I Wish I Didn't Know Now

Music Video/Song

Screenshot from: " I wish i didn't know now music video"

Collected on: 2/20/09

Music Video can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSpxR6mxIok

"Wish I Didn't Know Now" Lyrics: I've never asked you where you're goin' I've never asked you where you've been I've never called and checked your story When you stayed out with all your friends I've never tried to catch you lyin' I didn't want to know the truth I'd rather go on lovin' blind girl Than go on lovin' without you I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then I wish I could start this whole thing over again I'm not sayin' it's you could never be true I just don't wanna know how it ends You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hands I'd still look like a fool in front of your friends Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then I've always said what I don't know Couldn't hurt as bad as leavin' you Turns out I knew what I was thinkin' It ain't an easy thing to do Well I guess I should be goin' I sure found out too much to stay Please don't say your sorry I might wait another day I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then I wish I could start this whole thing over again I'm not sayin' it's you could never be true I just don't wanna know how it ends You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hands I'd still look like a fool in front of your friends Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then You'd still have my heart in the palm of your hand I'd still look like a fool in front of your friends Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then Yeah I wish somehow I didn't know now what I didn't know then



"I Wish I Didn't Know Now" is a country song by Toby Keith about a man who has a cheating spouse whom he loves dearly. He had his suspicions that she was cheating but didn't want to confirm them, and he just now, against his will, found out for sure.


This song relates to women's studies because it relates to masculinity and femininity. It relates because it describes a man who is being feminine and a woman who acts masculine. By doing this it is challenging gender roles and thus relates to women's studies which also challenge gender roles. In the song Toby describes the relationship and he exhibits many feminine characteristics while his partner is acting very masculine. If he were being masculine he would be angry and violent, but instead he is just whining about being heartbroken and comes across as submissive (feminine traits). She acts macho and is always sleeping around and not calling, being a player (a masculine trait) while he is home waiting for her, being supportive (a feminine trait). She jokes with her friends about how many men she has slept with while with him and makes him look like a fool, but he doesn't care, he is subordinate (feminine trait) to her and just wants to be with her and never actually know the truth because she makes him happy. He thinks he has found true love while she is being a player.

This song relates to Ch.3 in "Women's Voices", the section called "masculinity" and the section called "femininity" pages 131-137 which describe the masculine and feminine characteristics and traits. They are related because the song switches the character traits which these readings describe. The song also relates to "Becoming 100% straight" because that reading gives true stories from men who have felt "feminine feelings" and this song is written from the perspective of a man who feels "feminine feelings".


This song is related to gender because it talks about gender roles in society, and specifically describes a believable "normal" situation where they are switched. It is "normal" because there is no cross dressing and no difference in sexuality, it is "gender melding" instead of "gender transferring". The only switch is in their actions and attitudes which society has no problem accepting, if it did the song wouldn't have been such a hit.

The popularity of this song and the song itself represent a major leap for women and men. It shows that society is more accepting of people switching gender roles and that means that men and women both are more free to act the way they want and be themselves to without fearing persecution. If this was not the case the song would have ruined Toby Keith's career.

Womanizer

Song/Music Video

Collected: February 15th

Music Video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZSLIq6YiRY

Womanizer Lyrics:

Superstar
Where you from, how's it going?
I know you
Gotta clue, what you're doing?
You can play brand new to all the other chicks out here
But I know what you are, what you are, baby

Look at you
Gettin' more than just a re-up
Baby, you
Got all the puppets with their strings up
Fakin' like a good one, but I call 'em like I see 'em
I know what you are, what you are, baby

Womanizer, Woman-Womanizer
You're a womanizer,
Oh womanizer, Oh you're a womanizer, baby
You, you, you are
You, you, you are
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)

(You) You got me going
(You) You're oh so charming
(You) But I can't do it
(You) Womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)

(You) You say I'm crazy
(You) I got you crazy
(You) Your nothing but a
(You) Womanizer

Daddy-O
You got the swagger of a champion
Too bad for you
Just can't find the right companion
I guess when you have one too many, makes it hard
It could be easy, who you are, that's just who you are baby

Lollipop
Must mistake me as a sucker
To think that I
Would be a victim not another
Say it, play it how you wanna
But no way I'm ever gonna fall for you, never you, baby

Womanizer, Woman-Womanizer
You're a womanizer,
Oh womanizer, Oh you're a womanizer, baby
You, you, you are
You, you, you are
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)

(You) You got me going
(You) You're oh so charming
(You) But I can't do it
(You) Womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)

(You) You say I'm crazy
(You) I got you crazy
(You) Your nothing but a
(You) Womanizer

Maybe if we both lived in a different world
It would be all good, and maybe I could be ya girl
But I can't 'cause we don't

Womanizer, Woman-Womanizer
You're a womanizer,
Oh womanizer, Oh you're a womanizer, baby
You, you, you are
You, you, you are
Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)

(You) You got me going
(You) You're oh so charming
(You) But I can't do it
(You) Womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)

(You) You say I'm crazy
(You) I got you crazy
(You) Your nothing but a
(You) Womanizer

Boy, don't try to front
I, I know just-just what you are, are, are (x2)
Womanizer, Woman-Womanizer
You're a womanizer,
Oh womanizer, Oh you're a womanizer, baby


This is the music video entitled: "Womanizer" by Britney Spears. It basically talks about a man, the "Womanizer" who is a prime example of a misogynist. The man is courting Britney and she is singing about how he seems nice and she wants to like him a lot but that is just a mask which she sees right through so she'll have nothing to do with him.

This is significant to women's studies because Spears is a celebrity whose reputation is a far cry from that of a feminist, but she is singing a song that any feminist would love. The message of the song is for women not to put up with misogynistic men and not respond to them. This relates to globalization because Britney is recognized and watched all over the world so when she sends a message it is a global message. The video mocks the typical perception of women in society today. In doing so it can help to fight misogyny and objectification of women in countries where women are really oppressed and men are used to seeing Britney and all women as objects. It includes objectifying images of a naked Spears and other ones of spears cooking breakfast for the "womanizer". However, the lyrics that follow shoot down any notion that objectification is ok. It sends the message, "Brittany refuses to be objectified or subordinate, so why shouldn't you?" The song and music video relate to international feminist movements in short, because the song and music video are greatly effective tools supporting the same causes and projecting the same message as the international feminist movement.

In this video one could actually imagine Britney Spears a true feminist and a very very attractive one. One that any man would desire. That supports the feminist cause -and is a great step forward for women- by showing women that you can be a feminist without being an outcast from society, you can still be desirable to men. This is pop culture standing up for women and that is great progress; a step forward for women. Instead of glorifying the subordination of women it is glorifying and glamorizing women who don't put up with being subordinated.

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Newspaper Article

Full News Report at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294633,00.html

Collected: 2/11/09

The University of Vermont is putting transgendered bathrooms on their campus. This shows that they are becoming more tolerant of people who are not male or female. These people are made to feel uncomfortable in strictly male or female bathrooms and making them use a male or female facility is a form of oppression. It is the oppression of people of a different gender so it applies to women's studies because women's studies is actually gender studies. It relates to gender bias because lack of a gender neutral bathroom is discrimination based on gender. A major women's studies topic is gender bias so the news article and women's studies relate in that way as well.

The fact that the Vermont government built trans-gendered bathrooms is a good start. However, it is contradicting itself by only having male and female on drivers licenses but having a 3rd gender of bathroom. They should both publicly recognize a more genders and accommodate them so they are consistent with their policy and don't appear incompetent. They need to take a stance and educate the public, the job of the government is to make the decisions the people want, and more than 2 types of bathrooms is not what the ignorant majority wants today. If Vermont wants to recognize more than two genders, they need to put it out in the open and convince the masses that it is right so their citizens lose their ignorance. This relates to Gould, "X: A Fabulous Child's Story." and Fausto-Sterling, "The Five Sexes Revisited", because after reading them I am convinced that people who are not totally male or female should have rights.

Recognizing other genders (in this case by having a bathroom for them) is the first step toward education so a related topic would be education. It also relates to education because the article talks about same sex bathrooms being put in schools and universities. The very presence of a gender neutral bathroom in these places of education will teach people that different genders are ok. By putting them in their place of learning they will learn a little about other genders, and hopefully when they learn a little they will be curious to learn more. Since this is education about gender it relates to gender socialization which is just that. It is socialization because it is not formal education, it is just a change in the world around people at the University of Vermont which will semi-subconsciously teach them about other genders and to accept other genders. In this way it is positive gender socialization and a step forward.

This article and the presence of gender neutral bathrooms will draw. attention to oppression based on gender and help fight it. Thus they are advances for women, men and every gender.