Auto Ethnography: Gender - Essay Example

? Auto Ethnography: Gender Introduction Gender inequality and other issues affecting women have led to various reactions globally. Feminists through help from researchers and right activists have caused the awareness of increased cases of gender inequality and abuse of human rights. Writers, such as Bell Hook, have written books to express their views on feminist lives to help them with the awareness process. She has written books such as ‘Bone Black’ where she has shared her girlhood stories and experiences with the readers. In her book, she has identified various key hardships that the girl child, especially the ‘Black Girl Child’ goes through in her life until she becomes a known member of the society (Hooks 22). The three major topics include, Feminism Feminism is the process of offering female activists and researchers the chance to come up with ideologies and movements (Andersen 29). In most cases, the ideas and inventions come up with strategies that fight for the equality of women rights. In the modern and past era, women are derived political, social and economical rights in the society which help in their success in the society. Remarkably, social and cultural beliefs in most societies have come up with opportunities that help women empower their political, social and economical rights (MartiInez 23). In most cases, a feminist campaigns for the support and establishment of rights and policies that support the female gender Social stratification It is evident in most societies where the society has been divided into various strata’s or groups according to an individual’s economic might and racial rank. According to the writers, the society may also be stratified according to the heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual characters of an individual. According to the Bell Brook, she has been brought up in a culturally rich black society where the beliefs, traditions, and norms have to be followed by all the members of the society. However, not all the cultural beliefs are globally acceptable. Self-esteem This has been an issue that has led most researchers to search for activities in the society that help women to be self confident, a character that leads to increased self esteem. However, the type of race can affect self-esteem that an individual belongs. In most cases, the White race contains a higher rate of self-esteem as compared to the Black race. This is because in most cases, the White race has been the dominant race. According to Bell, she did not have access to quality education as compared to the White students. In most societies, especially African societies, most of the norms and tradition have been overcome by time an action that leads to the success of the White race. It has been most evident in the female gender where most feminists do not acquire a spot for their activism process. In most cases, the White race has been known to abuse the Black race due to the presence of economic, social, and political stability in their individual countries. Abuse of the female gender maybe psychically or emotionally instilled in most societies. Based on sexual orientation, the homosexuals are the most focused individual in the society (Madrid 9). In addition to this, the vice is only adopted in the developed countries that involve countries occupied by the Whites. Cases of domestic violence are evident in countries occupied by the Black civilians. Feminism based on class, race, sex/gender and/or sexual orientation According to Bell Brook, she has been brought up in s society that does not value the female gender. She has been in most cases been under graded due to her gender. Due to racism, she has been molested in her education where she has to attend to racially segregated schools in the society. In most cases, the White race over sees against the Black race since it has been in the front page of technological inventions that lead to better ways of life for the White society (Andersen & Patricia 25). In the case of sexual orientation, feminists fight for the presence of lesbians in the society. Class also affects the rate in which feminism is valued in the society. In most high and middle class ways of life, members have better chances to fight for homosexual and bisexual rights in the society as compared to individuals from low economical classes. Social stratification based on class, race, sex/gender, and/or sexual orientation In most societies, especially African societies, most of the norms and tradition have been overcome by time since there are no high rates of homosexuality in most Black states, which is a part of sexual orientation. According to Bell, she has been brought up in a black society where homosexuality as a group of the society that has not been accepted. However, feminists have set strategies to come up with ideologies that should help the women acquire the set goals and objectives. Gender has been stratified into two sections; the male and female genders (Takaki 25). However, for the past years the female gender has been undermined. Based on race, the white race has been dominant in this issue. For example, most of the developed countries contain the White race such as the United States of America and China. When it comes to black countries such as Africa, the society has not been grouped in economic levels. Self-esteem based on class, race, sex/gender, and/or sexual orientation Self-esteem in most cases found in the white race that has been involved in most technological, social, economic, and political situations. For example, in the United Sates, the White race feels superior due to its involvements in most national projects including presidential elections. Most of the presidents in the United States are Whites and not until the early 2000 that the first president was elected. Experiences in life Feminism Being a woman, I have been involved in several cases in the society where I have overcome cases of gender inequality and have acted positively to these issues. For example, back in the Soviet Union while a girl, there was much male chauvinism. Since the Second World War, the male gender has been highly been appreciated due to its participation in the war. Since my migration into the United States, I have overcome many feminist activities such as campaigns for lesbianism, which in my culture is not embraced. As compared to Hook, I did not undergo the ruthless beating from my parents as in the Black societies. Being brought up in a middle class family, I had access to public utilities such as education unlike other girls who in some situations had to leave school to pave way to their brother to gain education before them. Social stratification Social stratification leads to different ranks and classes that influence the level the level to which traditions and norms are followed in the society. In my case, my parents had access to employment that led to a better stratum in the community. In cases of race, I was white and this helped in my survival in the United States the White race was highly valued and respected. According to Hook, her society was economically stratified where only the rich had access to social amenities such as health and education. Self-esteem According to self-esteem, I knew I was worth emotional evaluation due to my access to education. Additionally, after my migration into the United States, I found a very welcoming White race, which helped me cope with my friends and neighbors. Being female, I did not find a society grouped based on gender such as in most African countries where race is a major issue. Unlike Hooks, I had self-esteem that helped me in my younger years. Conclusion Issues affecting humanity and especially the female gender have been evident from the ancient time to the post modernism era. The issues include gender such as gender inequality, racism, class and sexism been (McIntosh 8). Right activists have made efforts to address these problems in the society. Remarkably, there exists a relationship between my experiences and those presented by Hook. Works Cited Andersen, Margaret L., and Patricia Collins. Race, class, and gender: an anthology. 7th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Madrid, Arturo . Missing People and Others: Joining Together to Expand the Circle (by Arturo Madrid). Cambridge, MA: South-Western, Cengage Learning, 2006. Print. Hooks, Bell. Bone Black: memories of girlhood. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1996. Print. Hooks, Bell. Feminist theory: from margin to center. 2nd ed. London: Pluto, 2000. Print. McIntosh, Peggy. White Privilege. Wellesley, MA: Stone Center, Wellesley College, 2002. Print. MartiInez, Elizabeth Sutherland. De colores means all of us: Latina views for a multi-colored century. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 1998. Print. Takaki, Ronald . A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America (Revised Edition). London: eBookIt.com. 2012. Print. Read More