Michelangelo,
Watching the movie, I made sure that I was not biased in any way, that I would practice understanding and empathy to fully grasp what women go through, and that I would be open to understand the message of the film as clearly and concisely as possible.
So, after watching the short film, I noticed that this not a typical day in the life of a woman, but a compilation of things that feminists and female-equality supporters find as injustices against the female sex. The extremes. Not saying that the odds of all these things happening in one day are not possible, but I doubt they would happen the way that they did in the movie. Also, the movie is set in a very gender-defined society. Something to take into account.
1. Woman taking out the trash. My mom takes out the trash from time to time when my brothers or I fail to remember. I admire her for it simply because she is a hardworker and understands that if you want to get something done, it starts with you taking action rather than waiting on others to give you handouts. Funny thing is she grew up with maids and all that stuff in the country she is from, but came here to america to carve a way for her family, something we'd expect a man to do no (man leaves country and sends money home to wife and kids)? Point being, I don't think it is the man's fault for taking out the trash, I feel that if a woman wants to take out the trash, she'll do it rather than waiting for her man to do so. I think most women don't take out the trash simply because people are afraid of dirt and garbage or getting dirty due to bacteria and disease.
2. "I should be talking to your wife." To me, that would be really insulting. I would ask a question as to why she can't tell me. However, this movie is set in a machismo/marianismo society where gender roles are clearly defined rather than a setting like the U.S. where gender roles are becoming less and less defined (not saying they are completely gone, but you get the point).
3. Woman without a shirt on. If girls like seeing guys wearing a shirt when they run, then I bet I'd enjoy it just as much if I were in their position and they were in mine. The movie failed to show a man running with a shirt on next to the girl. And if women's tits hurt when running because they are just bouncing around everywhere, I'm sure someone created some product to keep those two in places. Shit must hurt on the way down you know?
4. The balaclava. The balaclava is not something that Muslim women are ashamed of, for it is actually an honor to wear it. At least that is what I've read in my own experience. I'm sure Muslim women have, at one point or another, questioned why they must cover up their body while men do not, and why God made it law for them and not for the men. Some women even protest against it, going to the length of wearing only the headdress. If such women desire to go against their religion, if they actually believe in it, then I say let them be, go ahead. Now doing so is not so easy, especially in a society that holds a high standard to following religious conduct, however, we have been given free will and are able to make the choice to do so or not. If a woman believes in God, then she will certainly follow the Lord to the best of her ability because God takes precedence over all things. That is why the man in the movie saw it is up to God.
The man in the film is pro-male freedom, but he is ignorant of the balaclava's meaning to the Muslim culture. He calls for freedom because freedom = respect, but he fails to respect the laws which the man in the balaclava abides by. Sure he can tell him this and this, but the reward is in heaven for the other man. And I can just see that the person in the balaclava is mentally strong. The main character frames the situation negatively while the other guy sees it as not a problem. HOWEVER, this does not mean things are all picture perfect. My friend believed until she was 10 or 12 that it was okay for the husband to beat the wife because that's what she grew up with. An environment where the father failed to be a good husband and used brute force on his wife. That is low class and I do not stand for it. We pick our mates, unfortunately, some people just settle because they believe "it's the best I'll ever get" or they become blinded by the whirlwind of romantic emotions.
5. The bum, hooker, stripper, etc. I just ignore hookers to begin with. I'm sure females do that too. I know they are trying to make some money or get some, but if you aren't desperate, I bet you'll ignore them, male or female.
6. Catcalls. Women ignore this all the time. I don't understand why this guy thought it was a great idea to talk back. Maybe in that reality men are emotional rather than logical. However, I do understand that women deal with this all the time. Some like it, some don't. Just like some girls live off of attention while other girls don't like it because they are introverted/don't like being in the spotlight/feminist/have self-respect/it doesn't happen often.
7. Rape. It happens, it's not right, I'm not going to say that girl was dumb because it happens with or without provocation.
8. Stereotypical cop. Some cops are good, some cops are just idiots, you get mixed results. Not all of them abuse their power, but it happens. The framing of this scene I did not take too keenly to, but I kept myself open in order to understand what women experience. I find it funny how insensitive people can be to other people's emotions, but that is the world. Most people are average and unextraordinary, while the exceptional geniuses/mavericks are few and far between.
9. Woman comforting her husband. I'd do the same thing, except for talking about myself... but maybe she did that to get off the topic of rape. Sometimes the best thing to do is to just move forward and forget rather than exposing yourself to a negative feeling. Then again, I don't have any serious PTSD so my opinion here holds little weight. I'm only speaking from my own experience with dealing with my own problems.
10. Insensitive spouse. Picked a shitty partner. And I know that happens all the time. Some people just settle, others go out of there way to make sure that the product they are buying is worth the time and investment. I ask myself this question all the time, "Why did you pick someone who makes you miserable in the first place?" If she doesn't support him well fuck man... sorry, but your spouse sucks. That's why I test people really fucking hard because I demand the best out of people I allow into my life. If I don't give two shits about them, I tell them, "Do whatever makes you happy." Obviously this guy failed to do that, and I'm sure women do that too and men do that too as well. End up with a woman who is crazy, or adulterous, or completely incompatible with them because they went straight for looks or high school sweet hearts, college sweet hearts, worrying about this person being the best they will ever find, settling, etc.
Overall, the movie felt very extreme in the sense that the film showed strictly the "negative" aspects of what female culture may experience during their lifetime, but did not show the positive aspects as well (some women use the pedestal that they have to their advantage while others seek to be treated as equals, its all perspective). And my reaction to the film versus in reality could be completely different. I am viewing this movie through an analytical perspective, I was primed to view it a certain way, I was prepared with knowledge of what it is, which is completely different to how things work in real life (my opinion shouldn't be taken into consideration heavily). There are nice girls just like nice guys and there are bad girls just as there are bad guys, and all the in betweens. This movie sought to display the extremes of society. I commend them for it. But there is more than meets the eye. At the start of the film, I was definitely calling out for equality because why should someone wear a balaclava. Then I checked myself and asked what the meaning is behind it if God calls him to follow and obey Him. It's that questioning and asking outside of the self. Are we telling someone to do something because we want to see them do what we want or are we doing it because we want what's best for them? Sometimes people are completely fine, they don't need help and will ask for it when they need it. However, I know women will just deal with things for whatever reason rather than speaking up, again another argument
I do feel bad for women who are mistreated badly, but there are men who are mistreated badly too. Men who work hard for their family or wife but they find out she's cheating on him or takes him for granted and clearly does not deserve him. Guys who work hard to be desirable for women but only end up getting shutdown, men who do not like that they have to do more work than women, men find it annoying that women want the door held but don't want to take out the trash. We can go on and on, but you get the idea. Life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, there are downsides and upsides to it. It's how we react to what happens to us that matters. The actions we take to make our life free and beautiful.
I do not condone gender roles, but I condone having the freedom to go after what you want. If I was raped by a bunch of girls... I'd would be bothered simply because I like to be in control and when I am not in control, I go crazy... that is one of those things I can't stand is taking away someone's choice. Put in the underdog's place, but if you block me from doing something, I will do everything I can to get over it because I love proving people wrong, that underdog spirit. Another reason a woman could use to fuel her drive for success: to make it in a society dominated by men. To make a statement to her fellow wo-men, "It's possible."
Just my thoughts and reactions. Hopefully I wasn't biased and provided some helpful insight,
- TWF
