A Woman's Choice and A Male's Ego

The statistics found in the Harry Bridgehouse survey taken at the University of Wisconsin-Michigan reflected that expectations of mother-led parenting persist among our generation: males, in particular, find females to be the mothering sex in which the mother spends substantially more time than the father looking after their wellbeing (Hess, par 3). In today’s society a majority of males still consider themselves the dominant sex. Through the Sexist Blog by Amanda Hess she details the statistics found by this survey. She is proud that the quiz and the answers do not apply to her, as she did not baby-sit in high school and does not plan on having children. (Hess, par 2) Only 5 percent of males baby-sit according to the survey (Hess, par 4). Males aren’t the most reliable and mature individuals during their teen-age years. Most women in this survey pictured themselves in an egalitarian family, while most males pictured themselves in a woman-dominated family: the problem is males have a complex about not providing for their family. There should be a median: an egalitarian family (Hess, par 4). 

Hess writes with pride that she won’t have children (Hess, par 3). However while not having children is an option in today’s society, it shouldn’t be. But because of people such as the octo-mom: Nadya Suleman, a woman who gave birth to 8 babies, people feel that there are enough babies in the world. Yes, a woman can go through life without having children. But if one focus’s on the basic rules for the continuation of the human race: in order for the human race to exist the human race must reproduce. As much as there is the choice of having babies or not having babies in a woman’s life one should not base the that decision on the type of family one might have. Can you imagine if all women decide to quit having children? Or, what if a woman decides that her career is more important than having a family? As an employee at a nursery, I would not want that to happen. Eventually, there would be no more children thus ending my job. Also if woman continue to focus solely on their job slowly and slowly the human race would get older and eventually die out. 

Yes, women have the choice whether to have babies or not but maybe more women would chose to reproduce more often if they knew what family their child would grow up in. For a successful woman leaving their job cold turkey is not really an option. Women need to know that males, their husbands, can handle an egalitarian family without getting their egos bruised. Women need to have confidence that they can work and their husband can work and the child will still be all right. A good example: me. I’ve grown up in an egalitarian family and have come out without any lasting damage ☺. 

Socratic Seminar Questions

1) Throughout the one act play, Trifles, the Sheriff and his friend disregard all the little details and move fast through the house where the murder took place. The women look for all the little details. Why do you think woman notice details and men overlook a lot of specifics?

2) Who murdered the husband in the play? 

3) Can a man and a woman be friends without sex or at least sexual tension?

4) Harry sleeps with his first date after he gets divorce yet he doesn’t like her. He also constantly thinks about how long he has to lay with a woman after. Do men have a more casual approach to sex than woman?

5) In Friedberg’s blog post, that was supposed to be a joke, was actually very controversial. It had to do with the rules in a gang. Do you think people in a group adapt to the rules of the group just to be accepted just as in a gang?

6) Throughout Story of an X the society hates on the “x” child. Does society affect which groups one chooses to be in?

7) Sally’s friend Marie is in a relationship with a married man who still loves his wife. Marie continually is told that he will never leave his wife yet can’t seem to accept it and he continues to see her. Are woman more susceptible to believe lies they are told because they want them to be true?

8) Could a real X survive in real life? Do you think parents in society such as ours would not let an “x” child go to school here?

9) What have you enjoyed the most: Trifles, the X child, When Harry Met Sally, or the poem, Girl? Which showed gender relations the best?

My "Girl" Poem

Everyday rules affect us all. The most important rules to follow are the rules made by our parents. Our parents brought us into the world and they can just as easily take us out. Being a good daughter is one of the most important social groups I am in. After writing a poem in prose about the rules my parents have made I realized that my life is pretty strict. While I hate daily the rules instituted by my parents they are mostly needed and correct. Even such rules as not putting my elbows on the table will influence me in my future. I'm a sterotypical daughter who listens to their parents and follows most of the rules.. While my parents make my rules there are certain social rules such as if you are a girl or a boy. In actuality people should not live by their own social group's rules but their own. Here are 16 rules to live by.

To Be A Good Daughter:

Every morning empty the dishwasher before I wake up; if you don’t make your bed, you don’t get money for the movies; make sure you pick up your brother from school, I bought you that car for that reason; don’t put your elbows on the table, don’t talk with your mouth full, don’t eat too much, don’t eat too little; no hydrogenated oils; no cookies; don’t bring burger king home; go to the gym and be fit, I bought you that membership for that reason; don’t be home alone in the house with boys; always watch out for your sister and brother; always know where they are; don’t lie on the couch all day; don’t watch trashy TV shows; make sure your clothes are clean, I bought that washer and dryer for a reason; get to work on time; get paid and put your money in the bank immediately; go to school everyday; don’t get sick; work hard in dance and love, I bought that tuition for that reason; get good grades and work hard for them; study all night but try to have fun; you better go to college; you better not die there; don’t ever talk back to me; don’t ever yell at your father; don’t take a shower in the grey bathroom; close the garage door when you come inside; make sure that your closet is closed at all times to not let the heat in; don’t let your father know anything; eat your carrots not the cookies; blow your nose, don’t only wipe it; don’t crash, scratch, ruin your car in anyway; don’t drink alcohol; don’t do drugs; don’t stay on the computer for too long; don’t put to much makeup on; please walk quietly in the hallways at six am; refrain from knocking on the door and asking for stuff; don’t drink regular milk; make sure you get home before 12 when your driving, if not, I don’t care; fill out scholarship applications; don’t bother your brother about his making up stories; don’t fight with your sister; don’t bring up anything that might bother anyone; save the cereal for other people; don’t finish the box of bars and leave it in the drawer; stop at red lights; don’t scream from your room upstairs to the basement; do your homework before you watch TV; write all your homework in your assignment pad; don’t get anything lower than an B on your report card or consequences will occur; cell phones have to be charged, I bought that for that reason so I could call you at any time; email me all your bad grades during the school day so I can get over them before I get home from work; clean your room before the cleaning lady comes; fold your clothes after you clean them; don’t overspend my American Express card; look for sales when you go shopping; clean the crusty toothpaste in the sink whenever you see it; read as many books as you like; don’t call me in a meeting; be yourself and don’t try to impress anyone but yourself.

This article by Time Magazine is seven rules for what parents should do with their kids.