building blocks to the gender box

You are born into this world with a pre determined gender box.  Because of this you have you path set out for you for the rest of your life.  If you ever try to challenge these parameters, you will be looked at as an outcast, a rebel against the cause.  In society, it is frowned upon to step outside the box, or even think outside the box; these kinds of actions are not acceptable.  I ask myself, why is it that society cares so much about other peoples genders, or sexual orientations?  Just because one person might posses gender characteristics from the opposite sexes box, than why is that a bad thing?  Although in most recent years these types of issues have been becoming less relevant, we still see the issues around.  I believe that there is a need to accept certain behaviors, and this is one of them.

every day reality

There is this show on MSNBC Sunday nights called To Catch a Predator.  I have been watching this show for a while now because I find it interesting to watch.  It is a show that catches online predators, trying to solicit teens.  It is appalling to think that people actually do this; 40 year old men, trying to have sexual contact with 13 year old girls.  The world is a scary place when you aren’t even safe from adults, who are thought to have morality.  Whenever I watch this class it makes me think about gender conflicts.  It is evident that there is this conflict between men and children, not always between the opposite sexes, there is also a conflict between the same gender. I just thought it was interesting how so many things occurring in every day life can relate to the class.

Women in the Work place

Today I was watching a movie for another class called North Country.  This movie was about sexual harassment in the workplace during the mid 1980’s.  While watching this movie, I could not help but to think of how it relates to the class.  The main character as a student (16 years old) was raped; as a result, her parents and community for the rest of her life shunned her, because she was labeled as a whore.  As a woman she got a job at a mining company, where it was common for women to be harassed.  It was not until this women stood up for her rights as a member of the union and fought for equal rights.  I couldn’t help but to think about how hard it must have been for women to work in such conditions, and to this day their still isn’t full equality.  A lot have progress has been made to aid women in the work place, and one day this goal will be established.

gender separation

While thinking about the final project for the class, I began to think of ideas for my topic.  I decided to look into how institutions shape gender.  More specifically, I was planning on evaluating gender separation throughout your life, starting at birth.  From even before you are born, your gender identity is set out for you.  At baby showers, gifts vary depending on the sex of the baby; boys get blues, and sporty things, where girls get pink and “girlie” things.  From that point on you have your path to follow, a girl will grow up wearing dresses, playing with dolls, and using her easy bake oven; boys grow up playing with a football, getting dirty outside and rough housing with their friends.  It is a interesting topic to scrutinize, but it is the way things have been for a great deal of time.  I bring this up because I thought it was something interesting to share with everyone. 

Innocent people

I was working on a research paper this evening about the ongoing wars in Uganda.  Throughout this project I have come across some very appalling information, and am stunned that such things are actually going on in the world.  It is hard to think that humans like you and me can carry out such inhumane acts.  The Lords Resistance army has been pillaging villages throughout Africa for decades, causing havoc along the way.  These insurgents are famous for abducting innocent people, men, women, and children.  They force these people into joining their insurgent group; manipulating men and boys into fighting for their cause, women and girls are enslaved into marriage and forcible raped.  These innocent people have done nothing to the members of the Lords Resistance army, yet they are the victims of war crimes.  I find it astonishing to see that such acts are occurring, and have been ongoing for decades.  I just thought this was interesting and related to many topics that we have discussed in the class.