Cynthia Enloe has to be my favorite speaker. I loved her attitude and her approach to feminist studies. I think it takes a certain amount of skill to be able to collect the stories of women who have been through so much and make them come alive without even meeting them. I think it was very important that these women's stories be heard, even if they don't know it. Everyone should get the chance to have an outlet to share their struggles and achievements, because people can learn from the unexpected and it sends a message of empowerment. I like that she said she wonders if it really is her place to be spreading awareness of the issues these women face. Where is the line drawn between making a difference, and using privilege to do it?
I also liked that for her public lecture she chose to talk about something that hit close to home, but she did it in a different light. The Boston bombing brought so much light to the corruption in the media and journalism. One thing that really struck me was her explanation of the news interviewing the mother of the brothers who bombed the Boston race. She asked what was the point of that? They purposely interview her to blame her for her horrible parenting skills that caused her sons to carry out the bombing. They have no interest in hearing her side of the story or her feelings, and they go in there with judgement already. And what is else is she going to say but how her sons were good boys and she didn't expect this? No mother expects her son to commit such a horrible crime. It's interesting that the mother is always to blame and not any other guardian for these types of situations. Americans watching the news at home see that the women are always to blame for the way children turn out, and that has an affect on families. It's a fact that is talked about quite often, that women are always gossiping and judging each other's parenting. Each mother feels like she is right. The mother is always portrayed as weak and not in control of her children. If we go by parenting stereotypes, shouldn't the father figure to be to blame for not disciplining his sons enough? Cynthia Enloe definitely expanded my feminist curiosity.
I also liked that for her public lecture she chose to talk about something that hit close to home, but she did it in a different light. The Boston bombing brought so much light to the corruption in the media and journalism. One thing that really struck me was her explanation of the news interviewing the mother of the brothers who bombed the Boston race. She asked what was the point of that? They purposely interview her to blame her for her horrible parenting skills that caused her sons to carry out the bombing. They have no interest in hearing her side of the story or her feelings, and they go in there with judgement already. And what is else is she going to say but how her sons were good boys and she didn't expect this? No mother expects her son to commit such a horrible crime. It's interesting that the mother is always to blame and not any other guardian for these types of situations. Americans watching the news at home see that the women are always to blame for the way children turn out, and that has an affect on families. It's a fact that is talked about quite often, that women are always gossiping and judging each other's parenting. Each mother feels like she is right. The mother is always portrayed as weak and not in control of her children. If we go by parenting stereotypes, shouldn't the father figure to be to blame for not disciplining his sons enough? Cynthia Enloe definitely expanded my feminist curiosity.
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