Individual research reflection

1.) Every part of this whole research project was difficult because of the group I was in. There was only 3 people out of the 10 in the group consistently working and really trying. It's difficult to work and try to get results when more than half of the group isn't taking the project seriously, which is why every part of this project was rather difficult.

2.) One obstacle I faced while planning the research is that my group was not focused on the work we were doing, they were constantly making jokes so we'd all get off task constantly and it made it difficult to try to figure out what our goal with the research was going to be which affected our results. If the group was on task then it could have led to better results coming from everyone rather the same 3 people.

3.) One obstacle I faced while facilitating our research is that one of my group member wanted to do all the work for everyone else in the group which I did not think was acceptable. I was also doing a lot of the work but at one point I gave up because it was not my responsibility to carry the weight of all the people not doing their work.

4.) Looking back on it now, while researching I would change the group I was working with from the start because I hated working in that group. But since I can't do that, I would change my focus on where I wanted my research was on, mainly focusing on the 8th graders instead of the whole middle school.

5.) Looking back on it now, while facilitating my research I would change my approach, I would not speak from a power point and I would try to think of what could I have used as an 8th grader 2 years ago to help me with my self confidence instead of how to directly solve the issue.

Blog post #5: Women in Advertisements

These images are showing women in uncomfortable positions and exploiting them to sell clothes by American Apparel. Clothing items such as leggings, socks, shorts, and shirts. In all pictures the women are in positions that sexualize them in ways that look "more attractive" and emphasizing their body. The company is trying to sell these kinds of clothes to young, skinny women of lighter complexion. It's images such as these that portray to women that they are more desirable when they dress and act more sexual and show more by wearing less. Of course there is nothing wrong with wearing less but it gives off the idea that women are more sexual if they wear less clothes than women who wear more clothes. It sends mixed beauty standards of what makes women more attractive and what makes women "sluts" (i.e, showing their bodies, being sexual) so from this young girls may not know what is "right or wrong". It is also sending a message that we are mire desirable when we are in sexual positions and exposing areas of our bodies that have been sexualized. This is all problematic because of it saying that this is how all women should look and be, and if they are not then they are "ugly." Notice how all the girls in the photos are rather skinny and fair skinned, it is yet another issue to address. Nowadays being fat and of darker complexion is associated with being unattractive, harming the views of women who have these features. It is problematic to only be showing one way of how women should look and then sexualizing them.

Blog post #4: What is girlhood?

1.) To be a Xicana girl in America means to follow set rules and standards at a young age. To grow up being sorry for being blunt or coming off as mean or being called a "man-hater" for being tired of the constant ignorance coming from them. I grew up in an environment where girls were to follow orders given to them and not ask questions. I was told that if my brother broke something while playing it was just "boys being boys" but when I did the same it was being "irresponsible." It is always putting your feelings aside and what you want to the side because of how you will be perceived. It is men telling you what is and is not sexism despite the fact that they're the ones that created this ideology that women are inferior and that men don't face sexism (I don't care if you disagree.) It is being told you're being annoying whenever you speak for something you're passionate about. It is having your feelings ignored and having to put up with the way boys treated you, because since you were little you were told "If a boy is mean to you it means that they like you" As if that didn't make girls become desensitized to abuse and confuse abuse with love. It's constantly being told "Porque ya dije! Y ya se acabo!"(Because I said so and that is the end!) and having to accept what is being demanded of you without getting the opportunity to ask questions and becoming used to the idea of your voice not being important. If being an American girl in America is hard, being a girl of color is worse. Our struggles are silenced by patriarchal and machistic mentalities of the men in our lives. It's worse when our own have had this mentality engrained into them too. Not having the liberty to be and do what I want, such as have a sex life and be open about it or wearing tight clothes and hanging around guys all the time, because these things determine how much self-respect I have. A constant shaming for everything that is perceived as wrong or not "lady-like." There is more to what being a Xicana girl means to me, but it's too much to write.

2.) Cultural artifacts that represent girlhood is the color pink. Every.Freaking.Thing that is pink is considered to be for girls and has unnecessary gendering. Princesses and Dolls are another major thing, always considered feminine even if it was Ken. Musicals are considered to be more for girls (not Broadway musicals, I'm talking about Disney Channel musicals.) Makeup is considered to be something only girls should wear. Baking is something that I've also noticed is more often associated with girls. Many simple things such as the ones I listed are cultural artifacts that represent girlhood.

3.) Growing up I did play with Barbie's. I had mostly character ones such as the HSM cast. I mostly played with Bratz dolls though because they were sometimes cheaper and I liked their big heads and replaceable feet, unlike Barbie that always lost her shoes. Bratz had more inclusiveness and that's something I noticed as a child that not many people noticed. Body figure was all kinds of messed up so I liked that. Barbie had more of a "one size fit's all" kind of thing going on. I noticed all my cousins pretty Barbie's were white with blond hair and blue eyes and skinnier than my pencil. I liked playing with dolls that reminded me of me. I also preferred American Girl dolls because they were bigger and looked more like little grown girls than sticks and felt more real to me (even if they were so expensive.) I've always been very observant so when I noticed that about Barbie's I stuck to my Gabriella Montez Barbie and Samantha American Girl and Yasmin Bratz dolls because they looked more like me.

Masculinity in Advertisements

In the image above Dr. Pepper is showing a picture of a Dr. Pepper can with muscular arms sticking out from the sides, giving a non-living item human (more hyper-masculine) qualities. Surrounding the can is a phrase that reads, "Are you man enough for Dr. Pepper ten?" The company is trying to sell their new kind of soda, targeting men who are body builders and care about their image, in my point of view. The advertisement is telling men that somehow, a soda determines how "manly" you are. Masculinity will be defined by this Dr. Pepper Ten, it is not intended for men who are perceived as "skinny" and "all bones" without muscle. It is saying that muscles show how much of a man you are, without them you're not "enough of a man." Men should be muscular and drink Dr. Pepper in order to be considered a real man. This entire ad is problematic. What does being "man enough" mean? Who determines who is "manly" and who isn't? This questions the masculinity of men, and it is a very fragile thing to even joke about. Why are they personifying a can and giving it muscular arms? Is it important and crucial for their sales? Dr. Pepper is ridiculous.

Gender + Me

Following up on our assignment for the Gender and Me, this will be an in-depth look at the things I've learned about my gender from certain institutions regarding family, friends, media, and school.

Family/ Culture:
Mom:
I grew up with my parents, but learned different things from my mom and dad on what being a girl is. Growing up my mom taught me that as a girl, I have to dress nicely and have good hygiene because it looks wrong on a woman to not look good all the time, but eventually her perspective on this change, yet it stuck with me forever.
Dad:
My dad has directly and indirectly taught me what a girl is supposed to be like. I've learned that I must always be "ladylike" (whatever that is), and my purpose in life is to serve a man. Now don't get me wrong, I've learned a lot of great things from my dad, but he has more of a machist outlook on life, and I am the complete opposite of him. I've learned that I will grow up and marry a successful man, and if I don't then my life won't be complete until I do.
 

Friends: 
Girl Friends: 
I've learned that I have to "be classy and never trashy" and to act "like a girl". As a little girl, I indirectly learned that girls were better than boys because of this rivalry we were put into for no apparent reason, to determine who was superior. Being with more than one guy or liking more than one guy makes me a hoe.
 
Guy Friends:
It has been shown to me that women are not allowed to have a sexual life. After being sexualized and objectified all my life, being comfortable with being beautiful and my body is wrong. How tight my clothes are determines how much self respect I have for myself.

Media:
The media plays a major role on the things we learn about our genders. Women get so much backlash from social media. From "hoe/thot starter packs" to "you a hoe if you like ____." I've learned that liking certain things lowers my worth. I'm ugly if I don't wear makeup but uglier if I do (???) I have to have certain qualities to be someones girlfriend, like it's a build a girlfriend workshop. I have to be "wifey material", because I aspire to get married and be someones property. And yet again, other people get to determine my self worth.


School:
Simple. School encourages so many gender roles that could easily be eliminated. Pink=Girl. Blue=Boy. Girls vs. Boys for everything determines who is better. Boys always get picked on to lift heavy things. Girls are always chosen to write or for creative things. It's simple things like this that are learned about gender in schools.

Intro to Gender Studies: Get to know me!

Hello all!
My name is Samantha Garcia and this is my blog for my Gender Studies class. I'm excited to be able to share my journey in this class with you.
A little bit about myself...
I'm a woke brown girl. I'm a proud, passionate intersectional feminist. An unapologetic xicana and mujerista. I might come off as a mean person, but I'm not, I just don't tolerate ignorance. I've come a long way to where I am today. Discovering feminism and xicanisma has helped me find myself and who I am, so I take it pretty serious. I know I'm a beautiful, smart young girl. I'm confident. For so long I have let my voice be silenced by people who would rather see me down than to be succeeding, now, I refuse to stay quiet. Don't get it twisted though, I know a lot but I also have a lot to learn.
I am a Xicana. I grew up in the typical macho environment. My gender in my culture is seen as a lesser than compared to men. Our purpose is to serve men and cater to their feelings. Other people get to determine my self worth and how I should live my life. Women are objectified and sexualized, we were made to feed off of the attention of men. That we belong to them and are their property. This mentality has been engrained in me ever since I was a little girl, whether it has been directly or indirectly. I have unlearned a lot of it, but it's a tough process. I refuse to be objectified or cater to men. I know my worth and refuse to be put down again.
Beware fragile masculine ego's: I am not the one.