Final

Lauren Best

5/12/09

WS 1003

Take Home Final

Essay # 2:

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are people too.”

After a long semester of taking Women’s Studies and debating / discussing with many girls, I am still trying to define feminism for myself and for my friends around me. Feminism has become a very gray issue in its Third Wave and has become increasingly harder to define. Feminism has become very subjective and can be defined differently person to person. Taking a Women’s Studies course has definitely re-evaluated the way I think about feminism, but it has strengthened my views on feminism as well. In my own words, feminism is the simple idea that both sexes should be free of oppressive gender stereotypes and roles and be treated as equal human beings despite our obvious differences.

Nancy Friday once said that “Sexuality is the great field of battle between biology and society.” I think that much of the debates on modern feminism are relevant to this quote. I feel like women and men are inherently different due to simple biology, but society has tried to make that gap even bigger through gender roles and conditioning. In this day and age, women are finally becoming closer to being equal to men than ever before. There is still, however, a significant wage gap. Women have made an amazing leap in social and political freedom over the past century.

The First Wave of feminism started the movement less than a Century ago during the early 20^th Century. Women, mainly upper-class, educated ones, marched and fought for their political rights in Washington and all around the world as well. The key goals of the First Wave were far more political than those in the Second and Third Waves of feminism. Women simply wanted the right to vote and speak for themselves politically. Women were not able to do simple things like own property or even drive without their man in some states! The women of the First Wave were quite successful with their cause after many efforts and arrests, for the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920 giving women their right to vote.

The Second Wave of feminism came much later in the 20^th Century after a lengthy pause during World Wars I & II. Women took their husbands’ jobs while at war during World War II and did all of the work on the home front. Women did the man and the woman’s job while the men were at work. When they came back from war, however, there was a powerful backlash against these women’s newfound freedoms. The 1950s saw the creation of the suburb and the first act of white flight of the middle class to those suburbs. Suddenly women were thrown back into their traditional roles of mother, housewife, and caretaker… as well as baker. The Second Wave of feminism grew out of that national complacency so present in the 1950s. Feminists like Betty Friedan spoke out against being forced into the housewife role in her book The Feminine Mystique. Feminists began to shun make-up and short skirts so they were thought of less as mere sexual objects and more as people too. This was another way for women to try to gain respect within their workplace and be taken more seriously. The Second Wave of feminism really gained its strength and power during the 1960s after watching the success for the African-Americans and the Civil Rights movement. Feminists took cues from what the Blacks did in their fight for their freedom and applied it to their own movement. Many things were beginning to change for women during the Second Wave as well. For the first time in American history, birth control became readily available to young and married women alike. The pill was created in 1963 alleviating, for the first time, the worry of getting pregnant every time a woman had sex. This gave women a newfound sexual liberation. Women could sleep with men they were not married to and there would be no repercussions finally. Another major change came in the later part of the Second Wave, abortion was legalized in 1975 after the trial of Roe vs. Wade. Now women had obtained even more sexual freedoms! Women began to realize that sex was now not just about reproducing, but about enjoying and taking pleasure in. This readily available access to birth control as well as the option of abortion has drastically changed the social and political landscape throughout the 20^th Century.

Now feminism has come to a strange, unfamiliar place in its modern Third Wave. After the end of the Second Wave at the end of the 1970s, feminism began to change greatly. Feminism suffered a political and social backlash during the 1980s and especially during the Reagan administration. After the success and sexual liberation of the Second Wave, America turned to its conservative roots in the 80s and the achievements of the Second Wave began to take a back seat. Women still had all of their sexual freedoms, yet there were new women in the 80s who began resorting back to that complacent ideology so popular in 1950s post-war America. Women began discussing and debating what feminism really is. Despite the fact that Third Wave feminists have more rights and options available than ever before, are we really using them? Feminism has seemed to take kind of a stand-still since the 1980s in America. The movement has lost cohesion due do the subjective nature of feminism in the Third Wave. Feminism has become obscured because it is different for each individual woman and now men, too. Some women can now wear short skirts and wear shirts that say SLUT and that is their way of promoting feminism. Body image has become a major issue in the Third Wave and has actually taken away the focus on political activism within the feminist movement. More women worry about losing 10-15 lbs than fighting for their rights actively in Washington, or much less being aware of their rights. The sexual freedoms gained in the Second Wave were so radical than before that they caused a cultural backlash for the Third Wave. Women are now forced to worry about the way they look more than ever, instead of more important things like politics and social rights. More women in the Third Wave have lost faith in the political system and almost feel alienated by it now.

It is still hard for me to completely define feminism for myself. I imagine that this process will continue for the rest of my life. I will be forced to keep defining and redefining my sexuality as well as my life as a feminist. After taking this course, I definitely consider myself to be a feminist. I have realized how much society has created these harsh, rigid roles for men and women and how much we need to correct these roles. I believe myself to be a feminist because I love women and I think women and men deserve to be treated as complete equal people. Feminism has a long way to go in correcting these oppressive roles on society and especially women, but I think if the movement can come together in the Third Wave, it will be much more successful than by doing so individually.

Works Cited

Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique.

Rowe-Finkbeiner, Kristin. The F Word: Feminism In Jeopardy. Ch. 3 & 4.

In-class discussion and notes.

final blog # 10

When I started to think about the social issues that are important to me, one specific one always seems to come to mind: gay rights. It is quite sad to me that we have only come this far in the fight for equal gay rights. The gay rights movement seems so similar to the civil rights movement that African Americans as well as all citizens fought for so diligently in the 60s. It is shocking in today's ever-progressive society that we are still so behind on our equal rights for all citizens. I firmly support the cause of gay rights and the cause for all citizens to be seen as equals in the law. One prominent organization for gay rights is the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation, which is the oldest Gay and Lesbian task force in the United States. Since its beginning in 1973, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has been fighting for equality and justice by building political power through advocacy, training, and spreading forward-thinking throughout America. The Task Force runs the Policy Institute, which conducts social research and policy analysis for the benefit of the gay community. It also runs a training and organizing department which promotes new leaders and assists communities. In addition, the Task Force has the only department in an LGBT organization that is working to leverage federal resources to support the health and human service of those in the LGBT community. The Task Force has multiple headquarters all over the United States and is one of the leading non-profit organizations in the Gay movement. The Task Force is working diligently to help the LGBT community be treated as equals on campuses, in churches, as well as in the office. The Task Force is working to fight HIV/AIDs within the gay community as well as reduce the rate of hate crimes against gays. I like that the Gay & Lesbian Task Force is actively fighting for their rights through policy-making as well as working through federal legislation to make a difference. It shows forward-thinking even beyond this generation. In high school, I was a member of the LGBT student alliance and I hope to continue working to promote this great cause throughout the remainder of my adulthood. Through my studies in film and culture, I hope to show a more positive light ont he LGBT community and promote their cause!

blog # 9

Non-governmental Organizations:

I decided to choose the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC). This wonderful organization's main mission is to promote and protect the sexual rights, reproductive rights, and health of all women - especially women in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, to create and develop health policies, programs, and funding. Women's health care is still, sadly, a troubling issue in Western society. The rights of women in Third World countries, however, deserves immediate attention and care. It is our social responsibility as humans, and especially fellow women, to help ensure the health care for women all around the world. The IWHC is working toward that exact cause. The IWHC is trying to help women gain the knowledge to make the right decisions in terms of their sexual and health rights as well as try to live a healthy sexual life without worries of rape, violence, discrimination, or disease. The IWHC is not only trying to redirect funding to better the health of women, but is also trying to change the cultural thinking of impoverished societies in a more positive light towards women. Since the IWHC's beginning in 1984, this organization has provided over $16.5 million in grants to women advocates. The IWHC advocates women everywhere to take political and social action for their rights. The IWHC has started and helped build 75 organizations in 10 different countries around the world. The IWHC also encourages these separate organizations to create alliances and work with one another. The issues that the IWHC focus on are access to safe and legal abortions, sexual rights and gender equality, and the effects of HIV/AIDs on women in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The International Women's Health Coalition has received positive feedback and reviews from other various social organizations and should continue on with its excellent work and amazing advocacy.

Reading Gender

Lauren Best

4 / 12 / 09

Reading Gender

What a wonderful world! In today’s society the perfect life, a life without thinking, is easy with a number of readily available painkillers, beautiful appliances, and HD TV sets. These sentiments might seem right out of the post-war 50s America, yet they are all a part of an omnipresent oppressive force on modern women in Rosario Castellano’s groundbreaking play The Eternal Feminine. Castellano’s play presents a wide spectrum of over-the-top situations and stories that all contain a similar thread: the ideal woman. Who is she? What does she look like? How does she behave? This play tackles it all! The first scene in the play sets the stage for the rest with a great deal of social commentary. The salesman proudly showcases his new invention – a gadget so ideal that only a computer brain could make it! Poor Lupita who is soon to be married is chosen to sample this new dream simulating hair-dryer and goes through multiple, terrifying and enlightening nightmares that reflect a great deal of parody on the way women are “supposed to be”. The initial scene with the salesman, owner, hairdresser, and Lupita reflect not only the way society treats women and wants them to be but also reflects a growing laziness and lethargy in Western culture. As the salesman pitches his invention to the salon owner and hairdresser, he presents a number of happy, ideal dreams that each lucky woman can have with her new dream machine: “she dreams that she is the prettiest woman in the world; that all the men are falling in love with her; that all women envy her; that her husband got a raise in salary; that there’s no increase in the basic cost of living; that she finds an inexpensive and efficient maid; that she gets pregnant this month; that she doesn’t get pregnant this month; etc.” All of these so-called ideal dreams that are available to women soon turn into vicious nightmares, however, once they enter Lupita’s troubled subconscious. The reader soon finds out that none of these perfect dreams are quite as good as they seem. When Lupita first begins to dream, she sees herself with her husband, but instead of being sensitive and kind to her, he is rough with her sexually and complains at how much she does not obey him. This scene conveys the most primitive scenario for how women should be. Sadly males still often take the more dominant role due to social conditioning. In a scene that follows soon after, Lupita sees her mother soon after she becomes pregnant. Lupita’s mother forces her to eat sweets so that she will gain weight and strip herself of make-up, nice clothing, or anything that would make Lupita happy. Lupita’s mama tells her how her young Lupita will become just like herself. The mother tells her how she does not need to be happy or seek pleasure – she will find those things when her husband and children are happy. This scene continues to comment on the traditional roles of women, especially in 20^th Century culture. Women were to be self-less and subservient, nothing more. All of the scenes that follow basically follow under this vein of what has oppressed women throughout the history of mankind. By writing this play, Castellano’s was able to point out so many flaws in history that have brought us to where we are now and hopefully will make more women acknowledge their own inner feminist.

ethnography paper

Lauren Best

3/30/09

WS 1003

Ethnography Paper

In the excerpt from bell hooks’ book The Will To Change, she discusses a major problem facing young, growing men: the patriarch. The patriarch is still a threat to both of the sexes in today’s western society, yet there are a growing number of single parent mothers raising multiple children alone. Hooks states that even if young males hold pro-feminist ideals, once they enter school they will also face sexist male peers and a widespread cultural patriarchal propaganda. After deciding to interview a number of young and adult men who were primarily raised by their mother, I concluded that these men all seemed to have a somewhat different outlook on women due to their matriarchal background.

As a growing number of mothers are taking the primary responsibility as a parent, roles are beginning to shift in today’s ever-changing society. Single parent mothers must now fill both of the roles of father and mother as they try to raise their children. But what happens to the young men raised primarily by their mothers? Hooks states that it is still very hard on the mother to try to raise her son in an anti-patriarchal manner, because they do not have enough time and their sons face outward influence as well. In the chapter from her book The Will to Change, she states that “single parent mothers with limited economic resources lack the effort to consistently map for their sons alternatives to patriarchal masculinity simply because it takes too much time.” She also points out that “many anti-patriarchal parents find that the alternative masculinities they support for their boy children are shattered not by grown-ups but by sexist male-peers.” So do young men all turn out the same despite their varied parental backgrounds? After interviewing a few men on their matriarchal background as a young boy, I found that’s not true in the present day.

I interviewed two young men, James and Andy, both of the age of 20 and my father Tracy, age 55, who were all raised solely by their mothers as they grew up. All of these men stated firmly that their mother played a huge role as caretaker and greatly shaped their perspective on gender and the sexes. Both James and Andy claimed that they treat women with the highest respect and admiration due to their mothers. “I watched my mom work so hard to raise my brothers and I and still have a 9 to 5 job… that’s amazing!” Andy said. All of the men continued to express how greatly their strong mothers impacted their opinion of women. James stated that he doesn’t feel as threatened by independent women because of his mother and that he is even more attracted to strong, independent women because of her. . My father Tracy experienced this same effect but during the baby boomer generation. “Your grandmother raised six of us kids after my dad died when I was two. I watched her own her very own business and still manage to be there for dinner each night. She was like a super hero!”

Blog # 8

"The Opt-Out Revolution" by Lisa Belkin

This 'revolution' of women fleeing their successful jobs to be stay-at-home mom's was and still is a very controversial issue among feminists and moms alike. There are many sides of this argument that set women apart once again. One side of the argument is that many of these women that have left the work room did not leave entirely. Many of these women either work part time or are self-employed from home. Belkin herself left the New York Times newsroom, giving up the chance for a top editorial slot, to work as a home-based writer. So what does that say?
Another side of this article is that it is very alarming and has a great deal to say about how far feminism has really come... or not come. It is quite strange that so many women have gone to the best schools in America and continued onto the most successful jobs, then just leave it all. Yes, it's understandable that one could get more fulfillment out of having a family and not stressing yourself out because of a job. But still, what will that mean once all the children are grown-up and out of the house?
I've experienced this trend firsthand as I grew up and watched my mother. She, however, chose an opposite path. After my parents got divorced when I was younger, my mother took the role as a single working parent of two kids. She is highly successful, as a state coordinator in her job, put herself through college to get her Masters' degree, and still made time to make us dinner when I lived at home. She has told me that things can be very hard and demanding... trying to make PTA conferences and still drive to Oklahoma City for corporate meetings. She has told me, however, that she doesn't regret any of her decisions though!

Blog # 7

The movie I have seen most recently is Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married.
I really enjoyed the film and felt really moved by it. It was extremely realistic, even too real at times. I think every person could relate to this film on some level - whether it be family conflict, feeling like an outsider in your own family, getting married, etc. The film is shot in a very minimalistic way - the camera work seems almost as if it were done on a video camera to emphasize the realistic effect. The acting is very strong and very moving. All of the actors genuinely cry, laugh, love, and hate each other at one point. In terms of gender and race, I felt like the film is pretty advanced. It is showing an updated view of marriage. The main character Kym, played by Anne Hathaway, comes back home from rehab to her sister Rachel's wedding weekend. Rachel is getting married to Sidney, a successful and handsome black man. This reflecting our changing social landscape. Both sets of families are extremely supportive to welcome each other as their new, larger family. In reference to gender, the character of Kym is rarely judged or ostrasized for being a single woman. Most of her flaws come from within and are not social injustices. As for Rachel, she even seems to be an older bride - around her early 30s or so. Throughout the course of the film, she also finds out that she is expecting a child. The family is ecstatic, Kym is just pissed off. I feel like everyone should see this film. It's intimate and heartbreaking, as well as beyond relatable. All in all, very good.

Blog # 6

Look at this beauty of an ad! HA.
After loosely translating the text in the ad, I came to the conclusion that it says something like:

"Magazines are full of funny images, one should not be afraid to play with fashion especially if it is with Marc and Jeurgen. It is necessary to leave its shell and to assemble the other facets of oneself."
- Victoria Beckham

That quotation along with the image of the advertisement are hilarious and shocking. I love how Victoria Beckham is posed like an article of clothing or an object that would simply fall out of a shopping bag once tipped over. Thankfully she put her hands out first so she didn't fall flat on her face! Oops, that wouldn't be aesthetically pleasing. The significance of the words combined with the imagery in this ad are astounding. This high fashion ad still upholds those patriarchical, oppressive elements of most common advertising. This ad, once again, shows women as an object or just like an article of clothing that you can purchase at an expensive store. This ad works to belittle women as objects and is still alive in today's highest status magazines. Also the fact that the quote says to 'assemble the other facets of yourself' is kind of disturbing like the ad is saying we, as women, are simply dolls that can merely be assembled and manufactured. Victoria Beckham is not only a rich and powerful, beautiful woman in today's society, but she is also letting herself be an example to how women are still being oppressed by the modern male-dominated world.

blog 5

my gender playlist!

1. "Hey Ladies" by The Beastie Boys. I chose this song because I think this song represents a particular group of young college-type males and their search for the ladies at parties. I love the Beastie Boys but they definitely had a frat-like minded approach in their early albums. This show represents young males views, to me, on the search for some honeys.

2. "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. Is it not obvious why I chose this song? R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Aretha could surely belt it out like no other.. and she accepted herself as a beautiful full-figured strong, black woman in the 60s. How awesome is that? Definitely an early feminist.

3. "Evil Woman" by Black Sabbath. Okay, first... I love Sabbath. But everytime I hear this song, it always makes me realize how completely male-dominated classic rock and rock n roll are. You don't hear talking about how they might have betrayed a woman or led her on... they just point out how she is the evil woman for doing him wrong. The femme fatale for the 70s? I think so.

4. "Nude As the News" by Cat Power. In my opinion this song is mostly about gender roles and how we shouldn't break them in society. "Backhand, role reversal, where is someone? Backhand, role reversal, I know there's someone." To me this song speaks out on roles, violence, and a woman's sexuality.

5. "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" by James Brown. The Godfather of Soul. He was a badass. Even though I love this song a lot... it irks me everytime I hear it. It is talking about how many things the man has done... "man made the car to take us over the road, man made the train to carry the heavy load, man made the electric light to take us out of the dark, man made the boat for the water..." etc... and the only mention of the woman in this song is, "but it wouldn't mean nothin', babe, without a woman or a girl." That's all we get. We're just the man's companion... nothing else.

6. "Call Me The Breeze" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Southern rock was definitely a male dominated world. Don't get me wrong, I love Skynyrd, but they're never talking about their strong women. This song is about how a man doesn't need a woman... how he is like a breeze, never changing, just keeps moving on, free. I can't think of many songs with this same subject matter.. in terms of women.

7. "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen. They make the rockin' world go 'round. I like that Queen put this song out... considering Freddie Mercury was a strong gay man. I liked the fact that, in a male dominant rock n roll scene, they accepted women as they are. Fat bottomed girls, although overtly sexual, I think shows how men appreciate a full, natural womanly figure. Sadly they aren't talking about our personalities though.

8. "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones. 'Brown sugar, how come you taste so good? Brown sugar, just like a young girl should.' A song about the love of black women or heroin? That's debatable. Another male-perspective of a woman... nice to see it's a woman of color. Rock n roll repeatedly talks about women in a mostly sexual way. This is another example.

9. "Girl Afriad" by The Smiths. I really love the Smiths, but I also really appreciate this song. I like how they showed young men not always as strong and dominant, but as fearful and insecure as well. They showed the side of young men that are just like young women... nervous, anxious, and self-aware. This shows that men are self-conscious and insecure when you look past the masculine stereotype.

10. "Baby Love" by The Supremes. I love The Supremes, but this song definitely reflects the time period in which this song came out. This song is talking about how you love your man so much, and even though he treats you wrong and is mean to you... you just want him back. Diana Ross asks "Tell me baby why did I do wrong to make you go and leave so long?" Why is this so one-sided? Why is assumed that only the woman was in the wrong?

11. "Femme Fatale" by The Velvet Underground. Put this because this is an age-old stereotype of women... the femme fatale. Smart, strong women are often depicted as simply evil or dangerous in society. "Here she comes, you better watch your step. She's going to break your heart in two, it's true."

12. "Where Do You Run?" by Vivian Girls. I mostly put this because I love Vivian Girls and they are an all girl band, in my opinion, promoting feminism and showing again how women can rock and party just as much as the boys can. I like that the music sounds sloppy and dirty, like men should be, but they're all 'delicate' women.

Blog # 4

I have been really interested in Women & Gender Studies since I took that class about the 60s. I would like to pursue it as a minor possibly in the future if I have time to. I am a Film & Video Studies major right now. I'm not completely sure what I want to do with that. I love cinematography and I am taking a class called Single Camera Production now so I can try my hand at directing, editing, etc. I'm nervous for my first film, ha. I really would love to take this one class called Women & Film. I've already noticed the ways that gender and sex play big roles in the film industry as well as the department. Film is still, sadly, a male dominated world. It is reflected in many of my film classes... especially in my camera production class where the guy-girl ratio is 14-2. Sad. I hope to help the image of women in film and as modern, thoughtful filmmakers. Also, I don't want to make romantic comedies! ha. I've always loved film but I really fell in love with it once I got more into photography and just learning how the camera works... how reality is depicted on camera. So interesting to me. There has been a lot of stereotypes of women in film history... specifically the 'femme fatale' and the classic dynamic of madonna vs the whore. Since the silent film era, strong, smart women are shown as evil and no good. That's really bothered me. Also the fact that most of those femme fatale characters are killed off. I hope to show women on the big screen how they really are.

Blog # 2

I decided to interview my mother, who is just at the age of 45.. but soon turning 46. She is an amazing woman and I love her a great deal. She's been a huge inspiration in my life. She is so independent, hard-working and opinionated. She's taught me to be the same way and to be proud of whoever I am. When I asked her about her experience with gender, discrimination, and femininism in her life she said:

"Men are always seen as the 'strong' gender even being able to handle stress of a job. This is not always accurate!Women are catagorized in certain roles even when I was in hs and college. It wasn't til later that I saw women breaking more into different areas and being more independent. I was in college and looking for a job. I went on this interview as referred by a relative/friend. The asshole treated all the women there as a 'service' to them. Long story short..I didn't work there and he got my personal views on him and women in the work force prior to me storming out of his office!Ihave also had available jobs tell me that they were looking for a male.I feel that I have broken out of it by obtaining my masters, holding the position that I do with my work and speaking out! I have been pretty upfront with my views on that with my present / past employers. There are more rights in place now in the hiring process especially with HIPPA. This is an entity that protects one's private and personal information. So, a prospective employer cannot ask certain questions such as ...do you have children, married etc etc. My definition is ..Social, political and economical fairness among sexes and the rights of women."

Oh hello there...

My name is Lauren Best. I am a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma and am majoring in Film & Video Studies. I am from the small town of McAlester, OK. I feel like that claustrophobic place shaped me a lot.. obviously.. but to think liberally and openly. I love music a great deal and have been working on expanding my vinyl collection this past year or so. I really love rock n roll and all of its soul. I like to ride my bicycle, reading, playing sudoku, and of course, watch movies. I just started working at OU Poll and it's very easy. I decided to take Intro. to Women's Studies because:
1. I took a course called Legacies of the 60s in which we studied the women's movements and feminism. That sparked my interest, but I want to learn more.
2. My close friend Emily took this course before and said I would enjoy it just as she did.

A few questions I hope to answer this semester are:
1. Why do women make 75 cents to a man's $1?
2. Why is there STILL so much pressure on women to get married and have chilren?
3. How can a man be a feminist?
4. How does a young woman claim herself confidently as a feminist in today's society?
5. Why do some women prefer male dominance?

adios senoras.