TOW #16: "Bad Feminist" (IRB)

Roxane Gay continues to unearth a lot of the stereotypes and generalizations that we continue to see in the media without even realizing it. These go beyond just affecting women - although almost every single one can be applied to women - as Gay shows how racial prejudice can affect the way a character is described in a book or the way they are portrayed in movies. Gay uses films, books, and TV shows, recent and not so recent, to explore the way women are depicted in the media and how it affects each one of us.

Her use of evidence connecting directly to books or films is a double-edged sword: it helps make connections clear for readers who are already familiar with the piece, but if a reader has not heard of, read, or seen the item at hand, the connections made are a stretch and can be difficult to understand. Gay tries to circumvent this by explaining each piece of media she talks about in her essays, but at times it can be hard to keep up with new topic after new topic.

In describing reality TV, Gay describes some of the more popular shows - Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Sister Wives, and Bad Girls Club - and uses their tactics of skewing reality to show how women are manipulated to be perceived in a certain way on these shows, often to their detriment. These connections are powerful, because although it is generally accepted that reality TV is not at all reality, not many people take time to point out the exact flaws that make this form of television so deceitful. Gay also turns this around, showing how this form of 'reality' may actually be realer than we think. She writes, "What may be most terrifying is just how real reality televisaion is, after all...perhaps we watch these shows because...we see, more than anything, the plainest reflections of ourselves, garishly exposed but unfettered" (81). This powerful ending line concludes the essay, but also leaves readers with something to think about long after the essay has been read.

Gay's use of powerful ending lines is something I admire and want to try to continue using in my own writing. She extends the argument, instead of simply repeating what she has said over and over many times throughout each of her essays. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the essays within Bad Feminist and hope to use some of the rhetorical techniques Gay uses in my own writing. I also hope that I can continue being a bad feminist, learning along the way from my mistakes.

TOW #15: "Will Racism End When Old Bigots Die?"

Will Racism End When Old Bigots Die? is an article from NPR that attempts to address the age-old question: just how is racism passed down from generation to generation, and is there any way to prevent the spread of racist beliefs? Is it getting better, or staying the same, as the millennial generation grows into adults? The article was published in NPR's Code Switch section, which deals with the many layers behind racial issues facing America today. Leah Donnella is a regular contributor to this section, and works as a news assistant and blogger.

The article starts off with a vignette of Shelly Fields, a 46-year-old white woman with biracial children. This showcase of Fields' situation is rhetorically effective, as it paints a diverse portrait of America -- one most readers can testify to -- right off the bat, to put things in perspective and also bring evidence from someone in a unique situation as Fields is. The article also accounts for her daughter's perspective, showing both sides of the story.

The use of the famous quotation from Martin Luther King, Jr., "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character", is especially effective in pointing out the recurring theme for many parents who believe their children will grow up in a less racist world. Donnella also cites figures like Thomas Jefferson and Oprah Winfrey to show the prevalence of this argument in both ancient and modern history. This proves to be a recurring theme throughout the article: the belief that parents hold that 'things will get better' for their children.

Public polling data is also utilized effectively in the article, citing surveys done asking readers the question: Will racism fade away when old bigots die? Though the sample size was limited to about 120, a shocking two-thirds said they did not think that the next generation would usher out racism. Nearly the same number went on to say that they thought their answer would differ from their parents and grandparents. The anecdotes provided from families further this evidence, and serve as more 'scientific' proof of the disparity between parents and their children.

The article concluded that although the viewpoints of parents and their children differ extremely, when it comes down to it, many answer similarly when asked about racism and the future. Personal experiences and situations factor heavily into that equation, which is why the use of both anecdotal evidence and more scientific data is rhetorically effective for this article.

TOW #14: "Bad Feminist" (IRB)

Through reading Bad Feminist, I've learned a lot about several topics: what constitutes 'feminism', how media representation of women affects real-life stereotypes, and even how to master the art of the Scrabble tournament. I've also learned a lot about writing, through the ways author Roxane Gay is able to . Throughout the collection in various essays, Gay provides humorous anecdotes to help familiarize her audience with the subjects she writes about.

Feminism can be a big and scary topic for newcomers, and even those who consider themselves well-versed on the subject. With so many intersections in race, sexuality, class, and identity, it is hard to know where to begin. Gay acknowledges this with her statements in the introduction, alluding to the book's title as she says "I embrace the label of bad feminist because I am human. I am messy. I'm not trying to be an example. I am not trying to be perfect...I am just trying to support what I believe in." This outright statement showing not only Gay's vulnerability but also her drive to keep trying helps let readers know that being a bad feminist isn't really that bad after all.

After this short introduction, Gay jumps right into an anecdotal retelling of her life growing up: from seeing impoverished families in Haiti at seven to her experiences in relationships from nineteen on. From these stories, Gay is able to show just how many different things can intersect to create a unique person: molded from unique privileges and disadvantages, all based on one's life experience. Gay also calls readers out directly, saying, "If you are reading this essay, you have some kind of privilege. It may be hard to hear that, I know, but if you cannot recognize your privilege, you have a lot of work to do." This truth, spoken directly to her audience, lets readers know that feminism is, at times, about recognizing your own privilege based on the many identities you hold.

Bad Feminist is a book about making mistakes and owning up to them, and Gay shows this not only in the title but also in the essays within. She shows her personal failures, and times in her life where she wished she'd spoken up or done a better job of finding her own voice. However, it's not all sob stories. Gay includes stories like these to inspire both herself and readers to do better as a feminist and simply a human being. She shows us that it's okay to make mistakes, and that we, too, can be bad feminists.