Thanks, God, I had the experience of online threats on the social network only one time. I remember very well what I felt when a stranger with obviously fake profile started to send me offensive messages. I deleted these messages so I do not remember if there were any real threats or just offensive words in those messages. However, I remember exactly that I was scared by messages. Interestingly, it was not a male who offended me on the social network, it was a female.
Because I had the negative experience of online threats only one time I was very surprised when I have read the article about real stories of women who suffered from males` online aggression. I have never known that so many women are exposed to threats on the Internet because I have never heard about similar scary situations from my friends or acquaintance.
I think it is very sad that law enforcement system is not able to provide appropriate support and protection to those people who become victims of online harassment, bullies and other types of online aggression. But I would like to note that many social networks (for example, Facebook) give us the opportunity to protect ourselves from potential offenses from other people. I hope the situation with a low degree of protection on the Internet will be changed and improved in the nearest time.
Regarding the article I also want to note that individuals exposed to online threaten are not only passive victims or observers, they are active “participants” and we can say they are also responsible for what happen to them on the Internet. Of course, there are situations when a woman becomes a victim of a person with psychopathy or other mental problems. However, there are also many situations when a woman provokes aggressive behavior toward herself by own actions. So sometimes threatens or harassment can become a sign that a person needs to change oneself. Maybe I`m wrong, but I believe that online bullies toward women are not only about sexism, discrimination, or etc. it is also about women behavior and attitudes in our society.
My Thoughts about the Video “10 Hours Walking as a Woman in NYC”
I think that, of course, it is difficult when you feel that everyone look at you, stare at you as at sexual object, etc. However, I believe that what we saw in the video is not the representation of the reality of the majority of women. From my own experience and experience of my female friend I know that not all women are exposed to such behavior of men and not all males behaved in this way when to see women.
Maybe, many women suffer from the excessive attention of men and feel harassed, offended, etc. At the same time, I believe that many women are likely to perceive behavior of males demonstrated in the video not as harassment but as a compliment or as natural reactions of males on a presence of a woman.
Also, I think this video is very sad but not because it is about sexual harassment on streets but because it is also about a loneliness of people in the modern society, especially in big cities. What the reason of behavior of males exhibited in the video? Is it a desire to offend a woman? I do not think that most of the males we saw in the video suffer from a sexual perversion. But I`m sure that many guys who tried to communicate or got acquainted with the girl from the video suffer from the lack of intimate, close relationship (I mean not a sexual relationship and not only romantic relationships but also friendship, for example).
Also, it seems to me that in the particular situation with the girl from a video the cultural factors were not taken into account. We saw at the end of the video the record which reported that males of different background exhibited harassment toward the woman in the video. However, most guys we saw in the video were of one nationality. We must understand that men of one culture can be more discreet, calmer, etc., while males of another culture will be more emotional, open, etc. So individuals in one country can consider as sexual harassment that behavior which will be perceived as normal behavior by individuals in other countries.
Response Paper on the Movie “American masters: Billie Jean King”
General comments? Emotional reactions? Thoughts?
I think that Billie Jean was a very strong and brave woman. Her life example inspires me not because she was a physically strong person or successful female athlete, but because she had a great idea in her life and she fought for this idea, she had a passion for tennis and she dedicated her life to this passion.
It was very interesting for me to learn about the family, about parents of one of the most successful and tennis player. I think that parents, especially the father of Billie Jean and his belief in the potential of his daughter influenced the great development of personality of Billie Jean.
Billie Jean King`s challenging with gender discrimination, sexuality and her dealing with these issues
Billie Jean King and other female athletes who played tennis faced the challenging situation when male players had the higher salary for their work while women were paid the much lesser fee. Billie Jean King and other female tennis players were outraged by this situation, but they could manage it by creating Women's World Tennis Association.
I think that Billie Jean also proved how strong and bold she is when she admitted in public that she is a lesbian. I cannot imagine how hard it was for her to tell this truth to her parents, to her fans, friends, competitors, etc. She was a public person and obviously she understood that after she admitted her homosexuality orientation many people would begin to hate and condemned her. I think that she felt embarrassed and ashamed because people knew about she is a gay.
Observations of Billie Jean King about tennis
Billie Jean believed that all humans are equal. That is why she was surprised why tennis players she saw at the school was only white people. She changed the stereotype about a traditional image of women in tennis. Before Billie Jean females who played tennis were graceful, gentle girls. It was like a kind of amusement to see how graceful females dressed in white skirts had played tennis. Billie Jean violated this traditional type of behavior of female players. She allowed herself to be more masculine, sharp, etc. on a tennis court.
In the movie we can hear how Bobby Riggs uses stereotypes when he talks about a role and “place” of women. He believed that women are created for staying at a kitchen and a bedroom.
Discussion of Title IX
6) Why do you think pay differential still exists?
I believe that pay gap exists because many women feel themselves less smart, less worthy of high wages.
7) I think that when someone tells you phrases like “throw like a girl” he/she means that you throw nor really strong, that you are too gentle and weak in your throwing. Similar phrases (“cry like a girl”, etc.), as a rule, are associated with indicating one`s weakness.
8) Reasons why Margaret Court lost her match with Bobby Riggs
As many people suggest, the first reason of defeat of Margaret Court in the game with Bobby Riggs was that she underestimated his possibilities. However, I believe, that it was not only about physical skills and abilities but about psychological ability to persist widespread stereotypes about women`s inferiority, etc. Also, Riggs was highly self-confident, he was highly prejudiced about women`s role and, as I believe, it also influenced Margaret Court`s ability to compete with him.
9) Discussion of Bobby Riggs` episode
When Billie Jean defeated Bobby Riggs she proved that men and women are equal. Besides, Bobby Riggs was the one who stated that the place of women is in a kitchen, in a bedroom, etc. She did not hide his sexist stereotypes and prejudice. She was not a first woman who tried to play against Riggs. The first female player underestimated abilities of Riggs and lost the game. So Billie Jean understood how important it was to win the game. It was her mission to win in this game and demonstrate to males that women are created not only for cleaning, washing, cooking, that men are not superior to women and women are not inferior to men.
10) Discussion of how gay rights are the civil rights issue of the current time?
The civil rights movement and gay rights movement have some similar features but they also differ from each other. For example, Afro-Americans could not hide that they are of other race, but gays can hide their sexual orientation. Similar feature of two movements is that both movements are aimed to overcoming of discrimination, to establishing equality for different people, etc.
11) How do you think this video can be used as a method of reducing prejudices?
I think that this video can influence changes in an individual’s stereotypes about women as well as about gays. Billie Jean King was and is a real hero. And I believe that most of the people who know about her life or see this video feel admiration for this famous athlete, a fighter for women`s rights, etc.
