Response to Rache's Post

What I found most interesting about Marilyn Frye's article on oppression was the fact that it affects all different types of women. When I think of females being oppressed, my mind immediately jumps to feminists taking action for women as a whole. I didn't realize that this suffocating situation is forced upon all different types of women no matter their class, race, or political and social views. Until now, I have never had a problem with men opening doors for me. Frye's article helped to point out that men's door-opening is symbolic of women being incapable. Although this notion bothers me a little bit, I still view it as a custom, and think it is acceptable, just as men paying for dinner is. If a man did not want to pay for dinner, I wouldn't take it personally or get offended, I would be happy to pay for my half. In retrospect, I see how men are just as oppressed as women. They have to fit this specific mold in society just as women do. Although this is unfair, it is the reality of things, and I don't believe changing it would be worth the trouble of changing the customs and traditions of our society.

In Johnson's article on patriarchy, the main concept that resonated with me was that of participation. I don't view myself as an active feminist, but because I am a women and am part of modern society, I still participate in the problems and progressions that women are faced with today. Even though I am not playing an active role in the women's movement, I can still participate by doing small things like standing up for women as a whole if someone makes a sexist joke or treats women badly. It is very important to me that I don't assume a completely passive role in a situation that affects me daily, even in an environment such as Colgate where we are thought to be intellectually and socially evolved.