Monday, December 15, 2014
JUST A THOUGHT: The role of Women...
"So there I was: big, beautiful, dark young, and dumb." (166)
Williamson allots a great deal of time discussing the "things" women possess which could help them advance in society. If you were to critique this text from a feminist perspective, what is your reaction to her mother's ways, or Mona's interactions with men or Williamson's acquistion of an education and the "angle" it gives her. When you reflect on the role of women in today's society what seems to be more important, "book sense" or "street smarts"? Use evidence from the text to support your answer
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In today's society, women appear to be respected more for their "street smarts" rather than their "book smarts". Williamson speaks of Nikki as a different type of college girl that does not mind mingling with people from her own neighborhood. She describes most of the people in Nikki's neighborhood as "unhealthy" in terms of appearance; however the one thing they had in common was that they all knew Nikki (132). When Nikki spoke of Williamson's accomplishments to her mother, she was uninterested. The only conversation that excited her intellect was the idea of Nikki's father cheating on her. The most interesting part of the conversation was when Nikki's mother did not express any shame of cheating on her husband in the past. As a woman, she felt entitled to cheat as long as she was still considered "classy" (133). This is an example of double standards between men and women in society. I think her mother felt as though she deserved unconditional love, even if she was not providing the same effort. Society has the tendency to make women feel obligated to project a certain outer appearance, yet no one is really saying how a woman should be on the inside. Therefore, women like Nikki's mother are born thinking that as long as they play house correctly, she shouldn't be held accountable for the rest of her actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying here Sarye. In today's society street smarts is valued and looked at more in women than book smarts. Many believe that intellects won't help you circumstances and obstacles one faces when being black and living in the projects. Women are raised with the idea that there outer appearance is what gets them what they want. They try so hard to fit others standards that they get lost finding their true self.
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DeleteIt seems to me that you imply that Nikki has street smarts, but I have to ask do those people really respect her? Do the wives of the husbands she manipulates respect her? Would her boyfriend respect if she knew about her sleeping around? Would everybody at the university respect her if they knew about her habits? Lisa Williamson is only so formidable because she is book smart, she knows a lot about the African History, and has contemplated long about life. This deep knowledge is why people call her powerful and why Nikki was attracted to her in the first place.
DeleteThe role of women is undefined and often times changed. Many believe a women is suppose to Cary herself a certain way, have respect unconditionally no matter the circumstances and only have one man throughout their lives or they will be characterized out of their name. I believe every young female needs a female structure in their life to mold them into a women, I also believe that it is necessary for a young female to have a father as well. Having that female figure in ones life gives them perspective on how they are suppose to carry themselves, be independent, and to not have multiple lovers. It is evident that females are looked under a more critical light because of their gender. Women are help up on a higher pedistole because of their role in society. I believe women's have many roles that are set in stone and yet to come, women are continuous workers who are continuously watched to see the mistakes they will make to scar them for life. Lisa Williamson grew up with half a mother and an absence of a father. This impacted her life and caused confusion because her mother preached things to her and her siblings and practiced something different in front of them. Her father told her not to trust no man and he was the first man in her list. Williamson is a strong young African American female whom values her education and wants to impact other black individuals life as a whole. She wants to expand the knowledge of black history to all blacks that lack the knowledge of. Williamson's continuous desire to spread the insight of black history shows growth and maturity because she reaches a level of understanding of her heritage and wants others to do so as well.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to look at this text, the entire book, with a feminist mindset, I would find some glaring contradictions to the doctrine as well as some affirmations. Women have always been seen to be the less capable gender, as a result for most women "book sense" was not really a goal they were after, they would have to learn how to survive in a male world with "street sense" instead. In terms of what is valued, since books sense would in this case be less common, rare things are always set at a higher price. Nathan explains when he is talking to Lisa that most men are not accustomed to smart women "Your brain got me going but it's scary. You're too powerful. I've never seen anything like it before...You have my attention" (88). Lisas intelligence gives her an advantage over all of the women who don't have one and are easily belittled and over-looked because of it, she has the ability to look at situation critically as well as gaining all the advantages of being knowledgeable about a lot of things. She also has an advantage of all the men without an education. What matters today to advance the feminist agenda is more book sense than anything. With a good education women would be able to acquire a position in the workforce where they could deal with these inequalities they see.
ReplyDeleteI agree Dale, the strength of a woman's mind can be powerful and very enticing. However, a woman's "book smarts" is not highly valued in today's society. For example, Lisa's crush Kyle did not pay her much attention until she seduced him with her new charm and appearance (150). Before a woman can be recognized and appreciated for her "book smarts", people in society must reevaluate themselves and change their views on how a "real woman" should behave.
DeleteI agree Dale, the women are considered to be the gender with less of an ability than the opposite; men. They are told that they will be a good wife one day that will maintain the husband and take care of the children. They label her as a perfect housewife at a young age because they don't believe she can become a doctor or a lawyer. This is called gender roles. Women should be valued for their intellects for as they will be the one to prove that this is not mans world. Women should stop feeding into the opinionated beliefs and they should reevaluate their true purpose. Hiding behind a man makes them lose their worth and their true identity.
DeleteSister Souljah throughout her book so far introduced women with different stories. Her mom and Nikki who believed they should use their bodies and looks to achieve things from men. Mona who wants to become a engineer and believes women do not need men for anything. Looking at these characters from a feminist perspective I believe these traits contradict the basis of a feminist argument. Nikki and the author mom depends on men to survive. These two believe that men should provide for them because that what a man is suppose to do. While on the other hand we have Mona who feel men have no purpose and women should be independent. That is one of the reason why she believe she should be a engineer where she can make crazy money to support herself. In today society like always women were better suited to have "street smarts" over "book smarts". For years, women never needed a education because they was destined to be house wives or seamstress. Now women of towards society are leaning more to the "book smarts" because they want to be independent. A message that Sister Souljah wanted her readers to pick up, that as a women you should not depend on a man for anything(trust no man).
ReplyDeleteQuason, I agree with your point of view. Also with Lisa and her mother the situations are similar it simply represents daughter like mother. Lisa engages in the lifestyle in which she had saw her mother and she continues to use her body and destroying not only herself but attach relationships
DeleteThe role of women has slowly changed through time, as respect has been lost from others and their selves. After reading the first chapter "Mother", this chapter showed the influences of a society on one. Focusing just on her mother’s character, she lost respect for herself over time. The environment that Lisa Williamson and her family moved to eventually changed their mother. Williamson’s mother was no longer the same after adapting to the projects and she carried this personality throughout the rest of her life. This chapter was an eye opener to those who take life for granted because her mother used to have everything she wanted until things took a turn for the worse and she didn't have guidance for those types of things. The relationship portrayed in "Mother" is not one a mother and a daughter should have with one another. A mother is supposed to be a child's number one guidance. Her mother had no guidance as a child but to depend on a man although her father wasn't around. Her mother’s ways slowly got out of hand and she lost her good ways.
ReplyDeleteWomen are very powerful physically because of there physique they are able to manipulate any man especially one who is interested in sexy. Sister Souljah refers to her body and seems as if she describes it as a weapon. In all actuality women are able to mind control men for anything such as money, sex or even love, however in are society most women aren't "street smart". I believe some women aren't able to control there physique only because how some females dress. Myself being a young male and seeing the way most females around my age dress understand the males point of view. I think more females should gain "street smarts" so they can avoid any interactions that can ruin there lives such as pregnancy. These little components add up to make huge results mostly being negative.
ReplyDeleteWilliamson did make it seem like her body was a secret weapon, however she only enhanced her sex appeal to men who stimulated her mind first. This did not stop men from fantasizing after her; it was Williamson's strong mind that made most men shy away. I believe that women are "street smart" because they know how to find themselves around situations that many men can't. Our bodies are not the only things that we know how to use as a secret weapon. In fact, our minds are much more powerful.
DeleteIn No Disrespect, Lisa Williamson quotes ".... but smart in the sense of street smarts: to know when you are getting played; when a brother is lying to you through a sexy smile and hot lines" (Souljah 166). I believe street smarts and book smarts work together; because I believe in today’s society men have the wrong intensions to stay with a girl that is intelligent; lets recaps the interaction between Lisa and Joseph, she didn't have the street smarts to realize that he never had the passion to stay with her, but just sex her down and leave. She was wrapped around him, and she allowed it because it was her fault. After the fact Joseph was caught, he decided to focus on his marriage and his wonderful kids. He didn’t want to ruin his life for Lisa but fix his mistakes. On the other hand; Nathan had a special bond with Lisa but the only reason they did not work out was because he was gay and had no attractions towards her, Nathan however was able to connect with her intellectually. By using book smarts her knowledge and intelligence brought them closer together. As women in this society you need both book and street smarts to really find true love. As I read No Disrespect by Lisa Williamsons, she writes about the impact one girl has on multiple men. Even when you look inside the mother’s life, she eventually didn’t have the streets smarts to become aware of her surroundings in the projects.
ReplyDeleteIn today society females are respected based on how updated they are with the streets. What's new and fashionable, who's sleeping with who, how relationship and men work, how to be awarded of your surroundings and many more consider to be the boiling topics. The "street smart" female who knows everything about guys and how they operate is more experienced than the "book smart" females. However it is very important for females to remain educated because no brother wants a female that cannot think for herself with reasoning and power. In the text, sister Souljah was both. Being raised in the hood allowed her to uphold a street smart mentally. On the other hand her self esteem and matured street ways and lifestyle allow her to grew found of the importance of education within her life. I believe that her mother was a great influence in her street smart ways. Her mothers actions and morals towards man, create a insights on wants vs needs. As her story unfolds she struggles with these main issues. However in each situation she seems to handle very well as she maintain her character and never lose focus on the mind set of a brother. On the other hand she alway seem to come off as a female that speaks with power of an intelligent tone, one that's actually trying to make many changes because she believes there is a lot wrong in today's society with African American socially, physically and emotionally.
ReplyDeleteAs she struggles with these issues she shows that she is not as street smart as she seems. There are several gaps when you look at her reaction to the males she encounters. Although she is highly educated, it is evident that unresolved issues from her childhood do not allow her to fully engage in truly loving relationships. Yes, her mother is a part of the problem but the absence of her father seems to be the root of the problem. On more than one occassion, her "hood/street smarts" are not enough for her to navigate the relationships she encounters.
DeleteI would have loved for you to include some text based evidence to support what you shared in this post.
While reading Lisa Williamson’s text “No Disrespect”, women in society have been very loose. As Lisa is experiencing the amount of things that are going on in her life, she starts to release her self. From living in the projects,she have seen many women who sold themselves out to men and her mother’s “relationships” with various men, to where she found love with Nathan, then finding out her younger sister was pregnant from an anonymous man. In today’s society, women have more street smarts than book sense. They care about how they look, who they are competing against, relationships.Lisa said “Not smart in the sense of reading nine hundred books, but smart in the sense of street smarts to know when you are getting played…”(Souljah 166). A woman will always be compared to a man. People rarely look at women once it comes to intelligence. They will always look towards the men for answers. Women have been considered lower than men. As a females, we are always looked on second towards the male. When Nathan saw how much intelligence Lisa had. Nathan said “Your brain got me going but it’s scary.You’re too powerful”(Souljah 88). She was the only one who had some much knowledge to back her reasonings. Is it wrong for a woman to obtain knowledge which she can value the same way as a man can?
ReplyDeleteAs I reflect on your point of view Neka I believe that even through her lifestyle she had some form of being street smart. I agree with you and you used strong supportive evidence. Also I believe that because of the opportunity she received as she was an African American woman obtaining a higher level education was important. I believed that she would have implied these events to her life and benefit from them.
DeleteAs I reflect on today’s society and compare Lisa Williamson’s text No Disrespect I believe that women need to be "book sense" and "street smarts". However I believe that street smart is the most effective form that would help discipline the African American women. As I read this literary piece I critique this text from a feminist perspective in which I believe was mainly direct. It focused on the lessons been thought and which is presently been learnt. African American women lacks self-worth and responsibility. They lack the opportunity of not just being able to educating themselves but also not having that role model to inspire them and give knowledge about becoming street smart. My reaction to her mother's ways is depressing. Her mom is just another product of that environment. Within the text it stated “The difference between myself and the suburban-bred black kids was that I was not passive or content. I had not grown up soft, naïve and unsuspecting. My mother had not hidden me from the realities of life; to do so would have meant death (34).” This is the type of exposure Lisa was experienced to. However she lacks capturing her mother’s experience as she place herself in a dismal position.
ReplyDeleteIn society, "street smarts" is more important than "book sense". In page 166 Williamson states "I was fly and I knew it. But just because you're fly doesn't mean that you're smart. Not smart in the sense of reading nine hundred books, but smart in the sense of street smarts: to know when you are getting played..." Williamson was educated which gave her an advantage in things such as jobs and holding an intellectual conversation. But she lack street smarts and she was oblivious to the things that come with searching and finding the right man. Her mother went to various relationships for happiness and financial support which highly affected Lisa Williamson. Mona was hurt by a man and it caused her to seek into same-sex relationships. All these women are smart but they have a difficult time finding a relationship that will keep them sane and true to their beliefs and morals.
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