for women these natural changes became viewed as a handicap whereas in a man they are viewed as passing into an elder statesmen era which is often viewed with additional (but not necessarily earned) respect. I have noticed since I have become older and heavier, differing from the aspired to norm, and perceived as less attractive because of age and sizeism, people will react differently to me than before. It’s so subtle that it’s even hard to give an example but it’s mostly in little things like the smaller attention span a stranger gives you, or an exasperated look you get if you don’t get what a person is saying right away or if you move too slowly. Of course, maybe I am just suffering from reverse ageism.

            

WDVE Billboard

There was such a public outcry when this billboard came out ten years ago that it wasn’t hard to find this image in the Post-Gazette archives. Of course there's not much that needs to be said about the image since the not very subtle billboard speaks for itself. When confronted about the image it was no surprise the WDVE brass attempted to justify the image by saying it was no more explicit than a Cosmo cover, while stressing that the image was marketed  to the radio station's mainly male target audience. But what did surprise me was an article written by a female Post-Gazette staffer protesting (sort of) the billboards. In her story she manages to use the words, “wettest dreams,” as well as “ejaculation” and ends the article by saying “what boobs we are.” Finally she gets to her real complaint; the proliferation of billboards in and around Pittsburgh. When referring to the content of the 'DVE billboards she actually states “This is a problem we wouldn't have if we didn't have so damn many billboards.”  It was such a missed opportunity for the writer to make a serious statement about the exploitation of women’s bodies but instead she resorted to cheap, sexist double entendres and innuendos which just weakened her credibility on either issue.

Lowry, Patricia. “Places: Radio Billboards Send a Strong Signal About Women.”Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 24 Apr 2002. Web 23 Jan 2012.

Meet Me at the Beauty Parlor For Some Girlie Time

After years of marketing Legos to boys (think firefighters and adventurers), the company has recently developed a new line just for girls. This new line includes a café, a beauty shop, a horse academy and a veterinarian clinic and is introducing six new colors, all in Easter egg hues. If this isn’t enough, the sets also include accessories such as lipsticks, hair dryers, bows and a mirror. And let’s not forget the Lego “money brick” that fits in the purse to pay for the frills at the salon. Even the building bricks are bigger and easier to construct into the shops than the “boy’s” sets. The message is clear; little boys can build towns, explore space and save the world while little girls can play with their hair and put on makeup. Gender stereotyping sets a dangerous precedence for kids. It limits growth and understanding at a very young age in children which will limit them as they grow older. 

Husbandly Manipulation

On Wednesday I didn’t get home from my last class until 9:20pm after arriving on campus at 10am. It was a long day with classes both at Pitt and Chatham, torrential downpours and parking issues in Oakland. All I wanted was a glass of wine when I got home but I had chapters to read for two classes and a test in another. Thursday looked to be another long day with classes, workshops and a required movie keeping me on campus until nearly eight. I’m really not complaining, I know time and study issues are every student's lament, but I was exhausted. My husband Larry said “Let’s go up to Mexi-Casa for dinner tomorrow when you get home.” It sounded like a great idea, especially since I didn’t have class on Friday. Larry is very supportive of my return to school, he’s even postponed his own retirement until I graduate. He does the dishes whenever I cook and he always cleans the bathrooms. He really could wear a “This is what a feminist looks like!” t-shirt. But somehow he slipped on Wednesday and came very close to dragging me down with him.