I thought that “About Men” and “There is no unmarked
woman” were two pieces that complemented each other perfectly, offering a
unique insight into the struggles faced by people of either gender. Tannen's
discussion on the objectifying of women and the emphasis on their appearance is
rather commonplace in the mainstream media; after about twenty-five years since
her piece was published, we have a number of strong advocates for women’s rights,
such as Michelle Obama. “About Men” discussed male insecurities, which I feel
are definitely discussed less in the media but are just as important to
consider.
Tannen seems to believe that the other women
in the meeting are dressed well for the purpose of being promoted or attaining
a greater standing in the workplace. Tannen seems to completely ignore the idea
that people might dress up simply because they want to look their best. Tannen
seems to believe that people dress up simply to impress other people: she says
that “some days [she] just wants to get dressed and go about [her] business,”
without having to conform to any expectations about her appearance. However,
perhaps many people genuinely enjoy dressing nicely, as it may help them feel
more confident and important. People may wish to imitate the athletes,
musicians, or celebrities simply because they admire them, not for any ulterior
motive.
I also found it quite interesting how Tannen
provides no information regarding her own appearance. Has she also succumbed to
the expectations of women’s appearances in the workplace? Or does she protest
these prevailing gender norms by dressing in her own way?
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