Boyd
Question Midterm
Jamie # 5 from Ch. 1
When I first signed up for this Womans Studies course, I really was not all that interested
in it at all. I only took it because it was a requirement. After almost two semesters and reading
numerous articles on womens issues, I am so glad I did. At first I thought Womens Studies was
just all about radical feminists that just assume and think women are oppressed, but now I realize
that although women have come a long way and sometimes it seems women that they have equal
rights, they truly dont
Learning about Womens lives taught me the real meaning of the f word, women, and
their lives. I believe learning about women and their lives can help put a stop to some of the
outrageous oppression going on in this world. I believe learning about it can change the future
and keep it from repeating itself over again. I learned a lot in my former womens studies course
which led me to this course. Learning about womens lives opened up another world for that I
was completely blind to. I didnt think coming into this class that I would take way some much
knowledge about myself and other women. But not only does learning about women help
women. It also helps empower men as well. Women are faced with so many issues throughout
the world. Learning about womens live really teaches you about everyday issues they face and
gets you wanting to take a part in making a change.
Question #2 from Ch. 2
I personally hold the view that all inequality between the people in this world can be
explained through two words- Socially constructed! The views that your race, culture, and your
beliefs are the correct ones are engrained in your life since the day you are born, the world
around shapes your opinions on everything from politics to religion, as well as race and gender
inequality.
When It comes to gender its quite frustrating when guys think girls can't do the "Dirty
work". They think we couldnt survive without them but thats wrong. Whats the most annoying
is that guys think them half to be alpha males. It's impossible for guys to accept that women
are better at some things and men are better at others. Most men can't comprehend the fact that
just because something is empowering for women, doesn't mean that it is going to drop their
status. Guys and not all of them necessarily seem to think women belong in the kitchen, barefoot
and pregnant. Times have changed, and this isnt the 50s and 60s anymore. I'm not in the
kitchen; you can find me out in the woods, or in the garage!
When it comes to race, I dont understand why we cant just co-exist. What is the deal
with white privilege, and why do whites feel they are entitled to it? There not better than any
other race, but yeah the feel entitled. Is it human nature to create competition in every aspect of
life instead of just drawing from each different person strengths regardless of race or gender?
Why does one always half to be better? Theres nothing that says one person is better than the
other because of race, gender, or class. It is like I said; socially constructed, and spread through
generations of people teaching it to their kids. Media plays a huge part in inequality in race and
gender. The thought that one gender or race always has to be "better" than the other, instead of
the recognition that both genders, and races are just "different"; and it doesnt help that everyone
plays a part in it by judging and comparing, and also by passing it on. Youre constantly judging
others and comparing yourself and your life to theirs. Its kind of sad that its almost safe to say
its human nature in todays society.
Question # 5 from Ch. 3
What do you know of your familys culture and history before it became a part of the United
States?
To be honest, I dont know very much about my familys past. My real father has never
been around, but I do know about my moms family. I know that we are German, and had family
on both sides of the holocaust. Our family came here with the start of my grandfather Rick,
whose dad was a Mason. Growing up her would always tell us he loved us in German, and I
always remember never being able to understand much of what the family said in German.
Eventually I learned that some of our family was actually thrown into the concentration camp for
harboring Jews. When I was younger my Aunt Wendy gave me a small, old book that her great
aunt had wrote after the camps were liberated about her the trials she faced. And other family
members were actually part of the Nazis running some of the camps. It was quite interesting to
learn that our family had been a part of one of the times in history that grabs my attentions the
most, and even stranger to see that we had family on both sides of the fence.
Questions 1-10 from Ch. 4
1. I think everyones sex life is important to them. It seems like now that Ive been
married for two years that its a little less important to me per say, but definitely still a major
factor in my life. When my husband and I having sex regularly I notice that our relationship runs
a lot smoother, if we go through a dry spell with working late and night school, I seem to notice
that our relationship suffers, and we tend to fight more often. So it plays a major role in how our
relationship plays out.
2. Most of the time he sets the style of sex because Im not really interested. She has
gotten to be somewhat of the same routine over and over asking it not the most exciting thing
ever. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy it but consciously it doesnt really cross my mind much. Most
of the time he decides when its over because once he orgasms hes completely done! This can
definitely get frustrating some times. We sort of get stuck in a rut after 5 years of being together.
3. At first I thought this was a strange question. That is of course until I read all the stuff
going on with women getting their vaginas redone in surgery. I myself have never looked down
at my genital area and thought it was beautiful or ugly. I feel my vagina is just fine. I feel all
womens vaginas are exactly the way there meant to be. I cant understand for the life of me why
some women want to go out and spend thousands of dollars to have unnecessary surgery to be
pleasing to the eye for someone else.
4. I can honestly say that no, I dont ever fake orgasms. As far as Im concerned, Im not
going to sit there and boost his ego for something he didnt accomplish. While I love my
husband I feel like I make sure he gets his, so he should do the same in return. If I have to fake
orgasms I dont see the point in sex. Furthermore, why in the hell should you sit there and lie just
to make him feel better when you know he dont ever do that for you. When most guys dont
orgasm they moan and complain. Theyve even named it blue balls. Women on the other hand
are supposed to fake it and shut up. Not these days, sex isnt all pleasing about the guy; Im not
obligated to fake for his sake. The last thing Ill do is fake an orgasm.
5. Its sad to say that most of my best sex experiences came with a previous partner. Not
that my husband and I didnt have some amazing sex when we first met, and still do. But my
previous boyfriend and I were still having amazing sex three years later! Im not sure what
exactly was different with him because I feel way more in love and connected to my husband
than I did to him. He was just more up to switching things around and keeping it new.
6. My greatest pleasure is feeling connected to my husband. When we have sex, for some
reason it makes me feel likes he into me, and still in love. This leads to my greatest dis pleasure
which is when we havent had sex in a while. I think that might be why we argue so much when
we havent been intimate in a couple days because I feel as if he isnt attracted to me or as in
love with me as he used to be.
7. Ill be totally honest on this one, being celibate at times has never bothered me. I mean
in between long term boyfriends, I could go months or a year without having sex. I dont think it
bothers most women, like it does men.
8. I explain your sexuality as your preference that you choose in your sex life. Which sex
you choose, and the things you want to go on in your sex life. For each person this is obviously
different. Some people are gay, some are not. Some like both sexes. Some people are freaky
while others are quiet and reserved. Some people are swingers, and some people are dominatrix
to me thats what they choose their sexuality to be.
9. I know plenty about safe sex since its been drilled into my head since middle school
but my own body, and conception? This is a good question for me to think about considering;
Ive really had babies on the mind lately. Im so nervous to mention to anyone that I actually
want to think about trying to conceive. My husband and I have been married for two years, and
have yet to conceive. Some of me is scared that I cant have kids but I dont know who to talk to
about any of it. His family is more worried about his older brother and his wife conceiving that I
think theyve forgot we want children too and could possibly have them a grandchild as well. My
husband says he wants to have kids, but can never seem to have a serious conversation about
trying. He believes if its meant to be, it should just happen. I dont agree. But I also have no idea
how to go about getting pregnant.
10. Too be honest, I dont think my husband does known that much about sexual desires.
His sexual desire is to have the same old boring sex every single time. For me, its just not going
to work that way. But half of its my fault because Instead of communicating my sexual desires
to him I just let it go. If Im frustrated I just get up which isnt going to help. Im bored, and need
some excitement! I dont want to leave my husband I just want him to spice it up a little.
Question #4 from Ch. 5
Who should pay for health care? How? Why?
The issue of health care is quite a tricky one. I believe that everyone should have the right
to health insurance. While The Democratic majority won the vote on the repeal of the Health
Care law, Im not necessarily sure that the government should be the ones completely regulating
our health care system. The preamble to the constitution guarantees life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, the term here being life. I believe that every American should have their very basic
needs met food, water, and shelter. A healthy country is a productive one. Once basic needs are
met I believe that a society free of worry could push forward together and raise the standard of
living for all.
Now, whos going to foot the bill? Im really not sure how we should go about trying to
fund it? Raising taxes? Asking some who can afford health care to pay for the others who cant?
I know in Europe universal health care has helped a lot of people but it has also brought the
quality of health care way down. Just as with every issue theres going to be pros and cons. Ill
take a few cons as long as a few billion people get access to adequate health insurance.
Question #4 from Ch. 6
How has abuse or violence affected your life? Your family? Your community?
Violence has played a huge part of my life. For most of my child hood my father
physically abused my mother for many years. As a result, i noticed that for most of my childhood
I was pretty violent kid, as well as my adolescent years. The older I got though, my violent
behavior started to change. Before I was usually the one starting the confrontation, then the older
I got, it made me where I cant even be around much confrontation unless I am the one in it.
My younger brother is the exact opposite. Never been violent and only fights if hes
backed into a corner. My mother on the other hand since our father passed away has completely
changed into the violent one. Im not sure if it has anything to do with the violence she
experienced or the drinking addiction shes acquired since he passed, but Im sure they all tie
together somehow. Until this question I had never thought about how much violence played a
role and affected my life. It seems my younger brother and I broke the pattern. Im glad we
didnt let the violence we experienced define who we are.
Question #7 from Ch. 7
How do you justify differences in pay?
How do I justify differences in pay; I DONT!! There is absolutely NO valid reason that
can justify the gap in pay between women and men! Women can do the same job most any man
can do and more. Most men are as I like to call them, in a sense one dimensional. They do what
they call real work. But women can do real work outside of their home and also do the work
considered by men to be womens jobs in the home.
I feel really sorry for women who work a full-time job, then have to go home and work a
second shift at home making dinner and cleaning the house while the man sits on the couch and
watches TV, because he believes its the woman's duty, job, or God given talent to do those
things. Nothing compares with the stress of looking after small children, cooking for them and
cleaning up after them after you get home from your full time job. So the real question is since
when do women get stuck doing all the work inside and outside the home; and getting paid squat
to nothing sometimes. Why isnt the pay scale the other way around??
Its because many old fashioned men still expect women to take care of everything for
them, at home AND in the workplace. But they cant come to terms with the fact that women are
deserved the exact same pay and opportunities to move up as they do. I think a lot of men are
intimidated and scared they wont be needed anymore. The bottom line is there isnt any logical
reason why women of the same professional standing and potential should be paid less than men.