In the Socratic Seminar we just did, the subject of feminism aroused my attention. Ms. Fletcher made the point that Le Guin uses the people of Gethen's same sexness to show that females should be treated equally with men. However, I contend that Ursula wasn't trying to convince us that women should have the same jobs and that men should be equally responsible for childrearing, but was simply showing what a society would be like if we were all the same sex or had the opportunity to change gender roles readily. I do believe Le Guin is concerned about the treatment of females. She writes that men have a lot more freedom than women. However, while females do have less time to become CEOs or presidents due to childbirth and the constraints that brings, she misses the fact that while females have different roles in society, their roles are no lesser than males and should be kept in high regard.
If I were to follow Le Guin's logic, then I could contend that males are the ones with less freedom. Males have absolutely no freedom to bear a child, a privilege reserved only for their female counterparts, while females do have the ability to achieve anything a man can. She, as well as many feminists out there, simply forget that childbearing is one of the most important roles in society and whoever does it should be applauded. She believes that a respectable women should strive for power and wealth and forgets that while women can do this, their natural role of Birthing isn't one we should see as lower than a running a company.
Some Feminists make the moral fallacy of seeing the role CEO as more desirable and more honorable than the role of a mother. Obviously, being a mother is exponentially more respectable.
Initially, I was offended by your blog, but as I read on, I came to understand what it is you were saying, and I found that I was in agreement with you. Women who take the time to be Mothers should be applauded indeed, for how often in today's society is a child brought up in a completely nurturing environment and given the right tools to succeed in life? Not often, I think. There are more children born than raised, if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I must add something to your point. I believe men and women aren't truly limited by their genders, not in the sense of what they can ultimately accomplish. They are not to be judged by their forms and their tendencies, but their intellect and knowledge.
Men and women are ultimately limited by the hierarchies within the system society they dwell in, not by their inability to support themselves.
A person's usefulness is dependent upon two things: Genes and Nurturing (the environment they are brought up in). Whether the person is seen as more useful being boy or a girl depends on the expectations of the system in place.
" I believe men and women aren't truly limited by their genders, not in the sense of what they can ultimately accomplish. They are not to be judged by their forms and their tendencies, but their intellect and knowledge. " while this may be true at a shallow level, if we are to be frank it is false. men cannot accomplish childbirth. Women cannot join the NBA. We must judge people by their forms when looking for a mate to procreate with, whether straight or gay.
DeleteI was not referring to their physical abilities, Thomas. I said they aren't limited in what they can ultimately accomplish, and I was referring to their minds. Once again, you have succeeded in cracking me up, sir Thomas.
DeleteI will make sure to pay more mind on my word choice, so that you may not take what I say and stretch it how you like. I must be more specific. I see that now, haha.
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