Introduction: Victorian Women, Hearth, Home and Other Irrelevant Things
The world has been ruled by men for quite an impressive amount of time – as a matter of fact, it was only in the early XX century when a woman was finally recognized by most of the men’s population a three feet of a person; therefore, the idea of the role which a woman was supposed to perform was quite humble. Mostly because of the peculiarities which her social functions presupposed, a woman was to be a role model and the “angel” who took care of the house and relied completely on the man who protected her from the evil of the outside world.
That is why, when women for the first time finally started taking the jobs which were considered as the prerogative of men, they had to face a number of difficulties in their workplace. The ideal feminine role, according to Wolfe, was a woman devoting herself to the household chores and completely unwilling to participate in any sort of social activities, which created a great obstacle for women’s further personal and professional development.
Maintaining the Family Harmony: The Goddess of Heart and Home
To start with, a Victorian woman as Wolfe portrays her was supposed to be literally the Angel of the house, to be more precise, the guardian angel, keeping the cozy atmosphere and making sure that all the members of the family live in peace. As Wolfe explains, she resorted to writing as her first step towards her personal independence mainly because it was the least disturbing way to start the feminist revolution – and by far the easiest one:
The family peace was not broken by the scratching of a pen. No demand was made upon the family purse. For ten and sixpence one can buy paper enough to write all the plays of Shakespeare–if one has a mind that way. (Wolfe 1)
Making a woman highly dependable on the family life, the title of the keeper of the hearth was not easy to get rid of. On the one hand, the title presupposed a considerable amount of=responsibility; on the other hand, the given responsibility concerned strictly the household issues, while the rest of the fields where a woman could use her intelligence and skills were closed tight. Pointing out the absurdity of this policy, Wolfe blazed the trail for women’s development and independence.
Charming in Her Unselfishness: Altruism at Its Extreme
The second asset of a Victorian woman as the society wanted her to be, complete unselfishness was another stumbling block on the way to independence. Indeed, a Victorian Angel was supposed to care the least about herself: “She was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish.”
Thus, the Victorian epoch made a woman forget about her personal development and contribute to what is best for society. The issue is quite controversial, since being egotistic was not a solution for the problem, yet giving everything to the others and not demanding anything in return was a wrong thing to do either, for it shaped the idea of a woman as a weak-willed and undetermined human being.
Purity as the Greatest Asset: The Saving Grace of Virtue
The idea of women’s purity in Victorian epoch deserves an honorable mentioning. As Wolfe explains, being absolutely innocent and pure was the element without which a woman could not be accepted into the Victorian society and was doomed to live the life of a social outcast, shunned for her freedom of thinking.
As Wolfe pouts it, “Her purity was supposed to be her chief beauty – her blushes, her great grace” (Wolfe 1). It is necessary to admit that the whole idea of purity is not that bad; it is just that, driven to its complete extreme, it makes people lose the remnants of humanity and shun the women who make the slightest step towards becoming liberated. Although it is clear that the borderline between purity and depravity must be drawn, the details of people’s personal life must not be made public.
Conclusion: When the Victorian Image Has Worn out Its Welcome
Therefore, it is obvious that a Victorian woman was not allowed to do anything that was valued as more significant than charity. Being the second fiddle in her home-made symphony, a Victorian woman, According to Virginia Wolfe, was a damsel, a pretty face that could substitute for a home decoration.
Being one of the first people to raise their voice against the deplorable state which women were trapped in, Virginia Wolfe made a breakthrough in the world culture. Indeed, despite the fact that women have had relatively little time to establish something grand and make their contribution to the society development, a lot has been made. And Virginia Wolfe is one of those people whom the honor for making it possible goes to.
Works Cited
Wolfe, Virginia. Professions for Women. 1931. PDF file.
Millions migrate from their countries of origin to other countries in search of better opportunities. These individuals move from third world countries and travel to first world countries. They hope that they can earn enough funds to give them the kind of life they desire. Once they get to the first world countries, these individuals discover that there are many challenges related to relocating. Some of them end up doing odd jobs for a living. Such jobs include being security guards, nannies, errand boys, maids, and cooks among others. The situation is worse for women as some end up working in demeaning places such as brothels, clubs, spas, and other places. Others enter into marriage contracts with strangers for them to survive in those foreign lands.
This paper reviews a book, Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy, edited by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Hochschild. This paper gives an overview of the themes used in the book and the policies proposed by the authors. It also analyzes the influence of globalization on the migration of women from third world countries to first world countries. Further, this paper provides a summary of the ideas presented in the book.
The book under review consists of essays written by different authors working together with researchers. These researchers concentrate on the challenges faced by women in third world countries. Editors of this book provide a comprehensive and factual discussion on the issues under consideration. The authors assess the situation of third world female house cleaners, nurses, nannies, and sex workers working in first world countries. In addition, the authors of the essays give detailed accounts on issues of slavery, sex trade, and contract marriages. Further, the authors analyze the effects of issues surrounding these women to the economy. They analyze the benefits and losses that the giving and receiving countries bear because of these women. Editors bring out themes such as poverty, oppression, love, and suffering among other themes. They use many examples to expose the plight of these women (Ehrenreich and Hochschild, 2004).
The love and gold essay by Arlie Russell concentrate on the plight of women who leave their countries to go to the US in search of a better life. Russell uses the example of Ruwena Batista, a mother of two, who left Philippines to work in the US. Russell documents that poverty forced Ruwena to travel to the US. Rowena left the Philippines when she was a university student. She left in search of work and adventure.
In the course of her stay in the North, she met a Ghanaian man whom she fell in love with and later married. The two then went back to the Philippines with hopes of settling down. However, Rowena’s husband could not find a job in the Philippines. Therefore, he moved to Korea to look for a job. At first, things worked out well for Ruwena and her family. However, Rowena’s husband started fading away. He stopped helping and supporting Ruwena. Eventually, he disappeared completely. This forced Ruwena to travel to the US to look for a job. Ruwena got a job as a nanny in Washington DC where she has been working ever since.
Ruwena earns enough money to sustain her children who live in Camiling, Philippines. However, Rowena laments that she has lost touch her children. Ruwena says that she gives her employers children what she denies her children. This is on top of her living in a basement bedroom and having limited rights (Ehrenreich and Hochschild, 2004).
The second essay focuses on the sex trade in the US. The author analyzes factors that force the third world women to join the sex industry. The author documents that some women are in the sex trade involuntarily. According to him, cartels kidnap some women and force others into signing contracts. These cartels then sell the women and girls to foreign places where they are enslaved and mistreated. The author acknowledges the fact that some women get into the sex trade voluntarily. He attributes this to poverty, needs for money, and desperation to obtain visas.
The author analyzes the condition of women working in the sex industry in Thailand. He links the current situation to the customs and the culture of the Thai people, who consider girls as assets. In Thailand, it is acceptable to trade girls for money. The author explains that most girls in the sex industry in Thailand come from poor villages. He explains that the naivety of these girls and their parents put them at a disadvantage. He gives an example of a girl whose parents get into a contract with brothel agents. The girl is willing to work in a brothel as she thinks that the results of prostitution are good. Further, the author explains the challenges involved in the sex trade. He explains that the career is short-lived and only the young and pretty girls have an advantage (Ehrenreich and Hochschild, 2004).
The book analyzes how globalization contributes to third world women relocating to first world countries. Globalization has converted the world into a big village. Today, Individuals can interact with people from any part of the world thanks to technology. As a result, people are more aware of new opportunities and channels of exploiting them. Consequently, people are more confident in going for the chances they get. This has triggered massive migration from third world countries to first world countries.
The authors suggest that governments should implement policies to protect women who are susceptible to oppression and exploitation. They call for the government to put in place policies that regulate migration and employment processes of these women. For instance, policies that will address issues concerning salaries, treatment, and penalties involved when handling these women.
This book provides an unprejudiced view of the factors, impacts, and opinions of women who relocate to the US in search of a better life. This book is interesting as it analyzes the plight of these women comprehensively. Each essay paints a clear picture of the factors, successes, failures, and motivations of these women. The authors use interviews and examples to prove their points. This gives readers a firsthand account of the challenges that surround these women.
The book has several shortcomings. For instance, the authors focus on the plight of third world women working abroad but fail to offer clear solutions on how to counter these challenges. Further, some essays give very shallow analyses and options.
The editors have organized the contents of this book well. In addition, they have managed to address the plight of women working abroad efficiently. This book uses interviews and examples effectively in its bid to pass content. Further, the research conducted provides a deeper insight into the problem. Therefore, this book is a success.
Reference
Ehrenreich, B. and Hochschild, R. (2004). Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy. New York: Holt Paperbacks. Web.
Women have never enjoyed their freedoms in society due to barriers put in place by men. Feminist theorists consider ways in which physical differences between men and women are used to show that women should be allocated inferior and degrading activities such as motherhood and secretary.
Moreover, women are subjected to stereotypes, which portray them as weak. Women are often excluded from public activities and are relegated to the private domain of the home. In society, women are ascribed feminine qualities and identities through the process of socialization. Women grow up knowing that their existence in society depends on the decisions made by men.
Therefore, women live in a state of false consciousness. Feminists observe that the subjection of women to the power of men originated from the rise of private property, the family, and the state. Engels proved that women’s subjection began with the rise of private property. In other words, the emergence of private property subordinated women to men because the law required men to declare their property, including women (Williams, 2000).
Using Marx and Engel class analysis, feminist scholars view women subjection as a product of overall exploitation and injustices that are found in the capitalistic societies. In the modern society, women have equal rights as those of men. The rights of women are well documented in the constitutions of various countries.
However, it is noted in this article that certain historical developments have presented new opportunities to women. These historical developments will be discussed in detail. Furthermore, the paper will discuss some of the achievements of feminist organizations. Before discussing the achievements of women and historical developments, it is crucial that the grievances of women be discussed.
Grievances of Women
Some women view oppression as inevitable in all male dominated societies. Political and economic power is concentrated in the hands of men. Radical feminists observe that there is a substantial social differentiation between sexes. Functionalist feminists agree that it is impossible to change gender roles in society without revising the social structure.
In this regard, the main aim of functionalist scholars is to revise the social structure. The main concern of the radical feminists is to incorporate women into the economy. For functionalists, if change in the social structure is enhanced, social disorder will be inevitable. Therefore, gender equality should be approached cautiously. Conflict theorists on their part observe that no social structure is safe if it is maintained by oppressing a majority of its citizens.
For such feminists, women should be allowed to participate in societal activities without discrimination. In this case, women must be allowed to own land, participate in political processes such as voting for their preferred candidate, and present their candidature during elections. In society, women are never allowed to engage in activities that are perceived to belong to men.
From the pre-industrial period, men were powerful because of their physical strength and freedom from childbearing duties. Feminists observe that these factors allowed men to dominate women physically. In this regard, the aim of women is to ensure that physical differences are not used to assign responsibilities to individuals in society (Oaxaca, 2004).
Cultural beliefs in society support a social structure that puts men in dominant positions. From early childhood, children are socialized to accept traditional gender roles as natural and just. Women are against this perception because capability is not dictated by gender.
In many societies, some academic courses are reserved for boys while girls are advised to take inferior courses. The prestigious courses are believed to be pursued by men while women pursue the less prestigious ones. Feminists demand that the society must appreciate the fact that women have the same capabilities as those of men.
Using Marx class analysis, feminists observe that men are like the bourgeoisie while women are the proletariat because they depend on men for survival. Men control most of society’s wealth, prestige, and power. Women are compared to the proletariat because they are like the workers who work under the directives of the bourgeoisie. Women are exploited, and their culture is always devalued while that of men is valued. Most of the women’s work is devalued, particularly that of the home.
Feminist scholars have challenged the stereotyping of women and argued for a gender-balanced study of society in which women experiences and contributions are visible just like those of men.
In a study of positions of men and women in paid labor, feminists conclude that most workers are found in sex-segregated jobs implying that certain jobs are exclusively reserved for men while others belong to women. This form of segregation is not natural according to feminists, but society is structured to channel people into occupations based on gender and also to reserve positions of authority to men.
Each feminist group has its own grievances. For instance, the main concerns of white women include equal pay, equal education and opportunities, free contraception, and free abortion. There is no uniting position among feminists. Feminism has been associated with the culture of white women. Radical feminism is characterized by the belief that patriarchy is the leading cause of women’s oppression. A way could be found in academic feminism, which has an impact on teaching and research in academic institutions.
Consequently, feminist courses are currently taught in the institutions of higher learning. Feminist courses are concerned with revising and challenging a wide variety of academic disciplines. Academic feminists are concerned with criticizing the sex-blind nature of academic knowledge. Most disciplines have ignored the writings of women. In the academic field, we only have founding fathers, but not mothers.
Historical Developments
All women agree that subordination of women to men is a result of socio-economic factors, but not biological factors. Women are present in most social situations, but their presence is not appreciated. Where they are not present, it is not because of inequality or lack of interest, but because there have been deliberate efforts to exclude them.
Where women are present, they perform less prestigious roles such as wife, secretary, and passenger. However, historical developments have presented enormous opportunities to women. Developments in the law have helped women to reassert their position in society. In England, the law prohibited unmarried women from owning property and entering into the contract with other members of society.
The law allowed married women to inherit properties from their husbands. However, things have changed due to historical developments. The modern law identifies the legal status of women, both married and unmarried. A woman in the modern society can own land legally, and the law protects her rights. In 1960, the US came up with a number of laws aimed at improving the economic status of women. For instance, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed to empower women economically.
In 1964, The Civil Rights Act was passed in the US, which demanded that a company respects the views of women. In 1967, A Presidential Executive Order was approved, which illegalized all state contractors that neglected the views of women. In the UK, Equity Law was developed to allow a woman to sue her husband over misconduct. Similarly, a law was developed in the US in 1839, which allowed women to own property without necessarily holding marriage certificates.
In the nineteenth century, Britain and the US passed laws that allowed women to work in companies and other organizations operating outside their towns. When the law was first passed, textile companies employed women and children who worked under poor conditions. Moreover, women were supposed to work for over twelve hours a day. In 1847, the British government passed a law that required companies to adjust working hours from twelve hours to ten hours.
In the labor market, historical developments have presented a number of opportunities to women. In the twentieth century, the colonial government in the US passed a law allowing women to take courses that were previously reserved for men. This was a breakthrough because women were able to work as lawyers, doctors, preachers, and technicians.
Before the nineteenth century, women were never allowed to undertake medical courses. In 1890, an approximated five percent of women practiced medicine in the US. In 1980, the percentage of female doctors increased to seventeen percent. In Germany, the percentage of female doctors was nineteen percent in 1980.
The percentage of doctors was highest in Israel, with a percentage of thirty-two. In 1930, the percentage of women in the legal profession was two percent. The percentage increased to twenty-two percent in 1989. The trend shows that governments have been enacting laws aimed at boosting the employability of women.
Countries have come up with affirmative action policies aimed at safeguarding the interests of women in the labor market. For instance, it is illegal for a company to recruit individuals based on gender. In fact, each company must have a substantial number of women in all sections and departments. In the managerial board, women must be given enough positions for a company to be registered as a public company.
Moreover, the government cannot award its tenders to a company that does not recruit enough women. Before the First World War, women could not be recruited into the military and other security forces. The military belonged to men because women were considered weak and helpless. However, this has so far changed due to historical developments that have taken place in the military (Paci, 2001).
After the Second World War, the US president declared that the government would be cracking down on all those who were against democracy. Women interpreted this to mean that the government supported all forms of equality, including gender equality. The US president had no option but to support the activities women. He ensured that measures are put in place to guarantee women positions in government. The US president ensured that women enjoy their political rights.
The president declared that the political rights of women had been provided for in the 1920 reforms. In 1984, women supported the presidential candidate with a woman as a running mate. This was a milestone to the struggles of women. In 1917, the first woman was elected to represent the people of Montana in parliament. In 1933, the first woman was elected the senator in the US. This proved that the society appreciated the leadership roles of women.
Even in the local politics, women were actively involved because Patience was elected the first mayor of Oklahoma City. In other parts of the world, political reforms allowed Ceylon to become the first female prime minister of Sri Lanka from 1960 to 1965. In India, Indira was the first female premier, who transformed the lives of many. In 1980, Vigdis became the first female president in the world.
Another historical development that favored women was the creation of international organizations. For instance, the first women convention in the US declared that women were equal to men. The convention proved that the inequalities existing in society are creations of men since people are equal.
Therefore, the international organizations have been advocating that laws should be applied uniformly in society. After the American Civil War, women believed that constitution amendments would give them suffrage rights. However, the constitution granted blacks their suffrage rights. Even though women did not benefit directly, it was a milestone because the society had appreciated the existence of minorities in society (Manning, 2004).
Achievements of Feminist Organizations
It can be concluded that women have achieved a lot in society due to their unrelenting struggles. In education, women have pursued courses of their choice without interference from government. The education system does not favor any group. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, women had no rights to pursue courses reserved for men. For instance, the study of medicine, law, and engineering was reserved for men. A woman was supposed to pursue courses that were less superior such as secretary.
For instance, a woman was expected to take a course in the field of education, but not medicine. In the modern world, we have female professors and doctors specializing in various fields. In the labor market, women are also doing well. Employers recruit workers based on their skills and abilities. Gender is not part of the recruitment requirements. In fact, an employer found discriminating workers based on gender should be arrested and prosecuted.
This has seen the rise of women in society to take up leadership positions in organizations. In each country, the government must balance its civil service by ensuring that women take up a sizeable percentage of government positions. Some of the cultural practices that interfered with the achievement of women are no more. For instance, those found engaging in injustices are severely punished by the law. Rape is one of the felonies that are punishable by life imprisonment (Lyonette, 2010).
However, feminist organizations must come up with additional strategies to strengthen the position of women in society. For instance, the major determiner of salaries in both the public and the private sector has been the gender of the employee. The employers in both the private and the public sector have continuously looked out for gender when offering their salaries.
Various individuals and organizations have condemned this, claiming that some women in the job markets are well equipped with enough experience as compared to men in the same job market. Considering gender while offering salaries would not only be unfair to women, but also unrealistic basis of determining salaries. Women should continue fighting for their rights if they are to achieve their objectives in society. The achievements realized so far are not enough to bring them at par with men.
References
Lyonette, C. (2010). Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Manning, A. (2004). Something in the Way She Moves: A Fresh Look at an Old Gap. Oxford Economic Papers, 53(3), 169-188.
Oaxaca, R. (2004). Discrimination and the Decomposition of Wage Differentials. Journal of Econometrics, 61(3), 5-24.
Paci, P. (2001). Unequal Pay for Women and Men. London: Oxford University Press.
Williams, J. (2000). Unbending Gender: Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do about It. New York: Oxford University Press.
Give a summary of the main topics/issues of the documentary. (Give at least 5 items from the video that you learned or felt were important to know and understand.)
The movie revolves around a woman by the name of Robin Charbonneau. Robin is a single mother of two children namely Darian and Anthony. She struggles to raise the family. Additionally, she tries to curb alcoholism in her life. Issues that come out clearly in the documentary are drug abuse, rape (abuse of minors), single motherhood, violence, legal issues, gender violence, and the place of women in society. It also talks about life in rural America as well as the culture of American Indians. The movie showcases several issues facing Robin. She has to raise her two children alone as well as combat alcoholism. The movie also opens up issues concerning child abuse in society. Robin’s daughter is sexually abused by her father, this piles more pressure on Robin who has struggled to come to terms with her past.
Is this documentary political, social, and/or informational? How can it impact individuals to think differently about the topic?
This documentary is both social and informational. The movie is social in that it tackles the issues that face society. For instance, drug abuse, which Robin struggles with, is highlighted in the movie. Additionally, gender violence, child abuse as well as marriage issues such as single parenthood are highlighted in the movie. These social issues face various societies in the world. The movie is also informational in that viewers learn the culture of American Indians. Viewers are also able to learn the challenges that women face in marriages as well as in life. Viewers also learn the consequences of child abuse, the trauma it puts on the child as seen in Robin’s case, among others.
Is this issue controversial? Write down sources you used that aided in supporting your answer
The issues mentioned in the movie are quite controversial, especially the one on child abuse. Robin is struggling to withstand her past, which involved sexual abuse. At the same time, she is told by her daughter Darian that she has been abused by her father. This issue is controversial in society today. Child abuse is a very controversial issue globally. Priests have been accused of abusing children sexually. This has also been witnessed in various cultures and societies around the world. The most affected are young girls and women as observed in Robin and Darian’s case. Sexual abuse also can bring about problems with drug abuse and parenthood.
How does this documentary impact or influence you? Is it positive or negative? Was it cognitively and/or emotionally impactful? Explain your answers.
This documentary is influential in exposing the difficulties women face around the world. Most women face poverty, sexual abuse, insubordination, shameful jobs like prostitution, unemployment, and the need to fend for their families single-handedly. This movie is both cognitively and emotionally impactful. The movie takes one through the psychological processes of suffering the aftermath of sexual abuse, drug abuse, and the feeling for a child after such vices on her. This act, affect one cognitively. Additionally, the emotional impact of sexual abuse by a biological father is great (Crawford, 2011).
How can/will you utilize this information in the future?
The information gained from this movie helps expose the psychological impacts of the issues on women. This would help assist victims of sexual abuse both emotionally and cognitively. Additionally, this information will help assist families with marriage issues. For instance, in the case of child abuse, it would be prudent to advise the victim to seek both legal and medical attention. This information would also help understand the psychological processes that children undergo after going through an abusive childhood.
Did you review the topic change after thinking/researching it further? Why? Why not?
Based on the information provided in the movie, I would indeed review the topic since it reflects Robin as a kindhearted woman despite all her sorrows. This is because most of the information provided focuses on family issues and their effect on Robin’s family. For instance, the movie shows two instances of sexual abuse on female minors by males. The whole story and the aftermath of abusive childhood affect Robin’s future life as well as parenthood. She loses custody of her children due to drug abuse among other issues. In essence, the movie focuses more on the effects of child abuse.
Video 2 “Name of Video: Bangkok Girl by Jordan Clark”
Give a summary of the main topics/issues of the documentary. (Give at least 5 items from the video that you learned or felt were important to know and understand.)
The movie talks about sex tourism in Thailand’s capital Bangkok. The movie revolves around a 19-year girl named girl. Pla works in a bar as a barmaid. She also faces the dilemma of exchanging sex for cash. Issues raised in the movie included teenage sex, poverty, the moral landscape of Thailand, sex tourism, and the dilemma to accept sex tourism socially. Foreigners in Thailand bring with them money which solves issues related to poverty albeit temporarily in a country where people hustle to make ends meet. The movie puts it clearly that the daily earnings in the town are meager. Pay ranges from $2 to $8, which can barely sustain their lives. Viewers could learn some of the issues faced by teenagers in Thailand. Additionally, one can learn the moral decadence that thrives in Bangkok due to the need for sex and money.
Is this documentary political, social, and/or informational? How can it impact individuals to think differently about the topic?
His documentary is political, social, and informational. The movie is political in that it sensitizes the Thailand government on the vices that take place under their watch. Additionally, it sensitizes movement groups to fight for the rights of teenagers by exposing the happenings in the country. The documentary is also social in that it exposes social issues such as sex tourism, poverty, and societal acceptance of sex tourism. Others include desires and dreams brought by “farangs”, among others. The movie is informational in that it provides valuable data on the happenings in Bangkok and Thailand in general. For instance, viewers note that the Northern side faces more social challenges than the south.
Is this issue controversial? Write down sources you used that aided in supporting your answer
This issue is quite controversial since it is a global issue. Prostitution has ensnared every part of the world. This has brought about other issues such as teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, crime, among others. Sex tourism is an issue that is witnessed in almost every town in the world. Sex tourism has brought about numerous challenges, which different governments have tried to address albeit at various levels. Child sex and sex trafficking have been closely linked with sex tourism. These vices attract various penalties and jail terms around the world. In essence, sex tourism is a controversial issue in society and the world at large.
How does this documentary impact or influence you? Is it positive or negative? Was it cognitively and/or emotionally impactful? Explain your answers.
This documentary is emotionally impactful given the extent people are willing to go to achieve their wishes or dreams. The movie also highlights the state of the common people, especially women in Bangkok’s suburb. The plight of young girls and women is expressed in the best way possible since they are exploited sexually by their male counterparts. The dimension of morals in that society is also changing; this makes people accept sex tourism gradually as moral behavior. The movie influences me to understand the plight of women in society, especially in the third world as well as developing countries (Crawford, 2011).
How can/will you utilize this information in the future?
Information from this movie is essential in exposing the plight of women in society. I would utilize this information to represent minors against sexual abuse in countries like Thailand and other third world countries. I would also use this information to sensitize teenagers to care for their lives since some foreigners who buy sex have no regard for them at all. Additionally, I would use this information to fight for the rights of women to gain more representation, which would ultimately minimize sex tourism and prostitution.
Did your review of the topic change after thinking/researching it further? Why? Why not?
The topic in this movie regards sex tourism. However, other topics come about to support sex tourism. These topics include poverty, unemployment, foreign influence, and sex traffic, among others. However, after going through the movie, the topic remains unchanged since most of the issues raised in the movie promote sex tourism. For instance, the scale of poverty that women face in Bangkok’s street is in contrast to the amount of money brought by foreigners, this tempts them into sex tourism.
Video 3 “Name of Video: Constantin and Elena by Andrei Dascalescu”
Give a summary of the main topics/issues of the documentary. (Give at least 5 items from the video that you learned or felt were important to know and understand.)
The move presents a true love story in a couple. Constantin and Elena are Romanian couples who have lived in love for as long as they can still remember. The two lovebirds work together and enjoy most of their moments together. The couple has lived together for fifty-five years but they still love each other as before. This documentary shows a successful marriage despite the challenges faced. Elena and Constantine are not wealthy but their love blossoms each day. They help each other in daily chores, a virtue that is rarely seen in most marriages. The documentary showcases a unique marriage where women are represented as necessary in a marriage. Other issues that arise are the wars, political upheavals, death, challenges of old age, among others.
Is this documentary political, social, and/or informational? How can it impact individuals to think differently about the topic?
This documentary is political, social, and informational. Firstly, it is political since it gives information on the political upheavals that have faced Constantin’s country. Moreover, Constantin and his wife have witnessed wars and sectarian conflicts that have left them worried about their own lives. However, despite all these, they have remained faithful and loving to one another. The documentary is also social since it covers the social life of Constantin and his wife Elena. Additionally, the movie covers the social life of Romania. Lastly, this movie is informational since it teaches viewers the values of remaining faithful and loving to one another in marriage. It also informs viewers that despite all the challenges, true love and true marriage exist.
Is this issue controversial? Write down sources you used that aided in supporting your answer.
The issue of true love or successful marriage is controversial since some opposing views have been raised concerning its existence. While some people have considered true love to be in existence, others have argued that it does not exist. The media has utilized this opportunity to advocate for true love among celebrities. However, as is the culture, celebrities tend to have all they want. Additionally, they chose their suitors for various occasions, which is sometimes deceptive. However, this documentary shows a real scenario of two lovebirds that do not have all they want but still maintain their love for each other. It is highly possible that some people would dispute the reality of this documentary and this makes it controversial.
How does this documentary impact or influence you? Is it positive or negative? Was it cognitively and/or emotionally impactful? Explain your answers.
This documentary positively impacts my life. I am encouraged to learn that there are people out there who can withstand the tests of time to remain true to one another. Throughout the globe, it is rare to find such kind of people. Therefore, when a true story of such a coupe is documented, then it influences positively. The world has been tainted in such a way that both gender, especially women, fear marriage due to observations in the media and neighborhoods. The impact is both emotional since it is moving and cognitive since they have overcome numerous upheavals (Crawford, 2011).
How can/will you utilize this information in the future?
Information from this documentary is vital since it will aid me in encouraging couples to persevere in their marriages despite the imperfections that may arise. Additionally, the documentary would help me to encourage students and young people to believe in true love, which comes with respect and faithfulness. This information would also help in encouraging couples with problems in their families to help each other in daily chores, which helps in bonding.
Did you review the topic change after thinking/researching it further? Why? Why not?
The topic is on a successful marriage or true love. The use of the names of both lovers in the title epitomizes their sacrifices to support and sustain their marriage. However, the topic is clear and concise. Occurrences in the movie support the need for successful marriages in the world. The very fact that this documentary won awards signifies its importance to a society whose morals are decaying each day.
Video 4 “Name of Video: Solar Mamas by Mona Eldaief and Jehane Noujaim”
Give a summary of the main topics/issues of the documentary. (Give at least 5 items from the video that you learned or felt were important to know and understand.)
This documentary is quite inspiring since it revolves around an illiterate woman who wishes to become an engineer. Rafea is illiterate but this does not stop her from dreaming like the literates. The fact that she is allowed into a college is even more interesting. Moreover, the fact that she is going to that college to study engineering is even more tantalizing than before. The movie talks about empowering women to see light at the end of the tunnel, in this case powering communities. Several issues arise in this documentary. These include poverty level, gender imbalance (especially in third world countries), single motherhood, place of women in society, women empowerment, and literacy levels in the Middle East, among other issues.
Is this documentary political, social, and/or informational? How can it impact individuals to think differently about the topic?
This documentary is political, social as well as informational. The documentary is political in that it appeals to the government to recognize and address the plight of women in society. It does this by exposing the literacy levels of women in Jordan. Additionally, it gives statistics of literacy levels as well as poverty levels in the world. The movie is also social in that it centers on the social issues of life. These include the need for sustainable energy through solar power and the need for education, which Rafea tries to gain. The documentary is also informational since it educates views on the low levels of literacy and poverty among women around the globe. Moreover, it provides information on various ways of empowering women, for instance, through solar.
Is this issue controversial? Write down sources you used that aided in supporting your answer.
Women empowerment is a controversial issue in the world, especially in third world countries. Women are given less representation in most countries throughout the world. Even in employment sectors, women are usually discriminated against. The documentary provides numerous pieces of evidence, including data on women’s place in society. The movie estimates that women constitute about 3.5 billion of the world’s population (almost half) yet 70% percent of the worlds poor are women. Additionally, two-thirds of the world’s poor people are women. Additionally, women only own about 1%of the world’s property. Interestingly, women also earn less than men do. In essence, this issue is controversial as it promotes discrimination.
How does this documentary impact or influence you? Is it positive or negative? Was it cognitively and/or emotionally impactful? Explain your answers.
This documentary is influential in a big way since it shows efforts to transform women’s lives despite many obstacles like illiteracy and poverty. The movie positively influences me since it empowers women to think beyond their borders. In most cultures, women are not allowed to learn mechanical or engineering courses. These courses are usually reserved for men. However, the move transforms people’s minds and beliefs on this. It goes beyond borders in empowering illiterate women. Most organizations are known to empower fortunately but few women manage to complete their first degrees through scholarships. However, this documentary shows a college that deals only with poor and illiterate women (Crawford, 2011).
How can/will you utilize this information in the future?
This documentary is quite inspirational. It goes beyond the borders of literacy as well as that of poverty to uplift women. This documentary would be helpful to me in lifting the spirits of young as well as mature women who want to advance their careers in life. Additionally, it would aid me in identifying more ways of empowering women. Moreover, it will come as a relief to illiterate women who have lost hope in life.
Did your review of the topic change after thinking/researching it further? Why? Why not?
The topic is inspirational and influential in promoting the empowerment of women in society. The documentary depicts Rafea as a woman who is ready to learn despite her shortfalls. Additionally, the documentary gives evidence of women’s empowerment through an institution (Barefoot College) that has collected women from poor backgrounds to enlighten. Rafea risks several repercussions including losing her children to concentrate on her newfound career course. Based on these facts, I would not wish to change the topic since it is essential and controversial in modern society.
Reference
Crawford, M. (2011). Transformations: Women, Gender and Psychology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Press.
Despite the presence of a significant international civilization, gender bias continues to be a disturbing issue within the societies. Women are frequently facing gender discrimination1 within the societies and even in their workplaces. Social stratification2 seems to shift from the cultural ideologies imposed within the societies to the workplace environments (Lee, 2005). Even though modernization seeks to ensure equitable access to work opportunities3 and an impartial treatment between genders, socioeconomic statuses differ and wealth4 distribution seems uneven between genders (Lee, 2005). Such disparities are creating serious public concerns. Fundamentally, this essay discusses workplace gender discrimination as a critical social injustice problem.
Discrimination in compensation
Underpayment or low payment makes life miserable because the meager income5 can barely make individuals to have the economic power6 or wealth to afford the recurrent life necessities. According to Lee (2005), a great number of the working class7 women rank within the lower class8 population and only a few manage to scale rank among the middle class9 or the upper middle10 population.
Modern companies have concentrated on improving the performance of the organizations and such intentions force them to recruit instrumental leadership11 that is capable of motivating an energetic workforce12. Lee (2005) asserts that women can barely match the workplace requirements that men can fulfill and such situations make some leaders to underpay the female workforce.
While most organizations claim to practice a democratic leadership13 that people perceive to be fair in ensuring equitable treatment among the workers, contemporary management systems often make unfair salary decisions (Lee, 2005). Managing a resilient and a low-demanding workforce that comprise of men is easier than managing a female workforce that has several familial issues and complications (Lee 2005). Irrespective of the fact that absolute poverty14 and relative poverty15 are universal social problems that affect both genders, corporate organizations tend to favor the male workforce in terms of compensation. Such disparities make women susceptible to workplace abuse, manipulation, exploitation, and social inequalities.
Discrimination in the Workplace Opportunities
Women remain discriminated against in terms of access to workplace opportunities. Modern companies have the philosophy of recruiting and promoting individuals through meritocracy16. Merit-based employment, retention, recognition, and promotion make men luckier than women with the opportunities offered within companies (Lee, 2005). Such situations make companies to classify its workforce based on the class systems17 that involve a consideration of the individual’s achievement and performance at the workplace. Bound to respect the organizational policies that favor bureaucracy18, modern managers can barely afford to exercise their democratic privileges to appoint women to occupy crucial men positions.
The area of specialization19 for women has been limited from the beginning of the industrial revolution. A notion that men often form competitive work teams20 is culturally inherent in most organizations (Lee, 2005). As companies focus on improving their performances, the increased reliance on technology21 to enhance work efficiency22 seems to deny the women opportunities to demonstrate their technical competencies23 skills. The command and control24 of the modern firms is often under the male workforce that often manipulates and harasses female workers when they seek posts and promotions (Lee, 2005). Manipulations, sexual harassments, and unjust gender-based promotions make women dissatisfied and frustrated at workplaces.
Discrimination in the Workplace Privileges
Women are facing an increasing workplace discrimination pertaining to the indirect benefits that companies offer to their workers. Companies have rules and regulations25 that govern the decisions of managers concerning employment, compensation, retrenchment, and the off-duty conditions of workers (Lee, 2005). Women have often faced discrimination because of their family responsibilities, maternal responsibilities and their biological problems. Cases of women facing unfair dismissals because of their commitment to maternal responsibilities and especially those who seek maternity off-duty permissions are currently on the rise (Lee, 2005). This form of intentional discrimination makes women lose working morale, fear seeking for job promotions, and even lose confidence in their work.
Women often qualify for white-collar occupations26 that require less menial labor compared to the blue-collar occupations.27 Contemporary white-collar jobs require strategic planning that requires workers to be always within the workplaces to execute the strategies and make significant strategic assignment (Lee, 2005). Women have their personal problems, health complications, and family obligations that limit them from fulfilling the demands of the formal organizations28. Countries and corporate organizations have limited policies and regulations that protect workers from these intentional discriminations (Lee, 2005). Coercive organizations29 use these legal lapses to manipulate the female workforce in terms of offering them equitable access to workplace privileges.
Conclusion
Formal organizations30 are often practicing scientific management31 and are often seeking employees who have technical competence and resilience in the workplace. Unfortunately, female employees have personal problems, cultural barriers, and professional deficiencies in handling the challenging tasks that men are competent in handling at workplaces. Coupled with the increasing quest of the formal organizations to utilize labor force effectively, women face compensation discrimination and unfair access to workplace opportunities and privileges. Low income and lack of workplace power make the female workforce live in intermittent poverty. Such workplace gender discriminations instigate feminization of poverty32.
Reference
Lee, A. (2005). Unconscious Bias Theory in Employment Discrimination Litigation. Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review 40(2), 481-503.
Intersectionality is an idea that is usually applied in critical speculations to express the manner in which domineering societies, for instance, bigotry, chauvinism, and racial intolerance among others are interrelated to the extent that it is almost impossible to address one in the absence of the rest. Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, a US civil rights activist, established the concept. According to Bright (2016), intersectionality is significant in the study of gender since it involves institutions that are discriminated in the society based on parameters such as sexual orientation. For instance, gender perception against women can be connected, stimulated, and shaped by race and even one’s ethnic inclination.
According to Betancur (2012), intersectionality has some significant effects as far as health is concerned. For example, people who are sexually and rascally victimized in the society tend to have both mental and physical health problems. This finding indicates that if the concept is understood and addressed well, it can help in eradicating some of these health challenges. Besides, studying intersectionality can help in averting gender-based violence among people. According to Bright (2016), in connection with the issue of popular culture, this concept is relevant since people get to appreciate the need to protect one’s traditions, regardless of the underlying tenets. For instance, the feminist society is observed to be weak when compared to the masculine culture. Hence, studying this concept will build and/or create a strong bond in the society by supporting the efforts of eradicating biasness among people.
Privilege
Privilege is a concept or any merit that is special, unearned, and socially deliberated (Pinn, 2017). For instance, white people enjoy the privilege of being observed as straightforward and principled. On the other hand, black people are regularly perceived to be criminals or possible criminals until they show signs they are not. According to Stanley (2016), the privilege of being a white man has favored me in various ways, for instance, getting a first-class education, being to do my shopping without interruption from other people, and/or being able to enjoy my unique hair style without any questioning from other people. As a white man, I am allowed to exhibit individualism without being seen as racially motivated. Considerably, I can walk freely understanding that no one can discriminate me based on my color. As stated by Stanley (2016), the privilege of being white has given me an advantage over many things, yet it does seem to promote fairness among people as far as black people are concerned. I can use the privilege to advocate for equal rights to be entitled to all people, despite their color, as stipulated in the US constitution. I can also form a movement that will act as the voice for those who are victimized based on their color.
Racial, Gender, and Sexual Representation
According to Ponton (2013), when examining racial, gender, and sexual representations in America, individuals are identified based on how they portray themselves. For instance, in terms of gender, one is either identified as being masculine or feminine. People are assigned identity in terms of how they dress, talk, eat, walk, and/or the individuals they interact with. On the other hand, society and philosophy dictate gender roles. Media has played a big part as far as the assignment of racial, sexuality, or gender-based representations is concerned. For example, during breast cancer awareness campaigns, media agencies use a pink color that is much associated with femininity while they deploy blue shade to present male-connected adverts.
Feminism
I do not associate with the feminist movement, owing to my status as a man. However, the enlightenment I have gained so far concerning the place of the contemporary women in the society has enabled me to appreciate that I have a role to play as man to help this group of people attain their rights. History has depicted several men, for instance, Michael Flood and Michael Kimmel, as some of scholars who have fully participated in helping women to have their voices heard in the society. For instance, through this crusade, I have helped to see women achieving their right to education, as compared to some years back when education priorities were only given to men (Kretschmer, 2014).
Western Advertisements
According to Sundar (2013), mass media has been influential to the audience in many ways, especially in terms of how western advertisements have been deployed to describe the image of an ideal female beauty. Media agencies attempt to capture the attention of every person, a move that has made many western adverts use women to achieve this goal. In many times, the level of damage has surpassed what the ordinary people would expect of any advertisement. For example, in media platforms such as magazines, slim and tall women are depicted as being beautiful relative to the others. As a result, serious real-life consequences have been witnessed in women following repeated sexualization and objectification of their bodies in such advertising images. Firstly, such adverts have been associated with issues such as women fainting because of their plan to go without food with the goal of attaining slim bodies that are associated with beauty. Secondly, Sundar (2013) presents the issue of body modification that has left irreparable marks on the bodies of women who attempt to go through plastic surgery to be gorgeous.
References
Betancur, J. (2012). Emerging intersections: Race, class, and gender in theory, policy, and practice. Journal of American Ethnic History, 31(4), 82-82.
Bright, L. (2016). Causally interpreting intersectionality theory. Philosophy of Science, 83(1), 60-81.
Kretschmer, K. (2014). Shifting boundaries and splintering movements: Abortion rights in the feminist and new right movements. Sociological Forum, 29(4), 893-915.
Pinn, A. (2017). Humanism and the challenge of privilege. Humanist, 77(3), 22-24.
Ponton, D (2013). The women of Katrina: How gender, race, and class matter in an American disaster. Journal of Southern History, 79(4), 1036-1037.
Stanley, S. (2016). Changing the shape of things: A reflection on power, privilege, and the benefits of institutional transformation. Theatre Research in Canada, 37(2), 270-275.
Sundar, S (2013). Uses and grats 2.0: New gratifications for new media. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 57(4), 504-525.
The principal goal of this paper is to conduct the evaluation of the four main perspectives on gender while determining their primary weaknesses, strengths, and contribution to my understanding of the gender differences with the assistance of theoretical approaches. In this instance, the various perspectives of the construction of gender such as biological, cultural, psychological, and social will be discussed, as they determine the potential differences between genders. The evaluation of each approach will contribute to the understanding and definition of the core perspective, which influences my perception of gender differences.
Firstly, the biological construction of gender can be defined as the biological differences between the representatives of different sexes (Chong 269). For instance, the prenatal conditions and the control of the hormones can be considered as matters, which define the gender identity and determine some of the behavioral patterns (Chong 269). Additionally, the evaluation of the strengths and drawbacks assists the application of the gender theory in terms of gender distinction.
It could be said that the core advantage of this methodology is the discovery of the biological appearance of the individuals to define gender. In turn, the scientific background of the approach contributes to the relevance and profound nature of the information, which is based on the commonly accepted facts and principles. Nonetheless, the primary limitation is the inability to take into account the behavioral patterns of the individuals due to the influence of external factors such as socialization (Udry 443). The presence of this feature develops the inconsistency of the presented biological perspective of gender construction solely.
In turn, the cultural construction of gender depicts the fact that different cultures have dissimilar perceptions about distinctive ideas of masculinity and femininity (Peoples and Bailey 244). Additionally, this approach contributes to the understanding of the variability of male’s and female’s behavior due to belonging to the particular culture (Peoples and Bailey 244). In turn, the primary strength of this method is the cultivation of the essentiality of multiculturalism in society.
Additionally, this approach helps discover the role of gender from the dissimilar perspectives of different cultures and ethnic groups. Nonetheless, the primary drawback is the fact that the cultures might have opposing views about female and male roles. In this instance, the presence of this matter might be a primary cause of confusion while determining the differences between genders, as the commonly accepted behavior in one culture might be considered inappropriate in another one and vice versa.
As for the psychological gender construction, it defines gender as a mental condition of an individual with a high correlation to the interdependence between the well-being and social identity (Nastashi and Borja 93). In turn, belonging to a particular gender is dependent on individual attitudes and self-relation (Fine-Davies 56). It could be said that the primary benefit is the ability to take into account various approaches while defining the gender differences including biology and social perception of the gender. The ability to depict different aspects contributes to the overall understanding of the distinction of genders while acquiring the overall image of the process. Nonetheless, the primary drawback is the bias of the theory due to the extended variety of the methods in psychology and the necessity to take into account the individual attitudes about the topic.
Lastly, the primary features of the theory of the social construction of gender have to be emphasized. The framework implies the vitality of the interactions, socialization, and social expectations in defining the belonging to the particular sex (Evans 54). In turn, the social hierarchy and social norms also contribute to the establishment of the behavioral patterns and core attributes of the outlooks of the individuals (Evans 54). It could be said that the theory discovers gender differences while taking into account the core components of the complex mechanisms of society. The primary benefit is the discovery of the interdependence between the individuals while defining the gender, as they are highly engaged in interactions. Nonetheless, the critical drawback is the absence of the ability to depict the correlation of biological aspects, as they determine physical differences and initial behavioral patterns based on the hormones, the structure of the DNA, and other matters.
In the end, the evaluation of all theories, which are presented above, contributes to the ability to define gender differences. Nonetheless, it could be said that psychological perception assists in the understanding of the presence of the gender difference the most. The primary reason for the selection of this approach is its ability to consider the definers of the belonging to the particular gender from the dissimilar perspectives due to the plethora of psychological theories. In this instance, social, individual, and biological approaches are taken into account, as they are the major components of the theoretical basis of psychology. It could be said that it helps understand the gender differences the most, as the essential features are depicted from various perceptions.
Works Cited
Chong, Jing. “Biological and Social Construction of Gender Differences and Similarities: A Psychological Perspective.” The Review of Communication 5.4 (2005): 269-271. Print.
Evans, Mary. Gender and Social Theory, Buckingham: Open University Press, 2003. Print.
Fine-Davies, Margret. Gender Roles in Ireland: Three Decades of Attitude Change, London: Routledge, 2015. Print.
Nastashi, Bonnie, and Amanda Borja. International Handbook of Psychological Well-Being in Children and Adolescents, New York: Springer Science+Business Media, 2016. Print.
Peoples, James, and Garrik Bailey. Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Stamford: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2015. Print.
Udry, Richard. “Biological Limits of Gender Construction.” American Sociological Review 65.3 (2000): 443-457. Print.
Mathematics as other science fields is considered to be a male-dominated sphere. This is well captured by Fennemma (2000) who asserts that girls believe that maths and sciences are purely for white males – this belief is also held true by educators. Fennemma (2000) asserts that the mathematic educators legitimize the perception that girls and boys are not the same when it comes to the learning of Mathematics. This paper seeks to look at how the sociological theories of
Bourdieu, Symbolic Interactionism and Feminism are used to explain the gender inequalities and gender dominance in the teaching of mathematics. They are applied to the scenario in which a male student repeatedly makes sexual remarks on a female student.
Pierre Bourdieu (1977) developed the sociological concepts of social and cultural capital. Social capital is defined to consist of social relationships that are developed in networks. The person must understand its structure as well as the way it works. The person must then know how to sustain and use these networks. Bourdieu (1984) emphasizes that social networks must be constructed and then skilfully maintained in order for the actor to utilize their resources.
This is well illustrated in this scenario. The student is a member of the male group in the class. He needs to forge relationships with the rest as well as to get resources for learning and for the sustenance of his social life. This is the maximization of resources. The male student has understood the network and how it works. So, it acts by asserting its dominance. This is because it mainly consists of male students. He is, therefore, asserting the working style of the group in the use of sexual remarks. The sexual remark is a way of propagating the network style of group dominance.
Cultural capital is the next component. This means that knowledge of behavior that promotes success emanates from the cultural beliefs of the person who stands out of the line and might have inadequate behavior. This is passed on by the family. The dominant culture and its language are used to teach these values. Cultural capital is applied to create social inequalities.
The scenario replicates cultural capital. The student has grown up understanding that he is superior by virtue of being male. The family structure propagates this belief. He, therefore, has institutionalized it. He is asserting this in the classroom by his use of language. The use of language is one of the components of cultural capital that create social inequalities. He makes the sexual remarks in order to put the lady in her place and assert his superiority.
Griffin (1997) propagates a theory of explaining dominance in society under cultural capital. This is what he calls the mute culture. The dominant person in society is able to retain his position and enjoy its privileges. This is what happens in the maths classroom scenario. The male student is asserting his expected role set by society. The classroom scenario is a conducive environment. There is only one female student, that is why her male peer is asserting his dominance as he seeks to enjoy his leading position by making sexual remarks on her. This is to assert his position and also to enhance the mute culture. He says she is expected to keep quiet.
The theory of symbolic interaction, as defined by Blumer (1969), is the process by which individuals form meanings through their interaction. The theory has three components, which include meaning, language and thought. These three factors make up a person’s identity and are responsible for his/her successful socialization in the community. The principle we will look at here is meaning.
Meaning in symbolic interactions is defined as follows: people react and socialize towards another human being based on what perception and meanings are given to those individuals or items. This is what takes place in this scenario. The male student’s remarks are his assertion of the perception of the female student. She is viewed by him as a weaker party. This is why, the disrespectful, demeaning and disparaging remarks are made on her. The next element of his remarks is the view of the female being only a sexual object in society. This is captured by the sexual remarks.
The student here is reacting to an aspect of symbolic interactions as expounded by Dewey. He was of the view that an individual associated with and defined by a certain belief should conduct oneself according to the pattern of behavior his culture poses on him/her. Thus, he is aware of how one is supposed to act and can avoid undesired consequences. The last component is to choose a behavior that gives the intended outcome (Stryker, 1981).
The subject here is a female student. Her male peer is now moving to the next level in a thinking process, such as identifying how to conduct oneself. The male undermines her because she is a female – that is why the proper action which according to him, he is to do is to give a sexual remark that puts her in her place being a person of little importance. The last two parts of the thinking process are well illustrated in this scenario.
The thinker identifies alternative conduct and its repercussions and does not do it. He then defines what conduct would give the intended results. The student here perceives the fact that if he makes a complimentary remark, such as praising female student’s intellectual capability or work done well, in their mathematics class, he will go against the culture of male dominance. He will, therefore, draw ridicule on him, and face contempt and reprimand from his fellow male peers. He rejects that line of action. The correct conduct will be to exert his dominance as expected by society, and the only way to do this is by making a sexual remark to demean the other party who is a female.
Subjective symbolism is also influenced by the thinking of Cooley (1902). He is of the view that people are developed in primary groups, and this group thinking promotes stereotypes of sexuality. The first type of society is a patriarchal male one, while the second is that of women; however, it is a patriarchal society, the last are merely sexual objects.
Language is the next important component of symbolic interaction, which is seen in a description of the person’s sexual views and learning process in a group. This influences the person’s use of language when it comes to sexuality. Eder, Evans, and Parker (1995) explained how the language of middle school children showed their naivety, gender inequality and the negative perception of female sexuality. Gecas and Libby (1976) express the view that language is seldom objective. Language captures one’s attitudes and perceptions, thus sexual language conveys the speaker’s perception of sexuality and the values he upholds. The student in this scenario is actualizing his language use. Another viewpoint is that by his language us, he is to show his dominion and subdue a female. The way to do that is by demeaning and making her realize his values and worldview (Gecas & Burke, 1995). By using sexual remarks, he sees the female as a sexual object.
References
Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Bourdieu, P. (1977). Cultural Reproduction and Social Reproduction. New York: Oxford University Press.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. London: Routledge.
Cooley, C. H. (1902). Human Nature and the Social Order. Piscataway, NJ: Transaction.
Eder, D., Evans, C., & Parker, P. (1995). School talk: Gender and adolescent culture. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Fennema, E. (2000). Gender and Mathematics: What Is Known and What Do I Wish Was Known? Detroit. In the Fifth Annual Forum of the National Institute for Science Education. Detroit: Wisconsin Centre for Education.
Gecas, V., & Burke, P. J. (1995). Self and identity. In K.S. Cook, G.A. Fine, & J.S. House (Eds.), Sociological perspectives on social psychology (pp. 41-67). Boston, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon
Gecas, V, & Libby, R. (1976). Sexual behaviour as symbolic interaction. The Journal of Sex Research, 12(1), 33-49.
Griffin, E. (1997). A first look at communication theory. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Stryker, S. (1981). Symbolic interactionism: A social structural version. Menlo Park, CA: Benjamin/Cummings.
In the past decades, the society regarded women as being the lesser gender and limited their rights based on this. Women came out as the submissive and compassionate gender while men came out as the powerful and domineering gender. In the past, society rules prohibited women from airing their opinions in public, voting, studying, or working. The society specified that women’s role in the society is serving men, raising children, and handling domestic chores. The men made all decision in the society including those that concerned women.
Just like most countries in the world, United States is battling with the issue of gender inequality. In recent years, the status of women in the society has improved because of women’s circumstance in occupation, economic, politics, and technology world. However, gender minority is still an issue in the United States.
This is evident in different spheres of life. For instance, in the political arena, colleges, and corporate world, the ratio of men to women is not equal. Society encourages women to join careers and courses that are easy and discourage them from joining science and technology related courses as it consider women weak.
In the last two generations, the status of women has considerably changed in the United States. Women are joining careers and arenas that society view as the man’s world. For example, more women are making scientific and technological discoveries. Education has contributed significantly to women’s status in the United States today.
This has encouraged women to fight for their rights, voice their grievances, and appeal for equal treatment. Education empowers women and enlightens them. This makes the women to realize that the genetic difference among them and men does not spell out who is superior. In addition, factors like technology, interest groups, and media contribute to gender equality in the United States.
To equalize women and men in the United States, individual in the society should change their mindsets. For instance, many individuals advocate for gender equality but still view men as superior. These mindsets hinder implementation of changes that address the problem of gender inequality.
In addition, the society should drop acts that favor men compared to women. It should actualize what it advocate for and provide equal chances for men and women. The society should provide equal chances for men and women in politics, corporate world, and educational institutions based on qualification.
The biological make up of men and women is different. The man is masculine and strong while the woman is delicate and weak. Owing to this fact, it is difficult to compare the two. In the past, this gave men reason to subdue women and make them submit. It was common for men physically assault women who defied their orders.
The society can give women equal rights by not discriminating against them. The society should reconsider the rules and regulations bend them to accommodate women’s need. Further, the media should educate the public on the importance of gender equality and illuminate women in a different light. Although women and men can never be equal, the society should accommodate both genders and treat them as equals.
The given paper is dedicated to the exploration of the potential effects of environmental/social factors on disgust expression and perception in women and men. The functions of emotional expression are briefly discussed, and in-depth exploration of gender differences in disgust sensitivity is provided. The analysis is based on the evidence collected from quantitative and qualitative studies, as well as theories discussed by Al-Shawaf et al. Although social roles theory and evolutionary psychology seem to explain the empirical evidence on higher disgust propensity and sensitivity in females, further scientific investigation is needed to achieve conclusive results.
Introduction
Disgust is an emotional response to “violations of physical purity,” such as spoiled food, unpleasant odors, and sex taboos (Aleman and Swart e3622). Similar to all emotions and their expressions, it has certain functionality. Theoretically, it functions to protect from various hazards including those posed by infections, risky sexual behaviors, and others. Whereas emotional expression is characteristic to all human beings, research evidence indicates the existence of marked gender differences in disgust sensitivity, that is to say, the degree to which a person feels rejection and hostility towards common disgust elicitors.
Nowadays, numerous hypotheses, trying to clarify gender differences related to disgust expression, exist. According to the evolutionary metatheory discussed by Al-Shawaf et al., women are more sensitive to disgust stimuli because “they have recurrently faced different adaptive problems over the course of human evolutionary history” (Sex Differences in Disgust 156). Based on this, the given paper will aim to explore the assumption that environmental (social) stimuli associated with gender roles largely define individuals’ disgust behaviors.
Materials and Methods
Academic papers for the literature review were retrieved through such databases as ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. The inclusion criteria were relevance (the paper explicitly studied emotional expression, its functions, and gender differences associated with it), depth (the paper provides a profound description of the subject and implements empirical methods), and utility (the study contributes to the understanding of the stated problem). To analyze the collected evidence, the inductive method of meta-ethnography was utilized. It includes the following steps: an investigation of the studies, determination of common themes and links between them, synthesis of different study findings, and their interpretation.
Results
Disgust propensity and sensitivity are directly correlated with individuals’ reactions to disgust-provoking stimuli. Evidence shows that women have higher disgust on self-reported measures, such as Disgust Scale and Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale (Skolnick 145; Grauvogl et al. 1524), and demonstrate a significant advantage in recognition of emotional expressions, as well as their intensity (Wingenbach et al. 13).
Both of the advantages in women’s perception and recognition of disgust can be explained from the perspective of the social role theory. For instance, it is suggested that females’ better ability to read facial expressions is linked to the primary female role of caretaker and the associated need to recognize the emotional states of family members (Wingenbach et al. 14). Higher disgust propensity in women may be dictated by gender-role-based expectations as well.
For instance, Skolnick et al. note that “by presenting themselves as low in disgust, men can avoid appearing weak and less masculine,” while the high manifestation of disgust, as well as other emotions, in women, may help them relate to other females (85). These data indicate that both gender roles and evolutionary psychology may serve as predictors of greater disgust propensity and sensitivity in women.
The specific theory attempting to explain gender differences in disgust expression suggests that mothers play a more valuable parenting role from the evolutionary perspective. Based on the assumption that women take a more important part in the survival of children, Al-Shawaf et al. state that selection may “act more intensely on female psychology to avoid harm” (Sex Differences in Disgust 153).
The given hypothesis is in line with the claim by Hess and Thibault concerning the functionality of emotion expressions as a hereditary and evolved protection mechanism (120). Secondly, it is observed that disgust propensity may be correlated with individuals’ mating strategies. Al-Shawaf et al. note that when a person complies with the short-term mating strategy, which usually implies multiple sex partners and greater sexual variety than the long-term one, their disgust sensitivity is insignificant (Disgust and Mating Strategy 200). The latter hypothesis was supported by the findings of the empirical research of 247 participants (women n=144 and men n=103) (Al-Shawaf et al., Disgust and Mating Strategy 200). However, the former one is currently not supported by scientific evidence.
Conclusion
A clear and accurate explanation of evidence regarding women’s higher propensity and sensitivity to disgust-provoking stimuli lacks in literature. Nevertheless, social role theory and evolutionary psychology seem to be the best options for the interpretation of the empirical data obtained in a plethora of research studies devoted to gender differences in emotional expression. Traditionally, females are expected to comply with such feminine gender roles as caretaker and nurturer and to have such qualities as softness and emotionality.
At the same time, historically, men played the roles of breadwinners and protectors and, according to gender-based stereotypes, are expected to be assertive and strong. Thus, it is possible to presume that individuals’ sensitivity to disgust may be largely defined by their perceptions of the given emotion. Since disgust may be partly associated with fear of an object/phenomenon, as well as hostility, it may be regarded as the manifestation of weakness and, therefore, males may tend to suppress disgust. At the same time, the gender role of caretaker is associated with the long-term mating strategy and the need to maintain the health of children.
Throughout the evolution, it could provide females with a cognitive advantage in reacting to disgust-provoking stimuli and recognizing the emotions of others. To verify both of the suggestions, further empirical research is required.
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