Sexual Assault

       Today we did an activity called ‘Cultural Myths That Support Sexual Assault’. The worksheet listed statements about sexual assault and we had to determine truth from myth. When I read them through, it was clear to me what the actual correct answers would be, however it got me thinking about how many false statements are opinions held by people around me, some of which I know. It is obvious to me that a woman wearing suggestive clothing is not asking for any kind of trouble, but I have heard friends of mine holler at a girl dressed in sexy clothes, and justify it to me as “if she didn’t want the attention, she wouldn’t have dressed that way”. My friends may not be sexually assaulting anyone with these beliefs, but it shows that these beliefs do exist, and it is scary to think that there are people willing to take the situation to the next level under the same justification.

     On the other hand, a couple of the statements made suggestions about women lying about being raped. Again, I know that sexual assault is something that happens, and something that happens much too often. However there are women who are willing to lie about being sexually assaulted for whatever benefit they see for themselves.
     The following video describes a few different situations in which sexual assault occurs. I find it shocking that so many cases go unreported, and I think that awareness needs to be raised to show people that they are not alone in their situation and they have to power to seek justice for what has happened to them.

Sexual Dysfunction

   

     When I personally think of sexual dysfunction, I think of the commercials on the television of older couples that do not really say much, but seem to have a pill that has made them very happy such as those in the video above. Of course I have always known that there is more to it than that, but today’s class opened my eyes. I have always thought that sexual dysfunction is something that affects males and males alone, but it seems that most types can affect both males and females. I also thought that age was the biggest factor that caused it, or perhaps alcohol in some situations, but it seems that the problem can be in your head just as much as biological or chemical issues in your body. The different types are probably what shocked me the most. It seems unreal how unknown some of these disorders are. I wonder about people who are experiencing some of these and have not done anything about it simply because they do not understand what is going on or what they can do to help themselves. I feel much better now being educated on the subject so that I can help a friend through if they approach me with an issue and calm their fears. 

The End of Men

     Recently we have watched two documentaries in class. The first was called The F-word: Who Wants to be a Feminist, and it talked about the reluctance of many modern women to call themselves feminists. The second was called The End of Men, which discussed the trials that the men go through in our society and brought attention to an often ignored subject. I personally preferred The End of Men. I think that this is because as a woman, it is interesting to learn about what men are experiencing today. I think that the feminist movements not only gave women a voice that they had not had before, but also took man’s voice away. I hope that now, in a society that women are able to enjoy the same privileges as men, we can come back together and have true equality without bitterness or jealousy on either side.

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Masturbation

     On Thursday we did an activity called ‘Thinking about the Logic of Cultural Taboos Against Masturbation’. We read a short paragraph and were ask of our opinions. I feel as though many of the “widely held cultural beliefs” about masturbation are absolutely prehistoric and ridiculous. The difference between solitary sexual behaviour and sexual behaviour with a partner hardly exists in today’s society. Sexual behaviour is no longer believed to be only for reproduction, so what is the problem with masturbation? For those who personally believe in only engaging in sexual behavior for the purpose of reproduction, I can see a small argument against masturbation. However I see no reason for those people to have any say or opinion towards others who do not share these beliefs. 

Abortion

     Abortion is a widely controversial issue today in our society. It is one that I am very cautious to take a firm position on, not because I do not have an opinion, but because I am aware that there are many positions to take and a lot of different reasoning behind each position. With the information I have learned about abortion, I personally believe that it is a matter that should be between the parents of the pregnancy. Many people say it is up to the mother, but I think the father has a very important say in what goes on as well. This is not to say that the father can veto the mother’s opinion, but it is a discussion that needs to be had between the parents before a decision is made. With that said, I am aware that the father will not always be involved with the decision making process, and even then the woman’s life can potentially change a lot more from a pregnancy than her partner’s. If a woman has educated herself with all of her options and made the decision to abort her pregnancy, I do not think that there is anyone who should be able to tell her that she has to go through with the pregnancy. One can argue that the mother should not be able to decide the fate of another person, but I think that if she is truly prepared to go through with an abortion, it would be a crime to allow that child to come into a world in which it is considered a burden.

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Romeo and Juliet

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     On Thursday we watched excerpts from the 1996 film Romeo and Juliet. When I look at the film critically, I feel as though Sternberg’s Model of Love would describe the love of Romeo and Juliet as fatuous love. The three factors that the model takes into account are intimacy, passion, and commitment. In order for consummate love to exist, all three factors must come into play. In Romeo and Juliet, I think that there is definitely passion between the two. They also show clear commitment to each other by taking their own lives to be together. However, you do not see a lot of intimacy. The young love birds hardly knew each other long enough to ask the other’s favourite colour, let alone have a truly intimate conversation. All that said, I do not think that the label of fatuous love makes their love any less real. What Romeo and Juliet had was enough for them, and had they spent more time together their love surely would have developed. I think that that is very important to remember when discussing Sternberg’s Model of Love. Even if a couple can be placed on the triangle at one moment, their relationship is constantly changing and fluctuation, and no point on the model is necessarily better than another.

Attractiveness from an Evolutionary Perspective

     A continued discussion in class of attraction brought up some interesting points in yesterday's lesson. We talked about attractiveness from an evolutionary perspective and I found it very intriguing. I definitely agree that many features that we find attractive in others may very well stem from early necessities in a mate. Even though strength no longer ensures success in our society, it is still considered to be very attractive in a male. Yet at the same time, I think that attractiveness has developed with the times. Men who are intelligent and/or tech savvy are considered attractive for their ‘provider potential’. I also think that with the evolution of feminism, it has become increasingly attractive for males to take on certain roles that were previously primarily feminine, as well as for females to take on roles that were previously primarily masculine.