In today’s society, men and women are practically equal now. Back in the days, women were seen less than men and had no say in society. But in my eyes, I actually see men as the ones less than women. Think about it…How much did women have to fight and endure for what they believed in? How much pain and suffering did they have to go through? They have really come a long way since then, and have worked harder than men have in history. I am a firm believer that women are the strongest sex. Women have to put up with so much, for example: they are expected to look and act a certain way, they have a period every month (which comes with physical and emotional pain), and they are the ones who have to give birth and go through the pain of child labor. What do men go through? Nothing…
Men have always had it easier since the beginning of time. They were always the dominate sex, and always had it their way. They were always able to own property, be able to vote, have a job, and have a say to who they are and what they believe in. Women had none of that. Basically women were seen as a form of property to a man, and men were able to do what they want with women, for example, hit and beat them. Now it is seen as very taboo for a man to hit or beat a woman. What was once not questioned then; is not tolerated now. Back in the days, a man could physically and mentally abuse a woman and get away with it. Now, a woman can press charges and report them to the authorities. Sexual harassment is another example on how men are being restricted in doing things that were not questioned long ago. Men are slowly but surely being overpowered by women.
Now women all over the world can be independent and well educated. I believe we still live in a world of “Survival of the Fittest”, and I believe that women are the fittest sex. Given everything I just stated, on how women had to overcome many obstacles to get to where they are today, imagine what else they can accomplish. In the old days, a women’s job strictly was to be raising their children and being a loving at-home-wife. Now a woman can do that and go to work to get paid for a living. If a woman does not want to live with her child’s father anymore, she can just leave him and live an independent life with her child. This alternative was impossible for a woman to do back in the old days, but now they do not need men to survive. Women now, don’t have to take bullshit from men like they did back in the days. It is nice to see that they do not have strict expectations, like on how they should act, and what they should and should not do. Women are just growing stronger as time goes by, and are leaving men behind.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë ’s character Jane Eyre, is by far one of the most interesting and influential characters I have come across by. It is true what is said about the character Jane Eyre; she is far ahead of her time. When you think of the roles women had to play in the old days, what comes to mind? A very stereotypical answer I might presume. One would most likely think of a woman in those times to be a very reserved and polite lady. A lady who keeps her place in society, never contradicts her role, and never rebels to the norms of society. That is exactly what women were confined to in those days; a maternal person, who’s only role was to nurture children, and to be a loving housewife. Jane Eyre would conform to that role, but then at the same time, would not.
I found Jane Eyre to be a very inspirational character, especially in her time. She was very educated and polite, but she also knew when to say “No”. Jane Eyre was a very morally correct and respectable character in my opinion. Jane Eyre, being the religious person that she was, knew the difference between right and wrong. She was always very polite, but at the same time, she would not let herself be put down or degraded by others. Jane Eyre always believed and cherished her self respect, and would never do anything morally wrong. But as soon as her self respect was at risk in being degraded, she would react in a manner that might not have been very appropriate for woman to do so in those days. She wouldn’t just “Shut up and take it like a woman”. Needless to say, that is what basically women had to do in those days. Women had to conform with that role in order to survive.
I’m sure any governess would have jumped at the chance to marry Mr. Rochester, they would not have cared that he was already married. The only thing that would have mattered for a woman in those days; was that he was wealthy and was able to support her, and possibly even her children. Jane Eyre had the chance to marry Mr. Rochester, but she knew that it was wrong for her to do so, because he already has a living wife (even though his wife was mad and crazy). But what did Jane Eyre do? She ran away from Mr. Rochester, and all of the comforts at Thornfield. I am absolutely positive, that no other woman in those days would have done what Jane Eyre did. Being a woman, having little or no money, and no where to go; Jane Eyre was truly brave for doing what she did. Jane Eyre was a very independent young woman, and that was extremely rare for woman in those days. That is why I truly believe that Jane Eyre is a character that women should look up to, not only in her time, but in ours as well.
I found Jane Eyre to be a very inspirational character, especially in her time. She was very educated and polite, but she also knew when to say “No”. Jane Eyre was a very morally correct and respectable character in my opinion. Jane Eyre, being the religious person that she was, knew the difference between right and wrong. She was always very polite, but at the same time, she would not let herself be put down or degraded by others. Jane Eyre always believed and cherished her self respect, and would never do anything morally wrong. But as soon as her self respect was at risk in being degraded, she would react in a manner that might not have been very appropriate for woman to do so in those days. She wouldn’t just “Shut up and take it like a woman”. Needless to say, that is what basically women had to do in those days. Women had to conform with that role in order to survive.
I’m sure any governess would have jumped at the chance to marry Mr. Rochester, they would not have cared that he was already married. The only thing that would have mattered for a woman in those days; was that he was wealthy and was able to support her, and possibly even her children. Jane Eyre had the chance to marry Mr. Rochester, but she knew that it was wrong for her to do so, because he already has a living wife (even though his wife was mad and crazy). But what did Jane Eyre do? She ran away from Mr. Rochester, and all of the comforts at Thornfield. I am absolutely positive, that no other woman in those days would have done what Jane Eyre did. Being a woman, having little or no money, and no where to go; Jane Eyre was truly brave for doing what she did. Jane Eyre was a very independent young woman, and that was extremely rare for woman in those days. That is why I truly believe that Jane Eyre is a character that women should look up to, not only in her time, but in ours as well.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Right to Choose and Live
What would you do if all of a sudden you’ve been treated like a certain gender your hole life, then all of a sudden your body developed to the opposite gender, and started having the opposite gender’s thoughts and feeling? Well that’s what happens to most inter-sex people. I know that parents are trying to protect their child when they grow up, but I think its much more harder to cope with something your not as an adult.
When you’re an adult you analyze things better, and you know what you want, and know what you feel. I believe at the very least the parents should see where the inter-sex child starts to be like before they decide what they’re going to do, or if they should even do anything. People have the right to live, and the right to be happy, gender should be the least of society’s worries.
I’ve personally never met an inter-sex person, and really don’t have much understanding towards the term, but it really doesn’t bother me at all. On the contrary; I would actually like to meet at least one inter-sex person. Because I’m not really a judgmental person, and most I’m just curious to learn more things, especially with gender because I myself am a homosexual male. Excluding being a homosexual, I believe if people were more like me in a sense of not being judgmental and just being accepting, society would be a better place.
I believe people need to be more informed, and that comes with accepting people for who they are. I mean, why don’t they just add another sex to Male and Female? Why don’t they have an Undetermined, or something. I believe if they do that, inter-sex children will be able to learn what they want, so they can choose what gender they want to be. Society needs to just let go of stereotypes and gender roles, because they really put too much pressure on people. And if not, have everyone just be more accepting.
Society has changed drastically over the years, and I’m seeing that people “are” starting to be more accepting. I see many homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals out in the open more. I really do believe that society has the capability to accept many different types of people. I think slowly but surely, there wont be just a Male and Female. There will be many more sexes and genders. Humans are revolutionizing in society and in evolution. What will things be like a ten years?
In conclusion, I believe that people should be given a choice in who they want to be. I believe its wrong to have someone choose it for you, or have to conform because of what society thinks. People might be afraid of change, but not all change is bad, or a wrong cause. People just need to get over it, and not discriminate someone who is different. Life should be lived to its fullest, and there’s no way to enjoy it if you cant be yourself and cannot be accepted in society.
When you’re an adult you analyze things better, and you know what you want, and know what you feel. I believe at the very least the parents should see where the inter-sex child starts to be like before they decide what they’re going to do, or if they should even do anything. People have the right to live, and the right to be happy, gender should be the least of society’s worries.
I’ve personally never met an inter-sex person, and really don’t have much understanding towards the term, but it really doesn’t bother me at all. On the contrary; I would actually like to meet at least one inter-sex person. Because I’m not really a judgmental person, and most I’m just curious to learn more things, especially with gender because I myself am a homosexual male. Excluding being a homosexual, I believe if people were more like me in a sense of not being judgmental and just being accepting, society would be a better place.
I believe people need to be more informed, and that comes with accepting people for who they are. I mean, why don’t they just add another sex to Male and Female? Why don’t they have an Undetermined, or something. I believe if they do that, inter-sex children will be able to learn what they want, so they can choose what gender they want to be. Society needs to just let go of stereotypes and gender roles, because they really put too much pressure on people. And if not, have everyone just be more accepting.
Society has changed drastically over the years, and I’m seeing that people “are” starting to be more accepting. I see many homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals out in the open more. I really do believe that society has the capability to accept many different types of people. I think slowly but surely, there wont be just a Male and Female. There will be many more sexes and genders. Humans are revolutionizing in society and in evolution. What will things be like a ten years?
In conclusion, I believe that people should be given a choice in who they want to be. I believe its wrong to have someone choose it for you, or have to conform because of what society thinks. People might be afraid of change, but not all change is bad, or a wrong cause. People just need to get over it, and not discriminate someone who is different. Life should be lived to its fullest, and there’s no way to enjoy it if you cant be yourself and cannot be accepted in society.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Gender Roles
Why should anyone have to conform and shape themselves according to what their society’s expectations and ideal norms are? Since the beginning of time, gender roles and social norms have crafted how people live their life and invoke their emotions in public. Throughout history, males have always been the dominating role in society.
Living as a homosexual male, I can say that I have studied and experienced social norms first hand. The fact that homosexuality is considered to be taboo and unusual, I either have to conform or rebel to what society will or will not accept. The word “accept” can easily fit into the topic of discussion, mainly because the simple meaning of acceptance, is to be accepted. In EVERY society, EVERY ONE struggles to be accepted, therefore people will do what they don’t want and don’t believe in, in order to be accepted and not stand out (in a bad way) in society.
Conforming with society’s norms and rules, is essential to one’s survival. The saying “Against the Grain” is a perfect example on why people conform with the demands of society. No one want to go “Against the Grain”, no one wants to stand out and be humiliated by others. Being a homosexual male, I struggle on whether or not to do certain things. Is it appropriate to wear this? Is it appropriate to do that? Sometimes I hate the fact that I am not able to do or wear things I want, just because society doesn’t find it normal. People so desperately try to fit in into society, that there is no room for originality. Then again, why not stand out? Why not be different.
Being different cannot necessarily be a bad thing. Sometimes I don’t even care what people think. When I start to ask my self those questions: Is it appropriate to do this or wear that; I just tell myself, “WHO CARES?!” Most of the time I like to resist conventional roles. Why should my originality and being different-ness not be shown? I believe that being different, or going “Against the Grain” is also essential for survival. If no one stands up and tries to change things; things will always be the same. I understand that change can sometimes be scary, but people need to start being more open to different things. And I strongly believe now, society is starting to become more open to things. So maybe at first I would try to conform with conventional role, but now I’m starting to resist society’s norms.
So I conclude that change is essential for one’s survival. Because if one conforms with what society wants them to conform with; one will be unhappy and living a lie. Besides, what is normal anyways. What was once normal in the past, isn’t normal now. And I am sure that people are happier now, and believe what was normal in the past was wrong and immoral (slavery and women not having rights for example). So the only reason that something was normal then and not now, is because there had to be change to begin with. Someone had to stand up and fight for change.
Living as a homosexual male, I can say that I have studied and experienced social norms first hand. The fact that homosexuality is considered to be taboo and unusual, I either have to conform or rebel to what society will or will not accept. The word “accept” can easily fit into the topic of discussion, mainly because the simple meaning of acceptance, is to be accepted. In EVERY society, EVERY ONE struggles to be accepted, therefore people will do what they don’t want and don’t believe in, in order to be accepted and not stand out (in a bad way) in society.
Conforming with society’s norms and rules, is essential to one’s survival. The saying “Against the Grain” is a perfect example on why people conform with the demands of society. No one want to go “Against the Grain”, no one wants to stand out and be humiliated by others. Being a homosexual male, I struggle on whether or not to do certain things. Is it appropriate to wear this? Is it appropriate to do that? Sometimes I hate the fact that I am not able to do or wear things I want, just because society doesn’t find it normal. People so desperately try to fit in into society, that there is no room for originality. Then again, why not stand out? Why not be different.
Being different cannot necessarily be a bad thing. Sometimes I don’t even care what people think. When I start to ask my self those questions: Is it appropriate to do this or wear that; I just tell myself, “WHO CARES?!” Most of the time I like to resist conventional roles. Why should my originality and being different-ness not be shown? I believe that being different, or going “Against the Grain” is also essential for survival. If no one stands up and tries to change things; things will always be the same. I understand that change can sometimes be scary, but people need to start being more open to different things. And I strongly believe now, society is starting to become more open to things. So maybe at first I would try to conform with conventional role, but now I’m starting to resist society’s norms.
So I conclude that change is essential for one’s survival. Because if one conforms with what society wants them to conform with; one will be unhappy and living a lie. Besides, what is normal anyways. What was once normal in the past, isn’t normal now. And I am sure that people are happier now, and believe what was normal in the past was wrong and immoral (slavery and women not having rights for example). So the only reason that something was normal then and not now, is because there had to be change to begin with. Someone had to stand up and fight for change.
Gender & Identity
Knowing who you are an know what you believe in, is important in today’s society. If not that, knowing who to be or what to believe in is important. I believe that I can say that honestly no one can truly say that they are one hundred percent themselves and original. As soon as we are born, we are immediately categorized to a gender. Immediately, we start to get treated differently even though all babies are the same.
I saw a study on the way people react to either a female or a male baby is presented to them. In the experiment, the subject (an adult) was given a baby boy to play with for ten minutes named Jamie. Jamie was dressed in the typical little boy clothing which was jeans and a t-shirt. When Jamie was presented to the subjects, they were given a few toys to play with. One of these toys was a plastic hammer and a baby doll, and as one can guess, most people choose the hammer. The subjects also let Jamie crawl on the floor and let him explore his surroundings, which is very typical for boys because they tend to be more curious and adventurous. But what happens when a female baby is presented.?
Jamie then was taken in a back room, and they change “his” clothes to that of a little girl’s, which was a pretty little pink dress. Now it was the same baby that the other subjects played with earlier, and he was still able to be called Jamie because it is in fact a unisex name. When Jamie was again presented to other subject, the most definitely treated “him” differently than before. Everyone thought that “he” was a girl, so they all tended to be more gentle to “him.”. People kept closer contact with Jamie and talked to “him” more and used words like “pretty” and “adorable”. People tend to be more talkative with baby girls because that’s what they are known for. Girls tend to be more social and communicating with one another. So what does this tell us? That we are all fabricated immediately at birth.
Cases like this, show us how gender is important aspect in one’s life, and can ultimately craft our identities. And it is sad to say, that in cases with hermaphrodites and intersexes, that they will forever struggle with their personalities. Not on what they feel, but what society thinks. I believe that everyone should have equal treatment, and if that means adding another sex to the Male or Female, so be it. No one should have to go through discrimination like that. I believe that we should just get along and live happy.
I believe if more classes like this (English: Gender, Image, and Rhetoric) are taught more commonly, people will have a better perspective on things and be well informed. Thus there will be less discrimination and more understanding. I am already an open mined person and strongly believe in women’s rights, as well as other genders and sexualities. So I believe that this class will ultimately make me even more open, as well as more informed with many social matters.
I saw a study on the way people react to either a female or a male baby is presented to them. In the experiment, the subject (an adult) was given a baby boy to play with for ten minutes named Jamie. Jamie was dressed in the typical little boy clothing which was jeans and a t-shirt. When Jamie was presented to the subjects, they were given a few toys to play with. One of these toys was a plastic hammer and a baby doll, and as one can guess, most people choose the hammer. The subjects also let Jamie crawl on the floor and let him explore his surroundings, which is very typical for boys because they tend to be more curious and adventurous. But what happens when a female baby is presented.?
Jamie then was taken in a back room, and they change “his” clothes to that of a little girl’s, which was a pretty little pink dress. Now it was the same baby that the other subjects played with earlier, and he was still able to be called Jamie because it is in fact a unisex name. When Jamie was again presented to other subject, the most definitely treated “him” differently than before. Everyone thought that “he” was a girl, so they all tended to be more gentle to “him.”. People kept closer contact with Jamie and talked to “him” more and used words like “pretty” and “adorable”. People tend to be more talkative with baby girls because that’s what they are known for. Girls tend to be more social and communicating with one another. So what does this tell us? That we are all fabricated immediately at birth.
Cases like this, show us how gender is important aspect in one’s life, and can ultimately craft our identities. And it is sad to say, that in cases with hermaphrodites and intersexes, that they will forever struggle with their personalities. Not on what they feel, but what society thinks. I believe that everyone should have equal treatment, and if that means adding another sex to the Male or Female, so be it. No one should have to go through discrimination like that. I believe that we should just get along and live happy.
I believe if more classes like this (English: Gender, Image, and Rhetoric) are taught more commonly, people will have a better perspective on things and be well informed. Thus there will be less discrimination and more understanding. I am already an open mined person and strongly believe in women’s rights, as well as other genders and sexualities. So I believe that this class will ultimately make me even more open, as well as more informed with many social matters.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Intro
I don't really expect anyone to follow me on this, mainly because I'm not a big writer. I'm more of an actor and I like to express myself better in vocal words and expressions. If you really want to follow me, just do so at my YouTube Account:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AboutJaime
For now I'm just setting this blog up as an assignment for my English 259 Gender, Image, and Rhetoric Class in Antelope Valley College (Fall2010). So I probably wont even touch this after that's over. But whatever I do write on here, are true thoughts that come from me.
- Jaime R.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AboutJaime
For now I'm just setting this blog up as an assignment for my English 259 Gender, Image, and Rhetoric Class in Antelope Valley College (Fall2010). So I probably wont even touch this after that's over. But whatever I do write on here, are true thoughts that come from me.
- Jaime R.
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