Lurking around in Golden Triangle Area (Beaumont - Orange - Port Arthur) has given me many new experiences in human interaction, to say the least. I've been able to interact with many different groups of people, including band students, general students, members of the general population, and friends and acquaintances that I've met before coming here. Of course, many of these groups overlap, but I've noticed some distinct differences in my interactions and their behavior. Of course, no one person fits every description I make.
Generally speaking, and I am in no way PC, more women than average act dumb. It may be a careful facade. It may a subtle patronizing habit when dealing with strangers. But I believe the culture here still suppresses women into the traditional role, without emphasizing the importance of higher education or personal achievement.
Women, either my age, older, or younger, tend to act docile and silly. When talking to them, "important issues" such as current events, politics, or other philosophy are brushed aside. Opinions on such ideas are not well-formulated, and tend to reflect racism or other prejudice. Conversation, instead, turns to more superficial matters quite quickly, and the same issues are reflected on this smaller scale. They also seem to cling to their mates, such as putting a spouse or boyfriend before themselves, and using his judgment before their own. Arguments between the husband/boyfriend and the father over what's best for the woman seems somewhat common.
This also breeds a closer relationship between women. I've seen less backstabbing and catfighting between women here, and I've been involved in friendlier conversations with other women than I would have in "the outside world." Women trust each other more.
Men, also, don't seem to respect women as sentient, rational beings. In my personal experience, I've had people talk to me through my boyfriend, as if he's the only one allowed to or able to speak to me, people talk to me as a child or stripper, such as calling me "girl," "darling," etc. The Boyfriend even tends to explain (what he considers) moderately difficult concepts to me with simple explanations, even if I already understand the concept, or only needed clarification on one detail. Most women, when faced with this treatment, don't seem to find it as offensive as I do, and most men don't mean it to be as offensive as I find it.
Women that I've surrounded myself with, and those attending college, seem to have more independent personalities than the one I've described above. Although there are plenty of women like that attending the school, those that I choose to interact with regularly seem to be more like people I've met in other areas that I've lived, at least in terms of competence and independence. There are many women here that I am impressed with, or enjoy the company of. In fact, I can't really reconcile many of the people I've met and become friends with with the general observations that I've made.
I feel bad because right after I have a really interesting conversation with a woman from some class, I can go to Market Basket and see an 18 year old, small children in tow, calling her boyfriend/husband to ask him what brand of beans to get because she can't decide on her own.
I defiantly feel a disconnect between my friends from Beaumont that I've met before coming here, my college friends, my expectations of society, and the general area. I can see some influences every once in a while, but I feel like I'm living in three different worlds.
Generally speaking, and I am in no way PC, more women than average act dumb. It may be a careful facade. It may a subtle patronizing habit when dealing with strangers. But I believe the culture here still suppresses women into the traditional role, without emphasizing the importance of higher education or personal achievement.
Women, either my age, older, or younger, tend to act docile and silly. When talking to them, "important issues" such as current events, politics, or other philosophy are brushed aside. Opinions on such ideas are not well-formulated, and tend to reflect racism or other prejudice. Conversation, instead, turns to more superficial matters quite quickly, and the same issues are reflected on this smaller scale. They also seem to cling to their mates, such as putting a spouse or boyfriend before themselves, and using his judgment before their own. Arguments between the husband/boyfriend and the father over what's best for the woman seems somewhat common.
This also breeds a closer relationship between women. I've seen less backstabbing and catfighting between women here, and I've been involved in friendlier conversations with other women than I would have in "the outside world." Women trust each other more.
Men, also, don't seem to respect women as sentient, rational beings. In my personal experience, I've had people talk to me through my boyfriend, as if he's the only one allowed to or able to speak to me, people talk to me as a child or stripper, such as calling me "girl," "darling," etc. The Boyfriend even tends to explain (what he considers) moderately difficult concepts to me with simple explanations, even if I already understand the concept, or only needed clarification on one detail. Most women, when faced with this treatment, don't seem to find it as offensive as I do, and most men don't mean it to be as offensive as I find it.
Women that I've surrounded myself with, and those attending college, seem to have more independent personalities than the one I've described above. Although there are plenty of women like that attending the school, those that I choose to interact with regularly seem to be more like people I've met in other areas that I've lived, at least in terms of competence and independence. There are many women here that I am impressed with, or enjoy the company of. In fact, I can't really reconcile many of the people I've met and become friends with with the general observations that I've made.
I feel bad because right after I have a really interesting conversation with a woman from some class, I can go to Market Basket and see an 18 year old, small children in tow, calling her boyfriend/husband to ask him what brand of beans to get because she can't decide on her own.
I defiantly feel a disconnect between my friends from Beaumont that I've met before coming here, my college friends, my expectations of society, and the general area. I can see some influences every once in a while, but I feel like I'm living in three different worlds.
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