I'm always amazed at how fast these six week summer classes fly by. Just as we're getting into the meat and potatoes of gender communication, the class is over :( boo.
Now that I am so aware of how gender infiltrates our daily lives, I find myself pointing out these stereotypes in myself and in others. Is anyone else doing that?
I have always identified myself as being very "feminine" and I find it interesting how I have always prided myself on perpetuating some of the worst stereotypes out there by putting down women who are masculine. Hey, admitting you have a problem is the first step! : )
I haven't had too many noteworthy gender moments happening, but I did come across something interesting today that I thought I'd share. One of my "friends" on Face Book posted a picture of an attractive male soccer player without his shirt on and her comment on the picture was something to the effect of, ladies, if you're not watching soccer, here is a reason to start! I must admit, when I first saw the picture, I couldn't agree with her more, but at second glance, I wondered to myself why we have to ascribe sexuality to every image we see? Although I think we focus on the sexualness (I think I just made up a word) of men, do you think women can/do have the same nature? This sort of reminds me of in a roundabout (okay, hardly connected) way about women "cougars." Why is it more acceptable for an older man to date a woman significantly younger than him but if 1) a younger woman pursues an older man, she's a "gold digger" and 2) if an older woman pursues a younger man, she's a cougar. What gives?
Wk 5 – Response to Jennifer
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree with you more. This class may have been short but it is very enlightening. The other day I was sitting in my car waiting for a very long light to change at a busy intersection. Pedestrians were crossing at the corner and I found myself really noticing the individuals compared to what I usually do, stare off in space until the light changes. Keep in mind that I didn’t know anything about these people passing in front of me but I found myself speculating and yes stereotyping. I suddenly caught myself and realized what I was doing (Eureka moment) and also recognized that I don’t think that I was that unique in that moment. I know that I shouldn’t generalize but as a society I think that we all have stereotypical thoughts even if we don’t verbalize them. Like you said though, “admitting you have a problem is the first step.”
Regarding the cougar issue you mention, I’d like to add to it. I wonder why we say that women pursue older and/or younger men but we don’t say that older men pursue younger women. Some women view the comparison to a cougar as a compliment because it implies that women are finally in the drivers’ seat and going after what they want. Are we women part of the problem? Hummm….Does that make it acceptable?