Author: fhernandez

When I first started watching the Gone Home playthrough, I was a little scared there would be a popout or something because I did not know what the video game was about. Throughout the game, I was still a little confused about what was happening, but then I started seeing that it was just a story. In the end, it was revealed that Sam and Lonnie actually ran away. I have never enjoyed video games, so Gone Home was not that interesting to me. Gone Home showed us a possible background story of the Riot Grrrl movement. There were some punk rock albums and   In “Damsel in Distress, Part 1” by Anita Sarkeesian talks about how female videogame characters are often put in revealing clothes and are damsels in distress. I liked how in Gone Home, the photographs in the game were not revealing and there were no damsels in distress. In fact, Katie is the one who begins to piece everything that happened while she was gone, going against the gaming idea that female characters need help. In Gone Home, there is also a lesbian love story. All of these aspects of Gone Home go along with the Riot Grrrl Movement and Audre Lorde’s idea of standing up against sexism, racism, etc.   

“The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action” by Audre Lorde

In Audre Lorde’s text, she makes the claim that women need to speak up because otherwise, they will die without ever speaking up. She states “one way or another we share a commitment to language and to the power of language,” (43) showing that women have to express their thoughts in words and art. They have to stand up through these arts to work towards a changed world. Women have to take “part in a process of life that is creative and continuing, that is growth” (43). Much like the Riot Grrrl Manifesto, Audre Lorde pushes girls to speak up through words and art. Through these actions, women will call out indifferences and push for a world where men and women are equal.  

“Riot Grrrl Manifesto” by Kethleen Hanna

The Riot Grrrl Movement was a feminist punk movement that began in the 1990s. The riot grrrl manifesto was meant to encourage women to speak up and express themselves through music and art. “ We wanna make it easier for girls to see/hear each other’s work” is a quote from the manifesto, showing that they wanted women to share their thoughts, ideas, and envisionings. With this freedom of expression through art, girls were going to “create revolution in our lives” (Hanna). The movement was also for girls to stand up against the men’s standard of what a girl should be, act, and talk like. Much of the movement was around the punk rock idea of “you can do anything,” (Hanna), which encouraged people to make and hear music that could call out racism, classism, sexism, etc. The Riot Grrrl Manifesto was meant to push girls to stand up against challenges and to work to change the world. This feminist movement was meant to go against the female social norms, while also showing that men were equal, not superior or inferior, to females. Much like in “Feminism is for Everybody” by bell hooks “one where they are the equals of men in the workforce and at home when they want to be,” (5) women want to be equal to men. 

Research Essay Topics:

For my research essay, I want to research more on the connections between mental health and gender. Both are topics that are being spoken about more and I believe that a person’s gender and identity can affect how a person feels about mental health. There are many gender inequalities when it comes to mental health. The different social gender expectations are part of this gender inequality in mental health. Possible artifacts could be the show, Normal People directed by Lenny Abrahamson. Another possible topic for my research essay would be specific professions and how social norms assign certain professions to a certain gender. I think this is a good fit because there are multiple of these gender-assigned professions. For example, many believe welders can only be men, and sometimes women in this profession are seen as lesbians, etc. Possible artifacts would be advertisements showing only a certain gender. Many nursing advertisements only include women, and electrician advertisements mainly show men, instead of being more diverse and including all genders.

Check-In

I have been a little stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work and studying I’ve done these past two weeks. Something that brings me joy is people-watching. It sounds weird and some people may be creeped out by it, but seeing people enjoying their lives reminds me of the little things that matter. Something else is going for a walk in a park or hiking a trail.

Ijeoma Oluo’s “So You Want to Talk About Race”

Key Words: Race, Racism, Systems, Unprofessional, Whiteness

In Ijeoma Oluo’s “So you Want to Talk about Race,” one of the main purposes of the video is to talk about how systems are made and adapted for white people. A major point is how systems and professional looks were made for white people. “It was the bosses who told me that I was too loud, the comments that my hair was too ethnic for the office” (1:54). The idea of what is professional in the workplace was made for white men and women. Many times colored women get discriminated against in the workplace because their hair is seen as unprofessional. Although their hair might be seen as unprofessional in the workplace, outside many people are intrigued by it. They try to touch and play with colored women’s hair.

Connection 

Solange’s song “Don’t Touch My Hair,” goes along with part of the text that explains why black women do not want others to touch it. “You know this hair is my shit”, (1:05) is a quote from Solange’s song, showing that many women are proud of their hair. The game of Hair Nah by Momo Pixel shows what many women with different hair go through everyday. Having to stop people from touching and messing up their hair.  

---

Audre Lorde “Age, Race, Class and Sex: Women Redefining Difference”

Key Words: Oppressed, Differences, Whiteskin privilege, Violence, Oppressor

In “Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Difference” by Audre Lorde, the text explains how different identities overlap and affect people, especially those of color. One of the texts point is how black men use violence to prove manliness. “Exacerbated by racism and the pressures of powerlessness, violence against Black women and children often becomes a standard within our communities, one by which manliness can be measured” (pg. 120). Black men will use violence to prove they are manly to white men and as long as this continues, men will continue to dominate women. Although there are other topics discussed in this text, this quote grabbed my attention because a common stereotype for black men is that they are violent. I believe it is important to understand why some men abuse women and their children.  

---

The Combahee River Collective Statement 

Key Words: Feminism, Liberation, Abuse, Racism, Isolation 

In thThe statment, “They realize that they might not only lose valuable and hardworking allies in their struggles but that they might also be forced to change their habitually sexist ways of interacting with and oppressing Black women,” (pg. 4-5) shows that to change many men would need to change their current ways and views. They would have to start seeing women as their equal, not as only a housewife, or only as mothers. In my interpretation of this quote, many men do not support feminism becuase of the fear of having to change. They fear Black feminism because they fear women will no longer need men and they will leave.

Connection 

From the songs of this week, “Keep Ya Head Up,” by Tupac shows how society need to start treating women better. Men need to stop raping, leaving women to raise children alone, and to stop taking away from women, since everyone came from a women. “Time to heal our women, be real to our women” (1:08), is part of the lyrics to Tupac’s song, saying we need to be real and help our women heal from the unequal treatment they have suffered from everyone. This song goes along with the statement from the Combahee River Collective Statment because they both talk about how men have to change their views and ways in order for growth to happen.

The song “Four Women” by Nina Simone could be connected to the themes of all our texts. The different verses of the song talk about her hair, how her father forced upon her mother, and about how her life had been rough because of her identity. Having a rough life because of a colored women identity is a topic in all of our readings this week.   

“My life has been rough. I’m awfully bitter these days”

(Simone, 3:54).

Questions: Why do men act one way when they are with only women but act differently when there are other men? Do you think it has to do with being seen as weak?

Keywords: Gender Fluidity, Femininity, Masculinity, Sexuality

In Catherine G. Valentine’s “The Prism of Gender,” she explains the gender beliefs of the west, such as the United States of America. She goes on to explain that western cultures believe there are only two genders, males, who are rough, heterosexual, and masculine, and females, who are feminine, heterosexual, and submissive. This ”pink and blue syndrome” as she states, categorizes the two sexes, sexualities, stereotypes, and genders. The color pink is given to females, pink toys, pink clothing, pink bathroom sign, etc, while blue is given to males. Females are submissive, feminine, and girly while males are rough and boyish. As Valentine states, “This syndrome is deeply lodged in our minds and feelings and is reinforced through everyday talk, performance, and experience” (4), because it is so normal, people do not realize they genderize things, toys, places, etc. However, Valentine states, “Research shows that the behavior of people, no matter who they are, depends on time and place, context and situation-not fixed sex/gender /sexuality differences” (5), this shows that a person will have traits from female or males depending on who they are around with. This text shows that gender stereotypes, roles, and identities can not be categorized into two parts or colors. Gender is a kaleidoscope prism with multiple colors and shapes. 

In my experience, the “pink and blue syndrome” is really normalized in the United States. Growing up, my mother was more of ‘she’s a kid, it is good for her to get dirty and play’, however, my aunts would always get me in trouble saying I should not play outside with my male cousins and instead should play with my barbies inside the house. 

Key Words: Multiracial, Difference, Inequalities, Feminism

Maxine Baca Zinn and Bonnie Thornton Dill’s “Theorizing Difference from Multiracial Feminism” explain what multiracial feminism is and how it includes women of color, women, and men in different systems of domination. Multiracial feminism includes the different situations of women of color and they include their history and culture. It was meant to get women of color the same rights and privileges as feminists, whose first priority was white women. Zinn and Dill state “Multiracial feminism grew out of socialist feminist thinking” (235), these feminists wanted the same as other feminists, however, they wanted to include colored women, who were of different places and social classes. “ We speak in many voices, with inconsistencies that are born of our different social locations” ( Zinn and Dill, 326)  this statement shows that although these multiracial feminists were born in different situations, they all wanted the same as other men, white women, and first-class citizens.  Finally, Zinn and Dill stated, “Once we acknowledge that all women are affected by the racial order of society, then it becomes clear that the insights of multiracial feminism provide an analytical framework, not solely for understanding the experiences of women of color but for understanding all women, and men, as well” (330), multiracial feminism was not only to benefit colored women but it was meant to benefit everyone. 

Both of these texts show that gender and feminism are deeper and more complex. Gender is not just about being a boy or a girl. It includes traits, identities, etc, that can pertain to either. Feminism is not just about white women, it includes, women, men, and those of different social and cultural backgrounds.

The Theme of “Androgynous” by The Replacements

I think the theme in “Androgynous” is to be happy and love yourself as you are. Both Dick and Jane have unisex hair and wear skirts, dresses, and pants, however, they do not care about being outcasts or being made fun of. I think this song is relevant because many people today love themselves and do not care about wearing clothing that is advertised for another gender. The song “Androgynous” by The Replacements would most likely have a connection with “The Prism of Gender” by Catherine G. Valentine because they both talk about not genderizing clothing, hairstyle, colors, etc. 

Questions:

1. Do you ever get told you should dress or act more feminine or masculine, and how does it make you feel? 
2. How would you teach older or new generations that gender is more complex than the “pink and blue syndrome”?