Racism

by: Megan MacDonald

I don’t understand it. RACCCC-IIII-SSSSM. I try to sound it out with my mouth but it doesn’t make sense to me. When I see someone I see him or her as a human being, Not man or woman. Not black or brown or white. When I see someone I see him or her for the person I see portrayed through his or her actions. Color has never mattered to me. If someone has a positive outlook and a driven sense of accomplishment they are more than qualified to be my friend. I love every single person for the good qualities in them; if you consciously look for the good in people you will never be disappointed. When others allow racism and anti feminist philosophy to encourage the way they live their lives is when I know they are not fighting for what is right but what is known and of popular belief. When I am confronted with people of this nature I try to be as neutral as I can, however as a an independent accomplished, feminist woman it is hard for me to look back at the actions of these individuals and not argue. When judgment becomes based on color of skin instead of content of character is when I stop listening to mainstream media who views the value of an individual based on color and appearance instead of intelligence and talent. 

Ballet and its American Icon

By: Annika Wiesemann

Women and men are still not always treated equal in our society related to their job positions or their different roles in the family. Referring to the article “Balanchine women” from Ann Daly (2002) Ballet and its American icon (The Ballerina) supports this unequally image of women and men.  “The girl is like an instrument” (Page 280) and is directed by the man. The men manipulate and assist the dance of the woman so that women don't make any movements without the initiation of them. They are the doers and prevent women power and ballet supports the men´s leadership. The image of men and women are shown in a conservative way in ballet and it´s not easy to rebuild it. I think a beginning would be to let men and women do the same movements and to let women also support the men while dancing. Anyway women are shown as light weighted figures in Ballet and they’re attracting the audience by their look. It’s all about the beauty and the perfectness of a ballerina. This New York Times article discusses how “Ballet demands sacrifice in its pursuit of widely accepted ideals of beauty”.

It’s not just that sacrifice. It’s also the women’s acceptance to be lower status and be constructed to be looked at. Men are represented powerful.

I don't like that they are not shown equally but I can also not imagine women to lead the men. That shows that I am already influenced by the way women and men (genders) are shown in our cultural mediums like on TV, theatre, books, movies… 

First Wave Feminism

by: Norma Sevilla


Throughout time, women's feminist movements for social justice and equality have been divided into three waves. First-Wave feminism, which is our main focus for this week, flourished during the mid 19th and early 20th century. Their main focus during that time was women's emancipation from political restrictions, such as women's suffrage (women's right to vote).The reading that stood out to me the most from this week was "The Freedom of Woman" by Isadora Duncan. I really liked her interpretation of the body and I liked how she sees it as something beautiful and pure. She goes on to explain how exposing one’s body, while performing, is beautiful and pure. Throughout time people have created social taboos against women’s bodies so I think it’s crucial to have articles like “The Freedom of Woman” that tell us that bodies are beautiful and they are nothing to be ashamed of. As Duncan puts it herself, “the body is beautiful; it’s real, true, untrammeled. It should arouse not horror, but reverence” (Duncan 1992, 48-49). As I was reading "The Freedom of Woman," it reminded me of Pina Bausch's "Cafe Muller" (1978) and the trailer from the documentary "Pina Bausch: Dancing Dreams" we saw in class. Duncan's and Bausch's choreography is so different from the kind of dances I’m used to seeing but they are so unique and fascinating. I love how their choreography isn't just simply dance but art, theater, and different representations of life

My Granny

by: Jasmine Morrow

This past week, my granny passed away. This entire week has been extremely difficult for me, but I am trying to find ways to remember the great things about her life and how she has impacted mine. When I was younger I was the ultimate “tom boy”. I wanted to do everything the boys did. I wanted to play football, skateboard, climb trees, play video games, everything. I can remember one time I was sitting, slouched over, legs open and my granny hollered at me. She told me that I was a young lady and ladies don’t sit and act like little boys. I remember crying to my mom and my granny told me that I would thank her later.

Well that later has come. I am still a “tom boy” at heart, but I have learned throughout my life what my granny was really trying to tell me. She was born during a time where people of color were not allowed to do much of anything. She grew up in the country of Georgia. She has seen Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. She was able to grow up in a time when she was able to see real change taking place. She wanted me to understand that as a Black woman in this country we at one point were the lowest of the low. She wanted me to understand just how much oppression Black women have endured so that in my lifetime I could continue to make a change.

My granny is the reason why I am the feminist I am today. That is why the monologue about the woman who had a good experience with a man reminds me so much of her. When I was reading that monologue, Because He Liked to Look at It, I was instantly touched. This woman did not truly understand her worth as a woman. She did not see her true beauty within herself. Although I am sad it took a man to be able to open her eyes, I am happy she was finally able to see. My granny wanted me to always understand that I was beautiful and strong. She wanted me to understand to that I could do anything because I was a woman.

my own fucking business.

By: Alisha 

My menstruation cycle is not anyones fucking business but my own. Women and men may be different in some ways, but that doesn't mean that discrimination is okay.

Yesterday we had a lively discussion in class about feminism, it's definitions, and what it means to people. Similar to what normally happens in an intro to WMST classroom, most people are shocked by the simple definition of feminism, especially considering all of the stereotypes that normally come to mind when using the "f-word". One of my favorite authors, Jessica Valenti states in her book Full Frontal Feminism that feminism is simply "Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes; the movement that surrounds this belief” (13). While feminist ideology is a complex idea, the definition really is pretty simple and hard to argue with. 

That being said, there still is a lot to learn and a lot of discrimination out there. This article, Why Do Women Still Earn Less than Men? by Time Magazine just goes to show that feminism is still needed, and change still needs to happen. So the next time someone tells you feminism is dead, speak your mind, voice your opinion, and show them what's up!