fDaniel has 14 post(s)

In chapter 1 of  Jennifer Morgan’s book, Male Travelers, Female Bodies, and Racial Ideology, Morgan goes on to describe how many Europeans ethnocentric view points to justified their actions and racism against Africans, especially African women. It was clear in the minds of the conqueror, that from a physical appearance of his own people were greatly different than those he had came upon. They would criticize how women were dress, African women would wear very little clothing and they would consider them as sluts to some extent. They would also criticized they way a women fed her child, aligning them to animals and savages. Simply put from the eye of the westerner the indigenous people were completely inferior and behave just like an animal. White women were often compared to African women and if an African lady did something a white women wouldn’t normally do, the act the white men would be shocked. In one example, the breast size of an African women was compared to an white women, African women generally had larger barest and that was seen as a bad thing, a bad trait. It was also described how the the sagging nature of the breast of African women were made them look like an alien when they were bending over while tending the fields. From the westerner’s point of view what they’re doing is not wrong, they’re showing them how to “properly” live and treat them as what they thought them as.

Due to the assumption that African women were like beasts, many believed that they would also be really strong, being able to take heavy blows without feeling much. Since they were though to be really strong, slavery and branding them wasn’t considered as immoral rather commonplace.  Overall Morgan tries to relay the message of how the white men used the differences among the two groups to bring up a valid reason for all this and to make themselves think less of what they actually done.

Q: Do you think people still have ethnocentric views today? If so far are people willing to go to prove that view or idea?

During the 1500’s land became privatized and that brought forth an unintended change, people of the lower class were greatly affected, especially women. This sudden shift, forced all but those of the wealthy class to work, prior to this, pleasant were able to provide for themselves and their family members through agricultural means. It was a complete change of life style for all and one that the people didn’t really thrived in. What ever foods one would produce would be theirs, if there was a surplus of goods the people would trade among themselves for other goods. The new system took all of that away and gave the workers a payment instead of the goods they produced, often times many workers weren’t able to feed themselves for their families. It was noted that in many cases workers would travel from field to field in search of work, women weren’t suited for such a work style as they were given the task of taking care of children or give birth. Women had a much harder time working and putting food on the table than men did at the time. In the past men and women were considered to be near equal ground; women weren’t really being degraded. They were paid lower than their male counterparts despite doing the same tasks and not even considered to take on certain jobs. Federici wanted to highlight how all of this created social hierarchy where women were placed at the very bottom. Even as the times changed, this hierarchy remained firmly would eventually cause major uprising around the world. Women always had to fill the expectations of society, more specifically men and this is still true today to some extent. Women never really got a chance to do what they wanted, to be strong, independent, and ultimately define what it means to be a women themselves not by men.

Hi, I’m Daniel and this is going to be my second year at Hunter. I look forward to having a great semester with you all. 😀

In Chapter 3 of Angela Davis’s book, Davis sheds light on the beginnings of women’s rights and how gender played a huge role on how a person was treated. Women have always been viewed as inferior compared to men and certain events in history are shown to highlight that idea. Several figures in women’s rights movement arranged the first women’s right convention in New York to discuss the civil, social, and religious rights women deserved and should be entitled to. This convention gained much attention, however despite how much attention the convention had garnered the majority of the people present were men, which really demonstrated the difference in men and women; men had the last word to what rights women deserved. Its ironic that a convention about women’s rights is hosted and little to none of those who attended are females. Although this convention was a huge flop in my opinion, it led the way to numerous other events pertaining to women’s rights.

Females were always considered to be weak, dependent, and less capable than men. In the early days females never attended school, only the boys did. Females always stayed at home learning household tasks and being told that one day she’ll be like a maid taking care of the family.  In the older days there were very few women that went through the school system, Elizabeth Stanton with the help of her parents support was able to accomplish many things that were considered not appropriate for women. Stanton was able to complete equestrian tasks, study Greek, as well as going on to studying law with her father. Coming from a wealthy family, she as able to accomplish all this much easier than those coming from middle to low income families. She really had a unique childhood and a really bright future, however she ultimately ended up like every other women in her time, a basic housewife confined to her home and husband. Davis showed this example to emphasize the lack of rights/opportunities, Stanton had a great upbringing but that didn’t lead to anywhere.

Even though in today’s day and age, there is a still a huge gap between men and women; a lot has changed for the better but there is still a lot left to be done. Women are able to do much more, going to school, getting a job, making her own decisions, etc. Even though are these are commonplace now a days, I feel like the society’s idea what a women should be has really changed a lot. In the U.S as well as other countries, Disney movies play a good chunk in a child’s childhood. Many of the movies portray women as weak and dependent needing a Prince Charming to come in and save them.