In the DuBois article, she discusses the "woman's sphere," which today would be synonymous with the "private sphere." I wonder who would claim that sphere now? I think it would still be women but in a different sense; in general, "career women" outsource their responsibilities as housewives to cleaning-ladies or housekeepers, whom are mostly women. The labor that women perform is the same, but now a person can say they work in the "private sphere" instead of the "woman's sphere" but is it really much better?
In the DuBois article, she also claims that feminism must include an analysis of the oppression of women. I'm not sure I agree with that anymore. Considering our reading for Tuesday, I feel like women are oppressing women by perpetuating a culture of dominance. Instead of claiming how women "feel" oppressed, DuBois claims that they are. I think during her time there was physical oppression but I think now there issue is more about mental oppression.
The Declaration of Sentiments was interesting to read but it mainly focused on women's suffrage. Interestingly, women's suffrage had not solved all of oppression that women face. If Mott was alive today, she would be very disappointed. I also think its noteworthy that men signed the Declaration of Sentiments; I wonder if this movement felt like it needed their signatures to gain legitimacy.
The Truth article was fun and inspiring to read. I Wikipedia-ed her and found that, "In 1858, someone interrupted a speech and accused her of being a man; Truth opened her blouse and revealed her breasts." Could that be the beginning of Raunch culture?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner_Truth
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Although Lindsay says that the Declaration of Sentiments was mainly focused on women's suffrage, I still believe that many of the sentiments listed are still relevant today. In particular is the statement "He has created a false public sentiment...a different code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquinces which exclude women from society, are not only tolerated, but deemed of little account of man." Despite the fact that raunch culture is quite prominent, a moral double standard still exists today; in fact, I believe it is actually getting worse! Its like what Levy said: "either you are a virgin or you are a slut." Men sleep with multiple women and are praised, called players, cheered on by their peers, and are often more desirable to women . Women who sleep with men are considered sluts by both male and female peers--this calls back to Lindsey's statement that today "women are oppressing women." What has happened to the strong sisterhood of the first and second waves of feminism. Today, women call other women sluts, women sexually exploit other women, women feel the need to be competitive and catty. Today, we are dealing with female chauvinist pigs, not just male.
ReplyDeleteAnother statement I found interesting in the Declaration of Sentiments is: "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive...it is the right of those who suffer...to insist upon the institution of a new government."--this I believe is the belief of Radical Feminists who, unlike liberal feminists (Betty Friedan) who hope to get things done by forming an already existing political system, believe that the solution is to overhall society as a whole. Whether this theory works or not is another issue.
DuBois's article was also interesting: despite the radical (at the time) notion of abolition in the first wave, and the radical notion (at the time) of civil rights and anti war rallies, these movements were still too conservative to allow women. So although the women's movement has sprung from moments of opportunity like the Civil War, Civil Rights Movement, and Vietnam War, women had to take their rights into their own hands. Although this may have caused tension, I believe that focusing on themselves was the only effective way to get recognized.
And to briefly address Soujourner Truth's speech--is it true that she revealed her breasts? Cause that is an interesting point Lindsey makes...
- Regan
Hi Regan, Eileen, and Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteAnother great series of posts. You've raised some really fascinating ideas in each of your posts, and while I'd hesitate to say that Truth was the start of raunch culture (!), that story definitely highlights the exclusion of black women from the category of "woman," and the narrow ways in which "woman" was defined by many Americans in the 19th century! Lindsey, your question about the changing private sphere is a compelling one, and one that we'll address later in the semester. Who IS working in the home to support those women who are able to work outside the home now? Is hiring "help" (primarily lower-class, non-white women in most areas) an example of women oppressing women, and if so, are there other options available? Is this a lose-lose situation? Great connection between the Declaration of Sentiments and the sentiments of radical feminists, as well!