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At the risk of sounding like a broken record, women’s rights is an ever-present issue. Yes, even now in the 21st century not everyone is considered equal. Yes, almost 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, not everyone—regardless of race, gender, RACHEL sexual oriSAcks entation, et cetera—in this so proclaimed “land of the free” where “all men are created equal” is, in fact, free and equal. Well, yes all men who are male are created equal, in the sense that they can do many things in society without their gender being used as blame or reason. However, women and non-cisgender people are merely one fraction of people who do not have this basic privilege. Cisgender means having a biological sex that matches your gender identity and expression, resulting in other people accurately perceiving your gender. Cisgender privileges are benefits of having a biological sex that aligns with your gender identity. The majority of the world would declare themselves cisgender; however those of non-cisgender identity are, of course, an important and ever growing presence in society. And of course, women are not still considered equals. But when it seems that there are so many women present in high positions in society, haven’t we achieved equality? Not quite. When I say equal, I mean being treated on par with what should be the basic standards of society- treating everyone how
they would want to be treated individually. Treating everyone with respect and as—novel concept—human beings. Nobody should buy into preconceived notions or subject to labeling stereotypes. The stereotypes that follow women around are not only given to them by the male population but are also astonishingly by some of their female counterparts. How often have you heard women putting other women down by calling them “sluts” or saying they don’t like “girly” things, such as wearing make up, or maybe they think like a guy and call all other women catty. They think of themselves as “different” or as some sort of special snowflake, different not from anyone else but specifically from other women. Bad news, but this doesn’t make them special—it’s made them perpetuators of misogyny. By categorizing all women as catty or only those who participate in stereotypical “girly” activities, they are assuming that all females are the same. Despite whatever gender norms you may believe that all women think the same, all women are different. Some like football, some like reading, some women are emotional, some speak three languages and there are some who are various combinations of these traits. Some women have boyfriends, some have girlfriends, and some wear lipstick, while some don’t shave. Some women have kids while others of us are worried we’ll drop our friend’s baby. So, please stop claiming you don’t act like a women, or begging all females to act like real women because there is no one, clear universal definition of what a woman is. The point is that all women are different. Everyone is
different. The only true thing we all have in common is that we are human beings. If the one thing we all (the entire population; let’s think big here readers) share is that we are all human beings, which alone should (arguably and in a perfect world) make for equality. Obviously this is not the main issue of which we are forced to deal with; it is, I feel, however a start. By taking on one issue at a time, such as the rights of oppressed humans, non-cisgenders, equality for homosexual and heterosexual or equal treatment
But when it seems that there are so many women present in high positions in society, haven’t we achieved equality? Not quite.
for women and men, it leads us toward a better understanding that all humans are created equal and that we are all essentially the same, if only in a general manner. But it means that yes, all humans have emotions, wishes, goals, fears, desires, et cetera. Yes, women are not quite equal to men, in several aspects. But this is not our only issue. (If anyone has been paying attention to recent political and social matters going on in this country, this should warrant an “obviously”.) Treating everyone as though they are the same—as though they are human—is a good start toward equality. It is not the only solution though.
Email Reid Groth at grothrm@miamioh.edu for more information.
We’ve come so far, but we still have a long way to go in struggle for equal rights for everyone
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NICOLE’S NOTES
Hollywood may have overstepped several boundaries with Zero Dark Thirty As I sat in the dark, crowded theater watching the new film Zero Dark Thirty play before me this past Friday, I felt uneasy and unsure about something. The controversial film depicts the “true” story nicole of how the theodore infamous Osama Bin Laden was found and killed by American forces back in May of 2011. As my fellow moviegoers cheered when the screen showed U.S. forces raiding the compound at which Osama Bin Laden was hiding, I could not help but think to myself, is this actually benefiting our country? The scenes of the CIA waterboarding prisoners were hard enough to watch, but what was harder to watch was the way the movie was filmed and told. It was filmed documentary style, showing the director’s point of view of what life is like in Pakistan and Afghanistan when U.S. forces and the CIA were present. Most people sat there complacent, accepting this view face value. Many people, including myself,
do not know what life is really like there. Some would rather just accept this view even though it may not be accurate. Original phone calls from the Sept. 11 attacks were played, and a wave of sadness and unrest hit me and the rest of the room suddenly. This is when I realized that Zero Dark Thirty might become a catalyst for hatred and further violence involving racism on both the American side and the Middle East. My thoughts raced as I remembered how the Middle East reacted to the anti-Islam film in September. Zero Dark Thirty could upset the Middle East with its graphic scenes of their men and women being killed by U.S. soldiers. We are often so quick to buy into the hype of movies that are “based on a true story” that we don’t often question the consequences of their wide spread popularity unless it directly affects us. To Americans, seeing people being murdered or killed is quite the norm in Hollywood movies, but to more conservative countries this may not be the case. Many Americans who will watch this movie will possibly feel hatred towards those who attacked us as they listen to the frantic 911 calls from those trapped in the towers on 9/11. I did; it was impossible not to. Is
it actually healthy for our country to essentially rehash what happened in a graphic, documentary style movie? We should always remember what happened and honor the victims and families of 9/11 and those who fought in the Iraq war, but Hollywood should be careful not to cross a fine line. Where I just felt angry and sad during the movie, another normal citizen may act upon their perpetuated hatred and take it out on innocent people, as events have shown quite recently in the United States. Hollywood is not the reason violence occurs, but we cannot deny it may be a catalyst. When something as delicate as the relationship, or lack of, between Americans and people of the Middle East is depicted in Hollywood, there is of course going to be discussion on either side or possibly violence. I have consistently heard those around me call people who may look or act like they are from the Middle East derogatory names or worse, say they are probably “terrorists”. Zero Dark Thirty may possibly reinforce this racism, because it is in fact racism. Some will leave the movie feeling hopeful for the future and others will be leaving with more hatred for the Middle East and
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Al Qaeda than ever before. To fix the perception of average Americans from a Middle East standpoint, and to fix the perception of the Middle East from an American standpoint since 9/11 may be impossible. However, movies, literature and television can educate both sides and stop reinforcing biases. Not every person from the Middle East is in Al Qaeda and agrees with terrorism,
director of the CIA, released a statement on the agency’s website stating that the “CIA interacted with the filmmakers through our Office of Public Affairs but, as is true with any entertainment project with which we interact, we do not control the final product,” according to a TIME Magazine article. Movies like Zero Dark Thirty will not stop being produced,
We are often so quick to buy into the hype of movies that are “based on a true story” that we don’t often question the consequences of their wide spread popularity unless it directly affects us. which many Americans do not understand. Imagine someone with this ideology being essentially armed with a Hollywood movie like Zero Dark Thirty; it is a recipe for further discrimination and hatred. There is also a clear difference between a documentary, and a movie filmed like it is a documentary. Though the filmmakers were in contact with the CIA, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is completely accurate. Mike Morell, acting
but what Americans can do is research and educate themselves on such topics beforehand to decrease discrimination and realize what is true and what isn’t. As citizens, it is our responsibility what we do with the media that is presented to us. By asking questions and doing formative research this may help eliminate biases, discrimination, and essentially inform consumers of what they should expect from the media and what they shouldn’t.
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