Gender neutral children

The story of Sasha being raised as a gender neutral child is quite interesting. Saha's parents from the time even before Sasha had been born decided they were going to raise their child gender neutral. Obviously, this is far from the norm and expectations of society. Bringing up Sasha as gender neutral alienated Sasha's parents more than it has alienated Sasha. Sasha's mother mentions how the people at their newborn classes thought of her as looney and would not give her the time of day. However, Sasha, although only 5, has received no criticism at all from her schoolmates despite wearing the female uniform. The most intriguing factor of the article is that Sasha is aware he is a male. The article does not go into great detail, but it would be interested to find out about Saha's take on the whole thing. Another interesting factor is Sasha's parents had made the decision to raise the child gender neutral for the benefits of the freedom from stereotypes, but admittedly, they are unsure of the future affects.‘It’s hard to say whether being raised gender-neutral will have any immediate or long-term psychological consequences for a child, purely because to date there is little research examining this topic,’ said Dr Daragh McDermott. Despite this, Saha's parents are confident of the benefits of being raised gender neutral can have. 

Storm's story, which has quite a bit less detail, has received great criticism. Directly from the article, Dr Harold Koplewicz, a U.S. child psychiatrist, said he was ‘disturbed’ that well-meaning parents could be so misguided.‘When children are born, they’re not a blank slate,’ he said. ‘We do have male brains and female brains. There’s a reason why boys do more rough and tumble play; there’s a reason why girls have better language development skills.’ The fact that doctor Koplewicz sees such a clear, distinct, and undeniable difference between men and women is obvious. The doctor even states the parents are misguided. The doctor's disapproval is clearly evident. 

Despite this one doctor's opinion, according to the US News and World report, experts say gender-neutral parenting encourages kids to learn and develop with more choices and fewer limitations – to feel comfortable expressing themselves without being held back by what boys or girls “should” or “shouldn’t” do. Clealry, "experts" opinion's do vary.

Overall, as the article mentions, parents are certainly not the only factor in raising a child gender neutral. There are countless other factors such as peers and media. So, raising a child gender neutral certainly has challenges. From my experience, my gender has played an incredibly large role in my life. Having 3 brothers, I was always told to "man up" and "act like a man". Being raised in that manner certainly had its benefits. I grew tough skin and learned many admirable traits such as making the best of a situation, and not pitying myself. On the other hand, this upbringing constricted me. I certainly was not as free as Sasha to make everyday choices. It is extremely difficult to say whether being raised gender neutral is a good thing. As stated prior, expert opinion's on the matter differ. There are certainly benefits to this practice, but I do find it a bit unnatural. Instead, we should urge our children to choose for themselves and explain to them from an early age how society often dictates our roles based off gender. That would be the ultimate. 

Modern Families and Modern Money Worries

The article "Modern Families and Modern Money Worries" begins by discussing how the families of the rich and poor are constructed in many different ways such as multiracial, single parent, multigenerational etc. But, the financial advice received by these diverse family constructs are all based off "traditional families". However, even though this advice can be somewhat useful, the needs of these different family structures differ.

The article explores Arnold Jenkins who is newly single father who was a former workaholic. He explains how changes in his life such as daycare expenses, diet and more have placed a financial burden on him. He worries if something were to happen to him, if his daughter would be able to be financially stable. The advice John Diel gives single parents is to focus on budgeting and benefits, which is in their control. Another man, Rylan Leese, explains how his mother was fiscally irresponsible, which lead to his financial difficulties, but was able to overcome these difficulties with the assistance of his wife and wife's father.

 Blended families also create issues for people. In blended families, the concern is often what's mine and what's ours. This issue is exacerbated when the will needs to be drawn up, and the family must decide what children receive the lion's share. One woman, Katherine Mitchell, met a her second husband who was a generous man and they were able to come to a mutual agreement on how to support Katherine's autistic son later in life.

Same sex families also create issues. Although the recent supreme court decision has relieved issues such as tax and healthcare, the issue of other family members not supporting the marriage is still present.

Multi generational families also carry financial burdens. One man whom was an avid golfer had to give up his hobby when he was given custody of his grandchild. Many other tax complications arrived from his new responsibility causing him to rethink his finances.

Tragedies and Solidarity

Unfortunately, tragedy has become all to normal in the society we live in. Each tragedy, whatever magnitude, calls for action. It calls for individuals to act in solidarity and pay tribute to all whom were harmed or killed. The tragedies in Beirut, Syria, and France are all devastating to me. No one possesses the power to take another's life. It is heart-wrenching each time a tragedy of any sort occurs, and I hope for nothing but peace going forward.

However, with all of this said, not every tragedy is equal to all people, right or wrong. This is a basic human instinct, and this is to blame for so many people showing more solidarity towards France then other countries. I will list examples of the mindset I am discussing.

1. Why are people more hurt when a family member dies than an outsider. Seemingly it should be just as tragic. But, as anyone who experienced the loss of a family member has witnessed, it is far more painful, than a stranger dyeing. For whatever reasons, it hits much closer to home.

2. Why do people feel more remorse when someone dies in a car accident, then a heroine overdose. In both instances, someone dies, but in the accident, people feel it was less the own persons doing. Therefore, many people feel more justified in being more remorseful towards the accident victim. 

3. Recently there have been many shootings in the US, and not nearly the support as shown for France. Why could this be? Likely, it is the fact then in the recent US shootings, it has been Americans shooting Americans. An inside job, a problem that stems from here and effects here. On the other hand, it is an outside job. An outsider coming in and creating havoc. There is something more unsettling when the problem stems from far away and is brought to the scene of the crime. 

Overall, the message I'm trying to convey is that not everyone sees every tragedy as equal. What happened in Beirut and Syria is sickening, but different from whats happening in France. France has a very similar culture, political system, ideals, and laws as the US does. An attack on France feels like an attack on the US. Most Americans had the same thought, if it happened to them, it could happen house. The French are more relatable. to Americans. The attack on France shook Americans, not because the French are privileged and a large majority white, but it felt like a personal attack. 

I am not saying that the outpouring to France is right or wrong, what I am saying is that the tragedies are different. No two events are the same. Right or wrong, the attack on France felt like an attack on America and freedom in general to many people. Should we show more support to others, ABSOLUTELY. But, showing solidarity for one, does not mean a lack of sympathy for another. Therein lays the issue people are failing to understand. Just as a family member dyeing FEELS more tragic than a stranger, the attack on France felt like an attack on America. Does media have an affect on this, yes. Does privilege have an affect, yes. But, everyone is free to support who they want, when they want, for whatever reason they want. 

Reality Television

Reality television could not be a more misleading title. Truthfully reality television is absolutely surreal. People are thrusted into manipulated environments that are extremely conducive two drama. In addition, producers skillfully select who would fit well together and create the most interesting situation. For example, The Real World is well known for casting very similar people for roles each year. Furthermore, the people in the show are well aware they are in a show. The fact they are ware they are entertainment causes people to act in ways they would not normally.

The show I chose to watch was the infamous Jersey Shore. In this reality show, strangers are placed into a shore house for a summer. The show features outrageous people who go through the entire range of emotions in one summer. The character I find to be the most interesting is Mike "The Situation".

The Situation is one of the most animated people on the planet. He constantly has one thought in his head, women. Throughout the one show, Mike has sex with several women, hooks up with more, and makes insensitive comments throughout. Mike is the typical alpha male. Rarely does he have a shirt on in the house, and outside of the house for that matter. Further, Mike enjoys insinuating drama in the house. In this episode, Mike tells Snooki inside information concerning the guy she is hooking up with. This information sets Snooki off. This makes Mike extremely pleased. Overall, Mike is a loud, obnoxious and stereotypical man who loves himself. Unfortunately  all of the males on the show are basically portrayed similarly. 

Here is a prime example of Mike being chauvinistic.  He is so concerned with women it is ridiculous. He prides on himself on his ability to pick up women stating he is so smooth. His obsession with women was extremely evident throughout the entire episode. 

Here is another example of Mike's obsession with women. However, not only does he state he is going to "bang" a girl, but this time he specifies a women that is taken. Again, Mike has no issue blatantly stating how interested he is in having sex with women.

Here is the most egregious example of Mike's attitude on the show. He uses the word pimp to describe himself. Moreover, not only himself, but his relatives. He believes that "pimping" running in the family is something to be proud of. The most obnoxious part is how he calls his obsession with women a business. Like it is his job. This example basically sums up Mike "The Situation".

Perpetuating Online Sexism Offline Summary

The article begins by discussing how the internet is filled with hostility, especially towards women. This often takes the form of a hostile environment caused by sexist jokes which further perpetuates the issue of sexism.

The author discusses how hashtags have had a major influence on sexism on social media. Although some with positive messages, most hashtags related to sexism were derogatory towards women. Since Twitter is an anonymous site, the author explores the role anonymity plays is online sexism. The factors of the study the author explores are invisibility, a synchronicity, minimization of authority, dissociative anonymity, and solipsistic introjection. The author demonstrates how a study showed people were much more likley to be hostile, on many different platforms, if they were anonymous.
The author explains how he is conducting an experiment concerning online sexism. For this experiment there are many variables such as male or female, whether the person is anonymous or not, and whether the user is the original tweeter or retweeter. The test was 3-parts, concerning different theories within online sexism.

The results of the test were significant factors being sex, anonymity, and level of interactivity. The results also showed online sexism is pervasive, and effects offline sexism. The author also mentions the inherent limitations of the approach.

Social Networks

Prior to this blog topic, I never truly concerned myself with the images people presented on Facebook. I took a much more face value approach and never thought much into the motive or reasoning for what people posted. However, once I began to think about it, I cam to some interesting conclusions.

In life in general, people desire to portray themselves in some sort of way. Whether they are able to achieve this objective depends on a great deal of factors. What makes it difficult for people to achieve their desired images is real life interaction. Not only the words we use, but how we say them, mannerisms etc. People may desire to have this tough exterior, but being mean is extremely challenging if someone is not truly cold-hearted. People may wish to seem kind and generous, but if they are not so altruistic, their actions may come across as more selfish than selfless, and in their own best interest. However, social media can overcome this issue, as it is still somewhat genuine, but still detached from real life.

People on Facebook undoubtedly portray themselves in the way they desire to be seen by others. I have noticed people who tend to be portray themselves as tougher post videos of fighting, trash talking, and things of that nature. People who wish to be seen as caring post videos of babies, humans of New York, and other sensible items. There are very few overlaps between people who attempt to categorize themselves. By this I mean rarely do the people who post school fights share a buzz feed article. As far as gendering, I have not notice a trend between gender and types of profiles. The connection between the way people wish to be seen and their profile pictures have much greater correlation.

The best indicator to me for my theory of self-representation is my own Facebook page. As I think back on many items I've posted and shared, they certainly have been aimed at representing myself in a certain way. For example, even if I read a political article I like, or see a political video and find it fascinating, I won't post it. I have no desire to express my political views in such an open forum. In general, I like to hold my cards to my chest as much as possible, as I feel divulging information can often expose weaknesses. So, on Facebook, I will only post something I feel will not open me up to negative ramifications,but rather portray the view of myself I desire. 

Overall, I do believe Facebook serves as a virtual personality, but does not summarize the people they represent. Facebook is a constructed image, one that the user can concoct over time, as opposed to real life where a response is immediate. This time lag allows people to present themselves in they way they desire, not the way they really are. 

To See and Be Seen Summary

In the article "To See and be Seen: Celebrity Practice on Twitter", the author investigates the ever changing landscape of how celebrities interact with the commoners. In less recent times, the understanding and perception of celebrities was mediated through publicists and managers, but in recent times, celebrities can now interact more personally with their audiences through outlets such as Twitter. Since mainstream culture is clearly affected by these celebrities, they now have a more direct effect on culture, a less scripted and censored effect. 

Interestingly, the author refrains from calling celebrities, celebrities. Instead the phrase "celebrity practitioners" is used. This is because the author believes being a celebrity is a practice, and therefore should not be used as a noun. 

Twitter is a social media outlet, which allows celebrities to interact with their followers in a limited amount characters. However, Twitter does not cease the interaction there. What makes Twitter such an appealing platform is the ability for the everyday person to respond to these celebrities. Either through a direct message, or a reply tweet. This creates an intimate feeling, one that facilitates a two way relationship, instead of one way street. This is where the power of twitter lays, according to the author. 

Moreover, Twitter creates a feeling of a first person experience, as opposed to a filtered, less genuine experience. This leads to a perception that one truly has an insight into the celebrities world, through a picture or phrase. Overall, the author argues this somewhat direct interaction is widening the power differential between fans and their audiences. This new dichotomy Twitter has created has undoubtedly changed the relationship between celebrities and everyone else. 

Summary of "Rich Bitch" chapter 16

The article "Rich Bitch"examines how in reality television shows, especially in the Real Housewives shows,women are shown as objects of interest and fascination. The author explores the portrayal of rich women as opposed to rich men.  The woman are shown as materialistic, fiscally irresponsible, fake, backstabbing and careless for the children.The men are not portrayed in this way. The author argues this materialistic, glamorized view of women is attractive to the impressionable female viewers.

One of the main issues the author focuses on is how the women defer their mothering roles to paid caretakers. Even though these women are "deemed" to be housewives, by no sense of the meaning are they truly. An interesting aspect to the show is how each of the women whom the show focuses on have children, except for one. This women regrets not having a child and feels as though she is deprived in some way. This is an interesting reality considering the other women who have children and show very little interest in them

The issues with these shows is the false expectations they create for their viewers. These women are considered to be working mothers although they work very little. They also experience great wealth even though their work ethic is questionable. Despite the name reality television, these women's lives are surreal. Their lavish upper-class lives create false expectations and role models that are more like runway models than role models.

Gendered packages

There is no hiding the fact that packaging in toy stores, and any retail store for that matter are gendered. The packaging of items targeting females are pink and glittery. The packages targeting males tend to be darker colors such as blue or navy green. This phenomena is interesting, and can be used to delve deeper into gender roles. 

The video of Riley in the toy store is revealing. Even as a child not even 5 years old in appearance is able to comprehend the gendered packaging. She wonders why the "girly" stuff is pink and princessy, while the male items are superheores and blue. Riley's explanation of this is quite primitive, as she is a child. She states the companies make the toys those colors to trick the guys into liking the blue superhero items, and girls into the pink Princess items. However, it is not quite so simple.

Obviously, the companies whom make these toys are in the business of earning profit, not gendering toys or tricking children. So, as a opposed to tricking children, the companies believe they maximize their chance of having an item selected by a man in blue packaging, and a female in pink packaging. This is exceedingly telling in itself. The fact that companies who have researched these objectives can quantifiably state that the packaging of items in this way is successful. The real issue is that children whom are male favor the male targeting items, and vice versa for females. As opposed to tricking children, the companies are catering to the children's desires. 

An item which we have discussed multiple times, Barbie is a good example. 

This Barbie package exudes gendered packaging. The pink package with light yellows, and some light blues. Overall, those three colors make up the vast majority of Barbie packages. These colors are intended to grab the attention of young girls who desire to meet the cultural norms for women, either consciously or not.

Packaging of the G.I. Joe varies greatly.

The GI Joe, an item intended for men, varies greatly form Barbie in terms of packaging. The GI Joe has a black background. The caricature pictured has facial hair, weapons, and a gun in order to look tough. This is a typical package targeting males.

Overall, as opposed to Riley who felt the companies were tricking kids, I think of it as a two way street. The companies target the males with these types of packages, which leads the children to identify with "their" gendered packages and in turn leads to them desiring these styles. It is the unfortunate cycle of gender roles that needs to be broken.

Sexuality, Gender, and the armed forces

My grandfather served in the armed forces during the Korean War. Unfortunately, he died when I was very young, so I was unable to pick his brains on the matter. Realistically, he did not like talking about those years anyway. The only comment he would mention was that war was a terrible,terrible time for all those involved. When he said all those involved, this went past soldiers. He meant everyone, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, and many more. 

In fact, sometimes it can be more difficult for those not involved, although obviously those involved face severe challenges. The difference being the fact that the possible outcomes are completely out of their control. On a day that the soldiers are not active, the family members have no idea, and feel just as nervous as a day when their loved one is in action. This lack of control burdens many people every day.

Being a military wife and military husband differs greatly. Firstly, in a way similar to the nuclear family, it is exceedingly difficult for men to play the "house keeping" role. There is an almost emasculating factor, of "letting your wife do the fighting". On the other hand, it is still extremely difficult on women. They must attempt to stay strong in the absence of the male, in the most dyer times. Overall, it is more similar than different. Military husbands and wives still face the unbelievable challenge of living their life, while your loved ones could potentially lose their's.

The military has always been a forefront for social change. The civil rights movement took a strong foothold when Truman desegregated the troops. A similar struggle takes place daily with homosexuals and females. Currently, the "Don't ask, Don't tell" system is in affect. For a multitude of reasons, this is ineffective and a cowardly attempt at equality. There are arguments, some more valid then others, against active duty homosexuals, but truthfully, a soldier is a soldier. Anyone should be able to defend their country.

Active duty females also face challenges. Many are assaulted by their male counterparts and discriminated against for their sexuality. Men often do not wish to fight alongside woman, although most do not abstain to other involvement. Once again, there are many arguments, some valid and some not. Again, if women are capable and willing, they should be allowed to participate in any capacity.

The depiction of military men, and women differs in the media. One specific TV show, "The Last Ship" involves both genders. The women are overall shown as struggling to be "manly". They often fight the showing of emotion and are in a constant battle for respect, while men seem to be inherently respected. One large issue on the show is the fact that one soldier impregnates the female soldier. The ship is somewhat compromised by their situation and this is a real issue. Overall, I am impressed by the depiction of the females. They are tough and often the heroine of the battles. However, it is the men who do the "heavy lifting".

As stated earlier, the armed forces have always been at the forefront of social issues. Generally, a group begins to gain traction in their battle for equality, and then the fight moves on to the armed forces. I expect this battle to be be no different, and homosexuals and women willing and able to battle will gain that right.

The Birth of Puzzy Riot

Summary

There are two momentous dates for the Russian Band "Pussy Riot'. One being Feb. 21, 2012 when they performed a controversial concert protesting Putin. The other is Dec. 23 when two members whom were jailed for their performances were released. The girls in earlier years pursued different ways to challenge the status quo. One idea was to kill the "militia" or "police" with kindness, through kisses. This was certainly an attempt to combat the mayor's feeling that "Russia does not need gays". Unfortunately russia had no history of cultural feminism, so the girls had to make it up.

When giving the opportunity to speak at a conference for Russian opposition groups, the girls took full advantage. They began by introducing various movements that had taken place in other, more progressive areas. In the 1920's the USSR actually began becoming more progressive in several aspects, but this was shut down in the 1930's.

In a major statement, the girls turned the song "Kill The Sexist" on, an example of "Pisya Riot". However, being a fictional group limited the ladies. So, the girls raised their sights to bigger objectives.
the girls took up instruments, and created costumes with a strong intentional message. The girls would publicly perform on top of metros, and other structures, which lead to the birth of "Pussy Riot".

Supersexualize Me! Summary

The article begins by discussing how the objectification of women in advertising is connected to violence again women. Furthermore, the current trend is active sex objects as opposed to passive. The cause of this trend are issues that emerged for advertisers in the 1990's, eventually leading to 'commodity feminism'. 'Commodity feminism' is, "an attempt to incorporate the cultural power of energy and feminism while simultaneously domesticating its critique of of advertising and the media". The author dedicates the rest of the chapter to the contemporary shift of sexual representation of women.

The contemporary women is the women who knows her sexual power and deliberately toys with this power, but is always 'up for it'. This is evidenced by the use of the midriff. The midriff has taken on a sexual meaning of recent and is a platform for sexual expression.

"Midriff advertising has four central themes: an emphasis on the body, a shift from objectification to sexual subjectification, a pronounced discourse of choice and autonomy, and an emphasis upon empowerment". Furthermore, women's body's have become their primary attribute and main focus of advertising, being used actively as a form of advertising called sexual subjectification. The 'this is just for me advertising' has taken on extreme popularity. Overall, the ads have an empowering feel to women with slim bodies.

However, this form of entitlement is not positive for post-feminism and is difficult to critique. For example, it excludes a wide array of women from this "empowerment". This gives many women anxiety who don't have this sexual power. Furthermore, these ideas of power through sexuality creates an image as though women have equal or greater power, but in all the wrong ways.  Lastly, midriff advertising shifts the way power operates from external to an internal satisfaction. A more sophisticated and different form of exploitation. There is a constant struggle between the ideals of feminism and averting.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was truly a quite extraordinary women. She excelled in many aspects, but unbeknownst to most people Marilyn was also quite bright. She boasted an IQ over 160, was a successful producer, and a proficient writer. She also held very bright company and could hold her own in their presence. Despite this, she was viewed as a ditz. Marilyn believes this was simply the perception by the pubic, but she didn't do much to oppose this perception. In her profession, she was constantly behind the camera and traditionally played the bubbly role. Overall, it seems likely Marilyn was perceived this way because she played the role the people desired. Men were not interested in her intelligence and saw what they desired. It was also an effort of Marilyn and her entourage to make her appear in the way the audience desired. 

Another celebrity who plays a dumbed down role for the purpose of their image is the rapper 2 Chainz. 2 Chainz raps on a very slow rhyme scheme and employs lyrics which are very basic. They are often funny due to their simplicity and ridiculousness. 2 Chainz is a "bitches and hoes" rapper and does not portray himself as being the most clever, but in reality, he is quite intelligent. It was one time rumored that 2 Chainz was a student athlete, 4.0 student, and graduated in 3 years. However, only some of this is true. 2 Chainz was a student athlete, and did attend college, but did not graduate in 3 years or maintain a 4.0 GPA. Furthermore, 2 Chains made a splash when he schooled Nancy Grace in a debate over legalizing marijuana on her TV show. Similar to Marilyn, 2 Chainz dumbs down his lyrics in an effort to produce music people desire. Most fans of the genre 2 Chains is involved in desire simple music with catchy lyrics. They are not looking for overcomplicated intellectual lyrics. In many ways, Marilyn and 2 Chainz are similar. 

via https://www.quora.com/Did-2-Chainz-really-graduate-college-with-a-4-0-GPA

Girl Rising

The movie "Girl Rising" narrates the story of 9 incredible women who faced unbelievable adversity, but are able to overcome their challenges through perseverance. Each girl is incredible in their own way and are a testament to the human spirit. However, there were 2 girls who left a lasting impact on me personally.

The first of these women was Yasmin from Egypt. This story was near and dear to me as I have family from and living in Egypt. Under the rule of Mubarak,who was removed just recently, Egypt has become in an incredibly devastated area. The leadership from the top to the bottom is incredibly corrupt and unjust. Rates of sexual assault are outrageous and many measures of harassment and sexual violence is far greater than 50%. Egyptian women are discriminated against and treated as though they are not even human. Yasmin is an incredible girl who has faced these challenges firsthand, being assaulted by a man. Despite these difficulties, Yasmin has an incredible spirit and strives to gain the education necessary to make the changes she desires for the women of Egypt. Unfortunately, Yasmin's dream may never become a reality. With the incredible corruption and inequality, it is exceedingly difficult to attain the education Yasmin seeks, but if anyone can, it is Yasmin.

The other girl which left an especially lasting impact on me was Ruksana from Calcutta. Ruksana's family lives on the side of a very busy highway, but you would never from the way her and her family act. They are an incredibly cheerful and gracious family. Ruksana is one of the most cheerful and spirited girls I have ever seen. She is an incredibly talented artist who draws her experiences of everyday life. Ruksana's father is also an incredible individual who has dedicated his life to supporting his family by whatever means necessary. Ruksana is a very bright young lady and is currently receiving  an education in hopes of bettering their situation. Despite the numerous challenges Ruksana faces, her future is bright.

Despite the numerous challenges both of these young women face, it is Yasmin who has a much more uphill battle. The nature of Egypt is not in her favor. Women are treated so poorly and education is much more difficult to attain. In addition, Ruksana's family is incredibly supportive. Her father is the ideal head of the household who will go to any lengths for his family. He has even stated he has no intentions of marrying his daughters off young. On the other hand, Yasmin's tale is not as bright. She has not made the strides Ruksana has in education, and faces potential challenges with being sold into marriage. Undoubtedly, both are incredible women.

Quite contrastingly to the stories of these two women are the lives of American girls in terms of education. In this country, women are not only expected to be educated, but exceed in education. In general, young women are more successful then males in schooling and now make up the majority of population of higher education. With acts such as Title 9, women's rights to education are a primary focus of society. These movement have been incredibly successful and men are now slacking in the area unfortunately.

Is our language gendered

The word resting bitch faced is certainly a gendered word. This is evidenced by the definition on Urban dictionary beginning with a person, usually a girl. The expression is rooted in the word which although is defined, as a female dog, is commonly used to refer to woman with a bad attitude. The term "resting bitch face" is used exclusively for women, so I found it a bit surprising the definition did not explicitly say a woman. In practice, I have never heard the phrase used towards a man. This is certainly a prime example of a gendered phrase. 

A very interesting word for the purpose of studying gendered language is slut. This is defined as a woman with the morals of a man. Firstly, it blatantly addresses woman in the definition, but more interestingly, it states the derogatory word slut, and compares it to the morals of men. This means that the negative association with slut for a girl, is not negative to a man, but is simply the norm. Therefore, all men are sluts. In addition, since this derogatory term is understand as having the morals of a man, then men must all be promiscuous and cannot have positive morals. This word is a very interesting example of a gendered term.

The term fun-sized also has the term girl in it's definition. In my opinion this is because the ideal woman is supposed to be fun-sized so it is associated with women. On the otherhand, the ideal man is supposed to be large and bulky. Therefore, they do not fit the fun-sized mold. Realistically guys are short just as often as girls are, so it makes no sense this word is gendered. 

Another term that is gendered is the word gangster. The word refers to a person involved with gang activity, but it is only used to refer to men. It is true more men are involved wit this type of activity, but it is not unheard of for a women to be involved. Again, I believe this has to do with the tough persona of men as opposed to the gentile nature imposed upon women. Men are associated with gang like attributes, but women are not. These words highlight that our language is quite gendered. 

Ch 14 - Hetero Barbie?

The chapter starts out by discussing how lives of heterosexual females becomes reliant on their relationship with boys at a very young age. At this young age they feel pressure to fit the mold of the "ideal women" through their features and characteristics. A prime example of the "ideal women" is the Barbie doll. The Barbie doll is glorified, however, the doll is not married and has no kids. With this being the case, why would a women that is different from so many other women be considered the "ideal woman"? This confusion leads to a multitude of interpretations.

The author specifies one interpretation as Barbie being not a woman, but a man in drag. This is evidenced by her manly features and assortment of makeup.These characteristics speaked the interest of homosexual men.  Furthermore, Barbies life is free of heterosexual norms, making the toy inciting to those who do no fit the heterosexual mold. These facts have lead to Barbie being constructed to fit many different molds. In fact, Rupaul has her own version of the Barbie doll which is part of a larger collection. The author then brings normative jobs into the occasion. Normative jobs are jobs which are expected to be a certain gender such as a soldier for men, and dancer for girls. Osborne, the owner of the Barbie collection, discusses how Matel can use Barbie to influence society in the way they desire. This can have a profound impact on the perception sexual identity.

The white mans's burden summary

The article begins by discussing how porn featuring a black male and white female is extremely popular currently. He argues, "if pornography is pleasurable because it sexualizes inequality between mean and women" there is no better way to do so then with a black man and white female.

Furthermore, pornography has become much more extreme and the furthest degree of this is gonzo porn. This makes it is impossible to deny the relationship between porn, masculinity, and the degradation of women. In addition, the author argues "hegemonic masculinity is unproblematically coded as white". That white masculinity is like the role of a 'nuclear' father, where black men don't meet these standards. So, what is so attractive about interracial porn?

In fact, this promotion of IP, namely black males in porn, emasculates the white male. Strangely enough, the black penis becomes the star of the show. This IP is also the preference of gay whites, and both gay and straight prefer a working class black man. The author argues this preference is deeply rooted in hegemonic ideologies of race in America.

So, why is it white men allow themselves to be demasculinized through IP? The author argues it is similar to minstrel shows, where performances were cruder and exaggerated. The author concludes the IP serves as a peephole for whites to experience black sex life.

Nuclear family v. modern family

The 'nuclear' family is composed of a mother and father of the same race, was well as children whom take typical gender roles. The father is the bread winner of the family. He works a 9 to 5 and responsible for paying the bills and that is basically the extent of his role. On the other hand, the mother is the caretaker of the family responsible for caring for the home and children. The mother is expected to have dinner on the table when the father returns home, as well as the dishes done etc. The nuclear family is composed of biological children, typically 2, who are well mannered and caring. The family is single income and generally the father is the disciplinarian. 

The modern family is much harder to tie down. Families could be composed of a mother and father, but also 2 mothers or 2 fathers or neither. The head of the house could be an aunt or uncle or grandfather. The children can be adopted or biological or a combination of both. The family could be interracial and interfaith. The mother and father's role is not as defined. Many families are duel income as well as single income, and unfortunately others are without income. The father is still somewhat viewed as the bread winner, but there is much more wiggle room. The mother can work, raise the kids, or most commonly, a combination of both. The idea of the idealized children is much lesser nowadays. Children are more free to express themselves in a way of their choosing. Often times, the mother and father, if that is the case, both take disciplinary roles. The modern family is mish mosh of possibilities. 

In comparison, the lack of similarity is obvious. Today's modern family has no blueprint or template, while the 'nuclear family' is based off a very specific and stringent qualifications. There is not much wiggle room in the 'nuclear family', roles are assigned and expected to be kept. The modern family is all over the place. The head of the household could be either parent, if there are even two. There really are no specific roles assigned, but happenstance decides what roles are taken and can change over time.The roles are not based off gender, but other factors. The family has evolved immensely over time. 

As mentioned above, it is still somewhat assumed that the father is supposed to be the bread winner in the family and the mother the caretaker although not nearly to the degree it was in the past. Furthermore, their is still a macho factor in leaving the house everyday and heading to the office as opposed to taking care of the kids. This makes it incredibly difficult for the father to transition roles after losing their job. Initially the father goes into a state of disappointment and slacks on his role, only natural with the helplessness feeling of financial instability. However, the father eventually takes on the caretaker role out of necessity as the wife assumes the bread winning role. In my opinion, it is less of gender roles in the family and more the macho factor which makes these situations difficult on fathers. 

There are Bitches and Hoes- Summary

The article begins by addressing the growing phenomenon of the pimp culture in pop culture today, beginning in the hip hop music genre, but now branching into other areas. Not only the pimp receives praise, but the hoe also is promoted. Clearly this praise is incredibly demeaning to women, but some choose too still defend this phenomena. The defense is that the artists are not mentioning all women, but just "Bitches and hoes", a ludicrous defense(pun intended). This glorification of the "street" lifestyle is leading many women down a path they do not desire, but are commercially attracted to.

What makes this challenge even greater for women, is those who speak out are alienated and almost seen as traitors. The defense platinum rappers often employ is the "personal experience" defense, even though all of them have had opportunities to leave their troubled lives behind and experience so many different viewpoints and people.

The combination of alienation and denial is exceedingly troublesome and the author even calls hip hop a "'bitches and hoes' factory,   encouraging girls and young women to play the limited roles assigned to them. Furthermore the roles have now become the "player" or the "one getting played" with nothing in between, and whichever role women are assigned they are demeaned for.

The author argues it is crucial for empowered women to be in charge of their own sexual imagery and to stop this justification of the "thug culture" It is also crucial to understand the roots of the sexist imagery and reduce their visibility in order to end them.

Music Videos Imagery and Lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqs7iXKc93Q-- "Spa Day" Le1f

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaSy8yy-mr8-- "Before he cheats"

More and more often in pop culture, artists challenge stereotypical gender roles in a variety of ways. One phenomenal song/video that challenges these roles is "spa day" by Le1f, an openly gay rapper. The first way Le1f challenges typical gender roles is through the music video. The first time he appears in the video he is wearing a pink robe and performing typically feminine acts such as rubbing himself and nibbling his fingers in very provocative ways. The background dancers in the video are also not typical. Although there are woman scarcely dressed, there are also men almost naked. Many of the woman are fierce looking, with tattoos and piercings although not all fit that description. This is similar for the men. There a men dressed in a stereotypical homosexual way, but also typically heterosexual ways with guys with gaudy jewelry and skull caps etc. The most intriguing part is how the video uses men and women dancing explicitly in an interchangeable way. As far as the lyrics, they also challenge gender roles. Obviously it is not typical for men to openly flaunt being attracted to men especially talking so openly which is often considered a heterosexual trait. Le1f uses lyrics such as "peep how your man wants to eat it like a kati roll", "I'm not a yoga master but he want to see my body fold", and "dudes just want to bring me home like the troops". Obviously, there aren'y many like Le1f. The most intriguing lyric is "now what you wanna do, and who you wanna do it with".  Shattering the stereotype that a man should be with a woman and vice versa. 

Another song that challenges gender roles in a much less explicit way is Carrie Underwood's "Before he cheats". As we discussed in class, women are perceived as innocent and pure, but no way Carrie Underwood is in this video/song. Throughout the song, Carrie looks beautiful as always, but certainly not dainty. She has fierce black makeup on and dark clothing. Her body can not be viewed at any time in the song. In one scene she has large dark glasses on, black gloves, and is carrying a baseball bat in manner making her look like she is about to do some damage. The song is about Carrie not standing on being cheated on, the opposite of submission. In return for her man's unfaithful acts, she destroys his vehicle. Smashing the windows and keying the car, a tough act undoubtedly. In addition to the video there are two awesome lines where Carrie takes shots at typical roles. Firstly, "Right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink 'cause she can't shoot whiskey". Carrie calls typically feminine drinks fruity and pokes fun at his other woman because she can't shoot whiskey. She turns around the stereotype and basically ostracizes the woman for not being "tough'. The other line is "Cause the next time he cheats oh, you know it won't be on me". Often women are portrayed as submissive to men even when they cheat, but Carrie is clearly not the "typical" woman.

Overall, both of these songs challenge typical gender roles in very contrasting ways. 

Chapter 7- Women read the Romance

The article begins by introducing the audience to Dot Evans, a specialist in the romance genre of literature, and the focus group, women whom employ Dot for information concerning these novels. The group is representative of the larger group whom read romantic style novels. The article goes on to discuss how these women enjoy the "escape" factor of these novels, but do not enjoy the more radical books within the genre that are often overwhelming. Moreover the women ideally enjoyed novels with one powerful women, and an emotional yet masculine man. The author argues, " the ideal romance may thus enable a woman to satisfy vicariously those psychological needs created in her by a patriarchal culture unable to fulfill them". Satisfying the needs she has, that the male figure in her life is unable to.

On the other hand, bad romance novels are categorized by abusive males and men whom are not faithful. The readers want to believe the male front is typical of men, but that the men in their life are not truly bad guys. Modelski labeled this "the mystery of male motives" and the women of Smithton enjoyed the books which placed these mystery motives in a positive light. Books with characteristics of bad romantic novels make the readers uneasy.

Overall, the motivation for reading these books is a, "longing caused by patriarchal marriage's failure to address all their needs" as opposed to a longing for a fairytale life.

I Tube, We all Tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfSDhYATLlw

-Type of guys: Hitting on woman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgVvswGSZPo

-If Men were Women

The first video titled "Type of guys: Hitting on woman" portrays a very typical picture of gender roles. In this clip, the man, who is somewhat unattractive walks up to the beautiful woman minding here business and begins hitting on her. The man uses variously manly techniques in attempt to woo this woman. He talks with an accent and slang, and even lies about himself having more money. He tries to be exceedingly smooth and portray himself being "cooler" than he his. The woman on the other hand is smart and beautiful and just acts like herself. She employs no gimmick to make herself look more attractive, and often calls the guys out for their antics. This is a typical video of the man trying to be macho and hit on women. The woman is the target of the man who tries everything in the book to attract the pretty female. The female simply sits and waits and allows the man to struggle for her. This video targets an audience of both men and women who enjoy the parody of a typical man pursuing a woman. It is effective in this portrayal of this traditional scene very common in today's pop culture.

The second video is titled "If Men Were Women" and portrays the exact opposite of traditional gender roles quite explicitly. The video runs through many situations and switches the role a typical man would play with that of a woman. Some examples of these situations are a party scene where the men have to wait for the women to walk the home. They believe they can take care of themselves, but must wait for the woman anyway. Another scene is two woman walking past a man and checking out his rear. They are quite obvious and make lewd gestures and comments towards the man making him uncomfortable. He shakes his head and continues on. My personal favorite scene is a small male child sitting in front of a poster of presidents whom are all female. He looks up in disappointment when he sees none of these presidents are male. He sighs and moves on. This video is basically the exact opposite of the other video. Traditionally the guys are the strong leaders, the hunters, but in this case they are the prey. The men are subjected to treatment typical of woman and the portrayal honestly is very accurate. This video is intended more towards female viewers as it is difficult for men too see what is often reality. It is clearly aimed to bring attention to the inequality of treatment between mean and women As a man, it was interesting seeing this reversal and felt it had merit.

Overall, very interesting contrast between the videos. The first video shows the typical man chasing a girl and striking out. A very common depiction in popular culture. The second video, the role reversal, showed an explicit swapping of gender roles and was quite accurate. The contrast in these two videos is stark, but both videos useful in studying gender roles.