Below are the lyrics to the TV show Green Acres which aired 1965-1971. The man and woman each state their case, but see if you can find where the final decision is made and on what basis.
Man: Green acres is the place to be. Farm livin’ is the life for me. Land spreadin’ out so far and wide. Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.
Woman: New York is where I’d rather stay. I get allergic smelling hay. I just adore a penthouse view. Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue.
Man: The chores.
Woman: The stores.
Man: Fresh air.
Woman: Times Square
Man: You are my wife
Woman: Good bye, city life.
Both: Green Acres we are there!
Meet my maternal grandparents, Harker (British ancestry) and Ruth (Irish/German ancestry), both now deceased. They met and married in Dubuque, Iowa and moved to Denver, Colorado after the birth of their first child. Harker (or Hark as my grandma liked to call him) was first a newspaper man and then later owned and operated a very successful advertising agency with accounts large enough to support a 3-daughter family and my grandma didn't need to work (although times got rough during WWII and grandma went without new shoes while the kids ate a lot of peanut butter sandwiches). When their 3 children were grown my grandma became bored and it was suggested that she take on charity work or a job. But in my grandma's day women didn't work if they could afford not to, and her female peers mimicked that sentiment so she chose not to. It wasn't considered selfish; in fact middle class women were viewed in a negative light (considered to have low spousal status) if they worked in the early 1900s (when she grew up), and getting past that would have been almost life changing for her. Welcome to 2013. Women change their own tires, start their own companies, pursue educational goals, vote, own their own property, and become President. Well...that last one hasn't happened yet in this country but it could happen.
So, how much has really changed? The US is one of the only post-industrialized nation not to have a woman in the key position of power over a country, women are still overwhelming performing the childcare and housework even when they work full time, and they are overrepresented among the poor as the marginalized sex (the feminization of poverty). Data to ponder.
When we meet again, know the difference between sex and gender, the definition of androgyny, and be prepared to have a little fun poking fun at stereotypes of gender. Also review these links and bring a calculator to class next week and your Compensation asmt is due then too.
The Male Privilege Checklist
YouTube: Dove Soap video on beauty
The Mask You Live in trailer
This is How Much America Hates Women
You have the chapter on Sex/Gender to read, and assignment 3 to get started on if you chose that asmt (excluding summer classes).
