Gendering Images of Revolution

“Women could make noise that no sound would be heard” women’s role in the revolutionary era was to stay as housewife, husband’s shadow and they were not supposed to involve in political events. , “a Society of Patriotic Ladies” (1774) was painted to ridicule American protest’s credibility by proposing that those women had neglected their job as being a woman and since they “weren't” ladylike, their proposal were just meaningless. It would give a totally different emotion if men were painted in the picture instead of women. It would reassure the message since men were meant to be a controller/stronger gender and it was their “job” and English people would feel more threaten by it.

Women weren't supposed to bear arms, however in this picture “Miss Fanny’s Maid” it was totally against that idea. We don’t know whether it was a true woman or cross-dressing, from my own perspective, it showed how determined it was for Britain regarding the fight between two countries. Women as a weaker gene would readily support and join the army if the country needs them.  I think it was a good method to boost British army’s willpower and alert their enemy. If man was used in this picture, it wouldn't give the same effect because it was a norm for man to join army.

 During the war time, everyone suffered, however I feel woman was the one suffered the most; they gave up their man, their son, their brothers and their dad to country. As we know, the love of a woman are eternity and they would do anything to protect their son and their family. The picture “banner of Washington’s Life Guard” showed the strong bond/ teamwork, reliance between the commander and his military men (the woman). His military men would always their for him, be his body guard, love and trust his word and would sacrifice for him.

It was nice to put an image of woman instead of man to show the strong-bond between General Washington and his followers. Since man is known for insensitive (stereotype), and lack of emotion. It wouldn't show the feeling to attachment and the affection/friendship between two men aren't comparable with the relationship between a woman with her man, or her son/ her dad.  

As I have mentioned above, Britain “obeyed” the norm as undermining women’s work, however the Union-America used woman as in the picture to show the liberty. What is the liberty? It is a freedom. In my opinion, woman was used as a figure to reflect the Union’s unique value and will earn the freedom from Britain with their own uniqueness. 

White woman was a free-man however SHE was treated as a slave with all the inequalities, no voice and no involvement in everything. The message that I see from this image is, woman, she broke out from that model, trying to teach others to be like her, encourage these African-American to have better live, and teach them how to achieve that goal.

European Images of Native American Women

According to what I read from other sources, in most Native cultures, Native women were considered equal to men. Even though, Native societies was the sexual division of labor; Native women were respected and valued for their contribution.  Because it was a culture where men and women created equally, Native women engaged and participated in term of helping the survival of family. Their knowledge, their skill to find/reserve sustenance and their voice in family matters was all appreciated.

It also was a culture where women were in charge for educating the future generation. “She” was responsible to past down the practice/custom, knowledge and keep the tradition move on 

 It was a good place for women to live until the Europeans came and “awake” America

“American Natives were uncivilized, barbaric, and cannibalistic” (pg.37) and chose to portray a New World as a woman—European society and values about women were very “modern” (woman was to be a subject to serve man, powerless, inferior, etc.).  These were a promotion, self-supportive to chase, take over other’s place.  With the invasion from Europeans, the life of Native Americans became dark, especially Native women.  From the culture where they were respected, they struggled with sexism, even with her own people, thanks to the influence from European’s culture of the past.  “Woman and man do not created EQUALLY” Native women all of sudden sat at the bottom of the social hierarchy. They got abuse from man, and had no voice whatsoever in politic matters

Blues music and Janis Joplin

What do Chinese’s fortune cookie and blues music have in common?
Both carry the hope for the future and a way to express misfortune, inequality and regret of both early Chinese immigrants and African-American in the 19th century. To anyone’s knowledge, there is a similar/intertwined between Blues and Jazz music; some even argued that Blues was just another form of Jazz, It's understandable that people would get the wrong idea and assume since the birth of the Blues was not far away from the Jazz’s, in the Mississippi Delta which just upriver from New Orleans. When we think of blues, usually the feeling of sadness is the first thing that comes to mind for instance, blue day, blue relationship, etc., undeniably it’s a right expression for the Blues music. EX-slave and the descendants of slave whom invented the Blues sang blues to express their sadness; it’s obviously that we could learn more about African-American stories/lives through Blues music than any all word, huge history books, however they didn’t just sing it to feel it, but they sang Blues as the way to overcome those misfortunes (consider to release stress), hence the Blues is more upbeat with drum, revivalist hymns, and country dance music.

As much as Blues music to African-American, it was also Janis Joplin's way to express her feeling and a way to speak out for herself. I think a lot of beauty and pain in her voice got to do with all she went through as a young person growing up, for example she was voted in high school as an ugliest guy on campus and many more incidents; Janis Joplin put it into music which we can really hear her stories through her songs.