Week 12: Gender and the Future

For the last week of class, the topic for group presentations were about gender and the future. The group that presented Tuesday catered their presentation towards gender and bullying in regards to technology.

Cyber bullying is becoming a significant issue in today's society due to the advancement in technology and the lack of parental supervision. In addition, there are many types of social media that allow for cyber bullying to take place. Some examples include Facebook, twitter, My Space, and MSN. The ways in which people can bully others online varies from person to person. On Facebook, teenagers have the ability to post cruel and disheartening comments on peoples’ pictures and videos. With that being said, cyber bullying is more often associated with females than males. This is because there are large gender differences in the way the Internet is used. From the class presentation, we learned that males identify themselves as bullies more than females. They also display a positive attitude towards aggression. In addition, they show bullying activity towards both males and females in attempt to increase their social status. In regards to females as bullies, they tend to be loud, rude, and domineering. Females, however, mostly bully towards other females instead of both sexes like males. Females also use the method of cyber-bullying as a way of displaying their dominance or power.

During their presentation, the group asked the class the following question:


Do you think that bullying over social media will get better over time or is it going to get worse?

As a class, we collectively agreed that bullying over social media will only get worse. Unfortunately, as we progress towards the future, children do not understand how much of a negative impact bullying has on individuals everywhere. In cases such as Amanda Todd, it’s unfortunate that adolescents feel they must commit suicide to remove themselves from harsh bullying situations.

With the social problem of bullying, there are many solutions that can be provided. When discussing solutions, the main factor is about bringing attention to the issue. Bullying is not something we can continue to ignore. We need to continue events such as Sea of Pink to support individuals who have been bullied in the past. This brings attention to bullying as a significant social problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. From the parental perspective, our class suggested that adults could monitor Internet usage, watch for cues from their children, engage in open conversations and encourage communication on a daily basis. In regards to education, teachers can also provide solutions for the problem of bullying and cyber bullying. Schools should monitor and lock certain websites from student access. In addition, I think it’s important for schools to educate students on cyber bullying and create a safe environment where students feel comfortable at all times. In conclusion, we ALL need to get on the same page and help protect the youth in contemporary society. Today’s children are the adults of the future and we cannot continue to let them end their lives. Bullying is not acceptable and needs to come to an end IMMEDIATELY. We need to hold adolescents accountable for the serious actions they commit in regards to physically and emotionally harming their peers.

Week 11: Gender and Sexuality

The topic for this week's presentations were about gender and sexuality. Our group presented on Tuesday and focused our project on the adult entertainment industry and pornography stars. This topic, like many others, can be controversial because of the many opinions held on the subject.

Our group and classmates agreed that the portrayal of sexuality is becoming a significant issue within Western society. Both men and women are highly sexualized in magazines, movies, and advertisements. Unfortunately, this gives messages to individuals on how they should look and act for the opposite sex.

The adult entertainment industry is an extremely successful business as it generates $13 billion/ year in the United States. In addition, internet porn produces $3 billion/ year.  This information was found in Covenant Eyes: Pornography Statistics, 2013.

For my group's presentation and paper, we argued that sexuality in pornography reinforces gender stereotypes through society's norms. During our presentation, we asked a series of questions following the trailer for the documentary After Porn Ends. The documentary is available online, but signing into YouTube is required as it contains restricting contact. This is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ-R-QIg0ZA. The trailer to the documentary can be found below, but does not require a sign-in to view the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5lSmDWk24

To begin our presentation, we asked the class to provide a definition for pornography. The class defined porn as the sexual act that has been documented for other individuals to use as sexual stimulation. The class also pointed out that the pornography industry has become more acceptable in today's society because society is over sexualized. When analyzing the reasons why people go into this kind of career in the first place, many explanations were provided from the film. Some individuals are just not suited for 9-5 work. The one woman from the film explained that she cannot work all day everyday in an office setting because she hardly sees her young daughter. Therefore, she chose to do porn, where her hours are more suited to her personal needs and the flexible hours provided more time she can spend with her family. With that being said, a large percentage of men and women choose porn for financial reasons. It's easier and faster to make decent money, which allows individuals to get out of debt or purchase a house if they are homeless. Who are we to judge a person when we do not know what it is like to live on the streets? Or need money bad enough to do anything for it? How is it right to call someone irresponsible for making money to provide for their children and support their family in the best way they think they can?

Pornography can be a frustrating topic to discuss because of the varying views, but in my opinion I believe individuals should be given a second chance to lead a normal life after porn. I don't think people should be judged based on the things they did in their past, as long as the career they decide to do following porn does not cause harm to those involved. For example, if a person wants to become a teacher after leaving the pornography industry, at first I would be skeptical. After acknowledging the individual's ability to be responsible, mature, a good role model, etc. I wouldn't have a problem with my child being in their class. Side note: This does NOT matter if the teacher is a male or female, I would still feel the same way. I will always have a concern for my child/ children because when at school, I am trusting their life in the hands of someone else.

To conclude, even though there is a gender divide between men and women in the porn business, it doesn't make sense for people to judge individuals in this industry, as society continues to create the demand for pornography. Where there is demand, there will be supply.

Week 10: Reproducing and Resisting Stereotypes

Week ten's lectures and presentations focused on stereotypes and traditional gender norms. I found this topic particularly interesting because it is an issue I understand; yet do not know how to fix. With that being said, I am undecided at this time if gender stereotypes can in fact be abolished altogether.

After thinking critically about the issue of gender stereotypes, I personally tend to reproduce them more than I resist them. The main reason why this is true is because I am a stereotypical "girly girl." My favourite colours are pink and purple, I wear make-up everyday, I always have nail polish on, and I am concerned about my appearance on a daily basis. In addition, I enjoy cooking and cleaning, avoid bugs of all kinds and hate to get dirty.

While growing up I participated in a variety of athletics, but each one was cut short when the novelty wore off. Since I was a toddler, I have done ballet, gymnastics, swimming, figure skating, dance, and soccer. Gender norms are prevalent in sports, which is fascinating because there are often a men and women's league in many of the sports in today's society. With that, it is interesting to note that there are many professional male figure skaters in today's society, which is actually great to watch if the opportunity ever arrises. Men and women that are in opposite sport categories reminds me of the gender stereotypes that often take place in classrooms. If a little boy is interested in showing care for a doll, and a young girl is fascinated by trucks or dinosaurs, why does it matter which toy entertains them? Why does each kind of toy that is invented have to be catered to a specific gender of the childhood population?

The first group that presented on Tuesday asked the class if we thought a gender divide with tools and household repairs still existed. The question was answered in a variety of ways, as many students did not grow up in the traditional nuclear household that used to be considered the norm. Some students were raised by either their mom or dad in a single-parent household, while other individuals were raised by both parents or even their grandparents. In my family, we reproduce many gender stereotypes. My dad is often in charge of the mechanics, yard work, using heavy machinery, and cooking; while my mom has taken on the role of house cleaning, dusting, dishes, and caring for my brother and I. While my parents share some household duties, they typically divide the workload into "pink jobs" and "blue jobs." Although this is not a term we use in my house, there just happens to be some jobs that my dad can do better and other tasks that my mom is more efficient at.

When discussing the issue of gender stereotypes, one of the biggest areas of concern is the problem of gender-oriented professions. Basically, this means that often in society, the majority of individuals (for whatever reason) feel the need to assign an occupation to a group such as for males, for females, or appropriate for both sexes. I think this is problematic because it's ridiculous to divvy up all the careers in the world and expect everyone to choose the path that's designed for them based on their gender. If a male is a highly educated, nurturing individual, that enjoys helping people, then why can't be become a nurse or a teacher? And, if a woman is interested in architecture or working with large machinery, why can't she become a construction worker? The only way society will become a more accepting place, is if individuals mind their own business and let others pursue what interests them regardless of their sex. It shouldn't matter what gender people identify with because this does not change who a person is, except for the fact they are seen as a deviant for being different.

Week 9: Gender and Adulthood

This week's presentations were based upon the idea of gender during adulthood. Tuesday's presentation was about gender and motherhood. I found this topic interesting as it was not something I had given much thought to prior to the class presentations.

Our class generated a lot of discussion about motherhood, children, and women who go on maternity leave. Most of us indicated we would some day like to have children of our own, but understand what reasons are appropriate when considering the birth of a child. From my parenting class in high school, I learned that there are good reasons to want to have children and reasons that can be considered selfish. For example, women should have children because they want to have a child to care for and nurture, not because they want someone to look after them when they get old. As we talked about during Thursday's class, once an individual has given birth, you can't unhave that child and unfortunately is yours to keep unless you consider other options as an alternative such as adoption or foster care.

Another interesting discussion our class had this week was in regards to celebrities that are voluntarily childless. Examples of celebrities that do not have any children include individuals such as Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and Cameron Diaz. In Hollywood, there is a Childless by Choice club that indicates famous celebrities who have chosen not to have children for a variety of reasons.

More information about childless celebrities can be found at: http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/celebs/photos/hollywood’s-childless-by-choice-club

If I had to guess the reason why most celebrities are voluntarily childless, I would think it's because of their busy lifestyle. Most celebrities are full-time actors or television hosts, and do not have a lot of spare time. In the case of Rachael Ray (shown above), she's an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef, and author, and it is evident that she is a very busy individual. At one point, she told People magazine she doesn't know how children will ever fit into her life. "I don't have time. I work too much to be an appropriate parent. I feel like a bad mom to my dog some days because I'm just not here enough." - Rachael Ray, 2013

One of the required readings for this week was "Women's Voluntary Childlessness: A Radical Rejection of Motherhood written by Maura Kelly. This article seemed to address some interesting points in regards to motherhood. The author first indicated that we live in a culture in which motherhood is central to feminine identity. Although this is sort of seen as a societal norm, I'm not sure if this is something I entirely agree with. A woman does not need to be a mother in order to be seen as a feminine. The article also expressed the view that women who do not have kids deviate from the norm and that the main reason women don't have children is because they're single. To explain further, the article indicated that being unmarried is one of the strongest predictors of childlessness.

In my opinion, I feel as though the main reason some women are childless is strictly due to personal choice. In addition, there are many factors that are associated with having children. Some factors include the cost of child rearing, lack of independence, and full-time occupations and careers that leave little time for extra-curricular activities such as raising children. I think it would be in the best interest of society if individuals critically thought about the impact children can have prior to making the choice to procreate. This is because babies are born innocent and require one-hundred percent support and dedication in order to grow up properly.

Week 8: Gender and Adolescence

Week 8 focused on the topic of "Gender and Adolescence." This week differed slightly from last week because we were concerned with children aged approximately 12-18 rather than toddlers.

This week's readings, presentations, and class discussions were interesting because they dealt with issues that concerned children who were old enough to comprehend gender and sexuality regardless of their young age and immaturity.

The first group presentation asked the class what qualities made a good role model. The following responses were given: responsible, confident, brave, has good morals, motivated, etc. On the slideshow, there were pictures of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, and Lindsay Lohan. As a class, we were asked to determine which celebrities were considered good role models for adolescences. This was a difficult task for me because celebrities get a lot of exposure and strong criticism in the media and it's a challenge to determine what celebrities are good role models to adolescents and young adults. This is because of the age gap amongst individuals that look up to celebrities and people that are famous. In addition, the five celebrities that were used as examples during class all vary in ages and come from different backgrounds such as television stars, actresses, small town singers, etc.

 

The class generated some controversial discussion in the sense that many individuals are torn between what celebrities make a good role model for teens. This is because many celebrities make good impressions at first but either have a few bad moments that the paparazzi blow out of proportion, or they let their fame get the better of them and unfortunately fall from the top all the way to the bottom. I think it's important for parental figures to remain a strong influence in their son and daughter's life in order to help differentiate the good celebrities from the bad. With that being said, I think it's acceptable for a teenager to admire a celebrity for their voice, fashion, acting skills, etc. without wanting to emulate that celebrity. To explain further, I definitely want adolescents to have someone they can look up to, without wanting to drink underage, try drugs, or be sexually active to match the behaviour of their role model.

Another interesting conversation that occurred during class was the discussion of Miley Cyrus and Hilary Duff. Both celebrities started as child actors that were extremely well known, well liked, and extremely admired by adolescent girls. The difference between these two actresses is significant. On the one hand, Hilary Duff aged very well and did not have a lot of negative exposure in the media. This fact makes her appear as a great role model for both adolescents, teens, and adults.

In contrast, Miley Cyrus is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Many people are aware of her recent media exposure including her twerking act with Robin Thicke. This is one of the reasons why individuals feel she is no longer a good role model for young girls.

In my personal opinion, I think Miley Cyrus is going through the same phase many other celebrities have in the past. I assume the reason for the criticism towards Miley is due to her age. She is only twenty but wants to be viewed as an adult and no longer a child actor. This is understandable but it's difficult to accept because of the fact many adolescents are still viewing her as an appropriate role model. Despite her racy lyrics and provocative clothing, I think at times Miley can still be somewhat of a good role model to those individuals who know she is a celebrity and only acts a certain way to gain attention from the media.

Week 7: Gender and Childhood

This week is the beginning of our gender presentations regarding children and adolescents. Week 7's lectures and presentations were about gender during childhood. Our first presentation was called "Gender and Childhood According to Disney."

This class presentation illustrated many interesting points when it comes to gender stereotypes in Disney films. The group asked the class whether or not we thought Disney influenced children's views on relationships. Many of us agreed. The reason behind this answer is because of the stereotypical female image that is portrayed in many Disney movies. To explain further, many of the women in Disney movies are passive individuals who rely on their beauty to find a man. Also, these "princesses" are almost always thin, attractive, and sexualized, yet appear to be vulnerable too. Having these values depict the ideal female, can create issues that negatively influence children. In addition, this subconsciously teaches young girls that they need to be beautiful in order to find their prince charming or someone that will love them unconditionally.

With that being said, many Disney movies teach children (girls and boys) messages that are beneficial as well. Examples of positive messages include sharing, working together, being a good friend, etc.

While looking at YouTube clips that related to Disney movies and gender for this week's blog, I came across an interesting series of videos. They are called "Advice for Young Girls" and they are created by Belle, The Little Mermaid, and Snow White. These videos take the subliminal messages in Disney films and sarcastically express various pieces of advice that girls should definitely not follow. These videos may appear offensive, but they are meant as a form of humour to display how silly some of the role models for little girls are in a variety of Disney films.

The link below is the advice video from Belle from Beauty and the Beast. In this video, she explains (or mocks) that little girls should do the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuk-h2ZYNJU

- Stick it out if you find a man whose big, hairy, and beastly but has a lot of money and a big house
- Eat dinner with your man, but sometimes don't because he wants you to be skinny
- Never settle for something that doesn't feel like it's a challenge
- The key to love is to tolerate everything
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... As long as the woman is good looking

These words of wisdom are just some of the ridiculous messages that Disney movies often display to young children. It's difficult from my perspective because I grew up watching Disney films on a daily basis. My generation thrived on movies made by Disney, and although some people argue they teach children mixed messages, I understand the point of view that they are also classic films.

I think the important message in terms of children's movies is confirming the understanding. Children need to know that movies are made merely for entertainment purposes and not everything that happens in movies is real, appropriate, or the right thing to do. It is the parents' responsibility to speak to their children about this, otherwise we have little girls wanting to be princesses that need rescuing and little boys feeling the need to be a strong, emotionless hero.

Week 6: Men and Masculinity

As I mentioned in my post last week (week 5), my blog for week 6 will also focus on the subject of men and masculinity. The reading I will be addressing is called “My Son Wears Dresses; Get Over It” by Matt Duron. This story can be found at the following link:  http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/09/my-son-wears-dresses-get-over-it/279333/

For those who have not had the opportunity to read this piece of literature, I highly recommend doing so. It is a very well-written and informative article. To briefly summarize this reading, the author explains his situation regarding his son who wears dresses, heals, and make-up. This is a piece of his life Matt keeps secret to his co-workers and only shares with his close friends. The reason behind this is because Matt is a stereotypical “guy’s guy” and does not wish for others around him to treat his son differently because he appears to deviate from the so-called norm. Matt supports every decision his son makes regardless of whether or not it’s a “masculine” or “feminine” one.

Within this post, Matt makes a valid point in terms of his son’s “differences.” Matt explains that what his son wears and what toys he plays with is irrelevant because his son is happy and evidently that is the only thing that matters.

During class last week, our professor introduced the children’s story “My Princess Boy” written by Cheryl Kilodavis. This story articulated similar issues that both parents were facing when raising their “gender creative” sons.

In the book, Cheryl explains that raising a boy that prefers to wear girls’ clothing isn’t wrong, and that we should be accepting of them instead of trying to change them. With that being said, it’s difficult to ignore the outside pressures that come from the remainder of society. It is clear that Mike and Cheryl are not the only individuals who are dealing with a son that likes the colour pink. Many parents around the world seemed to find Cheryl’s book to be a helpful tool when accommodating their effeminate son(s). 

The class discussion that derived from reading this storybook hit very close to home. My little cousin, Owen, is a Princess Boy. In fact, my aunt recently bought this book just for him. It’s difficult to understand what it means to be around a boy who wants to be like a girl unless you personally know one. It's easy to pass judgments on someone you've only casted eyes on but never spoke to before.

To explain further, Owen is your typical six-year old child who lives at home with his mom and dad. The only difference between Owen and other youths his age is that his favourite colour is pink; he loves sparkles; and would rather play with Barbie and Bratz dolls than trucks. Is there anything wrong with Owen? Absolutely not! Is he happy? Yes!

It doesn’t matter if this is just a phase or how Owen will be for the rest of his life, but what breaks my heart is how he will unfortunately be treated when he finishes grade 1. For now, other children aren’t overly concerned with his outfits or choice of friends (girls), but soon enough they will be. I’m worried about Owen’s safety when he gets older, and more importantly I’m worried about his feelings. Kids are cruel these days and I can only imagine the mistreatment and discrimination he will be subjected to in a short time.

I said this in an earlier post, and I am going to mention it again. The overall bottom line when it comes to children is whether or not they are happy, safe, and healthy. Nothing else should be a concern to other children, teachers, parents, or any other set of individuals who feel gender stereotypes need to be followed on a strict basis. Who said gender norms were normal anyways? What does normal even mean?