1) How is difference socially constructed?
Society recognizes the ways people are different and assigns group membership based on these differences; at the same time, society also ranks differences and institutionalizes them into fabric of society (Lee, 60).
2) What is intersectionality? How is this concept helpful as a tool of feminist analysis?
Intersectionality is the "study of intersections between different disenfranchised groups or groups of minorities; specifically, the study of interaction of multiple systems of oppression" (www.dictionary.com). This feminist theory was first highlighted by Kimberle' Crenshaw in 1989. Intersectionality examines areas such as class, race, gender, ability and other areas like biological, social and cultural levels and how they interact with one another. Intersectionality is helpful of feminist analysis because it promotes advocacy and policy development that address multiple discriminations. "it increases understanding of ways in which gender intersects with other identities and how these intersections contribute to unique experiences of oppression and privilege" (www.gsdrc.org).
3) How do ideologies undergird institutions, and how do ideologies and institutions reproduce and maintain gender inequality?
Ideologies could be doctrines, myths or belief that guides our institutions. They are representations of social life that serve in some to undergird our social practices. Ideologies can help us to believe in something and can also distort our beliefs which can have a negative impact on our knowledge especially if it is a myth type of ideology.
Ideologies and institutions reproduce and maintain gender inequality by enforcing laws in our institutions that is based on myths and not based on facts or the truth. For example before the enactment of Title IX, many women were not given the opportunity to have higher education because of stereotypes at that time that women's were more concerned about marriage and raising children. They were not as intelligent as men to pursue higher education. Some ideologies are cultural while others are religious and all of these can reproduce and maintain gender inequality.
4) What role do hate crimes play in maintaining systems of inequality? Can you offer an example?
Hate crime is " a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation" (www.fbi.gov). For example when a black person commits a crime, other race who are not black might think that black people like committing crimes such as stealing, selling drugs and many more. Also, you may have some people who will hate people from Middle East particularly Iraq and Afghanistan because of 9/11 and as a result, some may perceive individuals from the Middle East as terrorists. Other religious groups might also hate gays and lesbians because such lifestyle is a sin before God and that cause homosexuals not to get jobs, get married etc.
Chapter 3
1) How do the notion of sex and gender take the shape within cultural context? How does the case of Caster Semenya challenge dominant notions of sex and gender?
Gender is how society perceive how men and women should look. Sex on the other hand is the whether a person is biologically a male or female. The car of Caster Semenya challenge dominant notions of sex and gender in the sense the society at large have their own view as to what a man or woman should like which in some case is wrong because Caster's case is different. She has done nothing wrong to be accused in the first place. Overall, I believe individuals who are naturally born males and females should be left alone to live their lives and those who those who are hermaphrodite should chose what sex or gender they would like to be.
2) How are dominant notions of masculinity and femininity in the U.S. racialized? How does this intersection help maintain both sexism and raise?
"In the mainstream contemporary North American society, masculinity has been constructed from the classical traits of intelligence, courage, honesty, with the addition of two other key dimensions. Middle-class masculinity puts an emphasis on the big-wheel dimension, the dictates of White masculinity often involve the sturdy oak, and men of color often become associated with machismo element (with the exception of Asian American men, who are often feminized" (Lee, 133).
"Femininity in American society is often associated with adjectives such as soft, passive, domestic, nurturing, emotional, dependent, sensitive, as well as delicate, intuitive, fastidious, needy, fearful, and so forth. Femininity like masculinity also varies across cultures and groups. For example, due to historical and cultural factors, many African American women have not internalized the association of femininity with with passivity and dependency characteristics of White women. On the other hand, Asian American women have social stereotype that construct femininity very much in terms of passivity and dependence" (Lee, 134).
It maintains sexism in the sense that society often look down women as weak creatures while they look at men as strong creatures and this can create gender inequality. On the other hand, it can also create racism because white men and women many behave different from men and women of color.
3) How do transgender identities disrupt fixed notion of sex and gender?
"Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women. Gender refers to the socially contracted roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. Sex and gender are complex concepts that are influenced by biology but also by cultural, social and political contexts and practices" (www.sf-hrc.org). Transgender identities may disrupt fixed notion of sex and gender because a transgender a person who might appear to be a man may be a woman on the inside and vice versa for a man. This confuses people because they do not know how to categorize such individuals.
4) How does gender ranking reinforce sexism?
"Those traits assigned as feminine are less valued than those considered masculine, illustrating why men tend to have more problems emulating femininity and trans people moving into femininity are viewed with somewhat more hostility than those transitioning toward masculine identities. It is okay to emulate the masculine and act like a boy, but it is not okay to emulate the feminine. This is gender ranking (valuing of open gender over another) which sets the stage for sexism. When genders are ranked, the devalued genders have less power, prestige, economic rewards than the valued genders" (Lee 137).
5) How is gender reinforced by patterns of interaction in society?
"Gender help us organize the world into two boxes, his and hers, and gives us a way of quickly sizing up every person we see on the street. Gender is a way of making the world secure although some people see it as a complex interplay of biology, genes,hormones, and culture" (Lee, 159). Basically society see gender which is male and female very different as a result of these differences, the pattern in which society interacts with males is different from females and in some cases may cause some inequality.
Chapter 4
1) How does an emphasis on purity and virginity serve to control women's sexuality and maintain patriarchy?
Men often want women to be pure and virgin until marriage and even within the marriage, they want women to be faithful. This causes women to not express their sexuality because they do that before marriage, they are often seen as whores or slut. On the other hand, when men have more sex with other men, it is okay because it is part of men's nature to be wild dogs. I think this is wrong because both genders or sex should learn to be pure and if women breaks such rules, they should not be looked down upon.
2) How is the personal political in heterosexual relationship generally?
The idea that a marriage should be between man and woman and that both genders or sex have to be straight.
Also the marriage should often be a monogamous marriage and not a polygamous marriage.
3) How does socialization into gender affect intimacy in relationships?
Socialization affect intimacy in relationships because a person is expected to play a role or act that gender in which society expects of that person in the relationship.
4) How is contemporary culture's construction of female sexuality a perversion of feminist notions of a truly liberated female sexuality? How has the contemporary culture coopted feminist rhetoric about sexuality in ways that actually reinforce male dominance and male-centered sexuality?
When women use erotic material to pleasure themselves, it might be seen as sexual perversion but some women see that as a way libration or way of expressing their sexuality. Women who dress and exposes themselves too much may be seen as prostitutes or whores. Some may seen a woman who overly expose herself as someone who is desperately looking for attention which is not always the case. I see this as men wanting to dominate and control the female body.
5) How would you describe women's and men's different ways of communicating? How do women's and men's different ways of affect relationships?
In my opinion women are more open than men because most women often share their problems with other people whereas men would rather keep things to themselves and deal the problems on their own. Also, believes women tend to internalize and hold on to problems more than men whereas men tend to move on quickly with problems. As a result of these reason, both genders ways do sometimes affect relationships.
6) How is romantic love related to consumerism? Give some examples.
Romantic Love is a type of love where one expresses how he or she feels about another person or a pleasurable feeling from an emotional attraction towards another persons associated. While consumerism is the actions of people who spend a lot money on goods and services. Romantic love is related to consumerism in the sense that when you love someone you spend money on them by buying them gifts and treating them nice. Example will be boy and a girl on a date or it could be also sex traffickers using individuals as sex objects to get money.
Chapter 10
1) How do violence and the threat of violence exert social control on women? Do you ever fear gender-based violence? How do you think your gender affects your answer to this question?
Violence and threat of violence exert social control on women because victims of violence maybe isolated from friends, family and neighbors and lose their network of social support. Overtime, men who abuse women may use increasingly severe methods to maintain control. The violence towards women also robs women their right to maintain control over their own lives. No I do not fear gender-based violence. Because women are often victims of violence my answer to this question because I am a woman.
2) Why do you think many feminists suggest that acts of violence against women are actually hate crimes? Do you think these acts should be classified as hate crimes?
Violence against women are hate crimes according some feminists because women are often perceived by some men as properties or slaves so if one man abuses his wife, it is likely for other men to abuse their wives or girlfriends as well. Yes these acts should be classified as hate crimes because most women are abused for doing nothing wrong.
3) Why do you think violence against women is so prevalent in society? Why do you think violence against women is primarily perpetrated by men?
Because we live in patriarchy society so violence against women is a way for men to control women. Also, most women do not exercise their rights when they are abused so it encourages some men to continue to abuse women. Violence against women is primarily perpetrated by men so they could maintain control over the women and some men also see women as inferior beings.
4) How do myths about violence against women silence women and perpetuate sexist systems of oppression?
Some myths comes from the fact that it was through Eve in the garden of Eden (the bible) that sin came into the world. As a result, the woman has to endure any form of injustices coming from the man. For example in marriage, divorce is prohibited and partners are to endure until death in some religion, so even if the man is abusing the woman, the woman would prefer to endure such oppression because she does not want to break Biblical rules.
5) What steps do you believe need to be taken in order to address the problem of violence against women?
Through awareness programs, we should encourage women to exercise their rights such as reporting violence to police. We should also encourage the media to avoid portraying women as sex objects as this often leads some men to sexually abuse women. Overall I believe men should learn to respect women as women respect men and when this done, it will create an atmosphere of peace and love and not violence.
