Sexism and Homophobia

When looking at it from a broad view point, Pharr's idea of the weapons of sexism (homophobia, violence, and economics) all seem to focus on the idea of fear. Women are meant to be scared into "behaving" in the ways in which society wants them to behave, the ways that keep society "normal." These weapons offer ways in which women can be nervous to stand out, or even have a voice. If they were to do either of these things, they would then be considered an outcast within their gender. Since patriarchy is embedded within the mindsets of the American majority, this fear actually works. As Johnson stated, to avoid awkwardness and to not mess up the grand scheme of things, women and men, tend to be quiet about this situation.

The idea that people are reserved and quiet about sexism and racism is highly disturbing to me. It seems absurd that women who have a voice, and are proud of it, are looked at as different and wrong. It is also these women who stand out and speak up who then become considered "crazy feminists," a title my female students are terrified of. They see feminists as meaning lesbians, which ultimately horrifies them that they would no longer be "normal," but "different," a great fear of most teenagers AND adults. Interestingly enough, they have an issue with being censored for the fact that they are females. Every year, I read the flash fiction story "To Reduce the Likelihood of Murder" by Ander Monson to my students. The story is of an adult telling a young girl what she cannot do because she is susceptible to violence and being taken advantage of. (The flash fiction story can be found online at http://heathermurphy04.wordpress.com/2007/04/07/to-reduce-your-likelihood-of-murder/, if there is anyone interested in reading it.) After my students hear the story, they are outraged thinking about what boys can do versus what they can do. Is it really any different for adult females? I think when it is contemplated, there are many things that males can do that females are looked down upon. For example, in high school my sister was asked to be the kicker for the football team as a result of her soccer success, but the males in the school protested so aggressively, she declined the offer. It becomes evident that no matter where you are, what year it is, or how progressive we believe our society to be--the isms will always exist.

On another note, while thinking about the heterosexual questionnaire we took on during class, I realized how awkward society really is about sexuality. Why do people care so much who marries who? Why do humans find it so necessary to involve themselves in every person's life? The ideas raised by Olberman in "Gay Marriage Is a Question of Love," reminded me of controversial children's books based on this very topic. Two that I am familiar with are "and Tango makes Three" (based on two homosexual penguins who raise a baby abandon by seemingly heterosexual parents) and "King and King" (based on a prince who falls in love with another prince), which despite parents anger, one school actually defended the teacher's right to read this book without asking for permission. Both books set up for real themes and conflicts and deserve literary merit. They are realistic, yet parents find that they will ruin their son/daughters view of the world. How silly; raising a child in an imaginary world where everyone is happily heterosexual only sets up the future generations for confusion and more sexism. I have a copy of "King and King" if anyone would like to see it, but a good review of the negativity that got pushed on it can be found at the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5366521. Also, a short review of the banning of the penguin story can be found at the following link: http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/05/gay-penguin-book-moved-from-library-shelves/. Those reviewing it are seemingly anti-sexist, which for some odd reason makes me relatively hopeful for the future. Despite my minor positivity, there are very few sites outraged at the censorship of these children's books as compared to those sites that are angry that people would put these "ideas" into the minds of children. Really? Ideas? Take them for a walk down the street and show them the world, they're not ideas, they're life.

Jess Bird