Stereotyping and Perception of Women in Society

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“The Alienable Rights of Women” by Roxanne Gay and “The Myth of the Latin Woman” by Judith Cofer complement each other because they both discuss how women are perceived and stereotyped by others/society. Gay’s article supports Cofer’s article by discussing how people/society have stereotyped women. It is stated in Gay’s article that “In certain circles, birth control is being framed as whore medicine.” (pg 71) This shows how in the eyes of society women are stereotyped as whores if they use birth control. People think they only use it as a way to avoid pregnancy while having sex instead of what it was originally designed for. Similarly, we can see how Cofer has faced stereotypical stigmas such as being overly sexualized in the media and society …show more content…

Cofer states that many people have complaints about how Latin women dress they find it inappropriate for certain social settings. Cofer states that Latin women dress provocatively as a way to keep cool in the hot weather yet to outsiders, it seems like they are dressed to sexual and because of this, people will approach them wanting sexual favors and will be offended or not understand why they are being turned down because it seemed like the Latin Women are offering themselves with the way they dress from an outsider 's point of view. While Gay talks about how nothing women do is really is private because everyone as a comment she states that “things have gotten complicated, in too many states, for women who want to exercise their right to choose. Legislatures across the United States have worked very hard to shape and control the abortion experience in bizarre, insensitive ways that intervene on a personal, should-be-private experience in very public, painful ways.” (pg 68) This shows that even something as sacred and intimate as pregnancy can become invaded by the needs of society to give unwanted advice. Both of these examples show how others perceive women of Latin descent and pregnant

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