MacKinnon

Jestina Ortega

WGS 297

September 20, 2016

                                    Difference and Dominance (Catharine MacKinnon)

            Catherina MacKinnon has two approaches to sex equality; the difference approach and the dominance approach.  The differences approach pushes for equality in treatment in both men and women. An example of this, would be in the work field. In the dominance approach, MacKinnon discusses how equality is about the distribution of social power. She goes on to mention that sex inequality are questions of systematic dominance of male supremacy. While I agree with both approaches, I feel as though the dominance approach is more effective because it delves into the question of why we consider men to be superior to women. Therefore, the dominance approach reaches our subconscious. In order to make strides toward equality in our actions and how we treat people of both genders, we must first understand why we mark them as different in the first place. All in all, I agree with MacKinnon’s approaches.

            MacKinnon’s difference approach ultimately emphasizes similarities between the two genders and ignores differences in order to continue her principle of equality. A way for us as a society to combat treating both genders differently starts from birth. As soon as we are born, colors, accessories and extra curricular activities (whether it be basketball or dance) determine what gender you represent, not only to yourself, but to the world and people around you. When you see a newborn baby you look for a color or name to differentiate what gender the baby is. If the baby doesn’t have pink on, you begin to question your response as an onlooker.

We are more comfortable with our social responses to the baby when we are given a gender color or name in order to continue the conversation concerning the newborn. If it is a boy, the initial response would be “What a strong looking baby!”, and if the newborn is a girl the onlooker’s response would be, “How precious and pretty she is.”. Undoubtedly, our uncomfortableness stems from strict gender norms engraved in our society. We are influenced by society as on onlooker with our responses, and our responses influence the perception the child has to himself/herself through the gaze of other people. How we are raised impacts who we are and what we choose to do. Routinely treating girls differently than boys impacts how they treat each other and themselves.

            The dominance approach questions the nature of gender (ie: masculinity and femininity). One of my favorite professors recently responded to this question with the answer: There is no real reason as to why there is femininity and masculinity; this idea is strictly a social construct and form of embodiment. As a society, we need to realize that because of this idea (that masculinity and femininity are social constructs) gender norms should neither be strict depending on the sex of the person, nor should determine a person’s worth and legitimacy. This is an important notion for everyone to understand in order to move forward in the fight for feminism and equality as Catherine MacKinnon worked hard to do.