tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781813554327215280.post8185178658545608703..comments2014-12-03T19:38:13.595-08:00Comments on Gender, Race & Class: Reflection Paper #2: Dowry, Women in Tech, and the Anatomically Correct OscarBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15100023167123234673noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781813554327215280.post-82447512163281371742014-10-15T08:45:05.692-07:002014-10-15T08:45:05.692-07:00Becky as always, I enjoyed reading your blog and y...Becky as always, I enjoyed reading your blog and your perspective of certain issues, specially since you have children and can bring a different perspective than when I think about the issues that we have been discussing in class. It was eye opening to know about the dowry system in the region your friends are living in. I had no idea that the dowry is expected to be paid by extended family and friends and it was something to be proud to be able to do. Its interesting how culture varies with in the same country. <br /><br />I really liked your rebuttal to Steve's male privilege comment from the book. I think that women do have a lot more responsibility on their hands than men do. A well rounded women is expected to have good education, a career and still be able to take care of the home. The stats on the Oscar where surprising to me, I had no idea that there were such disparity between genders.<br /><br />Oh, I couldn't help but notice your comment about the next child. Congrats :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214126020957566784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781813554327215280.post-57678105258487012982014-10-14T06:13:08.537-07:002014-10-14T06:13:08.537-07:00Thank you for that perspective from India. It is i...Thank you for that perspective from India. It is interesting to not just read about it, but to get someone’s actual experience. I suppose from reading this that the laws do not really affect the culture, because dowry is supposed to be outlawed. It also amazes me how collective thoughts can be so entrenched in the people with regard to their roles. I’m thinking maybe it has to do also with the caste system and the idea that everyone is predestined to be born a certain way and stay that way their entire lives. <br />I think the idea of a woman’s role in western culture is clear, at least traditionally – she is supposed to be a wife and mother, care for her children and her husband and home. But just like in India, these ideas are based on culture. And I do not think it is even possible for neat roles to exist for each sex, just like you say. From my perspective growing up with a single parent, it was not possible for there to be clear roles, because my mother had to do everything – she had to be the breadwinner and the homemaker. So, if women had to just take on ‘women’s roles,’ how would that have worked out in my family? I think roles cannot be defined and enforced, sometimes because it’s just not possible.<br />The statistics on the Oscars are really surprising. I already knew they were not skewed, but I had no idea they were that skewed. I think throughout history it has always been the Caucasian male who has had power over every other race and sex, and the Oscars are a reflection of that today. It all goes back to the question: Are we really making progress or just running in place?<br />I agree that this class has been eye-opening. Culture is a phenomenon that is so subtle, that it affects you without you even realizing it. Every day, all around us there are gender roles and other norms being enforced that we don’t necessarily agree with.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com