Many ideological forces are at work in our universe, and there exists as many views, both good and bad, about race and sex as there are stars in the night sky. Often, emotions fill our minds with the bad, leading to beliefs in racist and/or sexist ideologies. The good, represents a scholarly or peaceful approach to examining and then accepting the differences, no matter how big or how small, that exist between every individual in our universe. Feminist theory is an example of such an approach. One advocate of feminist theory is Marilyn Frye. She represents a growing realization that the differences between men and women do exist, but do not define our capacity to prosper in society. Frye supports, as do most feminist theorists, discussions
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Such a mechanism actually adds to the oppression of the marginalized gender. The example Frye provides of this is the ability of men to cry. She explains, “When the stresses and frustrations of being a man are cited as evidence that oppressors are oppressed by their own oppressing, the word ‘oppression’ is being stretched to meaninglessness.” She continues to unravel her theory by stating; “Once such usage has been put over on us[women], then if ever we deny that any person or group is oppressed, we seem to imply that we think they never suffer and have no feelings.” In this way, Frye is describing the effects of wrongly interpreting the meaning of oppression. According to male logic, women cannot be oppressed because men are also oppressed by having to maintain a rigid and hearty physique. Yet, it is the male form that has the most oppressive effects on women. Furthermore, when women are oppressed, it is by the male gender. When men experience the same stressors for not being manly enough and term it ‘oppression’ it is their fellow men typically doing the oppressing. Once again, Frye is describing an example where oppression is being misused. Every gender and race has the capacity to experience suffering, however, not every race or gender experiences suffering as a means of
Such a mechanism actually adds to the oppression of the marginalized gender. The example Frye provides of this is the ability of men to cry. She explains, “When the stresses and frustrations of being a man are cited as evidence that oppressors are oppressed by their own oppressing, the word ‘oppression’ is being stretched to meaninglessness.” She continues to unravel her theory by stating; “Once such usage has been put over on us[women], then if ever we deny that any person or group is oppressed, we seem to imply that we think they never suffer and have no feelings.” In this way, Frye is describing the effects of wrongly interpreting the meaning of oppression. According to male logic, women cannot be oppressed because men are also oppressed by having to maintain a rigid and hearty physique. Yet, it is the male form that has the most oppressive effects on women. Furthermore, when women are oppressed, it is by the male gender. When men experience the same stressors for not being manly enough and term it ‘oppression’ it is their fellow men typically doing the oppressing. Once again, Frye is describing an example where oppression is being misused. Every gender and race has the capacity to experience suffering, however, not every race or gender experiences suffering as a means of