Journal Article Discussion
The first source is the article by Farvid et al. titled “‘No Girl Wants to Be Called a Slut!’: Women, Heterosexual Casual Sex and the Sexual Double Standard” (544). In this article, the researchers explore the way of how traditional discourses of female sexuality and its limits influence young women’s perspectives on sexual relationships. Having interviewed fifteen female participants in New Zealand, the researchers have found out that the so-called sexual double standard continues to exist and encourages women to silence their casual sex experiences. The study demonstrates that young women are negative towards the use of double standards to control their sexuality (Farvid et al. 544). At the same time, a sexual double standard affects their perceptions of other women.
To begin with, the article is good to be used in an academic assignment since the source places specific findings from the interviews in the context of other contemporary studies on female sexuality and social norms. Next, it is of note that the selection of the appropriate research methods and techniques to ensure anonymity allows the researchers to shed light on the taboo topic. Additionally, despite the sample size that is not very large, the conclusions support broader trends related to a sexual double standard and slut-shaming reported in previously published studies.
Susan Glaspell’s work and the article are interconnected since both provide information that refers to attempts to silence women and implement standards that every woman is supposed to follow to avoid condemnation, whether it is being uncomplaining or “pure”. The article attempts to answer questions linked to the sources of derogatory attitudes to women who wish to enjoy sexual freedom. If she was alive today, Glaspell would be able to learn about slut-shaming as a new form of limiting women’s freedom in making decisions about their own lives.
News Article Discussion
The second source is the article by Selvaratnam titled “Where Can Domestic Violence Victims Turn During Covid-19?” The main idea of the newspaper article is that the outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, increase the risks of violence for women in abusive relationships.
The author discusses the recent growth of domestic violence against women in China and whether English-speaking countries have enough domestic violence support resources to deal with similar situations. In the article, the problem of domestic abuse is studied with attention to the opportunities that disease outbreaks give to abusers. Apart from exploring the situation with support centers in different states, the author reviews statistical data on the growth of domestic violence to justify the need for the discussion.
Firstly, the article is appropriate for use since it comes from a credible online newspaper, and the author provides links to external sources that support her conclusions. Next, the author’s concerns mustn’t be based on some individual cases of domestic abuse – instead, she relies on statistics describing domestic violence trends that affect entire countries. Additionally, the source effectively demonstrates that violence in male-female relationships can never be regarded as a thing of the past.
In the play by Glaspell, domestic violence against women is shown as something that takes place but remains unseen, whereas the news article demonstrates the real extent of the problem that becomes evident when victims are less afraid of speaking about violence. The article by Selvaratnam adds to our understanding of domestic abuse by showing that epidemics and emergencies contribute to its growth. I am planning to continue exploring the issue of violence in heterosexual relationships by selecting a new media source for MA 3 that will reflect on inequality between the sexes.
Works Cited
Farvid, Panteá, et al. “‘No Girl Wants to Be Called a Slut!’: Women, Heterosexual Casual Sex and the Sexual Double Standard.” Journal of Gender Studies, vol. 26, no. 5, 2017, pp. 544–560. Web.
Glaspell, Susan. Trifles: A Play in One-Act. One-Act Plays. Web.
Selvaratnam, Tanya. “Where Can Domestic Violence Victims Turn During Covid-19?” New York Times. 2020. Web.