tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515648284138153139.post3941490285463318398..comments2023-10-02T00:58:58.371-07:00Comments on Writing for Survival: When Writing Really Is The Only Way to Survive...Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09580863595510039815noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515648284138153139.post-45377817070013375692011-01-08T09:26:05.815-08:002011-01-08T09:26:05.815-08:00RMBIV-
You are responding to the wrong post. I th...RMBIV-<br /><br />You are responding to the wrong post. I think you meant to respond to my other post "Is Throwing Rocks at Birds a Sign of Sexism?" not this one. <br /><br />These boys are not little kids. They are teenagers. They know the words they say are degrading and offensive to women, and they were not using them to express attraction. <br />Perhaps, I am sure, they don't possess a mature form of sexist notions, but let's not excuse they're behavior. Both at the vantage point of a teacher, and having been their age and knowing full-well the maliciousness that abetted these words, what you are saying here is dangerous.<br /><br />I am a writer and an English teacher. I have many years of experience with words, and an extensive knowledge of our language's vocabulary. In fact, that shapes my identity as much as, if not more, than my identity as a "feminist." <br /><br />As such, there are many, many words that one could use to express attraction to a girl, and none of them include "bitch," or "ho," and even "hot chick" is at the bottom of the list. <br /><br />Society needs to stop making excuses and infantilizing and coddling boys in these scenerios (such as you are here), as though they don't quite know what they're doing or saying-as though they are mere victims of the culture. They are not stupid, and we create our own culture, it is up to us to address its wrongs. <br /><br />These boys listen to the same songs and read many of the same books as their female counterparts, and those books and songs are filled with many non-degrading words, intriguing words. <br /><br />If the problem was just vocabulary, you'd have the girls getting in trouble for the same thing: why is it that teenage girls do not have at hand a pick of as many degrading words to describe sexually promiscuous men, or men who are rude? Because hardly any such words exist, especially to describe the former....and why? Because our culture, which was and is still sexist, gave birth to our language. <br /><br />I did teach these students. I told them those words are offensive and prejudicial. That they are intolerable and bullying. I explained why. But I am sure they know why, which is why they were also punished. <br /><br />If these kids were using derogatory words against someone in the context of race or religion, at their age, I do not believe there would be a debate here. <br /><br />We need to stop falling back on stereotypes to justify behaviors, whether it be "boys will be boys," or that of the "overeactive" feminist. There has been a rash of bullying-induced suicide. <br /><br />Last year, a 13 year-old gilr hung herself in her bedroom because of the constant onslaught of sexual harassment in the form of verbally abusive words. The teachers ignored the bullying. I will not.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09580863595510039815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515648284138153139.post-8386370268969601102011-01-07T12:02:59.765-08:002011-01-07T12:02:59.765-08:00Why would teenage boys discuss girls in such terms...Why would teenage boys discuss girls in such terms? Of course, because the people in their circles of influence do it, but still why? What other vocabulary do they have to say that a girl is hot chick? Give them words and understanding of their meanings, not merely offense. Offense chalks up this experience to the female rights activist, not to the issue of vocabulary. I doubt that all boys who use such language intend it in a degrading fashion, those merely are the sexy words they know. Teach them, teacher, don't react.RMBIVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18119704720010975657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6515648284138153139.post-89016288903180132282010-10-18T19:31:35.416-07:002010-10-18T19:31:35.416-07:00Thank you for all of your great writing, Laura. Yo...Thank you for all of your great writing, Laura. Your blog posts are inspiring and your intentions are pure. Keep up the good work!Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497870984226074005noreply@blogger.com