Epiloge -- Blog Post 13

There are so many things that have changed about my perspective since reading this book, the biggest thing I have done is talk to a lot of people, I read a lot of it with my partner and his perspective was really great to hear. I also love the discussion in class. Its really interesting to hear more about what everyone thinks and I learn more about about issues I didn't even know existed.

Chapter Twelve -- Blog Post 13

This chapter was sad and frustrating. I didn't realize there were so many issues, you always think that there are problems but having them defined was good but also hard to hear. One of the hardest things was learning about 'bride burnings'. I HAD NO IDEA. It was crazy, I've heard about some awful things like being dragged through the streets and this thing where if women lose their virtue they are locked in a pitch black room and only fed through a slit in the door until they go insane from the lack of human contact. Awful things still happen in the world but I didn't understand why people would leverage lives like that.

Chapter Eleven -- Blog Post 12

I loved the part on page 264 where it talked about how this generation creates there own media, like blogs, video segments, facebook pages and so many other ways that youth can express themselves. I think it is really helpful to express myself like this to help me focus my own ideas and issues. If I have to write them out then I have to find my own opinions.

Reading this chapter has ruined television for me, now I watch the commercials and see how they are targeting gender ideas and how they are playing people into roles.

I liked the analysis of television shows like Sex and the City that are almost tricking people "portrayed women in progressive, unconventional ways, Sex and the City did show women aggressively going after what they wanted, but what did they want? Clothes, shoes, purses and men." pg 272
I think about the shows I watch and how even when they show people in lots of organizations and accepting how they are, but the biggest issue is helping young people find out who they are. They show a lot of teenagers struggling with this identity crisis but not a lot how they come to peace with it.

Chapter Ten - Blog Post 11

Mentoring Programs are killing me. I totally believe this, at work it seems like it's a boys club and people won't let women in. It reminds me of my little soap box about why women aren't funny. Female comedians don't do well unless they are more masculine. I feel like that's how it is at work, I can't get in unless I act more like a guy. I also feel like relationship status is a lot. When I was single I was a lot more well received by the other single men and maybe that's not fair but now that I'm in a committed relationship I am not longer spoken to by the guys I used to think were my friends. It feels so complicated. I feel very torn about mentoring programs. The people who give women and minorities opportunities need to be acknowledged. I especially like it when the book shows how successful programs can be.

Side Note: Love the term "Pink Collar" it's a great way to describe what I feel a lot of the time. My parents wanted me to go into education or the medical field, I still think they wonder why I'm a business major. I don't think they are trying to oppress me it's just what they are familiar with and what they think I would be successful with.

Chapter Nine - Blog Post 10

Ok Ok this was just hilarious for me. This chapter was all about the gender stereotypes that my partner and I totally kill. The whole time I was reading this chapter I was laughing and telling him. "Honey, you are so the girl!" haha. He didn't take offense, we just talked about how we both have such different gender roles.

Yeah we look pretty normal. He's Mr. Football and loves watching and playing sports, while I do the girl things, I love chick flicks, and scrap booking but when it comes to our gender roles we don't do everything 'right'. We find ourselves with different points of view but its how we talk through our problems that shows our we've switched roles. He can't operate when we are in a state of discontent, he'll do whatever it takes to talk about it, get it out in the open, deal with it and get over it. I hate talking while I'm emotional, I would rather avoid the conflict until I can confirm my position and talk about it with out being emotional.

On Page 210 Paige described to me exactly how Tate feels about me sometimes. It was so great for me to read about the other side. We have traditional problems but not for traditional reasons.

Ch 8 thoughts continued

Generic Maximum Heart Rate pg 198

This made me think of the Outspoken panel and how some people don't identify with gender or the concept of society separating people by physical attributes. I have had those frustrations with the way things are set up as well, but the statistics and generalities made are in large true applicable to me. I am not sure how to feel about what things are generalized and what are completely individual.

Chapter Eight -- Blog Post 9

Mostly this reminded me of this educational video on changing the idea of education.
Particularly at 7:00mins it talks about 'batching' children and I think the separation of gender can be another way that is constricting our education.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Chapter Seven -- Blog Post 8

My comments on this mostly made me think about when thinking about what age a child is self aware. I asked that question during the class panel and I think like Luke said it is very individual but it brings up the idea of socialization and when that happens. I think it makes things so complicated. Trying to express it is messing with me. My favorite thing about the panel was when someone said "gender is a social construct" I may have heard it before but it struck me differently this time.