Do we still need the f word? Why yes, yes we do…

The title of Anna Quindlen’s piece, “Still Needing the F Word” (pg. 56) made me chuckle.  At first, it brings to mind profanity. However, the statement’s actual meaning is much more powerful.  Quindlen believes that “Feminist” is a word that needs to be used more often in today’s society.  She acknowledges the point-of-view that we are in a postfeminist period of time, but both the author and I disagree with that notion.  There is still sexual inequality!  There is an idea that “being ‘cute’ trumps being smart for women in the social environment” and it is alarming.  I have witnessed behavior like this from young teens and women in their latter years.  Regardless of age, the girl or woman compromises her ideals to please her counterpart.  It is unfortunate that this myth is believed by some.  Instead, I feel that women need to stay true to themselves and fight for complete social freedom.  There is still an amazing amount of work to be done, and it is uncertain if the goal in mind will ever be reached.  However, I believe in this well known cliché “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”    

Difficult To Miss That 'Easy A'

          
In Patricia Hill Collin’s piece, “Toward a New Vision”, she speaks of symbolic oppression.  Her central thoughts on the subject may be characterized by a list that is placed in the bottom, right-hand corner of page 78.  The list shows qualities that are stereotypical to men and women.  This list she has holds similar ideas to those discussed in class, but that’s not the only reason her message has stayed with me.  Earlier tonight I went to see “Easy A” and these qualities were thrown onto the screen.  Without giving too much away (for those who have yet to see the film) one character was bullied for being homosexual while the movie’s main character chose to give into pressure and fulfill numerous stereotypes.  She dresses provocatively and lies about doing sexual favors for members of the opposite sex.  Olive does this in an attempt to help others and gain attention.  In other words, it’s how she supposed to behave to be a “real woman”.  She tries to harness the attention by embroidering a scarlet “A” on all of her clothing.  Olive likens her behavior to the punishment handed to Hester Prynne from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.  In all honesty, the main similarity I can see between the two plot lines (aside from the obvious topic of adultery) is that the male characters are not held accountable for their actions.  In the novel, Arthur Dimmesdale is not forced to suffer the public humiliation of his actions.  It may be argued that his punishment is in fact harsher than Hester’s, but that is not the focus of this argument.  Arthur’s ability to keep his misdeed hidden is similar to the male characters in the movie.  They appear to benefit from the destruction of Olive’s reputation and are not thought less of by the rest of society.  It seems that their actions are acceptable, while Olive’s are not (even though they are” involved” in the same activity). 

What is the point of this random connection you may ask? Although it is a nerdy and partial representation of my personality, it shows more than that.  It shows how these ideas of what it’s like to be “masculine” and “feminine” are so ingrained into popular culture that they becomes the topic of movies and even music.  Sometimes they aren’t even recognized as oppression because it’s “simply how thing are”.  It seems like nothing can change the minds of millions, but the truth is that change is already happening.