Assignment 4

Chelsea Martino WMST 250
Sec. 06 5/13/08
Assignment 4 Learning Analysis

When I was scheduling my courses for this spring semester I had a clear cut vision of my future semester and the classes I would need. My goal was to get started on classes that would go toward my communications major. I had a few Core requirements that I needed to fulfill, but I figured that would only be a small portion of my schedule. But oh how wrong I was. I quickly learned of the pecking order of scheduling classes at Maryland. Being a freshman, I am clearly at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to getting priority for pretty much anything. Not only where all the classes I wanted for my major filled, but the Core classes that I had planned on taking had waitlists as well. I wanted Communications 107, and instead got Linguistics 200; I wanted Biology, I got Geology (which turned out NOT to be “rocks for jocks”). In all honesty, I had not planned on taking Women Studies 250 either. I needed to complete a Core and it was the only class that fit into my schedule. I did not anticipate that I would enjoy women studies. I was afraid it was going to center around angry protests about issues I really did not know much about, and I am not one to join hostile activities. Also, I enjoy looking at art but I was concerned that my exposure to what I now know as “High Art”, would not be presented in the class. I tend to be a little skeptical when it comes to learning about things I am unfamiliar with, especially when I was asked, what counted as art. I do not like the feeling of not knowing what to expect. However, as the class progressed I did warm up to it. I surprisingly liked learning about art, women’s contribution to art, and art as a form of expression whether it be emotional, political, or both. Additionally, I became more informed about the ways that feminist art can be an act of social agency and a way to promote social change.
Just like my hesitation to taking the class, I was extremely concerned about our first assignment/experience of visiting a variety of different museums. I was partly nervous because I am not from this area and I did not know how to navigate my way around Washington DC, and partly because it was the first assignment. This assignment was completely different than any other one I have ever had. However, it turned out to be my favorite part of the class. I enjoyed the museums and learned a great deal. I feel I was educated about ideas, political issues, and art works that I would never have looked at or considered to count as art. I enjoyed the National Museum of the American Indian and National Museum of African Art because they both portrayed women very similarly and in traditional and familiar forms of art. Even though the styles of art were different, both cultures displayed women as mothers and wives who maintained the housework. The National Museum of Women in the Arts however, surprised me quite a bit. It completely opposed what I had seen in the other museums. Women were portrayed with more power and control. Some of the paintings upset me because of their graphic detail and controversial topics, which made me question what counted as art. After going on the trip and talking about it in discussion I felt better. I got to hear how other people reacted to the Paula Rego exhibit, which had bothered me. Talking about it made me realized that art did not need to be beautiful or follow norms of society. It was about self expression, and sending a message. I may not have enjoyed every painting I saw, but that is ok, because not everything in life is pleasant and sometimes people need to show that. Also by expressing political topics the artists were able to contribute to social change. They sent messages about how oppression hinders society and how many women do not get enough recognition for all that they do. After my experience I decided to read more about the different forms of art in But is it Art? I read Chapter 1, Blood and Beauty, where it discussed how blood can be used like paint because they have many similar properties and texture. Blood, however gross, is more symbolic because it is life like. The chapter also pointed out that even though people are used to seeing high art, the use of blood as art was actually common in European cultures and religions. Another artist used body parts of sharks and bodily fluids such as urine and semen. Now, I would probably not ever go see any of these forms of art, but the chapter made me realize why these unusual techniques counted as art. The chapter discussed viewers’ discrepancy of what counts as beauty. It stated that art is not always about beauty. The point of art is more along the lines of self expression and enabling viewers to have a reaction to the art and challenge how a person feels, thinks, and reacts.
Our second experience dealt with feminism. What is feminism? Once again I was in the dark because I ignorantly believed that feminism equaled to the hatred of men. Ok, maybe not that harsh, but I did expect there to be one simple definition of feminism that Dr. King would tell us about and we would memorize it. Turns out Dr. King did not have a definition for us. I probably should have figured that out since her method of teaching does not echo that of my other professors. She wanted us to explore and formulate our own thoughts and definitions about feminism. I actually liked that, especially since we are guided through the course with the help of discussions. Also by working in a group I got to see that I was not the only person who was unsure and mislead about feminism. We brainstormed ideas and combined them into one definition that was not too specific because it is now clear to me that people can interpret feminism differently. Our overall premise was that feminism is about gender equality in all aspects of life. Women are not equally treated or represented in the workplace, government, or media. Many of the clips and readings set up on the blog supported our definition and made it clear that feminism varies depending on who is dealing with it. For example, Dr. King showed us a video from the Gorilla Girls. It was rather funny. One thing that stuck out at me was when a Gorilla Girl asked a man if he believed in equal pay for equal work. He answered yes, and she told him that he may be a feminist. This made me realize that there are a variety of feminists’ views and many people probably have similar ideas, but never knew them to be feminist. It also showed that many of their views make so much sense and seem very basic, equal work means equal pay, but many times in society it does not work that way.
After these two assignments I saw how feminism and art really connected. We had a few class discussions about how science fiction and feminism are linked. The lecture was primarily regarding Kindred. I found it interesting that years ago many female science fiction writers chose to use pennames because many people, particularly men, would not have read a book written by a woman. Writing is a form of art, especially science fiction because it deals with a person’s imagination and creativity. Kindred is a perfect example of art work that is not only feminist, but deals with power as well. I feel Kindred exemplified art in the form of writing, feminism in the form of the writer and female dominant characters, and power in the form of domination of white people, particularly men over their slaves. When Dana goes back to in time, her experience with slavery is scary, emotional and realistic. There she is a slave and treated horribly because she is black. She also faces even harsher adversity because she is a woman and can be taken advantage of. Another women slave is also forced to work to exhaustion, but is raped and sexually abused by her owner, Rufus. Through Rufus’s actions readers can really comprehend and connect with the idea that during that time, white people had power to do as they pleased even if it harmed others. However, even though there was great deal of racism during the 1800’s, the book also points out the prejudices of more modern times. Dana’s husband Kevin is white, and when Kevin tells his sister he is marrying a black woman, she is upset and does not approve of it. Similarly, Dana’s family was also infuriated that she was marrying a man of a different race. This segment proves that even though slavery was years ago, people are still not able to completely move on and see others as equal. This is a major issue in our country and is the cause of oppression and uneven distribution of power. Writings like this are forms of activism the try to bring about social change.
After reading this book we moved on to dealing even further with power structures in society and how they play a role in peoples’ lives. There are many institutions such as the government, education, and religion that help and hinder people based on race, social class, and gender. It is clear that many people are at unfair disadvantages. Women, not matter how hard they work, have fewer job opportunities and with lower pay. They are also commonly responsible for raising the children and maintaining a household. I now understand why there was such a need for feminist movements. Thankfully, there has been change, but there should be more. Many of the feminists, particularly the artists, we read and learn about in class probably do not get enough recognition. They spend their lives trying to make change for people, but the media does not focus on their efforts. Instead women are shown as sex objects and supermodels, not leaders and activists. But women are not the only people that suffer. Minorities often are not treated equally; they get turned down for jobs just because of their race. The poor have to work arduous jobs for little pay and no health care. All of these issues are important. Our discussions of them have helped me to see the pitfalls of society and how our country fails the people who need its help the most. Our third assignment was very interesting to me. It gave me the opportunity to learn about my classmates who have been treated cruelly by others just because they may be a bit different. I was able to learn about how marked religions and ethnicities, which do not apply to me, have caused people to be oppressed. It has made me realize that many people are not accepting and do not care about others. It was eye-opening to hear that one of my friends does not tell people she is Jewish because she fears they will stereotype her. It is wrong that institutions and ideologies of societies can be so damaging to people.
Along with the project there were readings that dealt a great deal with power. Chapter 5, Good Enough, in Fight Like a Girl How to be a Fearless Feminist was one reading that I particularly liked, because not only did it deal with power but I found it to be very relatable. In my paper I wrote about the media’s power to define “beauty”. I talked about the unrealistic goals the media sets for the “perfect” body type of women. This chapter also dealt with eating disorders that stem from ideologies of society. It was emotional to read about the author’s personal experience with bulimia and the physical and psychological effects it had on her. It made her feel as if she was not a true feminist, because she was so concerned about her self image. However, it turned out she was not alone and her feminist friends also had body image issues. Her story only points out that so many women, feminist including, struggle to feel good about themselves, because power from the media is putting pressure on them to look a certain way. I know I go to the gym everyday, and not because it is healthy, but because I do not want to gain weight especially when bathing suite season is coming. When the reading pointed out that years ago women were forcing their bodies into corsets that caused physical harm to their organs, it made me feel that I was not alone with body image insecurities. Today women are spending billion of dollars on plastic surgery and dieting methods. Think about what other, healthier things that money could go towards. This made me realize that if a woman’s body cannot look a certain way without unnatural practices such as starving, corsets, or surgery than we are not meant to look that way and it is ok.
Another reading that I found interesting that dealt with power was Chapter 10, Race and Gender from Feminism is for Everybody. It made me realize that because I am white, I am more privileged than a person of a different race, particularly African Americans. White women do not face the injustice that black women face. Many white people have more power when it comes to getting better jobs and education. The reading points that feminism for a white women is different than for a black women, because black women have to deal with racism on top of being a female. This topic also came up in discussion, where someone mentioned that there are many cases where white people and minorities will compete for jobs and the majority of the time the white people will get the job. This makes me realize that there is a major flaw in society and if we claim to be living in a country of equality than more people need to be equal.
After taking this class, I am glad that other Core classes were filled up. This class was completely different than any other one I have ever taken. For the first time I was taught to think on my own and come up with my own conclusions for the presented material. I enjoyed learning about the influence artists have on social change, and how many feminists’ main objectives are to live in a society that is equal and helpful to all of the people who work hard, no matter race, gender, or economic status. There are power structures in our country that are implemented to make some people’s lives better, while others worse. However, everyone is in this together. Each person has faced some form of oppression and understands its detrimental effects on society. Change can be made if people work together and become educated on ways where our systems fail. Through the art work we have been presented and the readings we have studied it is clear that feminists, along with the help of others, have the power of agency to make social change.