How I interpret this statement is that power is everywhere in our environment, and its hard to avoid it. Power is not a single place or something physical but rather it is something that comes out when we are in certain position/situation in our life, such as at a great job that pays a good salary, or in a relationship where one person makes bigger decisions. In my personal relationship, where my boyfriend is the stronger, louder, one , I feel that I have the more power in our relationship. I say this because I am the one with the most education, I keep our household financially stable, I am more social, I am the most active when things need to get done,and I make the big decisions in our household. Although I seem to have the most power, I don't verbally say it out loud due to the fact that I still want him to feel as if he has enough power to see each other as equals in our relationship,or I just don't want to make him feel awkward, so if we don't talk about it we don't really realize it, but its true.
To end my post my question is : How do men really feel about women that have more power than they do? Is it intimidating, do they feel lower, less appreciated?
Gauntlett, David. Media, Gender and Identity. 2nd. New York: Routledge, 2008. 129. Print.
To answer your question, I do not believe men feel lower, and less appreciated. I think they still have the superior role in their mind, but in reality you are. I'm sure they may feel intimdated but its time to move forward women are now moving into higher roles, it's time we all are equal. Roles have changed and there's no turning it around.
ReplyDeleteGlad you posed a question, BUT, I guess my question would be different -- How can we elevate women so that they have more REAL power (socially, economically, politically, etc.) like equal money for the same work, more women in politics, in CEO positions, men and women SHARING the domestic responsibilities when BOTH partners work outside of the home, etc. I wonder why, in a male dominated world, you would worry about how men feel? Have they worried about women historically or have they used women to take care of them and their homes, and the children? (Obviously, I'm trying to push you to a different level of thinking about this! :) But these are critical questions -- Why do we, as women, try to maintain the power imbalance that is so clear in our country -- is it because WE don't feel as valued as men? Because deep down we feel that men SHOULD be elevated above us?
ReplyDeleteYou really provoked a strong response, Elizabeth!
Amanda, no matter what we think about our inferiority or superiority, we still do not make as much money, nor are we respected at the same levels as men.... How can we begin to change that??? You are SO RIGHT about how it is actually passed time to achieve equality for every person in our country.
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