Op-Ed

stories are outlets for diverse stories about diverse people. We as a human race are diverse so why can'y our stories be too? Not all people are a white male teenage boy trying to capture the attention of the hot mysterious girl in his biology class. No all people are a straight couple who lost the luster in their marriage and are searching for it again. Not all people are them. You may be, but not everyone is. You've seen then walking down the street, post on twitter, or order a cup of coffee at Starbucks. You've seen them, they exist. Why can't stories be about them too? Everyone wants to see themselves as apart of the story - as the character. We naturally do that as we engage om a story; we relate. Is it harder to relate when the character is drastically different from you? Can't we give everyone the privilege of seeing themselves apart of the narrative? It's natural for a human to want to belong. So why can't more stories be allowing all people to see themselves as you've seen you. I saw a post on Facebook complaining about how "all the TV shows this day have gay couples and black people" and how it was annoying. Why can't they be represented in a story as well? Why can't different perspectives and experiences be shown as well? You've seen yourself in the story, now it's their turn. Doesn't it give an exciting and fresh story in front of your eyes? Something new, original, and not what we've seen over and over and over again. Essentially, what I'm saying is that representation in the media matters. I like to relate this to when I was a little girl and my favorite princess was Sleeping Beauty. Why? The only reason was because she looked like me. I asked a coworker of mine who her favorite princess was. Her response was "Tiana, of course" like it was obvious. Of course she would pick the princess that looked like her. Every single girl I've asked this question to has picked the princess that has the closest resemblance to their own appearance - even when they don't even realize it. We love the characters who look like us. We all want that. Why can't we give that to everyone? As a little girl, I had three options for my princess. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Rapunzel. My coworker didn't have any until 2009. My friend? One although distressed in how Mulan is Chinese and she isn't "but she will take what she can get". Let stories have diverse people and backgrounds. I want something new - and so do they.
This was inspired by an Op-Ed I read in the New York Times about a man wishing the Super Mario Games would stop having Peach get kidnapped and Mario save her and all the the stereotypes that this enforces. One comment on the article read, "so you want the games to suck?". My response for you, nameless commenter, is for you to name how many mario games have this plot. I'll do it for you. The original Super Mario, Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario 64 and more. Yes I have played every single one of these so I know what I'm talking about. Do you know which of the countless mario games was my favorite? Super Mario 64 and Paper Mario. Paper Mario in particular because it was different and you could play as Peach for moments. I loved how it was fresh and new. We've seen the story hundreds of times so I agree with the author. Let's have something new! We've already had a male jedi protagonist, so why not a female one? We've seen the high school turmoil of a teenage white girl so why not one of a teenage japanese girl? We've seen a world war two move a million times so why not about another war between other countries? Representation can give us a new fresh breathe of air when watching the media we all love.

Violence

I hate it. I hate violence and I hate war. I get so distressed when I read about it in the news and am heartbroken when seeing as the damage it does to people emotionally, physically, financially, and psychologically. I don't believe in war (besides the fact that I believe it's only used for financial and economic gain rather than 'freedom') because of the violence it promotes. We glorify violence as the means to gain what is desired. America cares more about their military budget than of caring for those in needs. They would rather kill than heal.
Except, as I look at myself, am I reading preaching what I feel like I believe? I watch a lot of violent movies and play a lot of violent video games. I give those industries the money which encourages them to continue what they are doing. I let things slide past me in the world that afterwords I actively yell at. Yelling won't get me anywhere and yelling is the violent use of words.
I want peace and to be peaceful. I'm actively working on it and I wish the world would too.

Article of the Day 2/27/17

The truth can be hard to hear or admit to. No one wants to hear the truth they disagree with. It's uncomfortable, hurts ones ego or pride, it's conflicting, and unbelievable.
The truth also has many faces. Some things have a hard truth while others don't and you have to be brave and willing enough to accurately decipher it for yourself. Sometimes to accurately find the truth you have to take a step back, shed yourself of everything that makes you YOU and what you strongly believe and observe it objectively and maybe you can allow the truth to absorb into you and incorporate it within everything also inside of you - even if that requires adjustments and reevaluation.
There is also dignity in defending what you believe is the truth. One side isn't wrong or right all the time. It's not always black or white. Sometimes it's more grey, or a combination of both. All arguments have worthy merits and truths inside of them except we get lost in the competition of proving each other right that the truth gets lost along the way.

Article of The Day 2/20/17

Thanks,GOP Guy, For Speaking for Utah Women

I loved this Op-Ed a lot. I loved the letter format and the strong sarcasm as I think it was the most effective way to show the ridiculousness of the "GOP Guy" argument and how frustrated the author was. To be honest, I agree with the author as I don't believe that you have to lower a man's wage to bring up the woman's. In addition, isn't the GOP leader admitting to the wage gap by his statement. Also, no matter how much you believe in the traditional ways of the family, you won't be helping them by enforcing this idea. Wouldn't it be detrimental to a family if there wasn't sufficient income to support said family? If he really cared about family, he would recognize that every family is different and works in different ways. Having men and women be paid the same for the same work is so simple and basic, I can't understand why everyone wants to fit it. Shouldn't everyone get the same pay for the same work?? Why is this a hard concept to grasp and implement? I don't get it. It's ridiculous and that's why I love piece so much.

Language (part two)

WARNING: I will be using explicit or inappropriate language in order to analyze them, find their unconscious meanings and express why we shouldn't use them


First of all, why are so many insults, slangs, and slurs related to body parts? Is that the adult form of our childhood potty humor? We call people dicks, cocks, douche bags, and more when referring to someone who is a jerk, rude, or mean. All those words refer to a male penis. We call people pussies and c***for someone who is weak. Those words refer to a female vagina. Why do we take these sex organs and make them an insult or some vulgar? It really could be just adult potty humor because two of the top swear words are s*** and f*** which refer to poop and sex. We never truly grew out of that phase did we? We just stepped it up a little and made it more "naughty". Another widely used word is b**** which is actually pretty sexist if you analyze it. You call a woman one but for a man you call him a son of a b**** which only goes back to insult not him but his mother. It's always insulting a woman. I think all these words are a bit ridiculous and silly when broken down. I don't want to use them because they are trival and there is always a better word to use and one that isn't considered offensive to others.

Article of the Day 2/8/17

Millennials in the Workplace

I'm not sure why, but before I watched the video I first read the comments. If you know anything about the comment section, you will know that it is very treacherous territory. You never know what you'll see that will piss you off, be incredibly stupid, or surprisingly amusing. This time, I found a comment that I agreed with strongly. The Youtube user 'Mirage' commented "Isn't it the parents, the predecessors of the millennials that made the world the way it is now, isn't it them who raised the millennials themselves?  Isn't that like Frankenstein creating his monster, and then blaming the monster for who and what he is?" and that is precisely my feelings on the worlds issues with "millennials". I love this video because he doesn't blame all of the world's problems on millennials and drone on and on about how they are the worst generation yet. He acknowledges the problems and how they aren't necessarily our fault and provides solutions. I felt very inspired by this video and I actually turned off all my notifications on my phone. Due to social anxiety and shyness, I tend to cling onto my phone for comfort. I could never get rid of it though as the people I am the closest to currently in my life don't live near me. My 3 best friends all go to different schools, even different states. My phone is a reason I am still so close to them. With that in mind, I still agree with him. The environment, technology, the way we were brought up, impatience are things that I want to work on to be a happier person and fulfill my life to what I desire.

Article of the Day 2/15/17

She was warned. She was given an explaination. Nevertheless, she persisted.

     She was warned.
The words repeated endlessly
To a point were "No" was suffocating
Restrictions aren't always justified
She was open ears until they shot her down

     She was given an explanation
But her brain pressed mute before she heard
If they really wanted to her learn,
Maybe they shouldn't shred her humanity.
They fear those who pushed the margins.

     Nevertheless, she persisted.
Excuses weren't enough to disrupt stubbornness
She held her head high and dodged the bullets
There will always be someone out there
Trying to rip you apart,
By seeing the gleam in your eyes
That's why you have to carry on stronger.

Language (part one)

In class we've talked about how important language is and it's use. There is some language we use that indirectly imply things or apply harsh judgement unconsciously. We don't always realize the effect of or language. This applies to slurs, crude or swear words. I've grown up not swearing. Although my mother would stand at the top of the stairs screaming vulgar language down at my lazy brother, I was taught that that kind of language was bad. My friends would use the words that I taught not to use and I would hold on to what I was taught. I remember my freshmen year of high school I accidentally swore when reading something allowed and everyone gasped. No one could believe that I actually said it. As time has progressed, that has changed. Although my language isn't perfect anymore, I still believe that I should use it. I've always lived with the idea that I didn't want to offend or hurt anyone. I remember making this a mantra of mine years before people were complaining about "political correctness" and "everyone being offended by everything". Language has ways of hurting someone or offending them and I never wanted to put someone in that kind of place. Even indirectly. I want to be aware of things and be the best person I can possibly be. Sometimes when I'm in the shower I think about these kind of things and I found myself going on a rant about language the other day. My next post will be about me analyzing words - not just swear words but also slangs or words used for insults.

Gender Nonconformity

I read a scholarly article published in 2016 entitled "The Relationship Between Childhood Gender Nonconformity and Experiencing Diverse Types of Homophobic Violence" I read this a part of my research paper about Homophobia and Gender Stereotypes.

To me it was really disheartening to see how many people are victims to violence because of their differences or nonconformity to a type of person they want them to be. Everyone should be allowed to be who they are and all these ways to conform and expectations are very limiting to us and everyone else to be who they really are. I remember singing a song that was originally sung by a boy and my brothers teasing me about singing a boys song when I should sing a girls song. I remember liking the blue powerpuff girl the most but being mocked because blue was a blue color so I wasn't a girl if I liked the blue powerpuff girl - even if she was a girl herself. I liked something but was told no because it didn't fit into what was defined into what is meant for a boy or a girl. These limited my ability to like what I actually liked. How many people let these expectations become who they are? Do they like what they like because they were told to or do they really like it? That's a really blurred answer because so much of everything is controlled by such pressure to conform. I hate that so many people have to experience things like that and are limited because they must conform. I hate how those who don't conform experience violence in a variety of ways. We preach about letting everyone being themselves but we don't allow anyone to actually be that way. We tell our children that they are unique and special then mock those who are different by calling them "special snowflakes.
So which is it? What do you really believe?

Article of the Day 2/6/17

If Gender Stereotypes Didn't Exist

Gender Stereotypes are restricting. I believe you can be who you actually are, deep down inside that part that is just so you, if you ignore what you're told is unacceptable to like. You are your most genuine self when you shed gender expectations, personality guildlines, and more. If you enjoy what you enjoy then you are happier. In my sociology class, one article we read really peaked my interest. I don't have the textbook anymore but what it was about was about about how there are even gender differences in what's acceptable to non-conform to. This article reminded me of the discussion because it was about how it's more okay for females to conform to male interests than it is for males to like female interests. Because of all the great advancement, there are more things that are acceptable for girls to do (Don't get me wrong. I do not believe it's fully there). I'm aware it's not the case for everyone, but in my own life and in the article it explained how girls were praised for being "like a man". Girls were encouraged and praised for adapting "male traits" while boys were shamed for "female traits". This mindset is saying that it's better to be a male than a female. It's saying that male traits and interests are better than female. Masculine is better than femininity. The sociogical article also went into depth about how this fear of male's being feminine actually comes from a place of homophobia. Fathers fear that their son who takes an interest in feminine things might be gay. The same was not thought of for girls. The fear of males being feminine is directly connected to the fear that they could be gay. There are so many problems with this. Not only is being gay a bad thing, but there is nothing wrong with liking "feminine" things. Just because a boy likes baby dolls doesn't mean he likes boys. And what's so wrong if he did? The article also discussed on how fathers saw males like feminine things and being gay as a failure of their own masculinity and parental role. Again, there are so many problems with that. Just because your son liked to wear floral scents doesn't mean that you failed as a father. Again, this is also a place of homophobia. Just because your son is gay doesn't mean that you failed as a parent.

I am planning of doing gender stereotypes for my research project as I have SO much more to say :)