How Female Masculinity Empowers Women in Society
Women Empowerment for Female Masculinity
The patriarchal society, created restrictions on defining feminism and masculinity. Since society puts women into boxes, it’s difficult for female masculine women. Women who are driven into male-dominated occupations are viewed as a threat to a society with strict standards.
Pre-teen girls who behave like tomboys are viewed as going through a teen phase. However, when masculinity becomes an identity, she is then viewed as threat. “While childhood in general may qualify as a period of ‘unbelonging’ for the boyish girl arriving on the doorsteps of womanhood, her status as ‘unjoined’ marks her out for all manner of social violence…” (Halberstam, 7). Girls face pressures from their peers, teachers and parents if they do not conform to traditional roles. For example, when my sister was in high school, she was a study nerd rather than a party girl. Her peers taunted her that she studied more than they did. Her high school teachers, told her that she would be a better fit in teaching rather than law. My mother was not supportive of her when she majored in Political Science rather than early childhood education. She is an example of girls who faced societal pressures, because she pushed boundaries in redefining women’s occupation.
Kesha is a famous woman, who has female masculinity and represents freedom and empowerment. Unfortunately, the media degraded her accomplishments, because her producer controlled her image. She faced challenges because “in October of 2014, the pop singer Kesha filed suit against her producer Dr. Luke, saying that he had ‘sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abuse her for more than a decade…” (Uffalussey, 1). Kesha’s producer, Dr. Luke felt threatened due to her success. He manipulated her music and creativity. Sony Records and Dr. Luke’s contracts restricted her freedom of expression. Kesha has stated “… Dr. Luke not only had abused her, but also asserted full creative control over her career, restricting her ability to control her own image” (Uffalussey, 1). Even though Kesha is famous singer, the media portrays that her success was created through a man rather than her own hard work. Since she was viewed as a masculine woman she was a threat to the social fabric.
Kesha and my sister faced challenges the stereotype that they need men in order to succeed. In Kesha’s case her songs were originally hers, instead she was forced to project a certain image of a woman that we see commonly in the media. “I’d like to show the world other sides of my personality. I don’t want to just continue putting out the same song and becoming a parody of myself,” (Uffalussey, 1). It seems that women who have ingenuity and drive are the ones who are oppressed and cannot fully express themselves. I have seen it with how my sister acts and her struggles with pressures from family and society. However, the reason why women like Irina and Kesha are not being empowered is because our patriarchal fears and stays away from smart women. “While men say they like the idea of dating a woman who’s smarter than they are, when it comes time to meet her, they’re less keen on the brainy lady…” (Hill, 1). If men do not want associate themselves with smarter women than how do we expect equality. There has been so much progressive change for women but how can we move forward, when our society views women as second class citizens. It is time to stop this practice and empower women to reach their full potential.
Awarding women for their potential, they are subjected to domestic violence. For example, my sister faced psychological abuse for a long time. When she was in college, she was constantly yelled at by my mother for getting too many awards and honors. Another form of abuse that she had to endure was someone that she thought was her mentor. Her mentor tried to push her into being in retail or receptionist. When she did not conform, that mentor left psychological scars that made her think she was meant for a smaller role. The same could be said for Malala Yousafzai who also encountered insurmountable odds, because of her beliefs that Pakistani girls should not just be married off but have an education. She witnessed her sixth grade get married. “We were happy at first, but then I saw how she suffered. She was beaten many times by her husband’s family. I saw the scars, and it scared me.” (McNair, 1). What Malala and Irina both share in common is that they both stepped outside of their intended roles, but they became symbols of freedom. Malala became a beacon of hope for girls to have access to an education, while to me Irina is symbol of hope that we will leave a legacy of empowering the next generation of women.
Women need to embrace their individuality and feel empowered about themselves. “In order to perpetuate itself, every oppression must corrupt or distort those various sources of power within the culture of the oppressed that can provide energy for change” (Lorde, 53). As women gain confidence they will overcome oppression and fulfill how they want to live. Such as how Irina and Malala both have visions for the future and do not let society dictate how they should live. To Kesha emerging stronger from the lawsuit with her producer and Sony Records and finally project her authenticity into her songs and empower future generations of women.
Women currently make up around the majority of the U.S population and face stereotypes. Women are facing challenges into getting into leadership positions because of the glass ceiling. Our generation are already making progress in making women equal to men.
