Both readings discuss discrimination towards those who aren’t apart of the elitist or the majority. In Morrison’s writing not only is racial segregation being discussed between the two main characters, Twyla and Roberta, there is also a difference in social standing. They were both raised in the same circumstances in setting but as Roberta joins the upper class, they began to grow apart in mindset and feelings towards in one another. Spivak discusses discrimination in a different method using sex as an example. Spivak addresses the inequality between men and women and talks about how society has been taught and set up to have male to be viewed as the ‘Subject’ and women as the ‘Other’. Spivak writes, “The ideological construction of gender keeps the male dominant” (28). In modern day society, the inequality between men and women persists in most parts of the world but more specifically in the Middle East. Women in the Middle East were and still are in some areas, heavily oppressed in their respective societies.
In the article found below, it discusses the quality of life that women are given in foreign countries and lists some of the various rights that women aren’t granted compared to men. For example in the article it says, “It is often assumed that the severe conditions in Saudi Arabia—where women are not even allowed to drive cars—represent the norm for women throughout the Middle East” (AbuKhalil, 2014). These assumptions and inaccuracies is what leads to “truth” being created which can lead to massive problems in terms of discrimination against women. From personal experience, where I’m from (Algeria), married couples are usually brought together through arranged marriages by their respective families. In these arranged marriages, women are allowed to divorce but it ends up in them becoming alienated from both families and is seen by society as a sin. Luckily my family doesn’t conduct this kind of practice, but I know for a fact this is still a problem that exists there today. This issue stems from a lack of representation and excessive oppression. Fortunately in recent years efforts have been conducted to relieve some of the inequality presented however many still exist.
AbuKhalil, A. (2014, May 07). Women in the Middle East. Retrieved February 06, 2021, from https://ips-dc.org/women_in_the_middle_east/
I really like your thoughts and your presentation and I wanted to add that sometimes we lose grasp of how good we are in the United States. My sister is a second year law student and a story like that could not exist in certain parts of the world because of insecurities and cultures still looking down on women. It amazes me how hatred still exists.
I believe the sexism highlighted here is very important because as we know, not all countries have made as much progress as the United States when it comes to women’s rights. However, as an American I believe again that I will never fully understand what life is like for women in middle eastern countries, even if they were to try to explain it to me. And that is the idea of subalterns. The inaccuracies that you discussed are very real and very challenging to eliminate as it is nearly impossible for us to “put ourselves in their shoes”. How do we find empathy for struggling women without reducing them to the idea of a struggling woman? We can not ignore that they are humans with diverse lives, stories, interests, and perspectives.
Your presentation really highlights how discrimination affects so many groups of people. It also represents how discrimination looks different in different areas or countries. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences of sexism in Algeria. I wonder if this is similar in Saudi Arabia. I see how not overgeneralizing the struggles of the minority can be difficult. Every group, dispersed in different areas experience different challenges that limit their full liberation. Although, I will say that some groups do face similar types of problems. Women in Algeria are probably not the only group of women who experience this amount of oppression. I think the more we learn about other places, the more connected we will feel, and then there could be larger, joint movements.
This is a constant struggle for many women in other countries that women in the United State takes for grants. They do not understand that they have so much freedom compared to what other have. It is crazy to think that there are still countries that do not see all people as an equal no matter the gender. This article was surprising to see some inaccuracies that we were lead to believe were true. I will never know the struggles women face in the Middle East, but I do hope they can get some more equality.
Actually as a male born in a country where might have these sexism problems but currently this phenomenon has improved a lot. I want to say that it is a problem that should be and have to be taken seriously. The sexism comes from discrimination and is something like the systemic injustice. If the general public in a country have a consensus that male are better than female. It is extremly difficult to change this ethos. As a male, we should avoid continuation. And as a female, we should fight forever.
This perspective regarding the rights of women in other countries is so important to make people aware of. It is so easy for me, a women who has so many rights and freedoms in the US, to forget that so many other countries still have not granted women these rights. I think another thing to note is that many countries where women have minimal rights are often rooted deeply in religion. I think religious beliefs in countries are used to continue to keep women suppressed. I think a reason the US has come so far in terms of women’s rights is due to the separation of church and state that our country has.
Gender inequality still exists today and in the US, specifically in the work force. Men and women are not paid the same in many jobs, even when having the same position. In 2017 the Women’s March occurred world wide as women and some men protested for women’s rights and to show the world that their voices will be heard. The workforce inequality is the main issue occurring in the US, but in some parts of the world women are not allowed to chose their husband, drive a car or make decisions for themselves. Spivak referring to how society frames men as the subject and women as the other speaks for the inequality that is still present in our society today. Women got the right to vote just shy of 100 years after men and as big as an accomplishment that is women are still fighting for equality and the biggest battle is that men agree we are treated equally, unaware of the fact that we still have a ways to go.
I believe there is still some inequality between men and women that persist in the United States today in the forms of payment in the workplace and those sort of issues, but it seems absurd that in the Middle East such great inequality is still shown. For example, how you mentioned how in an arranged marriage if the wife decides to get a divorce she is no longer part of the family seems completely unfair since she was not the one choosing her husband. I don’t think I can ever fully grasp what women have to go through in the Middle East or other areas of the world where they are treated unfairly.
Hi!
I think that your context research presentation was very informative and interesting. I like hoe you discussed the gender inequality and discrimination that is still present today. The example show the extreme discrimination and inequality that women are facing in the Middle East, but I would like to add that I think there is still inequality for women in the United States. Women in the United States face inequality in turns of pay between men and women, but in the Middle East the discrimination and inequality is more prevent. You provided a great examples such as arranged marriages and not being able to drive, but there are probably plenty of other examples that show that women are discriminated and treated less than men.
Hello!
I really enjoyed reading your context presentation as it brought out main concepts of both stories. I agree with you that many countries still have issues with gender equality. The example you stated where Middle Eastern women still experience inequality is very true but I also would like to add that its not just in the Middle East or third world countries, it still exists in the Westernized culture as well.
Women in the USA still face discrimination in the work place. Men are still paid more than a women in certain jobs for example Nursing. A male nurse will make up to $5000 more than a female nurse. This just goes to show what Spivak stated, how society paints men as the subject and women as the other, proving that discrimination of gender still exists.
I also agree with you, about the arranged marriages. This also happens in my culture, but thankfully my parents don’t follow this. When a woman does come out to ask for divorce, she is shunned by her community and truly it is sad to know that this still happens in this day and age.
Source: https://www.onwardhealthcare.com/nursing-resources/do-male-nurses-earn-more-survey-says-yes/#:~:text=Male%20RNs%20make%20an%20average,%2481%2C000%20for%20their%20female%20counterparts.
This discussion is a very important topic to bring to light. Growing up in the United States as a woman, I do not realize the privilege I possess. I am allowed to work, marry, and pretty much do anything I was as I please, and this is normal life. Normal life for woman in the middle east is quite different. They do not possess the same rights. I recently met a girl here at Ohio State who told me she was divorced after an arranged marriage. My jaw dropped because we were the same age. She explained to me her culture and how this is normal in her family, but she ended up not agreeing with the process and left her arranged husband. The girl didn’t explain in detail, but the consequences for her divorce did not seem as extreme as they are in the middle east.
I really enjoyed the topics you discuss in this context presentation. Even though I think that there are many social injustices still present here in the United States against women. I do think it is important to realize some of the injustices against women in other countries. Arranged marriages have always been something that seemed very bizarre to me but I never thought about some of the consequences, especially for women, that an arranged marriage can bring.
This presentation really brings to light how fortunate we are for the society that we live in today. Not that long ago it was not normal for women to have jobs or really be leaders. I know that our society is definitely not perfect but we should be thankful that we do not treat women like they do in the Middle East. We have women today that run businesses, governments, and other organizations in comparison to how in the Middle East women are not even allowed to receive educations. As a man I can’t speak and say that I have really experienced anything like this but I can speak about what I have learned and observed.
I thought your presentation was really well put together and interesting! I do think that there is still inequalities and sexism today in the United States. I do agree that it is not as severe as it is in some countries, like Saudi Arabia. However, it is good to know that Saudi Arabian women have recently been allowed to drive cars. It gives me hope to see positive changes in strict countries like this. Thanks for sharing this with us!
This presentation is eye opening to the kinds of conditions that women still experience in some countries. The arranged marriages that women are forced into in countries in the Middle East are often abusive and unhappy. The fact that some families place so much pressure on these marriages is a shame and should be changed. The United States still has inequality present in the workplace and other similar positions, however, this does not compare to the issues faced in other countries.
Hi, I have read a lot of articles that in different countries women and shamed into staying in arrange marriages even if they are not happy or being abused. I can imaging getting out of a bad marriage and then having no family to talk to. It seems as if women almost everywhere have to have to ask to do almost anything. Things need to be change and all women should have the right to marry or divorce who they want, drive and have the same access to any job. Every body should have that right no matter what race or their gender. Great Work!