Gender Neutral Children

The gender neutral practice described in this article comes across as very disturbing. While researchers may not yet know the long term effects this practice has on children, I believe it effects a child's mental state. This practice is likely to cause Sasha to question his identity, and will forever change who he is. The article mentions his parents are enabling their son to express himself. However, I disagree with their way of thinking. To express one-self means that someone is making their own choices. They are deciding what they want to wear and are choosing it for Sasha. In this case, Sasha's parents are forcing him to adapt to both male and female identities and express both. This is not expression. It is simply a two way street that does not merge and it is unhealthy. Another factor that makes raising a child as gender neutral unhealthy is age. Sasha is simply too young to express himself or even make these choices. 

Another disturbing aspect of this parenting is that they call him 'the infant.' This is a very disrespectful term because again, it will lead Sasha into questioning his identity. The article mentions, "gender affects what children wear and what they can play with, and that shapes the kind of person they become. I start to get cross with it if it skews their potential." However, it only skews potential if one believes that one's race is superior to one another. 

Aside from this, Sasha's peers, teachers, and other people he is associated with in his life become closed off from knowing his true identity. This affects the relationships he will come to have with people. It strips the intimacy of relationships people will have with Sasha. Overall, I think raising a child as gender neutral is grossly unhealthy. A parent should raise their child as their assigned gender. When a child reaches an age where they want to express a different identity or gender, parents should then let them become who they want to be. This is much healthier and will cause less problems for a child in the long run. 

Modern Family, The L Word and telling our stories Article Summary

The article, "Modern Family, The L Word and telling our stories Article Summary" discusses different aspects of ABC's hit television comedy, Modern Family. The article focuses on an episode that revolves around diversity. The two gay dads featured on this television series, Cameron and Mitchell, fight to get their Asian adopted daughter, Lily, into a competitive school system. The article mentions how Cameron and Mitchell become "out-diversified" by a lesbian couple who show up with their African-American adopted daughter. The article then leads into how very few television shows depict LGBT families as they are in reality. The media portrays a common story-line and matching stereotypes.

Another interesting aspect of this article is how LGBT characters are commonly upper-white middle class people. Along with these characters come prestigious nursery schools to fulfill the plot-line. In reality, 72% of same sex couples identity as white, and for those with children, only 59% identify as white. The fact that the network and media portrays LGBT families in this way limits viewers perceptions. Geography, race/ ethnicity, age, and economics are factors as well.

As a culture, we must change this. The author, Dana Rudolph. mentions the different insights from children and parents within the LGBT community. It is vital that people listen to the different perspectives on both ends of the LGBT community rather than what the media produces. There is a plethora of resources out there that give a better understanding and are unbiased. Rudolph lists these resources in the Resource Directory of her Mombian site. Overall, this article illuminates how shows like Modern family can hold stereotypes. We must not limit our lens to the media. Instead, we must take the resources we are given and open our eyes to the real LGBT community.

Trendsetting- Ready, Set, Go Viral!

“Join the movement.” This is a logo that stems from the Miracle Network Dance Marathon. Within our culture, there are so many movements taking place that people become enveloped in and identity with. I specifically chose to tweet about the Miracle Network Dance Marathon in an attempt to go viral because I think it is vital that students become aware of the positive movements they can become involved in to impact the lives of others. My close friend Lauren, who attends Syracuse University, was a part of this movement. The main purpose of my tweet was to raise awareness, as well as to receive donations. I found interesting results after launching and tracking this tweet over the course of four weeks.

I launched this tweet on September 27, 2016. In order to spark this movement, I asked my friends from high school, college, and friends of friends to re-tweet it in order to spread awareness and raise money for the Miracle Network. My friend Lauren’s goal was to reach $100; I am proud to say that by tweeting this and attempting to go viral, she has raised a little over $500.00. While not everyone who re-tweeted my tweet donated, six of the 35 re-tweeters donated. This is significant because by tweeting something like this and attempting to go viral, I helped an important cause. In addition to this, I spread awareness for the Miracle Network. My target audience was around 20 people since I do not usually receive a lot of re-tweets. Surprisingly, I surpassed this goal of 20 and received 35 re-tweets. I appreciated the help of those who reached out to others and re-tweeted my tweet; it demonstrated the importance of collaboration. It also demonstrated how a movement can quickly spread via social media.

A challenge I encountered was keeping the tweet active. At first, many users re-tweeted my tweet, but as time went on, the re-tweets started to decline. This is a common aspect of social media and pop culture. It signifies that people will keep up with a trend in the moment, yet, when the trend dies, people drop it and move on to the next big thing. A Huffington Post Article, Why Content Goes Viral: What Analyzing 100 Million Articles Taught Us mentions that, “adding images to your content and posts will help it get shared on Twitter as well as Facebook.” I find this to be an interesting aspect of going viral. I attached an image to my tweet, and because I attached an image, I had a positive outcome. More people re-tweeted my tweet than the average user. This information is relevant because pop-culture has adapted to images rather than reading a statement on social media. As a culture, we have become attracted and interested to the images on social media.

The article, To See and Be Seen: Celebrity Practice on Twitter, found in Chapter 33 of the textbook, exemplifies how tweets result in a “constantly-updated stream of short messages ranging from the mundane to breaking news, shared links, and thoughts on life.” This quote is key to understanding how our culture accesses twitter and gives social media a purpose. My tweet would fall under “shared links” because the link Lauren provided was copied in my tweet. However, many twitter users use their social media account to provide their “thoughts on life.”  I believe social media’s purpose is to rather share interest among young individuals through the collaboration I sparked in my tweet: towards a movement that embraces positivity as well as a realistic goal. In my opinion, my attempt in going viral was a success. I attracted friends, and even strangers, to a movement that I wanted to raise awareness to. In addition to this, those six people who donated to this movement had an impact on the Miracle Network and helped to give my viral attempt significance. 

Social Networks

Facebook is one of the most commonly known social media websites. When scrolling through Facebook, a common theme I became aware of was how many posted about their triumphs of the week. For instance, I viewed images of awards my fellow cross country teammates from high school received. I noticed updated statuses about how a fellow peer of mine made the Student Government Board. With everything I viewed, I was attentive that these people were only portraying few of the many aspects of their lives. Essentially, their posts were the highlights of their lives. The few things they posted about constructed a perfect identity rather than the identity they would be seen as in reality. 

A few of the posts I noticed are overall gendered. Over working at a pool this past summer, a mom I came to know added me on Facebook. Many of her Facebook posts  stem from the highlights of her children's life. She has a son and a daughter, and the difference in gender is clearly represented on her page. One of her posts was even titled, "Boys will be boys," with a picture of her son in the center of a doorway drenched in mud. This shows the playfulness and activeness that is associated with males. Her daughter, however, is portrayed as a gifted dancer. Her daughter's talent is illuminated through her posts on Facebook. Social networking is a source that portrays one's identity. People are able to construct views of themselves as well as their family and friends. It has become a part of our culture; society has adapted to social media and the way they want to be portrayed. Unfortunately, they are becoming obsessed with their social media identity, and it the obsession is increasing more and more everyday. 

Chapter 33: To See and Be Seen: Celebrity Practice on Twitter Article Summary

The Article, To See and Be Seen: Celebrity Practice on Twitter, focuses on how media outlets are dramatically changing celebrity culture. A shift is prominent in the changes of the traditional interaction between a celebrities and their fans. Mediated forms are the main cause of this shift. There is no doubt that celebrities are a significant aspect of mass media. Celebrities are influential figures that make social media an exciting world to become enveloped in, especially for a fan. Fans draw out texts from social media in regards to what celebrities post. This brings meaning to the average fan's daily life. 

The article introduces a term known as, "Micro celebrity," defined by Theresa Senft. This term is key to understanding many of the article's key points. It describes a certain style of behavior depicted online and off. It popularizes self fame; the fans include friends and followers with the goal in mind being popularity. Online, media users are able to construct their own view of themselves and how they want to be seen. 

The article defines celebrity as a practice, and recognizes the need for research on the daily practice of celebrities by non-famous individuals. Both celebrities and non-famous individuals are connected through the social media paradigm. This leads into the social media website Twitter, where users of all social statuses can connect. The article mentions how powerful figures have contributed to fascination on the site. Twitter is used as a data base in order to understand the interactions of dialogue vs. engagement with fans. Another common user practice has to do with re-tweeting, which demonstrates what fans are attracted to and what they are uninterested in. This is one of the factors that effect the "unequal power differentials." For instance, commonly, celebrities will get well over 100,000 re-tweets, while the average user receives 10 re-tweets. 

The media provides celebrities to explore and further create their identity, as well as common users. Their fan bases are able to interact with celebrities by making their conversations "publicly visible." This study of celebrity culture has validated that celebrities have been transformed because of the personal qualities intertwined with their lifestyle and social media. 

Reality Television

In an episode of Law and Order Special Victims Unit, specifically season 17 episode 2, I paid close attention to Amanda Rollins' character and how her gender is portrayed. In the opening scene, when talking about a man who is brought into questioning, detective Amanda Rollins states, "You know he is more open when it is just the two of us." However, detective Benson shuts her down by stating, "Nice try, Rollins." This statement suggests how Rollins is aware male criminals are more open with females, most likely because of their nurturing and caring stereotyped characteristics. As a female detective, Rollins uses this to her advantage. Here, her gender is portrayed as courageous because not all females would put themselves in a situation as such. Rollins uses this strategy to find answers rather than to flaunt femininity. 

When on the stand, Amanda Rollins's gender is also portrayed. She is questioned and interrogated because she visited Dr. Yates multiple times. Her reasoning is because he was able to confide in her more easily, and it is suggested because of her gender. If Rollins were to be a man, she would not have been questioned as intently. Yates's lawyer even asks, "is that common practice for a female NYPD detective?" rather than just stating "an NYPD detective." Detective Amanda Rollins is vulnerable on the stand because of her gender.

This episode is interesting because Detective Rollins finds out she is pregnant. Other co-workers send signals which evidently display she cannot handle the job as a pregnant woman, despite her being very capable since she is only at the very start of her pregnancy. Rollins later mentions, "this is not going to effect my ability to do my job." Benson replies with "Actually, yes it is Amanda... as soon as the department hears about this they are going to put you on restricted duty." Amanda is again limited in what she can do because of her pregnancy and her gender. Many women are limited and set back in their careers because of unexpected pregnancies. Overall, it is evident how female detectives are limited in all aspects of their career; Detective Amanda Rollins displays this in her role on Law and Order SVU.

Reality TV resets tween, teen girls expectations about own lives Article Summary

Reality TV Resets Tween, Teen Girls' Expectations About Own Lives focuses on teen and tween girls and discusses how reality TV affects them emotionally. When watching an increased amount of reality TV, young females expect a higher level of drama, bullying, and aggression in their own lives. This is unhealthy and a very negative aspect of watching television. The article relies on a"Real to Me: Girls and Reality TV" survey to back up their statistical data. According to this data, 86% of girls found that TV shows often turn girls against one another in order to evoke drama and make the television series interesting. When the study further investigated this, it found that 78% vs. 54% argued that gossiping was prominent in their life. The effects TV has on these females' lives is definitely something our culture should be aware of- especially if the effects of watching television can be negative and unhealthy. Females are constantly exposed to romantic relationships on television which can also be unhealthy. This enables young girls to seek pleasure and identity in a relationship when it is healthy to be independent and single. According to the article, females portray television and its effects on their mindset differently. For instance, some girls may say TV allows them to believe they can achieve anything in life, while others mention they cannot relate because television portrays characters with different backgrounds.

The data that is retrieved from this article clearly demonstrates how television is idolized, especially by young females. Not only is television idolized, but it impact them on a physiological level. One of the main aspects of this article that caught my attention was how television portrays a "mean-girl" stereotype which illuminates the competition between girls. This competitiveness is again unhealthy and should be brought to our cultures attention. Young females need to collaborate rather than competing against one another. Television is a the core of solving these issues. Families must pay close attention to what young females are watching so that television does not develop a negative mindset in young females' lives.

Fighting Fire With Fabulous Article Summary

The article, "Fighting Fire With Fabulous," written by Dana Casadei, is about the Dambacher brothers challenging the Westboro Baptist Church for its "vile hate mongering." The article focuses on the brother's latest project: The Freaka in Topek. This project is a rock and roll based show consisting of music will that is Detroit influenced. The show will be produced by the brothers- Scott working on the story and Dave doing the score. According to the article, the show’s goal is to bring a diverse amount of people together. The Dambacher brothers feel very passionately about fighting against intolerance and celebrating freedom, which is why they will put on the show for free, despite the $50,000 cost to produce. The Dambacher brothers intend to change people’s perspective by interacting with the “freaka” group of people.

This diverse group of people includes “artists, musicians, freaks, everybody.” However, Scott and Dave cannot put on the show alone. They will need around 15-20 people to fill roles in their show to make it come alive. The brothers will be advertising through social media. Both Scott and Dave feel very passionately about putting on the show for the people and changing their perspectives. I am intrigued by how they want to bring a diverse amount of people together, and I support the show’s purpose. Diversity is important in many different aspects because it enables people to have a better understanding of each other, and this show will bring that understanding to a whole new level.

Jack White – and the cast, which includes Scott, will all be
local. There will be an open call, probably in February, to fill

the rest of the 15-20 roles.

Halloween and Gender Performance

Halloween is a unique holiday in American culture. Gender and culture appropriation are threaded into this holiday in a plethora of ways. It is vital that we recognize how corporations are not only selling costumes. Hypersexulized images are brought to the minds of young females in these costumes. Costumes for young males portray a desired image such as a superhero. Halloween is a time to have fun and to dress up, however, females and males are extremely limited in what they can and cannot dress up as for Halloween.

The article, “Girls Halloween Costumes Promoting Gender Bias,” states that “costumes for young girls are becoming more sexualized, raising concern for experts and parents alike.” These sexualized images are seen because of the poses of young girls as well as the short dresses/ skirts they wear in Halloween ads. Another article, “Halloween costume showdown: Superheroes beat princesses this year” correlates to this statement because it describes how females are focused on looks when it comes to costumes, while young males are focused on their powers. The article, “The Corporate Masquerade: Branding Masculinity through Halloween Costumes” also aligns with this statement. An “analysis of 100 images of men's Halloween costumes, demonstrates the considerable power commercial culture has today in constructing and limiting ideas of American masculinity through licensed/branded costumes.” This shows how males need to associate their identity with being powerful, a hero, or very masculine. Our culture has constructed the identity of males and females and on Halloween. The images associated with the identity of males and females are evident in the costumes. According to a study, only 8.7% of costumes were gender neutral. This is unfair because both genders have to confine to a costume on Halloween, and again, are limited with what they can and cannot wear. 

This is a problem because, as the article mentions, “Girls can't run and be active with short skirts and boots." A company’s main focus should be for children to run around and have fun on Halloween, not to expose the bodies of young females. In addition to this, they should not limit young boys on what to wear. Both parents and boys “strictly define what boys should wear,” as mentioned in the “Girls Halloween Costumes Promoting Gender Bias” article. Even if a girl desired to be a superhero, her costume is sexualized because these costumes include tight clothing or skirts. Another article, “Mom takes Party City task over ‘sexualized’ costumes for little girls,” shows an image of a young girl in a sexualized cop uniform. This is grossly inappropriate for a young girl to wear. Companies like party city need to start making costumes for young girls that include pants over dresses and skirts. It is unfair for females to be limited for what they wear on Halloween. In my own life, I have observed how the majority of my past costumes have either been dresses or skirts. At the age of 10, I wanted to be like my Dad and was a firefighter. I was aware that he did not wear a dress to work; however, my costume was a dress. Why must companies do this to young girls? Young females are just as active as young boys, and all young children, regardless of their gender, are adventurous. A costume’s main focus should be focused on the adventure that young children crave, not the look or image that confines gender roles.  

Boys, Girls and Toys- Oh My

When shopping, it is evident that the boys and girls sides of toys differ. The gendered packaging and marketing of toys defines gender and clearly limits the minds of young males and females. If you go on the Toys R Us website, you will find two categories: Boy's and Girl's Toys. It is unfair to separate males and females with what they can and cannot play with. The common difference between boy's toys and girl's toys as seen on this website is the difference of the top category: dolls and action figures. The first image below is significant because it portrays the mom in pink and the dad in blue. This is a major problem because young girls play with this doll set and are already being exposed to gender conformed roles. The image to the right of what is sold in the girls section is an action figure sold in the boys section. This is another major problem because like most action figures made for boys, weapons are included. This sends a message to young males that it is okay to be violent.

  

In the you-tube clip, "Riley on Marketing," a young girl named Riley describes how boys and girls can interchangeably like both princesses and superheroes. This young girl acknowledges what manufacturers fail at acknowledging. For decades, companies have been producing superheroes for males, princesses for females. Riley even mentions how companies try to "trick the girls into buying the pink stuff." While it is comical for Riley to go off on a tangent, she is completely correct. Companies align products for girls and have the majority of these packages in pink packaging. Girls should not only be limited to buying princesses, as Riley has explicitly stated in the video. The same goes for young males, if a boy wants to play with a doll, he should go ahead and play with a doll without having any questions asked.

Presidential Election Essay

Dessa Reed       

Professor Braverman

WGS 220-03

31 October 2016

Presidential Election Essay

From the very start, it is evident how this year’s presidential debate represents a mere television series rather than a professional and serious discussion. Today’s culture has become obsessed with public images, and Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each present an image that has been characterized by our culture’s need for drama in all three debates. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump dramatically impresses me because both of them have brought their own baggage into this year’s election. However, Hillary Clinton’s background illuminates how she is more qualified to be America’s next president. Overall, I align with many of her views regarding her position on the economy, women’s rights, and immigration, which is why I will be voting for her in this year’s presidential election.

Ideally, I stand with Hillary Clinton’s economic viewpoint because she comes from a middle class background which I can relate to. In contrast, Donald Trump comes from a background where his “small loan” was a million dollars- money which many Americans will never see nor can relate to having. Not only this, he did not earn this money; it was simply given to him from his father. Clinton carries over her background to the first debate which positively reflects her family oriented image. She mentions how she will focus on “small business because most of the new jobs will come from small business” (Clinton, Debate 1). I completely agree with this statement; in the second debate, she also states, “we’ve got to provide additional help to small businesses so that they can afford to provide health insurance” (Clinton, Debate 2). She turns her attention to a variety of aspects of how a small business will thrive and provide more jobs. I think Trump’s economic standpoint is reiterated and reflects lack of research which is why he loses my vote in the polls. Trump should go into further detail with how he will stop companies from fleeing our country. Hilary Clinton has a good mindset regarding where jobs will come from, and I have faith that under her presidency America’s economy will prosper.

As discussed in the first debate, Clinton intends on raising taxes on the wealthy; I believe this is a solid plan, for it has many benefits and will help to relieve college debt. This aligns with my perspective as a college student because I am helping pay an immense amount of money for an education. It is unfair to my hard working middle class family to help me pay such a high amount of money for my college education. Not only this, but Clinton mentions how “independent experts [say that Trump’s tax plan] would blow up the debt by over five trillion dollars” (Clinton, Debate 1). I believe the experts have done their research, and I will not take a chance on going into debt under Trump’s presidency.

Along with small business and the economy, Clinton also incorporates women’s rights and what she will do for women in America. In the first debate, Clinton focuses on equal pay for women’s work and raising the minimum wage. In addition to this, Clinton mentions how “women can’t be charged more than men for our health insurance, which is the way it used to be before the Affordable Care Act” (Clinton, Debate 2). As a female in America, Clinton’s focus on women’s rights is significant because it will make a dramatic change in America’s culture. The impact Clinton will make for women is exemplified when she mentions how America needs a “Supreme Court that will stand up on behalf of women's rights” (Clinton, Debate 3). Contrasting with Hillary Clinton is Donald Trump, who only seems to mention his respect for women. His respect will not get women in America very far, nor will it help societal views of women in America’s culture. Personally, it is difficult to believe his respect for women after the video was released of Trump degrading females, which was discussed in the second debate. This video further illustrates how his personality and actions do not fit into the position of president.

Both candidates have very different viewpoints when it comes to immigration. Hillary Clinton proudly states, “I want to be the president for all Americans, regardless of your political beliefs, where you come from, what you look like, your religion. I want us to heal our country and bring it together because that is the best way for us to get the future that our children and our grandchildren deserve” (Clinton, Debate 2). Clinton incorporates family into much of her statements which I like and can identify with. It later ties in with her view on immigration when she states, “I don’t want to rip families apart…I don’t want to see the deportation force that Donald has talked about in action in our country” (Clinton, Debate 3). I agree with Clinton and think that if America was to follow through with the deportation force, it would have a negative impact on many American families. Donald Trump mentions, “we have no country if we have no border” (Trump, Debate 3). This statement is weak because I believe our country is what it is today because of the cultures that have become threaded into America. As a country, we are diverse and it is what makes our country unique. Americans prosper because of diversity and our acceptance to other cultures.

Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have come far in this year’s Presidential election. I have seen all three debates and have done a significant amount of research with this year’s election. From what I have seen, it is evident that Hillary Clinton will make a significant impact on America. I believe she will strengthen America’s economy, dramatically change the lives of females in our country, and keep families together in regards to immigration. Clinton has dedicated the majority of her life to politics, and she has demonstrated she is well qualified to be president. 

"The playmate and the rabbi: unlikely bedfellows fighting internet porn" Article Summary

The article, "The playmate and the rabbi: unlikely bedfellows fighting internet porn," speaks volumes in terms of what porn has escalated to today. Porn is a sensitive subject to talk about for many people. The effects of it are prominent in our culture and it is vital that we become aware of it. Pamela Anderson, a playboy model, would appear to be the least likely to talk about the negative effects of porn, being a Playboy model. However, the article discusses how Anderson refuses to consider that Playboy is pornographic considering the dark porn that surrounds our culture today.

 It is interesting seeing Anderson's perspective on this matter with her background. Even so, I have a great amount of respect for her because she discusses serious issues with porn today. Along with Anderson comes Rabbi Shmuley's perspective. The two discuss the negative effects porn has on marriages, families and careers. Porn ultimately damages relationships between males and females because it puts women in a negative light. The article mentions how porn enables men to view women as objects rather than human beings. The article states,"women are there to stimulate men for sexual climax." This is not the case. Porn enables men to disregard intimacy; men turn to sex for other motives.

 Not only this, but the graphic images of porn lead to violence against women. There is a major lack of intimacy in today's culture and porn is a the center of it. Anderson's goal is all about "having better sex, better loving relationships and more respect for women."By reading this article, I now see Anderson from a much different perspective. She is a mother with two teenage boys. From her experience, she knows just how damaging these images can be. Anderson and the Rabbi want to change this, and I feel passionately about doing the same. 

Gender and The Military

Military wives and husbands differ dramatically. When I think of someone in the military’s spouse, I often think of a wife. This is simply because our culture has portrayed men as strong and powerful. Our culture associates men with weapons and violence, not women. However, women are becoming more and more powerful in today’s society. They are now capable of fighting in the military. Still, there is a huge contrast between men and women and their spouses. In my opinion, I think men fear for their wives when in the military because there are so many other dangerous factors for women in the military. For instance, women in the military are more likely to be sexually assaulted. It is vital that our culture raises awareness to these dramatic differences so that women can be seen just as powerful in the military.

The article, "Pentagon issues handbook on sex change in the ranks" was interesting to read. It shows how the military does not raise awareness to gender conformity. For instance, the article mentions how the military has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for transgenders. However, in another article, it mentions how this policy ended in 2011. This additional article I read mentions that "the decision comes as the military has witnessed major changes in the role of women and the inclusion of gays, lesbians and bisexual service members in recent years."The military is becoming more diverse which is a positive aspect of the military because males, females, and transgenders bring different qualities that help the military to succeed.

Intelligence vs. Icon

Society today has enabled women to value their bodies over their intellect. Many women are increasingly becoming more valued for their appearance rather than their mind. Marilyn Monroe is a popular representation of a successful woman valued by her appearance. However, she hid her intelligence which partly led to her success. Discussed in the article, "Not just a dumb blonde," Marilyn may have hid her intelligence to exemplify her beauty. Marilyn mentions, "They were obviously loving somebody I wasn’t." This demonstrates how society enabled her to fit into a character with no intellect, and they thrived off of it. 

A celebrity today that may be hiding part of their intellect to secure greater success is Natalie Portman. Portman has a degree from Harvard, however, she is known for being in movies like No Strings Attached. Natalie Portman is evidently chosen for her looks and appearance rather than her intellect for the majority of these movies. I believe Portman does not try to hide her intellect, society rather enables it. She even mentions in her Harvard commencement speech,  "I felt like there had been some mistake, that I wasn’t smart enough to be in this company, and that every time I opened my mouth I would have to prove that I wasn’t just a dumb actress." 

Actors and actresses are commonly stereotyped as "dumb" because viewers are often limited to seeing only their appearance rather than how they have achieved their role. Natalie Portman is a primary example of this because she exhibits nothing but success. Even so, when watching movies, many people do not know she has obtained a Harvard degree. Not only this, but they do not know she has EARNED and worked for her degree at Harvard. They simply think she got in because of her fame. Natalie Portman has become a success because of her intellect, but America's culture vales her appearance first hand. It is sad to think that many will think about Portman's looks and body rather than thinking about her greatest attributes: hard work and intellect. 

Language of Persuasion

Basic

The Pantene ad uses the association technique. This ad does this with the statement, "Strong is beautiful." This is implying that if you use this Pantene product, you will have strong, undamaged hair. Strong is then associated with beauty which targets an audience to want strong hair. If they obtain strong hair, the ad basically says they will obtain the beauty that comes with it because the two are associated with one another in the ad.

The Maybelline ad is utilizing the bandwagon technique. In the bottom right corner of the ad, it states, "Individuality? We're all for it." The "all" in this statement implies that everyone is buying this product to express their own individuality. This is ironic because if everyone is buying Maybelline products, they are not separating themselves from what everyone is doing. The bandwagon technique uses the key word "all" in their products mainly to attract an audience that wants to fit in with a crowd.

The majority of the ads in this Marie Claire magazine depicts the beautiful people technique.  The Nine West eye wear ad stands out with this technique because glasses are stereotyped to make someone look like a nerd. The woman used in this ad looks like anything but a nerd. Her beauty is a major aspect of this ad. By using her beauty, the ad attracts a specific audience that is willing to spend a lot of money so that they look beautiful in glasses like the model in this advertisement.

The Land's End ad stood out to me because they used a well known celebrity, Emma Roberts. This ad uses the celebrity technique because Emma Roberts attracts an audience with her popularity. She is a very well known actress and by using her as a model, people will want to buy Land's End products to look like her and have the same style as her. Furthermore, there are no words on this product which makes Emma and her popularity the center of this ad.

Intermediate

The Secret Deodorant ad exhibits the flattery technique. In their "stress test," they provide an image of a press agent clearly under stress. They try to reach their audience by complimenting them through what this agent is doing. The ad mentions, "because you're pretty." This complement serves to flatter buyers through what the agent is going through and connecting them to her story with a compliment of being pretty. Another ad that does this is the Loreal ad. They mention, "Because you're worth it." In their ad. These compliments go a long way in the advertising world.

In this current magazine, many of the articles had new products which used the new technique. The new Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel was an ad that demonstrated this technique. The advertisers state, "No wonder women have made this the best selling new product in the skin care world." The best selling correlates to the new product and implies that because it is new, it is the best skin product out there which is why is doing well in the markets.

The Tampax ad uses the rhetorical question technique in order to spark a thought about their product. This ad asks, "what does life look like during your period?" This rhetorical question is brought up mainly to imply that during a woman's period, life is not all that great. The ad answers this question by stating, "Life looks great with Tampax Pearl." It even provides a hashtag, "#LooksLikeThis" and a visual image of a woman on a bike near the ocean. Therefore, this ad reels buyers in by stating Tampax Pearl will provide the best protection and give a good life during your period.

The Prevage anti-aging daily serum advertisement uses the scientific evidence technique by providing percentages throughout their ad. The ad states, "96% improvement in skin texture," "89% improvement in radiance," and "65% improvement in skin tone." These percentages help sell the product because each of these percentages are over 50. The scientific evidence helps to give feedback and data from those who have previously used the product so that those who have not used it will see and want these same results.

Advanced

The Viper Room advertisement definitely exhibits the card stacking technique. This whole advertisement tries to sell animal based products and even uses a python in their slogan to sell their product by mentioning, "python charms its way onto boots high and low." These advertisers are only giving buyers part of the story. They do not show how the process of how the snake skin gets onto the product. They do not show the graphic images either. Instead, they are only showing the favorable evidence, which is the shoe, to attract its buyers.

The StriVectin ad uses the cause vs. correlation technique with the statement at the bottom. The ad states, "Today, there's a new challenge: Tech neck- the effect of repeatedly looking down at your phone. #FightTechNeck with StriVectin." This ad suggests that looking down at your phone causes wrinkles. This attracts buyers because the majority of people look down at their phone which the ad claims will cause wrinkles. This has noting to do with the cause of causing wrinkles, bu the correlation between the two reels people in to buy the product.

The Shoes First ad uses the diversion technique. While the shoes are gorgeous, the ad strays away from the price. The advertisement's main attraction is the use of gold colors and the gold standard. The ad mentions that the pairs of shoes are "worth owning," however, it diverts the attention away from the price. If you look closely at the ad, the price is in a much smaller font. On the bottom right, the shoes are $2,390. This obscene price was diverted from the attention by being in a small font and also being off centered.

The timing technique is used in the Bearpaw ad. "Fall into fashion" is a way of selling fall products and trendsetting a new style for the fall weather. This message is delivered at the perfect time because these furry boots are needed for warmth in the cold fall weather. The fall colors help to stimulate a desire to buy this product as well.

Bad Ad #1
The Miu Miu is a bad ad in my opinion because it makes no sense to me. Perfume is supposed to be a clean and nice scent. Incorporating a cat into this picture does not make me think of the nice and clean scent that comes with perfume. In fact, when I see the cat in this ad, I think of bad odor. While I love animals, they do tend to smell and they could very well be the reason why perfume is needed in the first place. The kitten in this ad only add playfulness; however, perfume is not playful. I think the ad could have done very well and made more sense without the kitten.

Bad Ad #2
The Feline By Voluminous Loreal is a bad ad for a few reasons. Personally, I think the woman's make-up in this ad does not look good. I think her makeup, her expression, and her dark surroundings enable the ad to come across eerie. Her eyeliner look is something that would be done on Halloween rather than wearing it on a daily basis. People are more attracted to makeup that is natural and glamorous rather than dark and eerie like the image depicted in this ad.

Hetero Barbie Article Summary

The article, "Hetero Barbie" begins by focusing on how young girls center their attention on their image and bodies. Especially when a female enters into her teenage years, a heterosexual girl focuses her attention on a boy and eventually dating. Once a female reaches this stage in her life, the article describes how she will obsess over styling her hair and putting on make up. Barbie is the center and prime example for young girls to do this. Beauty stems from Barbie's image- her hair, makeup, and body is society's view of perfection. While Barbie is the center of beauty, she also goes against society's norms.

The article states that she "escapes" society's expectations of a woman in a relationship. Barbie is rather independent and occupies herself with travel and a diverse amount of careers. The article puts a different perspective on Barbie's image, stating that she may be a "drag queen." Her wardrobe, according to the article, is said to attract a gay audience. Lesbian and Bisexual sexualities are also part of the diverse audiences that can be associated with Barbie's image.

This article goes even further with the speculation of Barbie being asexual. Michael Osborne, a Barbie doll collector, has nearly 300 barbies. This is significant because its demonstrates how Barbie's image is so easily addicting and is desired to be obtained. Her image is attractive and idolized; Osborne even dressed as Barbie for Halloween. The way Mattel has designed Barbie enables her image to be interpreted in different ways with a diverse amount of sexualities. It is up to one's own interpretation of Barbie and the way they see her image.

Gendered Slang/Language

Language is a huge aspect of any culture. I believe our language is gendered to some extent; However, I have never personally heard of the words previewed on urban dictionary. I do not believe these words are common today. Instead, I believe our language is surrounded by certain characteristics for both males and females. 

Men and women need to follow certain guidelines in our culture in order to fit into society's expectations. Take cursing, for instance. In our culture, if a male curses, it is considered normal. On the other hand, if a female curses, it is considered obscene. This is one example of how language is gendered. Women must follow certain guidelines and watch what they say in order to be respected. Males do not need to follow these same guidelines- instead, they are expected to do this while the women are ridiculed. 

The comfort levels of gendered language is also evident in our culture. Take sexual terms for example. Males identify with sexual language and find amusement in it as well as normality. Women are judged if they were to take part in this language. 

In contrast, gossip is something females find normal while men do not associate with this language. Females are able to express feelings through gossiping while males express their feelings much differently. Language puts gender in a whole new perspective. While cultures may not know it, they have set guidelines in what both males and females can and cannot say.  

Image-Based Culture: Advertising and Popular Culture Summary

The article, "Image-Based Culture: Advertising and Popular Culture" discusses the effects advertising has on society's values and assumptions. We live in a culture where society's expectations are high and center around an appearance's aesthetic. Through advertising, our culture has adapted to the marketplace; we believe we can achieve happiness because this is what advertisers feed to their buyers. Advertisements tell us what we want to hear and target not how people are acting, but how they are dreaming.

The article states, "happiness and contemporary contentment appear illusory in contemporary society." This statements depicts how the image system is merely an illusion. The text, colors images, and commercial communication creates the illusion. In order for buyers to decode these complex messages, advertisements must "educate as well as sell." Advertisements have a lot of thought put into their images to capture the buyer's eye. These advertisements develop into what the article calls an,"image saturated society."

This article also discusses how goods are the center of perceived happiness. Advertising only promotes images that buyers will interpret as "the good life." These buyers must obtain certain products to feel a satisfaction in having the product. However, the images promoted by advertisers are not only about satisfaction. The article also discusses how advertisements influences and effects center around gender identity, gender strike, and sexuality.

The article also keeps the child audience in mind; the market place illuminates the continuous divide between boys and girls. Toy advertisers limit the young minds of both males and females by targeting toys for a specific gender. Because of this, imaginative play is becoming more scarce. 

Images within society are rapidly filling our culture. These visual images dominate the lives of children as well as adults. This article focuses on the importance of how we perceive these images in today's society. Our image-based society has enabled people to give up their control in the real world. We have immersed ourselves in appearances, and commercial happiness that will never come close to the happiness that comes with values in the real world.

All in The Family

A nuclear family, which consists of a father, a mother, and their kids, has evolved and changed into what society calls, the modern family. Today, modern families consists of single parents as well as same-sex parents. Modern families have switched the gender roles, which is discussed in Sarah Eckel's article, "Dad-Mom Role Reversals." I can relate to the working mother and stay at home father which is the main topic discussed in the article because I was raised by a single father. Although both my mother and father worked, my Dad raised my sister and I after my parents divorced. He invested  lot in me while also working his career. My father played both the mother and father role, which can be quite difficult for a father to do.

Today in modern families, the contrast contrast of gender roles is becoming more evident. The article states how the father of his 7-year-old daughter had gone out to, run errands in [her] ballerina pajamas she’d slept in." He mentioned how he thought it was an outfit, and was unable to differentiate her pajamas with the clothes she wears on a regular basis. This illuminates how the parenting role for the father contrasts with the mother's. It is not unusual for a father to make this mistake, however, if a mother were to do this, she would be considered a horrible mother.

Many mothers invest more in their children than they do in a career. One mother in the article, however, had the opportunity to further develop her professional life; it mentioned how she appreciated the opportunity to do this. However, the contrast to this is the father's loss of ego in the relationship. Many mothers find fulfillment in taking care of their kids, while fathers find the same fulfillment in their career. It is important that both roles are seen as equally important, because each role is essential in its own way. 

An interesting aspect of this article was how one mother, Kelly, mentioned how she, "made sure to recognize her husband’s contribution." It is important for both the mother and the father to recognize the work they do, no matter what is is. Whether a father works in a career or is taking care of the children, he is still contributing to the family. Compared to a nuclear family, modern families can be just as effective if both roles are appreciated. It does not matter the role of the parent; all that matters is that they are investing themselves in the family and engage in different aspect of what will benefit and help the family thrive. 

"There are Bitches and Hoes" Article Summary

Tricia Rose's article, "There are Bitches and Hoes,"talks about some of the most popular pimp icons, which include Snoop Dogg, Ice T, Pimp, Dr. Dre, and many more. This article comes across how rappers have evolved their music which wreaks of  degrading lyrics towards women. The popularity of these male rappers stem from their control over women. The male rappers receive praise from fans all over because of this power they possess. Some of the songs even use physical violence. Rose mentions how this ultimately degrades women emotionally and physiologically.

The lyrics and music video's focus is to name women as "bitches and hoes." Many women are rewarded when they live up to this term. They use their bodies and sexuality to receive recognition and to attain fans and money. The women who follow through with the hyper sexual pop culture are the ones who become successful and are idolized.

Tricia Rose also describes how hard it is for a female to become a rapper. Women are not praised for their talents; they are praised for their bodies. In the article, it is mentioned how a female rapper broke down crying because the rap industry tried to conform her and force her to be seen as a "whore" rather than a rapper. The signifies how sexist this industry is.

The article also explains how hip hop serves as an attack. Black popular culture affects many black women. The ones who try to take a stand against sexism are degraded even more. This is why many go along with the sexist ideas because it is culturally and socially acceptable. Rose states, "Being anti-sexism doesn't come naturally in a system that rewards us for participating." Therefore, not only is it acceptable, but those who are sexist are rewarded for it.

On page 388, Rose states, "the gangsta rapper image needs bitches and hoes." A rapper cannot be the successful image he desires to be unless he is controlling women and depicting these females as "bitches and hoes." It is sad that this industry has fans only because the hyper sexual images of these women are the center of it. Without "bitches and hoes," the industry is very likely to make no money, have no fans, and have little to no success.

Modern Love

"I love you." It is common for our culture to hear this statement thousands of times throughout our lifetime. It exists in all different aspects of relationships: family relationships, romantic relationships, friendships, etc. Many times, people confuse lust with love in a romantic relationship. This is because the media and pop culture identify sex and lust with love rather than putting someone’s needs before them because they care about that person. To me, love comes before a person’s appearance as well as any physical attachment in the relationship.

I believe love is a gift. Often times, people have the opportunity to love but do not get the chance because they are concerned with other priorities. In our culture, work is valued over spending time with the people we love. Online dating solves this issue in the romantic arena. Many people who are supposed to start to date or find their soul mate at a specific age are too occupied with their career track. They seek bigger and better things in the career world rather than seeking a love that will prosper naturally. 

The article, “Love at First Click: Is Online Dating For You?” gives an insight to how much dating has changed over the past decade. It illustrates how the value of love is replaced with the value of attractiveness. Pop culture has enabled both males and females to have certain expectations in the dating world. Prior to online dating, people would meet face to face. This face to face interaction has more benefits than screen to screen. A natural spark ignites and love and dating are represented in a more genuine and beautiful way. Love should not cost money or be based on attractiveness. These two aspects are the main focuses of online dating. It is important to be attracted to your partner; however, the looks of two people in the relationship should not be the center of their love. 

The article states, it is "suggested that by 2040 70% of couples will meet online." This sky rocketing percentage is overwhelming because it signifies how the majority of our culture will be too occupied to go out into the real world and date. People do not have the courage or time to go out and seek love which, in my opinion, is pathetic. It does not take a lot to go out one night and spontaneously meet someone. Yes, online dating is useful and exciting, but there is nothing like the rush that comes with meeting someone for the first time face to face. It also personalizes the relationship when you meet someone off screen.

The article also mentions, “paid sites will increasingly focus on those that are looking for serious commitment, while free sites will target the more casual user." This statement demonstrates how these dating websites do not focus on the dating applicants’ best interests unless they are willing to pay money for it. Why waste money when you can waste time to go out and meet someone? These dating websites are in reality a loophole that enables people to become fixated on the excitement that comes with viewing profiles and narrowing it down to the most attractive one. What if they swiped past their soul mate on Tinder? These questions will forever remain unanswered because the media and pop culture has put certain looks, standards, and styles for people who access online dating. 

Prior Research on SATC Summary

The article, "Feminism without Feminists: Prior Research on SATC," looks into the deeper aspects of the popular show, Sex and the City. This article explains how the show is open to the subjects the media and society do not typically discuss. One of the aspects of this show which differentiates it among other shows is how it encourages, "frank talk about female sexuality"(Kim 8). Because this show is so open to this subject, many different audience members indulge in it because it relatable as well as entertaining.

One of the main topics discussed within this article is how SATC does not follow traditional values; female friendship is at the core of this show. This female dynamic replaces the male figure as the dominant role. The article states,"this elective family structure is one that gay men and lesbians have relied on for generations- a self-selected family that willingly meets its members’ needs" (Kim 8).  The alternative dialogues and scenes which relate to different gender roles are not often seen in the media, which is why SATC appeals to many different audiences rather than just single women. Not only this, but the "widening array of roles for women and the inclusion of gay men" (Kim 10) is what also appeals to the diverse audience of SATC.

Even so, SATC presents "bisexual, lesbian, and gay characters... in ways that marginalize their existence and reify the dominance of heterosexuality" (Kim 12). The female character's race and class position is exemplified through their personalty, style, and voice in this show. Their race and class enables them to be seen as prioritized and privileged. These females are not afraid to express their viewpoints which is why hegemonic feminism is a dominant theme as well.

The article captures how this show is viewed as "radical" for the topics discussed, including abortion. These topics "privilege issues important to women" (Kim 8). The media often attaches female characters in shows to motherhood because of society's expectations and beliefs. In SATC, however, Miranda's pregnancy was viewed completely opposite. Her pregnancy lead to a realistic viewpoint which "impinged on Miranda’s career, time with friends, her body, and her sex life" (Kim 10). In today's society, abortion is unethical; SATC provides different values and a different viewpoint with how a single woman's mind and life is. This show reflects upon women who have other priorities to keep in mind other than reproducing.

This article also discusses how SATC's "luxury and consumerist pleasures"(Kim 13) are highlighted within the series. The single life of these females and their roles draws away attention from the lives of other single women. While this show offers a different angle to reality, the author's purpose in writing this article is an attempt to determine whether viewers "buy into the hegemonic narratives about race, class, gender, and sexuality embedded in SATC, or whether they produce negotiated or oppositional readings"(Kim 13).

YouTube, I Tube, We all tube-

Clip that portrays stereotypical gender roles: https://youtu.be/VhB3l1gCz2E“Always #LikeAGirl – Unstoppable”

Clip that defies the gender roles portrayed in clip #1: https://youtu.be/KAR1sMZvPms “Kate Heckaman – Firefighter|Paramedic”

The first clip, “Always #LikeAGirl – Unstoppable,” advocates how girls are limited. The stereotypes in this video demonstrate how girls cannot be challenged and should not seek challenges. The girls in this video write different stereotypes on boxes which correlate to these young women feeling boxed into society’s limitations on them. Just a few of these stereotypes include how girls are weak, cowardly, unworthy, and slow. In this short video, one young girl mentions, "I can't really like, rescue anybody…it's always like, the boys who rescue the girls in the stories." I find this statement to be interesting because in today’s society, more and more women seem to be taking leadership roles and are rescuing others in society in a plethora of ways. However, the women who are in the position of these leadership roles are the women who have confidence in themselves.  

The role of these girls in the Always clip is to be seen as perfect individuals when in reality they only need to be themselves. Their experiences reveal how their role in society is to be closed minded by not going out for sports or being themselves. In the second clip, Kate Heckaman, a female firefighter and paramedic, defies the stereotypes depicted in the first clip. The contrast between the first clip and the second clip demonstrates how if a female believes in herself, she can be a role model for other females and give guidance as well as strength to other females. Kate Heckaman’s job portrays her as a strong leader by rescuing others. Her daily acts defy the stereotypical view in the first clip of how it is a man’s obligation to rescue others. 

The limitations of young women described in the Always clip correlates to Women Read the Romance. The article states, "Many of the women explained... they would feel refreshed and strengthened by their vicarious participation in a fantasy relationship where the heroine is frequently treated as they themselves (Dines, Humez 69). The women's desire to want to be treated as a hero is a direct parallel to how females ultimately do not view themselves as brave. Heckaman is one of the very few female firefighters and acts as a hero everyday. She is living her fantasy by being who she is- a brave and confident female.

The two clips compare to one another as well. In the first clip, one young girl mentions how she told herself she should stop if she was not good enough, however, this mindset only lasted for a week. She proved others wrong by trying harder to get better and stronger. Heckaman describes how she played hockey when there were not a lot of girl’s hockey teams, however, it is clear that her strength guided her and enabled her to believe in herself to compete. For both clips, the target audience is for females who do not believe in themselves or who do not have enough confidence in themselves. I believe both videos are effective in teaching the audience; Heckaman states, “the more young girls are exposed to strong confident women, the more they are going to believe in themselves.” This statement is true for all the women out there who have the mindset to not let others limit them in anything they desire to do.