Friday, October 5, 2012

Forever Alone Feminist


On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays I attend my Drama and Film class. My Drama and Film class is one of my core curriculum classes that I need to take. In this class we read many famous and outdated plays that I rarely find interesting. One of our assigned readings was the play ‘Night Mother. My professor discussed this play as being a feminist play. Just the word feminist perked my interest. She then proceeds to ask the class if any of the students in the room were feminist. Without thinking twice, I raised my hand. The class grew quiet and I felt a million eyes on me. As I turn to look at my fellow classmates not one of them was raising their hands. My professor showed her dissatisfaction with the class by yelling, “ONE?! ONLY ONE FEMINIST?!” I began to feel embarrassed and wished I could take back my participation.

My teacher then proceed to ask my class, “Okay well who here thinks that men and women should be equally paid for their jobs?” Almost the entire class raised their hands. I then began to realize that it’s not that people don’t agree with feminism, they just do not understand what it really is. The feelings of embarrassment reminded me of what we discussed in class, labeling and stereotyping. I felt under the microscope, stereotyped by all my classmates when I was just agreeing to a simple question. Little did my classmates know they fall under the same category that they just labeled me under. I now understand that this is all about how little educated people can be about subjects before they judge. From now on I decided to stand up for what I believe in and educate other more.

Bridget McKnight

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