Reflection 2

Reflection 2

        I face a lot of problems through the process of writing the annotations. After the second Teacher-Student Conferences with Emma, I think there is a big problem in my paper again. Writing a research paper must face pro and con, but usually I just point out the ideas that I use to support my paper, and seldom face the opposite questions directly. I may try to answer in a blurry way, or merely skip it. I should face the problem, and think the solution of it. A fine paper may contain different ideas from pro and con, I can’t skip those queries against me. Emma finds out this problem in my paper, and this is the important defect that I need to pay attention to and correct. Another question of my paper is that I am used to use “people” to support for me, but actually, sometimes it is just my own opinion. It’s an inappropriate way to write like this. Emma says that it will make the readers think that I don’t deal with the questions in a sincere attitude.

        Though the subject in my paper will be a little bit extreme, I am trying to discuss about the independence of unmarried women. The stigma adds to them (the terms of old maid and spinster), the query that men’s superiority to women (the mother question that why father is important than her who takes care of the child all the time), and the controversy that should unmarried women have the right to have their own babies (the problem of artificial insemination, and the invisible restriction for unmarried women who want to adopt children). Because women now can get the same education as men, they don’t need to be like women in the past who depend on men all the time. They should possess the right to decide their life.


        Peers’ comments point out the arguable problem in my paper. The paper may contain fully of my opinions, however, it would be too assertive. And peers’ comments also provide a different way for me to think. For example, Rachel brings out a question in my revised annotation 3, and her question really makes me face the difficulty. On the other hand, when receiving the comments that support my opinions, I would feel very happy. Although the disapproval comments of my paper make me feel frustrated, those comments help me a lot.

Article Annotation 4

Article Annotation 4

Does Unmarried Women Have The Right To Become Mother?

史倩玲. (May, 10, 2009). 單身女想當媽 盼政府放寬限制http://www.lihpao.com/?action-viewnews-itemid-8995 Lihpao news.

        The unmarried women should have the right to be a mother. The news (2009, reported on Lihpao news) talks about that unmarried women face the restriction which makes them unable to have their own babies. In the news, the director of the Awakening Foundation, which works for improving women’s right, points out that government should loosen the Artificial Reproduction Act.

According to the Artificial Reproduction Act (人工生殖法) (2007, released by The Legislative Yuan of Republic of China), now the technique of artificial insemination is only allowed to use on the married couple suffer from sterility(不孕症), and it is specific to the couple that involves a man and a woman. Therefore, other kinds of people such as homosexual couples, and also, the unmarried women who want to have her own babies, are excluded by the law.

It is not easy for unmarried women to be a mother in Taiwan. If they choose to be pregnant via artificial insemination, they need to spend a lot of money and go to other countries, because unmarried women are not allowed to use the technique of artificial insemination. However, even though they want to adopt a child, they will be estimated by the social workers from the adoption organization strictly, and finally they are still not allowed to adopt the child because they are unmarried. In this news (2009, reported on Lihpao news), there is a case mentions the difficulty for an unmarried woman to adopt a child. According to the civil law in Taiwan, there is no explicit regulation that singles cannot adopt the children. In this case, a lady wants to adopt a little girl; she is the girl’s aunt. She lives well and has stable income. Most important of all, she takes care of her niece since she’s little. However, the judge refuses her request to adopt the girl, because the lady doesn’t get married.

        Both of the ways seem not available for unmarried women who have the desire to be a mother. They are excluded by the law, and because their unmarried situation makes them have difficulty on adopting children. Why the unmarried women are deprived of the right to become a mother just because they don’t have a husband? They have enough love for the children, and also have the ability to make her children live in a good life.

        All in all, unmarried women’s right to become a mother should not be deprived. The law has its concern, but there must have some space for discussing. And the potential limit in adoption should be revised. Since there is no restriction in the civil law, the unmarried women, under the condition that they have enough ability, should be permitted to adopt the children through the legitimate process.

Annotation 4

Annotation 4

史倩玲. (May, 10, 2009). 單身女想當媽 盼政府放寬限制 http://www.lihpao.com/?action-viewnews-itemid-8995 Lihpao news.

        The unmarried women have the right to be a mother. The news (2009, reported on Lihpao news) talks about that unmarried women face the restriction which makes them unable to have their own babies. In the news, the director of the Awakening Foundation points out that government should loosen the Artificial Reproduction Act.

According to the Artificial Reproduction Act (人工生殖法) (2007, released by The of the Legislative Yuan of Republic of China), now the technique of artificial insemination is only allowed to use on the married couple suffer from sterility(不孕症), and it is specific to the couple that involves a man and a woman. Therefore, other kinds of people such as homosexual couples, and also, the unmarried women who want to have her own babies, are excluded by the law.

It is not easy for unmarried women to be a mother in Taiwan. If they choose to be pregnant via artificial insemination, they need to spend a lot of money and go to other countries, because unmarried women are not allowed to use the technique of artificial insemination. However, even though they want to adopt a child, they will be estimated by the social workers from the adoption organization strictly, and finally they are still not allowed to adopt the child because of the reason that they are unmarried.

Revised Annotation 3

Revised Annotation (3)

November 30, 2011

991002024 李書婷 Sue

1. I try to improve the structure of my article.

2. I adjust the order of the paragraphs slightly.

No Men, but Babies?

楊慈郁. (November, 21,2010). 不擔心單親 有子萬事足 http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E4%B8%8D%E6%93%94%E5%BF%83%E5%96%AE%E8%A6%AA-%E6%9C%89%E5%AD%90%E8%90%AC%E4%BA%8B%E8%B6%B3.html Yahoo! News. (Original from Chinatimes.com)

        In the past, people have the concept that women need to rely on the ability of men to survive. The duty of women is to take care of the family, that is to say, their social character is become a wife and mother. However, nowadays there is a group of women who are over thirty years old, independent, and not willing to get married yet, they may not want to have a husband, but they have the desire to have a baby.

Do unmarried women have the right to have babies via artificial insemination? According to the survey (2010, reported on Chinatimes.com) last year, people are discussing that there are 2322 participants being asked this question, 46.1% of them think that these women also have the right to be the mother, 37.3% of them think that there will have problems if children have no father.

        Even though a woman chooses to be unmarried, she may still have the desire to become a mother. The most important reason why unmarried old lady want to have babies is because after thirty years old, the condition of women’s fertility will become worse than before, and it will be difficult for them to have babies when they are getting older. Even though they are pregnant, they may have more risk than other young expectant mothers through the process of pregnancy. They want to have their own children calling them mother, but they don’t want the constraint of marriage. Therefore, they want to be pregnant by means of artificial insemination by donor.

        Recently in Taiwan, the fertility rate keeps going down, some reports claim that it is related to women who get married late or don’t want to get married. It is also a reason why people used to think that unmarried women are the “loser”, because people have the idea that women’s duty is to become a wife and a mother. However, things are change; women now also have the ability to work and not necessarily need to rely on the care of men.

        Opponents think it is not fair to the children. In the conventional concept most of people may think general family involves a father, mother and their children. But if an unmarried woman wants to have the baby via artificial insemination by donor, there may be no father in this family. The children will have the love from mother, but will lack of the love from father. Arguing on this point, the supporter claims that even in a family with father, if the father abuse the child, the situation will not better than only have a mother. On the other hand, the divorce rate in this society becomes higher and higher, children may suffer lots of hurt from the separating of their parents. Also, to stay single is not an unchangeable condition, maybe the women will finally find her ideal mate in the future.

        As a result, if an unmarried woman has the ability to take care of her children by herself, and she wants to be the mother, giving her love to her baby, it is a good way to fulfill her life as a woman. Moreover, it also can enhance the fertility rate at the same time.

Article Annotation 3

Annotation 3

No Men, But Babies?

楊慈郁. (November, 21,2010). 不擔心單親 有子萬事足 http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E4%B8%8D%E6%93%94%E5%BF%83%E5%96%AE%E8%A6%AA-%E6%9C%89%E5%AD%90%E8%90%AC%E4%BA%8B%E8%B6%B3.html Yahoo! News. (Original from Chinatimes.com)

        In the previous world, people have the concept that women need to rely on the ability of men to survive. The duty of women is to take care of the family, that is to say, their social character is become a wife and mother. However, nowadays there is a group of women who are over thirty years old, independent, and not willing to get married yet, they may not want to have a husband, but they have the desire to have a baby.

        According to a survey last year, people are discussing that “Do unmarried women have the right to have babies via artificial insemination?” There are 2322 participants being asked this question, 46.1% of them think that these women also have the right to be the mother, 37.3% of them think that there will have problems if children have no father.

        The most important reason why unmarried old lady want to have babies is because after thirty years old, the condition of women’s fertility will become worse than before, and it will be difficult for them to have babies when they are getting older. Even though they are pregnant, they may have more risk than other young expectant mothers through the process of pregnancy. They want to have their own children calling them mother, but they don’t want the constraint of marriage. Therefore, they want to be pregnant by means of artificial insemination by donor.

        People on disapproval side think it is not fair to the children. In the conventional concept most of people may think general family contains a father, mother and their children. But if an unmarried woman wants to have the baby via artificial insemination by donor, there may be no father in this family. The children will have the love from mother, but will lack of the love from father. Arguing on this point, the supporter claims that even in a family with father, if the father abuse the child, the situation will not better than only have a mother. Also, to stay single is not an unchangeable condition, maybe the women will finally find her ideal mate in the future.

        Recently, the fertility rate keeps going down, some reports claim that it is related to women who get married late or don’t want to get married. And it is also a reason why people used to think that unmarried women are the loser, because people have the idea that women’s duty is become a wife and a mother. But we know that things are change, women also have the ability to work and not necessarily need to rely on the care of men.

        As a result, if an unmarried woman has the ability to take care of her children by herself, and she wants to be the mother, giving her love to her baby, it is a good way to fulfill her life as a woman. Moreover, it also can enhance the fertility rate at the same time.

Reflection 1

Reflection 1

        After doing the annotations, there are some problems showing up. The biggest problem of my paper is that there is no controversial issue. Singles can be both genders, and it’s hard to write that which age can be defined as single. I am doing about the issue of the singles, but it is too broad to be discussed. I don’t actually focus on small topic; teacher says that I am just on the surface and not pointing out the question, and there are too many things in my papers. I haven’t find out a real point to discuss yet. I’ve been confused for a long time, and thinking about the question. At that time, I am really confused because I am lost. I don’t know which way I can keep heading to. Later I try to emphasize my topic on the unmarried women rather than singles of both genders. But the problem is still there. At the meeting teacher asks me that why people want to have the marriage, and I confess that I don’t know the reason actually. First, I have no experience of getting married, and second, there may be thousands of answers why people make this decision. It is hard to discuss why a woman wants to get married or not, because it is about the personal choice. Honestly, after the meeting, I start to consider whether I need to do the whole topic again, that is, change a new one.

        In the end, I choose to put the emphasis on the unmarried women because of teacher’s advice rather than change a new one. Searching the information and the news, I find out that there is news which discusses “Do unmarried women have the right to have babies via artificial insemination?” No matter being approval or disapproval, both sides of people have their own reasons. Some people think that all the women have the right to be a mother, even though they choose to be whether married or not. But the other side of people thinks that the children may have the questions, for example, why others have fathers but they don’t? Also, they think that it will cause some influence on the children, because there is no father. Can women really take over the character of men? In the past time, people will think that becoming mother and wife is women’s duty. But now, modern women have their own sense, they may not want to be restrict by the marriage, and they think that they have the ability to take care of themselves, even their own children. As a result, I want to narrow to this topic, and keep doing my paper. In the beginning, I am just writing about the singles, but it seems no issue in it. My issue is going to be focused on the discussing that whether modern women can live without men or not.

Revised Annotation 2

Revised Annotation (2)

November 3, 2011

---

1. I change the title of the article for the sake of explaining the annotation directly.

2. I rewrite the introduction of male chauvinism into a simple way.

3. I read the comments and try to explain more completely.

---

Male Chauvinism Makes General People Think Males Are Superior to Females

Male Chauvinism influences people’s concept of thinking about different gender of singles. The terms we call the single man is eligible bachelor. However, when it comes to single women, people may think of the terms like the old maid and spinsters. The former gives us such an attractive impression of male, and the latter, however, make us think of an old lady who is odd and lonely. Compare these two impression, male seems to be better than female, and that is an outcome which cause by the concept of Male Chauvinism.

The idea of male chauvinism is that males have the sense that they are superior to females. It used to be described a person’s extreme patriotism, and later turned to be a negative description that men think their status is higher than women in the society. In the past, our society is dominated by the concept of male chauvinism that women are thought to be subordinate of men. Because in most of the family, it is always the father who goes out and works hard for earning his family. The one who owns the economic power of the family plays the dominated character in it. As time goes by, people get used to this pattern.

Take this mother’s feeling as an example, she says that she feels strange when she receives a post from her daughter’s school, mentioned that parents should accompany their children to school for the first day of the classes. The school also says that both parents should come and if it is not possible, at least the father should come. Therefore, she calls into question “Why is the father so superior when it comes to choose between mother and father?”

(Online Source: Why is Male Chauvinism so Prevalent? By K. reddy http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/860137/why_is_male_chauvinism_so_prevalent.html?cat=41)

(a) They also said that both parents should come and if it is not possible, at least the father should come. It appeared perfectly normal at first but after a bit of thinking I started to find some hidden meaning in it. At least father should come- is the only thing harassing me for the past week. Why is the father so superior when it comes to choose between mother and father?

In Taiwan, parent-teacher meeting is thought to be a meeting that mothers should attend. That is because our society thinks that mother is responsible for the family cares, and it is their duty to take care of children. People may have the idea that it is men who have enough ability to go to work and raise the family. However, nowadays lots of women are going out and also work hard to increase the income of family.

The concept of male chauvinism is also challenged in the issue of singles. Nowadays women have the right to receive high education as men do, and they can be independent because they have the ability to earn for living. As a result, when it comes to look for women’s mates, their targets may be higher than before. They would rather be single than marry the men who do not fit their standards. On the other hand, when males are seeking for their mates, most of them will not prefer the ladies who have better capability than they do, because they are unwilling to admit the higher and higher status and ability of women. Under this condition, modern women who especially with higher achievement will find that it is harder to search out an ideal partner. And while they are finding and waiting for their Mr. Right, their ages are also increasing at the same time. 

In conclusion, people should get rid of the negative feeling of unmarried women which trigger by the male chauvinism and respect the choice of women whether they want to get married or not.

Article Annotation 2

Article Annotation (2)
October 27, 2011

The Impact of Male Chauvinism Rooted in People’s Mind

       Male Chauvinism influences people’s concept of thinking about different gender of singles. The terms we call the single man is eligible bachelor. However, when it comes to single women, people may think of the terms like the old maid and spinsters. The former gives us such an attractive impression of male, and the latter, however, make us think of an old lady who is odd and lonely. Compare these two impression, male seems to be better than female, and that is an outcome which cause by the concept of Male Chauvinism.
       The definition of Male Chauvinism is “male prejudice against women; the belief that men are superior in terms of ability, intelligence etc.”
(Oxford Dictionaries online: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/male+chauvinism)
       The original definition of Chauvinism is “exaggerated or aggressive patriotism”, and its origin is from “late 19 century: named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism.” So it is a word which initially used to be described the person who loves his or her country extreme passionately, almost becomes an aggressive attitude. In 1970s, it evolves into “a term particularly associated with women's liberation movement and used to attack men's attitudes towards women. It suggests blind, arrogant, excessive, and narrow-minded assumptions of innate male superiority, of male ascendancy over women, and of men's pursuit of their own collective interests.”
(Oxford Dictionaries online: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/chauvinism)
(Oxford Dictionary of Sociology: http://www.enotes.com/oxsoc-encyclopedia/male-chauvinism)
       Nowadays, Male Chauvinism is still having a lot of impact on our society. Even though people gradually advocate the gender equality, there are still many cases that can be related to Male Chauvinism. For example, dramas always feature a handsome and rich male character that works as a high position in a big company, and on the other hand is a poor, or middle class and hardworking female character. There are lots of works within these typical main characters. Such as the movie “The Prince and Me”, it is a story that an ordinary girl who falls in love with an attractive young man in collage, and then she finds out he is the prince of Denmark. It perfectly conforms to the feature which I have mentioned before. Male character’s status is higher than the female character.
       Or take this mother’s feeling as an example, she says that she feels strange when she receives a post from her daughter’s school, mentioned that parents should accompany their children to school for the first day of the classes. The school also says that both parents should come and if it is not possible, at least the father should come. Therefore, she calls into question “Why is the father so superior when it comes to choose between mother and father?”
(Why is Male Chauvinism so Prevalent? By K. reddy http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/860137/why_is_male_chauvinism_so_prevalent.html?cat=41)
(a) They also said that both parents should come and if it is not possible, at least the father should come. It appeared perfectly normal at first but after a bit of thinking I started to find some hidden meaning in it. At least father should come- is the only thing harassing me for the past week. Why is the father so superior when it comes to choose between mother and father?
       In Taiwan, parent-teacher meeting is thought to be a meeting that mothers should attend. That is because our society thinks that mother is responsible for the family cares, and it is their duty to take care of children. People may have the idea that it is men who have enough ability to go to work and raise the family. However, nowadays lots of women are going out and also work hard to increase the income of family.
       Then the mother in that article gives many examples; first, in politics, there are a few amounts of women who can have a foothold in this field until recently. Secondly, the female actors in Hollywood who performs well cannot be paid as high as the male actors. And also in the professional side such as a job, if there are equally talented man and woman, the company may prefer the man.
       It is not a bias anymore; it becomes a habit in our society. We get used to it. People live under the Male Chauvinism. For example, women like the romance, and there are countless novels, movies, and dramas in the rich-man-poor-woman pattern. There may have some people aware of this phenomenon, such as the mother I mention before, and they may show their disapproval or anger on this issue. What they expect most is the gender equality, but it seems that now we are still living in a world dominated by the Male Chauvinism. As a result, we should not take Male Chauvinism as a standard to view women as the inferior group and mark the single women with not appropriate terms.

Revised Annotation 1

Sex and the City season 5, episode 3, Luck be an Old Lady

& Bachelors Vs Spinsters

Revised Annotation 1

        My topic is about the stereotype of single women. At first, I think of doing the topic of singles, and when I am looking for the information, I find that there are different terms of calling single men and women.

In this film clip, Carrie is going to have a blind date. She tells this decision to her best friends Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. Two of her friends seem not support her decision. Charlotte says that she know that there are some couples she knows that meet on blind dates and she reminds Carrie, “You have to take risks so you don’t wind up an old maid.” And then Miranda says, “Why do we get stuck with old maid and spinster and men get to be bachelors and playboys?” Her words point out directly that people have a stereotype of single men and women.

http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=3523

        -Bachelors Vs Spinsters by Nimisha Mittal

        These ramblings mention the same idea. As the author writes:

        (1) Bachelors in stories are usually fat and cheerful, jolly and rich. But they're still eligible. Spinsters, on the other hand, are usually characterized as being grouchy and ugly, with quick tempers and quicker tongues. In books, a girl is always terrified at the prospect of dying 'an old maid', but which boy ever had nightmares about remaining a bachelor all his life?

        (2) Also, Bachelor parties are the coolest bashes under the sun after Siberian polar bears' rendezvous, but who ever heard of 'spinster parties'? (not to be confused with 'ladies' night', which is something entirely different).

        Nowadays women get married later is nothing new, but this concept does not entirely disappear. Take the Sex and the City film clip I choose as an example. Carrie Brandshaw is a weekly column writer of New York’s newspaper and also the writer of magazine. She lives in a fashionable and nice lifestyle. However, even though she has such a good life, she is still afraid to wind up an old maid.

Just like Carrie, women are more independent than before. However, the independence does not mean women are unwilling to get married. Women now also have good education, and they can get good jobs to earn their own living. They are looking for someone who can match up with them. The ability makes them have better choice of partners; however, it may not be easy to find a person they are willing to marry. As a result, women tend to get married later. Marriage is not a wrong choice of women, but it should be women’s own decision whether they want to have a husband or not. People should not have the bias on different genders of the singles.

Male Chauvinism

Annotation (2)

Male Chauvinism

The definition of Male Chauvinism is “male prejudice against women; the belief that men are superior in terms of ability, intelligence etc.”

(Oxford Dictionaries online: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/male+chauvinism)

The original definition of Chauvinism is “exaggerated or aggressive patriotism”, and its origin is from “late 19 century: named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism.” So it is a word which initially used to be described the person who loves his or her country extreme passionately, almost becomes an aggressive attitude. In 1970s, it evolves into “a term particularly associated with women's liberation movement and used to attack men's attitudes towards women. It suggests blind, arrogant, excessive, and narrow-minded assumptions of innate male superiority, of male ascendancy over women, and of men's pursuit of their own collective interests.”

(Oxford Dictionaries online: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/chauvinism)

(Oxford Dictionary of Sociology: http://www.enotes.com/oxsoc-encyclopedia/male-chauvinism)

Nowadays, Male Chauvinism is still having a lot of impact on our society. Even though people gradually advocate the gender equality, there are still many cases that can be related to Male Chauvinism. For example, dramas always feature a handsome and rich male character that works as a high position in a big company, and on the other hand is a poor, or middle class and hardworking female character. There are lots of works within these typical main characters. Such as the movie “The Prince and Me”, it is a story that an ordinary girl who falls in love with an attractive young man in collage, and then she finds out he is the prince of Denmark. It perfectly conforms to the feature which I have mentioned before. Male character’s status is higher than the female character.

Or take this mother’s feeling as an example, she says that she feels strange when she receives a post from her daughter’s school, mentioned that parents should accompany their children to school for the first day of the classes. The school also says that both parents should come and if it is not possible, at least the father should come. Therefore, she calls into question “Why is the father so superior when it comes to choose between mother and father?”

(Why is Male Chauvinism so Prevalent? By K. reddy http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/860137/why_is_male_chauvinism_so_prevalent.html?cat=41)

(a) They also said that both parents should come and if it is not possible, at least the father should come. It appeared perfectly normal at first but after a bit of thinking I started to find some hidden meaning in it. At least father should come- is the only thing harassing me for the past week. Why is the father so superior when it comes to choose between mother and father?

Then she gives many examples; first, in politics, there are a few amounts of women who can have a foothold in this field until recently. Secondly, the female actors in Hollywood who performs well cannot be paid as high as the male actors. And also in the professional side such as a job, if there are equally talented man and woman, the company may prefer the man.

I think it is not a bias anymore; it becomes a habit in our society. We get used to it. People live under the Male Chauvinism. For example, women like the romance, and there are countless novels, movies, and dramas in the rich-man-poor-woman pattern. There may have some people aware of this phenomenon, such as the mother I mention before, and they may show their disapproval or anger on this issue. What they expect most is the gender equality, but it seems that now we are still living in a world dominated by the Male Chauvinism.

Annotation 1

Sex and the City season 5, episode 3, Luck be an Old Lady
& Bachelors Vs Spinsters

Annotation 1

        My topic is about the stereotype of single women. At first, I think of doing the topic of singles, and when I am looking for the information, I find that there are different terms of calling single men and women.

Miranda said that "Why do we get stuck with old maid and spinster and men get to be bachelors and playboys?" (1:14)

In this film clip, Carrie is going to have a blind date. She tells this decision to her best friends Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. Two of her friends seem not support her decision. Charlotte says that she know that there are some couples she knows that meet on blind dates and she reminds Carrie, “You have to take risks so you don’t  wind up an old maid.” And then Miranda says, “Why do we get stuck with old maid and spinster and men get to be bachelors and playboys?” Her words point out directly that people have a stereotype of single men and women.

http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=3523

        -Bachelors Vs Spinsters by Nimisha Mittal

        These ramblings mention the same idea. As the author writes:

        (1) Bachelors in stories are usually fat and cheerful, jolly and rich. But they're still eligible. Spinsters, on the other hand, are usually characterized as being grouchy and ugly, with quick tempers and quicker tongues. In books, a girl is always terrified at the prospect of dying 'an old maid', but which boy ever had nightmares about remaining a bachelor all his life?

        (2) Also, Bachelor parties are the coolest bashes under the sun after Siberian polar bears' rendezvous, but who ever heard of 'spinster parties'? (not to be confused with 'ladies' night', which is something entirely different).

        Nowadays women get married later is nothing new, but this concept does not entirely disappear. Take the Sex and the City film clip I choose as an example. Carrie Brandshaw is a weekly column writer of New York’s newspaper and also the writer of magazine. She lives in a fashionable and nice lifestyle. However, even though she has such a good life, she is still afraid to wind up an old maid. I do not mean that women get married is a wrong choice, but I mean it should be women’s own decision whether they want to have a husband or not. General should not have the bias on different genders of the singles.

Quote from Sex and the City

In the series Sex and the City season 5, episode 3, Lucky be an Old Lady


Miranda said that "Why do we get stuck with old maid and spinster and men get to be bachelors and playboys?" (1:14)

Issue Paper Draft 2

English Composition IIA

        Professor: Mei-Ya Liang

Sue Lee 991002024

October, 5 2011

(October, 13 2011)

Eligible Bachelor and Worthless Bachelorette?

Issue Paper Draft 2

        In general public’s stereotype, people usually think that a man unmarried is more valuable than a woman in the same condition.

Take the classic novel Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen, 1813) as an example; the mothers in the story always want their daughters to get married as soon as possible. Because they know while the girls become older, they will have lesser chance to marry the men with better economic condition. On the contrary, the male characters in the story are judged by their property. The point is: it is those men who seem to have the right to choose who they want to marry or not. In recent years, there are more and more singles. Women are more independent now. They have high education, and have the ability to earn their living. The thought is changing; marriage is not the only purpose for women anymore. And because of these reasons, men become more difficult to find a woman to tie the knot. However, the concept of “eligible bachelor and worthless bachelorette” seems to be unswayable. Two years ago, there is a popular Taiwanese drama called My Queen (2009), which is a story about a thirty-three-year-old unmarried woman who finds her love. In this drama, the main female character is a successful woman, and she is very independent. However, her friends and people surrounding her are laughing at her that she is an unattractive woman so no man wants to fall in love with her. No matter how perfect she does on her work, she is thought to be a loser as usual. Finally, she finds someone to love and has a happy ending. I think this drama still presents the idea that a woman has to find her mate then she is a really successful woman. Is single such a bad thing?

        On the other hand, man over forty years old still can be considered as an ideal partner. For example, another classic novel Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell, 1936), the main male character Rhett Butler is a middle-aged man. He is rich and wild, although he is not young, he is still thought to be attractive and he marries Scarlett O’Hara who is twenty years younger than him. If he owns a lot of possession, regardless of how old he is, he is a good consideration of marriage all the same. Just like what Miranda, one of the main characters in the American series Sex and the City, says that, “Why do get stuck with old maid and spinster and men get to be bachelors and playboys?”(Season 5, episode 3, Luck be an Old Lady). Therefore, in these situations, men may want to be single is because they are not worried about older age will make them become lesser popular. They want to have girl friends freely rather than wives who always keep a watchful eye on them.

        Because of these reasons above, the meaning of single has difference in gender. As time goes by, people do not change the concept of single man and woman. I think people have this kind of stereotype deeply is because we live in a world which dominated by capitalism and male chauvinism. Therefore, we should break the traditional rules; women also have the equal right to pursue the lifestyles they want.

Note: I try to make the comparison of old days and nowadays impression of singles and also try to explain that I think people’s concept of eligible bachelor and worthless bachelorette do not change a lot as what I mention in the last paragraph.

My Queen

My Queen teaser

My Queen episode 9

Issue Paper Draft 1

English Composition IIA

Professor: Mei-Ya Liang

Sue Lee 991002024

September 28, 2011

Eligible Bachelor and Worthless Bachelorette?

Issue Paper Draft 1

        In general public’s stereotype, people usually think that a man unmarried is more valuable than a woman in the same condition.

Take the classic novel Pride and Prejudice as an example; the mothers in the story always want their daughters to get married as soon as possible. Because they know while the girls become older, they will have lesser chance to marry the men with better economic condition. On the contrary, the male characters in the story are judged by their property. The point is: it is those men who seem to have the right to choose who they want to marry or not.

        In recent years, there are more and more singles. Women are more independent now. They have high education, and have the ability to earn their living. The thought is changing; marriage is not the only purpose for women anymore. And because of these reasons, men become more difficult to find a woman to tie the knot. However, the concept of “eligible bachelor and worthless bachelorette” seems to be unswayable. Two years ago, there is a popular Taiwanese drama called My Queen, which is a story about a thirty-three-year-old unmarried woman who finds her love. In this drama, the main female character is a successful woman, and she is very independent. However, her friends and people surrounding her are laughing at her that she is an unattractive woman so no man wants to fall in love with her. No matter how perfect she does on her work, she is thought to be a loser as usual. Finally, she finds someone to love and has a happy ending. I think this drama still presents the idea that a woman has to find her mate then she is a really successful woman. Is single such a bad thing?

        On the other hand, nowadays man over forty years old still can be considered as an ideal partner. For example, another classic novel Gone with the Wind, the main male character Rhett Butler is a middle-aged man. He is rich and wild, although he is not young, he is still thought to be attractive and he marries Scarlett O’Hara who is twenty years younger than him. If he owns a lot of possession, regardless of how old he is, he is a good consideration of marriage all the same. Therefore, in this situation, men may want to be single is because they are not worried about older age will make them become lesser popular. They want to have girl friends freely rather than wives who always keep a watchful eye on them.

        Because of these reasons above, the meaning of single has difference in gender. I think people have this kind of stereotype deeply is because we live in a world which dominated by capitalism and male chauvinism. Therefore, we should break the traditional rules; women also have the equal right to pursue the lifestyles they want.