In the story "Where I Come From Is Like This" the author Paula Gunn Allen's view of women was very different than that of the Anglo women of her time.She views women from her particular ethnicity where women were viewed as people of power and authority and hard workers.She discussed in particular the subject of menstruation.Her viewpoint is an example of native American women and their ability to actually influence men and strength that they were empowered with unlike their Anglo sisters who were seen as weak and sometimes were treated like subservient peons.Paula Gunn Allen was not raised to believe such things her family worked hard and women were responsible for labor intensive daily chores that were empowering and gave them what I understood to be respect in their communities.Within the Anglo communities women literally received little or no recognition for bearing children and keeping a house in order,raising children,or any other things they were responsible for or to. Paula Allen Gunn truly made me see that the traditions of her people were much more respectful and clearly a better view of women and the place of respect that all women deserve. My experience is that women are to be treated with love and kindness.Though I believe respect is earned and not given between men .Women deserve to be respected for who they are and what they actually represent which is actually the makers of men.Without the caring and gentleness of a woman I am quite sure men would not learn to have compassion and empathy for other people.My personal view is more of an equal and interdependent type view whereas the energy of both sexes can create unity and equality through mutually respecting each others schema.I enjoyed this story and hope that as our society continues to grow and change people will ultimately be viewed for their individual ability rather their sex and jaded views of our countries colonial past.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Difference between Paula Gunn Allen and other Womens Viewpoints
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Wow that was a hard post to read only from a visual standpoint. You can change the color of your font in settings to a contrasting color (like gold) so that you don't have to use the highlighter function. That said, it is a testament to your great writing here that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post despite the eye/brain strain! You clearly articulate your connection to the reading in a very meaningful way by linking your personal experience to the summary of Gunn's ideas. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI like how you say with the energies of both partners it will create, "unity and equality through mutually respecting each others schema." if more people looked at it that way, I think society would be more productive.
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