https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud en-us 2016-07-20 10:58:21 UTC 2016-08-26 05:50:12 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lovecoffee.png sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116689462 This article purports that we live in a 'visual culture', and that society tends to give meaning to the visual which affects every aspect of our lives. We are taught from an early age 'gendered body practices' and these practices are cemented in our collective minds by the people around us and by the media. We see images of bulky, chisel
ed male bodies and conversely we are shown images of small, thin female ones. The idea of women taking up very little space compared to men begins with the bodies themselves. I think that this ties in with Focault's view that the body is 'wholly constituted'' by discourse (Shilling, p. 78). We're not biological creatures once meaning is given to our biological selves, we instead become a product of society, a product which alters constantly with societal views.]]> 2016-07-20 11:04:13 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116689462 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116689498 This article points out that men are not only encouraged to take up as much physical space as they feel entitled to. This behaviour also extends into intellectual space, professional space, social space, the political arena and even intimate space. It agrees that these behaviours are perpetuated and rewarded by mens' silence, and that men need to speak up in order to change this. I see these behaviours daily in my workplace, in a male dominated industry. Many of the men I deal with raise their voices and talk over others in order to be heard. The result is two or more men taking up all of the aural space in the room with their steadily rising and booming voices, and nobody calling them out on it. Probably because they wouldn't be heard above the rabble! ]]> 2016-07-20 11:05:32 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116689498 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116689758 "Both women and men often hesitated upon seeing the unisex restroom sign, but whereas women proceeded into the restroom, the majority of men turned away." I've actually never come across a unisex bathroom before, but I thought about what I would do if I did. I think I would still enter, but I would feel very uncomfortable about it, despite the claim in this case that "women did not express discomfort or concern about sharing restrooms".]]> 2016-07-20 11:14:43 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116689758 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690113 The very interesting idea that body language considered 'feminine' is not necessarily gendered. It is also associated with deference (to a boss, for instance) or submissiveness and is therefore not confined to females.]]> 2016-07-20 11:24:31 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690113 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690352 What drew me to this article was the argument over who gets to 'control the dialogue' on this particular issue. It seems to the author that when women attempt to change their situation for their betterment, men attempt to thwart their efforts by complaining about perceived discrimination. I see this on online forums and Facebook comment threads constantly! For instance, an article about the rape or attack of a woman will draw male commentary with the theme #notallmen. ]]> 2016-07-20 11:31:30 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690352 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690430 Would this really work? By evacuating unisex spaces, aren't women just affording men more space? And if there is indeed an entitlement felt by males which is rewarded by other males and society, would being told that they cannot enter a space actually be enough of a deterrent?]]> 2016-07-20 11:34:26 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690430 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690767 The idea that women's 'personal space bubbles' are smaller because women tend to be more sociable and stand in each other's personal space. Why don't men do this? I've been thinking about this, and it seems to me that this is yet another example of women using up less space than men!]]> 2016-07-20 11:48:21 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690767 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690857 This article states that as children, boys tend to play in larger spaces than girls. This is something I have seen first-hand, with my own children. My twins (one male, one female) had different interests which related to their gender roles. My son was more active, playing football and preferring to run in open fields, while my daughter loved to be indoors, playing with her doll's house or completing art projects. So, 'space' doesn't necessarily refer only to the body itself, it relates to the activity space used by each gender. ]]> 2016-07-20 11:51:53 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116690857 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116691040 An interesting short article, and a cartoon showing that men have been taking up excessive space for at least hundred years! Clearly the social order has not changed with the passing of time!]]> 2016-07-20 11:58:41 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116691040 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116691343 Transport authorities in the United States have erected posters in their trains encouraging commuters to consider other passengers when traveling. Is this a sign of a changing society? Will posters appealing for basic etiquette help to change the social landscape? In my experience, males and females both take up space on the train, but they do it differently. I've seen many cases of 'manspreading' from males, but in the case of women, it isn't the body that takes up unnecessary space - it's their shopping bags and handbag. ]]> 2016-07-20 12:07:03 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/116691343 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/117183186 It had never really occurred to me before this unit that men and women utilise their space in different ways using their bodies. The idea that men deliberately take up more space in the physical world because society allows them to feel entitled to it is absolutely fascinating to me. What does this say about the social order in 2016? And how much agency do we have as men or as women to bring attention to or to change this social order? Now that I understand that we give social meaning to the manner in which we use our space, my interest has been piqued, and in this collection pad I will explore some of the issues gendered space has raised in today's world.]]> 2016-07-29 05:07:10 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/117183186 sshields75 https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/117628588 Shilling, Chris, 'The Socially Constructed Body', The Body and Social Theory,  2012, pp. 75-102.]]> 2016-08-05 23:48:12 UTC https://padlet.com/sshields75/q5ofq85pysud/wish/117628588