View source for 328--Week 14 Questions/Comments

== Overarching comments ==

I just have a general comment. '''It was surprising to me how recent some of these essays were dated. I guess I never thought of this time period as very relevant or active for women's rights... because I guess it is!''' I mean I would definitely describe myself as a feminists, but I guess I kind of feel that in this day and age... '''doesn't every women in my age bracket feel like a feminist? Are there actually people in the younger generation today that are advocating for women to be defined by their role of mother and that is it?''' I think it is great if a women chooses to stay home with her family, but really i just think ti is great if a women chooses whatever makes her happy, no matter what that is. Do all people in this generation not feel this way?- Cat Debelius

To answer Cat's question, no not everyone in this generation feels that way. There are still debutants in the South who go to school to find a husband and take classes to be good housewives. '''I also had some girls on my floor freshman year who were forming a housewives club to learn how to cook and clean and be good housewives.''' - Chrisitne W.



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MP, 459-469, 506-524

== Roe v. Wade Decision (both Blackmun’s majority ruling and White’s dissent). ==
I'll take the first whack, since nobody else is touching this yet.  First let me say, that a woman's body is her own and should be fully respected.  Justice Blackmun mentions the 14th Amendment not recognizing a fetus as a person.  This is technically and legally correct.  That being said, technology now gives us more information, which perhaps can make choices for women even more difficult.  The abortion argument has centered, for quite some time, on one question: When does life begin?  At conception, when a fetus is considered viable (22-24 weeks approximately) or at full term.  This has been the subject of much debate.  The most difficult part of the equation is the inherent EMOTION that will always be involved in this debate, whether one is pro-choice or pro-life. ''' A big part ot the problem also is the extreme rhetoric used by both sides''' - example. - Pro-lifers screaming "baby Killers" at Planned Parenhood workers; Pro-choice women insisting that their bodies are essentially theirs and theirs alone, even though a 20 week old fetus is kicking her belly, and a 30 week old fetus can make her foot or hand visible on a mother's belly!  Unfortunately, common sense in America rarely prevails.  RU 486 is still a restricted drug.  A pregnancy terminated in the first several weeks, I have no moral qualms with.  However, I have to confess to this: I have attended over a dozen fetal ultrasound sessions with my wife, at least two for each of my children, the last many because of a prenatal problem.  As of our last child (2006), Ultrasound technology could detect a visible FETAL HEARTBEAT at six to seven weeks gestation.  The heartrate is over 150 beats per minute, and resembles a very quickly twinkling star, or almost like a twinkle light on a Christmas tree.  Sorry to get emotional, but at this point, this IS A LIFE.  At least as far as my wife and I were concerned, we were then charged with the responsiblity of protecting that life however we could.  For my wife, it meant taking good care of herself and refraining from alcohol and reducing caffeine intake.  For me, it meant stepping up the pace on my end with housework, taking out the cat litter all the time (toxic for pregnant women) and being patient when crying jags and nesting urges kicked in for my better half.  But it was all worth it! - Phil Novalski

I have to agree with Phil on the first several weeks part. At that point, the fetus is really nothing but a bunch of dividing cells. '''I honestly don't know how I feel about abortion.''' I think that it is important to be able to allow women who are fatally at risk to be able to have them, but I have some issues with the way some people use and treat abortion. The main problem that I have is when people use it as a form of birth control. When my mother first started working as a nurse, a woman called for a nurse to help her out of the bathroom. She assisted the lady, and then went back to flush the toilet for her. There was a bloody fetus in the toilet bowl. Needless to say, my mother freaked out. The nurses who had been there longer told her that that woman comes in every several months and has an abortion, and that she used it as birth control. Now, I know that this is not the norm, or at least I hope not, but instead of killing the child, take the care to prevent its conception first. - Sarah H.

There are no easy answers to this topic, but I don't think that one person has the right to dictate to another, in this case a woman, what she can or cannot do with her body.  The original anti-abortion laws were written and maintained by men.  Here comes a women's group saying that they have a right to control what happens with their bodies, and the Supreme Court validated that right with Roe vs. Wade.  For every story where abortion seems inappropriate, there is probably a story of justification. Why do people think that reversing Roe vs. Wade will stop abortion?  If you remember, women were aborting long before the decision at the risk of their health and life.  If the decision is ever reversed, I imagine women will still seek out abortions.--LisaM

Interestingly i do not usually find people who agree with me as the posts do here, more often than not its so black and white to these people and frankly i think thats the wrong way to look at it. Theres no way that abortions will ever go away, even if its outlawed, illegal abortions (as previously learned about earlier in this class) will come back again becuase once technology is leaked theres no way to eradicate it compleatly, i think that legalling only abortions in the first few weeks (as those have mentioned above me) rather than those later on in a pregnancy is probably the best course of action. --Julie

== Lindsey Van Gelder reports on “Women vs. the NY Times” in Ms. in 1978. ==


== Connaught Marshner explains what social conservatives really want, 1988. ==

I found this essay really interesting. '''I was shocked by how much this women feared divorce and female independence.''' Did she honestly think that women that were still "fulfilled" without a man around and raised children without a man in the house were actually ruining society? This was written in 1988!! - Cat Debelius

I agree with Cat, Marshner's opinions seem somewhat outdated today. But she also seems to be a product of Reagan and many popular opinion shifts of the 1980s. I think the increase in divorce rate as well as the family's decrease of importance "functions once served by the family are now provided by the government" brought about the resurfacing of issues like family and women's obligation to making the home a stable environment. '''I think that the issue of divorce and the effect it has on a single mother is still an issue today. But Marshner is very narrow minded by stating that traditional values work best. She is stuck in the white middle class ideal and fails to acknowledge that many successful families no longer operate by traditional manner.''' -- Meredith Bojarski

== Planned Parenthood versus Casey, 1992 ==

'''Planned Parenthood v Casey seems to be probably the most complicated court case ever decided.''' I read the whole decision, not just the part in the textbook (and I've read outside readings on it), and it seems like '''Casey concludes two things, and then applies them in different ways. 1) Roe v. Wade should be upheld, not because it was a correct decision, but because of ''stare decisis,'' the "rule" that the Court has to stick with what it said before; and, 2) some regulations on abortion are fine, but when they pose an undue burden to abortion they are illegal.
I won't take a stance on abortion, but the ''stare decisis'' rational seems crazy to me.''' It seems like a few judges (including or limited to Blackmum) decided that Roe was correct, and O'Connor, Kennedy, and Souter decided that Roe was wrong, but the Court should uphold it lest there seem to be instability in the law. Casey acknowledges "the interest of the State in the protection of potential life" which seems to be a repudiation of Roe on all but technical grounds. It seems unjust to me to uphold a law purely because the Supreme Court isn't allowed to admit it was wrong.
The undue burden standard seems somewhat rational to me, but only as a political compromise which the Court isn't supposed to do. In reading PP v Casey I can't find a single legal rationale for the undue burden standard, it seems completely arbitrary. It also seems like in many instances the Court is making law, not adjudicating it, and making it in a very vague fashion. The Court decided requirements for parental consent, informed decision, and 24 hour waiting periods were undue burdens, but spousal notification was not. Although I agree very much with at least the rational behind the last one, this sounds like something that should be debated by elected officials, not lifetime judges. 
Also, I think the subdecision on parental consent proves the arbitrariness of the entire undue burden standard. If parents have a complete yes/no veto option over whether an abortion can happen, it seems like that's an undue burden, yet the Court ruled it was not. The legal argument that sometimes parents' rights come before some rights doesn't work, because if that's true than the right to abortion isn't ''fundamental,'' and Roe should have been overturned. Something is wrong with the legal system when justices form alliances to carve out politically biased, legally contradictory chunks of law.
'''I guess I don't understand why Roe v. Wade attracts so much attention these days, it seems like PP v Casey is much more relevant now, and a much more controversial (and legally questionable) decision.''' -- Matt Struth

== Gloria Anzaldua soeakes about her identity, 1999 ==


== Asma Gull Hasan, Pakistani-American, 2000 ==

I learned a lot this week in the reading about "First- and Second- Generation Immigrant Women Speak of Living Inbetween Cultures," particularly about Asma Gull Hasan.  I learned a great deal about the Muslim culture from her reading that I had only assumed before from the skewed material I've seen from the news.  I did not realize that the Qur'an gave women that kind of status and honored them as much as they did.  It really was an interesting reading and a learning experience at the same time! --Ashley Wilkins


== Kyoko Mori, Japanese-American, 2000 ==


== Jamala McFadden’s Story of 1990s Welfare Assistance, 2002 ==
This is a "feel good story".  I love hearing about women beating the odds,for an education, with children no less. '''Welfare made a difference in McFadden's life because she had drive and ambition and used government assistance to better her life. This is what assistance if for.  Too often we hear of people misusing welfare therefore giving a stereotype to its recipients.''' McFadden spoke of the changes made in the welfare system while she was still in college. She said she was lucky to be "grandfathered" in.  I do feel that daycare assistance should be offered to women attending college. To me, this would be money better spent than on women who have a minimum wage jobs. The thought would be like McFadden, these education seeking women would break the chain. --Nikole Wellman

== Rebecca Walker on the 3rd Wave, 2005 ==

== Ms.Magazine on 5 rights women could lose, 2005 ==

Well, this is a frightening thought, however, if this was to happen.... move over Betty Friedan. We will have to make room in the history books for a new set of radicals. This country is not ready for the "Girl Power" we all have. 
In all seriousness, These rights will never be taken away. Fist of all, we may just have our first women President in office. There are too many women in powerful positions to loose these five rights Ms. Magazines speaks of. People such as Hillary Clinton, my mother-in-law, Dr. M and myself would not take women take a step back. Before taking this class, I really had no idea how far we've come....We've come too far to go back--Nikole Wellman

'''The problem with Nikole's statement is that the Supreme Court bases their decisions on how they interpret the Constitution, and not public opinion. I agree that there would be great public outcry if women did lose their rights to reproductive privacy, affirmative action, protection against gender-based discrimination, family and medical leave, and quality health-care services, but that wouldn't stop the court's decision, nor would it over-rule or overturn it.''' So I do believe that there is a danger to lose such rights depending upon the views of the Justices and their rulings in future cases. I also believe that it is unlikely that the last four will be lost soon, but the '''Roe v. Wade is extremely controversial, and may be overturned.''' The current administration is certainly against it, but then, the current administration is also about to leave. - Sarah H.

I agree with Nikole, we have gone too far to go back now.  I don't see how we could possibly lose any of these rights, I think that too many people would put up a fight if it were to happen. It amazed me at how close these Supreme Court decision were to going the other way.  At this time I don't see how it could be possible for someone to not allow a women to take leave for a new baby or to care for a sick family member. At the same time all of this is a little scary that with just a change is members of the Supreme Court and a new case brought forth all of this could change. I just hope that I never have to see the day. -- Kellye Sorber

Well, I think that some of these rights are endanger (if that is the word for it). I mean, I am not sure how I feel about it, but I think there is an agreement to made both for and against Affirmative Action and Protection Against Gender-Based Discrimination. Will society ever reach such a progressive point that we won't need separate laws? If so... when? - Cat Debelius

As far as gender based discrimination goes I read an interesting article about 6 months ago (of which i do not remember all the specifics) about how dental and medical schools in North Carolina were trying to seperate themselves from the public funded university and become private, so that they would not be controlled by qoutas set by the state. The reason they want to move away from these qoutas is so they don't have to accept as many women to their schools. '''I believe their reasoning was that professional women tend to work on average less than 15 years, while men work on average over 40 years. Apparently because of the high number of women that had been accepted to the dental and medical schools in the state, North Carolina had a shortage of dentists.''' Just something to think about - Landon Davis

Also, I think the other rights will remain protected. Men benefit from most of these rights as much as the women do. I am sure there would be plenty of distraught men if the right to sexual privacy got taken away. Also the rights dealing with familial leave and and quality health services would seem to help men just as much as the women. '''The affirmative action and the gender based discrimination rights are the only two that men have nothing to gain (from a selfish point of view) from.''' --Landon Davis

'''I disagree with Landon on his point that men have nothing to gain on the affirmative action point. Example: UMW. We have a skewed gender ratio in our student population, something like 70% female to 30% male. The school is actively trying to get more male students, so that if they're looking at two students who have the same GPA and SAT scores, they're probably more likely to choose the male student over the female.''' It annoyed me when I was waiting to hear if I got accepted to Mary Wash that a guy in my class asked if I had gotten in yet, because he had. When I said I hadn't heard yet, he told me that because he was a guy, he was more likely to get in than me anyway. I got my acceptance letter later that week, but it really made me mad to hear him say that. The fact that he was smirking at me while saying it probably didn't help. So affirmative action doesn't mean that men have nothing to gain. Sometimes they do gain benefits. - Sarah H.

== US, 565-586 – Rebecca Tsosie, “Changing Women: The Crosscurrents of American Indian Female Identity.”—1988  ==
Prior to reading Rebecca Tsosie's essay "Changing Women: The Crosscurrents of American Indian Feminine Identity," I had never known Native American literature to be so profoundly developed.  After reading the article, I definitely have a deep respect for the Native American literature genre.  Maybe I will read some of it someday.--Justin Mattos

Like Justin, I too never realized just how developed the Native American literature was... and it feels silly for it to just now be dawning on me from the stories I have read related to Native Americans and the stories, songs, poems, et cetera that were mentioned in the stories/articles.    I wonder why we don't have more of the Native American literature in public school... we seem to have so much in the way of English and American....  --Ashley Wilkins

I agree with Justin, I never realized the extent of Native American literature out there.  I have read some picture books that were designed to teach lessons to children, but other than that it never really occurred to me to look to see what else was there. '''I also too was curious as to why we don't see more of this genre of literature in schools.  We have so many varieties of literature in the schools, why not include a few more?''' --Kellye Sorber

“Changing Women…” by Rebecca Tsosie discusses the stereotypes that have been created about Indian women through literature and the media. On page 567 she states that '''“The princess/squaw dichotomy does not even approach the historical realities of Indian women…the primary factor in perceptions of both European women and Indian women became their definition in terms of their relationship with males.” I see her point, but it’s not something that’s special to Indian women. Stereotypes are developed and portrayed for almost any other type of way you can classify a person.''' In one of the first few weeks of class we read about how the views of Spanish-Mexican women were stereotyped and romanticized through the image that Barceló created for herself… --Jessica Kilday



MAW, Chapters 11-13

== Cathy Tuley, “Clerical Workers Unite,” 1976. ==
'''Cathy Tuley's involvement in organizing clerical workers helped her personal development by becoming more assertive and self-reliant in the workplace.'''  She refers to utilizing this new found assertiveness in her personal life saying "Sometimes it's kind of rough when you do that to your husband! 'Give me the fact,' you know. 'Prove what you just said.'"  '''This made me think that their was a duality that women had to play between work and home.  In work she could be somewhat assertive (depending on her position), and in the home she was expected to remain a subservient role to the man of the house.'''--LisaM

This piece had some parallels to my own work experience.  '''So many workers, whether it is in the public school system of northern Virginia or in the constraints of a company like Sodexho, are not aware of their rights. ''' A '''worker does not have to be in the clerical field to experience mistreatment and abuse of power by their bosses.  But from what I can tell, so many workers are so afraid that they will lose their job, that they don't protest, they don't try to find out more about their rights,and thus are stuck in an unhappy situation.'''  I am glad there has been women like Cathy, and although this piece is from over 30 years ago, things have not changed that much.  ~Juliann Boyles

== Crystal Lee Sutton, “The Real ‘Norma Rae’ Tells Her Story,” 1986. ==
 
Reading "The Real 'Norma Rae' Tells her Story" by Crystal Lee Sutton sure does bring back memories.  I remember the first time I dealt with someone like that and coming up with well-reasoned arguments and everything in an attempt to persuade them.  It's weird, when someone is not doing what they are supposed to do, why would they actually extend to you common courtesies like honesty.  It really doesn't make any sense.--Justin Mattos

'''I think it was great that the man JB Younts was so supportive for her to go to the Union meeting and possible join.  It seems that the more support Lee got the more she fought for the Union.  Did many women make a similar stand to how Lee did?''' –Ashley Scutari

'''I loved this essay.  That certainly was a plucky lady.  It's well written in a way that, I could almost picture the Big Bossman, grossly overweight, puffing a cigar, trying to intimidate her with his Southern drawl.  I can cast his part!  She stood up to him, and then had the guts to stand up on a table with a "Union" sign!  Cool! ''' Phil Novalski.

I think was a very powerful piece, that really drew attention to the fact that even though women had made strides in labor laws via federal legislation, there were some places where such things didn't matter. By the way the Wagner Act was in place in 1935, but in 1973 unions were still outlawed in most southern companies. As was the way with segregation - the south and their notion of states rights - bah!  And it took 5 years for Norma Rae to get her job back, after losing it only by acting within her Constitutional rights?  '''I wonder how labor laws are in the South today.''' ~Juliann Boyles

== Susan Eisenberg, “Hard-Hatted Women,” 1988.  ==
 
I thought the "Hard-hatted Women" essay in MAW was amazing!  '''To learn that she became an electrician and managed to hide her pregnancy for 6 months before finally going on maternity-type leaving was just incredible!'''  I was sad that she had a miscarriage, but was really impressed with how her co-workers supported her.  --Ashley Wilkins

I understand fully how Eisenberg felt.  I found out I was pregnant with my my second son, Nathan, the week before 9/11. We lived in the NJ/NY area at the time and EVERYONE was in fear of loosing their jobs. '''My fear went a step further thinking if anyone would loose their jobs it would be me. I kept my pregnancy to myself for a while.''' Then I got over my new hormonal state and dared anyone to discriminate against me. Unlike Eisenberg, I was not in the construction industry and It was 2002. --Nikole Wellman

I appreciate your comment Nicole. This lady was very impressive.  I can only empathize with your fears.  '''Imagine how she must have felt, a pregnant woman on a construction site in the late 1970s?  It's good that she did foster some better relationships with co-workers during subsequent pregnancies.  Some of the insensitve remarks from her male co-workers were really nasty, but not surprising to me.'''  I worked in trades and roofing some years ago.  The thing to remember about men, is that at the end of the day, most of us are insecure little boys who still like to talk about sounds that emanate from our bodies, watch the Three Stooges hit each other with hard objects and laugh out loud, and still like to gawk and make immature noises at attractive women who walk by a work site... we really can't help ourselves as to our simple-mindedness in these areas and really don't mean anything by it. - Phil Novalski.

This woman to me is the kind of woman that i feel needs to be look up to. its unbelievable that she was able to do all that during her time and that she succeeded. The miscarriage was very sad however its is nice to see how her decision was supported. --Julie

== Jessie Lopez De La Cruz, “Organizing the Farm Workers,” 1980 ==
 

== Johnnie Tillmon, “Women on Welfare,” 1972 ==
The movie "Claudine" starring James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll presents some of the issues raised in "Women on Welfare" by Johnnie Tillmon.  When I saw it a few years ago, I remember thinking about how typically 70's it seemed.  True it was released in '74, but what I mean is that it seemed to depict exactly what it meant to be black in the 1970's.  Has anyone else seen it?--Justin Mattos

'''I do not agree with the A.F.D.C that if a man is in the house, then the family cannot be supplied by welfare.  As Johnnie stated, the man could not have a job and be living in the house; therefore he still cannot support his children.  Welfare should be for any family that is financial unstable.  Has much of the welfare requirements changed since then?''' 
–Ashley Scutari

"Welfare is a basic right of citizenship," and "housewives should get a legally determined percentage of their husbands income"?????  They call this SOCIALISM.  '''While acknowledging that our free-market ideology creates many inequities, these aren't answers either!'''  Ms. Tillman obviously was not an economics major.  It's like you guys on campus trying to get a living wage for the groundskeepers.  Nice sentiment, won't work too well.  Do you understand, that '''if everyone gets paid a LIVING WAGE for every job, then inflation kicks in, and the value of your $35,000 per year entry-level jobs after you graduate is NIL.'''  Do you really believe its fair, as many are suggesting, that the UMW groundskeepers, janitorial staff, Johnnie Tillman's housewives, and everyone else, now would get a federally mandated minimum wage above the poverty line, say, $30,000 for a family of four?  How do you feel now about working to get a degree and only earning a fraction more?  Might as well have skipped college! - Phil Novalski.

'''Phil has a point, not all of Johnnie's points were practical, but I just liked her. ''' I liked her spirit and she made some very good arguments against the common myths of  welfare, such as "having babies for profit is a lie that only men could make up and only men could believe."  Unfortunately like most things, the people that are quick to condemn it are the people who don't understand it.  '''And as Johnnie said, most of the people at that time in the country receiving welfare were women. Johnnie also addressed a large perception in this country that people on welfare are lazy, and they should just get a job and stop free riding off the hard earned money of other Americans, but as she effectively pointed out, sometimes, they just can't.  Sometimes you just need a little help, and as a citizen, it is the government's job to ensure every citizen's welfare, no pun intended.''' ~Juliann Boyles

== Mariah Burton Nelson, “Sex and Sports” – 1994 ==
'''I realize it is the point of the view of the author, but I honestly never thought there were so many lesbians in women sports leagues.  I just never associated the two.'''  Sure, I've heard other people associate women sports stars and lesbianism, but I never took them seriously.  Wow, that's interesting.--Justin Mattos

I too was surprised to learn about how many women in sports were actually lesbians in this article.  I had never heard anything ever reported on it.  I did know that women fought hard to get recognition like the men did in their sorts.  I remember watching a show on the women's US soccer team and how they fought for better pay like the male US soccer team as well as how Mia Hamm (sp?) was the one who helped them get that recoginition by doing the Pert shampoo commercials.  '''Even when I think about it today, how many womens sports are actually on TV, I can think of plenty of male sports, like football, baseball, basketball, but women the only one or two I can think of is golf, and I think basketball, I could be wrong on that one though.'''--Michelle M.

'''This did not surprise me at all,''' I know of many female athletes that are lesbians.  It was something that growing up with a sister in sports that my family really started to hear of all the lesbians out there. -- Kellye Sorber

I was also not surprised by this article. I think the reason most people are shocked by this information is because women sports are not covered to the same extent that men's sports are. '''Professional male athletes are idolized and hero-worshiped so when they are homosexual it becomes a really big deal. Professional female athletes however are no where near as popular so their sexuality is not as big a factor.''' - Christine W.


In the introduction to this article it talked about how mens' sports receive 92% of all TV coverage and 81% of all newspaper coverage. The tone of the article seemed to suggest that this was in some way unfair, or that it was somehow based in sexism. '''Really, I think this has nothing to do with sexism. Male sports just sell better, from my experience they are more exciting to watch, and they obviously draw a larger audience of both male and female viewers alike. So I think that this is based more in business sense than it is in sexism.''' -- Landon Davis

As a girl who once played Field Hockey and loves to watch sports, I agree with Landon, its not that the TVs air more male sports due to sexism but because they are more popular and fun to watch. People like to see action not saying women's sports are not action packed but, men's sports allow physical contact and speed, which is something that viewers like. '''From my personal experience I love football and lacrosse, two sports that are action packed, with the physical contact, speed and the skill work. Just because men;s sports are aired more doesn't mean that it has to do with sexism, its just the general population prefers to watch male athletics.''' -- Amanda Taub

Like Kellye, I wasn't surprised by the amount of lesbians in sports. What gets to be frustrating though is when, as a girl, you play a sport and close-minded people believe you're becoming a lesbian. Believe me, it happened to many girls on my teams in high school. Also I agree with Amanda about why women's sports aren't covered by the media as much. Women's sports tend to have a lot more rules about being aggressive and not as fast. -Kendall Haring

== Marissa Navarro, “Becoming La Mujer” – 1998 ==
 

== Nancy Mairs, “Women and Disabilities” – 1986 ==
I found the Why me? Why not? portion of "Women and Disabilities" by Nancy Mairs to be fairly interesting. --Justin Mattos

I found myself able to relate to this reading because when I was in middle school my Mom was diagnosed with MS. And I honestly have to say that if my mom hadn't been my hero before, she definitely is now. However, '''unlike Nancy Mairs my mother would never call herself a cripple, or at least I've never heard her do so, and I believe that this is largely because of the fact that the term cripple makes it sound like you can't do something, and lord help you if you ever tell my mother she can't do something.''' So I think that one of the reasons that this story stood out to me the most is because I've seen this first hand, yes my Mom can't do half the things she used to be able to do, but she refuses to let it depress her, she's always fighting to keep going and keep walking, but at the same time she does face things that others don't, such as a difficulty getting up and down stairs, which makes it hard for her to do some of the things she used to do. '''Though I did find it interesting that disabilities weren't talked about much until the 80s.''' -Elizabeth Frank

== Abra Fortune Chernik, “The Voice of an Anorexic” – 1995 ==

'''This story really saddened me, because of how this girl viewed her self for so long'''.  I was just glad that it had a happy ending, and that she was lucky enough to have survived as long as she did with this disease.  This article just goes to prove that every time period through out the history of women there is an expected stereotype that is portrayed in culture and especially media like for this woman.  For example during WWII media portrayed women as working to help to the counry but as soon as the men returned home they were happy to go back to being house wives, which in many cases wasn't true.  For Abra Chernik, magazines of pretty skinny models was the new portrait of women, and '''often still is today.'''--Michelle M.

== Eve Ensler, “The Vagina Monologues” – 1997 ==
I have heard of "the Vagina Monologues" and I've even seen parts of it, but I never realized how much Ensler had actually been through herself.  Being raped when you're such a young girl is traumatic and the fact that she took that and turned it into something positive is empowering. ''' And I agree with her and her theory about the word "vagina."  Even today people have a hard time saying the actual word when referencing female (and male) genatalia and they usually use other words or nicknames.  It's kind of sad, actually, that even after having sexual education classes and making sure that students today know the parts of the body, people are still so scared to use the real words.'''  Yes, there are publications and television shows and broadway plays that occasionally use the real words, but if you listen to those scripts as well and read those articles you'll notice that other words or phrases normally replace the actual word (unless it's a medical journal, of course.)  That's where slang starts.  It just goes to show, I guess, that some mind sets never change.  --Kelly Wuyscik

This really isn't a salient point, but I think it's all due to the fact that our country was founded by a bunch of prude puritans. :) - Sarah

Sorry I'm a little playful this week, but when Ms. Ensler mentions that her vagina represents her "second heart," I can only hope that some of the proceeds of her provacative and very popular script is going to a therapist.  '''In the sake of fair play,''' when will UMW hold a PENIS Week, or "P" week?  After all, I think the school is about 30% guys. I wonder what penises would say to one another.  Would they drink beer and watch sports like the rest of us?  - Phil Novalski. (On a serious note - her cause is a great one. PN.)

I also think that the Vagina Monologues are a very positive way to talk about a traumatic experience. I do remember a year or two ago reading about a conservative women's group that protested this program at a college. I believe they said that it degraded women and the monologues were gross and offensive. I haven't seen the show but I don't understand how women talking about personal experiences could be degrading to women or offending them. I think any time women share their experiences helps people understand what it's like to be a woman. -Kendall Haring

== Susan Faludi, “The Backlash Against Feminism” – 1991 ==
I thought it was interesting to read “The Backlash against Feminism” by Susan Faludi. '''In it, she points out that even though politicians and the media are continually boasting that women have indeed reached equality and every opportunity is open to them, there is another front that these people are overlooking, and that is emotional. Women still face continual pressure by the media to conform to what is expected of them. As a result there are increasing stories, such as the one by Abra Chernik, of “stress-induced disorders.”''' It seems as though we are now entering a time where''' ''politics may not influence a woman’s limitations in society as much as popular culture.''''' --Jessica Kilday

== Anita Hill, “A Woman of Conscience” – 1991 ==

I chose to write on this topic because after I read Anita Hill's testimony, I asked myself how this would affect my vote if I had one. I'm torn, because it seems like it should be impossible to elect someone to the Supreme Court who is guilty of serial sexual harassment, but at the same time, it seems wrong to deny a candidacy based on entirely non-falsifiable testimony. My gut says Anita Hill was right, and that seems to be supported by outside sources (such as a Hill-basher who later admitted he was lying, labeling himself "part of the Republican propaganda machine" and a "Conservative hitman"), but in other situations, how do you make a decision like this? -- Matt Struth

== Katie Roiphe, “Date Rape: Hysteria or Epidemic?” – 1991 ==

I had mixed feelings about this reading. '''I had never thought that the very concept of date rape could enforce the traditional stereotyped sexual roles that women always had of being the ones who don't want sex when men did. However, I also feel like Katie Roiphe, while she has good points, ignores the possibility that some of these women really didn't want sex with these men and instead she seems to have the idea that these women were using the cry of rape to excuse their sexual behaviour.''' While in some cases this might be true, I highly doubt this is the majority. -Elizabeth Frank

Frankly this reading upset me and I disagree with Roiphe. '''I don't think that society or women use the term rape too lightly.''' I do think that '''cultural ideals do send messages to women that they shouldn't act sexual and when they do they should be ashamed of their actions. I believe that this is the issue that really needs to be addressed.''' The reality is that women are taken advantage of but '''men are taken advantage of as well'''. Rape is not one way and too often men are embarressed to admit being pressured into sexual situations because of their gender expectations. Roiphe's generalizing views are not really important when you take rape cases individually, because it's not as simple as "I went on a date and it resulted in sex and it was his fault because I was helpless." Not everyone lived through the same "date rape" situation and if they perceived they had been violated by another then their word should stand. -- Meredith Bojarski

Meredith brings up a good point. This is one situation where the sexual double standard actually hurts men. If a guy wakes up the next morning and realizes he slept with someone he did not want to, all he can really call it is a mistake. If a guy woke up and claimed that a girl raped him he would be laughed at (at least by the gentleman i know). '''I think now-a-days the biggest problem concerning date rape has to be alcohol''', i bet very rarely does a sober date rape incident occur. -- Landon Davis

Elizabeth, Meredith and Landon all bring up excellent points.  The article did put me off a bit.  Date rape education (and repoting) should be encouraged. I don't think women "like" to report being raped.  I just read testimony in the paper yesterday from a girl at Annapolis that was raped by a fellow cadet and you could feel her pain coming out. '''I think rape is likely still very much an underreported crime.'''  Landon's point about alcohol likely being involved quite often in date rape situations (especially on campuses) is a good one. - Phil Novalski

== Christine Hoff Sommers, “Who Stole Feminism?” – 1994 ==
'''"What has real feminism to do with sitting around in circles talking about our feelings and menstruation?" HAHAHA.  First of all, I'd like to say that Ms. Hoff seems a little bitter about the way women's studies classes are being taught.  That said, I think she does raise a valid concern.  Most people today (women and men alike) hear the word "feminist" and a negative connotation is automatically thrown with it.'''  Forget the fact that you do not have to be a bra-burning, man-hating, same-sex-loving hippie to be a feminist.  Forget the fact that you can be a strong, independent, normal girl and be a feminist.  Instead, most people hear "feminist" and automatically throw that first connotation right onto it, and men who admit to being feminists are normally mocked which is a shame.  Unlike our dear author, I thought the rules that one class presents to it's students at the beginning of the semester was a fantastic idea.  It forces the student to enter the class with an open mind and realize that feminism was a movement fighting oppression just like most other movements.  One has to go into the class and acknowledge that oppression exists and that you have to respect your classmate's rights.  I disagree with her statement that "anything said in the classroom should be repeatable outside."  Yes, I believe that students should not be ashamed to speak their opinion, but when discussing such a tough topic, the fact that someone is voicing their opinion should be enough.  If they don't want that repeated outside the walls of their classroom, they shouldn't have to worry about it.  I believe it teaches students to respect and trust one another.  '''To be honest, our dear Ms. Hoff kind of bugged me.'''  --Kelly Wuyscik

== United States v. Virginia (1996), “Equal Protection Under the Law” [VMI case] – 1996 ==
'''The Supreme Court case United States v. Virginia is probably the case that I am most passionate about because it literally hits home.''' I was born and raised in Lexington, home of Virginia Military Institute, and both my father and my brother graduated from VMI. Hearing the stories my dad tells about the Old Corps and witnessing my brother going through Hell Week and the Ratline, I came to understand how physically, mentally, emotionally, and academically demanding VMI is...or once was. Even though I was all of ten years old when this case was decided, I was against VMI being forced to admit women. I had a feeling that things would only become worse...and I was right. For the past two summers, I have gone to VMI for summer school, (which you do not have to be a cadet to attend) and I have taken classes with some of the female cadets that do attend VMI. I will be the first to admit that I am not the smartest woman in the world, but in a freshman level World History class that I took, we were asked to read aloud from the textbook, and honest to God, these girls could barely read! Not only that, but many of them were obviously not in top physical condition. I always heard my brother talking about how horrible the "shedets" were, but now I saw it with my own eyes. Because of United States v. Virginia, VMI was basically forced to lower its standards and accept any female applicants, regardless of their scholastic aptitude or physical prowess. Granted, I do know a select few female cadets who do exceed the academic and physical qualifications that the school lays out, and they have risen to prominent positions in the Corps, but an overwhelming majority of female cadets are not like this. '''So which is worse - not having females at a state supported school that has been an all-male school since its inception, or having to significantly lower standards of acceptance  just so sub-par females can attend the school in the name of equality?''' VMI has had to make so many  changes and sacrifices in order for women to attend. Barracks had to be renovated so that females could live there, and traditions like Hell Week, sweat parties, and other Ratline activities had to be modified to accommodate women. If the women who attended VMI after the case was decided really wanted things to be equal, then they would have attended the school under the rules of the Old Corps. They did not. Even with the relaxed physical and academic regulations for women, out of the approximately one hundred women who start the Ratline in August, probably only twenty have what it takes to make it through Hell Week, and the numbers tend to diminish after that. The fact that VMI has been forced to lower its standards to accommodate females has really lowered its reputation in the minds of both alumni and current cadets. It is not the same school my father went to, and now he jokingly says that the VMI my brother attended was a country club. '''The men that attend VMI today have been forced to sacrifice the experiences that the alumni had in the Old Corps...how is that for unequal?''' -Marilyn

== Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, “A Third Wave Feminist Manifesta” – 2000 ==
'''I LOVED the Third Wave Feminist Manifesta.  To me, that is what feminism is all about, and that is what women today should be striving for.  This is a manifesta for feminists our age and I believe that every point they raise is important.  There is nothing outrageous about any of their plans and, in my opinion and as cheesy as this sounds, the list looks to make the world a better place for women.  Everything from Point number 1 about outing unacknowledged feminists to point number 13 about passing the Equal Rights Amendment is important (one I love being point number 10 because I hate the demeaning nicknames 12 year olds use for each other these days.)  It's a well thought out manifesta and it's kind of scary how much this applies to us.  They're talking to our generation and it's just weird to see where the feminist movement has gone since the second wave movement in the 1960s and 1970s.'''  --Kelly Wuyscik

== Charlotte Bunch, “Global Feminism” – 1995 [at the UN Beijing Women’s Conference] ==


== Gloria Anzaldua, “The Borderlands” – 1987 ==
 








Wow, the head chef of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City doesn't seem to be that prestigious, if Velma James's 1976 photograph "A Day in the Kitchen" means anything. --Justin Mattos

It was kind of strange seeing the photo of Marion Jones in the book.--Justin Mattos


Must have been strange being a Stanford graduate with a degree in psychology and being asked to go to charm school.--Justin Mattos