http://afeministblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/feminist-theory.html
Why Feminist Theory? In her article Taking the Gold Out of Egypt: The Art of Reading as a Woman, Susan Schibanoff emphasizes that feminist theory means reading as a woman. How important is this reading as a woman? In this era, it is still very important to use this theory because it is undeniable that everywhere around the world, the patriarchal culture still stays put strongly, in many aspects of human beings lives. Women are still considered the second sex, no matter big progress in womens lives has been reached after the womens movement started to spread to all around the world. Reading as a woman is really important so that people will really listen to what women want, based on their way of thinking, and not based on patriarchal societys way of thinking. Saying that all women want the same thing (lets say for education and profession) is a naïve thing. Yesterday a female student of mine told me about her mothers suggestion to take English Department major after she graduates from senior high school. Her mother reasoned, To be an English teacher is feminine, very woman. Besides, it is easy, not hard. You dont need to study hard, for example by studying in Engineering faculty. That is your future husbands responsibility. If I use Schibanoffs reading as a woman to view this simple text, I will come to the conclusion that what my students mother said did not purely come from womens point of view that was free from patriarchal cultures influence. She just followed the stereotyping that as weaker sex, women did not need to study hard, or to work hard, because as women we were born to be feminine creatures. It doesnt mean that I want to blame that idea. No. The choice to work hard or not is on my students hands. But of course I do hope that reading as a woman consensus is spread more widely so that women know that it is okay for them to make their own choice, to make up their mind, free from patriarchal cultures stereotyping. They can choose feminine profession, such as teacher (however, I never think that my being teacher makes me more feminine LOL), nurse, secretary, flight attendant etc. Women can also choose to study in macho or masculine majors, such as mechanical engineering, and have masculine profession, such as boxer, scientist, astronaut, etc. I am wondering if one day this theory reading as a woman is no longer needed because people stop viewing women as the second sex. And people choose education and profession not based on sex, but based on interest and capabilities. PT56 11.35 240707 Minds are like parachutes, they only function when they are open. (Sir James Dewar) visit my blogs please, at the following sites http://afemaleguest.blog.co.uk http://afeministblog.blogspot.com http://afemaleguest.multiply.com THANK YOU Best regards, Nana --------------------------------- Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
