On NPR’s This American Life, the show featured stories pertaining to the idea of long shots or people overcoming the presumed impossible. The first story was about a man, John Smith, that received parole after 30 years in prison for murder only to be denied in the final stages by the governor. Devastated, he continued to try against all odds to attain parole again. He had done everything right while in jail and was the perfect candidate to be released, yet he was literally captivated behind bars. The idea of a man kept behind bars despite his impeccable record and also under the impression he would never be released seemed to parallel our discussion on Frye’s “Oppression” essay. While in class, I sat there wondering if there was even a possibility that despite all odds the ways of our society would change. We have a book over 800 pages long full of essays creating awareness of the sexist system we live in, yet men and women both seem under aware of the changes psychologically, politically, and economically that need to take place. It almost seemed discouraging, because despite all these women’s work there is still no formula or correct way to solve this sexist system that we deem normal in our society.
The prisoner on the show and our discussion of the individual trying to overcome the system of oppression we live in seem to have similarities. While in jail, the prisoner did everything right to keep a perfect record. When women see themselves as individuals fighting against the system, we try to do everything “right.” We open the door for ourselves as a way to try to raise awareness. We pay for our own meals. We work our way to the top of the company. We fight against all odds, yet the bars of our society are still there. Our individual work does not represent the issue as a whole, because every time I act I act as a student, a daughter, a friend etc, just as the John Smith does not act as himself but rather as a prisoner, a killer, an unforgivable person. We can fight against the presumed characteristics of oppression, but the bars are still there.
It seems to me that there is a long shot that the system will change soon. Of course there will be subtle changes, but a drastic change needs to take place in both men and women as well as the society we live in. It seems a little overwhelming, but there is a chance that with women opposing oppression, they can overturn the system. John Smith fought against all odds and in the end his case was approved and he received his freedom. The story made me start thinking to what extreme would it take for the system to be overturned and how would we achieve this? It may be done little by little over time as we have seen, but is there a quicker way to change our sexist system?
I really like that Courtney parallels the situation of a man in jail waiting for parole to women in a sexist society today.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Courtney that in order for society to change our sexist system, the psychological, political, and economical mindset of individuals has to change. I think this change of mindset can only happen over time, but it is something that is possible.
As Dr. J, said in class that we even have a black president now. Though having a black president did not eliminate racism in our country, it did persuade the majority to vote on the side of diversity. Likewise, our society can progress to be a less sexist society but I do not know if sexism can be eliminate but it can become less prominent in the everyday life. The role of women in society has furthered a lot especially through the years; however, there is more progress to be made in the years to come which I think will be a very gradual change.
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteLike Manali says, you make a very interesting comparison here. I was particularly compelled by your last two sentences, in which you ask whether gradual change or extreme action would be more effective. This seems to be the primary question that any liberation movement must ask itself, although it's hardly ever as dichotomous as we take it to be. Gradual change is often far too slow and may never achieve completion, while extreme action treads a fine line between effecting reformation and provoking retaliation.
You pose an important question that I don't know the answer to. I hope that we can cover this in class sometime.