Week 6 Reflection!!

Lindsay Harris

COMM 3824-01

2/21/19

Comm 3824 Reflection 6

            In a course like this one, one may not think to take male perspectives into account as we look at things like environmental justice and climate activism. I found Gloria Miller’s piece to be incredibly interesting, yet not surprising. Miller gave the reader an inside look on what it is like to be a woman working in a male dominated field. When she talks about how the smallest things like women being excluded from everyday interactions because of a lack of shared masculine interests it makes sense that women are less likely to obtain power in these male dominated fields. Enarson and Pease’s article plays on the emotion of the reader by sharing first hand experiences on how disaster can impact the male psyche in ways that others never recognize. Additionally, Luft’s writing looks at how intersectional analysis has to be utilized when discussing natural disasters due to a variation of how people handle their emotional trauma.  

            This week frustrated me and opened my eyes all at the same time. Specifically the PragerU video frustrated me due to their aggressively misogynistic view of male power. As someone who hoped to enter the world of sex crimes prosecution for a large portion of my life, I am of the belief that men are not the only ones who can stop negative occurrences like war and rapes. Additionally, watching the men speak at the forum in Australia had me feeling guilty for assuming all men respond to things in a certain way. I had always assumed gay men acted differently about various things in their life than straight men, but these videos made me feel like I should give more credit to the range of straight men who have healthy responses to disaster and stress. At the same time, I feel like men should still be held accountable for their actions and are often let off with just a slap on the wrist because they hold some form of power.

Hegemonic Masculinity- A practice that legitimizes powerful men's dominant position in society and justifies the subordination of the common male population and women, and other marginalized ways of being a man.

Toxic Masculinity- The practice of adhering to traditional male gender roles that expect boys and men to show few emotions and assert their dominance.

Disaster Patriarchy- The mutually constructive and symbiotic relationship between sexism and racism.