One person from each group: please complete this tonight

Prelude: The Barbershop and Ernestine Johnson

We read the article Prelude: The Barbershop in class this week and it really spoke to me. Most of the things that Young talks about in the prelude relate to me. There are some differences because Young is a male and I am a female. I feel like I am one of those black girls that isn’t “ghetto enough” and “not white enough” because I am a well spoken black girl and that isn’t something people expect. In addition to reading Young’s article, we listened to Ernestine Johnson speak on Arsenio Hall’s show. She performed “Average Black Girl” and it was really moving; the way she spoke was intoxicating and I had caused me to have an emotional tie to it. I've come to realize that there are many black people that feel the way I do because we are on the border of two social groups and it can be frustrating sometimes. When Young asked why people have to feel this way, being on the border of social groups, and why we aren't just comfortable the way we are, it made me question it also. Everyone has the longing to be accepted and when you somewhat fit into different social groups it becomes hard to identify and express yourself socially. Although I don't feel like I have a problem identifying myself and expressing myself, I can say that I do feel like I have to act a certain way around certain people because of the what they expect of me; it shouldn't have to be that way.

Language, Gender, Culture?

In the unit that we are currently studying, Language Gender and Culture, I’ve noticed that the articles and works that we are reading and annotating have much to do with the way our society works. In the article “His Politeness is Her Powerlessness,” by Deborah Tannen, the author is explaining how women have a lower status than men in any society, not just the American one. I personally agree with her, even though I do not fully agree with the way things are set. I personally believe that women should not have to act a certain way just because they are women. What does that even mean? It is 2015. I believe that the author agrees with me on my opinion, but I cannot be too sure because she takes a neutral stance for most part of the article. In paragraph 6, she then goes to say that women use indirectness asa  form for communicating because they often feel one-uped by men, not personally but on a greater scale. Tannen then goes to describe how in past, ancient civilizations, indirectness was a form of politeness. For example, in the Japanese culture, it was frowned upon if indirectness was not used while making lunch plans. I personally think that whichever way you would like to speak, speak it. No matter your gender, boy or girl, I believe that your personal preference is all you need to make you happy. Of course in certain situations, like job interviews or in a certain type of relationship, then it is necessary to speak a certain way. But in general, I believe that no matter who you are, you do not need to speak a certain way. It’s your life, your voice, you use the words and style that makes you happy.

I am dropping this into every document I have received

2/25/15: 4:57 pm

Dear Writers:

Thursday is an important day. There is much to be decided and figured out, and some early writing to be done.  A first (ugly) draft is DUE IN CLASS ON FRIDAY, which gives you just today and tonight to knock out a preliminary idea.

ON FRIDAY, EVERYONE in the group brings in their own paper copy of the ugly first draft:  3 people, 3 drafts.  Take ownership of the work, and be prepared to cut, paste, and change that draft.   DO NOT WALK INTO CLASS AND ASK TO USE THE PRINTER.  There is no time for that.

Collaborating is not simply a matter of throwing separate ingredients together in a pot, shaking, and seeing what comes up.  Collaboration requires communicating, negotiating, struggling together until eventually a shared product emerges.

First, decide on a topic that is relevant to our unit, Language, Gender, and Culture.  There are many tyrannies in the world.  There are those legitimate oppressors that have a face and are keeping people down.  But we are not talking about Big Brother here.  The tyrannies we would like you to address are those that require thoughtful introspection.

Let us share some examples of some topics proposed last year that missed the mark:

1. The tyranny of college tuition and the subsequent debt
2. The tyranny of marijuana laws
3. The tyranny of being expected to go to college

While these topics may be worth writing about, they fail to engage the premise of our unit’s primary focus, which are the “tyrannies [we] swallow day by day and attempt to make [our] own.” These topics may either be too vague or unrelated to the unit or both.

IF I HAD TO DO THIS PROJECT with other people -- whether familiar working partners or relative strangers -- here are the steps I would take:

• I would come to the group on Thursday with 3-4 ideas
• I would explain my ideas to the best of my ability, and I would listen to the ideas of my partners
• As they were speaking, I would be taking notes, seeking common ground
• After everyone had contributed their ideas, I would start asking my partners for ways they think we could move forward
• I would clarify which paragraphs I think I could write, and I would commit to them
• I would begin writing during class on Thursday:  “censor off” (Peter Elbow), Chromebook on
• On Thursday night, I would continue to write furiously and before bed, I’d print the whole thing for class on Friday
• Taking these steps are the only way to earn a good grade on this part of the group essay.

Genders: Roles and Culture

Gender roles are prominent in present-day society. Boys are expected to act like boys and girls like girls. There are things that are expected of boys and things expected of girls; boys aren't supposed to be emotional people because it "shows weakness". Some people find it repulsive when women curse or use profanity because it's "dirty". Men are expected to be the ones bringing in money for their household while the women are supposed to stay home, tend to the house and watch the children. Women are being welcomed into the work force more now than before but there still is an expected gender role in the household in that sense because that is the way the world and our society is; it is a male dominant world. In our society men will always be thought of superior no matter how much feminism is present. Today in class we talked about Deborah Tannen's article His Politeness is Her Powerlessness. Tanner says,"Whether women or men are direct or indirect differs; what remains constant is that the women's style is negatively evaluated - seen as lower in status than the men's."(9) This quote made me realize that women will always be seen as "lower" or "lesser" than males because that is the way our culture is. Women are seen as sweet and delicate creatures and I feel like that makes it seem like we can't do anything or that men think that women aren't capable of certain things, like financing a household which is why they are supposed to be "housekeepers" of sorts. No matter how much women make a difference or impact, men will always be seen as superior because that is how its always been. I agree with the comment Nick wrote in my notebook, "women [won't] ever be able to get rid of this 'aura' cast upon them. Society is too male dominated..." Sadly, women won't even be seen as equal to men; women will be inferior to men due to our culture and society.