Gender

1)  There are multiple messages that are portrayed about the ways girls should be in today's society. Through the media and advertisements, I've seen that girls should always dress to impress. I've also heard from television and the media that girls shouldn't play boys' sports. The bias is everywhere I look, from toy advertisements to fashion magazines. The idea that only girls should wear pink was big when I was younger. Through our discussion in class about the sexualization of women everywhere, I have become more aware of this in movies, television shows, and music. Just the other day I saw a movie that was demeaning to women; the only thing shown about them was that they parade around in skimpy clothing and bathing suits, nothing about them being intelligent or independent. I don't think my parents ever tried to conform me into a typical "little princess" that is portrayed in today's society; an example of how this idea has gotten out of hand is the television show "Toddlers and Tiaras." I don't buy into the messages that say girls have to be a certain way, such as always emotional or wearing makeup, and that there is no place for wavering, such as a girl wanting to play a predominately male sport like football.

2)  I can only think of a few times where my parents ever said anything in response to my behavior based on my gender. In elementary school I wanted to play soccer for my school team; it was co-ed. My mom wouldn't let me try out because she didn't want me to get injured and not be able to play for my club team. I knew that the real reason was because she didn't want a boy to injure me; I thought I could handle them just fine, but I wasn't even allowed to try. Despite this, my parents have encouraged my sister and I to do things that we wanted to do and haven't said anything about gender-ism. For example, I was a power-ranger for Halloween for three years straight when I was younger and didn't have a care in the world. My sister and I also spent days playing with dolls and stuffed animals too. We've always been taught to be who we are, nothing and no-one else.

3)  Going to an all-girls high school has been empowering because everyone strives toward their own goals; it's not crazy, it's normal. By going to a single-sex high school I have been able to focus on my education and not about what I have to wear the next day or what I look like. Being surrounded by people who share the same ideas and goals has made me proud to be a girl because I know there are other people like me. This school has made an impact on me by letting me be myself. As a school, we break the gender stereotypes of how a girl should be in society. I feel prepared for college and for my future in the workforce and wherever else my life leads me.

4)  I anticipate that in future romantic relationships there should be an equal amount of traditional and nontraditional roles. I think its nice when boys hold doors open, kill bugs/spiders, and pay for things, but I also think that boys should be able to cook and clean and show emotion too. On the other hand, women should be able not only to show emotion and cook, but also should be able to pay for a meal or do something regarding physical labor. I think I have these expectation or ideals from seeing my parents' relationship. Both my parents work constantly and share the responsibilities at home. It shows that they believe each of them is capable of completing any job. Each relationship is different, but one that is both traditional and innovative or nontraditional seems to be better, at least to me.

Miss Representation

My reactions to the documentary Miss Representation and the article "Little women: How consumer culture is forcing girls to grow up too fast" were numerous.  First, it was made more clear to me that women are objectified and sexualized, often at a very young age.  It is become the custom to judge women based on their outward appearance alone, which in turn leads them to believe that their appearance determines their worth; obviously, this is not true.  This false theory has lead to women spending $12,000-$15,000 a year on beauty products; crazy, right?  The perception of women has been changing, but not in a good way.  Second, self-objectification is a growing problem that has risen over the past ten years.  When something or someone makes a women an object, something without emotions or thoughts, it is dehumanizing.  There's a gender bias in the media and advertising; marketers dictate what is put out into the world and who they want the information targeted at.  For example, TV targets men ages 18-34; therefore, commercials, movies, and shows are all going to contain material that would interest that age group.  This is shown by the fact that only 16% of protagonists in films today are female; it was stated that women in films were more complex beings in 1920s and 1930s film - beings, not objects.  Third, young girls don't see women in leadership roles or appropriate high stakes careers and then think that they can't achieve their goals and get discouraged.  Why is it that women make up 51% of Americans, but only 17% of politics?  Why is it that large conglomerates have male CEOs, but only one or two women on the board?  Society may think that the media and advertising don't have an affect on the world, but in reality, they shape society. The media doesn't care about moral, family, or ethical values, just about making money; it is sad.  This idea can be seen in the workforce; politics and the media look down on powerful women.  Men will pit female newscasters against each other; they will cover or talk about the woman's appearance, not what she had to say.  There is also emotional representation bias; reporters don't ask men and women the same questions and will use differing words when explaining their tones, such as complained vs stated.  Despite all the uproar that has developed about this important topic, there have been no governmental policy changes and no type of censorship in the media.

Both the article and the documentary eluded to the fact that this perception and sexualization of women at a young age can be dangerously damaging to the minds of girls and guys.  Humans are not fully emotionally or intellectually developed until their early 20s (around 25).  Skimpily dressed dolls and thong underwear sized for girls aged 7 to 10 are only a few of the ways that young girls are receiving this unhealthy message.  Not only can these ideas be damaging to the mind, but also can cause health problems, such as eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and anxiety and depression.  Everything that is done to change the perception of girls can be considered symbolic annihilation.  I really liked this line from the article, "The boundary between childhood and adolescence has really been eroded because it's profitable."   The article also talked about the affect all this has on boys.  Sure, it's mostly talked about how this dehumanization of girls is horrible, but what about all ideas young men are getting?  With all the ads and shows, boys grow up thinking that this is what the culture is and this is how it's supposed to be.  Parents can limit and control all that they want, but it doesn't mean that boys won't get the ideas from somewhere else.  There's a split in today's culture for parents: the "cool" parent who gives in and the "mean" parent who sets rules and punishments; as the article states, there's "competitive parenting."  As with most unjust ideas, there's been groups that have pushed for further education of parents and young children about the issue and for corporations to take responsibility for their part in this rising trend.

Little women: How consumer culture is forcing girls to grow up too fast - See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/parenting/2012/04/little-women-how-consumer-culture-forcing-girls-grow-too-fast#sthash.c6ZQp7oU.dpuf

Little women: How consumer culture is forcing girls to grow up too fast - See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/parenting/2012/04/little-women-how-consumer-culture-forcing-girls-grow-too-fast#sthash.c6ZQp7oU.dpuf

Little women: How consumer culture is forcing girls to grow up too fast - See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/parenting/2012/04/little-women-how-consumer-culture-forcing-girls-grow-too-fast#sthash.c6ZQp7oU.dpuf

Little women: How consumer culture is forcing girls to grow up too fast - See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/parenting/2012/04/little-women-how-consumer-culture-forcing-girls-grow-too-fast#sthash.c6ZQp7oU.dpuf

Little women: How consumer culture is forcing girls to grow up too fast - See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/life/parenting/2012/04/little-women-how-consumer-culture-forcing-girls-grow-too-fast#sthash.c6ZQp7oU.dpuf

As a young woman, I imagine/anticipate the role that my gender will play in the workplace will be a strong and powerful source.  Despite the fact that today there are many career paths dominated by men, I anticipate that in the coming years there will be less of a gender split in these fields.  Women are capable of just as much as men are, no matter what the job entails.  Sure, there are fields were men and women better excel separately, but that doesn't mean that the other gender can't give it a go.  For example, engineers have been categorized as a men's field, but the amount of women interested in it is rapidly growing; also, designers have been categorized as a women's field, but there are many successful male designers for women's and men's clothing.  I think that depending on the person, women seem to have more of a drive to excel in the world; they feel as if they have something more to prove.  Additionally, women have other obligations that some men seem to leave by the wayside.  As mentioned in the documentary, 70% of women in workforce are mothers. What does that say about the dedication and effort that women have in the workforce?  I anticipate that women will gain respect and will continue to push the boundaries of the gender bias in the workforce.

Attending the Mount has affected my understanding of my gender and identity by teaching me that our generation, and the generations to follow, are the hope of the world.  Going to school there has taught me to have dignity and courage.  Having an establishment of all one gender may date back to times when girls were not valued as much, but shows that people believe in the education of women.  My understanding of women as whole has become more well-rounded; we are a complex gender with many great qualities and we can accomplish a lot when we put our minds to it.  My identity has been shaped; I have met intelligent and inspiring young women who have taught me things about reality and about myself.  I have learned that it doesn't matter what you wear or how you look, it matters what you do with what you've got.  I can't actually imagine completing four years of co-ed high school; things would have been so different.

Mission Statement

My mission in life is to try to be my best self, not wanting to be someone else. I will strive not to let the demeaning thoughts of others throughout my life affect who I am and my own ideas and opinions; I will strive to develop my own identity. I wish to further develop my God-given talents, such as intelligence and athletic ability. I have an aspiration to learn more about the topics that interest me, including exercise science and psychology. I want to continue to play soccer, ski, and exercise in other ways because performing these activities, and others, makes me feel as if I am being productive with my time and enjoying life. I wish to travel and to participate or be a part of global or domestic sporting events because being part of those type of events is exciting and stimulating. With my love of animals, among other areas, I will strive to be an active member in communities and service projects that work to advance understanding and appreciate the things in the world that are taken advantage of or pushed aside due to the thought of lack of importance. Due to multiple injuries over the years, I hope to use my baccalaureate and doctorate education in my intended field, PT, to help others prevent injuries and to return stronger than before their injuries. I will strive to stand up for others and that which I value; I will argue my point and will not surrender without a thorough and fair fight. In my life, I will strive to demonstrate the values in which my family and friends have instilled in me: acceptance, acknowledgement, adaptability, appreciation, care, connection, determination, diversity, encouragement, growth, humor, individuality, patience, practicality, respect, service, strength, success, and vision (which are just some of them).

Identity

My family is the most prevalent factor that has affected my identity; after all, they are the ones who raised me. My parents have raised me to work hard at everything I do and to balance my life. They’ve been supportive of me in everything I’ve done, including school achievements and soccer. I have learned from my parents to be hardworking and to pursue a career that I enjoy because that's the only way to fulfill one’s life. I learned that I get involved in things that I enjoy and find interesting and that I support others in their choices because everyone has his or her own uniqueness. Because I have one sister who has attended both my elementary school and high school, I have felt like I have lived in her shadow since I started school; this is because teachers who have had both my sister and I sometimes have called me by her name. Despite this, having an older sister has been helpful because I can ask for her opinion or help on anything because she’s the only person who’s been through exactly what I have been through. I have learned from having a sister that there are times when I’m not always going to be the center of attention (and it’s not the end of the world) and that there are times when only the people who know me the most can give the best advice.

My friends are another important factor that has affected my identity. Some people say that who you make friends with gives insight into you as a person; in a way, I believe this is the case. The friends that I’ve made in the past four years have taught me a lot, not only about myself but the reality of the world in which I live. Freshman year seems like awhile ago, but it was when I made one of my closest friends. She and I bonded over having some of the same problems and liking some of the same music; I realized that there are other people like me, but I just hadn’t met them yet. Over the years, my friend group has changed. I have many friends who are interested in different things than I am; I think this is important because those are the people who introduce me to things I wouldn’t know about or have been exposed to at all. My friends have taught me about the type of people with which I make friends: interesting, caring, helpful, and different. With my friends’ varied backgrounds, I have learned that people are diverse and embracing this is the best way to learn about other traditions and ideas, but you have to be careful; not everyone is nice, not everyone befriends you for the right reasons, and not everyone will like you. Finally, I learned that as I change and discover more about myself, my friends will change too; it’s good to have people in your life from your past and present.

Lastly, a specific experience I had in eighth grade affected my identity. At GMA, I played basketball in seventh and eighth grade. In eighth grade, I played in almost every game and was in the starting lineup for some games. The day after Christmas, I broke my finger at practice and was not allowed to play for a couple weeks; it was upsetting to me at the time. At the end of the year, we had a sports awards assembly. I wasn't expecting to receive an award because we had a lot of good eighth grade girls on the team, but I did. I received the Helen Mohan Award, which was “presented to the eighth grade girl who displays outstanding effort and determination,” and I was shocked. Receiving the award was exciting and a confidence booster; I felt appreciated and instrumental to the team, but also proud of myself for making a lasting impression. I learned that if I apply and dedicate myself to an activity or task, I could be successful. Also, I learned that hard work pays off in the end, so it's always important to try my best, striving for a sense of achievement.