During the first International Women’s week presentation we saw, I have learned that indigenous men were taught how to abuse their women by European colonizers. This violent and aggressive characteristic is demonstrated in Kilmartin’s definition of “adventurous and aggressive” men. There were more examples of these aggressive men when the protests happening in the Wet’suwet’en territory. Men are ripping down the red dresses hung for murdered and missing indigenous women as well as arresting indigenous people who are non-violently defending their territory. As stated in the text, these men are “taking risks” and “becoming violent if necessary”.
From the second presentation we viewed I learned that Muslim women often are oppressed for their beliefs as many misinformed people are under the impression that Muslim women are dependant and submissive to men. In reality, these women are independent and choose to wear a hijab for their faith; they are not being forced to perform any religious acts. Our society is still one that views a wife as her husbands possession in many cases. Many men feel that they must have a wife or girlfriend to prove that they are not gay as there is a strong sense of homophobia amongst men today. They also feel that they must dominate these wives as they are worried about seeming feminine. This means that the assumption that Muslim women obey their husbands orders is rooted in the beliefs of our society.
Overall, these presentations have taught me that women are still viewed as lesser in many cases in our society and we must work toward improving this. As is stated in Kilmartin’s men in relationships, men feel more comfortable expressing their feelings and thoughts to female friends as they are less afraid that they will be judged for it. This insinuates that men still believe that women take on the role of caregivers and nurturers which can lead to the idea that women are inferior to men. Whether it be because they are not as physically strong in some cases or that they are not as intense and aggressive. This relates to the presentation in that all the women in these cases have been treated as lesser than man and it is not their fault. It is the fault of our society.
Lovers and Fighters | Section 22 