Noia column patronizes women
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: Letters
Last update: 10/5/07 at 9:19 AM EST
Last update: 10/5/07 at 9:19 AM EST
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I am horrified by Justin Noia's column, "Sex rules," although, I suppose, I shouldn't be after reading last week's column on reproductive rights. Although Noia is entirely entitled to his opinion on sexual practice, I find the undertones of his column deeply misogynistic.
By suggesting that men must act to "protect" women from their lust, Noia recalls the Victorian sensibility that women are merely objects to be lusted after, not fully sentient beings who can have desires of their own, and who can make decisions about whether or not to follow them. Noia suggests that we Duke women are constantly being coerced into sex, not making the decision to engage in consensual, mutually desired sexual situations. Noia's column reeks with a patronizing voice that I find abhorrent.
I am a Duke woman who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions about having healthy, safe, mutually desired sex, or not. I do not need to be "protected" from the lusts of men, and I resent the implication that if I am not a virgin at marriage, I am "used goods" that no man would want. Noia tells women to "demand more of [men]." I will. I demand that you treat us as full people who have the same capability to make informed and healthy decisions based on caring and mutual desire, not as fragile dolls who must be protected to preserve our "virtue."
Caroline Griswold
Trinity '10
By suggesting that men must act to "protect" women from their lust, Noia recalls the Victorian sensibility that women are merely objects to be lusted after, not fully sentient beings who can have desires of their own, and who can make decisions about whether or not to follow them. Noia suggests that we Duke women are constantly being coerced into sex, not making the decision to engage in consensual, mutually desired sexual situations. Noia's column reeks with a patronizing voice that I find abhorrent.
I am a Duke woman who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions about having healthy, safe, mutually desired sex, or not. I do not need to be "protected" from the lusts of men, and I resent the implication that if I am not a virgin at marriage, I am "used goods" that no man would want. Noia tells women to "demand more of [men]." I will. I demand that you treat us as full people who have the same capability to make informed and healthy decisions based on caring and mutual desire, not as fragile dolls who must be protected to preserve our "virtue."
Caroline Griswold
Trinity '10
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Eric Clinton
posted 10/05/07 @ 1:03 PM EST
How dare you object woman! Back to the kitchen with you!
In seriousness, Mr. Noia's stated opinion is not only very Victorian, but also consistent with a just barely secularized voicing of many fundamentalist religions opinion on women in society. (Continued…)
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