Although the article draws no attention to the fact, all of the teachers of "expression" and most of the students mentioned in "Expression in the Popular Culture of Dallas" were women. What made the teaching of "expression" a suitable career for a lady of this period? How was learning "expression" supposed to prepare girls to become suitable young women? And suitable for what? What does this reveal about the state of gender-based prejudice during this time period in America?
Teaching "expression" was a very suitable career for a lady because most of the students who were in expression classes were women. These classes were more like charm schools for women who were learning about the "lady like" way to learn how to express themselves infront of others. It was important for women to learn behaviors and skills that will make them a suitable future wife. Men wanted women who were fragile and spoke in kind words. Expression classes helped with language structures and self confidence.
One of the other reasons for women to take expression classes was to develop a good sole. Since women are more sensitive and effected by their environment (future relationships, children, finances) it was important for them to formulate a strong, good sole to make good choices in their lives. Learning how to express themselves infront of other females was also a good way to develop their self-esteems and self concepts. The expression classes allowed women to fully engage and learn positive parts of being a women and communicate in good manners.
There is a major gender base prejudice in the sense that women are supposed to be nurtering and sweet. One of the main reasons for women to teach expression was to show the possible future husband, a positive and feminine side of themselves. It is almost as women are molded into being what the society wanted them to be. Expectations of what the men wanted out of a wife is also a major factor in expression classes. Women wanted to seem as they would be good choice as a wife, so they continued to take expression classes to learn about expressing themselves.
Today, we continue to have expression classes such as cheerleading, sororities, dance classes, etc. Women do continue to build their self-esteems through modern self expression classes. One of my personal examples to expression classes was an assignment that I completed in a dance class. Each person was to make a figure out of any material that represented the physical and emotional elements of themselves. It was amazing to see each persons creativity! After completing our self object, we presented the reasons behind why we selected the material. Each student connected to one another in a sense that we all had a self image that connected to our soles.
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First off, a sole is the bottom of your shoe; your soul is what is inside you that you express. :)
ReplyDeleteSome of the points you mentioned about expressionism are still relevant and true in classes today, i.e. there are more women than men in our class and we're learning to express ourselves. A coincidence?
It almost seems that the expression classes were teaching manners to be performed in the company of men. So, yes, I agree that there is a gender bias between how men act and what women are taught to act like.
What was the artifact that you made in your dance class? How did it express your soul?
I saw the error of "soul" too... That's ok :) I did this same essay too and I like how tied in the relation of the teaching of expression to the assignment you completed in your dance class. I understand your assignment and how you had to express the emotions of one's self, however, I don't understand the material you selected. Did you pick a song and choreograph a combination that reflected individuality of the soul to the intended audience? I think if you explained this in more detail I could grasp the meaning better. I believe the teaching of expression has become this hidden discipline in today's society and I like how you included today’s expression classes, such as dance and cheerleading. I also think this career for women during this time demonstrated a rhetorical message towards younger women because the purpose of teaching expression helped with the notion of individuality with the utilization of ethos and pathos. In addition, I believe by obtaining expression it was inherently subjective for the women, where they are able to express their own personal feeling towards the audience to show their soul and sensitivity during any occasion, but still maintain this hierarchy of intellectual ability of making anything look effortless. I think this is what you were doing during the assignment in your dance class. Further, this discipline has been transmitted over in today’s society and we are still practicing and performing the teaching of expression, where it has created this gender-based prejudice bias based on the expectations of how men and women should act in communicative settings. Good job Dalma!
ReplyDeleteI do agree that women are socialized to be nurturing and expressive and men are raised to be strong and stoic. I do wonder however if some of these traits actually are innate; for example I have women friends who maintain that they do not ever want children but they become extremely nurturing when they are around children for a prolonged period of time. i wonder if women are innately nurturing because we are biologically able to carry children. I do believe that women are encouraged to become sensitive through socialization but I wonder what women would be like if it were not for that socialization...
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