robs paper

Jaclyn Caskey
Sociology 105
Final
1. Describe and critically evaluate dominant notions of masculinity and femininity in US society. How are masculinity and femininity constructed and maintained? Provide examples from two of the following spheres of influence: school, work, family, and popular culture. (1-2 pages)

The American culture embraces masculinity through many aspects of their everyday lives. The way they conduct work in the work place, the principles of teaching young adolescents in school, and the largest factor, the mass medias pervasive involvement. Masculinity is defined by physical capability, financial independence, authoritarian values, and male dominance. These qualities are not completely supported by all men, but a large amount of society do embody these masculine ideals and notions. These notions do not embody the homosexual male community; they have an entirely different perception on what notions capture the essence of masculinity in the U.S society. In the institution of family, a masculine man is the bread winner, the engineer of a home, a strong provider, and a father. In the current U.S society, some of these standards have drastically changed. Many men are no longer the financial provider, but are “househusbands”, a new terminology being used to describe a husband who is a stay at home father while the wife works.
The recent changes in masculinity have massively altered femininity as well as masculinity. The American society sees femininity as a woman who is a caregiver, a wife, and a female who is capable of being completely domestic as well. Inasmuch, a feminine woman must be physically attractive and fit the norms of what society sees as beautiful. Woman today have had to take on masculine roles of the financial care taker and in doing so have shaken up the societal notions of what defines masculinity and femininity. The media definitely influences today's society through messages on the television, radio, magazines, and billboards. It seems that in today's day and age to even be acknowledged as a woman one must be tall, skinny, and blonde. The notions of what makes a man masculine and what makes a woman feminine have changed rapidly. Men are now switching roles with their spouses and stating home playing the domestic care giver role. Woman are now taking more control of their positions at home. Woman as well have had their roles altered and some would say for the better.

2. How is the construction of gender shaped by other identities such as race, class, and sexual orientation? Choose two authors who highlight the intersection of multiple identities. What is their argument? How do they complicate our idea of sexism? (1-2 page)

The construction of gender is shaped by many factors. Race, social class, and sexual orientation were three notions touched on in both of the articles, Organizing
101-Mixed -Race Feminists Movements for Social Justice, by Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz and Manifesta: Young women, feminism, and the future, by Baumgardner and Richards. Both these stories capture the essence of oppression of women. Lisa, in the story, Organizing 101-Mixed-Race Feminists Movements for Social Justice, suffered from her own family and from other woman. Her experience with other woman in the feminist community groups she attended were surprisingly negative. They made her feel inferior to them because of her ethnicity and skin color. Shockingly, Lisa was attending feminists groups with other learned woman, who she believed had the same mind set on equality for woman. Her negative experience shows that even woman will treat other woman unfairly. Female sexism is not only a problem that woman fear from men, but from woman as well. Sexism is a universal form of oppression that haunts many woman depending on there social class, race, and sexual orientation.
Baumgardner and Richards articles also reflects on the importance of reminding society how far we have came as a sexist society since the days of Lisa’s mothers struggles in the story, Organizing 101-Mixed -Race Feminists Movements for Social Justice. In theory, Baungardner and Richards also reiterates to the readers that our society is still very full of sexism and that much work is still needed to be done. But understanding feminist American history, such as hearing stories like Lisa’s mothers, will help the youth understand the strides that have gotten our society to where we are today and where we can be in the future still to come with effort and determination as a nation. Inasmuch, both these stories are great examples of how society’s norms on femininity and sexism can be altered by societies notions of social class, race, and sexual orientation.

3. If you were to create a feminist magazine, what would it be like? Describe potential issues, articles, and advertisements. In what ways would this magazine promote feminist principles and advance equity? (1/2 page)

The cover of the magazine would have a dozen woman, all ages, all races, all physically different. I would definitely express the issue of societies obsession on the perfect body, the perfect skin color, and age issues as well. I feel woman and young people today have a tinted lens on what is beautiful. Media is a huge cause of these serious issues and having a magazine on the news stands that promotes equality would definitely attempt to put a dent in these issues. Advertisements would play an important role in helping to change the mind sets of society. They would promote full figured modeled more than regular magazines do today. An important point to make in the magazines would be explaining to the readers that these perfect models they look up too, are not all that perfect. Showing the readers before and after photos of models in their photo shoots. Educating young woman on the importance of loving yourself and finding what makes self confidence.