Seidler
For centuries men and women have been divided over which characteristics have belong to which sex. Men have been associated with power and knowledge, working in top positions. Men are expected to be responsible and take control in any situation. Women, on the other hand, were linked with staying at home, taking care of the children and being emotional, as well as asking for help. Victor Seidler, in "Language and Masculinity" explores how the suspension of emotions in the masculine world is observed. In the writings of David Gilmore, "Performative Excellence: Circum Mediterranean, and Nawal El-Saadawi, "Love and Sex in the Life of the Arab," the authors discuss how a man's masculinity is affected when emotions are involved. Each of the societies that the authors discuss believes that in order for a man to be masculine, he must remove all his emotions. However, I believe that when this occurs, a man is no longer a person, but more like a machine. He just works and gives orders, but cannot feel or express what he thinks. In a world where two sexes coincided and compete with one another, Seidler explores that "since we identify 'rationality' with knowledge, we systematically deny knowledge to women and children, who are closely i
Women have been expected for centuries to stay home and raise the children because it was thought that they were not smart and rational enough to hold any other position. Men on the other hand, were trained by society, as well as their fathers and other male members of their family to take control as leaders. They are expected to be firm and harsh when making decisions, and abandon their personal feelings in situations. Although in some cultures, such as those mentioned by Seidler, Gilmore, and El-Saadawi, women have a long way until they are seen as equals, some have already established this. Women such as Catherine the Great, and Queen Elizabeth the First were able to succeed in a man's world and hold the same positions. They neglected all the comments and criticism and proved that women are just as knowledgeable as men; they rebelled against the norm to live up to the titles as the great women. Our very sense of masculinity was consolidated as an experience of superiority over our wants, desires, emotions, and feelings. To prove our wants and desires, we had to keep our 'inclinations' in check. We had to learn to dominate our inner natures. But this also meant that our masculinity could be upset or challenged. It was not anything we could take for granted, but had to be constantly proven (Seidler 558). How clear it is that the mind of women and their ambitions, whether in science or in culture, has been completely dropped from all considerations, so that man can concentrate themselves completely to such fields of human activity. He furthermore imposes on woman the troubles and disturbances of the heart and mind that result from being occupied with such domestic tasks, after which she is accused of being stupid" (El-Saadawi 472). The men in this society believe that women are stupid and irrational, unable to make decisions because it will get too personal. As a result of this judgment, they place themselves above women and are convinced that they are the only ones that can gain knowledge. Furthermore, El-Saadawi notices that man puts all his troubles and worries upon woman so that she will worry about it. This characteristic is results of men systematically denying women knowledge. They inhabit them with tasks and chores around the house that keep them busy and do not allow them to leave the house. They are incapable of lea
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Approximate Word count = 1583
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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