Difference between revisions of "328 2010--Week 11 Questions/Comments"
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Erin, I noticed that Church uses 'he' throughout the piece, but I don't necessarily think it was meant to indicate that girls were not valued, just '''a quirk of grammar'''. She actually states quite clearly that in the near future women "will be taking their rightful place in world affairs," and so girls should be "provided with the same opportunities" (pg. 411) as their brothers. She seems to hold a fairly egalitarian view of parenting, advocating that both mothers and fathers be involved in the lives of their children and consistently referring to the responsibilities of 'parents' rather than simply the role of 'mother. -Mary Ann | Erin, I noticed that Church uses 'he' throughout the piece, but I don't necessarily think it was meant to indicate that girls were not valued, just '''a quirk of grammar'''. She actually states quite clearly that in the near future women "will be taking their rightful place in world affairs," and so girls should be "provided with the same opportunities" (pg. 411) as their brothers. She seems to hold a fairly egalitarian view of parenting, advocating that both mothers and fathers be involved in the lives of their children and consistently referring to the responsibilities of 'parents' rather than simply the role of 'mother. -Mary Ann | ||
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| + | "Just" a quirk of grammar? I wonder that if this, and similar use of gendered language throughout history is just a "quirk of grammar," and if so, why people get upset over phrases like "rule of thumb," whether or not the supposed history of that phrase is true or not, the implications of that phrase is what makes it contentious. The use of gendered language carries powerful messages that convey female-ness as weak, passive, powerless, etc. while the opposite is true with male-oriented language. I think that there is more meaning to a woman who seems "almost a feminist" because of some of her arguments using such a "quirk of grammar" than we seem to accord it--surely a woman as conscious as Church about women's "rightful place in society" would not use "he" out of expediency or convenience. Maybe it sheds some light into pervading conceptions of women's identities and how they related to the whole--if not in general, then at least from Church's point of view? -schang | ||
I agree with Mary Ann's statement above. One of Church's main arguments for attaining personal security for children is equal rights between all children and not showing favoritism, as well as asserting that "neither the father nor mother should reign supreme" (411). Going along with equal rights between the sexes, she defends that "girls should be provided with the same opportunities, intellectually, professionally, socially and economically as boys" (411). If Church believed that only male citizens are valuable members of society, I don't believe she would be encouraging parents to provide their daughters with the same opportunities. '''I also found the wording of Church's essay interesting when she states "women will be taking their ''rightful'' places in society" (411). This almost sounds feminist. It seems like Church is arguing that women have been denied something they were entitled to all along-an equal place with men in all worldly affairs.''' --Anna K Holman | I agree with Mary Ann's statement above. One of Church's main arguments for attaining personal security for children is equal rights between all children and not showing favoritism, as well as asserting that "neither the father nor mother should reign supreme" (411). Going along with equal rights between the sexes, she defends that "girls should be provided with the same opportunities, intellectually, professionally, socially and economically as boys" (411). If Church believed that only male citizens are valuable members of society, I don't believe she would be encouraging parents to provide their daughters with the same opportunities. '''I also found the wording of Church's essay interesting when she states "women will be taking their ''rightful'' places in society" (411). This almost sounds feminist. It seems like Church is arguing that women have been denied something they were entitled to all along-an equal place with men in all worldly affairs.''' --Anna K Holman | ||
