Twelfth Blog

            Reflecting back on Women’s Studies 250 is something that I don’t usually get the opportunity to do in other classes.  I really enjoyed Women’s Studies 250, especially being that I am a female in today’s society.  As a class, we have discussed many important themes, including bodies and sexuality, politics of art, oppression/privilege, and struggles for liberation.

            In the beginning of the semester, we watched Killing Us Softly 4.  It exposed advertising companies and their trends of negative images of women in the media.  Women’s bodies are sometimes viewed as objects for males, such as cars or beer.  On the other hand, I liked that Urban Bush Women performances was something that contrasted this issue.  The women who danced in these performances challenged negative views of African American women’s bodies and expressed their thoughts through dancing, song, and outfit choice.  It was considered a “celebration.” 

As the semester continued on, we discussed power images in our society.  Males have usually been seen as superior to women in our society.  In Gloria Steinem’s article, “If Men Could Menstruate,” she challenged this idea of male power.  I really enjoyed this article because Gloria Steinem put a funny twist to the topic of menstruation.  It’s something I’m sure has not crossed a lot of people’s minds before, but is something to really think about.  Her writing is a piece of art that can alternatively re-imagine power relations in our society.  Similar to this, the movie Boys Don’t Cry reproduced controlling images of the rural working-class and transgender individuals.

            After all of the course material, I feel that I am able to analyze our culture more easily.  In addition, I am able to create my own interpretations of various types of artwork, while using evidence to back it up.  I will definitely use these skills in other classes and even beyond the classroom. 

            As far as recommending this class for others, I definitely would suggest taking Women’s Studies 250.  I have already told many peers about what the class is like and what they will get out of it.  For those reading this and want to consider taking Women’s Studies 250, here is what I have to say about it: you should expect to learn a lot about women and how they both are seen in society and how they see themselves, whether it is currently or in the past.  Many have expressed their feelings towards a variety of different circumstances through pieces of art, including drawings, paintings, dances, songs, quilts, and much more.  In our class, we have evaluated fictional and non-fictional movies, such as Frida and Boys Don't Cry.  I have learned that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and ideas.  In addition, there have been many artists and feminists who have devoted their lives to the topics we learn in class and have had an extreme amount of courage to speak their ideas to a very large group of people; they are great influences.  It is interesting to evaluate all of these factors in order to see where our society is heading in the future.

Eleventh Blog

In Baghdad Burning, we are introduced to the constant struggles and fears a 24-year-old girl is faced with everyday of her life.  She lives in Iraq and goes by “Riverbend” and consistently blogs about her experiences.  Riverbend always worries about what attack will be next or what bomb will kill more people or raids in the middle of the night.  Fear is definitely a consistent theme throughout this book.  I enjoy her posts because they show her personality and her emotions towards each situation she encounters.  As an American, it is interesting to see the other side of this time period.  You know what they say, there is always two sides to every story.  Riverbend gives her opinion on how horrible the “American occupation” in her country had been.  When discussing the feedback she received on her blog via email, she says something that caught my attention, which is, “And keep one thing in mind- tanks and guns can break my bones, but emails can be deleted.” (Riverbend, 10) I found this very intriguing because it shows that war weapons have become too common in her life.  In addition, Riverbend clarifies that she does not hate Americans though and was brought up to have pride in her own culture and respect other ones.  I like that Riverbend includes the blog from the U.S. soldier who returned home safely in September 2003.  In this soldiers blog he talks about how not all Iraqis are terrorists and that they deserve basic freedoms too.  It puts a little bit of a positive outlook from Riverbend on Americans and our views.

It comes to a point where females can no longer leave their homes alone.  While moving forward in this book, I realized that women’s oppression is another reoccurring theme.  Each time Riverbend leaves her house she must be accompanied by her brother, E, a father, uncle, or cousin.  In addition, Riverbend and other females in Iraq must wear long skirts and hijabs (headscarves) opposed to wearing what they want, such as jeans, cotton pants, etc., due to fundamentalism.  Females are also being forces to quit college and school.  It is absolutely disgusting that it becomes common in Iraq for females to be kidnapped and beaten.  A show that Riverbend decided to watch one day on the “For Females Only” weekly program showed a girl around 15 years old who talked about being abducted.  Her abductors used her headscarf to tie up her mouth and beaten and questioned her.  Some of the questions included, how much money do your parents have and do you have any valuables in your home?  In addition, she wasn’t allowed to sleep.  Eventually, one of her abductors took pity on her and purposely left the door of the hut she was trapped in open.  In the same hut were 15 other abducted girls from a secondary school in Zayoona.  She says in the interview that she is still scared and will not be going back to school that year.  This should not be a common trend with girls her age and other females, but unfortunately, it is.

I don’t understand how someone could have a life where they are forced to sleep in clothes that have pockets to hold their identification papers and money because at any moment their house is expected to crumble down to the ground.  It is simply unfair.  Riverbend’s life becomes so altered and oppressed.  She can’t even do something as simple as Google “weapons of mass destruction.”  She becomes accustomed to this way of life.  On page 181 Riverbend says, “It’s not that you no longer feel rage or sadness, it just becomes a part of life and you grow to expect it like you expect rain in March and sun in June.” (Riverbend, 181)  This book was definitely an eye-opener for me and I will absolutely recommend for others to read.