Men tend to write women off easily as they worry about what
is traditionally women’s matters. The kitchen, the cleaning, and the mothering are
all traditionally women’s rolls. In addition to mothering being a women’s role,
mothering is made possible by menstruation, which is what Clifton discusses in
her pieces, specifically focusing on “Wishes for Sons”, in which Clifton wishes
the struggles of menstruation upon her male children. When reading this, I thought
back to the discussion on “Trifles”, in which we discussed that men often give
up on women, usefulness or otherwise, because of these small things, these
trifles. Did anyone consider the fact that these things that Clifton is wishing
on her son are the things that modern men write off as trifles today?
(Plus- Women would know how to clean that white skirt, so
they wouldn't get caught with the murder in “Trifles” either.)
I absolutely love what you've said here! Men really do ignore the harshness of what women go through while menstruating, and maybe it would be in everyone's best interest to really be educated in the matter.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your question, "Did anyone consider the fact that these things that Clifton is wishing on her son are the things that modern men write off as trifles today?" I really think it connects nicely with our discussion both on Tuesday and today in class. My initial response would be yes, the the things Clifton wishes on her sons are the things men write off as women's trifles. I want to add though that I don't see Clifton as merely wishing these things on her sons as a woman, but she is doing it from the perspective of the mother. It is her duty as mom to raise her children to be the best they can possibly be, so I feel as if she is trying to redirect their train of thought- to no longer see women's bodily struggles as mere trifles.
ReplyDeleteCaroline I picked up on the trifles bit in "wishes for sons" I feel that this was the whole point of the poem. Clifton is not actually wishing these things on her sons, but more asking them to have an appreciation for the struggles women go through and not to take it for granted and write it off as something trivial.
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