Response to 10/19 Readings

Honestly, I found Fausto-Sterling's article somewhat useless and repetitive. Personally, I have never found PMS or any other feminine menstruation related topics a hindrance to my being respected or trusted by other women or men. Fausto-Sterling tried to make it out as though women are not given responsibility and are therefore subservient to men in our modern society largely due to the potential role of PMS and menopause on behavior. Fausto-Sterling compares the views of the 1800's that women "could not survive intact the rigors of higher eduction" (92) in part due to their reproductive systems to modern views of women today. Fausto-Sterling then continues to explain that "if menstruation really casts such a dark shadow on women's lives, we ought certainly to know more about it" (93); however my question if how much of an impact menstruation really does affect women's lives, both physically and in the eyes of men. She argues the society believes PMS makes monstrous women (as Maria mentioned in her summary); however I do not think this is actually true. Yes, women are still viewed as more sensitive and emotional than men in general; however i do not think it is at all pin pointed at PMS or the reproductive cycle. Fausto-Sterling then continues by going into great detail the studies that have been done on menopause and PMS and argues that more studies need to be done to fully understand these topics. I do not believe that we shouldn't attempt to find the cause of these symptoms; however I don't think it should be put at the forefront of the feminist movement. Focusing attention on this issue would take the emphasis on many of the other larger issues that still exist: in my opinion those that Douglas discusses in her chapter titled "Lean and Mean".

In our second reading for this class, Douglas discusses female obsession with body size to a very unhealthy level. She points out that girls tend to fight with each other in order to take out their anger and aggression that is a result of being forced into this role by society. The rise of technology and media has also contributed to our obsession with body image. Every time I turn on the tv, open a magazine or go to the movies I am bombarded with unrealistically thin women with unnaturally large breasts. The media, however, tells us that these women have gained power from their attractive appearance and therefore we must look like them to be powerful as well. I also agree with Fausto-Sterling's connection between leanness and meanness. If our society believes that unrealistically unnaturally thin women are powerful, then these women will assume this role of authority as well. What Douglas touches on but doesn't explicitly discuss is how this girl-girl bullying is trickling down to younger and younger ages. As the younger sister in Mean Girls flashes the TV, we all laugh and disregard it as being comedy; however a recent NYTimes article argues that "mean-girl behavior" is now occurring at very young ages. Even kindergardeners and young elementary school girls are showing this behavior primarily due to the influence of our larger culture "from reality TV to materialism". As this article shows, Douglas is correct is pointing out not only the connection between leanness and meanness but more importantly our culture and media's role in continuing this closely knit relationship.