In today’s culture, it is not easy to be growing up as a female. The media is presenting the average woman with magazine covers, posters and ads to show them what they should really look like. Many times, the average woman will realize that they have “let themselves go,” and want to change their body type through procedures such as Botox, plastic surgery, and even going on crash diets. Most of these average women have jobs and a family, while the models in these pictures dedicate their lives to this career of starvation and subliminally making other women feel bad about themselves. In many advertisements in all media, focus on quick weight loss solutions, and how to make your body look the way that the media tells them what a woman should look like.
A good example of people changing their looks with Botox and different surgeries is Heidi Montag. In the link provided below, there is more information on her surgeries, and why she felt the need to change herself so much.
The portrayal of being a woman is shown more and more in younger girls today. There are younger girls on magazine covers that are seen as “grown up” and “sophisticated.” When I was growing up, I had never noticed the magazine covers of the beautiful women and their body. Now as a teenager, I can see it from a different point of view, and see kids that I baby sit, want to be like those girls. They are dressing up, and putting on makeup, and pretending to have a day at the spa. When I was their age, all I wanted to do is play sports. If the girls were inside playing with Barbies, I wanted to be outside with the boys; I had no interest in make-up nor did I care about what people thought of me. I didn’t feel pressure from the media to make myself to look like the women in the magazines.
Growing up, it was just my sister and I. We were both very active in sports. We played soccer, basketball, softball, I swam, and more recently we started playing field hockey. My sister and I went out in the backyard, played and ran around having fun. Even though we were athletic young girls, we weren't afraid to play with Barbies or Easy Bake Ovens. We were always active in sports, but weren't afraid to show our girly side.
As a female in today's culture I am very fortunate that I was never a subject of the media and try to make myself look like what the media expects girls to look like and act like.
REPRESENTATION OF DIFFERENCE
Homosexuality is not socially accepted as normal in our culture. For many years people have been discriminated, and socially ignored because of who they are. There are many times when people act homosexual with their friends as a joke, but once it begins to become serious, people start to judge unfairly.
At a younger age, people are starting to come out and announce their homosexuality. There are many states where same-sex marriage is illegal, and there are very few where homosexuals don’t have the same rights as heterosexuals.
To keep the presentation of the social norm in our culture, it is not unusual for people to present themselves in a certain way to prove that they aren’t homosexual. For example, male dancers might be working out more to look and be strong so people don’t think that they are weak, girly and/or come off as being part of the homosexual stereotype. When people walk into a hair salon, or a nail salon and they see a male doing other peoples nails, and cutting their hair, they automatically think that they are a homosexual. We often stereotype them as 'gay' or 'fags' which is not fair, and a complete stretch of the imagination. Just because someone wears tight jeans, dyes their hair, and talks in a non-masculine voice it doesn't mean that they are homosexual. This is what our culture does; it judges people with out getting to know them, which leaves those people who are judged unfairly without a voice to defend themselves.
Our culture is always telling people that it socially unacceptable for them to be gay or lesbian. Even if we don't say it, we are always telling them with our actions that they are damaged or that they are useless.
Our culture looks up to stars, actors, singers etc. to set the example for how we are supposed to act and look like. In society, it is socially acceptable for someone famous to announce their homosexuality, but when there are people everyday that want to come out, they can't because they are afraid.
This video is a perfect example of people acting homosexual as a joke, but can quickly turn serious. Steve Carell's character, Michael, is going to give a guy a hug for a demonstration. When Michael approaches him with open arms, the man refuses. The man refuses because he thinks that Michael is serious. When Michael goes to leave, the man agrees to give him a hug. Michael hugs the man, but also goes in for a kiss, in front of everyone in the office, solely as a joke. When they are done, another character, Dwight, takes it seriously and goes up to kiss the man again. When Michael realizes what he is doing, he stops him, and wonders why he did it. Even though the people in the office watching Michael kiss the man knew it was a joke, they had puzzled looks on their faces, but didn't judge him because of the fact that they knew he was kidding.
Growing up, I had friends that had homosexual parents, and I didn't ask questions. At the time when I was friends with them, I was elementary age, so it seemed different, but I didn't care. I liked them for who they were. They were great friends, and even though we have grown apart as families, I know that that no matter what, we will never judge them or deny them of anything because of their sexuality. Even now when I see them together, I view them as normal people who just happened to fall in love with the same sex. Even in high school, I have friends that are my age announcing that they are gay, and I respect them so much more than some other people because they are not afraid to be something that our culture tells them they aren't allowed to be. More on this topic, can be found at the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/us/04marriage.html THEAMERICANDREAM Today, I believe that there is no definition of the “American Dream.” Many years ago, it was a (white) married couple with 2.7 kids, a dog, and a ranch house. For many years the white race has been dominant in this country although there are many different cultures in America.
Starting in 2008 with the election of our first African-American president, Barack Obama, many people had changed their views on the “American Dream.” The Obama’s are an African-American family, with two kids, and a dog, living the American life in the big White House. I believe that this family changed the way Americans think about each other and the "right" way of the American people.
I had never actually thought of what the American Dream was to me, but now that I see this family whose race is among one of the most discriminated living in the same free country as I do, I now see why this country is so great. There are many different races, cultures and traditions on American soil; it’s a wonder why we all get along. Its not fair to assume that just because a person is Latino, or Mexican or Italian that they aren’t American. Not only do we have African-Americans, but we do have Italian-Americans, and Arab-Americans. After our most recent tragedy of 9/11/2001, there are many Americans that discriminate against the Muslim-Americans and the Hindu-Americans because they look like terrorists. Just like learning that someone is homosexual, when someone sees that someone is of the Muslim race they automatically assume that they are the people that bombed the World Trade Centers. As Americans, we have a background of discrimination against races that are not our own. We are used to our own lifestyle, and when someone interrupts that lifestyle, whatever it may be, we feel the need to throw up our guard, and go to war.
There are many other countries in this world that speak only one language, practice one religion, and celebrate the same traditions. America is different. In this country, there are so many different ethnic backgrounds, races and different cultures. Ever since schools became integrated with other races, kids have been learning more and more about other cultures, and religious values from the people who know them best.
In a recent documentary, Prom Night, seniors from Charleston High School in Charleston, Mississippi express their feelings about their segregated prom in the year 2008. There are about 415 students in Charleston High School, and they all disagree on their current prom situation. The school was finally integrated in 1970, and ever since then until 2008, the school had a black prom, and a white prom; this school was 30% white and 70% black, so you can imagine what those proms were like. One of the students at the school said that it is the American Dream to be better than the generation before you. I agree because this country can't improve or move on, unless each generation makes an effort to try and include everyone. Native from this state, Morgan Freeman, steps in and agrees to pay for their prom. When the prom finally happens, there are still some people and families that would like to attend the all white prom, but the turnout isn't so great. During the all new mixed prom, everyone is getting along, and no one is arguing, or got hurt.
I think that this unique prom situation is what America is like today as a whole. The white-only prom represents the minority of people in our country that are still racist, and the integrated prom represents the rest of America that can accept people for who they are, and don't judge by their color. I think that over the years America has grown, and I believe that this great country will continue to grow, if each generation tries to make an effort to make it happen.
Within the last few decades, many people have become dependent on sports to make them famous, make them rich, and even get them through college. Today while pay cuts are being made at schools, teachers are getting laid off, and important high level clubs are being taken out of the budget, parents are more worried about the sports being cut. In June of 1972, a new law was enacted into the Education Amendments of 1972 called, Title IX. This law states that "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..." The original statute of this law made no clear mention about sports, however, that is how it ended up.
As a result of this law, many of the male sports teams were cut, or got laid off from events that they used to be able to do. They men were upset about this, especially wrestlers. Since the law says it is illegal to discriminate because of race, and there wasn't a girls team, wrestling got cut all together.
I think that many of the boys complained because they weren't used to the equality between men and women
sports, and now that there is, they feel like they are the ones that are being ripped off, because the girls are getting more privileges. Even though it may seem like the girls are getting an unfair amount more than the boys, athletic directors are actually evening out the amount of privileges among the men and women sports.
For almost all of my life I have been playing at least one sport at a time, mostly softball, and as I got older I have realized that politics trump skill in some matters especially softball. For example, if someones daughter wasn't as good as the level she should be at but her parents are involved in the softball community, she will make the team and it's all because her parents knew the coach.
Politics and sports aren't supposed to co-inside with each other, but somehow for every team, and every sport, there will be someone who smooth-talks the coach, and their child get to be the starting player. For some reason, it is hard for people to accept their children
for who they are as athletes or non-athletes instead of realizing another potential that their child may have.
Another political view in sports is drugs. As a high school student and as an athlete I know what my consequences are for drug use. I know that I will get kicked off the team, and ruin my chances for future plans in college. It goes the same for a college athlete too, but why is it different for the professionals? I'm not talking about when Tiger cheated on his wife, those are his own problems, but when Alex Rodriguez's urine test came back positive in 2003 for the use of steroids. When he used the steroids, he was with the Texas Rangers, the next year in 2004, he signed a new contract with the New York Yankees, and has been with them ever since. He claims that he will never use them again, but no one really knows that for sure. For many years professional athletes have been breaking the law and many rules, and still get away with it, I think that it is time for those athletes to have a punishment just like regular athletes who don't make any money. For more on this, see the link below. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/05/23/2010-05-23_why_is_new_york_yankees_alex_rodriguez_different_from_others_who_juiced.html
Growing Up Female in America 2010
In today’s culture, it is not easy to be growing up as a female. The media is presenting the average woman with magazine covers, posters and ads to show them what they should really look like. Many times, the average woman will realize that they have “let themselves go,” and want to change their body type through procedures such as Botox, plastic surgery, and even going on crash diets. Most of these average women have jobs and a family, while the models in these pictures dedicate their lives to this career of starvation and subliminally making other women feel bad about themselves. In many advertisements in all media, focus on quick weight loss solutions, and how to make your body look the way that the media tells them what a woman should look like.
A good example of people changing their looks with Botox and different surgeries is Heidi Montag. In the link provided below, there is more information on her surgeries, and why she felt the need to change herself so much.
The portrayal of being a woman is shown more and more in younger girls today. There are younger girls on magazine covers that are seen as “grown up” and “sophisticated.” When I was growing up, I had never noticed the magazine covers of the beautiful women and their body. Now as a teenager, I can see it from a different point of view, and see kids that I baby sit, want to be like those girls. They are dressing up, and putting on makeup, and pretending to have a day at the spa. When I was their age, all I wanted to do is play sports. If the girls were inside playing with Barbies, I wanted to be outside with the boys; I had no interest in make-up nor did I care about what people thought of me. I didn’t feel pressure from the media to make myself to look like the women in the magazines.
Growing up, it was just my sister and I. We were both very active in sports. We played soccer, basketball, softball, I swam, and more recently we started playing field hockey. My sister and I went out in the backyard, played and ran around having fun. Even though we were athletic young girls, we weren't afraid to play with Barbies or Easy Bake Ovens. We were always active in sports, but weren't afraid to show our girly side.
As a female in today's culture I am very fortunate that I was never a subject of the media and try to make myself look like what the media expects girls to look like and act like.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/14/heidi-montags-10-plastic_n_423855.html
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
REPRESENTATION OF DIFFERENCE
Homosexuality is not socially accepted as normal in our culture. For many years people have been discriminated, and socially ignored because of who they are. There are many times when people act homosexual with their friends as a joke, but once it begins to become serious, people start to judge unfairly.
At a younger age, people are starting to come out and announce their homosexuality. There are many states where same-sex marriage is illegal, and there are very few where homosexuals don’t have the same rights as heterosexuals.
To keep the prese
Our culture is always telling people that it socially unacceptable for them to be gay or lesbian. Even if we don't say it, we are always telling them with our actions that they are damaged or that they are useless.
Our culture looks up to stars, actors, singers etc. to set the example for how we are supposed to act and look like. In society, it is socially acceptable for someone famous to announce their homosexuality, but when there are people everyday that want to come out, they can't because they are afraid.
This video is a perfect example of people acting homosexual as a joke, but can quickly turn serious. Steve Carell's character, Michael, is going to give a guy a hug for a demonstration. When Michael approaches him with open arms, the man refuses. The man refuses because he thinks that Michael is serious. When Michael goes to leave, the man agrees to give him a hug. Michael hugs the man, but also goes in for a kiss, in front of everyone in the office, solely as a joke. When they are done, another character, Dwight, takes it seriously and goes up to kiss the man again. When Michael realizes what he is doing, he stops him, and wonders why he did it. Even though the people in the office watching Michael kiss the man knew it was a joke, they had puzzled looks on their faces, but didn't judge him because of the fact that they knew he was kidding.
Growing up, I had friends that had homosexual parents, and I didn't ask questions. At the time when I was friends with them, I was elementary age, so it seemed different, but I didn't care. I liked them for who they were. They were great friends, and even though we have grown apart as families, I know that that no matter what, we will never judge them or deny them of anything because of their sexuality. Even now when I see them together, I view them as normal people who just happened to fall in love with the same sex. Even in high school, I have friends that are my age announcing that they are gay, and I respect them so much more than some other people because they are not afraid to be something that our culture tells them they aren't allowed to be. More on this topic, can be found at the link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/us/04marriage.html
THE AMERICAN DREAM
Today, I believe that there is no definition of the “American Dream.” Many years ago, it was a (white) married couple with 2.7 kids, a dog, and a ranch house. For many years the white race has been dominant in this country although there are many different cultures in America.
Starting in 2008 with the election of our first African-American president, Barack Obama, many people had changed their views on the “American Dream.” The Obama’s are an African-American family, with two kids, and a dog, living the American life in the big White House. I believe that this family change
I had never actually thought of what the American Dream was to me, but now that I see this family whose race is among one of the most discriminated living in the same free country as I do, I now see why this country is so great. There are many different races, cultures and traditions on American soil; it’s a wonder why we all get along. Its not fair to assume that just because a person is Latino, or Mexican or Italian that they aren’t American. Not only do we have African-Americans, but we do have Italian-Americans, and Arab-Americans. After our most recent tragedy of 9/11/2001, there are many Americans that discriminate against the Muslim-Americans and the Hindu-Americans because they look like terrorists. Just like learning that someone is homosexual, when someone sees that someone is of the Muslim race they automatically assume that they are the people that bombed the World Trade Centers. As Americans,
There are many other countries in this world that speak only one language, practice one religion, and celebrate the same traditions. America is different. In this country, there are so many different ethnic backgrounds, races and different cultures. Ever since schools became integrated with other races, kids have been learning more and more about other cultures, and religious values from the people who know them best.
In a recent documentary, Prom Night, seniors from Charleston High School in Charleston, Mississippi express their feelings about their segregated prom in the year 2008. There are about 415 students in Charleston High School, and they all disagree on their current prom situation. The school was finally integrated in 1970, and ever since then until 2008, the school had a black prom, and a white prom; this school was 30% white and 70% black, so you can imagine what those proms were like. One of the students at the school said that it is the American Dream to be better than the generation before you. I agree because this country can't improve or move on, unless each generation makes an effort to try and include everyone. Native from this state, Morgan Freeman, steps in and agrees to pay for their prom. When the prom finally happens, there are still some people and families that would like to attend the all white prom, but the turnout isn't so great. During the all new mixed prom, everyone is getting along, and no one is arguing, or got hurt.
I think that this unique prom situation is what America is like today as a whole. The white-only prom represents the minority of people in our country that are still racist, and the integrated prom represents the rest of America that can accept people for who they are, and don't judge by their color. I think that over the years America has grown, and I believe that this great country will continue to grow, if each generation tries to make an effort to make it happen.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
http://www.helium.com/items/1586306-obama-is-the-president-and-he-will-be-the-president
Politics and Sports
Within the last few decades, many people have become dependent on sports to make them famous, make them rich, and even get them through college. Today while pay cuts are being made at school
As a result of this law, many of the male sports teams were cut, or got laid off from events that they used to be able to do. They men were upset about this, especially wrestlers. Since the law says it is illegal to discriminate because of race, and there wasn't a girls team, wrestling got cut all together.
I think that many of the boys complained because they weren't used to the equality between men and women
sports, and now that there is, they feel like they are the ones that are being ripped off, because the girls are getting more privileges. Even though it may seem like the girls are getting an unfair amount more than the boys, athletic directors are actually evening out the amount of privileges among the men and women sports.
For almost all of my life I have been playing at least one sport at a time, mostly softball, and as I got older I have realized that politics trump skill in some matters especially softball. For example, if someones daughter wasn't as good as the level she should be at but her parents are involved in the softball community, she will make the team and it's all because her parents knew the coach.
Politics and sports aren't supposed to co-inside with each other, but somehow for every team, and every sport, there will be
for who they are as athletes or non-athletes instead of realizing another potential that their child may have.
Another political view in sports is drugs. As a high school student and as an athlete I know what my consequences are for drug use. I know that I will get kicked off the team, and ruin my chances for future plans in college. It goes the same for a college athlete too, but why is it different for the professionals? I'm not talking about when Tiger cheated on his wife, those are his own problems, but when Alex Rodriguez's urine test came back positive in 2003 for the use of steroids. When he used the steroids, he was with the Texas Rangers, the next year in 2004, he signed a new contract with the New York Yankees, and has been with them ever since. He claims that he will never use them again, but no one really knows that for sure. For many years professional athletes have been breaking the law and many rules, and still get away with it, I think that it is time for those athletes to have a punishment just like regular athletes who don't make any money. For more on this, see the link below.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/05/23/2010-05-23_why_is_new_york_yankees_alex_rodriguez_different_from_others_who_juiced.html