What it means to take a Women's Studies Class

As my final post I would like to take the opportunity to share a few of my experiences as a college student taking  Women's Studies classes. I am currently a senior, and will be graduating soon. I started out taking Women's Studies classes as a way to fill my extra requirements with classes that I thought would interest me. Ive taken Women in Lit, Economics, and Religion, and they all have been very valuable classes. I liked them so much that I decided to become a Women's Studies minor. My parents are paying for my education, and when I told my dad that I had declared a Women's Studies minor he was a little taken aback (you must take into consideration that it was hard for him to understand why I didn't want to be a Business major like him). I have been able to take the things that I have learned in these Women's Studies classes and have applied them to my other classes. 
I have to admit  when we talked in class about girls at the bars showing off to gain attention, I pictured myself and my friends having a good time. When we talked about inappropriate Halloween costumes I have to admit that I have worn some scandalous things in past years. When we talked about women staying home with their children as full time moms there was a part of me who though that it would be great to be a stay at home mom. 
I consider myself a person who advocates equal rights for men and women, but I would not consider myself an activist. Before this class I would not have considered myself a feminist, but more so a girl who knows what she wants out of life. I want to now take what I have learned and think more about how I can apply it to my daily life. I am not going to say that this class "changed my life" or anything as dramatic as that, but it did make me more aware of my own opinions and actions.

Ride

While browsing YouTube I was disturbed by a specific Ciara music video. This song is called "Ride." We have come so far in gaining respect from men, and in this video Ciara is basically selling herself to the highest bidder. She is a pop culture icon, and seeing women "selling" themselves disappoints me. This song is popular in clubs, and women may not realized how degrading it is when they sing along to this song while grinding a boy on the dance floor.

"I market it so good [ talking about her body]
They can't wait to try 
Me 
I work it so good [once again talking about her body]
Man, these nig**s
Tryna buy me"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6W4aK1sbs

"Like a Boy"

Listening to Ciara's song "Like a Boy," I begin to wonder why we assume that men will disappoint us and that some women expect it. 

"What if I?...
Had a thing on the side?
Made you cry?
Would the rules change up?...
Or would they still apply?...
If I played you like a toy?...
Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy"

Why is it that men are expected to act like "boys?" We as a society tend to let men off the hook with a lot of things because "boys will be boys." Where did this expression come from, and why is there not a similar expression centered around women? I believe that men should have to take responsibility for their actions. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKH7Emy1SY

Barbie

Walking through WalMart yesterday something caught my eye as I walked past the toy section. Barbie has made a transformation.When Barbie was first introduced in 1959 she was marketed as a Teenage Fashion Model. Since then Barbie has become an icon for young girls around the world. She was marketed as a powerful girl who knows what she wants.Barbie has been changed recently. She has a smaller bust and a larger waist. She has brought up many controversies concerning her unattainable size and some questionable Barbie themes including Totally Tattoos Barbie who has a lower back tattoo of the name Ken. 
I can remember playing with many Barbies, and I am sure I will buy Barbie for my daughter when the time comes.

Sister Wives

After our discussion in class yesterday I started to think about the show Sister Wives. This show follows a polygamous family and we get to see the view point from all members of the family. Some may argue that this is wrong or immoral. It certainly goes against the social norm. At the beginning of the show the wives are quoted saying things like they wouldn't have it any other way, or that they want to share love with a family and not just a man.  I have been watching this show all season, and the family seems very normal accept for the fact that there is only one man involved. 
All four "wives" have their own portion of the home, and they live as normal as a life that someone could live as one of four wives. This season the fourth wife was brought into the family. It was the suggestion of the first wife that her husband pursue her. These women lives as friends and mothers together. People can argue that this is no way to raise a child, but three of the four wives were raised in polygamous families. The family faces legal action, even though he is only actually married to one woman. Polygamy was outlawed within the Mormon Church many years ago, but many people still practice it today. 

Nicaraguan Women

This semester I went to a presentation about Nicaraguan Women and their efforts. The presentation also consisted of seven young women dancing traditional dances. One thing that really made an impression on me, during this presentation, was the uprising of the Nicaraguan culture even during the hard times their country is facing. The traditional dances of their ancestors have become less important to the people in Nicaragua in recent years because they have had other things that concern them.


It was Ana’s (the director of the traditional dances) enthusiasm, for the dances of her culture, and her childhood, to be become a part of the lives of the girls living in this community. These are things she remembers doing as a young girl, and it was very important to her.


When we watched the short movie about Women in Action and Compas de Nicaragua one of the young girls who participated in the dance classes said that the dances made her feel “free.” This freeing experience has not only helped these women embrace their culture and their history, but it has helped them embrace their femininity. These dance classes were a great way for girls in the community to escape from the stress of their daily lives and participate in something positive.

Forbes Women

My roommate is a Finance major, and she receives Forbes Magazine (an unwanted Christmas gift from her dad last year I believe) once a month. The front cover of the October issue had in big bold letter The 100 Most Powerful Women. I think that it is wonderful, and most likely a new advancement, that Forbes has an entire issue centered around powerful women. I was also interested to see that among the First Lady, CEOs of major corporations, and financiers many Pop Culture icons were included. Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Sarah Jessica Parker made the list. 


http://www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women

"Tip Drill"

Most forms of media in today’s culture send many different messages, and these messages can be conflicting. The media is broadcasted with equivalency to the public, but the same media will be interpreted by different groups of people with differing perspectives. Rap music is a male dominated industry; the rap industry perpetuates the violence and disrespect towards the women of color who participate in, and who are influenced by this genre.

The women who participate in music videos and other aspects of the rap industry are not responsible for the images that portray them. Men are responsible for what society finds attractive and desirable.

The video “Tip Drill” by the rapper Nelly has become a cultural phenomenon. This video was released in 2006, and it is still causing controversy. The definition of a “tip drill” according to UrbanDictionary.com is “when a girl bends over and a man puts his penis in her ass crack without any penetration. This is usually done as foreplay before doggy style sex or as an act when the man and the woman do not want to engage in full intercourse. The woman's ass cheeks are used to excite the penis, sometimes to ejaculation.” The first decipherable words are “I said it must be your ass, cuz it ain’t your face. I need a tip drill I need a tip drill.” The women are reduced to body parts. At one point in the video a man slides a credit card between the butt cheeks of one of the female dancers. He has reduced her to an inanimate object. I am personally offended by the picture below, but I felt it strengthened my argument!!

Networks like VH1, MTV and BET have been criticized for airing videos like “Tip Drill.” The combinations of images and music together have been gaining popularity since the 1980’s and these networks are trying to keep up with "customer needs and demands." (MTV)  I know that I do not "want" or "need" or "demand" to see ANYTHING like this played on my television!

Roit Grrrl Revolution

The music of Bikini Kill plays as I enter the room for Sara Marcus’ presentation Girls to the Front. “That girl she holds her head up so high, I think I wanna be her best friend, yeah” (Bikini Kill: Rebel Girl) Sara Marcus walked in with her punk rock hair style and positive attitude. She wanted to share with us what it was like to be part of the Riot Grrrl revolution. We watched a video where the girls were wearing dresses and chewing bubble gum. These girls expressed themselves through their music, and embraced their femininity while being strong and independent.The mix of punk rock and femininity of the Riot Grrrl Revolution really interested me. Girls could scream with pig tails in their hair and short skirts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZxxhxjgnC0

Girls produced zines. In my opinion this blog is like the Roit Grrrl's zines. We may not be connecting on a personal level with each other, but I have been very candid in my posts and in my responses to other classmates posts. I have tried to remain some what antonymous, but if you all knew who I was from the start I believe I would have been just as candid. Sara Marcus and her fellow revolutionaries were brave, and I envy their courage and strength when society had drained young women of their power. 

Mary Magdalene

This semester I am taking a class titled "The Bible as Literature."   I have seen many different types of images of females with in the Bible. There is the image of the "barren" woman who is useless to her husband, the "raped" woman Dinah and Tamera. These women are raped, and the men who rape them are not apologetic about it. But the image that has made the largest impression on me is Mary Magdalene as a "prostitute." 


I have read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John this semester, and within those texts there is no evidence that Mary Magdalene ever sold herself for sex. In 1969 the church officially cleared her name and recognized that she was not a prostitute. Why do so many people still believe that she was a prostitute even though there is no evidence? She is mentioned before other women, and many times she is mentioned as "the one the savior loved more than other women." (Gospel of Mary Magdalene 6.1) Mary herself wrote a gospel, it was not "canonized" (aka used as a sacred text in the Bible) because of Mary's possible relationship with Jesus. Her gospel was considered heresy and it was "destroyed," but it was found years later. 


Whether you believe that Mary was Jesus's wife, his lover, or just one if his favorite apostles, there is no evidence to support the claim that she was a repentant prostitute. The view that many within the religious community have of her is negative. Since she was a woman she was doubted, ad many failed to recognize that she was an important figure to Jesus. 

Women's Literature

Last week while sitting in one of my English classes our professor asked us a question: "Has anyone read Marjory Kemp in a Women's Studies class?" When no one responded he just went on with the lesson. Why did he assume that someone would have had to be in a Womens Studies class to have read a female author?


I am an English major, and the majority of texts that I have read have been in my college career have been written by old white men. The only texts I have read by women have been in my Women in Literature class. So maybe my professor was right in asking that question. I think that literature written by females needs to be integrated into the English curriculum. I have taken classes like Modern American Literature, Advanced Poetry, and Nature Writing. These classes should include more literature written by women so that we as students can be exposed the many talented female authors of the past and of the modern era. 

Jersey Shore

This past week I have been catching up on my Jersey Shore episodes since I haven't been able to watch them at their normal time lately. Jersey Shore is not one of my favorite shows, but I do find it entertaining. Just like many MTV shows that have come before them, it is interesting to see how complete strangers act when put together under one roof.


The episode that sticks out in my mind the most is the episode where Pauly calls Angelina a slut. Angelina points out that she is a single girl, and that she can do whatever she wants. She also points out the Pauly and Mike bring home girls every weekend, and no one calls them sluts or man whores. He then goes on to say that guys can do things like that but girls can't.


This is a prime example of the sexual double standard in our society. Men can do whatever or whoever they want and there aren't any consequences. Girls do anything out of the ordinary, and they are labeled as sluts and whores.

Halloween Costumes

Around this time every year girls start to plan what they are going to be for Halloween. In recent years Ihave noticed that costumes have been getting more and more risque. Things like lingerie and short skirts are operfectly accetable as Halloween costumes. Girls basically run from bar to bar, or house party to house party in their underwear and pass it off as some kind of costume. We live in Wisconsin, around this time of year it starts to get COLD! What happened to the days where costumes were judged based on how creative you were instead of how much of your body you can show without being arrested! I am not a fan of this new tradition, and will be sticking to a more creative approach when planning my costume this year.

MRS Degree

I work as a cashier at a local retail store, and sometimes when it gets slow the customers tend to spend a little time chatting with me after they have paid for their merchandise. One gentleman asked me how old I was and if I was in school. I told him that I was a student at UW Oshkosh, and his immediate response was " Oh are you getting your MRS degree?" It took a couple of seconds for me to realize what he meant, and I was outraged!!! Since I was at work I couldn't tell him what I really thought of him, so I just told him no that I was not going for my MRS, and to have a nice day. He got the message and left mid conversation. 

How long will women need to go to college, get degrees, go on to get their masters, and then their PHD for men to realize that we do not just go to school to find a husband?! I believe that there are more women enrolled at UW Oshkosh than men, and more women will go on to graduate with a degree. I consider myself a very independent person, and I do not need a husband to support me. We are too young to be thinking about getting married. We need to live our lives and figure out who we really are!!

Liberty and Justice for All

In class we have been discussing intimacy and relationships. We have so many political ideals ingrained into our society that we do not take a minute to reflect on what these ideals really mean. "Liberty and justice for all" except gays? That does not make sense to me.   I can across this picture and thought I would share it  with you all. 

Arthurian Romance

This semester I am taking a class on Arthurian Romances Legends. This class centers around the time period when "King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" would have existed. We have been talking about the traits of the knights, and the traits of their wives and lovers. 


The traits we have come up with for the men have been things like: loyalty, honesty, chivalry, strength, nobility, bravery, generosity, devotion, determination, heroic nature, courage, and jealously.


The traits we have come up with for women have been things like: beauty and nobility. 


I'm not sure if I am the only person who is bothered by the 12/2 ratio. Women in these stories are just seen as assets to the men, and most of the time the knights cheat on their wives anyway. 

Fair Trade Towns USA

This week in one of my English classes we had a guest speaker from Ghana. Her name was Cecilia Appianim, and she is part of the the Kuapo Kokoo Farmers' Union. If you have purchased "Divine Chocolate" anywhere on campus you have provided money to this fair trade organization. Cecilia came to our class to promote fair trade on our campus, and to rais awareness for fair trade products. 

Within her presentation Cecilia mentions the projects that are specifically for women. The women do things like make soap, design and produce the uniforms for the cooperative, and make bracelets to sell. Women and men are equal in this cooperative. Annually there is a meeting to discuss social projects that will be done within the communities. These  social projects include things like building schools, building community centers, building bridges, and maintaining roads. I found it really interesting that each community has to have one male and one female representative in order for their vote to count. 

In August 2010 the first female President of Kuapo Kokoo Cooperative was elected. Her name is Christiana Ohene Agyare, and she is a cocoa farmer within the cooperative. Cecilia said that since her election she has been a wonderful leader, and that she is proud to be a part of an organization that views women as equals to men. 

http://www.modernghana.com/news/294216/1/kuapa-kokoo-farmers-union-elects-first-woman-pres.html

Puppy Love

Last semester  I adopted a puppy (which is a HUGE responsibility!!!) My boyfriend and I decided to adopt a dog because we had the extra money, and had been wanting to adopt a dog for a long time. We wanted to adopt from a shelter, so we found a woman who takes in puppies from other high-kill shelters and adopts them out from her farm in Wautoma. 


Immediately after we got Gucci home I was surprised to see that even though it was a dog that we were taking care of, my boyfriend and I  took on certain parenting roles. I was obviously the mother and he was the father. When we would wake up in the morning it was just expected that I would take Gucci outside, and then I would feed him. I did the majority of the cleaning up of the puppy stains, and the laundry that went along with that. My boyfriend took on the disciplinary role, and he did most of the training. We both played with Gucci, but I was the one who took him on his daily walks. 


We both supported Gucci monetarily, but we each had our separate parenting roles. It was not something that we discussed, but it naturally happened because male and female parenting roles are so en grained into our minds as a society, it was like instinct. 

Real Men Wear Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and recently I have been volunteering at a number of Breast Cancer Awareness events. September 26th I spent the day in Milwaukee at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and October 2nd I spent the day handing out Pink Ribbons to fans at Lambeau Field. 

In class we have been discussing gender roles, and ways that men and women are classified in their specific gender roles. One stereotypical gender role that seems very obvious is that pink is a color for women to wear. At these two events it was amazing to me to see how many men were wearing pink! It really made me realize how much of an impact Breast Cancer Awareness has made on our nation. Men are proud to wear pink if they are supporting someone they love who has dealt with breast cancer. 

The NFL has partnered with the Think Pink! program, and you may have noticed as you watched your favorite team this Sunday, that all the players were sporting pink shoe laces and pink towels. It really makes me proud to see men putting aside their social anxiety about wearing pink and joining the fight against breast cancer!!

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/kindness/post/2009/10/nfl-players-proudly-wear-pink-/1

Conventional Beauty

I have been thinking about the discussion we had in class today, and I remembered seeing a very interesting YouTube video about distorted beauty. We talked today about how in order to be successful in any kind of popular culture women need to follow certain beauty standards. Who are the people who decide what these standards should entail? We talked a lot today about effortless beauty for women and men, and in this short video this woman's "beauty" is anything but effortless. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U