If there is one thing I have learned from being a woman, it's stereotypes. Whether it's at a small get-together with friends, or at an important school event, a woman always has to fit into the ideal characteristics of a modern woman.
Women who are curvy are fat. Women who are thin are anorexic. Women who enjoy sports are tomboys. Women who like shopping and makeup are prissy. Women who are quiet are self-conscious. Women who speak up are overconfident. Women who like the color pink are girly. Women who like the color black are dull. Women who are feminists are "man-haters".
Stereotyping is thoroughly discussed in Brent Staples piece Black Men and Public Space. He explains how African American men can "alter public space in ugly ways"(Staples para 2) with their external presence. In contrast, women are likely to be ignored in public spaces, unless they fit into the standards of the public's eye. Being one of the few girls in the trumpet section of the marching band, I have personally experienced this. I will walk into the storage room to return my instrument to my locker, and the guys will be crowding the entire doorway, so I will politely say "excuse me". No response. Inevitably, I feel very invisible and insignificant, because I am completely ignored.
I have concluded that a woman is overlooked if she does not represent modern standards. We simply cannot alter the public in any way if we are not suitable. The only way we can alter public space is to model how society wants to view us. And that ability, is never worth the consequence of losing individuality.
Nice post! I really liked how you added a personal experience to your post. It gives you credibility which helps to prove your point about women being ignored in public spaces.
ReplyDeleteEverything that you described is true. Women are looked down on if they're fashionable and if they're not. It seems that there is nothing that women can do without being criticized (especially online). Still, it seems impossible to actually be the "modern woman", mostly because every person has their own idea of what the "modern woman" should be.
ReplyDeleteI think this post is so incredibly correct. I work with all guys and when I pick up heavy lights and boxes all by myself they become concerned as to if I can carry something heavy up stairs or not. I feel looked down upon sometimes and I feel that they do not always have faith in me because I am a girl.
ReplyDeleteYessss oh my gosh Sarah I love this. You're totally right. Women are held at a double standard compared to men. If a women speaks her opinion and says what she wants, people view it as her being self-centered and selfish. On the other hand, if men do the same, they are perceived as being "go-getters".
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly true! Like Kathie said, women are held to double standards compared to men and I am really glad you pointed this out! By the way, trumpet girls are the best :D
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great blog for women everywhere, man. And I loved the parallelism in the second paragraph-it drove your point home. I loved the last picture-it brings out just how much our society puts stereotypes into play, whether in the 1900s or now.
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