What's the real problem (Supremacy Crimes)

A detailed Summary of What's the real problem (Supremacy Crimes)

Supremacy by definition is supreme power or authority. In Steinem's essay she discusses men's 'authority' over women, or the lack there of. She also discusses what she feels contributed to this desire that men have. She discusses her views and supports her statements with actual accounts of this need for supremacy through murders.

Steinem's argument is that we teach our sons growing up to overpower women, causing them to have a desire and need to feel accepted by over powering others. She feels that the reason for these supremacy crimes is in how we raise our children. That, in this country, we raise our sons and daughters differently. Our sons learn at a young age that they should have power over women, Steinem says. She also states in her essay that 'our' in the media is read as white, middle-class, and heterosexual. "It's our sons - and 'our' can usually be read as 'white,' 'middle-class,' and 'heterosexual'" (Steinem 353).

The use of language in an essay like this is extremely important. One aspect that helps her argument is her repetitiveness. Steinem makes her point once in plain words, then she can make her point several other ways in different context. This

Steinem gives many examples of murderers that fit the criteria of her argument. Edmund Kemper who started killing animals, then proceeded to his grandparents. Then he tortured and killed college girls. David Berkowitz was another example she gave. He murdered women just to feel he had control over them. She also made mention of Ted Bundy who tortured and killed almost 40 woman that were in a class higher than he was. Wayne Williams who would kill men and young boys he had had sex with to hide his homosexuality. Steinem states that we live in a society that is "...a homophobic one that empowers only one form of sexuality" (354). Steinem mentions people such as Colin Ferguson, Waneta Hoyt, and Aileen Carol Wuornos that don't fit her criteria to help her build credibility.

Another way her language is effective is she admits that there are other ways of looking at her argument. She acknowledges this and even gives examples of it. "Men of color and females are capable of serial and mass killing, and commit just enough to prove it" (Steinem 354). This raises her credibility and makes her seem more confident with her argument. She is able to tell of specific examples where her theory ma

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Approximate Word count = 804
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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What's the real problem (Supremacy Crimes)

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