Double Bind

The idea of oppression is most often heard about when talking about women, and their place in a society.  Women will say that they are "oppressed" and it is systematically against them to be better and do more than what they are doing.  I agree with this statement to a point because there are plenty of women throughout history who have been successful, regardless of women being in an oppressed state.  Marilyn Frye compares oppression of women to the situation of a bird in a cage.  She defines oppression as "living of one's life is confined and shaped by forces and barriers which are not accidental or occasional and hence avoidable, but are systematically related to each other in such a way as to catch one between and among them and restrict or penalize motion in any direction. It is the experience of being caged in: All avenues, in every direction, are blocked or booby trapped" (Minas, 2000, p. 11-12).  The best example she provides is of women and their sexuality.  Younger women are in a double-bind whether they are sexual active or inactive.  For example of a heterosexual girl chooses to be sexual active, she runs the risk of being called "loose," or a "whore" (p. 12).  But guys can go around and sleep with whomever they desire, and they are called "stud," the "man".  If a young woman denies sexual activity, she can be called a "bitch," uptight or frigid. These criticisms are only ones typically being made by peers, and the parents are a completely different situation.  As a girl it is a juggling act what to say to her parents and how they will react to it.  Then the whole idea on women dressing themselves in a provocative way and then being raped; someone comes back and says, "oh she was asking for it".  They is probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard, just because as a woman I choose to wear a tight skirt and high heels, does not mean a man who can't control himself is able to come after me.  It is a double-edge sword that women have to deal with on a daily basis.  We are constantly being compared to men in anything we do, and it isn't fair.  I can't think of any situation involving a man and a woman, does the woman come out on top.