Jolene emulates the stereotype that all feminists are man-haters and/or lesbians, but this stereotype becomes problematic when she meets Hodie. Hodie is one of the most successful relationships Jolene has during her entire road trip west, but because she does not feel the urge to identify as a lesbian after having sex with Hodie, she complicates the stereotypes inflicted upon feminists. She attacks second and third wave feminism for its instability in categorizing identity, which innately allows men to reaffirm their power over women. Jolene is relieved that she did not wake up feeling like she needed to submerge herself into the “lesbian gang” (Lopez 251), because categorizing as a particular sex would mean she is also succumbing to a certain role or identity—defying every reason for her travels on the road. Second wave feminism includes those radical feminists who refused to share power with men, and held protests to abolish the notion of power. They were those who “wave DOWN WITH THE PATRIARCHY signs in the air” (Lopez 251) and hold speak outs. Third wave feminists embrace either clichéd or stereotypical notions of femininity, which could include as Jolene points out, “subscrib[ing] to lesbian magazines, wear[ing] flannel shirts,” or “watch[ing] bad lesbian movies to see myself represented” (Lopez 251). She is relieved because she knows what it feels like to submerge herself into a certain role in order to fit into that role, because that is what happens with Bert.
Gay advocates for a more inclusive and self-aware approach to the feminist movement by challenging traditional notions of feminist identity. Gay discusses societal pressures and expectations placed on women to follow predefined roles. She argues that these firm setups delay the progress of feminism. “I feel a lot of pressure to live up to certain ideals. I'm supposed to be a good feminist who is having it all, doing it
Valentine on the other hand in seeking out so many conflicted and widespread views of gender and self creates enough fragmentation of gender labels for his argument of individualism and self-identity to shine out. In presenting the reader with individuals such as Mona(Valentine 116) plagued with alternating bouts of confusion and zealous certainty regarding herself and labels, Valentine practically invites the reader to conclude that certain gender bound labels cannot be on good faith placed by the reader on such individuals. Additionally in interviewing Sheryl who is not part of the typical subjects found at the meat market, the argument on its own is lent credibility by further enlarging the representation of the gender queer segment to both drag queens and individuals from different ethnic and financial
“I bought into grossly inaccurate myths about who feminists are –militant, perfect in their politics and person, man-hating, humorless'' (377
By acknowledging and disrupting systems of oppression, feminist theory advocates for change and understanding (Arinder 2020), aligning with the themes of conformity and individuality explored in the novel. As previously stated, people are expected to act and think the same way without question. Therefore, this pressure to conform makes it
Both in a subtle and a direct way, Roxane Gay criticizes second-wave feminists in her article Bad Feminist through the use of irony and the juxtaposition of contrasting adjectives. In the article, Gay describes the stereotypes placed on feminists that have led people to shun the cause and refuse to be a part of it. Like many other females, Gay does not fit into the label of an essential feminist. She likes the color pink, listens to thuggish rap, wants babies, fakes orgasms, loves diamonds, and many other things that clash with being a feminist. Subsequently, Gay is in a personal struggle, which she says “keeps her up at night” (8) because she does not fit into the socially constructed definition of what a good or essential feminist is and does but she does believe in the cause and wants to fight for it.
Women are often confined to a set of ideals and expectations because of one simple fact: they are women. Many of the women who contributed to this book have faced gender stereotyping and discrimination. Instead of allowing traditional social norms to confine them to an unwanted lifestyle, they challenged these conventional ideals, risking failure and facing condemnation from strangers as well as people close to them. People often associate feminism with negativity and pessimism. In “Feminism is a Dirty Word,” Cindy Simon Rosenthal talks about how people refuse to define themselves as a “feminist.” However, the movement does not advocate for women’s special privileges. Feminism celebrates social equality and supports the utilization of all talents.
The purpose of this essay is to review and evaluate the book Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer, by applying two major theoretical concepts to support her work. This book focuses on the framework of queer and crip theory, by applying two influential theorists it creates a whole new perspective on the views of feminism exhibiting how society should all be treated equally. Handling the major theories to support her arguments of the book will display itself as a work of social theory. The main context of this paper will provide a whole new perspective on how disabled individuals should be treated with respects as abled individuals and will be in comparison to Twitter and Teargas, by Zeynep Tufekci.
Boyz N the Hood shows the challenges black men face due to their home life and the conditions of the area their community. In the film, we see the difference in how Tre, Darren, and Ricky live. Ricky and Darren are brothers who have different fathers and who are both different as day and night. The film shows how important it is to have a male role model in the home. This is evident in Tre life because he has male leadership.
At the same time, the readings of the women's masculinity and androgyny must be similarly reconsidered. While Irving reads Lena as one who "conforms more readily than Ántonia" and assimilates in a manner "too complete" in that "she, like Jim, is lethargic" (100), I would argue that Lena's refusal to marry and her achievement of the independent, successful life she sought belie any ready categorization of reinforced hegemony, undermining standard patriarchal demands; and her success can be contrasted with Jim's loveless marriage and the vague reference to the "disappointments" that have failed to quell his "naturally romantic and ardent disposition" (4). Similarly, as Gilbert and Gubar highlight, the happiness of the "masculine" hired girls stands in stark contrast with the emotional restriction to which town wives are subjected: "Energetic and jolly, Mrs. Harling must stop all the activities of her household so as to devote herself entirely to her husband" (197). While it may be true that "their disturbing androgynous qualities, and their unwillingness to accept traditional female roles" position the hired girls as "outsiders" (Wussow 52) and that these facts can be read as critical of the feminine, it seems more
As Third Wave feminism is currently unfolding before us, and its aims encompass a wide array of complex issues, it is often hard to describe what Third Wave feminism is. The feminist theories, mainly associated with First and Second Wave feminism attempt to describe the power imbalances that are found in society, and while doing so expose other oppressions, such as discrimination based on race or sexual orientation. As this essay attempts to place a clear definition to Third Wave feminism, feminists are concurrently trying to deconstruct old definitions and open it up for women to determine what feminism means to them. In other words, no clear definition on what is meant to be a feminist is sufficient, as the Third Wave is about
Since The 1930s, gay bars and gay nightclubs have been around. The bar called the White Horse, in Oakland, California, has been opened since 1933. It is known to be the first gay bar to be opened here in America. Being gay in the 1930s was brutal. “Same gender sex was a felony, and being caught in a gay bar could cost someone their job… In a society that viewed gays as barley human, the White Horse allowed a level of freedom that in the 1940s or 1950s was liberating” (Duffy 2016). With time changes and people being more accepted, gay bars and gay nightclubs started opening all across America. One of the many gay nightclubs here in Denver is known as Tracks. It was opened in 1980. On October 5th, 2017, an experiential observation at the Tracks nightclub was made. During this experience, it was observed that these people that identified as either gay, lesbian, or bisexual were acting as normal human beings in a heterosexual nightclub. Although the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender movement acts have been created to allow this community to be more open and unafraid, it has had a history of negative stereotypes against LGBT nightclubs which actually benefit this community within psychological components, social components, and dealing with hate crimes towards this community community.
Junot Diaz, the author of “A Cheaters Guide to Love” writes his short story with many different references to anti-feminism. He writes about women in different ways to show them as powerless, and un-superior to the main character in the short story. From this short story, Diaz conveys the main characters ways when he shows the him talking about, the girl he calls to have sex with, the women at the yoga class, and the files read at the end of the story that show the fifty girls he cheated on his fiancé with. Diaz creates his main character and puts him in the second person to relate to the reader, but show his anti-feministic signs.
“Ma Joad, the inner driving force of the Joad family, has always been considered Steinbeck’s foray into the ideals of feminism, of female control, a statement far beyond the standards of the time” (Sharpe 1). The members of the Joad family are very close knit because of Ma Joad’s role she has on all of them. Many family members of the Joad family have a great deal of influence on Ma, and Ma on them.
Stereotype; a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. In the realistic fiction novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, and in the short story, “Geeks Bearing Gifts”, written by Ron Koertge, stereotypes are defied by ordinary people. In The Outsiders, Johnny Cade and Darry Curtis face many struggles throughout their lives. Their town in separated into two: the rich and dangerous Socs, and the quiet, tough Greasers. For them, living dangerously is a reality. As a result of their lifestyle, Johnny has become fearful and Darry is considered the toughest man in the gang. In “Geeks Bearing Gifts” aspiring journalist, Renee, interviews her fellow classmates who are classified as “outcasts.” After meeting several students, she realizes her assumptions were incorrect about them. After reading both of these stories, the reader learns that our thoughts about others often revolve around stereotypes and assumptions, but most of these ideas that we have about other people are proven wrong.
Lastly, “femininity” refers to behavioural activities or interests that are assigned to the female sex, such as cleaning and cooking (Beauvoir, 617). Although many critics have read her text and become confused due to her stylistic choice to fuse her voice with the voices of famous men, it can be said that the text ultimately leads the reader to begin to question what society sees as a woman (Zerilli, 1-2). Despite Beauvoir’s The Second Sex appearing to recognize the oppression of women throughout the world without giving an actual solution, I will argue that Beauvoir’s evaluation of each “natural” aspect of female oppression allows readers to recognize that the only thing holding themselves back as a woman is society’s unnatural definition of their body, relation to men, and personal freedoms. Of course, when it comes to one's freedom, it is difficult to obtain when your body feels like a