Sexism & Language

The essay on sexism and language is the article that mostly caught my attention because of the fact that I, along with the rest of society, deal with sexist language everyday.

In my opinion, it is inappropriate to compare women to food or animals. Whether it be positive or negative connotations that we receive, most of the comparisons used are rude and un-called for.

Take calling a woman a "fox" or a "kitten" for example; those names imply that a woman has sex appeal and/or good looks and they are merely being judged based on that alone. You would never hear a woman be called a "dolphin" because of her intelligence and ability to follow instructions profusely. You'll also never hear a woman be compared to a whale for her great parenting skills and amazing maternal instincts. They are usually compare to such animals if they are heavy-set or overweight. Woman are mostly compare to things based on their appearance or attitude alone.

These unpleasant comparisons are directed towards men as well. When men are called "ducks", it implies that they are un-masculine. If they are filthy or harassing towards women, they are considered "pigs". The word "dog" is usually applied to men if they sleep around with different women and treat each of them with disregard.

I think it's interesting how we live in a society that has come to accept this language and how we have separated neutral words into to categories: feminine and masculine. Adjectives are examples of such words. For instance, we may consider a woman beautiful if she has a nice appearance, yet we would rather regard to man's good looks as handsome.

This article may help people realize how sexism is beginning to grow more in society and that we need to put a stop to it so that men and woman may be treated equally and with respect.

My Reaction to "Salvation"

I feel that a lot of people can relate to "Salvation" and not necessarily in a religious way. We have all been told that some things exist which cannot be explained and at young age, we are so ignorant, that we fall into believing them. As we grow older, though, we learn that these "things" don't really exist or that they exist either through faith or as a fragment of our imaginations. They cause us to wonder what else could be unreal and they may shatter our beliefs about many other things.

In the story "Salvation", Langston felt pressured to stand up with the rest of the church group in order to prove that he was "saved". However, he didn't want to lie. He honestly wanted to "see" and "touch" God, yet God did not come to him. I think he felt even worse when Westley went up after taking the Lord's name in vain because it proved to him that standing up does not mean that the Lord existed and that he would save him. When he got up, so that he wouldn't cause any more problems, he felt guilty for having lied in the church. After he saw that God didn't save him or punish Westley, he felt know reason to believe that God existed.

We've all felt this way at some point. Whether it be about God, the Easter Bunny, or Santa Clause, realizing the truth about these "things" could change a lot of our beliefs. This loss of innocence is a big part of our lives and can cause a chain of reaction as to what we choose to believe in our adulthood.

In a Nutshell

The name is Esmeralda Dominguez, but you can call me Emy. It's what my friends call me. I'm not really the outgoing type but I am friendly. I'm 20 years old and I plan to major in accounting. However, I'd also like to study psychology or criminology. Yet, the idea of dealing with crazy people or dead bodies isn't all that great either. I don't think I have the stomach for it. That's why I chose to stick to accounting. I like to study, but only subjects that really interest me, such as: philosophy, algebra, and literature. I love reading, but again, only things that grab my attention. I mostly love suspense novels. On the other hand, romance novels aren't so bad either.
I'm a huge video game fan. I spend alot of time playing them even though most people say it's a waste of time. But I see the positive side in everything, atleast it gives me excellent hand-eye coordination. I like watching suspense films as well. Some of my favorite movies include: "Saw","The Count of Monte Cristo", and "Braveheart". I'm currently into "Coldplay". They're a really great band. I also enjoy Michael Jackson's music. In my opinion, the best fast food restaurant has to be Taco Bell. I love it. So, from what you've read, I think it's safe for you to assume that, when I'm not working or in school, I spend most of my time playing video games or watching movies and eating Taco Bell. That's just me in a nutshell. Enjoy!

*Signed: Esmeralda Dominguez Enc 1101 T 5:40PM*