Women in Literature

In Ms. Finch's lecture Monday night made me much more aware of  the significant ways gender, gender and women's issues. "Disgraced" is one that shows the main character as a Muslim in post 9/11 America along with a co-worker who is black and also a women working in law. The main character's friend has changed his name in order to assimilate into society, that is his thought. The main character does feel the need to change his name because it is against his moral. Once his name is in the paper relating him to a case regarding Islam and then his job later fired because of his involvement in the case. The women faces the challenges of finding a job although legally there should be equal rights between them but there clearly isn't. This highlights something that I have never experienced from their point of view of racial and gender bias  but all I've known is post 9/11 America. Also "The Brief and Wondrous life of Oscar Wao" shows the side of masculinity of men and how if not masculine enough then considered an outsider from both men and women. Oscar is chubby and is very uncomfortable when talking to women and he is a virgin. This highlights what I think is something that is very common in today's society of course not to the severity of the Dominican Republic but there still is today. Ms. Finch opened up my thoughts to think back to the books that I have read during my time here and how much it has educated me on these topics that are prevalent now and will be for times to come.