Homework Assignment

Direct quote “Female sexuality encompasses a broad range of behaviors and processes including female sexual identity and sexual behavior in the physiological, psychological, social, cultural, political, spiritual or religious aspects of sexual activity” (Constantin et al., 27)

Paraphrased MLA Quote; Female sexuality is the embodiment of the female being and all its facets, from the physical changes at puberty to sexual orientation and reproduction. (Constantin et al., 27)

2. Black Dove Part One p. 1-114

What does Castillo mean, "It wasn't freedom from a man I sought. It wasn't that I had to prove myself capable as a woman on my own.  I was not going to live reflected in someone else's idea of me" (105)?

In the patriarchal society that Castillo lives, female sexuality is fashioned only to serve the needs of men. Women in that society were subject to predetermined, unfounded ideologies of who they were, what they should do and especially how they should submit to the authority of the men in their circles. Their capabilities were limited so that they did not compete with the men. Women literally existed to answer to the men. Castillo regards this view as negative and deeply distasteful and resents the idea that as a woman her relationships had to exist to serve the needs of a man.

3. Reading Discussion Questions Part Two Black Dove p. 117-20914. Do you agree or disagree with Castillo as she assesses her job at mothering.  "I had devoted myself for over a quarter of a century to being a mother, and I had failed at the most important duty" (187-88).  Do you feel compassion for her? For her son? Why or why not?

Parenting is never an easy endeavor. Compassion would definitely be my personal feeling because surely Castillo had worked hard to provide the best she could for her son but he still found himself in the wrong company. More often than society would like to admit, the environment in which children grow up has more to do with what kind of adults our children mature to be and the choices they make. Our parental influence in most cases is overpowered by other environmental factors that we have no control over. We might try to mould our children to the responsible members of society we would like but we cannot control extrinsic factors that are equally powerful and determine their behavior and character. This happened to Castillo’s son.

4.Reading Discussion Part Three Black Dove p. 211-278 Regarding the 2008 election, Castillo writes, "It didn't surprise me that a man won the election.  Nor that the political and academic discussion on race remained black and white, with white women representing what gains feminism had brought women...I wondered how much had actually changed concerning race and gender in the United States" (223).  How do you view the political scene in our country now? What does it say about these two topics of race and gender? Have you witnessed positive social change in your life times? Why or why not?

The political scene in our country now is better than it was. More women are taking up leadership roles and doing a good job although much of the confidence still lies with the men. Majority of the women in the country still do not believe that their fellow women can make effective leaders. They are not yet in the mental space that allows them to believe in themselves enough. A majority still value male domination and is always inclined to believe that only men can be influential enough to drive agendas in the political scene. This is clearly evident when the polls suggest that more women chose men.