Chapter 10 of "Guyland" by Michael Kimmel
In chapter 10 of his book "Guyland," Michael Kimmel argues that males have been taught to believe that women's primary responsibility is to give men sex satisfaction under all conditions. When a man approaches and demands sex, a lady is not supposed to refuse. Many males in this piece use the adage "no means yes," which puts women in difficult situations. Men are aware that women are more vulnerable when they are intoxicated, according to the article. Therefore, this has been a technique used by men in taking advantage of the women, and in some cases, these women end up being raped. Kimmel also elucidates that parties are the primary source of all the evil things that men do to women. It is from these parties that men drug women in order to make it easy for having sex with them. Notably, the primary goal that drives these men into attending parties is none other than having sex with the partying girls. The chapter also makes an account of a man called Bill who talks about all the harmful things he would do in order to end up sleeping with women.
According to Kimmel, sex to men has become a game of numbers and that men seek to outdo each other considering the number of women he has slept with in his life. Due to this, these men try to have sex with as many women as they can. Kimmel ascertains that parties depict to be conducive hunting grounds in finding these women in fulfilling their desired goal (Kimmel 225). Kimmel further stipulates that this sexual assault is more rampant on college campuses. Kimmel's article is a clear depiction of what is happening in the current world. Cases of sexual abuse have been a major problem to deal with and, particularly in the campuses. Many girls get sexually assaulted and these influences their performance together with getting infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Indeed, many men intoxicate women in parties with the aim of having sex with them.
Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?
Abu-Lughod’s document is a rich evidence reflecting Anthropology on Cultural Relativism. Abu-Lughod demonstrates his arguments using cultural explanation about the Muslim women and an exploration of ethics of present war of terrorism. The document questions if anthropology is able to save the Afghanistan women and liberate the nation from the predicament of war. Abu-Lughod looked at the harmful impacts of terrorism on culture and the effects it has on the Muslim women considering the historical injustices and political dynamics. Besides, the author contends that attention has to be driven at resonances of contemporary discourses on human rights, freedom, and equality. The missionary and colonial rhetoric of the Muslim women call for the need of developing gratitude to these women. Abu-Lughod makes a proposition and notes that saving the Muslim women means working with them in situations that will translate into historical transformation. She also mentions that all forms of global injustices have to be analyzed and it is a responsibility of everyone in ending the mistreatment of the Muslim women. Abu-Lughod explicates how the paradigm of saving Muslim women has managed to gain momentum after the terrorist attack that occurred on 9/11.
Certainly, Abu-Lughod indicates that gendered orientalism has significantly taken a new form of life in the current world. Additionally, her writing sets a comprehensive range of examples that are informative to the reader, and her evidence is well supported by the occurrences in the present world. The strength of the book primarily lies in the skillful deconstruction of the symbolic significance of moral crusades, including the Muslim women who have captured the global imagination. She also highlights the way most basic conditions of the lives of the Muslim women are built on national political forces (Abu-Lughod 786). The article also highlights that cultural practices are overemphasized in these Muslim nations, and the impacts of war injustices together with militarization are usually overlooked. Certainly, against the broad geopolitical background, Abu-Lughod contends that the oppression, choice, and freedom are instrumental in capturing the dynamics of inequalities that are perpetrated on the lives of the Muslim women. Abu-Lughod warns of the risks of the repressive regimes and says that secularism and feminism are highly evident in the western context.
Historical Injustices against Women
Historical injustices against women proved to undermine their value in the society. Women were thought to be sexual objects, which was an aspect that greatly diminished their worth. Additionally, women faced a challenge of inequality and gender discrimination was rampant. Notably, the historical stereotypes that perpetrate gender discrimination are still depicted in the modern world. A lot of efforts have been made to end the high segregation against women. Nevertheless, the attempts have not fully realized the desired goal. The problem of sexual assault, as indicated by Kimmel, is still perpetrated in the society, including rape cases. Certainly, male domination was a facet that significantly weighed down the female gender. These men were the steering force in reinforcing oppressive female roles together with looking down upon them.
Works Cited
Abu-Lughod, Lila. “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections On Cultural Relativism And Its Others.” American Anthropologist, vol 104, no. 3, 2002, pp. 783-790. Wiley-Blackwell, doi:10.1525/aa.2002.104.3.783.
Kimmel Micheal. “Guyland.” Psychiatric Services, vol 61, no. 2, 2010, pp. 208-208. American Psychiatric Publishing, doi:10.1176/appi.ps.61.2.208.
