Kim Case writes about ways to promote feminism and decrease sexism, primarily through experiential learning for students taking Women’s Studies or Gender Studies courses as part of their formal education at an institution of higher learning. Case compares the advocacy, awareness, and promotion of a decrease in sexism and an increase in awareness regarding male privilege with that of the rise of ethnic and cultural awareness as a result of Affirmative Action policies. Through her research, analysis, and study, Case concludes that cultural studies courses decrease pejorative attitudes just as feminism and gender studies decrease sexist behaviors, perceptions, and attitudes. She studies undergraduate students and the various effects they experience as a result of their choice of study with respect to feminism, gender, and women’s studies. Case finds that taking courses in areas where there is increased awareness of normative subjecthood in western societies helps students more clearly define aspects of their individual identities, as well as concluding that such courses do indeed achieve the goals of her research questions, which are to decrease sexual inequalities with education and awareness.
I do see the information in the article as being helpful for me with respect to my interactions between clients as their therapist. There are a number of instances and situation where increased awareness of one’s own position or of the position and perspective of others can bring about internal change. Often people are so caught up in their own feelings — they are caught up in the experience of their feelings and they can be caught up or distracted in deciphering their own feelings and position so much so that they are unable to see the same situation from a different or outside perspective. Therefore, I see this article as useful because not only can it assist individuals with problems or issues with respect to gender, feminism, and sexual prejudice, just as Case does in her article, this research proves that it can be useful in generating awareness, tolerance, and even respect in other areas such as culture, ethnicity, and again, sexuality. As part of my strategy or methods with my clients, I would urge them to expand their own awareness about themselves and about others. Sometimes when we have increased awareness about a situation and especially about other people, situations that seem like conflicts resolve themselves, or dissipate because there is enough mutual understanding and respect that an effective resolution is reached.
There are situations where each person is at an advantage over others. In western societies, men are at an advantage over women in many, many areas of everyday life. Patriarchal cultures privilege the male perspective, the male view, male desires, and contributions of males to history over those of women or over those men who are not perceived or considered normative by cultural and societal standards. Particularly in countries such as the United States of American, the United Kingdom, and many others, the experience and perspective of white males is the position that is most honored and respected. Meaning, in countries such as those, white males have the greatest advantage over all other persons within those respective countries and cultures. When we increase our general awareness regarding those in power, this awareness creates opportunities for the privilege to diminish and for equality to flourish in critical areas such language, image representation, the workplace, and in various other aspects of everyday life.
Individuals have the power to dismantle social constructs that perpetuate negativity and inequality. Increased awareness regarded the relative privilege of some individuals over others in society is a strong place to begin overcoming inequality in general. For the reason expounded upon in the article as well as in this paper, it is increasingly significant that people study groups to which they do not belong. When males study about women’s studies, they have an opportunity to not further participate in the systemic and institutional subordination of women, who compose a significant portion of the world’s population. It is also crucial for people to study the cultures to which they belong as well, such as when females undertake women’s studies courses. They can learn more about women’s history, the female identity, and what kinds of factors contribute to sexism, misogyny, and inequality.
References:
Case, K.A. (2007). Raising Male Privilege Awareness and Reducing Sexism: An Evaluation of Diversity Courses. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31, 426 — 435.
