Lead Post: Power and who is entitled to it

Cynthia Enloe makes an interesting connection when discussing silence that women particularly go through. I found it interesting when she brought up that teachers only genuinely pay attention to the male students when the discussion is based on world affairs or politics. I think I will agree with her point on this because even though society is equalizing there are still more male-dominated subjects. We still have not had a female president and this therefore, proves politics are still male-dominated. Then Enloe brings up Hannah Arendt which i have read recently about in my human rights class. Enloe brings up public speaking , and taking seriously what one's fellow citizen has to say. The problem is, is Arendt's main argument is that their is no law that protects stateless people. For example, the Nazi's oppressing the Jews because they did not belong to the community and therefore were not protected by a state. So by connecting this to women, male-dominated states can silence women by not making them part of the community and they wouldn't be considered citizens with equal rights.

Another topic that Enloe brings up within silencing women is through violence and sexual harassment. This is something that is also kept out of the public to avoid scandals. As we have read before, women are being "forced" into the work place for various reasons. Some being because they need to bring respect to the family, others are for the wages, and even prospecting for marriage. Factories also "recruit women in order to lower labor costs, and second, to persuade parents and local notables that women would able to retain her respectability" (77). Women are silenced because if they speak out against sexual harassment then they are deemed less pure and it jeopardizes their job, family honor, and marriage opportunity. CAW has been trying to make issues public and trying to have women speak out against these concerns for the form of power but it is very difficult goal. Enloe incloses four basic tests that seem to be more realistic and helpful: "Are all forms of violence against women deemed appropriate for political deliberation, Are women who dare to speak out at risk of losing their status, Does sexual harassment rank high on agendas, and How dependent is the creation of a national community on women's silence in their lives daily" (82).

"Supremacy Crimes" discusses how primarily white dominated are the typical intelligent, middle class and heterosexuals who want everyone to be like them. They are usually the ones with the problems with race, gender and sexuality. They are most likely to be "hooked on the drug of superiority" (1). The article discusses that the white superiority drug usually makes their situation worse, while other killings are usually to make ones situation better. It is an interesting thing to think about because looking back on the article it is true. The discussion of power has been brought up in both articles and is definitely a contributing factor to a lot of problems that people are facing.

In conclusion, power seems to be the basis of both articles. It comes in different forms such as women and their right to speak out against issues without repercussions or white supremacy crimes and the issue that a white men have with other people not like them. Which ever the issue comes from, it is all related to power and who has it in this male dominated world. Even with equality making bigger steps there still are underlying issues that need to presented.