Domestic Violence

Compared to our last article, I found this author's objective, logos based approach refreshing. The author references detailed studies done by the CDC. Above all I found the statistics on intimate partner violence to be startling. I cannot imagine being trapped in a relationship with an abusive partner. I understand most people are fearful to distance themselves from a violent partner. But I strongly believe that this attitude is the cause of these alarming statistics. Without abused partners rising up for change, these numbers will only get worse and worse. One thing I found interesting about the article involved the tone. It almost seemed like the author was putting off or discrediting the women surveyed at times. At the beginning, the author introduces the studies stating, "The survey, released by the CDC Wednesday, marks the beginning of a new annual project to look at how many women say they've been abused." "Say they've been abused" is much more questioning than "have been abused." The extremely high rape statistics also disturbed me. The article stated that this elevation could be due to "how the surveys were done, who chose to participate and how "rape" and other types of assault were defined or interpreted." This statement reminded me of how important context is when looking at statistics. No one statistic tells the entire story, so we must seek out all sides. 

Domestic and international violence

I was extremely turned off by this article from the beginning. I find comparing American soldiers to wife beaters absolutely pathetic and disgusting. Almost as pathetic and disgusting as the author represents our troops. Maybe I'm crazy but I found the jump from soldiers to wife beaters to be a large one. Even the title seemed wild to me: "Domestic and international violence are one and the same." The sub title states: "John Stuart Mill had it right. Our abuse of women at home mirrors, and sometimes dictates, our behavior abroad." John Stuart Mill was a nineteenth century writer, I'm not sure if his work can be considered relevant here in the twenty first century. The author bases her argument that "tyranny at home is the model for tyranny abroad" on Mill's writings. The sentence after this statement, the author contradicts herself saying: "When tyranny and violence are practiced on a grand scale in foreign lands, the practice also intensifies at home." This makes the point that violence overseas causes violence here, not the other way around. The issue of violence against service women is not one to be taken lightly, but it seems poorly placed. The article is unorganized. I would write about violence against women in the military or how domestic and overseas violence are related, not both in the same article when the relation isn't close.

Iraq sex traffic

Layla's story reminded me in many ways of Malala's in many ways. Both are at a disadvantage being born in countries that do not grant women all of their human rights. However, this does not stop these women. They both fight intensely for their cause despite being harmed severely. Similar to Malala's getting shot in the head, Layla was a former prostitute and rape victim. This seems to be almost culturally accepted in Iraq. The article stated that "more than nine per cent of respondents between the ages of fifteen and fifty-four said they had been subjected to sexual violence." These crimes often go unreported due to a fear of shame from the community. This culture baffles me. I find it very hard to understand and do not feel qualified to speak knowledgeably about middle eastern culture. Having overcome extremely adverse circumstances and being a force for good against sex trafficing, stories like Layla's give me hope for an eventual larger force for good.

Malala

Unfortunately the terrible situations presented by the ladies in "Girl Rising" did not surprise me. The girls are no doubt subjected to discriminatory behavior including bullying and, in the most severe case, slavery. The story that struck me the most was Senna's from L Rinconada, Peru. Senna had to overcome poverty like all the other girls, but also overcome being forced out of her home and fight for her schooling I believe I favor Rinconada because of all the circumstances she had to overcome. Honestly, the idea of women having to fight for education is baffling to me. It makes me more thankful for the country I live in.

Malala

I was taken back with Malala's story. She is beyond inspiring and her courage is incredible. It made me thankful that the world has people willing to fight for their beliefs. I also thought about how although the gender situation in the United States isn't perfect, we're much better off than the middle east. There, girls work toward an education because "only white-collar, professional jobs will allow these girls a life outside their homes." Malala did not want to be the typical female in her culture, her only use bing child bearing and home keeping. She wanted to become educated so she could break the norm. She enjoyed learning and did very well in school. Her journey was different from her brothers'. Speaking about her brothers, Malala stated: "They can be anything they want. But for me it was hard and for that reason I wanted to become educated and empower myself with knowledge." Malala's life began to change drastically when "Taliban leader, Mullah Fazlullah, issued a dire warning - all female education had to cease within a month." Because of Malala's unwavering belief and pursuit of education, she was shot. What I was most impressed about with Malala's story is that she is now an influence rather than a martyr. She is a global voice for female education and equality. Her voice is heard and highly regarded. In 2013 she was nominated for the nobel peace prize and named one of TIME magazine's most influential people. Her vast influence gives me an optimistic outlook for global female education and equality. 

Wage gap

I found this article very intriguing. I enjoy reading about the origin of gender roles and the subject of nature vs. nurture. The article states facts based on research and makes a logos based argument concerning how girls make less money for chores than boys, toddlers follow traditional gender roles in their chores, boys have more play time than girls, and boys with sisters are more likely to be conservative. The last statement seems a bit out of place to me. I don’t think it’s the best way to end an otherwise quality article. I found myself actively trying to explain or justify the statements made in this article. I justified the wage gap between little boys and girls by the types of jobs they do. Boys typical jobs include taking out the trash and mowing the lawn as opposed to little girls doing the dishes. Boys and girls’ chores reflecting traditional gender roles really grabbed my attention. I feel like the evidence presented supports the argument of nature rather than nurture because I haven’t seen nor can I picture girls wanting to mow the lawn over taking out the trash. For the point on boys having more play time, maybe this is due to girls’ chores being more inside centered as opposed to boys’. Girls spending more time inside doing extremely stereotypical activities like playing with dolls might make them more acceptable to inside chores and in turn less play time. I believe I favor the nature model because of my upbringing and culture, for better or worse. I did however enjoy this article.

Men are brilliant, women are bossy

The term "gender bias" has always struck me. I have always looked at issues involving "gender bias" as having more to do with gender roles or stereotypes, excluding the word bias. The article talks about "unconscious bias" and cites the example: "women are much more likely to receive critical feedback than men, and women who are leaders are more likely to be described as abrasive, aggressive and emotional." This evidence, if accurate, proves it is in fact a situation involving bias, because women are put at a disadvantage. These gender ideas are not totally off base in my opinion. Women are more emotional in men and not taking that into account when hiring someone would be ridiculous. Being emotional is not always negative and could help women get certain jobs over men. I found the last bit of the article to be a little shocking. It stated that Beck being chosen over Beyonce at the Grammy's was a matter of gender rather than talent. The article said the situation was "interpreted as a diminishing of Beck’s talent or general nice guyness rather than being about our biases and a nomination system that seems to favor white rock dudes over virtually everyone else." Although the article is logos based, there is no evidence provided of a nomination system that favors "white rock dudes." I personally believe this argument is a stretch and is a poor ending to the article. I also think that jumping to the conclusion that everything is a result of gender bias is dangerous and detrimental to our culture and changes in culture.