Rebecca Rush was thirty-three years of age and single when her novel was published. Rush would have been well acquainted with the role of a woman or the lack thereof. She would have also been knowledgeable about the expectations of various age groups of women as well as men during this time. My personal impression of most of the men in the novel, Kelroy, was that they were head-over-heels for the women they were interested in. There was one particular quote in the novel that seemed out of place in my opinion.
Beli has taken her rebellion so far as to have sex with Jack Pujols, something everyone shunned her for especially La Inca. Once Beli has acquired her new “womanly” body features, she begins to realize what exactly she can do with these “weapons”, and how she is able to get men to do what she wants. Beli doesn’t want to become a doctor or continue school so that she can become something important, but wants to just fiend for herself and starts to work at a chinese restaurant. La Inca is disappointed in Beli’s choice because it is not what the typical Dominican women of her stature should be doing. Beli later messes around with a Gangster, who gets her pregnant while married with Trujillos sister, causing much havoc around Beli’s life, including near death.
In desperate need to feel loved Crane sets out on a mission to be married. She later marries a man that she’s not really interested in only marrying him to gain popularity. While reading the story I could feel the pain and imagine how hard she struggled to feel accepted. As being the only darkest in my family I often struggle to be notice and accepted too. This novel to me is altogether depressing and very hard to read without crying.
Critiquing Camille Paglia’s Editorial “On Date Rape” Camille Paglia is an anti feminist, controversial lesbian graduate student from Yale, and best known as “America’s foremost cultural critic.” (The Sunday Times). Amongst other things, Paglia wrote a fierce editorial titled “On Date Rape.” Paglia concludes that if a woman is raped; it is her fault because she should have seen the signs. Although Paglia is very well educated, her use of fallacies, such as appeal to fear, hasty generalization, false analogy, and false cause, truly exhibits how narrow-minded she really is. Paglia begins her editorial with appeal to fear. She states that “The minute you go out with a man, the minute you go to a bar to have a drink, there is a risk.” According to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network, “One out of every 6 American women will be a victim of rape, date rape, or attempted rape in her lifetime.” Also, alcohol is the leading factor in about 90% of all date rape crimes (Drexel University).
“The construction of gender stereotyping of both males and females in the media is based on outdated and unfounded beliefs and therefore has had and continues to have a detrimental impact on society.” (Yes!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUyfD1F7k1I Women are subjected to many stereotypes in today’s society. Movies and television shows suggest that all women are airheads, whose sole purpose in life is to please men and rear children. Magazines and other advertisements push photographs of very slender, over groomed and “sexy women” into our minds. Men’s magazines write articles on how to seduce a girl into sleeping with them.
It's easy to see why Rich believes that when she was a student, what she was taught "in no way prepared [female students] to survive as . . .wom[e]n in a world organized by men" (211). In my opinion, not a lot of women around this age would have been brave enough to write an article about taking women students serious for fear of oppression. Many women probably did not even know how to write because their were neglected from their studies or were probably always to busy doing what ever their husbands wanted them to do.
Sex before marriage in contemporary society is common amongst most social classes and is a prevalent issue in the film. Tai’s derogatory comment to Cher “Why am I even listening to you- you’re a virgin who can’t drive” contrasts with the values of Emma’s day. Tai’s criticism of Cher reflects what she considers to be important for a girl, today- her sexuality. Like Emma, Cher rejects her social expectations and admits to remaining a virgin despite friends who “say it like its bad thing.” To adapt to the modern and updated audience, Cher personifies a common cultural stereotype whereby Heckerling sets up a paradox around Cher’s position as a sexual being who remains a virgin despite her image. By exaggerating a materialistic and sexual blonde in mini skirts and designer clothing who ironically proclaims her virginity, “I’m just not interested in doing it until I find the right person,” Heckerling challenges modern
George and Editha's relationship is hinged on these very things. Their relationship is very contemporary because even though this short story was published in 1905 it mimics the relationship between men and women now. Gender roles have always been a source of controversy, with men putting unfair standards of femininity upon women and vice versa. In this short story Editha is lacing unfair standards of masculinity upon George. For example, Editha has just finished speaking to George about her feelings and thoughts on the war, when she has a thought; "but now, it flashed upon her, if he could do something worthy to have won her-be a hero, her hero-it would be even better than if he had done it before asking her; it would be grander" pg.55.
Any nature of discrimination is unlawful and violates our civil rights and our liberty of privacy. Today’s new concerns are gay rights. Many people are quiet about their sexuality not only because of what others will say but also the consequences they may face with their jobs and American laws. Yoshino gives an example of a young woman who asked for some time away from work for her honeymoon. Most individuals would have no problem with this and her boss did not either until it came to his knowledge that she married another woman.
Even though she thinks it’s unfair she hesitates and recognizes that men and women should have equal rights. Since most writers in the 18th century were men, society looked at women writers more on the negative side or didn’t take women serious. Between 1700s and 1800s, Anna wanted femininity. Considering women writers didn’t have much freedom with their own creativity. She says, “thou mayest command, but never canst be free”(20).