Lately, I've spent a fair bit of time thinking about and writing about gender roles. During one of these conversations I read something that really got me thinking.
Women have fought for the last 100 years for rights, the right to vote, the right to work, the right to work wherever they want, their reproductive rights, the list goes on and on. However, in the fight for equality, there's been an oversight.
A friend summarized it better than I could.
"I used to read a blog about a young man as an elementary school teacher who met with deep resistance to his existence. Admittedly, it's just a blog and therefore chock full of pure anecdote, but I can't help but wonder just how much women are prepared to "trust" a man in positions that used to be theirs and theirs alone."
While we've been more than happy to be mechanics, doctors, and CEO's, and expect that the traditional holders of these positions will recognize that we're equally competent, she should trust men to be nurses, elementary teachers and stay at home dads.
But, have we?
This article isn't the blog referenced above, but I think it speaks to the same point. In asking for a piece of "men's" territory, are we willing to give them some of ours?
The Mistrusted Male Teacher
Monday, May 11, 2009
Response: Muslim Demographics
Muslim Demographics, They Call Her Crazy Tracy
I'm too frustrated after watching these videos to write a full response, however, this ties in so closely to the "17 Children" article and their "war". The last sentence in the video "Muslim Demographics" is "This, is a call to arms".
This is a direct reference to Psalm 127, the namesake of the Quiverfull movement.
“As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath a quiver full. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
"They Call Her Crazy Tracy" is equally frustrating. I see Tracy as representative of the way of thinking (or more accurately, not thinking) that is gaining momentum in Canada and the United States.
The most terrifying part about the Quiverfull movement, the "call to arms" against Muslims through fertility, and the statements from Tracy, is the conviction in their beliefs.
Their unwavering certainty is the strongest weapon in their arsenal.
The other terrifying part is the lack of compassion for those they view as "the other", and that "the other" is the enemy.
These movements are waging a war against people who have no interest in a war. So, how do I, an opening minded liberal thinking woman, who believes more in spirituality than religion, resist their war...and how do you fight back when you have no interest in the fight.
It seems to me, by acknowledging this "war" of theirs they've already won half the battle.
I'm too frustrated after watching these videos to write a full response, however, this ties in so closely to the "17 Children" article and their "war". The last sentence in the video "Muslim Demographics" is "This, is a call to arms".
This is a direct reference to Psalm 127, the namesake of the Quiverfull movement.
“As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath a quiver full. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
"They Call Her Crazy Tracy" is equally frustrating. I see Tracy as representative of the way of thinking (or more accurately, not thinking) that is gaining momentum in Canada and the United States.
The most terrifying part about the Quiverfull movement, the "call to arms" against Muslims through fertility, and the statements from Tracy, is the conviction in their beliefs.
Their unwavering certainty is the strongest weapon in their arsenal.
The other terrifying part is the lack of compassion for those they view as "the other", and that "the other" is the enemy.
These movements are waging a war against people who have no interest in a war. So, how do I, an opening minded liberal thinking woman, who believes more in spirituality than religion, resist their war...and how do you fight back when you have no interest in the fight.
It seems to me, by acknowledging this "war" of theirs they've already won half the battle.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Response - " How to Have 17 Children and Still Love Jesus" - Kate Dixon 2007
http://bitchmagazine.org/article/multiply-and-conquer
Of all the statements in this article that caught my eye, and believe me, there were many, the one that struck me the most was a quote by Stephanie Coontz.
"This movement gets attention today because we've altered gender roles more in the past 30 years than we did in the previous 3,000 years. As a result, the Quiverfull adherents' absolute certainty about what they're doing strikes a chord, even among people who would never consider living that way."
This quote caught my eye because it did strike a chord. In today's crazy hectic world, where any one can take on any role we can't help but ask "Where do I fit in?"
I find that the overload of opportunities and choices leaves many people staring at a blank page. Where do you even start?
During discussions with friends there have been two key observations that appear.
For Women (observed from women of my generation 18-34)
"What path do I take?"
Many of us were little girls in the 1980's. I find this to be the first decade where pop culture prominently displayed women in successful and powerful careers traditionally held by men. Our moms, many of whom were single, or divorced mom's, were raising a family during this transition. I'd call them the first "supermoms"
Feminism has opened many doors and windows for many women, but with that blessing comes a curse. Because the doors are open there is pressure to go through them and a culture has developed around the "Super Mom"
This women can (apparently) commute to a stressful, full time job, be successful at her job, raise 3 well adjusted kids, keep her husband sexually satisfied, and still have time to bake cookies.
Lets be serious here, we all know that woman doesn't exist. The truth is, many women have a choice to make, have a family or have a career. In my experience the respect for a stay at home Mom has not yet reached the same level of respect for a career woman. It seems as though the people still believe that being a mom isn't "real" work because it doesn't generate income and doesn't' contribute to the economy. Who decided that a paycheck proves that someone is working, or even more absurd, that it proves how hard someone worked?
My personal (and undoubtedly biased) point of view on this is pretty cut and dry. People who have more respect for the working woman than than the stay at home mom are the same people who can only process the world in terms of the tangible, the people who only perceive the world in terms of possessions, paychecks and product.
I call them the victims and the perpetrators of the "Culture of Conspicuous Consumption".
Gender roles may have been altered but the rest of the world hasn't had time to catch up. Thereare still few circumstances where having a career can co-exist harmoniously with raising a family.
So now the pressure comes from both sides. On one side we hear "the doors are open walk through, walk tall and take on the world " and on the other we here "be a mother, be proud to be a mother, take on the world".
It's a confusing message which leaves many women my age floundering for a balance.
I find the Quiverfull movement to be a natural (though very extreme) response. Times of transition leave most people grasping for certainty. A movement like Quiverfull offers unwavering certainty.
For Men (observed in men 18-34)
Nearly every conversation I've had with men on this topic ultimately leads to a single questions. I heard it mostly succinctly from a conversation with John Jack
"What's left [for me]?"
In a world country and culture where women can do anything men can do, what does it mean to be a man?
Response to this article by John Jack on the gender struggle for men to follow
Of all the statements in this article that caught my eye, and believe me, there were many, the one that struck me the most was a quote by Stephanie Coontz.
"This movement gets attention today because we've altered gender roles more in the past 30 years than we did in the previous 3,000 years. As a result, the Quiverfull adherents' absolute certainty about what they're doing strikes a chord, even among people who would never consider living that way."
This quote caught my eye because it did strike a chord. In today's crazy hectic world, where any one can take on any role we can't help but ask "Where do I fit in?"
I find that the overload of opportunities and choices leaves many people staring at a blank page. Where do you even start?
During discussions with friends there have been two key observations that appear.
For Women (observed from women of my generation 18-34)
"What path do I take?"
Many of us were little girls in the 1980's. I find this to be the first decade where pop culture prominently displayed women in successful and powerful careers traditionally held by men. Our moms, many of whom were single, or divorced mom's, were raising a family during this transition. I'd call them the first "supermoms"
Feminism has opened many doors and windows for many women, but with that blessing comes a curse. Because the doors are open there is pressure to go through them and a culture has developed around the "Super Mom"
This women can (apparently) commute to a stressful, full time job, be successful at her job, raise 3 well adjusted kids, keep her husband sexually satisfied, and still have time to bake cookies.
Lets be serious here, we all know that woman doesn't exist. The truth is, many women have a choice to make, have a family or have a career. In my experience the respect for a stay at home Mom has not yet reached the same level of respect for a career woman. It seems as though the people still believe that being a mom isn't "real" work because it doesn't generate income and doesn't' contribute to the economy. Who decided that a paycheck proves that someone is working, or even more absurd, that it proves how hard someone worked?
My personal (and undoubtedly biased) point of view on this is pretty cut and dry. People who have more respect for the working woman than than the stay at home mom are the same people who can only process the world in terms of the tangible, the people who only perceive the world in terms of possessions, paychecks and product.
I call them the victims and the perpetrators of the "Culture of Conspicuous Consumption".
Gender roles may have been altered but the rest of the world hasn't had time to catch up. Thereare still few circumstances where having a career can co-exist harmoniously with raising a family.
So now the pressure comes from both sides. On one side we hear "the doors are open walk through, walk tall and take on the world " and on the other we here "be a mother, be proud to be a mother, take on the world".
It's a confusing message which leaves many women my age floundering for a balance.
I find the Quiverfull movement to be a natural (though very extreme) response. Times of transition leave most people grasping for certainty. A movement like Quiverfull offers unwavering certainty.
For Men (observed in men 18-34)
Nearly every conversation I've had with men on this topic ultimately leads to a single questions. I heard it mostly succinctly from a conversation with John Jack
"What's left [for me]?"
In a world country and culture where women can do anything men can do, what does it mean to be a man?
Response to this article by John Jack on the gender struggle for men to follow
Monday, May 4, 2009
Filling the Post University Void
It has recently come to my attention that my day to day, and even week to week, activities no longer include in depth discussion of current events, social justice, culture, politics, or the environment...the list goes on and on. While in University discussion and discourse of a variety of topics was just part of the experience. I find now that I am removed from the University environment, I have less access to people willing and ready to discuss complex, and sometimes controversial topics, at a moments notice.
In order to remedy this I have decided on a social experiment. Goal: To test facebook as an effective tool for academic discourse and my ability to engage other post-university students in discussion on their own free will.
This will also test my ability to adapt as I'm admittedly unfamiliar with the rules, etiquette and formats of blogs, forums and discussion boards.
My first step was to send an email to a small group of friends (real friends, not facebook "friends") via facebook explaining my void and my desire to fill it.
Email:
Hi,
I'm writing this message because I've noticed a distinct lack in political, cultural, and current event discourse in my day to day life now that I've left University and entered "Career world".
Although I work in a politicized environment (I work for Huu-ay-aht First Nations, who are involved in the Treaty process) I feel I'm still lacking a platform for discussions that delve deeper in to issues than just a jerk reaction or first impression.
Today, I came across two very interesting, potentially controversial articles. They're not articles that I want to argue for, or against, but rather, articles I want to explore further.
I'm thinking of starting an invitation based group where articles on gender, politics, culture, social justice, environment, current events...etc can be posted for FYI or discussion and to allow interested persons to participate at their leisure.
I am aware of sites like this that already exist, but personally, I find large forums to be overwhelming and over populated. I'm thinking, a smaller, more book club like, group.
The reason I'm hesitant to post articles openly on facebook as a wall post is the number of "friends" who many not understand the article, why it was posted or understand the difference between discussion and argument, nor the etiquette that applies to it.
The goal is to create a virtual discussion group and I would like to avoid an environment that lends itself to personal attacks and a devolution of the topic at hand.
This is why I'd like to create an platform for a smaller group that encourages discourse and discourages conflict for conflict sake.
If you're interested please let me know and I'll send the group invite.
~Crystal
There were two articles that spurred the idea of a virtual discussion group.
Multipy and Conquer: How to have 17 children and still believe in Jesus by Kate Dixon from Bitch Magazine 2007
http://bitchmagazine.org/article/multiply-and-conquer
and
White Privilage: Unpacking the invisible backpack by Peggy McIntosh from Independent School 1990
http://www.amptoons.com/blog/files/mcintosh.html
Reponses to articles, which will hopefully jump start discussions, to follow.
In order to remedy this I have decided on a social experiment. Goal: To test facebook as an effective tool for academic discourse and my ability to engage other post-university students in discussion on their own free will.
This will also test my ability to adapt as I'm admittedly unfamiliar with the rules, etiquette and formats of blogs, forums and discussion boards.
My first step was to send an email to a small group of friends (real friends, not facebook "friends") via facebook explaining my void and my desire to fill it.
Email:
Hi,
I'm writing this message because I've noticed a distinct lack in political, cultural, and current event discourse in my day to day life now that I've left University and entered "Career world".
Although I work in a politicized environment (I work for Huu-ay-aht First Nations, who are involved in the Treaty process) I feel I'm still lacking a platform for discussions that delve deeper in to issues than just a jerk reaction or first impression.
Today, I came across two very interesting, potentially controversial articles. They're not articles that I want to argue for, or against, but rather, articles I want to explore further.
I'm thinking of starting an invitation based group where articles on gender, politics, culture, social justice, environment, current events...etc can be posted for FYI or discussion and to allow interested persons to participate at their leisure.
I am aware of sites like this that already exist, but personally, I find large forums to be overwhelming and over populated. I'm thinking, a smaller, more book club like, group.
The reason I'm hesitant to post articles openly on facebook as a wall post is the number of "friends" who many not understand the article, why it was posted or understand the difference between discussion and argument, nor the etiquette that applies to it.
The goal is to create a virtual discussion group and I would like to avoid an environment that lends itself to personal attacks and a devolution of the topic at hand.
This is why I'd like to create an platform for a smaller group that encourages discourse and discourages conflict for conflict sake.
If you're interested please let me know and I'll send the group invite.
~Crystal
There were two articles that spurred the idea of a virtual discussion group.
Multipy and Conquer: How to have 17 children and still believe in Jesus by Kate Dixon from Bitch Magazine 2007
http://bitchmagazine.org/article/multiply-and-conquer
and
White Privilage: Unpacking the invisible backpack by Peggy McIntosh from Independent School 1990
http://www.amptoons.com/blog/files/mcintosh.html
Reponses to articles, which will hopefully jump start discussions, to follow.
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