I have attempted to post a soundtrack of my life. After technical difficulty, I will simply name the songs and have installed a YouTube gadget on the right side of my blog. Feel free to search for the following:
1. Chewing Gum- Annie
2. American Baby- Dave Matthews Band
3. Stay- Sugarland
4. Jesus Walks- Kanye West
5. Good night Sweetheart- Sha Na Na
6. Hollywood- Madonna
7. Baby Mine- Dumbo
8. My Own Home- The Jungle Book
9. He's A Tramp- The Lady and The Tramp
10. i can't make you love me- Bonnie Rait
These songs all have one thing in common. They speak to me on some level. Most of them are songs of hope, songs that keep my faith in men or life up and going. Others are reminders of how strong I have been during times of trial. Still others bring out the innocence of my youth and remind me of the purity of childhood. The one that brought me through it all, though, isn't on the list. My grandmother used to sing me a song when I was little to put me to sleep. She would sing these words, repeating them over and over, until I fell asleep.
"Bye-o-baby, bye-o-bye
Bye-o-bye-o-bye.
Bye-o-baby, bye-o-bye
Bye-o-bye.
Bye-o-baby, Bye-o-bye."
She still sings that song any time we bring little ones over to her house. I'll be cooking in the kitchen or watching her rock them. This song, though it might not hit the jackpot for some, is immeasurable in importance to me.
(I haven't received the FIFE book as of yet, and I wasn't able to borrow it or find the reading packet today. Assuming I have left the packet at home, I will update this blog post ASAP once I receive the book and get the packet.)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
What is Women's Studies?
My Future:
To be completely honest, I want to be a housewife. Yes, that's right. I want to cook the meals, clean the house, raise the kids, and watch the soaps. I want to drive the Range Rover, show off the diamond ring, and flash a smile at the workaholic singles who wish they had my life.
In reality, though, I'll probably be a journalist working out in the field. One thing's for sure, though... I want to make a difference in a child's life, whether it be my own or someone else's.
OU Courses:
The course which interests me most is the Motherhood and Society course which is taught online. It is a Women's Studies course, which surprised me because I always thought that most of the Women's Studies majors were against becoming mothers.
I want to take courses that will prepare me for the real world. Examples: Etiquette courses; Computer Programming; Life After OU.
Gender Role:
Gender will play a significant role in my future, regardless of what the future holds for me. If I do get my dream life with the successful husband and two kids in high-class elitist gated community land, I would be the woman that all other women learn to hate.
If I become the journalist, I will be the one who is pitied. Poor little Blondie, what went wrong? Why are you so unwanted that you must work for a living?
Despite what is said, the stereotype of housewife and provider husband still hold true to this day. Although we don't talk about it, all of my unmarried female friends and relatives envy the phrase "Will you be my bride's maid?" and "Can you help me? I think we're having a baby!" because it reminds us of two things: how much we wish it were us, and how alone we are in our position of singleness.
Work History
In all of my past jobs, I have had to deal with customers thinking they are better than me since I am serving them. They judge me. Half of them didn't tip, and those that did forgot that I made less than 3 dollars per hour. This would have bothered me less if they hadn't been ogling my uniform (since I am a cocktail waitress, my employers always think less is more and tipping will be better if they shorten our skirts).
I no longer work in the service industry. I am in college to better my circumstances, and it is my hope that if I don't find that "perfect man" at least I won't have to serve any more "somebodies" who make me feel inadequate.
This exercise reminds me a lot of Chapter 4 in the F-word. After doing this exercise, it has dawned on me: I am a victim of circumstance. What circumstance, you ask? Gender inequality.
This is made even more interesting by the fact that in the poll discussed in the book, the number one on the "Top Ten Social Issues" is Gender equality.
On page 74 of Chapter 4, Emily says exactly what my fear is ...
"pressure from two fronts: One telling you to be a mother, a wife, the traditional caretaker. The other part of society telling you no, be a career woman and be strong. It's very confusing and the messages are so mixed. It's sort of like society doesn't know what it wants us to be."
To be completely honest, I want to be a housewife. Yes, that's right. I want to cook the meals, clean the house, raise the kids, and watch the soaps. I want to drive the Range Rover, show off the diamond ring, and flash a smile at the workaholic singles who wish they had my life.
In reality, though, I'll probably be a journalist working out in the field. One thing's for sure, though... I want to make a difference in a child's life, whether it be my own or someone else's.
OU Courses:
The course which interests me most is the Motherhood and Society course which is taught online. It is a Women's Studies course, which surprised me because I always thought that most of the Women's Studies majors were against becoming mothers.
I want to take courses that will prepare me for the real world. Examples: Etiquette courses; Computer Programming; Life After OU.
Gender Role:
Gender will play a significant role in my future, regardless of what the future holds for me. If I do get my dream life with the successful husband and two kids in high-class elitist gated community land, I would be the woman that all other women learn to hate.
If I become the journalist, I will be the one who is pitied. Poor little Blondie, what went wrong? Why are you so unwanted that you must work for a living?
Despite what is said, the stereotype of housewife and provider husband still hold true to this day. Although we don't talk about it, all of my unmarried female friends and relatives envy the phrase "Will you be my bride's maid?" and "Can you help me? I think we're having a baby!" because it reminds us of two things: how much we wish it were us, and how alone we are in our position of singleness.
Work History
In all of my past jobs, I have had to deal with customers thinking they are better than me since I am serving them. They judge me. Half of them didn't tip, and those that did forgot that I made less than 3 dollars per hour. This would have bothered me less if they hadn't been ogling my uniform (since I am a cocktail waitress, my employers always think less is more and tipping will be better if they shorten our skirts).
I no longer work in the service industry. I am in college to better my circumstances, and it is my hope that if I don't find that "perfect man" at least I won't have to serve any more "somebodies" who make me feel inadequate.
This exercise reminds me a lot of Chapter 4 in the F-word. After doing this exercise, it has dawned on me: I am a victim of circumstance. What circumstance, you ask? Gender inequality.
This is made even more interesting by the fact that in the poll discussed in the book, the number one on the "Top Ten Social Issues" is Gender equality.
On page 74 of Chapter 4, Emily says exactly what my fear is ...
"pressure from two fronts: One telling you to be a mother, a wife, the traditional caretaker. The other part of society telling you no, be a career woman and be strong. It's very confusing and the messages are so mixed. It's sort of like society doesn't know what it wants us to be."
Iron Jawed Angels
The movie "Iron Jawed Angels" is about the first wave of the women's movement, as defined by "FIFE."
The key characters in the movie, Alice and Lucy, were also key players in the actual movement. These two, along with others in the movie such as Inez Mulholland, were using political protest to get the 19th amendment passed.
What surprised me about this film is the way the protagonists were so different from one another. Lucy had a certain fire about her, but Alice was more like a proper socialite. Despite this fact, the two women pushed hard for equality in the form of women's suffrage.
There are so many themes in this film: perseverance, doubt, conservatism, pride, ignorance, and self-respect are examples.
Although the women in the movement didn't all see eye to eye, they were fighting for the same goal: to have a voice and be heard. Even when other women were against them, these women continued to push for all to have a part in the electoral process.
It is my belief that upon the imprisonment of the women, the rest of society realized that we, as women, would stop at nothing to get the right to vote. Society couldn't shut the feminists up, and it couldn't force them to do something if they didn't want to.
For this reason, after constant struggle, torture (being force-fed) and even death (Inez), these women eventually won the right to vote, thereby earning us as women a place in society.
Linda Black
My grandmother was born April 19, 1944. She had one brother, Tony.
Her experience of gender roles was "I was a girl, and I did froo-froo things. I made houses out of rocks.... I played house."
She had baby dolls because there were no barbie dolls.
" I took gym, and we played volleyball... and some tennis.. and we played a lot of dodge ball."
They always separated the teams. (Example: girls' volleyball team.)
History of Feminism
"Well, we really didn't have a lot of that back then."
"I got a swat from my ninth grade math teacher. Because I was a girl, I got to wear petticoats, and the swat didn't hurt so bad."
Life Experience
"When they invoked the draft during the Vietnam War... I knew that I didn't have to worry about it because I was a girl."
"When I graduated from high school, the accepted social thing was to get married and have a family. It was not normal for a girl to go to college."
"It wasn't done regularly. Most of the people that went on to college... they either went on to college or the military. But girls did not. They either went to work at a proper job or they had a family."
Thoughts on Feminism
"I think I ought to be allowed to do anything I think I'm big enough to do. But on the other hand, it's kind of nice to be a girl and not be expected to do a lot of things that men are expected to do."
It is interesting to note, however, that because of the more radical viewpoints that some feminists took, Linda has a difficult time saying whether she is a feminist. This idea, discussed in length in "The F Word: Feminism In Jeopardy," is one of the reasons why the third wave of feminism is having such a difficult time gaining momentum. Until all pieces can come together and stand united, this stage of feminism could be the last.
Her mother got married at 14, and she married at 19. If she had it to do over again, she would have liked to have gone to college. Looking back on it, Linda believes she would have eventually become a lawyer if she had been given the opportunity to do so.
My grandmother is a very strong-willed person. She is full of ideas, and worked as a secretary for several years. In her own way, it is my personal belief that she is a feminist.
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