A Long Summer
I finally finished my project essay and gave it in on 5th June. I'm sad that my sociology degree is over and it's now up to the essay markers whether I get a 2.1 or a 2.2. Its been such an enlightening journey, one in which I think I've grown up and in which my opinions and views have grown and progressed. This year has been particularly good; my tiny anger and feeling that something is not right has grown into a powerful anger and certainty that there are many things wrong with this world. I think if I hadn't taken the Gender and Society module, perhaps I wouldn't have found myself blogging about the things close to my heart. I feel so strongly that if I hadn't made a certain decision, that, for example, I had done English Literature instead of Sociology, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
I've been thinking about what I want to do with my future. Doing a Masters degree would be great if I got a good mark; I may even go back to York to do an MA in Women's Studies. It would take me down another road to what I perhaps thought I would do (something to do with Deafness and so on). But then I could maybe stay in London and do a research MA on deafness/sociology. I don't have much experience of working so I do need to go into a work environment and learn what it is like (and to get things on my CV!!). But most of all, I want to move in with my partner at some point. Obviously this takes money, but I'm determined to save and add to my savings for a house deposit. My ideal life would be to write about what I'm most passionate about: deaf rights, women's rights and literature.
I've also noticed a big debate happening in the feminist blogsphere. It involves the argument about what constitutes a radical feminist. I find it ridiculous that some so called 'radical' feminists are ostracising other feminists by proclaiming you need to give up things like beauty routines (make-up and so on), men, and so on. Isn't the spirit of feminism more important?
The ideal that we are working towards a world in which the pain of women is heard and they are given the right to CHOOSE what they want, to OWN their own bodies and to BELIEVE what they want to believe? I was under the impression that radical feminism was the uncovering of patriarchal values and lies about women and men. To challenge them, to stop the pain and hurt and violence inherent in our society. To allow women the choice to do what they want without being influenced by the dictates of patriarchy, to be themselves without feeling guilty or somehow wrong, just because they are a woman.
This should mean the freedom to wear makeup, the freedom to not wear makeup, the freedom to wear a skirt without being wolf-whistled or judged, the freedom to like clothes or not give a damn about them. Women don't have this freedom, and they are always judged every step of the way. If they don't care about clothes, they are judged incompetent or wrong, and if they do care about clothes, they are thought to be doing this for men!! I can't believe there are double standards like this.
That they are judged also by so called 'radical' feminists is a sad, awful thing. I hope it changes, I hope they rethink what they have been saying. It makes me angry, that when we are all meant to be fighting the patriarchy, people turn on each other. It's wrong, everyone has their views, whether we disagree or not is maybe not the point. We all want women to be happy, that is the point. Life isn't black and white.
Anyway, I think I've said enough for one post, theres a lot more to say but it's a lovely day and I'm in front of a computer! I'll post again soon.
I've been thinking about what I want to do with my future. Doing a Masters degree would be great if I got a good mark; I may even go back to York to do an MA in Women's Studies. It would take me down another road to what I perhaps thought I would do (something to do with Deafness and so on). But then I could maybe stay in London and do a research MA on deafness/sociology. I don't have much experience of working so I do need to go into a work environment and learn what it is like (and to get things on my CV!!). But most of all, I want to move in with my partner at some point. Obviously this takes money, but I'm determined to save and add to my savings for a house deposit. My ideal life would be to write about what I'm most passionate about: deaf rights, women's rights and literature.
I've also noticed a big debate happening in the feminist blogsphere. It involves the argument about what constitutes a radical feminist. I find it ridiculous that some so called 'radical' feminists are ostracising other feminists by proclaiming you need to give up things like beauty routines (make-up and so on), men, and so on. Isn't the spirit of feminism more important?
The ideal that we are working towards a world in which the pain of women is heard and they are given the right to CHOOSE what they want, to OWN their own bodies and to BELIEVE what they want to believe? I was under the impression that radical feminism was the uncovering of patriarchal values and lies about women and men. To challenge them, to stop the pain and hurt and violence inherent in our society. To allow women the choice to do what they want without being influenced by the dictates of patriarchy, to be themselves without feeling guilty or somehow wrong, just because they are a woman.
This should mean the freedom to wear makeup, the freedom to not wear makeup, the freedom to wear a skirt without being wolf-whistled or judged, the freedom to like clothes or not give a damn about them. Women don't have this freedom, and they are always judged every step of the way. If they don't care about clothes, they are judged incompetent or wrong, and if they do care about clothes, they are thought to be doing this for men!! I can't believe there are double standards like this.
That they are judged also by so called 'radical' feminists is a sad, awful thing. I hope it changes, I hope they rethink what they have been saying. It makes me angry, that when we are all meant to be fighting the patriarchy, people turn on each other. It's wrong, everyone has their views, whether we disagree or not is maybe not the point. We all want women to be happy, that is the point. Life isn't black and white.
Anyway, I think I've said enough for one post, theres a lot more to say but it's a lovely day and I'm in front of a computer! I'll post again soon.
posted by Liz at
12:34 pm
2 Comments:
hey, congratulations on making it to the end of your studies. i've got about 2000 words left before it’s all over for me too. anyway, just doing a bit of late night procrastination and wanted to add my two cents to the ‘make-up’ debate... i think it’s a problem of drawing a line between choosing to be ‘girly’ and feeling pressure to get in line with set ‘girliness’. but you’re right, it’s about personal freedom... so perhaps it’s just a matter now of aligning this freedom with the collective power of feminism. okay, back to essay now... bye!
By
AS, At
4:15 pm
Good luck with the essay! I agree, it depends why you are using makeup or dressing up. I don't think it's good if you feel pressure because makeup/clothes etc should be about expressing yourself rather than expressing dominant ideas of femininity. I think it's about taking back control of your body perhaps? Its an interesting debate nevertheless.
By
Liz, At
8:42 pm
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