Marked or Unmarked?

Currently in society, it's apparent that women experience what it's like being under the watchful eyes of others every day. This is highlighted in Tannen's essay "There Is No Unmarked Woman", where Tannen argues that every single woman is subjected to judgement from society. No matter the decision a woman makes, there will be assumptions made about her. However, Tannen, a woman herself, starts her piece by analyzing her fellow coworkers' clothing. Instead of attacking men, Tannen herself admits to the entirety of the population marking women- including themselves. Perhaps this is why women feel the need to wake up hours early in the morning just to please others: because they are both on the receiving and the giving end. They themselves mark others and they themselves are marked. By considering society's thoughts, women are subjecting themselves to th
eir own judgement. Whatever judgements they make about other women's clothing choices and eating habits apply to themselves when they make decisions.

While it's easier said than done, I believe woman have the ability to decide whether or not they are marked or not. Instead of focusing on the mass opinion, women who focus on themselves make the decision to be unmarked in their own minds. Who cares what others think of you when all that matters is you. You wear what you want for you, you eat what you want for you. Imagine experiencing the joy of doing whatever makes you happy instead of what will garner the least criticism from society. There are very few of this type of person in today's society and I think many of us wish we could be just as fearless and carefree. I, for one, know I would enjoy making decisions without others' thoughts influencing me.