Kelly Atkinson

19 October 2015
Gen-X
Byrd
Journal 9: Full Frontal Feminism
1.) Since the beginning of my awareness of feminism I have developed different views about
the topic. I would not consider myself a strong raging feminist but I do believe in
equality and standing up for what is right. My knowledge and acknowledgement of
sexism and gender related issues has been rapidly increasing throughout the semester. I
had not previously focused on it but not that I am aware I see sexism everywhere. It is
ingrained into society for sexist issues to be present. It is in the way businesses are run,
social media, the way people talk, and also the way people interact. I have frustrations
when I see sexism towards men and women but do not backlash. In my mind it upsets
me when I hear certain things are expected because of ones sex, like if women should
cook or clean because thats where they belong. I do look forward to seeing the positive
side of sexism and where society can develop a better way of handling issues.
2.) In Chapter One Valenti states that young women are all brought up to feel like theres
something wrong with [them]. I understand exactly what Valenti is saying; especially in
the media they try to portray images of the perfect ideal of woman. Women think they
are too fat, dumb, smart, or not ladylike enough. I do not compare myself to the other
ideals of women as much as I did when I was younger. Now I am learning to be
confident in who I am but I do, at times, find myself comparing parts of myself to other
womens images. It makes sense why she compares these feelings to feminism because
these traits can be considered weak or making women feel like they are not good enough.

Which then in return supports feminism because it is progressive and about making
[ones] life better. Feminism helps [one] see through the bullshit that would make [one]
thin there is something wrong with [them]. Feminism helps a woman feel more
confident in who she is and removes the worry and fear created by society and the media.
3.) Female sexuality is often treated like a commodity, joke, or sin and I can absolutely
relate to this statement. Women who dress a little more revealing are sometimes called
sluts or hoes. It is more common in my generation to use the term whore, slut, or hoe
more loosely. If a girl is showing her stomach while wearing a crop top or portraying
risqu behaviors she could be called a slut. Also in some rape cases if the woman was
dressed provocatively or showing behaviors that were egging the man on then the rape
could be blamed on the woman, saying she was asking for it. If a woman portrays her
sexuality she is asking for things from man she may not want. It is frowned upon by the
majority of society to act in certain ways or portray your sexuality.
4.) The abstinence education is mostly preached to girls and practice of safe sex is preached
to boys. The double standard is that sex education is the most nave form of it you can
get. They think this can convince girls not to have sex and teach abstinence but make
sure teens, especially boys, have correct info about contraception and STDs. Some
schools that cannot get federal funding for abstinence-only sex ed cant teach safe sex
practices. This forbids that kids have safe sex stating that only a slut would use a
condom sex. It develops into even further madness because Valenti states that Women
gauge their happiness and judge their success on their relationships. Mens happiness and
success hinge on their accomplishments. Also women need to watch what they wear. If
they dont aim to please dont aim to tease. I agree with her argument because society
makes women believe all of these things about themselves. It is not 100% true and all

inclusive she hits on the main points about women and sex and how women are frowned
upon for having a lot of sex and men are rewarded.

5.)

Society defines sexiness and portrays it

through these images. It is usually white
women, blonde hair, big breasts, skinny,
or portraying sexy behavior. Sexy is portrayed as a woman who shows off
her fit body. To answer this question, I typed in what is sexy on google and
the first result was what is sexy 2015-victoria secret where people can cast
their vote and see who made this years sexy list. Or the second result was
the science of sexy: 5 things that can make you irresistible. All of the
results had something in common which was an unfair portrayal of
expectations of women, on how they should look, smell, behave, dress, and
smile. It is important to be as close to this definition of sexy as you can,
because otherwise you cannot be happy or find someone to love you.
Women search to find a man and without a man they cannot be happy, or so
society and or men think. Sexy is based on culture and if America changed

their beliefs to intellectual, courageous, ambitious, athletic, and comical I

think we would be a better successful society. We are basing our success
and happiness on tangible items and unfair standards of beauty and the
American dream.
6.) Valenti states that blaming women for someone assaulting them is the
norm. In late August, 2015 Owen Labrie was found not guilt of felony
rape of a 15-year-old girl at the St. Pauls School. He was a senior and
she was 15 years old, and he had faced 1o charges related to sexual
assault after being accused of raping the young girl. The statement
from the young girl was Labrie went from consensual kissing and
touching to violent, forced intercourse. According to the defenses
version the victim did not do enough and she did it wrong. She was
first sending flirty text messages, which were seen as egging the boy
on, and he soon had further plans with this young girl. She came
forward to the police to say she was raped and they blamed her saying
she was unconventional in her victimhood. This is the problem in a lot
of rape cases because the victim is blamed for lack of integrity. The
victim is served a measure of injustice and this victim blaming is not
uncommon and makes more women not want to report their own
cases.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/29/us/st-pauls-school-rape-trial-owenlabrie.html?_r=0