I've been taking a class on Gender and Society this last quarter, which has opened my eyes to a lot of things. The way certain genders, races, classes are treated in our current society, the degradation and discrimination many of them still continue to face, the patriarcal nature of society... It's been very eye opening. I've realized a lot of things about the society in which I live, as well as how I perceive the world around me. It surprised me, how much I've bought into some of the shit society spews out. The beauty myth, blame/rape culture, societal construction of what it is to be a woman...How could I let some of these things shape we the way I have? How did I not realize that these forces were shaping my actions, my thoughts? It was a sobering realization.
It's also opened my eyes on some of my previous experiences and relationships with people. What motivated me, what motivated them, the forces at play... There's so much in our society that is so warped and twisted. So much objectification and subjugation of ourselves and of each other takes place every day. We manipulate each other, manipulate ourselves in order to achieve societal standards. It's sad.
Yet, in discovering all of this, I've come to a deeper understanding of myself. I am ultimately feminine, but possess many masculine gender traits. Yes, I'm a bit racist and I can get overbearing with my faith sometimes. And there's a drive within myself that wants to change the way society perceives and treats women - especially in the realm of gender violence. I want to make a change.
Now, time to go out and do it.
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