Brittany Seggio
Professor Sohomjit
ENL/WGS 369
24 October 2016
Annotated Bibliography Through patriarchal ideologies, male dominance over women has not only been manifested, but has also been normalized; implying that men hold all the power in important institutions of society. The affects of a male-dominated world diminishes the image of women, and plays into the oppression faced by the female gender in the past and present. Due to these social circumstances, one central issue arises that is not an inescapable reality of human nature, but a clear result of patriarchal power – rape. In Kate Millet’s authorship of Sexual Politics, she illustrates the political struggles women face because of our social circumstances, which have been set up…show more content… The way we address a male or female adolescent conditions them from such an early age to act differently, and in result creates social circumstances, and automatically puts them in two different cultures which generate very different life experiences. By doing this, we provide the child with clues as to how he or she must function in order to satisfy societies demands that gender has placed upon one. Through cultures different expectations of gender identity, young men are conditioned to develop aggressive impulses and behaviors, while women are conditioned to constantly hide them. This can be related to why men are not afraid to flaunt their sexual behaviors, and why most women are afraid to display them. Because of this patriarchal environment which has been set up for us by society, anytime a female interferes with the boundaries that have been placed upon her, she is “threatening” the way society is supposed to function. As a result, men and women have been placed into a “sexual class system” making it permissible for men to behave in a certain manner, while women are constantly being shamed and…show more content… I truly feel that this constant reminder of the male species being the “larger” and “stronger” anatomy is the cause as to why most women do not think of physically fighting back in a rape situation. This ideology allows rapists to test their power on the bodies of the weaker sex. With that being said, I fully agree with Susan Brownmillers suggestion that rape is supported by cultural and ideological factors, and because of these aspects it is neglected as a crime. Men treat women’s sexuality as a material product, or a piece of property that they utilize and seize based on their current needs. Until we recognize rape as a correlation to patriarchal power, it will not be considered a crime, the word no will not mean no, and the term ‘woman’ will never mean
