Chapter Three - Blog Post 4

Gendered Lives, The Rhetorical Shaping of Gender: Women's Movements in the United States

The most thought provoking thing about this chapter was the action it made me take. I went to the website for the National Organization for Women and joined. It's really easy and I'm excited to see what I get.

The most entertaining is the Media Hall of Shame it's ridiculous and amusing to watch the people who write for NOW take a good look at ads or entertainment and analyze what it says about gender. They really say it well. Watching a few clips from the show will show how bad it can be. If I can appreciate the humor in Mrs. Doubtfire but now I feel like I need to go rewatch it.

Side note: loved the quote on page 89 that quoted Abra Chernik about eating disorders "Gazing in the mirror at my emaciated body, I observed a woman held up by her culture as the physical ideal because she was starving, self-obsessed and powerless, a woman called beautiful because she threatened no one excepted herself"

I don't believe this is the intent of society to make everyone one strive to be the 'weakest' so that power is easier to get or that there is some conspiracy the likes of Josie and the Pussycats but I think a good point is made about eating disorders and what they do to the human body.

Chapter 2 - Blog Post 3

Gendered Lives, Chapter Two: Theoretical Approaches to Gender Development

I took a psychology course in college and we talked about nature/nurture, "The debate centers on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development" (http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/nature-nurture.html)

I think this concept should have been addressed more in the chapter. While breaking from 'tradition' is still the exception its quickly becoming more and more common to see people of all ages creating their own value system and identities.

We can't blame how we were raised for how we are, at least in totality. I personally feel like a self-contradiction. My mom is conservative and my dad is very liberal. How they are still married you may ask, :) you'll have to ask them. It's been great for me to question myself and the world around me but it has complicated my life.

There is so much I could say, but I feel like that is the most important thing I can add to this chapter is that we have to look at all the studies of genetic predisposition and environment before placing 'blame' or 'credit' to they way we are.

Chapter One - Blog Post 2

Gendered Lives, Chapter One: The Study of Communication, Gender and Culture

I was most struck by Sean's insert on page 28 where he talks about Meagan who nearly killed herself because she didn't think she could live any longer as a girl. It made me wonder why people, who feel like they were "born in the wrong body" as Isis (the frequently mentioned trangendered America's Next Top Model Contestant) put is, why they feel the need to change their physical appearance. Isn't that just another adjustment to the cultural norm?

Out of curiosity, if we were in a world where differences weren't an issue. If we weren't held to the stereotypes of our physical bodies would our bodies become complete objects of expression. If sexuality wasn't assumed (as much as it is) would physical appearance be subjective even to the day, making the appearance of sex as diverse as gender. Would someone of a contradicting sex/gender be able to decide wake up every morning and choose where they wanted to wear a dress or a tux that night and have no social constraint? Would elective sex change surgery be more similar to plastic surgery and just based on style? Would the woman look be in one year and the male look be in the next? Hopefully a world like this would make people feel equal and the suicide rate based on sexuality and gender identification would be eradicated but there will be lots of complications along the way to getting there.

Introduction - Blog Post 1

No one ever really knows how to start these. It's like a facebook post or a tweet. Most want to say something funny or interesting to attract or retain attention, some avoid posting their thoughts because they are bothered by comments and some are so focused on doing it 'right' that they never put their voice out there. When it comes to media I fall firmly in the last category. I am familiar with and have a facebook page, a twitter account, several email addresses and I'm even on LinkedIN but only use them out of necessity. I prefer to observe on facebook, pinterest and stumbleupon but a blog is something new. I never wanted a blog because I know that it only consists of what I put on it but the requirements of college that are ever changing are forcing me to create, post and comment on blogs so it will be done.

I wonder how having a blog and reading what other people think on their own blogs is going to affect the dynamic in the classroom, whether we are going to more quickly find friends and people to connect with or be more cautious not knowing whether anyone has read your latest post. So with that aside here is my basic bio which I am sure everyone is looking for anyway.

Name: Sara Condie
Age: 21
Major: Speech Communication/Human Resources
Interests: Snowboarding, Movies, DIY websites, Parties, Card Games, Sushi, Trying new things, Doing things I'm bad at, Creating traditions, Making memories, Taking pictures and then deleting them, Spanish accents, Sleeping in, Ska music and Bubble baths

Contact Info:
jasara2000@msn.com
sara.condie@aggiemail.usu.edu
Yelling my name loudly in the business building or South Walmart (where I work)