Maker's Mark

Class this week was quite heated. There was a loud debate between many members of the classroom about women being "marked" and men being "unmarked". I wasn't involved with the argument because there was no debate to be had. I didn't agree with either side because every single person of every single race. sex and religion is marked. Everyone is identified as something and have something that marks them. I am marked as a 5'10, 16 year old, Albanian from New Jersey. Everyone is labeled in some shape or form. The argument that women are unmarked is very absurd. But the argument that because women are marked that they somehow go through harsher judgment for the choices they make about fashion and other things more than men is also absurd.

If I were to wear the freshest clothing everyday for months and months and then all of a sudden wear bummy clothes, there would be a comment made to me. I would be marked in that sense. It's no different for a woman, there will be a comment made to her as well. Point is, everyone is marked. Gender marking isn't a big deal to me because i think they are equal in regards to those issues.

Race marking on the other hand, is an issue and is a problem. Blacks and muslims are wrongfully marked as dangerous and as a threat to society. Their fashion choices are used to discriminate against them. Muslims who wear hijabs and other traditional clothing are feared. Black men who wear baggy jeans and their hat sideways are labeled as a "thug", but when they wear a suit and have a high paying job they are called "uncle tom's" and ostracized for being successful and dressing "white".

Of course, sexism hasn't been resolved but as the country becomes more united in the fight for women against someone who opposes it, there's real progress. Racism on the other hand is farther away from being resolved in the country as the country is split down the middle. Instead of uniting we have become more and more divided. Ending stereotyping and marking is the first step in a long journey to true equality.