fKeerim has 12 post(s)

In “Skeletons in the closet,” Linda Schiebinger illustrates the social, scientific background of seventeenth to nineteenth century in European society.The first illustration of the female skeleton appeared in European science, in late eighteenth century. Since then, among various people such as scientists, anatomists, philosophers, and sociologists, analyzing the physical differences of human body affected physiological, social and scientific areas. Without a doubt, female body was primarily acknowledged as “inferior” to men’s, and therefore it was considered as suffering intellectual and social weakness. Moreover, several scientists and anatomists defined that women and children had similarity in body forms, which were less sharply developed than men’s. They were classified as “primitive” peoples. Also, white men were considered as having the most natural dignity and the superior of all types, even when compared to men in other races. This idea of iconizing white men worked as a prerequisite and thus, had become a critical issue among every study. However, some anatomists argued that individual body is uniquely equipped and comparing them was useless. These opinions were usually ignored under influential scientists or philosophers, such as Rousseau, who emphasized the superiority of men, by confining women’s physiology to be resulted in intellectual weakness. By late eighteenth to nineteenth century, race and sex symbolized social worth, and science was largely controlled by social forces. The scientific community was dominated by white males, so it could be easily defined that women as having lower social status, that meant lower level of intelligence. By connecting the mistaken physiological issue to social part, this worked as a starting point of categorizing gender roles, which having its effectiveness even in contemporary days. Schiebinger gives many examples from different people in various fields, which helped to analyze the social and political circumstances of gender. In spite of Social and educational reform, the society defined subordination of women and linked physiological measurements to moral characters.

Angela Davis introduces the lives of women in mid-19th century by giving out the example of convention at Seneca Falls. By that time, the society was dominated by the idea of male supremacy and although there were strikes advocating women’s rights, they were not having powerful impact on the society. Therefore, which took place in the summer of 1848, Seneca Falls convention became the starting point of women to speak out publicly for their rights. Rooted from Seneca Falls, there were several women’s conventions throughout the nation and more people fought for discrimination of sexism. In Seneca Falls convention, the main reason people spoke up was to get liberation and gain rights as white middle-class women. Oppressed by what they personally experienced, middle-class women tried to organize a political challenge to fight for equality.

However, surprisingly the resolution for woman suffrage was not yet brought up and moreover, there were no black women attending the convention at Seneca Falls. It also ignored the circumstances of white working-class women. As time went by, the idea of gaining women’s rights escalated and it led ways for blue-collar women and black women to speak up. For example, Davis introduces Charlotte Woodward as a critical figure for white working-class woman. Back in early 19th century, most workers in textile industries were women and Charlotte Woodward was one of them. She suffered in very poor working conditions and her wages were controlled by men in the family. Along with other women workers, she was having double oppression as woman and as an industrial worker. Another example that Davis illustrated was Sojourner Truth, who was an ex-slave, and later became as a symbol of black women. She was also suffering from double oppression, in both racist and sexist discrimination. Her speech influenced and resonated people as she strongly fought for male supremacy. By illustrating influential figures as Woodward and Truth, Davis tried to show that women were victims of exploitation in many fields. Also, by the endeavors of such people, the society could gain consciousness of political, racial, social issues of women and slowly improved the situation for women to acquire their equality.