wk five= FIFE #7 & # 16

#7 FEMINIST CLASS STRUGGLE;
There are about as many classes of women as there are women. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. The class division of women has been a problem in the feminist movement from the beginning. The women of color and the working down to the poor women are not recipients of the benefits of the movement, at least when the benefits first were achieved. It took much more hard bargining and work to gain the same for all the other classes, esp. those of color. I found the article to be a sad commentary on the women of the movement and found that the sisterhood divisions were caused by the selfishness of the rich white women, who were afraid of upsetting the men in their lives. Freedom should be the right of all even the detested DOMINATE MALE.

#16 TOTAL BLISS; The message here seems to be that all women from straight to gay are the same when it comes to achieving the equalitiy rights of the Feminist Movement. Hook made it very clear the role that lesbianism has and does play in the movement. It was good to read a writing about lesvianism that was told about the human side of these women and should how they live their day to day lives fighting the same battle as the straight women in our society. They also have to endure the prejudice of being different from the "norm". A Good reading.

wk. five; readings

The reading by Hooks, Being a Boy, left me upset. Is the anger of men so common placed that it is totally not seen or are we so adjusted to see the signs of it that it goes unnoticed by the public at large. I was not aware of it being so universal. I know that teen violence is a great concern today, but it has always be a concern of the adult generations for as long as there has been teenagers. The way that boys are raised is not conductive to their being able to handle the suppressed confusion and anger that they apparently hold all of their lives. There seemed to be no solution that would be consider a quick fix or anything except a complete change of society to one of a less rigid standard of masculinity for boys. I would hope that men were able to see what this "Macho" image did to them and would try to change the way they treat their own sons, but apparently this is not the common results, but just the opposite men are raising their sons to be just as angry and hurt as they were themselves. Perhaps women could also change their ideal of what a man should be and openly love and accept both the men and boys in their lives.

2/21 wk. 5 Gender Songs

There is a lot of put down in some of these songs and they all present a stereotype of man or woman that is what our society see as what men and women should be. Some give bad messages and some give good images, but all give impossible expectations to the humans listening to them. At my age gender is not much of an issue as it is an amazing changing kaleidoscope of new to old=old to new. I see things today that we very much there in the sixties. The songs I selected are a mix of pop, rap, and country. Each song shows sex and gender ideals that are either impossible to live up to or just plain a disappointment of expectations. There is no one who can live up to the modle of female and male ideals that the U.S. society has and will probably always set fort as the perfect man or woman as the case may be. I would like to see just ordinary people pictured in the songs, but that won't happen because ordinary does not sell. Sex sells!! These songs are sex, and gender ordered the one I especially like is A Boy Named Sue. What a bad thing to do to your son when being masculine is such an issue now-a-days. I also, like She Let Herself Go. It is about what a woman can do without a man to hold her back, and yet she made herself over into the picture of the beautiful women that society says we must work hard to be. Some of the songs I just like and listen to them occasionally. When I get to feel sorry for my self I listen to the Overnight Male by George Strait and soon find I am happy to be right where I am in my life. I hope you like my list and will let me know what you think.

wk 6=Ad for positive gender messaging

This is a very positive male gender message ad. It portrays a man as a sensitive and caring individual who is able to be a caregiver without loosing his over-all masculine appeal. He comes across as a man who is comfortable within his own skin and not afraid to assume stereotype women's roles in life, ie: caring for baby and cooking the meal. It leave one with the idea that it's OK to be a gentle loving man who does not need to hide behind what is expected of him. Ad's own message is;"Life is short, but Childhood is shorter. Feed it well." I like this statement, but the picture indicates that fathers as well as mothers should be involved in the child's life. Teaching by example is absolutely wonderful.

wk 6= Ad for negative messages.

This is an ad for Belvedere vodka and although I like their vodka
I do not like this ad from Belvedere. I now find it very sexist and demeaning toward women. It gives us the impression that young beautiful women will be available to even this less than acceptable type of man, if she is drunk. The message to men= Get her dunk and even the pretty-ones can be yours and life becomes 'LUXURY REBORN'. The way the black girl is dress is an open statement of availability, which is demeaning to her and her race. The dresspresents her as cheap. Just a few drinks of vodka and she is yours. I resent the male in this ad for not being the "steretype mascline male", as are the women, "Need a Hunk here", but he just looks somewhat demented and waisted. Not at all attractive, making it look like the women have no disgression with whom they run with.

I am starting to really resent this ad!

wk. four=WHITE PRIVILEGE AND MALE PRIVILAGE by McIntosh

A very thought provoking essay. Being white I have never realized the privileges she spoke of in my conscious mind. Although, I recognized the privileges when they were pointed out. They are similar to the man's assumed rights over women. I also felt guilty for not being aware of those freedoms I have and being so priviliged simply because of the color of my skin. I am sorry that we have to be so very color conscious in this country. With some many diverse people living here it is sometime difficult to admit that racism remains such a big problem.

If we solved racism, would we continue to have equality problems between men and women?

wk. Four= F-word,Chapter 4, FIFE, Chapter 4

F-Word, chapter 4= covers the gap that is growing between the generations of feminists of a few decades ago and the women of today. Many of the problems have changed, yet look on the surface the same. The problems facing the young women of today are different and much more complex than at an earlier time. The issues need careful study and need to be approached with the idea of solving the problems completely, not just placing a bandage over them. So, many women's issues get a thought, but not complete and careful study by the "men" people in charge of making any changes.

FIFE, chapter 4=encourages education for critical consciousness. No one can learn to much. There is always new ideas that require thought and consideration.

Women's Studies are the future of the Feminist Movement, classes and institutionalization of the gender issues will give the arguments a firmer foundation and support. Education of its members will give the women's movement new and needed strength.

women's studies courses at OU

I would like to achieve a Masters in Women's Studies if possible. The courses offered all sound very interesting and race, gender, and equality have always been of interest to me. The society of differing people have been of great interest also. I am a historian and societies of man seem ot fit very well with that profession. I plan to take as many of the courses as I can in order to gain my bachlors and then my masters, and possibly, if I live long enough, I'll go for a Doctor's degree.

I do not plan to work again, but when I did I worked at a very female job. I was a nurse for 42 years. But, I was aslo very active in the feminist movement of the 1960's.

wk. Three= FIFE; chapters 1,2,3,11,& 12

One; the need to bring young people in to the public and voting arena. The necessity of the young making themselves heard through the poles. How do we get them to vote?

Two; Bringing awarness to the young people of this generation. How to get more envolved with the movement and it issues.

Three; Sisterhood power, combined together, we have a powerful voice. All women; the young, the middle-aged, and the old. We were a force to be recond with before and can be again. No one has to stand alone.

Eleven; The violence toward women must stop. It is imparative that we find solution to all forms of abuse toward women. The answers are there, it is a matter of finding them and puting

them to work.

Twelve; Feminism should not be just for women. Men should be included in the movement. Gender studies should be about both the male and female. If we want to be equal, then men

should also be equal.

wk.three= Iron Jawed Angles, movie in class

The picture is Alice Paul.
This movie is about the first wave of the feminist equal rights movement. It is a great move. The story is well told and hold the attention all the way through. The story of Alice Paul and her friends and associates and how they struggled to get the 19th amendment passed. I did not realize that the black women did not get full benefit from the 19th amendment, due to the Jim Crow laws and the prejudice that still held them back. I assumed that the right to vote was for all women. Some themes were women are people. Women were not free. The vote should be available to all people, including women. There was tensions caused by events that happened. some wanted to waite for the men to decide when they should push for the vote, others wanted to push now. Race was an issue, women not wanting to lose their jobs was an issue, women not wanting problems at home was an issue. they did not overcome all of them, but managed to work for the good of the entire group and for the ideal of voting. They were imprisoned, mistreated, misunderstood, and suffered greatly. both emotionally and physically. The final victory was sweet, but it came with a great cost, even life was lost in the battle for the right to vote. Loved the Movie.

wk. two= interview with 45 year old woman

I interview my step-daughter Pamula. Shown here with her sister, Candy.
Pamula has worked for Sears for 25 years and has alway been a feminist.
She said her first realization that she was a girl and could not do what she wanted because of that fact was when her brothers would not let her play with the boys.
They told her that girls "were not allowed" which made her very angry. She fought them then and now. She had spent her life showing the "boys" that there is very little that a "girl" can't do.

Feminism is a radical notion that women are PEOPLE.

My experience; During my youth I spent the summers on my grandparents farm. I was allowed to drive the tractor which pulled the hay wagon across the field. When I turned thirteen I was told by my grandfather that I could no longer drive the tractor or be any where around where the young men were working because I was now a young lady and it was not proper for me to be around where the men were working. Very effectively spoiling my summer vacations, because now I had to do women's work and I have never had a fondness for women's work.

wk.one=Chapter two

A TSUNAMI in HISTORY

In this chapter the three waves of the feminist movement are explained briefly. I would have enjoyed more detail about this times in history. It was a very brave and courageous movement that was started by our great- grand mothers. They paved the way for us. The inital battle for the vote was a long and perilous struggle against men, who the women loved, a time of changing perceived notions that had existed for centuries. The second wave for "equal pay for equal work was just as difficut It seems to me that the third wave has the hardest road because the battle is harder now because men feel that women have reached equality and should be happy with the progress thay have made and stop demanding more than what is their fair share. Young women of today will have to have more courage and more determation than those of the first two waves to continue with the battle.

wk.one=chapter one

This chapter discussed the problems associated with being a feminimist.

The usual insults to women who take control of their own lives. There was some questions as to what feminism means. Has the movement changed or are we stuck in a rut? Do we continue to spout the same old lecture on equality or has there been a new wave developing? From what I was reading it seems that the young women of today are totally disillusioned with the movement as it stands at this time or prehaps the Forget Apathetic, Try Dissatisfied section(p.11) was more about what the movement is called than what it is fighting for. The image of a feminist is all wrong, the picture in this note is of Heidi Montag and Heidi Montag is a "Feminist Hero"! She diffinately is not what most people think a "feminist" should look like. It is time to change the image of the Woman's movement.

wk. two=Reading: F-Word; Chapter 5; Signs of the TIMES: DEFINDING the Third WAVE

I found my self lost here. I have not kept up with the women's movement.

I got involved when I was in my twenties and early thirties, but children and

family, along with my nursing career, caring for severly handicapped children,

I lost tract and now find that I don't understand Waves, to me it sounds like the

same battles.

It appears that we have made some giant leaps toward equality,but lost the interest of the young by being stuck in the same old lines and the same old thing.

We need to liven up the Women's movement and make is interesting.

I agree that titles and tags are confining.

So, what do the young women want? How would they suggest these goals be reached?

It was from the youth that the movement began, sowhy not let they become the vital force which will move the movement forward.

Most men will listen to young vital women. And, if there are enough of them saying

the same thing, then changes will happen.

I would love to hear what they have to say about feminism. How do we get more of them voting and speaking out about the inequalities under which they find their choices limited.?

wk. two=Reading: F- Word; Chapter 3- A New Cultural LANDSCAPE

I was very disturbed reading this chapter. I brought back many of the problems that mygeneration faced. I am sorry to read that most of those problems remain in todays world.

Although, many solutions have been reached, it seems that the knowledge of the freedoms and choices that girls have, remain unknown to them. I was very open with my step-daughters and my grand-daughters and told them and took them to places where information on their sexually freedoms were explained and available to them. I had hoped that todays young girls were all aware that the choice to be sexually active carries great responsiblilities as well as freedoms. The information is free and should be made available through the schools.

I was alarmed and very sorry to hear that it is not. This was one of the causes my friends and I fought for in the sixties. It is also discouraging to read that equal pay for equal work had not been achieved.

The freedom to work where you want is much greater now than in the sixties, but it should not

been a problem in the twenty-first century. I did not realize that women still receive lower pay.

This makes me not only sad, but angry that men and women still do accept this. It is so very unfair. Jobs and pay should not be a sex consideration, but based on education, skills, and experience.

wk. two=TAKING SIDES: Clashing Views in Gender

The debate over the equality of men and women is discussed in this reading.
The No side of the debate was about men and women notbeing equal.
It was written by Professor Browne.
He states that there very basic biological differences between men and women.
That these differences cannot be changed.
These biological differences will always cause men and women to be unequal.
He supports his assertions with reports from different psycologists and research facts.
He admits that the differences are a matter of degree and preception.
But men and women will always be different.
I don't see how being different means they can not be equal.
I suppose it would depend on what you call equal and what you call different.
The issue was not solved as far as I could determine.
Professor Browne left men with the thought...Just like a MAN!!
For me Professor Browne tended to sterio-type boys and girls.