Blog 9

The most recent movie I have seen lately was House Bunny. The movie was advertised by showing an ex-Playboy bunny turning around the geeky sorority into the top house on campus. The trailers showed the girls in the "loser" sorority getting makeovers and learning how to act around boys. I thought that this was interesting because the one who was showing them all of this was a Playboy bunny, the most stereotypical view of women in society. Although that statement is true, I never thought and still don't think there is anything wrong in playing up our cultural stereotypes. There wasn't too much about gender relations except for the Playboy bunny trying to date a man that would be interested in brains rather than just looks. It was funny to see the girls in the sorority try to help her get a guy like that then see the girls being taught how she could get guys in the past. I thought the gender was equally represented with stereotypes and how they interacted. In all honesty, it portrayed our society's beliefs and expectations well. It was a little slapstick in the humor, but it was fine. I guess I just don't get affected or believe half of the stuff the media and Hollywood shows because its not real.

Post 8

In this advertisement, a beautiful and slender blond women finds a good looking man over a martini with Skyy Vodka. The text is only the name of the vodka, Skyy. In this advertisement, gender is represented by the stereotypes of good looking young men and women in today's society. It also gives the idea that two people can be attracted and connect over alcohol. To me, it is just typical of how the women is showing a lot of skin with the backless dress and the long slit up her leg. The man is dressed in a nice suit. This advertisement just embodies what Wolf talks about in her definition of "beauty." The media has portrayed what men and women should look like to be beautiful and it is completely incorrect. Also, this demonstrates that two beautiful people attract one another. In accordance to Scott, this advertisement shows how fashion for women and men are also in the definition of beauty. These two people in this ad are clearly dressed in outfits that would be trendy and in style. Overall, this advertisement is full of stereotypes that is portrayed now for young men and women.

Ethnographic Paper

For my research, I decided to look at the whether or not women should enter the draft. I decided to specifically look at this issue since the feminist movement is trying to achieve equal treatment and rights for all women. Also, I thought this would be interesting because I figured most people would agree that women should not be drafted. The thought that people who agree and support the feminist movement might not agree with women being drafted was very irritating. I feel that if women want to be treated as equals and have equal rights, the draft should be included in that equality. In order to investigate this further, I will need to interview a woman who is serving or has served in any of our armed forces. I think it would also be beneficial to interview a supporter of the feminist movement and get an opinion from that perspective.

In order to gather information, I plan on visiting the University of Oklahoma Armory Center and talking to a woman ROTC member. My focus is really on whether or not an actual member of the armed forces believes woman should be drafted. I plan on observing a woman in ROTC at OU while completing some of her duties.

For the interview, I plan to ask whether she has ever felt discriminated against for being a woman in ROTC. I want to ask if she thinks there is a difference in men and women in the military and which gender may be more useful at certain tasks they may have to perform. I want to know if the difference in physical strength plays much of a role. Also, I would like to know if there are jobs that are normally gender specific, whether the job is for men or women. Then, I would like to ask about the draft and if women should be drafted. Depending on her answer, I would like to know why she thinks the way she does. If she believes women should not be drafted, then my question would be why you would expect equality if you wanted to be excluded from the draft.

In my observation period, I was able to witness how the women in ROTC interacted and were treated just as all of the guys were treated. There was no evidence of discrimination or treating the girls differently. It seemed to me that all the members believed that they were all equal. Girls were expected to do the same things as guys. They didn’t do anything special, but having some of them together looked like a group of all guys or all girls. Through my interview, I was able to learn that discrimination did not occur. Physical strength is a very small part of everything and the jobs are not gender specific. She felt that the draft should not extend to women because they need to stay at home with their families. Then, I asked if she believed in the feminist movement and she did. I found this to be ironic since equality is the purpose of the movement. This kind of double standard is not appropriate; you cannot select where you want equality and expect to get it.

According to our readings, there are certain jobs that are considered “pink collar” or especially made and dominated by women. This also goes along with the idea that women cannot complete a man’s job with great success. These jobs are dominated and run by men. From my observation with the women in OU’s ROTC program, this is not true. Most people do not think of a woman being a soldier, but many are. Also, many of our readings talked about discrimination in the work place, especially in one dominate by men, but there was no evidence or mention of it in my interview and observation. What could be missing is that in different parts of the country in different fields, discrimination could be occurring. Anthropologists need to examine different fields in different areas to have a better idea.

Blog #7

After reading Belkin's argument and finding another article responded to Belkin's article, I find it hard to see who is actually more correct. What I found while reading Belkin's article was that she was using the Princeton graduates to demonstrate how hard it is for all women to work and have a family life. I feel that she wrote specifically about these women to show that even having a master's doesn't make juggling life any easier. In the response article that I read, it went into how unrealistic Belkin's subjects were compared to the actual workforce. As I have just previously stated, I think she used those women as prime examples for every woman. In my life, my mom did quit working when she started having children, but it was her own personal choice. I do understand that there are many hardships for women who have to work to help support the family, however. I do also know, that having a parent stay at home with the children is far better for the child then being given care by anyone else. I will say right now that when I do have kids, I plan to stay at home then re-enter the work force in a "part-time" field of my choice, which is personal training. To me, this has nothing to do with having trouble getting back to work in my same profession. It has everything to do with a personal choice that I have decided upon for myself. I don't even have a husband yet, but if that is possible, that is exactly what I am going to do. To me, every woman needs to "make it work" to the best of their ability and roll with the punches. I am so tired of people wanting everything in life to be a breeze. What is the purpose of life if there is nothing worth fighting for?

Blog #6

For my play list I chose the following tracks:

1. Beautiful: I thought this song was appropriate because of the images Hollywood and the media place on true womanly beauty. It just talks about self esteem and loving yourself the way we all should.
2.Survivor: I thought that this song displayed the determination and strength women hold against and without men. It talks about how women will keep going and can work harder, which is something that once upon a time men didn't believe could happen.
3. She's Everything: I love this song. To me, it talks about everything and anything a woman can be. I love how it mentions things that are normally associated with women such as bubble baths, chocolate and being moody.
4. Ticks: I thought this song displayed the stereotypes of both men and women in the bar atmosphere. My favorite and most cliche part of the song is when he says that he would like the see more of the butterfly tattoo hanging out of her jeans. The whole song is about a guy wanted to get with a girl in a "helpful" way.
5. Waiting on a Woman: This song just completely embraces the stereotype of women always being late and making a man wait. This is especially true with the first date and trying to be "fashionably late."
6.I'm Still a Guy: This is my favorite out of all the songs. It just completely demonstrates the differences in how men and women think. It talks about how a girl will want to doll up her man and make him less masculine. The men on the other hand try to do the most manly things they could to stay a true man.

My taste in music really has not changed over the years. I have always loved country music and have never really been a big fan of rap.


In the Reviving Ophelia, I found it very difficult to relate and support the argument. When I was a child, I wanted to be just like my dad. I guess you could call me his son before he had a son. Never once did my parents tell or ask me to be more like a girl. My mom put me in dance just to see if I liked it and when I hated it, she did not hesitate to let me pick the sports I wanted to play. I never had to lose my identity to be more feminine. I do agree with Pipher in that culture does define gender, but I feel that there are many exceptions to that. I don't feel like I have to be like culture thinks, though. Especially with people nowadays that redefine gender all together, transgender people are opening a more broader definition and belief of gender all together. They are also expanding culture's expectations and thoughts on gender.

I would have to say that I agree completely with Kendlon. I feel that women in the third wave has benefited from the two previous. I honestly feel that there is nothing I can not do and nothing I could possibly be held back from. Especially in days like today with a vice president nominee being a woman and an African American man nominated for the president.

Blog #5

My future job when I graduate this May is to work for Republic National Distributing Company. In this company, I will work as an on-premise sales representative. The courses that I might be helpful to me are those in the Marketing section of the OU Business College. Since I am a Public Relations Major, I have been able to take a large amount of different classes to fulfill my elective credits. Gender will probably play a small role in my future job. At Republic National, there are on-premise and off-premise sales representatives. The on-premise is dominated by women and the men dominate the off-premise area. I understand why this is since I was an intern this summer and worked for both sides. The off-premise side has a lot more manual labor of lifting and stacking cases of liquor. Off-premise representatives also have to use a dolly and help load and unload orders. Most of the women in the industry would not be able to complete such physical labor as the men do. This is why gender plays a roll in the type of sales I would do. My previous work includes my internship with Republic National this past summer. Before this, I have exclusively worked in the restaurant industry. I found that being a girl in that industry is very helpful. I was previously a skating Sonic Car-hop in Dallas. The guys that worked there did not usually get to take orders out because they would not make much money. Instead, they were paid more hourly and took orders and helped inside. I was also a waitress at a restaurant in Norman and made more money then guys pretty much on any given night. In this sense, gender helped me to make more money, which is ironic since men make more in the real world because our society says they are the primary bread winners for their families. In the F-Word, it talks about the unequal pay and the difficulties that come with a career and motherhood. I found this interesting. I don't understand why many of the things we read say that the government should step in a control things like unequal pay or paid leave. In class we were read an excerpt of a day in the life without feminism. I found it horrifying to hear that people want an income from the government per child. Where would that money come from? It seems to me that feminists are pressuring to move our capitalist society towards a socialist one. Hull talks about race and feminism. I just wish people would stop being victims and make their own path in life. I understand that discrimination still exists, clearly since I am a woman, but to focus on what has been accomplished for all red, black, yellow and the "privileged white." I find it sickening for people to assume that white girls are not discriminate against to for our color. I have been called so many foul names by other races, but I choose to stand above it and not let the words or actions of another person who is different than me affect my everyday life. The F-Word also talks about women are not in many high positions in Fortune 500 companies. Would anyone consider that maybe that has something to do with all the women who leave those high position once they are obtained? Also, as I previously discussed in a blog 4, I was promoted to a higher position due to "Affirmative Action" instead of being the best. I found that to be disgusting that I was the best out of the girls and that I might have taken another person's spot who was more qualified. I do not believe anyone should be out of the race because of gender. I want to succeed in the world based on hard work and dedication, not the fact that I am a female.

Blog #4

After watching Iron Jawed Angels there were several things that I learned. I would have to say that the first thing I learned was that Alice Paul had to form a different women's group because her tactics and beliefs did not match up with the original suffragists. I also did not know that the women were imprisoned for protesting a war-time president. I found it fascinating that Alice was one of the first to do the hunger strike. What really surprised me, although it really shouldn't have, was that the police really did not give the women proper protection throughout the entire struggle. I would have to agree with the papers of that day and blame the police for the injuries caused during the parade. The themes throughout the movie are pretty clear. Determination and perseverance were two of the major ones to me. The women would stop at nothing and used every peaceful tactics they knew to gain support and awareness. It seems to me that this was one of the first public relations movements with their belief that any press is good press. The tension between the women who worked for the suffrage cause was very frequent. The National Women's Party wanted an amendment to the Constitution while the other suffrage group they were apart of originally wanted each state to pass the law. The older women of the original suffrage group did not want to completely support Alice, so they allowed her to head a committee that she had to raise funding for. When she raised a large portion, they put the money on hold to supposedly investigate her activities to try to prevent Alice from using her outspoken tactics. I also thought that the women struggled for a brief time to keep that cause going. They had to make the difficult decision of protesting a president at war. They ladies were able to overcome it all and complete their goal by standing strong together in prison. To me, when Alice went to prison with the others and began the hunger strike, is when the tides began to change. I also believe that the senator's wife, Emily, help turned the tides when she slipped the note from Alice to her husband for him to leak to the press. I think the outrage of their treatment in prison was a very pivotal part of turning the tides in favor of the movement.