When I first heard “We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, it was because Beyoncé samples Adichie’s speech. Though it was a small and heavily edited, it made me pressed “repeat” on my IPhone because her verse alone made me love the song. After the fifth or sixth time listening to the song, I had to google Adichie’s lyrics: “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you would threaten the man. Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now marriage can be a source of …show more content…
She states, “gender is not an easy conversation to have for both men and women. To bring up gender is sometimes to encounter an almost immediate resistance.” She reminds the audience with an example about gender “If you are a man and you walk into a restaurant with a woman and the waiter greets only you, does it occur to you to ask the waiter, ‘Why haven’t you greeted her?’” This example made me realized that I “do not actively think about gender or notice gender, is part of the problem of gender.” So can I be truly feminist if I am problem that contributes the reason why feminism needs to exist? Adichie answers that question and the answer is “Yes”. Once more, Adichie’s definition for feminist is “a man or a woman who says, ‘Yes, there’s a problem with gender as it is today, and we must fix it, we must do better.’”; Therefore, Adichie says it best – “Culture does not make people. People make culture. So if it is in fact true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we must make it our culture.” Thus, I will challenge the status quo of gender by acknowledging that there is a problem. Hopefully, by acknowledging this idea will reduce the issue of gender targeting
Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in New York and fled to freedom in 1827. She toured throughout the mid-west in the 1850s singing songs, and engaging large crowds. Sojourner Truth gave a speech at the Women’s Convention may of 1851, in Akron Ohio (NYC Schools). In this speech she speaks on the inequalities that both women, and blacks faced at that time in the United States. That speech entitled “Ain’t I a woman?” would later be remembered for its powerful message.
Stephanie Coontz uses different ways to argue for her beliefs. Her article is written in a formal tone and the choice of words and phrases indicates a high education level. This is also expressed in her great use of numbers. Her main way of arguing is through logos, as she backs up her assertions with statistic facts numerous times. An example is when she compares how girls and boys have done in school lately.
Next, A Woman in Berlin used rhetoric to appeal to the targeted audience. For example, the text states, “‘Forgive me. It’s been so long since I had a woman.’ He shouldn’t have said that. Next thing I know I’m lying with my face in his lap sobbing and bawling and howling all the grief in my soul (Page 104).”
The further you read into Roxane Gay article, you start to identify who her audience is. “Many of the people who advocate for freedom of speech with the most bluster are willing to waste this powerful right on hate speech” (Gay). This quote shows her audience is, the people use take advantage of our freedom of speech and use that speech for hate towards one another. “There is also this. “Those who mock the idea of safe space are most likely the same people who are able to take safety for granted” (Gay).
We may be labeled with a different name but we do not have to be labeled by different qualities when either gender can accomplish the
To persuade the thought of a fresh civilization, Sojourner Truth's applies repetition of the rhetorical question "Ain't I a woman? " This proposal jabs at men's cruel demeanor and strengthens the call to action for women. The orator recites this question multiple times to forge an influential stance and to stress her message that women are as capable as men. In response, the advocated crowd reflects on Truth's demand and displays a call to action against the prejudice society.
M. Atwood: This is one of the questions that I struggle to answer because that term is used quite often and in various contexts that you don’t really know what you’re saying yes or no to. When you use the term “feminism”, I’m curious as to what you mean by it. Does it mean all the women are on the low side and all the men are on the high side? Does it mean women should run the world and men should be pushed off a cliff? Does it mean women are as equal to men and deserve to have the same rights as men?
This juxtaposition allows the audience to see Adichie, herself as a women, which then appeals to their pathos as they can see the sexism that also oppresses her. As Adichie considers herself a part of the “we” in society, she is demonstrating that even women themselves are subject to being sexist and all of society is responsible for making change. The structure and diction of “Flawless” heavily differs to Adichie’s speech due to the nature of its genre. The song begins and ends with a recording, and contains the speech within the song.
Adichie, with her “We Should All Be Feminists” Tedx Talk, persuades the audience that no matter what race, nationality or even age a person has, everyone should be a feminist. The main reason behind her argument is that feminism seeks equality in order to acquire a more just society. Moreover, Adichie describes how even women enforce patriarchal gender roles. She gives the example on how she gave money to a valet in a restaurant and he looked at her boy friend, who was accompanying her, and said “Thanks, sir,” as if the money was given by Adichie’s friend and not her. In this way, the speaker claims that this not only enforces gender roles, but also hurts boys when they are still developing their personalities and identities.
Why was it so hard for women to get more rights in the 19th century? “Ain’t I A Woman?” is a speech given at a women’s convention in 1851 in Akron, Ohio, by Sojourner S. Truth. Truth was an African American and a former slave who dealt with hardships because of her race. Around the time that she gave this speech there was a national debate about whether women should have more of the rights that men have. This debate about women’s rights was more aimed towards white women; African American women’s rights really were not included.
Feminism in its broad sense is a movement that aims at establishing and achieving equal political, economic, cultural and social rights for women. It believes that both men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Feminists call for the right of women to receive education, to have equal opportunities in work as well as equal pay. Additionally, they believe that women should be self- determined and have the right to vote. Feminism actually emerged as a reaction against the unjust treatment and subjugation of women; it aims at the emancipation of women from all forms of oppression.
In the article, “What Makes a Woman?” , American journalist, Elinor Burkett, addresses the topic of transgender females and natural females, along with their contrasting views. The article argues that transgender women can not transition and automatically generalize the entire female population. The purpose is to show that there is more to a woman than just her physical anatomy which is accomplished by Burkett. The rhetorical feature that influences the audience the most is pathos, such as when she talks about the struggles of changing from a young lady into a woman, and how a transgender can never truly understand this transformation.
No one can deny that it was necessary for people like Betty Friedan in the ’50s and Gloria Steinem in the ’60’s. ( Olson, Marie “Finding our way” Aug 2017)Their movements were necessary for women to achieve equality amongst all people. But feminists won’t stop at equality. They want total sovereignty over the opposite sex.
I do consider myself feminist, I fight daily for equal rights whether at work, school or home. My personal definition for feminist is to be respected, treated and judge equally as a man will. However, I am conscious that in the world we live in, this conflict will never disappear. I do understand that there is a difference between man and woman, but we are equally the same. Shakira mentioned in an interview made by Hess that girls didn’t like guys telling them what to do.
Feminists are often viewed as men hating and dramatic when it’s not the case at all. According to a study done by Stop Street Harassment, an organization dedicated to ending sexual harassment on the streets, about 65% of women have been sexually harassed in their lifetime (StopStreetHarassment.org). This goes to show that feminism is very much needed in today’s society. Women have experienced discrimination for thousands of years. In fact, women were given the right to vote less than