The author of the app states: This makes reading stuff on the internet a pretty fascinating and eye-opening experience, I must say. What would the world be like if we reversed the way we speak about men and women? Well, now you can find out!
I just installed it and it's already very interesting and kind of confusing. Its interesting to think about how our language can affect our perceptions of men and women.
I think the question offered by the author about how we would perceive the world is very interesting. I don't think we would see it any differently. The only reason we have these categories is because of language. If we referred to men as women and women as men, we would eventually start associated our gender norms with the opposite name. I don't think it would change the way our society sees things.
ReplyDeleteBlogging Assignment Week 14: Rebecca Iloulian
ReplyDeleteI was talking to some kids yesterday who are affiliated in the Greek System at USC, who live in their houses on the row. Something which came up was the idea that guys who live in frat houses here are allowed to bring girls upstairs, or in their rooms, anytime they want. This is completely allowed, and it happens on a regular basis. Yet girls who live in sorority houses are not AT ALL allowed to bring boys upstairs, let alone into their bed rooms. If they did, they would get into serious trouble. There is a house mom to watch out for this as well as other girls living in the house who will report if a boy goes upstairs. I couldn't help question why boys can bring girls into their rooms, but it can't be the other way around here? The only logical reasoning I could find for this is that girls will be viewed as sluts, gross, or inappropriate for doing this. On the other hand, boys are prided and respected if they can bring a girl back to their room or upstairs, etc. There is a complete double standard in this regard. Boys can do one thing, be applauded for it, and yet when girls do that same thing they are looked down upon and condemned. This double standard highlights the obvious gender problems and stereotypes which lie in this situation. Girls and guys should have the same standards and be looked at using the same standard. Girls are not sluts or inappropriate because a boy comes into their room, especially if guys are not viewed accordingly. This issue directly associates with stereo types of what men and women should be like and how they should act. Yet these stereotypes should be abolished and men and women should be looked at equally, being able to carry out all the same actions without being charged in a double standard.
--Rebecca Iloulian