Ann Lemieux's blog

When I began this course, I was looking forward to learning about some of the most-discussed topics at Bryn Mawr in an academic setting. I had already improved my writing a lot since coming to Bryn Mawr, mostly through the ESEM that I took my first semester here, and the education class that I took in the spring. I was familiar with some feminist theory and gender theory, simply because it’s a common topic of conversation at this school. However, I hadn’t really investigated facing feminism today, or thought about the feminist movement affected me and connected to what I’ve learned in my other classes here (especially the education classes). I have definitely learned a lot about the different movements and goals of feminism, and I see it as a much broader movement now than I did when I started this class. I identify even more strongly now as a feminist, and I love that the movement does not only combat sexism, but also racism, classism, able-ism, homophobia and any other type of discrimination.

Feminism deals with so many issues, and to me it seems that one of the main issues is inequality. Inequality among people of different sexes, gender identities, sexualities, race, class and levels of ability are all issues that feminism aims to combat. I’m an education minor, and in two of my papers I write about education and its ability to overcome these issues of inequality and give children the same foundation and opportunities, as well as teach them not to discriminate and to continue fighting against inequality. In my last web event, I claim that education is “a relatively easy place to start” breaking gender norms and helping feminism achieve its objective of closing the gender wage gap. However, I feel the need to reevaluate that claim. Education certainly can be a good starting point for feminist activists, and it can have a huge effect on future generations and how the feminist agenda continues decades from now… but educational reform is a very complicated ordeal. Additionally, successful educational reform shouldn’t only target gender norms, but a whole range of inequalities that affect our society and our schools. In the public schools that I went to, and in the middle school that I’ve visited for the past two years as a field component of education classes I’m taking here, gender inequalities are not as apparent as inequalities among the students from different socioeconomic classes.

     Throughout this semester, as we’ve discussed several feminist issues and viewpoints, our class has been unable to define simply what feminism is. However, we’ve been able to agree several times on what feminism is not: feminism is not gender stereotypes and norms, it is not the pressure that women (and men) feel to have a certain body type and look a certain way, and it is certainly not, as we’ve discussed amongst ourselves and with Heidi Hartmann, the wage gap between men and women. Whatever feminism is, it definitely aims to abolish the above issues, but it hasn’t yet been able to do so. The gender wage gap is still very real in today’s society, even among men and women in the same profession, and even though more women than men are earning bachelor’s degrees. So what’s binding feminism? In other words, what’s preventing feminism from achieving its goals, limiting feminism, and restraining it?

How can middle and high schools accommodate both genderqueer students (including transgender and gender-fluid individuals) and students with learning disabilities?

Self Representation vs Self Presentation

How do I present myself to the outside world? I present myself in the way that I dress, talk, act, and interact with others. What does this have to do with self-representation? I initially misread the topic of our papers as self-presentation, rather than self-representation. They sound the same, and could be dismissed as practically the same thing without consideration. However, realizing my error made me also realize that self-presentation and self-representation are very different things. To represent myself means to speak my opinions, act as an individual rather than simply part of a larger group, and reveal my personality, values, and beliefs through my actions, words, and appearance. I can use the different ways that I present myself to the public to represent who I am on the inside, and to portray different aspects of my personality and my value system.

There is no such thing as a "perfect" male or a "perfect" female (someone who conforms to all gender stereotypes).

Stereotypes will never be truthful when talking about gender because gender is constatly changing and everyone has their own individual identity.

Identity is the only thing that all humans have in common- it both separates and binds us together.

Together, we can break down the socially constructed views that condemn any one person for their preferred gender identity.

groups members: vhiggins, pialamode, sschurtz, Ann Lemieux and Christina (also not sure of her username)

I was not in class on Thursday, but if I had to depict my own gender with a sketch, I would draw a bowl and a mixing spoon. Cooking is something I have always loved, and it is a hobby that people of all genders have, yet women are more often expected to be able to cook than men. I think that many of my interests and traits are ones that people associate with femeninity, but they are not exclusively feminine. For example, I love working with children and want to be a teacher. More women than men are teachers, especially with younger kids, but there are also several men who teach young children and are amazing at it.

My sketch of gender in general would be a spectrum, ranging from one color to another, but with the middle gray area disconnected from the two ends of the spectrum. This is because although I see gender as a spectrum, society creates a false binary out of gender, and leaves out all those who identify as somewhere in between male and female.

Since I wasn't in class to answer questions, I'll post some of my answers here. I think the main difference between sex and gender is that sex is biological, and gender is mental. Sex has to do with what sex organs a person has. Gender has to do with where on the spectrum between male and female a person chooses to place him/herself. People choose to identify with a certain gender because of their appearance, biological sex, what society tells them to identify with, and many other factors.

If I were any food, I would be an avocado, and my love for them is a quirk that my friends occasionally tease me about, although I don't really understand why avocados are such an unusual favorite food. Not only are avocados delicious, but they are flexible in cooking (they can be used in either sweet or savory dishes), and incredibly nutritious. As a vegetarian, I find them to be a very important part of my diet. I chose to represent myself on this website with an avocado because I am known for liking them so much, and because I feel that avocados are really underrated.

p.s. After doing some research, I discovered that avocados are also a symbol for both male and female sexuality, so they also relate to some of the themes of this course.