Steinem

I found Steinem's argument intriguing because it provided a deeper analysis of the horrific mass murderings in American history. Steinem's main claim is that these violences are mainly committed by white, privileged men who engage in violence to feel a sort of power or supremacy. This relates to our discussions last class on rape and sexual violence. Unfortunately many rapes occur because offenders want to feel a sense of dominance or superiority over young women. While I understand how this is translated into murders at times as Steinem points out, I believe she makes too broad of a claim by asserting that these crimes result purely from males looking for a feeling of superiority. The case of the Columbine shootings fits her claim, although those attackers were fed up with their social status and were looking to target more than just blacks and women. Steinem also points to the Son of Sam case in New York under this theory but he was mentally unstable and believed a dog was telling him to commit these murders, as John points out. I do agree with Steinem's conclusion that sons and daughters should both be raised under values of strength as well as sensitivity. If we begin to raise all children across a more level playing field, perhaps there will be more cohesion in our society and subsequently less tragic murdering sprees.

Supremacy Crimes

Gloria Steinem’s article “Supremacy Crimes” makes a number of important and valid points, but it also has significant issues. I certainly agree that the “drug of superiority,” as Steinem describes it, is primarily consumed by white, middle-class, well-to-do males. As Steinem explains, this is due to the fact this is the group that has been conditioned by society, particularly by patriarchy, to feel that they are at the top of the social hierarchy in America. In many ways, the evidence most definitely supports this as a disproportionate amount of serial killings in history have been committed by members of the aforementioned group. The incidents at Columbine and other places were horrific and should have been prevented. Such violence is believed to be a result of hate and feelings of needing to prove assumed superiority. While this is probably true, I feel that Steinem has chosen to ignore crucial factors in some of the cases she mentions. The factors I am primarily speaking of are insanity and other extreme psychological disorders. David Berkowitz believed a dog told him to kill people; obviously nuts. Ted Bundy was a certifiable psycho-maniac. However, with these examples, I think Steinem was implying that these killers’ deep psychosis was brought on as a result of hate that stemmed from their addiction to superiority.

Steinem is right in that our society will continue to be subject to incidences of horrific violence unless we stop reinforcing the hierarchy that dictates that white, middle-class, non-poor men are naturally at the top. However, I disagree with Steinem’s claim that “we must begin to raise our sons more like our daughters.” In my opinion, this is over the line. Men are instinctually violent, and it is this instinct that protects our country from those who would do evil upon it. Orson Wells once said, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”

Rape & Self-Defense

I was outraged when I read Emilie Morgan's account of all the sexual violence she has faced. We all often hear of how often rape/sexual violence occurs but too often it is quickly dismissed. I guess I often do not think that sexual violence is that prevalent because I have never encountered anyway discuss such a situation, but this essay showed that many girls feel ostracized by such occurrences so they do not speak up. The role of Morgan's parents and doctors is astounding, as we would think they would at least attempt to be sensitive to such issues. Therein lies the problem because too often sexual violence goes unreported because girls are worried about the repercussions. It is almost as though our society, and more specifically, teen culture of labeling girls as "sluts" unjustly has allowed these injustices to go unreported. Whitney Walker explains how she combatted her fear of sexual violence through learning self-defense. While I definitely think that is a great pre-caution to take, I believe it is the most helpful psychologically.
I think John provided a great example to Levy's chapter about the promiscuous girl who engaged in oral sex with his friend because she wanted the attention socially. This unfortunately seems to be another factor propelled by our teen social structure. Teenage girls often have low self-esteem because they are treated disrespectfully so they look for social acclaim. Behavior like the girl John references, however, only propels the idea that sexual violence is okay. This is a difficult scenario, but unfortunately it can presumably only be changed slowly by promoting openness in these conversations since altering an entire teen social environment is a lengthy endeavor.

Men, Women, and Rape

Susan Brownmiller’s article on Rape delves into the psychological realities of rape. The empirical evidence she sites shows that that our culture’s image of the rapist is far different than the reality. As she notes, most people associate rapists with social rejects with serious psychological problems who prowl on women, or men with insatiable urges who suddenly decide that they will forcefully get what they want. Yet the truth is that somewhere around 50% of rapes are in fact gang rapes. Furthermore, the goal of these rapes is clearly to demean the victim. Furthermore, most of these rapes are premeditated and planned, with specific women becoming targets. It is likely that these women are chosen because they have spurned the men’s advances or because they have slighted the men in some way. Thus, Susan reveals that our conception of rape is much different from the reality, as rape seems to be a sort of male group activity.
Susan concludes that there are some systematic forces at work which produce the urge to demean women among young men. After rapes occur, all women fear for their safety even among men they know, and thus are forced to live in constant fear of rape and men, which in turn harms their sexuality and relationships. I both agree and disagree with her point. I think it is clear that occurrences of rape do in fact cause women to fear for their safety, a kind of systematic oppression that does harm their sense of sexuality as rape, sex, and shame are so closely connected in society.
Yet I think she too closely links rape with some sense of a oppressive, sentient patriarchal system. It is important to note that men rape other men as well, and that women too are perpetrators of sexual assault on men. Thus, her depiction of rape as a solely male on female act is inherently flawed.
Furthermore, I agree with her that rape does cause all women to fear it, but I do not agree with her linking it to the patriarchal system. Is homosexual rape a systematic attempt by homosexuals to have all heterosexuals fear homosexuals and homosexual physical advances? Similarly murder or assault could be viewed as certain groups attempting to oppress others.

Lev's Middle School Sluts

I grew up in the New York City Private School social circle that Levy graphically illustrates in the beginning of her chapter “Pigs in Training”. I have heard about and seen many of the sexually charged scenarios that these teenagers surround themselves with. About 3 months after “Swiffergate,” I was in my best friend’s house watching TV at about 1 in the morning after his parents were asleep. We were just hanging out, and my friend turns to me and says that a girl named Danielle was coming over to give him a blowjob. Being only 15 or 16, and still a virgin, I picked my jaw off the floor and asked him who this girl was. He told me that she was the girl the entire island of Manhattan had been buzzing about due to her explicit activities on the Internet. Soon after, she came over and introduced herself to me before her and my friend went into his room. I had to stay in order to stand guard for his parents. I left shortly after Danielle did as it was late. As I walked back to my apartment, I couldn’t help but wonder why this girl would continue to allow herself to be taken advantage of and exploited again and again.

Levy hit the nail on the head with her assessment of teen culture. At the time, I was too immature to understand that this girl continued to act in such a manner because she had become a virtual celebrity among teens in the tri-state area. As Levy points out, “These are not stories about girls getting what they want sexually, they are stories about girls gaining acclaim socially, for which their sexuality is a tool.” (p.146) Herein lies the main issue; and worst of all it is a chicken and egg dilemma. Who’s to blame here: the boys who give loose girls more attention, or the girls who willingly play into the patriarchy? Regardless of the correct answer, the fact remains here that there are serious issues with the teen culture in America. However, Levy makes the claim that, “Adolescents are not inventing this culture of exhibitionism and conformity with their own fledgling creative powers. Teens are reflecting back our slobbering culture in miniature.” (p. 146) The necessary changes must come from the top-down, in so much that teens will contain to serve as a microcosm of adult raunch culture unless mainstream society alters its ways, preferences, and overall sexuality.

Re: The Industrialization of Childbirth

On February 15^th, 1989 at about 7pm, my mother went into labor. As it was 5 weeks early than the predicted date, my parents were both astonished and immediately headed to the hospital. About 4 hours later, the doctor told my mother that the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck, effectively cutting off the flow of air. He performed an emergency cesarean section on my mother, and after two long weeks (for my parents) in the neonatal unit at Lenox Hill Hospital, I went home a healthy baby boy. Had the doctor intervened, I certainly would have suffocated to death in the womb.

Granted I am biased on this topic, but I must disagree with Goer’s sweeping generalization that obstetric intervention is inherently a bad idea. Such techniques as cesarean sections have been shown to save the lives of children whose mothers experience labor complications. Yes, there are definitely times when doctors unnecessarily intervene for a variety of insufficient causes; but, often times, doctors intervene because they need to save the child and/or mother’s life or because they simply aren’t sure and would rather be safe than sorry (obviously operating under the assumption that intervention is reliably safer). While Goer highlights numerous sources of statistics that indicate that intervention is far riskier, I feel that she is oversimplifying the gravity and pressure of a birthing situation. When a doctor is in the operating, he/she must do what he/she believes will result in the best outcome for both the child and the mother. If intervention means saving the child, but risking the life of the mother, I think every mother would choose intervention. The health of the child must be viewed as paramount to all other possible outcomes.

The Industrialization of Childbirth

Gawande begins by describing the birthing process of Elizabeth Rourke and then provides a background on pre-natal care and childbirth in general. I agree that childbirth has become industrial but I do not believe that is a bad trend in modern society. Gawande explains the many problems and ensuing deaths caused from childbirth in previous centuries due to a lack of knowledge and technology. Understandably, the birthing process is very personal and thus many mothers want their delivery to be exactly as they wish. However, the pregnancy classes and widespread information about pregnancy, such as when to arrive at the hospital and want medicines are used, have helped make pregnancies a more routine process. In Allison Crews' article, she concludes by explaining that if women have the right to abortion and parenting methods, they should be able to design the birthing process as well or even deliver the baby themselves. While this may sound justifiable in theory, the main importance of birthing is for the safety of both the mother and the child. Thus, have a structured system and well-educated doctors overseeing deliveries is the best way to ensure such necessary safeties. The birthing process may have become industrialized, but the success of deliveries in modern times and the relative safety of mothers and newborns has steadily increased with such industrialization. That practically speaks for itself. To relate this issue to an economic standpoint, many scholars (such as Marx) believe that a capitalist society may be the most productive system but that it eliminates personal emotions. In terms of childbirth, production (in terms of success and safety) should outweigh concerns over personal desires for a unique birthing process.