Response to Mario Week 6

This is really exciting, I often read a text book and don't really think about the author as much as I would think about the author of a different book such as a novel. Maybe it will help your daughter knowing a professor as she goes to school, and maybe she can take the course with Julia Wood and become an activist herself. I really enjoyed this book as well- it was interesting and informative, and the perfect fit to a Gender Studies course.

Response To Chris Week 6

I agree with you, it's something that negatively effects both women and men. Women are expected to bake and cook, putting them in a submissive role in which they are expected to cater to other peoples needs. Men, on the other hand, are ridiculed when they bake or cook, or people don't believe that the man made the cake ( like in your case. ) It's like when people find out a guy can cook all of a sudden its "wow, what a great catch." and things like that. The masculinity issue plays a huge factor in this, but why is baking such a feminine thing? Men grill while women bake? Not in all houses. I wonder what we can do to help reverse these stereotypes that are deeply rooted into our society?

Eureka Moment WEEK 6

So today was a really long day at camp, particularly because of this one child. It is the same one I referenced last week whose father drives him to camp. While he threw a temper tantrum and stomped his feet, the other counselors were saying how they dont know what goes on at home, and where is his mother to teach him not to act this way? At that moment I had a eureka moment. Not because any one said anything mean, but because I noticed something that we all have embedded into our minds. I realized that we demonize mothers who work. I realized that when I was little, I knew that because my mom worked full time while the other children's mothers were at home all day and there to pick them up at the end of the day, I was often left out of playdates because my mom was not as involved in things such as the PTA, even though she put in a lot of time, the other mothers were not as likely to interact with her or ask for a play date. Maybe they were envious that she was out of the house, or maybe they thought she should be at home with me? I am really happy my mother worked when I was younger because now that I am becoming an adult she is able to work part-time or not at all if she choses, and I can spend even more time with her. She can take me out to lunch when I am down at college, she can get away, and she can enjoy having an "empty nest." Back to the mother of my campers who doesn't come to camp because she is working- i feel as though she must do everything she possibly can to see her children at the end of the day, but the way their fcamily dynamic is at this moment is that she needs to work during those hours. In conclusion, my eureka moment for this week is that women who are not as available to spend every day with their kids may sometimes be looked at as cold or not as dedicated to their families, however, it is just the way their family is and that should be easier accepted into society.

Response to Maria

I feel like most girls our age are having trouble finding a "healthy" relationship... We are at such a strange point in our lives where relationships hold a lot more potential than they may have when we were 14...16... even 18... The pressure to get a job, move out of our parents houses, and eventually enter a serious relationship is building, and maybe you need to wonder if being shy is simply a character trait, or are you really fulfilling the expected submissive traits of a woman. As for being afraid of saying something "stupid"...that's definitely part of your personality and if something "stupid" comes out I'm sure its not really stupid and that if the person you are talking to dislikes that comment... forget them! be confident, youre perfect exactly the way you are. dont change for anyone. but dont think that you wont find a healthy relationship judging by who you've met so far- you'll find some one who enjoys you for you and that'll when your wall will come down

Response to Ilia

It was really interesting to learn about the men's movements. I find it great because a lot of the people in our class (including me) were so surprised to read about these different movements, and that's interesting that the movements havent gained the kind of popularity that women's movements have. I wonder if that's because people are less likely to take men's movements seriously. I know I found myself saying on the Blackboard discussion how I didn't think certain men's movements would have enough to say considering men's already high up positions in society, however, mabye I was jumping to a conclusion too fast without listening to their potential problems.

Response to Chris P

I agree with the fact that the whole idea of gender roles really changes when we start to study it in depth. I think it will be a long time before these roles change or before we even see a movement towards change, however, I think the first step in making less of a gap between men and womens expectations will be recognizing that there is a lot more to the equation than playing games, being strong, or being gentle. Learning about gender differences and what expectations society has might make it easier for people like us to educate others about what they can do to work on the differences embedded into our minds.

Eureka Moment Week 5

Camp started for me this week as an assistant counselor. I am working with 3 year olds, they're really adorable. This setting creates endless Erueka moments for me because the children are constantly doing things that either make or break the Gender stereotype roles that it is obvious that their parents do not try to avoid at all. What specifically struck me is the way almost all mommy's are available to pick up their children and drop them off, that the classroom is full of mommys at the beginning of the day, and it's no suprise that the children rarely cry for "daddy" while theyre too busy worrying about "mommy" leaving them in the new, strange, but exciting enviornment we create for them at camp. One thing that stands out to me is a father who has taken the path of caring for the children while their mother works. This stands out because at times he is the only male in the building and dropping the kids off for him seems a little uncomfortable, like he is embaressed to do so. I also notice the difference in how the children react to saying "good-bye" to him in the morning, it is as if it is more casual to say good - bye to Daddy than it is for mommy. These kids rarely ask for their mothers, as well. I think it is wonderful that at least one of the parents is able to spend the day with the children, and I admit that I do not know their exact situation, however, there is no denying the certain thoughts and side conversations that take place at times when he's the only 'daddy' in a classroom full of cries for 'mommy.'