Author: Kameza Harun

Gallantry (noun): an act of marked courtesy, courteous attention to a lady.

According to Merriam-Webster the definition of gallantry is an act of marked courtesy, courteous attention to a lady. I encountered this word in the story, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell. On page 154, it states, “And yet, said he, with the gallantry of a young politician. “for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?””. When I encountered this word I was unsure of its meaning. I assumed gallantry meant talking mistreating or rude to the ladies because most of the men encounters within the story, they laugh at the women. They make a mockery of the way women are able to unfold the murder of Mr.Wright and continuously dismiss them. I see the meaning more clearly because the county attorney was showing signs of manner in this case because he was acting a politician. It would be improper in that formality to talk unkind to the women because of his future. He recognized the women, but, she still did not speak because in that time it was difficult for them to say what they were really thinking. The country attorney was with gallantry as a mark for courtesy.

Disdainful (adjective): full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior, full of or expressing scorn or disdain.

The word disdainful I encountered when reading the story entitled, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell. On page 155, it states that, “Then, as if releasing herself from something strange. Mrs. Hale began to arrange the dirty pans under the sink, which the county attorney’s disdainful push of the foot had deranged”. I have encountered this word numerous times after reviewing the story on Thursday, November 15th, 2018. When I stumbled upon this word, I was unsure of the meaning within the context in the story. It was describing two different events occurring; one with Mrs. Hale and one of the county attorney’s. I assumed the word disdainful meant something unpleasing to a certain extent. I assumed it was because the county attorney had “shoved” the pans as if he was scooting them over. I see it has a deeper meaning than that because following that paragraph Mrs. Hale was talking about men criticizing them and snooping. I see it means now to express contempt and feeling inferior because within that society women are inferior to the men. They are seen to perform tasks such as housekeeping and are still scorned if it is not to the men’s liking.

The word commence is defined as to have or make a beginning or to enter upon according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. In the story by Zora Neale Hurston, “Sweat”, I encountered this word while reading. On Thursday November 8th, I found this word on page 272. It stated that, “She saw that Sykes had kicked all of the clothes together again, and now stood in her way truculently, his whole manner hoping, praying, for an argument. But she walked calmly around him and commenced to re-sort the things”. In this context the word was used as a past tense version to the original word “commence”. When I encountered this word I was unsure of its meaning, I thought the word relating to cleaning and tidying up because in this part of the text it talks about her argument with Sykes and how she went back to resorting things. Since she was a washwoman I assumed the word had to deal with cleaning, organizing, and more. I see the word clearer after looking up the definition because she is beginning to re-sort the things. She is entering upon the house after the argument and going to organize after meaning she did not start as yet. The word commence in this context of the story is understandable now after looking up the definition and replacing the definition words into the sentence.

Trifle (noun): Something of little value, substance, or importance.

According the Merriam Webster, the definition of Trifle means something of little value, substance, or importance. On November 5th, 2018 I encountered this word in my readings. In the reading entitled “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, the word can be found on page 154. On page 154 it states, “‘Oh, well,’ said Mrs. Hale’s husband, with good-natured superiority, ‘women are used to worrying over trifles.'”. In this context I was unsure of the meaning of the word. I did not understand what the word meant in the context of the evidence. Prior to encountering the word, it was discussing being held for murder and only worry about her preserves. I assumed this meant, they were worried about themselves in the self. The author was trying to save women are used to worrying over themselves. I see now how this definition fits into the text because what the character was worrying about was of little value. It was not importance as being held for murder was. There is more serious to worry about rather than the minor things. In the word trifle, it is showing the smaller things rather than the bigger picture. I understand the word better after looking up the definition and replacing it with the definition’s words.

Incredulous is defined as unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true according to Merriam-Webster. The word incredulous is used as an adjective. I encountered this word in the article entitled, “Teaching Men to Be Emotionally Honest” by Andrew Reiner. On page two it states that, “His voice quavering, the young man stammered something unexpected from a frat brother, about how women can be as insensitive and hurtful as guys. He sounded like a victim himself. But afterward, when I asked him if he had reached out to any of his guy friends for advice or solace, he stared at me, incredulous, his irises two small blue islands amid a sea of sclera. “Nah, I’ve got this,” he said.” I thought that the word meant not feeling to to talk or associate because the character is saying he has got this, associating with himself only ignoring the help. I see the meaning more clearly because he was not willing to accept what was being offered to him. He did not want to seek out advice from his fellow friends but, instead act unwilling to what is the truth.

According to Merriam-Webster, taciturn is described as being temperamentally disinclined to talk. The word taciturn is described as an adjective. It is used to describe someone. On October 23rd, 2018, I came upon this word in the text entitled, “Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends” by Jan Hoffman. It states on page two, “Indeed, the shutting down of those relationships is part of what turns boys into taciturn, emotionally disconnected men, Dr. Way said. She herself has four best friends — three women and one man.” When I read the word I was unsure of the meaning in terms of the article. I was not sure what it was trying to say. The term taciturn to me meant a mechanism meaning, it was a mechanism or trait men carry which makes them emotionally disconnected. I see the meaning of the word better now because men feel as if they cannot talk to other so it causes them to behave in a manner of not speaking. They do not feel inclined to speak to one another because that is the society norms.

According to Merriam-Webster, the word hindsight is a noun. It is defined as perception of the nature of an event after it has happened. On October 16th, I found this word in an article entitled, “Today’s Masculinity is Stifling” by Sarah Rich. On page one it states in the first paragraph, “In hindsight, our son was gearing up to wear a dress to school for quiet some time”. Originally when I read the word, I thought hindsight was referring to a flashback of the story or events and sequences. I thought the author was presenting what she was trying to say about her son being in a dress as a flashback moment for her to discuss the topic of masculinity. I thought this because the context clues were describing how he was wearing dresses from months meaning this has been progressing for some time. I understand the meaning more clearer as the author is depicting this event to explain it while it has happened. It is a perception of her son wearing dresses to school to formulate her reaction of the scenario going on.

The word stoicism is a noun that means indifference to pleasure or pain. I stumbled upon this word during my reading on October 10th, 2018. The reading the word is found in is, “If Black Men Want To Heal Racism Wounds, We Can’t Pretend To Be Strong All The Time” by Michael Denzel Smith. On page 99 of the text it states, “While black women are expected to be strong enough to shoulder the emotional needs of the entire community, men inherit a sense of masculinity that teaches stoicism as a virtue”. I was not sure what the word meant when I stumbled upon it on the first paragraph of that page. I thought originally the word dealt with suppressing their emotions, men having to hide their emotions because following that sentence with the word in it discussed how men and boys walk around with rage inside built up. I assumed the word was dealing with built up emotion. I see now that the word means indifference to pleasure or pain because black boys and men lack a distinction from their masculinity causing them to behave a certain way towards pleasure or pain. Boys have internalized the pain they feel and are indifferent to it around them, sometimes not knowing the difference. I understand the word better after looking up the definition on Merriam-Webster because it explains more why boys are gravitated towards stoicism as a virtue in regards to their masculinity.

According to Merriam-Webster, the word commensurate is defined as corresponding or equal to measure, extent or degree. The word commensurate it an adjective that is described in the article entitled, “The Boys Are Not Alright” by Michael Ian Black. On September 30th, 2018 I encountered the word while reading this article describing masculinity and how men do not act vulnerable in the way they should. The word commensurate can be found on page one of the article towards the ending of the page. When I stumbled upon the word, my initial reaction was that this was a new heard of word to me. I was thinking from context clues that the word meant to be hidden or left behind. It states, “Boys, though, have been left behind. No commensurate movement has emerged to help them navigate toward a full expression of their gender”. When I read the word first, I thought to be left behind because the prior sentence was discussing the topic of boys being misguided and hidden from the movement. I now understand the word after looking at the dictionary meaning of it because I see in this case the term is used to describe how to movements involving feminism are not as equal as any movement or discussion involving boys. For years now we have built up a female priority in discussing women abuse and violence they deal with, but, fail to correspond or equalize to the men who deal with the same.