Visit http://www.slate.com/id/2216609/ for another opportunity to think about, and comment on, the role and impact of language on our society's view of women.
This article actually brings up a word that we hadnt previously talked about in class when we were discussing sexism in literature. I have actually watched shows before that were devoted to the idea that a woman "cougar" is a good thing for a man to want (if only on a temporary basis). One of these shows I saw while channel surfing and coming across the Tyra Banks show. They had a "cougar" come on and then it was kind of mystery date thing where the woman had to choose between three different young men that she couldnt see and based her judgement off of their answers. From what I saw, the woman was happy to call herself a cougar and actually said that it was an accurate description of how she wanted to be seen by others. (the show was trying to determine how people thought of cougars and sugar daddies as individuals) I personally see nothing wrong with the term, but it, like any other word can be derogatory if said in a mean way. I don't see the term having any more harm to it than the words girl or woman being used to describe someone of the female gender.
I think that the comparison that is drawn between the terms "cougar" and "milf" is interesting. In this article it characterizes a "milf" as innocent, while it characterizes a "cougar" as grotesque. I think that the other main difference of these words is that the "milf" is lusted upon, while the "cougar" lusts upon others. In this way I think that cougar is more active, and based upon our initial reading on gender and language, would therefore be a more equal term for woman.
Also, in our first reading the author made several comments about women being characterized as weak, or cute when they are compared to animals. I remember the article mentioned the words "bunny" and "foxy". I think that it is interesting how this completely turns that rule of thumb around, but in this instance it is one that carries a negative connotation. It is as if the cougars are preying on the young "cubs".
Although "milf" may be less of a gender equalizing term, I think that it is more accepted in our society. The author of our original reading would have explained this as being because men do not like women that are assertive. I agree that sometimes that is the case. But, in this situation I think that it is probably because people have a problem with relationships with that large of an age difference, and that someone of either gender pursuing someone that much younger is trying to take advantage of the other person's inexperience.
2 comments:
This article actually brings up a word that we hadnt previously talked about in class when we were discussing sexism in literature. I have actually watched shows before that were devoted to the idea that a woman "cougar" is a good thing for a man to want (if only on a temporary basis). One of these shows I saw while channel surfing and coming across the Tyra Banks show. They had a "cougar" come on and then it was kind of mystery date thing where the woman had to choose between three different young men that she couldnt see and based her judgement off of their answers. From what I saw, the woman was happy to call herself a cougar and actually said that it was an accurate description of how she wanted to be seen by others. (the show was trying to determine how people thought of cougars and sugar daddies as individuals) I personally see nothing wrong with the term, but it, like any other word can be derogatory if said in a mean way. I don't see the term having any more harm to it than the words girl or woman being used to describe someone of the female gender.
I think that the comparison that is drawn between the terms "cougar" and "milf" is interesting. In this article it characterizes a "milf" as innocent, while it characterizes a "cougar" as grotesque. I think that the other main difference of these words is that the "milf" is lusted upon, while the "cougar" lusts upon others. In this way I think that cougar is more active, and based upon our initial reading on gender and language, would therefore be a more equal term for woman.
Also, in our first reading the author made several comments about women being characterized as weak, or cute when they are compared to animals. I remember the article mentioned the words "bunny" and "foxy". I think that it is interesting how this completely turns that rule of thumb around, but in this instance it is one that carries a negative connotation. It is as if the cougars are preying on the young "cubs".
Although "milf" may be less of a gender equalizing term, I think that it is more accepted in our society. The author of our original reading would have explained this as being because men do not like women that are assertive. I agree that sometimes that is the case. But, in this situation I think that it is probably because people have a problem with relationships with that large of an age difference, and that someone of either gender pursuing someone that much younger is trying to take advantage of the other person's inexperience.
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