Blog #4

I chose to do Blog option number four and to blog about a particular character, situation, scene, or issue found in one of texts we read and relate to it on a personal level. This week in class we read Genesis on the Original sin. This story in the bible is about the failure of man and woman to obey God's specific demands. In the story God tells Adam and Eve, shameless and sinless beings, that they can eat from any tree on the Garden expect from one specific tree. One day Adam and Eve are walking through the Garden when the wildest and most sneaky animal in the Garden approaches them. In short, the snake convinces Eve that the fruit from the forbidden tree can be eaten despite what God has told them. Before this point in the story, the specific tree had not seemed so tempting to Adam and Eve. However, when the snake introduces this temptation into their minds they start to view the tree differently. Genesis states, "The woman stared at the fruit. It looked beautiful and tasty. She wanted the wisdom that it would give her, and she ate some of the fruit. Her husband was there with her, so she gave some to him, and he ate it too". When God finds out about this sin and confronts both Adam and Eve he gives them tremendous consequences for this sin. Including painful childbirth, shame, guilt, temptation, and the introduction of sin to humanity for eternity. 

I can relate this story to many experiences in my life but especially one in particular. One weekend in high school, my sister was having her sports award ceremony where she was going to receive a very special award for volleyball. My father and mother told me many times to not make any plans for that night since it was an important event to go to, plus we would all be hanging out after. Just how Adam and Eve had never really considered the fruits temptation a lot before the snake, I had never considered not going a huge temptation. However, when I was presented the idea by all of my friends to skip the awards ceremony and go to a bonfire out at the lake I suddenly became overwhelmed with temptation to disobey my parents. I thought about how fun swimming in the lake would be, warming up by the fire, and making smores' with my best friends. I thought about how the night would be just how Eve thought about how tasty the apple would taste. I longed for the freedom to do what I pleased and make my own decision. I decided to fake sick to skip the ceremony and joined my friends at the lake. My parents had originally planned to go to dinner after the ceremony which would have bought me more time. Their plans fell through when my mom got sick and needed to come home. I guess you could say my plans fell through as well when they didn't see me at home. They were furious the next day and gave me consequences just as God gave consequences to Adam and Eve. I was grounded for a week, and lost my cell phone. What was worse was I lost my parents trust that night. I should have listened to myself but I allowed my friends to influence my decision and gave into temptation. Sin is something that every person experiences in life and all though it is never going away it is important to reflect on your mistakes and try not to make the same one again. I never lie to my parents anymore!

Sofia Sidner, Option 3

In Amy Tan’s short story “Rules of the Game”, there is a general theme that touches on the idea of gender differences and how these differences play out in your life. In this short story, it discusses a young girl named Meimei and her passion for the game of chess. Not only is she passionate about chess, but she is also extremely talented at chess. She wins tournaments and was close to becoming a grand master at chess. However, in the story, when she approaches a man in the park playing chess and asks if he wants to play, he responds with “…’Little sister, it’s been awhile since I’ve played with dolls’” (Tan 3). Why would the old man assume that Meimei was asking him to play with dolls and not chess?

His assumption can be contributed to the fact that since birth, certain stereotypes are made with children and the types of toys they play with based on their gender. In an article written by Eleanor Muffit, it talks about how gender stereotypes are attached to children even before birth - parents paint girls’ rooms pink and paint boys’ rooms blue. When they purchase toys for their children, as Muffit states, you either “…take the blue lane, with miniature helicopters, chemistry sets and binoculars; or take the pink lane, with kitchens, dolls, and make up kits” (Muffit 1). It is rare for a little girl to be seen playing with “boy toys” such as trucks, legos, or tractors.

 

Gender stereotyping with toys is the main reason that the old man in the park assumes that Meimei wants to play with dolls. It probably never occurred to the man that Meimei is interested in other things besides dolls – especially chess. It is unfortunate that these stereotypes are so prevalent, not only in the short story but in today’s world. It is through these stereotypes that others judge people and often make inaccurate assumptions about someone’s likes, dislikes, opinions, or personality. This story is an excellent example of how we can break out of the gender stereotypes and how important it is to not let stereotypes affect you or what you are interested in.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10498316/Nows-the-time-to-end-the-boys-and-girls-toys-gender-divide.html

Blog Option #3

According to the Stephanie Hallett who is a writer for The Huffington Post, “It is estimated that just 8 percent of American women will keep their last names after marriage. That's down from a record high of about 23 percent in the nineties.” (Hallett) The women of Herland couldn’t understand why a woman would give up their name and take her husbands. “Change them? Do the Husbands then take the wives’ maiden names? Oh, no he laughed. The man keeps his own and gives it to her, too. Then she just loses hers and takes a new one-how unpleasant! We won’t do that!,” Alima said decidedly. (Gilman 138) 

“More than 60 percent of people polled agreed that women should take their husbands' last names after marriage, while less than half said a man should be allowed to take his wife's last name.” (Hallett) But the woman of Herland would disagree. Ones community, family, friends, and religion can all play a part in shaping identity. When you come from a community as small as the women of Herland you identity is all you have. Your last name is part of that identity. It’s is something you are born with. It can even play a part of the person you are with your family heritage.

       I felt an instant connection to this article and this topic in the text. I am getting married in a few months and this has come up a few times during conversation with my fiance. I typically just blow it off, but it is something that I am dreading actually sitting down and talking about. I, like the women of Herland think that taking your husbands last name is like losing a part of your identity. I am an only child and have a strong bond with my father. I feel as though I should keep my last name because that part of my identity that I don’t wish to part with. Maybe we can compromise with Reske-Huston? To be determined…

Works Cited

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. Herland and Related Writings. Ed. Beth Sutton-Ramspeck. Buffalo: Broadview, NY. Print.

Hallett, Stephanie. "Changing Your Last Name: Survey Reveals How Americans Feel About Women, Men Changing Their Names." Huffington Post 14 Apr 2013, n. pag. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14/changing-your-last-name_n_3073125.html>.