...| Analysis of Rihanna’s Man Down | Dr. Brown: RTF 331-01 | | Terry Bright, Angelica Grant, Ginae Eddins, Marcus Miller | 5/3/2012 | | In the black community rape is not an issue that is address publicly. “What goes on in my house stays in my house” is how most black families deal with most of their issues. This issue is not only protected in black household but globally rape is not a subject that people address right away. Sexual abuse or rape is usually pushed under the rug, due to the negative connotation stereotype associated with being victimized, because of the controlling images such as the jezebel modernly known as “hoochie.” The jezebel is stemming image associated with the loose women stereotype. Referencing to the notion that if your dressed sleazy i.e. thong showing, booty shorts that she wants attention. This image makes it easy to camouflage the sexual assault to justify how it could be rape if this is what she wants. Any good piece of art has a history or background in which case may translate to the public as controversy. Music is a form of therapy for most to cope with their problems, and music video provides a visual aid for wide-ranging audiences’ and to give a visual message. Rihanna fifth studio album is entitle “Loud” she wanted to address some issue and make them loud and clear. Rihanna released her fifth single from the album entitled Man Down, lyrically this song is a modern version of I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley. In the music video...
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...gender, across classes and cultures, are somehow socially constituted as a homogeneous group identified prior to the process of analysis. . . . Thus, the discursively consensual homogeneity of ‘women’ as a group is mistaken for the historically specific material reality of groups of women.” (Mohanty 1984) Although the “ideal” would be that all women experience the exact forms of oppression and face the exact forms of discrimination, thus able to form a unified group; the reality is that women from different areas around the world, different cultures and/or different subalterns have unique situations and are tied down by varying shackles. That only thing that is unifying these women is subordination in general terms and the struggle (misogynistic in nature) to prove this subordination. For that reason, when feminism functions on these assumptions (that all women are oppressed equally and that Western values should be implemented on all people), it is not only stereotyping a large group of people but is ultimately taking a colonial approach on these matters to attempt to “civilize” third world nations (Mohanty, Spivak ). Amos and Parmar also elaborate on this by observing that women’s oppression tends to be regarded as ‘linear’: in any form of discrimination against women there must be a direct reason, direct result and a direct solution to the problem. Therefore, the act of women joining together as one entity in solidarity is almost always perceived as positive no matter the...
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...I will be explaining the following: radical feminism; marxist feminism; hegemonic masculinity;gender;homophobia;misogyny; rape culture; and Heterosexism. I have focused on these six terms because they highlight how sexuality and gender are categorized culturally and in our Western Capitalist society, causing women to be oppressed. I have focused on the previously mentioned feminist theories because they focus on a male dominated society that encourages unrealistic gender stereotypes. Also, these theories explain how women experience discrimination and unfair disadvantages. Radical Feminism Radical Feminism relates to the idea that women are being dominated in a male driven patriarchal society. Oppression of women has been engrained into the structure of society is reinforced through areas like motherhood,family, the state. Radical feminism indicates that we live in patriarchal society that sexualizes women and never allows them to be an authority figure. It affects women on a global scale and continues to build a prioritized system that continuously gives men dominant power and control. Women cannot seek help through the system because it is biased and controls women’s sexuality. Social dominance allows privileges to be given out according to gender and basically states women should not be in control of their own bodies and men are connected to power. Women are prone to unjust treatment and every aspect of their lives in shaped around male dominance. Women are put in a...
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...It lurks in society and is present everywhere: from our everyday lives to professional workplaces. It is so threatening, yet we not only ignore, but reject that it is an underlying and fundamental problem in society today. It has existed for so long, that many, including the victims, are almost oblivious of it, almost certain that it does not even exist anymore. What could possibly be this detrimental problem that society faces today? What could possibly have existed for eons yet still be seen as irreparable? And most importantly, what could possibly claim half of the world’s population as its victims? Ani DiFranco, an American singer, once said, “Patriarchy is like the elephant in the room that we don't talk about, but how could it not affect...
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...religion in society today (18marks) Patriarchal Vehicle Evidence of patriarchy; * Sacred text, places of worship etc. Woodhead, Armstrong etc Criticism and strengths. Task Essay Question(s): Evaluate feminist views on the role and functions of religion in society today (18marks) Patriarchal Vehicle Evidence of patriarchy; * Sacred text, places of worship etc. Woodhead, Armstrong etc Criticism and strengths. Evaluate postmodernist explanations of the role & functions of religion in contemporary society (33marks) (Plan and case) Evaluate postmodernist explanations of the role & functions of religion in contemporary society (33marks) (Plan and case) Feminists see religion as a patriarchal institution; maintaining male dominance over women by allowing them to believe that it is their divine right to dominate. As well as this, they believe that religion functions as a patriarchal ideology that is a vehicle that perpetuates inequity and such beliefs legitimizes female subservience and oppression. El Saadawi, says that religion is distorted to acquiesce patriarchal domination in which they exploit women in multiple ways; prostitution, slavery and abortion. However, functionalists believe otherwise and argue that its function is not to oppress women but necessary as to keep society stable whilst Marxists believe that religion oppresses the working class and serves capitalism not females and patriarchy. Feminists argue that women’s oppression is shown in almost every...
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...Introduction In modern society, especially since the 1960s, there has been a strong push for women’s equality. There are many Christians and non-Christians who believe Christianity had a hand in the perpetuation of the patriarchy leading to misogyny. Christians who oppose this idea may argue that it is founded on a lack of theological knowledge, that there is biblical evidence supporting that God desires equality, and that discrimination is not condoned in biblical stories and teachings. It is easy to initially construct the notion of misogyny in the Old Testament when acquiring only a shallow view of scripture. However, when applying a hermeneutical approach, one can see that equality among genders is a common theme. The Bible itself is, without a doubt, patriarchal in nature, but presents evidence of equality. Of note is the theme of religious equality; “that is, equality of the woman as a person before God.” This essay will explore various events in the Bible, beginning in Genesis, to support the claim that the Old Testament, though patriarchal, is not misogynistic and demeaning to women. Equality in Genesis Genesis states, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27, NKJV). This verse provides evidence for equality between women and men and that they are both made in the image of God. Taking a look at Genesis 1:26-28 as a whole shows that the words “image” or “likeness” were used four times...
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...paradigm that can be accepted; but has been (and may always will be) a growing political movement for the equality of women, fair treatment of females all over the globe and annihilation of the oppression of patriarchy and misogyny. Feminist pioneers include Oakley and Woodhead who are usually the face of modern feminist ideology. There are many different types of feminists in the world today: Liberal, Marxist, Radical and Black feminists all play a part in the fight for female equality with men and many of their fights have been going on for very long times (one such example is the Suffragettes’ fight for the right to vote). The feminist school of thought is a structuralist theory and a macro-theory, focusing on the entire population rather than mere individuals. However feminists do take on board some ideas from micro-theory schools of thought such as their research methods – an example of this is when Ann Oakley conducted (unstructured) interviews with pregnant women for over 9 hours. On the basis of religion, the feminist school of thought (based on its ontological assumptions) would see religion’s role as a patriarchal and misogynistic apparatus of society. It’s possible to go far into history and look at the misogyny of biblical times to support the feminist’s point of patriarchy in society. Christ Jesus had 12 male disciples. King Solomon, nearing the end of his life, attained 700 wives and 300 concubines; the story of Adam and Eve shows how the woman was blamed for the cause...
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...HSC Advanced English, Module A: Richard III and Looking For Richard, Essay Connections of commonality and dissimilarity may be drawn between a multiplicity of texts through an appreciation of the values and attitudes with which they were composed. Accordingly, the values and attitudes of the individual being may be defined as an acute blend of externally induced, or contextual and internally triggered, or inherent factors. Cultural, historical, political, religious and social influences, dictated by the nature of one’s surroundings, imprint a variable pattern of values and attitudes upon the individual. Thus any deviation in any such factor may instigate an alteration of the contextual component of one’s perspective. By contrast, the psychological fundamentals of humanity are sturdy and whilst they partake in the definition of the values and attitudes of the individual, they are unwavering. Shakespeare’s historical play ‘Richard III’ and Pacino’s docudrama ‘Looking for Richard’ confirm such theory through an exploration of the contextual and inherent. A scrutiny of the contradictory forces of humanism and determinism and the function of women as demonstrated by both texts imparts an incongruity of context. Difference is thus conveyed. Conversely, an acknowledgement of the strength of conscience common to both texts suggests an inherent influence. Thus it is through inspection of the prescribed texts that one may distinguish the degree to which the texts converge on inherent...
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...concerning tropes that encompass video game culture, but at the same time cherry pick their arguments and ignore the fact that gaming is now more inclusive than ever. There are games that encompass a vast array of preferences with reasonably proportioned and appropriately dressed female protagonists. Feminist policing on videogames have become harsh, intolerant, even relentless to the point where rather than wanting more women on both sides of the screen, they want male oriented video game culture to disappear as a whole. Male gamers as a group have a strong preference towards games with male heroes and attractive women, this most likely is credited to these gamers being male. There is no evidence that games that have these traits make men misogynistic, racist, homophobic or violent, instead evidence is saying people born in the 2000’s, the same who grew up with videogames, are far less prone to these prejudices than any previous...
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...The MPAA, or the Motion Picture Association of America, is an association that represents six of the major Hollywood Studios. The MPAA is a board of ten to thirteen “average” American parents who are supposed to be representations of the majority of parents in the United States. The requirements for the board are having children between the ages of five and seventeen; two of the board members are required to be of a Catholic or Protestant faith. The board also has to rotate every five years. The MPAA devises guidelines for movies and films while also rating them. The MPAA has its own film rating system to determine what is suitable for certain audiences to watch. The ratings go from G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17. Movies rated G mean that they are suitable for the general audience. PG movies are movies that need parental guidance. PG-13 means you need parental guidance up until the age of thirteen. Movies rated R do not admit anyone under the age of seventeen to watch it without a parent or guardian present. NC-17 movies do not allow anyone seventeen or under to watch at all because the MPAA has deemed the movie obscene or pornographic. An NC-17 rating is sometimes referred to as the death sentence because most theaters won’t play movies above an R rating. Its film rating system is highly arbitrary and laden with blatant sexism. The MPAA’s willingness to rate films and movies that show violence and torture lower than ones that show a woman being pleasured is nothing but misogyny....
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...Examine Marxist views of the role of the family. (24 marks) Marxist sociologists believe that the family is shaped by the requirements of capitalism and serves to support and maintain this unjust and exploitative system. They believe that the family exists to reproduce labour power, to consume the products of capitalism and to provide emotional support for workers to help them cope with the harsh reality and to accept their inequalities. Engels, a Marxist sociologist, believes that family was only needed when private property emerged and that monogamous families were a means of passing on private property to heirs as they provided proof of paternity. Zaretsky, another Marxist sociologist, supported Engels’ theory but also believed that family helps workers to live with their oppression by giving them a measure of control over their own lives. Functionalism is similar to Marxism as they are both macro-theories which means they look at society as a whole rather than at specifically one aspect. They are also both structural theories which means that they view the family as part of a system and that people are products of this system. However, functionalism differs to Marxism as functionalists believe that the family works harmoniously and that value consensus exists within society whereas Marxists believe that conflicting views are normal. Functionalists also believe that the family benefits everyone in society whilst Marxists believe the family only benefits the bourgeoisie...
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...Counter-productive New Age Feminism Luis Miguel G. Foronda English 23: Writing Across the Disciplines Melissa Anne Penaflor September 3, 2015 Feminism has played a vital role in improving the quality of life of women and its significance can be seen in the classic waves of feminism. The first wave of feminism was successful in establishing political equality among males and females with women’s suffrage being one of the milestones of that movement. It was through this movement that women and men were seen as political equals. The second wave deals more on establishing the sexual rights of women; its aim was to de-sexualize and de-objectify women and treat them as more than domesticated human beings (DuBois, 1971). But with the rise of the modern age comes the age of New Feminism, a feminism where a woman’s point of view is being emphasized (Sommers, 1994). Since the New Feminism puts an emphasis on the woman, modern feminists often disregard the standpoint of men, putting to naught the objective of Old Feminism, which is equality. Modern feminists have even reached a point of quarreling with women who don’t share their own viewpoint of feminism. The problem presents itself here because the rise of New Wave feminism is cultivating a culture of counter-productivity due to its sexist, ironic nature and its nature of anti-equality. But this idea of counter-productivity is not shared among these feminists, which is why it is important that we hear their side as well. Modern feminism...
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...The main characteristics of the role of women in Europe changed for the worst during this period. To what extent do you agree with this view of the role and position of women in the Early Modern period? During the Early Modern period changes involving society and religion began taking place, creating a society that was beneficial to elderly men, whilst restricting women in most aspects of their lives, including life partners and even their ability to become financially independent. This all leads to the conclusion that their role in society ultimately changed for the worst during this period. Although some evidence does point to the fact that men sometimes experienced oppression and a lack of independence over their own lives. During the Early Modern period, women and their sexuality definitely changed for the worst. During this time people believed anatomist Vesalius about how a woman’s genitalia was the same as a man’s except it was outside in, this was presented in a book called De humani corporis fabrica libri septem, 1543. This led to the belief that women weren’t equal to men because as the Bible states Eve was made from Adam’s rib, and because of the fact men were supposedly created first, this implied importance for their role in society. Galen was one of the main people that disagreed with Vesalius and believed that men and women were sexually equal. However it is possible that Galen’s view wasn’t as supported because religion at the time supported Vesalius and...
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...Chapter 1 What is sociology? * Seeks to explain, describe, and predict human behavior * Not concerned with individual human beings * Concerned with human beings in reaction to other human beings * Puts emphasis on group behavior (two or more people) (small group/large groups) * Looks at group social interaction, social behavior an influence of social structures on people How old is sociology? 200 years Why did sociology (as social science develop)? Who was the founding father of sociology? Main contributions of Sociology Early Auguste compte: Founding father of sociology, coined the word sociology How is Sociology different from other social sciences? Emile Durkheim: influenced development of functionalism 4 types of suicide by Durkheim: Egoistic: Mentally ill, lonely, social outcast, depression Altruistic: Kamikaze pilots, suicide bombers, cult members, obligation to the group, Fatalistic: Inmates, elderly, terminally ill, hopelessness Anomic: Anyone who cant deal with chaos, such as stock market crash or 1929-Insecurity Anomie: When society’s norms are questions, much social change, Society is rapidly changing Institutions are weakened, family, religion. Gender norms are questioned; values and belief systems are questioned Theory of structural functionalism 1 If a structure exists in society its because its functional, the social structure exists because it works Social structures: anything...
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...The Gender Politics of Narrative Modes I want to challenge two linked assumptions that most historians and critics of the English novel share. The first is that the burgeoning of capitalism and the ascension of the middle classes were mainly responsible for the development of the novel. The second is that realism represents the novel's dominant tradition. [note 1] I want to propose instead that, as surely as it marked a response to developing class relations, the novel came into being as a response to the sex-gender system that emerged in England in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. [note 2] My thesis is that from its inception, the novel has been structured not by one but by two mutually defining traditions: the fantastic and the realistic. [note 3] The constitutive coexistence of these two impulses within a single, evolving form is in no sense accidental: their dynamic interaction was precisely the means by which the novel, from the eighteenth century on, sought to manage the strains and contradictions that the sex-gender system imposed on individual subjectivities. For this reason, to recover the centrality of sex and gender as the novel's defining concern is also to recover the dynamism of its bimodal complexity. Conversely, to explore the interplay of realist and fantastic narratives within the novelistic tradition is to explore the indeterminacy of subjectivities engaged in the task of imposing and rebelling against the constraining order of gender difference. ...
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