Still Not My Responsibility, Essays (university) of International Women's Voices

Download Still Not My Responsibility and more Essays (university) International Women's Voices in PDF only on Docsity! Hartsfield 1 Brea Hartsfield Professor Ridgeway English 2390 15 November 2023 Still Not My Responsibility “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou is a very famous poem. This poem is very inspiring to women of all ages, colors, and sizes. This is one of, if not my favorite, my favorite poems. This poem is referenced every day and is so powerful. In Angelou’s poem, she uses the tactic of asking questions and this serves several rhetorical and poetic purposes, adding depth and impact to the poem. It feels as if the questions engage me directly, invites me to connect to Angelou’s experiences and challenges. These questions create a sense of intimacy and a safe space. Additionally, these questions allow me to be vulnerable with my feelings and allow the poem to feel like it was specifically written for me. Questions are powerful rhetorical devices that emphasize key points. When Angelou asks, "Does my sassiness upset you?" or "Does my haughtiness offend you?" she is challenging the expectations and prejudices of those who seek to oppress her. By asking questions about her appearance, behavior, and resilience, Angelou confronts societal norms and challenges stereotypes. Angelou employs irony and sarcasm throughout her questioning. When she asks, "Does my sexiness upset you?" or "Does my allure offend you?" she is using these questions not to seek answers but to highlight the absurdity of societal judgments. By posing questions about her strength and resilience, Angelou reinforces her belief in herself and her ability to rise above adversity. The repetition of certain questions, such as "Does my sassiness upset you?" and "Does my haughtiness offend you?" emphasizes the persistence of societal judgments and Angelou’s unyielding spirit. Maya Angelou's use of Hartsfield 2 questions in "Still I Rise" serves as a powerful rhetorical tool, allowing her to assert her identity, challenge societal norms, and build a narrative of resilience and empowerment. The questions contribute to the poem's overall impact and its enduring ability to inspire and provoke thought. The way Angelou asked questions in her poem has been used by many other writers, poets, and artists. One artist that specifically sticks out to me is Billie Eilish. In 2020, Eilish created a spoken word piece/short film titled “Not My Responsibility”. This short film, which was eventually turned into a song, addresses societal expectations, body image, and the pressures placed on individuals, particularly women, in the public eye. Billie Eilish challenges societal norms and comments on the judgments people face regarding their bodies. Throughout the song, like in Angelou’s poem, Eilish asks questions for the same outcomes Angelou did in her poem. Eilish states, “Would you like me to be smaller, weaker, softer, taller?/Would you like me to be quiet?/Do my shoulders provoke you?/Does my chest?/Am I my stomach? My hips?/The body I was born with/ Is it not what you wanted?” These questions are asked, again like Angelou, not to seek answers but to highlight the absurdity of societal judgments. Another similarity between "Still I Rise" and "Not My Responsibility" is that both address themes related to societal expectations, resilience, and empowerment, particularly concerning the way individuals, especially women, are perceived and judged based on their bodies. Maya Angelou's poem celebrates the speaker's unyielding spirit despite adversity, while Billie Eilish's piece asserts the right to self-define and reject external judgments. "Still I Rise" and "Not My Responsibility" challenge the judgments imposed by society. Maya Angelou's speaker defiantly rises above historical oppressions, while Billie Eilish questions why individuals are judged for aspects of their bodies beyond their control. Both works advocate for the ownership of one's identity. Maya Angelou's speaker proudly claims her identity as a powerful, resilient individual, and Billie