What I've Learned from Men

“What I’ve Learned from Men” Response Questions

1. What is the tone (see definition below) of the opening paragraph? What does the tone of

Ehrenreich’s first paragraph suggest we can expect in the rest of the essay?

• Ehrenreich’s first paragraph has the tone of comedy as well as a sense of jealousness. She is upset by the fact that men can obtain the attention of other individuals so easily while women have a hard time to do the same. She also suggests that being a man is comedic because she describes it as the only thing that she must learn to do is to obtain another person’s attention.
• From the rest of the essay she suggests that men are not overwhelmingly intelligent. They don’t lead the conversations and are rude and focused on only what they want not other’s needs.

2. Ehrenreich contrasts “being tough” and “being ladylike.” What are the attitudes and behaviors

that she associates with these opposing ways of being?

• She describes being tough as a masculine trait. Being tough is something that is frowned upon when women display the trait. “Being ladylike” is a trait that is instilled into women at an early age. Women are taught to respond to uncomfortable settings this way to ensure that other individuals, especially men, do not become offended with the woman’s response.

3. According to Ehrenreich, why are women reluctant to exert power?

• Women are reluctant to exert power because they do not want to appear conseeded. They are much more likely to contribute their success to the situation rather than themselves.

4. Why do you think Ehrenreich shares the story of her encounter with the “prestigious

professor” in paragraph 3?

• Ehrenreich shares the story of her professor because even a feminist such as herself was encouraged and participated in “being ladylike” to spare a man’s pride or honor.

5. Why do you think she “reruns” the scene with the professor to conclude her essay?  What does

the “do-over” or mulligan allow her to accomplish?

• Ehrenreich “reruns” the scene with her professor because she wants to express how she has changed. If a situation is awkward and hard for a woman it should not be up to her to “protect” the man in the situation.