Mergers and jumpy accountholders....

So in finance class this week, we were asked to discuss which current mergers of publicly traded companies were of interest to us. I mentioned the merger and acquisition of Wachovia bank by Wells Fargo Bank, and one of classmates mentioned the merger and acquisition of her bank by Citigroup and some of the policies that they're already implementing that have a negative impact on accountholders of that bank. I mentioned that banks will also be imposing fees on customers for transactions such as transfer of funds from one account to another (and in some case, the fees would be doubled). This is enough to make investors very nervous and somewhat frustrated, as many are feeling the strain of unemployment and underemployment and a failing economy. The banks' excuses are that they have to recoup losses as a result of these very factors, so it seems that they're blaming the accountholders for the failing economy.

In feminism, we're still discussing sexual terrorism with regard to women's fear and men's intimidation and efforts to control female sexuality. Rape is one such way some men feel that they can control women's sexuality; by forcing a woman to submit to his will, a man takes away her voice and her control. By physically abusing a woman, a man asserts his distorted view of what it means to be a man or to be in control. Until men learn to see women as deserving of respect and treated fairly, this type of thinking and behavior will continue to permeate male/female relationships.