gender essay
Whitney Clark
Mr. Jolly
April 28, 2014
Gender Essay In the essay “There Is No Unmarked Woman”, the author Tannen, argues that apparently woman are not only based on character but how they look and dress as well. Women are said to be “marked” because of the fact no matter how they fix their hair, apply their make-up or the style of their clothes they choose to wear. Tannen mentioned in the essay that as she sat at the table looking at the three other woman, each had very different styles. By Tannen saying this, she is saying how woman express themselves through clothing. By the women wearing the different types of clothing their choices would exude what each woman’s style says what they want you to perceive about them. Now men on the other hand “unmarked” because normally their style says nothing about them. Everything a woman decides to wear gives some variation that sets her apart from the next woman. Men though, can have the option to be “unmarked”. Most men chose the standard for men by stating “All eight men wore brown or blue slacks, and shirts of light colors. No men wear sandals or boots. Their shoes were dark, closed, comfortable and flat.” By saying this Tannen makes the point that men are “unmarked”, therefore saying they don’t have any distinguishing features that set them apart from one another, and/or define them for who they really are. Tannen’s argument stars at the view of an academic conference at which all the men wore similar suits, and the three women showed their style through their clothing. Tannen also says that one woman was a “plain Jane”, the other was older and “full or dignity”, and finally a “frosted blonde avalanche falling over and beyond shoulders.” The men could have worn more of an individually expressive style, but the women all said something with their clothes, in which lies Tannen’s thesis.
Mr. Jolly
April 28, 2014
Gender Essay In the essay “There Is No Unmarked Woman”, the author Tannen, argues that apparently woman are not only based on character but how they look and dress as well. Women are said to be “marked” because of the fact no matter how they fix their hair, apply their make-up or the style of their clothes they choose to wear. Tannen mentioned in the essay that as she sat at the table looking at the three other woman, each had very different styles. By Tannen saying this, she is saying how woman express themselves through clothing. By the women wearing the different types of clothing their choices would exude what each woman’s style says what they want you to perceive about them. Now men on the other hand “unmarked” because normally their style says nothing about them. Everything a woman decides to wear gives some variation that sets her apart from the next woman. Men though, can have the option to be “unmarked”. Most men chose the standard for men by stating “All eight men wore brown or blue slacks, and shirts of light colors. No men wear sandals or boots. Their shoes were dark, closed, comfortable and flat.” By saying this Tannen makes the point that men are “unmarked”, therefore saying they don’t have any distinguishing features that set them apart from one another, and/or define them for who they really are. Tannen’s argument stars at the view of an academic conference at which all the men wore similar suits, and the three women showed their style through their clothing. Tannen also says that one woman was a “plain Jane”, the other was older and “full or dignity”, and finally a “frosted blonde avalanche falling over and beyond shoulders.” The men could have worn more of an individually expressive style, but the women all said something with their clothes, in which lies Tannen’s thesis.