Running head: CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES

This I Believe: Critical Thin ing Can Ins!ire Change in Gender Hierarchies Caitlin Cairncr"ss N"ve#$er %1& %'1% ED(C )%' Seattle (niversit*

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES Introduction

It is the %1st centur*+ The c"untr* has #ade great strides ,ith regards t" ,"#en-s e#!",er#ent+ .e have a /e#ale secretar* "/ state& and there are currentl* #"re /e#ale c"llege graduates than #ale c"llege graduates+ I $elieve& h",ever& that se0is# is still !resent in #"dern s"ciet*& th"ugh it is a #"re su$tl* !ervasive $rand "/ se0is# than it has $een in the !ast+ The /act that it is s" su$tle #a es it all the #"re danger"us& !articularl* /"r *"ung ,"#en+ This generati"n h"lds the $elie/ that ,"#en can acc"#!lish an*thing the* set their #inds t"& and this $elie/ ris s "vershad",ing the /act that i/ *"u l"" care/ull*& gender $iases are still u$i1uit"us 2and can actuall* a//ect the chances "/ ,"#en really $eing a$le t" acc"#!lish ever*thing the* ,"uld li e3+ In "rder t" anal*4e the state "/ se0is# in #"dern s"ciet*& I ,ill /irst !resent #* /ra#e,"r /"r anal*sis+ I ,ill then g" "n t" re/lect "n h", se0is# #ani/ests itsel/ in t"da*-s ,"rld& using s"#e "/ the s ills I gained during the 1uarter t" anal*4e ,hat characteristics #a e it such a danger"us /"r# "/ "!!ressi"n+ 5inall*& I ,ill l"" at #"dern da* /e#inis#& anal*4ing h", it a//ects $"th a,areness "/ the !r"$le# and ,"#en-s a$ilit* t" ta e acti"n+ I h"!e t" de#"nstrate t," things in this !a!er: /irst& that se0is# still e0ists in ver* su$tle and !ervasive ,a*s& and sec"nd& that in "rder t" incite change& ,e #ust $e a$le t" thin criticall*& and $e c"urage"us en"ugh t" v"ice "ur "!ini"ns+ C"#$ining #* !ers"nal e0!erience ,ith the !ers!ectives that I gained thr"ugh"ut the 1uarter& I have c"#e t" $elieve that $ecause gender r"les have $ec"#e s" ingrained in "ur s"ciet*& hierarchies are s"#eti#es nearl* unrec"gni4a$le t" th"se ,h" aren-t l"" ing 2this is a 1ualit* that is !resent in #an* /"r#s "/ "!!ressi"n& n"t 6ust se0is#3+ As a /uture educat"r& #* s"cial 6ustice #issi"n is t" enc"urage !e"!le& !articularl* *"ung ,"#en& t"

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES have the /"rtitude t" thin criticall* and $e cauti"usl* s e!tical "/ !",er d*na#ics and stere"t*!es that still e0ist+ In #* #ind& this is the /irst ste! in changing the s*ste# and destr"*ing gender $ased "!!ressi"n+ Framework for Analysis I c"#e /r"# a /a#il* that cele$rates and a!!reciates ,"#en+ 8* !"siti"nalit*& then& c"#es /r"# a !lace "/ ,"#en-s strength and inde!endence+ It is als" i#!"rtant t" n"te that I c"#e /r"# a #iddle class ,hite /a#il*9there/"re& the #"$ilit* "/ ,"#en in #* /a#il* /"rtunatel* has n"t $een li#ited $* s"ci"ec"n"#ic status+ .e ,ere al,a*s a$le& and enc"uraged& t" drea# $ig+ Interestingl* en"ugh& I haven-t al,a*s identi/ied ,ith ,"#en-s e#!",er#ent+

This is in large !art $ecause I t"" it /"r granted: ,hen I ,as *"unger& I t"ld !e"!le that I ,anted t" $e the /irst /e#ale !resident& and I $elieved that it ,as /ull* !"ssi$le+ At that !"int& and thr"ugh"ut #uch "/ #* ad"lescence& there ,as n" reas"n /"r #e t" d"u$t that ,"#en c"uld achieve as #uch as #en+ .hat I $egan t" reali4e& !articularl* ,hen I entered c"llege& is that this !ers!ective is sh"rt;sided+ ."#en d" n"t have the sa#e "!!"rtunities as #en9it-s si#!l* a /act+ In c"llege& I disc"vered an entire ,"rld "utside "/ #* /ra#e "/ re/erence that !"siti"ns ,"#en l",er than #en+ H",ever& it ,as als" in c"llege that I /"und /e#inist the"r*& ,hich gave #e the anal*tical t""ls t" identi/* gender ine1ualities+ Manifestations of Sexism .hile there are still certain /"r#s "/ se0is# that are "utright "//ensive 2/"r e0a#!le& the "$6ecti/icati"n "/ ,"#en in #usic vide"s3& #uch "/ the ti#e se0is# "/ten g"es unrec"gni4ed& cl"a ed in the n"ti"n that it is a thing "/ the !ast+ .hile I li ed t" thin "/ #*sel/ as $eing ,ise t" the vari"us /"r#s "/ se0is#& this class& and #* stud* "/

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES

<

linguicis# in !articular 2,hich sh",ed #e h", c"#!le0 and su$tle !",er d*na#ics can $e3& "!ened #* e*es t" its #"re insidi"us s*ste#ic #ani/estati"ns+ I have n", c"#e t" understand that se0is# can $e s"#ething as si#!le as the ,a* s"ciet* is structured9 as!ects "/ "ur lives that ,e "/ten acce!t as =the ,a* it is+> 5"r e0a#!le& ,hile !e"!le c"ngratulated Cand* Cr",le* "n $eing the /irst /e#ale !residential de$ate #"derat"r in %' *ears& u! until this !"int& n"t #an* !e"!le see#ed t" 1uesti"n why? In this sense& it is a /"r# "/ "!!ressi"n that is re/lected in the =vast in6ustices s"#e gr"u!s su//er as a c"nse1uence "/ "/ten unc"nsci"us assu#!ti"ns and reacti"ns "/ ,ell #eaning !e"!le in "rdinar* interacti"ns& #edia and cultural stere"t*!es + + + in sh"rt& the n"r#al !r"cesses "/ ever* da* li/e> 2?"ung& %'1'3+ T" #e& the threat "/ this t*!e "/ "!!ressi"n is that it is di//icult t" identi/*& ,hich als" #a es it di//icult t" change+ Can Women Have it All? In her article /"r The Atlantic titled Why Women Still Cant Have it All, Anne; 8arie Slaughter !"ints "ut that ,hile #an* ,"#en these da*s are !r"gressive and career driven& the* still #ust "!erate ,ithin a !atriarchal /ra#e,"r that d"esn-t all", /"r ,"#en t" $e $"th career and /a#il* "riented+ Tending t" the children is still ver* #uch c"nsidered a ,"#an-s d"#ain& and there is n" s!ace t" ,"rr* a$"ut a /a#il* ,hen *"u are c"#!eting !r"/essi"nall* ,ith #en ,h" d" n"t have the sa#e "$ligati"ns+ Alth"ugh Slaughter g"t a l"t "/ !ush$ac /"r her article $* !e"!le ,h" clai#ed that it ,as degrading t" ,"#en& I thin her !"int is /airl* !ertinent t" the structure "/ s"ciet* these da*s: ,"#en are a$le t" achieve a l"t !r"/essi"nall*& $ut the* still #ust "!erate ,ithin the c"n/ines "/ a #ale;d"#inated hierarch* that eventuall* /"rces ,"#en t" ch""se $et,een their careers and their /a#il*+

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES Enlig tened Sexism In #* #ind& the reas"n that Slaughter-s article g"t s" #uch negative /eed$ac is that #an* ,"#en /eel that great strides have $een ta en ,ith regards t" ,"#en-s rights& and an* suggesti"n "/ the c"ntinued "!!ressi"n "/ ,"#en is da#aging+ H",ever& I $elieve that Slaughter is a victi# "/ ,hat auth"r Susan D"uglas calls =enlightened se0is#+> Acc"rding t" D"uglas& in #"dern s"ciet* there is the idea that /e#inist gains are a given& and that the a!e0 "/ /e#ale e#!",er#ent has $een reached9at this !"int& ,"#en can d" an*thing+ This ind "/ attitude =insists that ,"#en have #ade !lent* "/

!r"gress $ecause "/ /e#inis#9indeed /ull e1ualit* has allegedl* $een achieved9s" n", its @K& even a#using& t" resurrect se0ist stere"t*!es "/ girls and ,"#en> 2D"uglas& %'113+ The n"ti"n that /e#inis# did its 6"$& and that se0is# is de/unct& #eans that the gender hierarch* ,ill n"t $e challenged& and ensures that ,"#en ,ill =sta* in their !lace&> s" t" s!ea + In #* #ind& enlightened se0is# !er/ectl* descri$es the attitude "/ *"ung ,"#en t"da*+ The !r"$le# is that assu#ing that there is n" #"re ,"r t" d" threatens t" !er!etuate se0is# even #"re+ In additi"n& a $*;!r"duct "/ enlightened se0is# is that n",& c"nceding t" a #ale ideal "/ $eaut* and $ehavi"r is th"ught t" $e a /"r# "/ e#!",er#ent /"r ,"#en& $ecause it is d"ne /"r "ur ",n gain+ As D"uglas n"tes& =enlightened se0is# sells the line that it is !recisel* thr"ugh ,"#en-s calculated de!l"*#ent "/ their /aces& $"dies& attire and se0ualit* that the* gain and en6"* true !",er + + + a !",er that #en n"t "nl* ,ill n"t resent& $ut als" ,ill e#$race> 2D"uglas& %'113+

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES !ou"le Consciousness of Women This #"dern /"r# "/ se0is#& in #* #ind& results in ,hat .+E+B+ Du B"is la$els =d"u$le c"nsci"usness&> ,hich is the =sense "/ al,a*s l"" ing at "ne-s sel/ thr"ugh the e*es "/ "thers + + + "/ a ,"rld that l"" s "n in a#used c"nte#!t and !it*> 2as cited in ?"ung& %'1'3+ 5"r ,"#en& #*sel/ included& there is a !ush;!ull ,anting t" re6ect ,hat is traditi"nall* e0!ected "/ us 2/"r e0a#!le& the idea that ,"#en are su!!"sed t" c""

and clean3& and ,anting t" c"n/"r# t" the gender n"r#s that have $een esta$lished /"r us 2/"r e0a#!le& l"" ing attractive t" #ales39essentiall*& si#ultane"us !ushing against and desiring a!!r"val /r"# the sa#e gr"u! that #a es the rules in the /irst !lace+ The /unda#ental !r"$le#& !ursuing D"uglas- line "/ th"ught& is that #an* ,"#en $elieve that adhering t" an ideal "/ /e#inine $eaut* ,ill actuall* lead t" #"re !",er9it-s a ,a* t" ,"r the s*ste#+ Such $ehavi"r rein/"rces !",er d*na#ics& /"r #en dictate these ideals& and ulti#atel*& h", ,"#en ,ill gain access t" as!ects "/ s"ciet* that are t*!icall* th"ught t" $e the d"#ain "/ the #ale 2thin !"litics "r the u!!er echel"ns "/ c"r!"rati"ns3+ 8ale attenti"n& then& $ec"#es c"veted as a #eans /"r survival and success+ Feminism for Millennials I $elieve that "ne "/ the #ain !r"$le#s t"da* is that the ter# =/e#inis#> has devel"!ed a negative c"nn"tati"n& generall* "/ a t*!e "/ disgruntled ,"#an ,h" has a chi! "n her sh"ulder and ,h" hates #en+ Because "/ this c"nn"tati"n& I thin #an* #illennial ,"#en ,"uld rather $e th"ught "/ as /e#inine than /e#inist+ H",ever& I $elieve that ,"#en sh"uld $e a$le t" cele$rate their /e#ininit* and n"t live in /ear "/ gender n"r#s 2/"r e0a#!le& I li e dresses& /l"ral !rints& and c"" ing3& and still $e /e#inists+ I $elieve that /e#inis# is #"re "/ an individual #indset& and an attitude "/

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES a,areness a$"ut $"th the s"cial and s*ste#ic #ani/estati"ns "/ se0is#& than si#!l* a re6ecti"n "/ all things /e#inine+ Alth"ugh it ,ill $e challenging t" shi/t the de/initi"n "/

/e#inis#& I $elieve it is i#!"rtant /"r ,"#en t" e#$race their /e#inist side& and have the c"urage t" identi/* and challenge gender hierarchies ,ith"ut /eeling guilt* /"r d"ing s"+ C"nclusi"n: I#!"rtance "/ A,areness and Acti"n in an Indi//erent ."rld Alth"ugh there is a sense that #"dern s"ciet* is /airl* gender e1ual& gender hierarchies are still visi$le& th"ugh *"u #a* need a discerning e*e t" s!"t the#+ The e* t" changing these hierarchies is t" challenge the #*th that the* n" l"nger e0ist& and enc"urage ,"#en t" thin criticall* a$"ut as!ects "/ se0is# in s"ciet* t"da*+ The #illennial generati"n is !articularl* i#!"rtant& n"t "nl* $ecause ,e have $ec"#e nu#$ t" vari"us /"r#s "/ se0is#& $ut als" $ecause ,e are ver* in/luenced $* #edia& ,hich at this !"int in/iltrates nearl* ever* !art "/ "ur lives 2and ,hich is n"t"ri"us /"r cultivating stere"t*!es "/ su$"rdinate gr"u!s3+ Ign"ring gender hierarchies& !articularl* in an age that is s" #edia /"cused& threatens t" !er!etuate the# even /urther+ As a /e#ale& I n", h", tric * it can $e t" identi/* se0is#& es!eciall* the /"r#s that have $ec"#e t"tall* ingrained in s"ciet*+ I als" n", h", di//icult it can $e t" s!ea u! against se0is#& /"r #an* !e"!le get irritated at the #enti"n "/ it 2recentl*& as I ,as discussing gender d*na#ics ,ith a /riend& he accused #e "/ =s!ending t"" #uch ti#e ,ith #* /e#inist the"r* $"" s>3+ This ind "/ nee;6er reacti"n #eans that it ta es n"t "nl* critical th"ught& $ut als" #uch c"urage t" c"#$at se0is#+ As a /uture educat"r& I thin it is i#!"rtant n"t "nl* t" teach /e#ales that gender hierarchies d" still e0ist& $ut als" t" give the# the !r"!er t""ls t" $e a$le t" thin criticall*& and identi/* such hierarchies+ In additi"n& ,"#en sh"uld $e enc"uraged n"t t" $e a/raid "/ /e#inis#9the* sh"uld $e a$le t" e#$race it as a #indset rather than a

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES certain li/est*le+ As l"ng as ,e are a/raid "/ /e#inis#& change ,ill $e #"re di//icult+ This c"urse has sh",ed #e that a,areness d"es n"t necessaril* c"#e instinctivel*9I a# still in the !r"cess "/ h"ning #* ",n critical thin ing a$ilities+ H",ever& I $elieve that critical th"ught is incredi$l* i#!"rtant& /"r it is the /irst ste! in identi/*ing ine1ualities+ As an educat"r& it ,ill $e #* res!"nsi$ilit* t" ensure that #* students& $"th /e#ale and #ale& are sensitive t" and a,are "/ gender hierarchies& and #"st i#!"rtantl*& that the* are !re!ared and ,illing t" s"#eti#es as the 1uesti"n why?

CRITICAL THINKING AND GENDER HIERARCHIES Re/erences D"uglas& S+ 2%'113+ The rise "/ enlightened se0is#+ On the Issues Magazine, Winter 20 ! Retrieved /r"#

htt!:EE,,,+"ntheissues#aga4ine+c"#E%'11,interE%'11F,interFD"uglas+!h! Slaughter& A+ 2%'1%3+ .h* ,"#en still can-t have it all+ "he Atlanti#, $uly%August 20 2& C);1'%+ ?"ung& I+ 2%'1'3+ The /ive /aces "/ "!!ressi"n+ In 8+ Ada#s& .+ G+ Blu#en/eld+& C+ Casteneda& H+.+ Hac #an& 8+ L+ Heters& I J+ Kuniga& 2Eds+3& &ea'ings (or 'iversity an' so#ial )usti#e 2!!+ 7);<)3+ Ne, ?"r : R"utledge+