The Muted Group Theory

The unfulfilled promise of the internet found in chapter 35 brought up points that I would not have thought of. The fact that all the early designers and users of the internet were male was a little disturbing, since I can remember the conception of the internet. The four common metaphors Kramarae points out regarding the internet is that gender equality and the muteness of women are not fulfilled. The metaphors consist of information superhighway, new frontier, democracy, and global community. Information superhighway is described as the earlier conception of the internet and how social and economic structures were not considered nor were they affordable to women. The new frontier refers to bullying for computer usage at a young age and that women sometimes will present themselves as men on the internet to avoid harassment. The privacy to state your own opinion on the internet is described as democracy, but anyone can post anything and this is where women are skeptical which something that they have learned over time. The global community was referred to as a place where likeminded women can communicate about topics all over the world.

Interview with Kramarae

The interview with Cheris Kramarae seemed different from the other interviews that Griffin has conducted. Maybe it was the setting and the dialogue seemed more engaging almost like a conversation instead of an interview. Kramarae defines Muted Group Theory as language that does not serve all speakers equally. The reflection about the two-culture gender hypothesis makes sense, Kramarae states, “it suggests that men and women often have different socialization, and so they have different kinds of experiences, and they learn to see the world in somewhat different ways”. I found it interesting that Kramarae referred to the term feminist as a term that would fit both male and female. At the end of the interview when Griffin asked if there was something that he had done as a male during the interview that she could reflect on, her response was positive and she made a very pertinent point. Kramarae replied, “….that’s all that any speaker wants from another speaker, another listener”.

Standpoint Theory

The Standpoint Theory of Sandra Harding and Julia Woods found in chapter 34 was really relevant to a conversation that I had with a few girlfriends. The fact that Harding and Woods focus on women as a marginalized group is something that my girlfriends and I agree on. We discussed the fact that society and culture differentiate males and females from the beginning starting with pink for girls and blue for boys. Girls are given dolls to play with and boys are given trucks. Girls are consoled when they cry and boys are told to not cry.

Harding and Wood point out that “women are not a monolithic group” (Griffin, 2009, p. 444). In other words we don’t necessarily take the same standpoint on issues. This is where the conversation with my girlfriends comes in. I happened to mention chivalry and how I appreciate a man who opens the door for me or takes my hand to guide me. The reaction I received was not what I expected. My friends said my view on chivalry was demeaning to women and views like that can take away what women have fought so hard for. I happen to not agree. In fact it is my opinion that society has made an impression that chivalry is becoming a stigma and men who demonstrate chivalry are addressed as weak. So I guess I would concur with Harding and Woods point that women are not a monolithic group.