· Identify a section or passage from your memoir that would be worth analyzing through one of the lenses. Summarize this section briefly, in a sentence or two.
· Then analyze this section or passage through one of the lenses in a few sentences.
· Close your blog post with a lens question related to your analysis, that any classmate—no matter which memoir they are reading, can respond to. (Examples: Is anyone else starting to feel that their memoirist’s memory is unreliable? Is anyone else’s memoirist struggling with his/her performance of gender role norms? Is anyone else seeing examples blurred lines between the “colonizer” and the “colonist”?)
· Respond to at least 2 of your peers’ posts.
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Delete"My colleague Pam was told during her review that her good work would be taken more seriously if she toned down her provocative clothes and overly personality" pg 90. In this passage from my memoir the author is recalling a time where her co-worker was scrutinized for her clothing choice, and her personality. Through the gender lens we can see that since she is a female, her clothing will either be perceived as either professional, or provocative. This is unfair especially because her colleague was told that her "overly friendly behavior" is one of the causes that her work could not be taken seriously. But I bet if she was overly mean, or rude the company would still have an issue. With that in mind, do you think that if her colleague was a male, he would be this closely scrutinized, for both his appearance in terms of clothing, and his attitude?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. It is totally unfair for her colleague to not take her work serious just because of her personality or the way she dresses. Also, I don't like the fact that women have to wear a certain uniform at their job just to not look provocative.
DeleteSociety puts women on a pedestal and has a certain image they should follow, and if they fall outside that image, they are easily attacked and scrutinized.
DeleteI agree this might not have happened if she was a male. There is more pressure on women to be conscious of how they dress.
DeleteI agree with what you are stating the fact that she is a female is what causes her to be so harshly scrutinized. It is amazing to see that what a female wears seems to identify her and construct her reputation.
DeleteI agree because I feel like the only reason she was pressed so much was because she is woman meaning if she was a man she wouldn't have been bothered as much or even at all.
DeleteI agree, today in our society we have many standards for women and in turn harsh backlash to those who chosose to stand out from it.
DeleteJen's three year old son explaines this new game he plays with his friends. All his friends (the good guys) would chase Sharu ( the monster) and try to capture him. He explains that Sharu is always picked to be the monster because his skin tone is dark and according to his friend Oscar, people with darker skin tones are all bad people. This can be analyzed through the post-colonial lens because we can see that Oscar is already differentiating and labeling Sharu just based off of appearance. Oscar befriends Gomer (Jen's son) because he looks white but what Oscar doesn't know is that Gomer is actually half Chinese. So we can conclude that Oscar will "other" individuals based off of appearance and not actual knowledge. Do you think its okay for small children to make remarks like this considering they are at the age where they dont know much about the world and are still developing?
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that it is right for small children to make remarks like that even though they are young. It is understood that everyone makes ignorant remarks when we don't know much, but that doesn't make it right. I believe that at that very young age it is the parents job to be cautious about what your child is to exposed to. This is because at the age of three no child should understand race in that context, they should see each other as equals. To add, it is important that children not make those remarks at such a young age, or any age because when you hear something like that at a young age, you are very gullible and likely to believe it.
DeleteI feel like it is definitely not okay for children to make these assumptions because I feel like in the future it will get worse. These children are going to grow up with a terrible mindset about people that look a certain way.
DeleteI do not think it is okay for children to do this, however they can use these experiences and learn from them.
DeleteAn ignorant remark comes from one that doesn't necessarily know the entire message. A child in many instances don't know everything, and don't know any better and it is the parent of that child to instill in their Childs mind. The mindset of a child is formed by what they see and experience, and that can mess up future generations.
DeleteI feel like a child shouldn't be allowed to make such remarks. At a young age parents should install good values and thoughts into their childs brains, and they should learn that everyone is equal no matter what their physical appearance may be.
DeleteThis is crazy but I feel like these children picked up othering from watching grown ups.
DeleteIn the book, A Stolen Life, Jaycee says that she did not like going out and leaving her daughters alone because she thought they were not going to be protected. Phillip (kidnapper) made Jaycee believe the idea that he was the one who knew how to protect the girls because he was the one in charge. Jaycee also found her self thinking that she would not be able to survive without Phillip. This connects to the gender lens because in Jaycees eyes Phillip was the one in control of everything. He was the one who was really able to protect her and her daughter's because he was the man. Is anyone else noticing the type of power men hold within a household in their book?
ReplyDeleteI think my book is the opposite. The author Jen seems to be the one in control in her household. Although she asks her husband for help and his opinion, she is the one who takes control of situations. Its safe to say she is very vocal and authoritative.
DeleteIn most cases man are seen as the protectors and the one's that can keep a women from being hurt. I feel like it is something that society has embedded in the minds of women. Often women feel safer if they are walking around an area at night and a man is with them. Which shows how penetrated this is in society.
DeleteMostly we see men as the strong person in the household and they are the ones that have to protect their family. This can show how mostly women feel safe when a man is with them.
DeleteI completely agree to you because its so common for the male to always be the one in control in the house making sure everyone is safe.
DeleteYes, in my book Nina's dad holds a lot of indirect power in their household. He didn't want any daughters and as a result his daughters were praying for a son
ReplyDeleteIn my book the author's daughter is not allowed to play with another kid. The parent of that kid says that she does not what her daughter playing with kids she does not know. This can be analyzed though the post colonial lens. In this example we can see that her and her daughter are being "othered" and are being excluded from an activity. The author has many examples of being othered but perhapses this is the one that can be seen the clearest. Are any of the characters in your books being othered?
ReplyDeleteIn my memoir the narrator is " othered" in my instances, based on her race and culture. She is seen as the unusual one in her work force, leaving space for discrimination.
DeleteI agree when people are "othered" it probably us to due with the fact based on race or culture.
DeleteYes, someone in my book was kind of being othered because she wasn't "ladylike".
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DeleteMalala is being "othered" by her beliefs and gender. She is seen to be the rebel who is taking the stand of doing something right for once.
DeleteIn the memoir A Stolen Life, in one part Jaycee is talking to Nancy, Philip's wife who helped him kidnapped her. Jaycee explains that Nancy did not seem to agree with what Philip was doing to her. However, she continued to help him because she wanted to make him happy so she would do as he wanted. If we look at this through the gender lens we can see that women are portrayed as easy to manipulate and weak. While man are portrayed as powerful and strong. Is anyone else noticing that in their memoir women are shown as gullible while man are portrayed as superior?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is common and I noticed it in my memoir as well. In my book, women are seen as less superior and men are shown as the main show
DeleteIn my memoir, Nina the narrator speaks on behalf of her colleague Pam's attire in their work force and its "affect" on the corporate world " My colleague Pam was told during her review that her good work would be taken more seriously if she toned down Her provocative clothes and overly friendly personality." This can be analyzed through Psychoanalytical lens due to the importance of one's outter image. The way you view yourself, is the way people perceive you. A women working for the corporate world requires a presentable look, well put together and classy. You are interacting with not only your colleagues but the outside world, networking, meeting different people the way you dress plays a major role in your reputation. Does anybody else notice their author explaining the importance of one's outter image ?
ReplyDeleteIn the book suits "My colleague Pam was told during her review that her good work would be taken more seriously if she toned down her provocative clothes and overly personality." We used psychoanalytical lens because in the coorporate world the way you present yourself when it comes to clothing is important. It's important because if you're dressed unprofessionally people wouldn't take you seriously. Why is it important on how your appearance is when it comes to working in an corporate office?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you because people always treat you due to your appearance whether its something positive or negative they always make assumptions about you base on how you look.
DeleteI really don't understand how appearance plays a factor in where you work. I think that as long as that person is not trying to distract any one and they are doing their work than it should not matter what that person is wearing at all. People shouldn't treat someone differently based on their appearance, it just doesn't make sense to me.
DeleteIt's like if you are seen to fit within the job title, you are more likely to get the position!
DeleteI think it's important to corporates but at the same time it gives a rather bias judgement as they base her work ethic and personality based on an outift rather than skill.
DeleteIn my book Suits by Nina Godiwalla she states " My colleague Pam was told during her review that her good work would be takenn more seriously if she toned down her provocative clothes and overly friendly personality." (90) this can be looked at through the psychoanalytical lense because when it comes to working in corporate world your attire and attitude is what makes you who you are. That's the case because if someone is dressed a certain way for example Pam in the story then they wouldn't be taken seriously they would be taken as a joke and then their placement at work would be low. Now working in the corporate world is where an image is set for you so everyone has to follow certain rules or they'll just fail. The there's the mere fact that Pam was attacked in that way because she was a female and when a female wears a certain type of clothing she is automatically seen as easy or flirty or a hooker or just a person asking for it. Which is disrespectful a woman should be able to dress how she pleases without having to fear being judgesNow the question is why does appearance and attitude matter when working in the corporate? And why judge females so harshly?
ReplyDeleteI feel that appearance and attitude matters a lot at work because an employee should dress and act professional but I understand that the bosses judge women harsher than men and the only reason that pops in my mind is sexism.
DeleteIn my book Stolen Life by Jaycee Degard says "I pretend I'm happy a lot, just so Philip and Nancy don't feel bad. I've learned that having a good attitude around them makes them want to do more for me." Jaycee always try her hardest to make sure that she do as Philip asks and make sure he always happy with her behavior. We used the post colonial lens because Philip is in control of everything that happens to Jaycee since he is basically superior to her she feels the need to always satisfy his needs. Is anyone else noticing that their memoirist has to obey some one that is superior to them for their own good?
ReplyDeleteIn my book the author talks about her eight year old son Gomer. She says he still cuddles with his blankie named "munga-munga" and that he is still best friends with his baby sister. I looked at this through the psychoanalytical lens because the author dislikes that her son is acting like a kindergarten instead of growing up like all the other kids. I don't understand why the author doesn't let him live freely. My question is it better for kids to have a shorter childhood?
ReplyDeleteI think maybe it's because they author wants to raise their kids the way they were raised. Although I agree parents should be open to what their kids prefer, some parents have a hard time knowing what would be best for their kids
DeleteUhm.. no a child without a childhood is not a child.. i think that your question is extraneous because obviously children need their childhood.. perhaps you should ask why the author chose to underscore this child's childhood..
DeleteI think that it is specific to the child but I don't see why it is bad to behave like a child for as long as you can.
DeleteDefinitely not, kids can do whatever they want unless it harms someone.
DeleteTina fey mentions a scene in her book about how she was in a theatre program with older kids. She was the only one around 18 while the older kids were around 27. Tina Fey was trying to protect her friend from hooking up with a bad person so she was bad naming him, but the others thought she had a crush on him and because since she was younger, thats how they thought younger kids got jealous from their crushes, which was not the case for Tina at all. I saw this through the post colonial lens, the older kids "othered" Tina because she was younger and not in the same age group as them. Is anyone else seeing how people other each other because of different age? Is age a way to other somebody?
ReplyDeleteYes i believe age does other people because we associate with people based on grade level in school, and outside of school, at work, events, etc
DeleteIn Bossypants, Tina Fey describes how women were not offered the same roles for characters in a play. She goes on to say how the director of the play did not believe that women were capable of acting the same way the men would. We could use the gender lens to view how females are discriminated against due to their inferiority to men. So i guess my question is this: Does sexism exist due to fear of women gaining dominance?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you with how women are oppressed. Sexism does exist, because there are a lot of men out there who believe that women should be back in the kitchen because there is a fear that they would dominate them. As feminism increases throughout the years, sexism also increases too.
DeleteMindy talks about how she doesn't like weddings because being a bridesmaid is actually being a made and you would get upset if you didn't get chosen even though you wouldn't want to do it. You aren't even allowed to accept anyone help because you would feel like you would have to do everything yourself while the groomsmen don't have that much work to do if any. This is an example of the gender lens because in weddings women are expected to do more than man and they have to show that they are able to do all these tasks. Women are expected to do more in weddings than men. Are there portrayals of one gender having to do more than the other gender?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because there are certain expectations for both genders, and it is different for both men and women, depending on what the situation.
DeleteIn I am Malala, Malala talks about a particular village in the Rubbish mountains, where there are people who are so poor that they sell certain things just for a couple of rupees. She feels sorry for them, and when she tries to talk to some of the kids there, they run away and hide. I feel like Malala thinks that they are being "othered" based on the post-colonial lens, and the poor kids of that garbage city feel like they are lower than them, so they are ashamed of themselves. We can use the post-colonial lens to identify their problem in society. In different parts of societies from around the world, what would be considered as "the other?"
ReplyDeleteIn Bossypants, the author works on Saturday Night Live show. She has a new coworker who curses a lot. Her other coworkers thought that was "Unladylike" but they were totally fine with it if a male did it. Did anyone's author experienced something like this?
ReplyDeleteI feel like Malal is always being "othered" because of her gender and what she believes in. In her country, Pakistan, it is bad to be a rebel and go against norms. There comes this hsame of being othered, and many of the poor, uneducated people in pakistan feel this way as well as females. DO the characters in your book feel othered where it becomes a shame of being themselves in their society?
ReplyDeleteIn I Am Malala, Malala talks about how she is othered because of her religion and because of how she acts, has any one else seen an experience in which their author is othered because of a belief or other aspect?
ReplyDelete"When I visited, other banks they all had the same smell, as if the cleaning companies had the same 'investment banking' airfreshner." (80) Nina is somehow categorizing all investment banks under the same category as if they're special and unique. Special and unique to the point where they have their own scent, as she others everything else outside the investment bank category.
ReplyDelete