Hi! So, throughout this course we are going to read a series of novels, short stories, poems, etc. by women for women. I am speaking on behalf of myself, and not "males everywhere". Alright -- Lets go.
Today, I think I'll talk about two pieces we read this week: Specifically the essay entitled The End of Men by Hanna Rosin published in The Atlantic, see link below, as well as the poem entitled "Power" by Adrienne Rich, and what it made me think of.
The End of Men is numbers among the more offensives thing that I have read beside a primary source about slavery in APUSH. Its framing device is simple: Why are women better? Now, I am in NO way saying that women are worse. But this article seems to be making the case that women are better in every way. Now that society has no use for the thug-ish, unthinking male population is useless. Indeed women are smarter, better, more caring and many other stereotypes, and men are "'just a paycheck'" according to some people in an adult education class in Kansas City (Rosin, 5). Rosin is saying that men cannot adapt, and are not valued in this new society. Please forgive me for saying this, but that is just dumb. They are STEREOTYPES. Stereotypes are offencive for a reason, and Rosin, in pursuit of feminism, attacks men in the stereotypical way that men formally attacked women, which, for me, completely invalidates her point. Yes, she has a point, to a degree, but she needs to not make so many stereotypes. She goes as far as saying that "The association is clear: innovative, successful firms are the ones that promote women." Now, Mrs. Rosin, I would agree. Yes, an innovative and successful firms hire and promote women. When they are best suited for the job! Not that women aren't suited for certain jobs, but a company should hire and promote whomever is best for the position, whether they are a man or a women. Rosin is trying to establish a reverse sexism, and not addressing the problem at hand: sexism rises from gender stereotypes, and instead of trying to dispel them in a modern world, Rosin promotes many stereotypes and, to me, encourages sexism.
Briefly, I would like to talk about Marie Curie. She was an amazing woman. She innovated and discovered a colossal amount, and was one of the first women to do so. She dedicated her life to the furthering of science, and, while that did end in her death, she discovered much of what we know about chemistry. She was also a renaissance scientist, receiving two nobel prizes, in physics and chemistry, and being the first person to do so. Being a woman, and yet the first person to win a series of large awards is incredible. She is a real role model for everybody, due to her hard work and her intelligence.
The End of Men:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/
