We have talked quite about the different ways females aim to empower
themselves despite feeling oppressed by social gender constructions and
expectations. Remember Marin, the girl who stayed out all night as the boys
passed by? And how she felt empowered by ‘turning the boys heads?’ When the
girls—Esperanza, Nenny, Rachel and Lucy—go out in high heels, they learn that
beauty can create power. At first they are very excited about the attention they receive. But it also creates a certain vulnerability, too. The
girls, though they have the men’s attention, are now at risk. The Bum Man's advances underscore some of the potential pitfalls of using only beauty to achieve success.
I also asked you about whether or not female prostitution was empowering for women or degrading. On one hand a woman utilizing her beauty and body in this way would seem to have control over men, which would seem to empower her. On the other hand, most people throughout the day felt, despite whatever gains a woman makes through prostitution, that such a lifestyle is degrading to all women, even if it is a personal choice. Then Owen in 7th period asked an incredible Level III question, one that I hadn't thought of. He wants to know if gender roles were different, or less definitive, would
prostitution still be seen as degrading to women and looked down upon? It's certainly something to think about. What do you think?
Homework: finish the second reading packet by Monday.
*extra credit*
ReplyDeleteI think if gender roles were less definitive prostitution of any sort would still be looked down upon. No matter what people will still be people and you will have a group of elitists who think they're above everybody and will look for somebody to hate. I honestly don't think gender roles make much of a difference in our thoughts of prostitution.
Prostitution wouldn't be degrading if gender roles were different because then everybody would think differently anyways. It's going to change the thought of people as well if gender roles were different so it's a hard call but in this case i don't think it would be wrong because if that's what someone has to do to support a family then that's what it's going to take.
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