Girl/Boy

As always, another excellent guest lecture. Quick thanks to all the guests we've had throughout the semester. You have all made this difficult material seem much more.. manageable.

So, as evidenced by this week's post, feminist theory evades easy definition. Feminist critics take different perspectives, exploring the ways in which women are classified and subordinated. There is the conflict between sexuality and gender, and what is necessary to create a more level playing field, so to speak. In other words, the question of what needs to change for our society to view women as equals is disputed even among feminists. We have a common goal, but no one is quite sure how to get there. Some postfeminists seem to believe we've come a long way already, that women are to a point where they are finally "free".

I've always found the topic of pornography compelling, especially in regards to feminist theory. First of all, the term pornography has some iffy implications, and can be defined in a few different ways (as we have discussed in class). I could argue that Hollywood is little more than a well dressed porn industry. Celebrities are objectified just as porn stars are. The only difference is, the porn industry explicitly uses sex, whereas celebrities are idolized, worshipped, "put on a pedestal", and therefore made into an unreachable object. Both the way we view mainstream celebrities and pornographic actors is dangerously voyeuristic. So I'm not going to claim to support the porn industry or imply that there is nothing wrong with it, but I will not say that in terms of the objectification of its stars that one is most damaging than the other. And while one may argue (justifiably) that pornography - which I will think of as the objectification of a person for the pleasure of another - is further subordinating women in our culture, it is unfair not to acknowledge that men are also objectified in these ways. People are being objectified.

When a woman is objectified, power is taken away from them. As aforementioned, I do believe pornography is objectifying, but the radical extent to which certain feminists take it doesn't seem accurate or believable to me (the post specifically notes Andrea Dworkin and Catherine A. MacKinnon). I do not necessarily believe it condones "male fantasies of violence and rape against women", though, of course, there are room for exceptions. Still, I fear this may be on the verge of generalizing, which is not really good for anyone. I am curious to know how the women in the class feel about this.

I try to read feminist theory from the most sympathetic mindset I can, but I also try to consider my own identity as a man, and how that effects my relationship to this material. I wonder if I am imposing power or undermining women in my actions or words. If so, how? And what can I do to change that? Finding equality between men and women requires the responsibility of both sexes. I understand the value of feminism, and consider myself a feminist. So in response to the question of "who can do feminism", my answer would, without hesitation, be "anyone".