Terry Crews and Caitlin Moran are two authors that have similar views when it
comes to the roles of a man and women. It is kind of difficult to compare their
ideas because both pieces of writing are so one sided. If the two were to sit
down and have dinner together, they would probably agree on most things. They
would agree that men and women are viewed very differently in their societal
roles. They would also agree that the way men view women needs to be changed
and they need to be looked at as equals, and not one gender above the other.
Caitlin Moran, the author of How To Be a Woman, spends the bulk of a chapter in
her book talking about women and the expectation of them wanting to have
children. She starts the chapter by talking about a question that women are
asked in interviews that people would never even think to ask men, and that is
“So, when are you planning on having babies”? Moran looks at this question as
something that women are asked because society does not know how to handle a
woman that doesn’t want children. If a woman doesn’t have children, she is not
fulfilling her purpose to society. She counters this by explaining her habits
before and after she had a baby. Moran states before she had a child she
recycled, gave to charities, etc.; however, after having a baby she was so
displaced from society that she would not have known if her own mother would have
passed away. Maybe women would feel more comfortable about completely altering
their bodies and lives if there were more men like Terry Crews, the author of
Manhood, a man who appreciates the mother of his child and believes in gender
purposes. He explains gender purposes as being different than stereotypical
gender roles. Crews explains that it is all about gender equality and that the
main problem is that men have always felt like they are more valuable than
women. I think that at a dinner table the two authors would agree with the
concept of gender equality and that the way society views family
responsibilities, should be equally as harsh on men, as it is on women.
I really enjoyed reading what you had to say. I agree with the main points in which you shared but would also like to share my own views. Caitlin Moran, the author of How to be a Women, dislikes how women are continuously being pestered with the question of when they are going to have children. Society makes it seem as if it is an obligation for each and all women to have babies. This should not be a pressure that is put on women nor is it even a necessity for our planet. I like when Moran says, "the planet really doesn't need all of us to produce more babies." This couldn't be more true, so women who do not wish to have any kids shouldn't be punished or looked down upon, but instead thanked for not adding to our already crowded world when it wasn't a true want for them. As for Terry Crews, I respect his views for gender equality immensely. He seemed to be saying that the problem comes about when people think they are more valuable than others. We see this a lot from day to day and it can even relate to what Moran was saying, how our society seems to value a mother/ future mother more than a women who has chosen a child-free lifestyle. Our mindsets need to change, and I believe both Terry Crews and Caitlin Moran would agree.
ReplyDeleteI agree that if both of these people (Moran and Crews) had dinner together that they would for the most part agree on things. Although like you said Crews focuses on men and how they view women while Moran talked about women, and how people view their role in society. I think the two authors would agree that society sees that men should be seen a certain way to be considered “real men” and women should be seen a certain way to be considered “real women.” For example, Crews tells a story about his son being afraid in the movie theatre and he had to reassure him that it’s okay to be afraid and there is nothing wrong with a boy feeling scared. It is only human to feel these emotions. Moran explains that to society the only way to become a real women is to have children, she says that until you have children society will always look at you as a “powerful elder in society.” Moran thinks that when someone asks you “when are you going to have kids?,” that they are basically saying “when are you going to fuck it all up by having kids?” (233). I think that Crews would disagree with that belief. Moran makes it more of a negative connotation for women to be associated with kids, and I think Crews would feel that it is up to a women to have a choice, and not be burdened by whatever choice that she makes because ultimately feminism defends the choices that males and females have to choose to do whatever they want and still seem capable to live their life to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteI really do agree that the two would get along and agree with certain points however, they are both on opposite sides of an argument. While both, I feel are representing the extremities of the different sides of the same argument, they would be in conflict after going over their commonalities. Caitlin does feel quite strongly for the overall stigma of women must having children and how a woman's life changes because of that. She supports that women should have a choice in not having children, which Terry also supports as well. He also supports that when he says that society has accepted that women are a prize and that they are being victimized. These two would probably agree on how that men should never force a woman to have a child and they would want them to have a choice in the matter. We as a society needs to understand and respect that. We need to respect the fact that women should not be looked down upon when women do not have babies. We should look down upon the objectification of women, seeing as they have been made a trophy for men. They both fight for gender equality, however Caitlin is more aggressive and seems to be condescending over men than how Terry seems more understanding and accepting.
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