Women in the White House

Disclaimer: This post doesn't reflect my opinion or political affiliation. It's merely just a post for the purpose of discussion. 

Mary Wollstonecraft’s wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women in 1792 during a time when women were “property” of the men in their lives and couldn’t work, receive an education, own property, or even have control over their own bodies. She advocated that women should receive an education to become better mothers and “independent and rational beings in a world that framed the female of the species as irrational and incapable of reason and intelligence” (Lecture 6, Slide 13). She wasn’t advocating for women to have power over men, but instead to empower themselves through education, thus liberating the family and society and demolish gender roles.

Wollstonecraft helped paved the way for women's suffrage many, many years later. The right to vote originally belonged to only "white men, regardless of how much money or property they had" (History).  Religious movements and reform groups were prominent during the 1820s and 30s with women spearheading them. In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott invited women activists to the Seneca Falls Convention to discuss women's rights (History). Once the Civil War began, women's rights lost momentum. Stanton and Mott with Susan B. Anthony continued to advocate for women's rights after the Civil War. Again, their advocation slowed slightly as WWI began, however, it helped their suffrage campaign through their work for the war effort. This showed that women " were just as patriotic and deserving of citizenship as men, and on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was finally ratified" (History). 

Thanks to Wollstonecraft's advocation for women's empowerment through education, and Stanton, Catt, and Anthony's advocation for women's right to vote, we now have a woman as the possible Democratic nominee. Hillary Clinton has been in the White House previously for eight years as the First Lady to former President Bill Clinton. She was also the Secretary of State, New York state Senator, and First Lady of Arkansas. In addition, she tried to run for president once before, however, didn't make it as far. She is now running for president once again and it's a possibility she might be the Democratic nominee. If it wasn't for the women who came before her, Clinton would not have the possibility to be the Democratic nominee or future president. 

Sources:

Bredin, R. (2016). Lecture 6.

History. (2009). The Fight for Women’s Suffrage. Retrieved May 13, 2016, from http://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/the-fight-for-womens-suffrage

It's a Man's World

"This is a man's world"

James Brown first sang these lyrics in "It's A Man's Man's Man's World." In this famous song, Brown references that man made cars, trains, boats, electricity, toys, money, and even everything. However, he does say, "This is a man's world/But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing/ Without a woman or a girl." But if man has made everything, what need is there for women? Sex. According to men, women are in this world for man's sexual pleasure.

Not quite convinced? Well, take Ice Cube's song "It's a Man's World" for example. With lyrics like "Women they're good for nothing no maybe one thing/ To serve needs to my ding-a-ling" and "Ice Cube won't wait so give it up cow/ After we do it you can go home now." This song even makes reference to James Brown's song with the lyrics "This is a man's world thank you very much/ But it wouldn't be a damn thing without a woman's touch."Both these songs suggest women are only living in this world for the pleasure of man.

However, song lyrics aren't the only indication that women live in a man's world. From everyday objects to famous landmarks, almost everything is a reference to a man's world. As mentioned in my previous post, the rifle is a phallic symbol representing power “or a representation of the power associated with the possession of a penis” (Lecture 13, Slide 11). Like in Full Metal Jacket, when their rifles don't perform, the men feel emasculated, much like men do when their penis doesn't perform. Other phallic symbols within our world are the Eiffel Tower and lipstick (Lecture 13, Slides 13 & 14). 

Even advertisements featuring phallic symbols because sex sells. In the article
"From Phallic Outdoor Seating to Phallic Firearms," Misel Saban says, "Phallic objectification is everywhere; from editorials, fashion, advertising to products, the phallic symbol is literally staring the public in the face" (Saban). 

Here are a few print ad examples:

    

    

It's a man's world, women are just living in it for their pleasure.

Sources:

Ice Cube. It's a Man's World Lyrics. Retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com/its-a-mans-world-lyrics-ice-cube.html

Ice Cube. It's A Man's World Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyYFchZzFsY

James Brown. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World Lyrics. Retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com/its-a-mans-mans-world-lyrics-james-brown.html

James Brown. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juTeHsKPWhY

Bredin, R. (2016). Lecture 13.

Masculinity

Masculinity is forced upon men just as much as femininity is forced upon women in Western society. Violence and power are two characteristics men must possess. Masculinity is represented by “aggression, physical strength, power, breadwinner, control/no emotion, competition, action, [and] dominance” (Lecture 13, Slide 4). Men must be “strong, loyal, humble, brave, and emotionally/sexually proper” (Lecture 4, Slide 3). In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and A Knight’s Tale, Sir Gawain and William Thatcher both leave “home to become a man by proving one’s loyalty, bravery, honesty, and skill” who “must pass the test to prove [their] masculinity” (Lecture 3, Slide 26).

Much like Sir Gawain and William Thatcher, the trainees in Full Metal Jacket, leave home by joining the Marines and must prove their “loyalty, bravery, honesty, and skill” and by doing so, prove their masculinity (Lecture 3, Slide 26). The trainees must use weapons and participate in violence and brutality within the Corps. Their rifle is a phallic symbol representing power “or a representation of the power associated with the possession of a penis” (Lecture 13, Slide 11). They repeat, “This is my rifle, this is my gun, this is for killing, this is for fun” (Lecture 13, Slide 9). In the film, Private Pyle is seen as incompetent in all aspect of training until he can shoot a gun, then he becomes a man. On the other hand, Joker is emasculated when he couldn’t kill the sniper because his gun jams. 

As the rifle is a phallic symbol for the penis, Joker feels emasculated when he can't shoot his gun, as it also symbolizes that his penis doesn't function. Much like Joker, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction feel emasculated as they have experienced a loss of power, a key characteristic of masculinity. For example, one man suffering from erectile dysfunction said, "Having an erection is an integral part of your masculinity" ( ). In addition, the International Society for Sexual Medicine states:

Many men associate erections with their identity. Erections are tied to their masculinity and feelings of self-worth. So when erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs, they may lose confidence in themselves and in their abilities to please their partner. Depression and anxiety are common in men with ED and can affect not only the sexual relationship, but social and work activities as well.

Much like how Audre Lorde believed women should embrace their sexuality and eroticism, as it gives them power and emotional liberation, men need to do the same as functioning sexual organs also gives them power to embrace their masculinity. 

Bredin, R. (2016). Lectures 3, 4, & 13.

"How Does Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Affect a Man's Self-esteem?" ISSM (International Society for Sexual Medicine). Accessed April 27, 2016. http://www.issm.info/education-for-all/sexual-health-qa/how-does-erectile-dysfunction-ed-affect-a-mans-self-esteem.

Orpen, Joy. "Dealing with Erectile Dysfunction: 'Having an Erection Is an Integral Part of Your Masculinity'"Independent.ie. N.p., 02 Sept. 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2016.