Summary of “Patriarchy, the System: An it, Not a He, a Them, or an Us”, “Oppression”, “Challenging Men to Resist Gender Stereotypes”

Johnson’s “Patriarchy”
In this article Johnson explains how he understands patriarchy and what we should do about changing it. He makes a really interesting argument about patriarchy and how systems work in general. In the beginning he points out how men often feel personally attacked by feminists, especially when they speak of the issues involving patriarchy. Johnson writes that it is not that all men (or even women) are oppressive; it is that they participate in the system that is oppressive. He makes the point that patriarchy “is a system, which means it can’t be reduced to the people who participate in it.” (30). So it is not people who are really flawed, but rather it is the system that society has put gender into that is flawed.
Johnson goes on to write that patriarchy is more than men being violent toward women; it is woven into our everyday life, through things like language and literature. Men are valued more highly in this society, while women are considered of less value. He points out that words like bitch or crone are degrading to women, yet they are used often by both men and women. He also attacks the myth that men and women are inherently different from each other. This is a good point, because there are not just two genders, but society treats gender as such.
Johnson ends by talking about how men need to recognize the fact that they are privileged. If you are male than you are privileged, in the same way that if you are white you are more privileged than someone who is black. There needs to less of a tolerance of violence against women in society. You cannot just blame the individual for the act, but the society that raised the individual so that he thought it is acceptable to perform the act. Finally Johnson makes the point that if women are ever going to have real quality, everyone needs to choose to behave differently in the system of patriarchy.

Frye’s “Oppression”
Fyre delves into how women are oppressed by society as a whole. She talks about how men often repudiate the fact that women are oppressed, by saying that men are oppressed too. Fyre does not give value to men being oppressed however; she focuses on how women are treated unequally. She brings up an interesting point on how women who are more sexually active are considered “whores” and women who are not very sexually active are “prudes.” I think that this double standard is very prominent in our society today. A man who sleeps around may be called a player, but it is a good thing. A woman who sleeps around is a slut, and is not respected.
Fyre goes on to attack other activities that she considers sexism, such as opening a door for a woman. She believes that “the gallant gestures have no practical meaning. Their meaning is symbolic.” (4). She ends up by talking about how women’s oppression is overlooked by society, and needs to be recognized.

Gokova “Challenging Men”
Gokova writes from his position as a male in a society as a feminist. He says that being male means you are privileged. He believes that men need to be responsible about their position in society. It is not good enough just to acknowledge that women are oppressed, but to take steps in changing that double standard.
Much of the reading looks at the myths surrounding men. Gokova writes about his own personal experience with trying to change this myth. His wife works, and he stays at home with the children. He also writes about how men are taught that they should not cry or show real emotion, whereas women are stereotyped into being overemotional. He also expands the concept of gender to homosexuals.
Johnson and Gokova agree with each other on many subjects, especially that men need to make an effort to be different and to reject any form of oppression.

Response: Douglas Chapters 4 and 5

I thought the most interesting part of the first chapter was the trend of TV shows with female voice overs. It started as a way to empower women by getting inside their minds and showing their true thoughts. However, this tactic backfired in many ways because instead of showing what women were genuinely thinking, movies only showed shallow musings. I loved the movies Clueless and What Women Want and it never struck me before that those weren't the things that I would be think and feeling on a daily basis. I think the media culture so often portrays women as being obsessed with diets, shopping, men and having babies that it has been engrained into people that those would naturally be the only things for women to be thinking about. Bridget Jones was another example of a movie I thought was really entertaining and funny. However, one woman deemed it "retrograde (115)," claiming that it "made caricatures out of all women." In a way, I think that it's true. Women shouldn't be portrayed as only thinking about their hot bosses and eating ice cream for days when they've been broken up with. However, to be fair, equally deprecating movies have been made about men. I think Superbad is a good example of this. It claims that all men are interested in is getting laid and losing their virginity. I think sometimes movies are made to be purely entertainment and we have to remember that there might not always be an ulterior motive.

The other thing I found myself nodding my head at was how Douglas explained how much white women love hearing sassy black women speak. Miranda Bailey is, by far, my favorite character on Grey's Anatomy and it is partly because she says all these sassy things that I would often love to say myself. However, it's interesting to me that Grey's also showed that women couldn't possibly have it all, not even sassy black women. In one of the seasons Bailey is accused of being a bad mother after her sons accident and her husband says she doesn't spend enough time at home. Even successful, powerful female surgeons have issues. I think that's one of the main complaints about the media, they portray it as an either, or for women. It's impossible to make it all work together.

Thoughts on Enlightened Sexism Chapters 4 and 5

“The New Girliness”
In this chapter Douglass explores how there was a turning point for feminism during the 90’s, which continues today. She begins with the beginning of the “chick flicks” and Clueless. I have seen Clueless multiple times and have to say that I personally like the movie. The girls on it are superficial, but I think most teenage girls are at least somewhat superficial. I feel like Douglass can be very critical of all of the popular TV shows or movies she talks about. Clueless was never meant to represent something deep, and the girls on the show do have some depth to them. Cher is spoiled, but she generally truly cares about others. Maybe saying that Clueless was not suppose to be a thought-provoking film does not excuse how it encourages consumerism and trying to be pretty, but I do not think that the film is very hurtful at the same time.
The new girliness that Douglass writes about focuses on women looking critically at men while at the same being obsessed with figuring out how to please them. She makes an interesting point that the new girliness came on the scene at the same time of Xena and other warrior women. It is a curious juxtaposition that society was showing. Another thing interesting about the warrior women shown on TV is that often they ended up finding a fulfilling relationship(s). For Buffy the Vampire Slayer I know she has multiple romantic interests, while she is also going around slaying vampires. So I feel like society tells women that to be powerful is great, but you probably need a relationship too.

“You Go, Girl”
The fifth chapter mainly looks at how black women are treated by society and the media with regards to feminism. The difference with how black women and white women are treated is very fascinating. I think that black women are separated from black men and white women make a really interesting insight to our society. So a black woman not only has to deal with sexism but also racism. It makes me wonder which group faces more adversity: black men or white women?
Douglass writes that she worries that the way the media portrays black women will take away from the fact that there are many real issues that black women have to deal with. This worry is very significant. I think that the media often can downplay a situation that actually is very important and should not be made less of. There are women like Oprah Winfrey out there in the world, but they are the exception not the norm and it critical that we remember that.

Summary of Douglas’ Enlightened Sexism Chapter 4 and 5

The fourth chapter of Susan Douglas’ Enlightened Sexism focuses on the 1990s television shows, movies and other media that dismissed feminism as a thing of the past and unattractive.  Rather the media emphasized the importance of male relationships and female attractiveness in order to achieve womanly happiness and success. 

Some achievements were made, such as the arrival of the female voice-over so that the perspective of the women was more centralized in various movies such as Clueless and Bridget Jones’s Diary.   However, often through these female opinions women were portrayed as extremely feminine and focusing on searching for male approval, thus disassociating with feminism.  Often issues concerning insecurity and female incompetency were principal in the media and demonstrated a shift to antifeminism.  Demeaning portrayals of women were often one-sided and unrepresentative of females as a whole.  Still these shows were greatly appealing to the younger female demographic, likely because they were faced with feminism and the idea of being feminine simultaneously.  Thus the feelings and thoughts of the characters were “real” to the audience.  Douglas explains that through shows such as these, the media dangerously portrayed feminism as a concept of the past while enlightened sexism seemed to take center stage.

Other movies represented feministic perspectives as being understood by men and thus expressed the idea that feminism was no longer necessary.  For instance, in What Women Want, Nick becomes reformed to the point that he has been “reconstructed by feminism”, thus leading the audience to believe that feminist work was unwarranted.  Even movies with women as strong and independent characters such as Miss Congeniality portrayed feminism as sexist because it stereotyped women.  Many movies like this also described the love of a man to be fundamental to a woman’s femininity and accomplishment.  In films that focused on a feminist women, that woman was likely unattractive and unloved.  Only with a makeover or through finding heterosexual love did a character feel fully competent.  The media clearly emphasized the end of feminism and the negative stereotypes that were associated with feminists.  Douglas explains that this importance placed on attractiveness and male approval was principal during the 1990s.

Douglas’ chapter about black female power describes the media portrayal of African American women.  There are many opposing images of black women put forth by shows, talk shows and musical icons.  Thus, Douglas emphasizes the mixed messages about the power of women.  Various icons are seen as exuding power and confidence such as Wanda Sykes and Oprah Winfrey.  These women are often able to move from proper or “middle-class norms” to “Black Speak”.  They act as escapes for both white and black American women.  However this image can also be detrimental to feminism, Douglas argues.  For instance, if women are portrayed as achieving everything they want, then many argue that the case for feminism crumbles.  The portrayal of women in the media, especially black women, is unrepresentative of women from all classes and backgrounds. Often the media emphasizes either the stronger, accomplished woman who no longer needs feminism or the willingly objectified women who encourages enlightened sexism.

Douglas also explains the many issues associated with rap songs that objectify women and portray them as compliant to that objectification.  Interestingly many female black rappers have criticized these stereotypes, often to be further objectified by the media. 

Additionally, Douglas spends ample time discussing Oprah.  Clearly a woman of substantial power and widespread approval, Oprah still seems to focus on individual accomplishments versus political change that could benefit feminism.  Also Douglas argues that by exemplifying the American Dream through her personal story, Oprah makes success seem available to all through hard work, which is clearly not the case in our society. 

Images of black women in the media range from Oprah to characters that are used mostly for comedic relief.  These mixed messages demonstrate the lack of power that women, especially black women, possess.  Douglas demonstrates that feminism is clearly still required in America’s society, as women are portrayed in many stereotypical and often unflattering manners. 

Response to Douglass, Baumgardner and Richards, and Walker

I think the thing that caught my attention most when reading through these chapters and articles was the critical eye that feminists seem to have. I was interested that some women so systematically broke down certain television shows that I always have just considered mindless entertainment. The analyses of 90210 and Murphy Brown were really interesting examples. I, too, had never seen 90210 but I assumed it was similar to a show like The O.C. which I watched religiously throughout all the seasons. Now that I have heard the critique of shows like this, I can very clearly see how The O.C. portrays girls in a really negative way at times. It makes all their struggles and issues look trivial and their lives of parties, boys, and shopping look somewhat ridiculous. However, I never before thought of this as a means to push forward anti-feminist ideals. I only ever thought of it as entertainment. Yet, if this is what the media is showing us, it is hinting to girls that to be popular and pretty and to have boys like you, you have to be a certain way.

Murphy Brown was another good example of strong critique, however, I felt like the show also pigeon-holed women in a negative way as well. It implied that in order for a woman to be successful in business, she has to be cut throat and aggressive and not want a family. It's great that there is a role for a woman who does want those things on television, but I feel like most women aren't willing to cut that out of their lives completely. I was surprised that feminists were so against the idea of Murphy having a child. I understand that it may have seemed to convey the message that she wasn't complete until she had procreated, but it could also just have been a way to show that women could have strong careers and families too.

The last thing I wanted to touch on was Rebecca Walker's piece. I was really intrigued by her story of becoming a feminist. However, I felt like at the end of her piece she was being very radical in her condemnation of men. I agree that it's important to find men that support women's rights, but one of her last sentences, do not vote for them, do not have sex with them, do not break bread with them, seemed a little extreme.

Blog Summary: Douglass: Chapters 1-3 Rebecca Walker: “Becoming the Third Wave” Baumgardner and Richards “Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and...

Douglass:
Chapter One: Get The Girls
This chapter focuses a lot on how teenagers started to play a more important role in consumerism and society as a whole during the 90’s. Douglass talks a lot about the show Beverly Hills 90210, which became the most popular show for young women during the 90’s. She goes on to talk about other very popular TV shows, such as Melrose Place and Murphy Brown. The chapter looks at how enlightened sexism was in American society, and especially in these popular TV shows. The women in the show fall into different categories of being either “like a man”, power-hungry, superficial, and always beautiful. Douglass also mentions magazines that became popular, and especially the magazine Sassy. She is a fan of Sassy because the magazine portrayed a stronger woman who was true to herself. The chapter looks at how adolescents are seen by society, “if they behave like true adolescents, they can’t be feminine, and if they adopt the mantle of femininity, they aren’t really adolescents.” (53).

Chapter Two: Castration Anxiety
Chapter two looks at how there was a heightened level of anxiety surrounding gender roles. The worry was of men being emasculated, and females in power were dangerous. Douglass writes that men worried that women were trying to strike back now, and they were coming for the men. She talks about the popular TV shows and books that pictured dangerous women who were going against men. Much of the chapter focuses on Amy Fisher, the young teenager who shot her lover’s wife. Douglass looks at how Fisher was exploited and viewed by the media and society as a whole. It was such a popular case because it made society look at certain taboos, such as the one of teenage girls being violent. Douglass also looks into other popular cases like the treatment of Janet Reno and Anita Hill.

Chapter Three: Warrior Women in Thongs
In chapter three, Douglass explores different popular media devices whose main character was a beautiful woman who could beat up anyone and anything. One such TV show she looks at is Xena. As the youngest of three girls in my house I can personally attest to watching Xena, but normally my mom would tell me it was too old for me. Douglass writes that with the premiere of Xena “we saw the proliferation of a new kind of heroine, a sexy, mouthy, physically violent ass-kicker whose duty it was to save the entire world from really monstrous evildoers.” (77). Also chapter three talks about how the goals of feminists in the 70’s were different than feminist in the 90’s. Douglass thinks these strong women such as Xena were too good to be true, but the fact that they were so accepted by society is a good thing.


Rebecca Walker:
Walker describes her personal revelation that leads her to becoming a feminist. The interrogation of Anita Hill sparked Walker’s angry over her treatment and how women are generally treated. She also retells a story of her being on a train and men being very rude to her, and the others in the train car with her. She calls for women to not cooperate at all with men, unless they work for women. She thinks that women should not be in any contact with men until they prioritize women’s rights. At the end she proudly proclaims herself as the Third Wave.


Baumgardner and Richards:
Baumgardner and Richards are both Third Wave feminists and together they wrote a thirteen-point agenda, which lists out thirteen different goals that they want the Third Wave to complete. The goals were really interesting to read, because most of them were not as direct as women wanting the right to vote. One of the goals seemed to be talking about the right to have an abortion, but there were other goals like “to bring down the double standard in sex and sexual health.” (425). The agenda is short, but very difficult to complete, I believe.

Follow Up Post: Douglas, Walker, Baumgardner and Richards

I found the chapters in Enlightened Sexism to be extremely interesting.  For instance, when Douglas breaks apart the various television shows she clearly demonstrates how the media has portrayed women.  Concerning 90210 it becomes evident that the show focused on the pleasures that result from physical appearance, consumerism and attention from men.  Although I have never seen this show, I can relate it to many other shows, including numerous reality shows that focus solely on appearance or male approval such as Bridalplasty or The Bachelor.  Both these current shows are still portraying the importance of appearance and men in order for women to feel accomplished or even complete.  Women are clearly sexual objects in these shows. 

            Douglas also picked apart the show Murphy Brown, one that I have never seen.  Her evaluation is often positive as the show portrays a successful and confident woman as the lead role.  However, Douglas also explains that the show was criticized for allowing Murphy to have a child rather than representing the childless yet still fulfilled woman.  Critiques like this at times seem very analytical.  The show is still in the business to make a profit and keep an audience.  When deciding the plot the writers are clearly thinking of a storyline that can keep the show interesting and keep the audience engaged.  It seems likely that not all groups of people will be happy with a specific storyline or event in a show.  I question exactly how writers can remedy this without sacrificing the rest of their audience or advertisers.  I definitely agree with some of the criticism concerning the depiction of women as victims or inferior to men.  However, I do believe that some other disapproval is somewhat unrealistic.

            Another topic worthy of discussion is the idea that Janet Reno was dismissed by the general public due to her refusal to conform to accepted gender roles and norms.  This is extremely concerning and even upsetting.  Clearly an independent and career-driven women, Reno was somewhat bullied for acting in a “masculine” and “unsexy” way.  Rather, I believe that Reno should have been applauded for her work in such a high position; as such a successful women, she could have been portrayed more beneficially as a role model to younger women.