Chapter 4 Subjective Knowledge: The Quest of Self

Walking away from your past and starting over is what these women have done. They wanted out, and really they did not care what was ahead of them as long as they were out of their current situation. A new found sense about leaving and starting over, it opens them up to new life experiences.



I can see where these women can feel the way they do or what they are feeling. What I can see is how they can't help themselves at times. No women need to feel second best to their husband, to their boyfriend. Strength comes within and these women are just now finding it, some in their early twenties others in late forties, but it is there. Life hands you a deck of cards, make you hand the best it can be while playing, and these women are making it the best by getting out of old stale environments and learning how to become a person not someone's possession.



What I have learned so far is that these women love to listen to others, and that lets them build on their own self imagine. What has bothered me the most in this chapter is when they were talking to young college sophomore who has been depressed, talked about multiple truths and realities in life, she stated her question….Why do people live?? How does one respond to such a comment?



So my question is, how can one improve their own life today if one looks back on the past?? What would you change and why?

Chapter 3 Subjective Knowlege: The Inner Voice

Women are making a turn towards subjectivism...no longer willing to rely on others, such as people with a higher status as them or a person with authority. These women are turning to people they can trust, other women that have meaning in their lives and have been there with them and for them.

I found this chapter very disturbing, in a way that in my world we only hear of such things and never have had a friend live it and I am grateful for that! I can understand why women in certain situations feel powerless, helpless and worthless. Men look for a weak women, and that is not me being mean towards a women, it is because the man who finds the weak is weak himself. He would not know how to act if another man would treat him the way he treated his wife or girlfriend. So I feel men do prey on the weak, just so they can feel superior in ways.

The women they kept going back to throughout this chapter made me realize that yes, go with your gut, cause your gut will lead you in the right direction, it is your own body telling you not you listening to someone else, I found this women an inspiration for others to learn from, she would be very interesting to listen to, to let her talk about her life where she has been and where she is going!

Knowledge is a powerful thing, some women need to realize that and use what they know now and build on it for the future. This chapter was an eye opener for me. I am lucky to have come from an wonderful and giving family and I am thankful everyday. I will pass along what I have learned from my parents to my three daughters.

Chapter 2 Received Knowledge: Listening to the Voices of Others

I understand the women in this chapter. I get them, but what I don't get is how they build knowledge but they do not let it show. Trusting themselves is hard; they are scared to speak because words might come out wrong. I feel that way as I am typing this, but that doesn't mean I am dumb, just means that maybe my thought process is somewhat different than others.

There are several thoughts running through my head, but one that sticks out is how one person can look to others for knowledge, but doesn't see themselves as growing. Could be an expert at something, however could not speak in front of people to let others receive the knowledge.

I found that the confidence levels of these women are low, and that is something I can really relate with. I am not confident in myself at times, but I do give myself the benefit of the doubt when I can. I also do not agree with my friends like the college girls did, if I do not want to do something, I won't!
What I took the most from this chapter is how everyone listens...and stated that they are learning from listening, and actually enjoyed listening to people and each woman was different in the reasoning. I think overall it is an underlining bond that women need.



I can see myself in way while reading this chapter, but I will return knowledge as much as I can, I like to be able to help others in understanding something that I might know more about than most.

Silence...

As I was reading through this first chapter, I thought to myself, I could never be the silent type...but what worries and bothers me is that so many women today are the silent type. There are so many thoughts that I have about this chapter. For me, it hurts to read this, because it makes us "women" look weak in a sense. Today, there is no reason why women can not have a voice being there are so many outlets for us to turn to!

Maintaining the Women's Place, I found horrible. A women should not feel threatened in her own home, let alone her family. I do not understand why a women can stay, but I have never been in a situation where I have been beaten or threatened. I know a friend of mine, one of her best friends went through this, and it took her years to say anything, but she finally got away. For me, you touch me one in a way that would hurt me, you wouldn't get a second chance. But, then again, why do men think it is okay to beat on a women, or degrade them in a way that makes them think that they are not good enough?

Conceiving the self, wow, as I read through this, I thought could I actually describe myself to others? My life has changed just like those who were interviewed, my life changed when I had children, they some how take over your life and you are no longer a who you are, you are a mom. So, please do describe onself if one can....

I can say I did not grow up like these women, I had a wonderful childhood, and am able to speak my mind. I am grateful that I am independant in that nature. I would never want my three daughter to feel they could not speak their mind. Life is too short to feel this way!