Cultural Context

Marx was convinced that people were good at the core. He thought that people were very affected by their culture, for both bad and good. The history of past cultures perceptions of women make them out to be soft and dainty, in need of help and special care. This pampering mindset left over from England causes women today to feel as though they are entitled to being helped into cars and over ditches, and not just entitled in all cases, but really causes them to believe they need it. Women believe they need men to help them with physical tasks and even served: "will you get me water?" or "will you plug in my computer?" And what's more, men feel as though they are the stronger race and therefore more capable to do these things for women or even help them. And they are. But they too feel entitled to these actions, and this causes them to feel control over women in these situations and women feel as though they shoul be controlled. Subservience is weaved into our mindset, as well as control.

This dainty leftover view of women affects their personalities. We're raised to value attractive softness and allure in our attitudes. Almost subconsciously we're trained like Geishas to dress alluringly, act seductively, and caudal men's egos as we allow them to be the instruments by which we accomplish tasks both physical and intellectual, through leadership.

Let us bat our eyes and swing our hips like Marie Antoinette, let us swoon over strength, bending and popping and stroking masculine complexes in order to encourage the male chauvinist attitude we've created yet protest. We are as much to blame for the male attitude of our culture as their ignorance.

A mans self-esteem drops when beat in a racing video game by a woman; there is no strength of physicality, just skill. A woman fears the joke, "I would have been insulted to be beat by a man" or "Well I'm a woman of course I won!" though the reverse would be laughed at, accepted, and deep down believed. Because the truth is, most people don't believe woman are capable. And in all honesty, I wouldn't feel comfortable demeaning a man and making a rude joke about him: not because I've been trained to think they are better (though on a small scale this is true) but because I don't feel comfortable demeaning and being rude to any person. Though it seems to be okay to demean and make rude jokes about women without remorse.

My culture tells me I need help. My culture tells me I need the help of a mans hand as I hop over a puddle, that I need squeak whilst daintily hopping. My culture tells me I can't lift that box, and in fact I feel as though I shouldn't even try, but relinquish control: to men. I give men the power, I hand it over to create a patriarchal society that flourishes, knowing that "equality" is central but stuck in this unequal rut.

Central to being a woman is not dainty and perfect beauty in the form of slimming, curve showing clothing, flowery smells and a painted face. Central to being a woman is not asking for help with physical tasks that a woman can do herself, in batting eyes and swinging hips, in squeaking and being afraid. To act like a self-sustaining human being a woman should tackle the tasks she's capable of.

Womanhood is not a set mold that you step into at a certain age. It's discovering what you're good at and what you're talented at and working hard for those things. It's becoming an adult and taking responsibility for your life. It's stepping into adulthood and whatever that means for you. I think a better question than " what does it mean to be a woman" is "what does it mean to be an adult" because the only difference in becoming a man vs becoming a woman essentially is genitalia: both are the terms for male's and females growing up and taking on those roles of responsibility. They are not set: they're what we make of them. I can just as well say that I want to be able to get an education and get a solid job so that I can support a family as any man.

So screw cultural context and what I'm supposed to live up to. I want to become an independent adult. When I do that I'll be a woman.

3/14/11

The painting is Marie-Antoinette, a la rose, 1783. Oil on canvas. By Vigee Le Brun.