Women Take a Stance

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Althea Lyons-Comrie Professor Collier IBA 154 09 March 2014 Essay #2 and Draft #2 Women Rise Up Take a Stance In “What I’ve Learned from Men” by Barbara Ehrenreich, Ehrenreich discusses that women and men are often in a battle. She bases her essay on things that women can learn from men. In this essay she proves men can influence women to become tough. These battles make women realize that they are too ladylike before men. Ehrenreich is correct in her assertion that women are too ladylike and have a lot to learn from men. Being “nice” and ladylike makes a woman socially disadvantaged. In our personal lives, we tend to talk a lot in our conversations with men to keep discussions going lively. The men are only inputting a few words; a woman is doing all the work. In these conversations, we give excessive information, making us too loose. Ehrenreich writes, “Acting if we have something at stake we are giving him the power advantage” (3). Besides, that when we get angry we have to change it into another behavior because it is not polite to behave badly in other people’s presence. Men are often bold. They accept compliments readily. This is not the same for women. Ehrenreich proclaims that “We’re trained to feel embarrassed if we’re praised, but if we see a criticism coming our way miles down the road, we rush to acknowledge it” (4). Women should accept praise like a man. Women’s accomplishments are not mistakes. They are not surprises; instead they are the climax of hard work. Women should stand tall and acknowledge success. A man in this same position captures his audience with a nod and a smile. He thanks everyone for comments made on his accomplishments. He claims his accomplishments even if a woman assists him. He takes his praise in a dignified way. He has no excuses. He spends a lot of time feeling strong and proud of his
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