The Influence of Media on our Thinking About Gender

Valerie Koury
"Messages from TV Land: The Influence of Media on our Thinking about Gender" (245)

I am working on the topic of 1950s television because I want to find out how gender roles are influenced by television to help my reader better understand what role society plays in our perception of ourselves and each other. This study seeks to understand how media influences societal views on gender roles. More specifically, this study will consider how traditional gender roles have emerged, how these notions about gender have changed since the 1950s, and whether television has been an instrument inspiring change. I will look to the scholarly articles written about television and gender roles as well as watch popular television shows of the 1950s to have a better context of how gender roles were. To this end, residents in the Erickson Retirement Communities will be interviewed regarding gender portrayals in popular television shows from the 1950s (e.g. “I Love Lucy”, “Gunsmoke”). The interviews will give me a first-hand account of what living in the 1950s was like in terms of gender roles and how messages of gender roles were portrayed on television. Upon data collection I will examine the ways in which gender roles were portrayed in the 1950s relative to today. Research suggests that television is a medium through which ideas of “normalcy” are transmitted and that people often imitate what they view on television in their everyday lives. In that society has evolved much over the past half-century, it is likely that ideas of gender roles have changed as well.

Keywords: gender, gender roles, television

Final Topic Statement: Messages From TV Land: The Influence of Media on Our Thinking About Gender

Title: Messages From TV Land: The Influence of Media on Our Thinking About Gender

Topic: I am working on the topic of 1950s television because I want to find out how gender roles are influenced by television to help my reader better understand what role society plays in our perception of ourselves and each other.


Description:  My project will address the topic of gender roles and how our thinking of gender roles is influenced by outside sources, such as television and society. This is important to think about because gender roles is part of our everyday lives; gender roles influences many aspects of our lives whether we are conscious of it or not. The American culture places a heavy influence on gender and gender roles. A person is succumbed to being exactly what society makes them out to be because of this. It is important to understand how our thinking is shaped and to understand that we are a product of our environments. To fully understand ourselves and others, we need to know how we are thought of/think of each other. 
    This topic has been an interest of mine since learning about gender roles and stereotypes in AP Psychology in high school. What truly sparked my interest was learning that children start learning about gender roles and stereotypes at three years old. From such a young age we are making judgments about people based on gender, something that is necessary, but that is also socially constructed. My interest was further sparked when piecing together that people can be of a different gender and of a different sex at the same time. 
    To fully understand a person, you have to know how he or she views themselves and what she or he thinks of gender roles, and also what you think of gender roles and gender as a whole. This becomes important when a person's biological sex does not match up with his or her perceived gender. Knowing the aforementioned will foster an understanding of how the person views his or her place and others' place in society. 
   Joan Scott's essay, "Gender: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis" will be and has been beneficial in my thinking of gender and of my topic. From this essay, I can see how people have already thought of gender and where it has been studied, which can give me a starting point or base for my topic and research. 


Context Description:  The 1950s decade was the time when television started making its debut in the household as the "dominant mass media" source ("1950-1959"). Television had such an influential role in the household and on families because "what was portrayed on television became accepted as normal" ( "1950-1959"). People mimicked the lives they saw on television, implementing the roles and personas they viewed (ibid). Television was used as a "family medium," meaning it brought the family together while simultaneously teaching gender roles ("Family on Television"). From this, people learn their roles in society and in the household. This then influences how they view themselves, how they view others, and what they teach their children. Because parents teach their children what gender roles they have learned, the cycle is perpetuated. Gender roles are necessary for societal organization, but they are obstructions to how a person is truly viewed. When you are born, you have a tainted slate, not only because of your gender and the influence of that by society, but also because of your race, socioeconomic status, and the intersectionality of all the other roles a you play.
    Though television has been a leading contributor in teaching the "most fulfilling way to live one's life, its programs have often presented multiple and contradictory messages" ("Family on Television"). Television shows are limited in the amount of racism and homophobia they present ("Family on Television"). Shows often do not portray the realities of people's lives, thus people are skewed to believe one thing is true and make generalizations for everyone, such as heterosexuality. Further with my topic, gender roles only work if a person's biological sex matches with the gender he or she perceives as his or her own. Television's display of solely heterosexuality is exclusive to a section of people who do not meet society's criteria for specific gender roles.


Works Cited.


Bradley, Becky . "1950-1959." American Cultural History. Lone Star College-
    Kingwood Library, 1998. Web. 5 Oct. 2011. 


Spigel, Lynn. "Family on Television." The Museum of Broadcast Communications. 2011. The Museum of       
   Broadcast Communications. MBC, 2001. Web. 5 Oct. 2011.

Messages From TV Land: The Influence of Media on Our Thinking About Gender

Title: Messages From TV Land: The Influence of Media on Our Thinking About Gender

How do gender roles portrayed on television in the 1940s influence our perception of ourselves and each other today and how it has been shaped by society?

I am working on the topic of television of the 1940s because I want to find out how gender roles are influenced by television to help my reader better understand how our perceptions of ourselves and each other is shaped by society.

Article Analysis: "The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: Racialized Social Democracy and the "White Problem"

Valerie Koury

AMST 300

September 29, 2011

Article Analysis:

“The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: Racialized Social Democracy and the “White Problem”

                George Lipsitz makes the point in his article that “whiteness” is a problem facing the United States. “Whiteness” is everywhere, affecting other racial groups and some poorer whites who do not fit into the typical “white” demographic of middle-class. “Whiteness” can be seen in many aspects of daily life, including politics, culture, and the economy (383).

                To make this claim, Lipsitz cites many different sources. Richard Dyer makes a supporting point of how “whiteness” is heavily embedded in the American culture, that it is not even noticed. Further, when people think of Americans, they think of white people (369). Lipsitz also uses Richard Wright’s quote about how whites see blacks as a “problem,” rather than viewing their attitude of supremacy and entitlement as the “problem.” This is known as racial polarization, a key term in the article (369). Another key vocabulary term from the Wright is “presence of mind,” referenced to demonstrate a “precise awareness of the present moment more decisive than foreknowledge of the most distant events.” “Whiteness” is another term used to describe the white people and the power and the role they have that often goes unspoken, but is a huge factor in social and cultural aspects of American (369). “White supremacy” is used to also speak of the power that whites have and the attitude that white people often display towards other races. Finally, “social life,” which is a way of defining our individual racism through the way we define activities. This term also serves as a supporting point for the argument to further demonstrate how “whiteness” affects and influences the way people carry out daily activities and how they view themselves and others.

                Lipsitz looks at history, population, economy, politics, the housing market, and demographical statistics to make his claim. By looking at these data from different time periods and locations, he is able to demonstrate how white people and “whiteness” can be problematic. For example, Lipsitz uses qualitative analysis on page 375 to make points about housing and living arrangements more realistic.

                Sources that Lipsitz uses positively contributed to his overall article. His sources are scholarly and he uses articles, qualitative, and quantitative data. In the notes, he also gives credit to specific people that contributed to his article. For example, in the notes, he gives credit to Michael Schudson for clarifying an issue. This is a good example of scholarly and reputable sources.

                I liked the article overall, though it was difficult to understand at some points. I think the issue of whiteness is real, especially because of my Palestinian-American background. Sometimes I find myself saying I wish I was white because it would be easier to deal with issues like what box to check on forms (“other”?), and for familial practices and beliefs. My white friends often say in response they wish they had a culture. My question is does being “white” count as a culture, or is it like the color, the lack there of? Also, does being at a diverse university make people appreciate their culture and diversity?

Article Analysis: "Gender: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis"

Valerie Koury

AMST 300

September 27, 2011

                                    “Gender: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis”

            Joan W. Scott’s main points in the article “Gender: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis” is how gender is defined, what gender is used to described, and how gender has been shifted from historical change. To make the gender analysis, Scott looks to three sources for support: feminists and their efforts to “explain the origins of patriarchy” (1057); Marxism and how gender is influenced by the economy (1061); French post-structuralist and Anglo-American use “psychoanalysis to explain the production and reproduction of the subject’s gendered identity” (1058).

            The key terms Scott relies on are gender, masculine, man, and feminine, and female. There are several different ways of interpreting and defining gender, as seen in each different source. On 1056, a definition of gender is offered to be a synonym for “women.” However, using gender in this ways misses out on the “inequality or power” the word “women” carries and thoughts it evokes. Gender is also “denot[-es] ‘cultural constructions,’” then making it a “category imposed on a sexed body” (1056). Every definition seems to be lacking some element, and there is no clear distinction between what gender is and is not because of all of the interpretations. Masculine, feminine, and terms to describe males and females are “not inherent characteristics but subjective (or fictional) characteristics” (1064). Another aspect of defining “women” is the fact that it can also seem to mean information about men, and that a definition of one is used to describe the other.

            Methods that Scott uses are studying history, such as looking at Marxism and feminist history to make sense of gender. Scott uses the qualitative analysis of researcher Carol Gilligan to delve deeper into the roots of moral development in school children; she relies on the work of anthropologists in their kinship studies. She references journals, fieldwork, and directs the audience in the footnotes to further discussion. In all these methods and scholarly sources, Scott’s investigation of gender’s history will answer questions of the past and clarify gender’s present and future in terms of usage, definitions, and inclusions (1075).

            I thought the article was fascinating! Gender is one of my favorite topics to research, and my research paper is about how the media influences society’s perception of gender. Reading the article allowed me to gain a better understanding of the history of the term “gender” and the many perspectives in defining and understanding gender. Though the article seemed repetitive and was difficult to interpret at times with all of the terminology and various standpoints, it was still interesting and furthers my interest in gender development. Questions I posed at the beginning of the article were answered slightly at the end, but I would still like clarification. At the end of 1063, Scott writes that “the idea of masculinity rests on the necessary repression of feminine aspects—of the subject’s potential for bisexuality—introduces conflict into the opposition of masculine and feminine.” I was confused as to what exactly what the sentence meant, so I did not paraphrase to avoid the risk of misinterpretation of what Scott means. However, my interpretation of the quote is that bisexuality is problematic, and I pose the questions of why does bisexuality have to be seen as a conflict? How can the author and theorists be so sure that “potential for bisexuality” is a threat? Why is it a threat? Maybe bisexuality is supposed to be acceptable, and everyone else is wrong; it is an interpretation of right and wrong. Where the hell did hetero-normative practices come from?

Society, STOP Bullying Me!

You have freedoms, rights, and free-will? Yes, a question is being posed. You may think you have all of these things, and maybe to an extent this is true. You have the freedom to be exactly what society wants you to be or to be ostracized for not conforming. Even down to the origins of your gender, society has controlled everything you think, feel, and do.

Society’s omnipotence puts you at a loss to conformity. Are you really male or female? Society makes you think that. Maybe you are somewhere in between. In that case, you are rejected by society. Gender is socially constructed; you cannot escape it. Classifying people into categories satisfies our need for organization; without such, there would be a deficit of social order. The influence that the public has over its constituents is tremendous, and it has been since the beginning of mankind, but why is that? How does television influence our culture's perception of gender roles?

Television is a dominant force in the world’s entertainment and news source; it is opinionated, but it is not reflective of individual views. Historically, television has played a vital role in portraying the views of society to its audience. Because television has such an influence, anything that society (literally) wants broadcasted, it will be on television. In present- and previous-day television, gender stereotypes have been portrayed and influence our thinking. Gender stereotypes are not always true, but they are reflective of the culture.

Socially, television instills values and ideas of what our lives should be like. Ideas of gender, including heterosexuality and homosexuality, have been shown on television for decades. These things influence how we see ourselves and others, and the roles we take in society. Television shows such as “I Love Lucy” have shown women to be more of the care-taker and housewife, while their husbands come home from work and expect the house to be clean and dinner on the table.

In the “I Love Lucy” example and most television shows from that period show heterosexual relationships. Not only do they provide context for a woman and man’s place in the household, but also in the world, society, and culture which they participate. They are reinforcing gender stereotypes that start forming from three years old. 

Children learn the stereotypes from their social and physical environment; they perpetuate the ideas just as their parents. Children grow up learning the stereotypes, see them on television, engage with them in their everyday lives, follow them as they grow up, and teach them to their children. The male and female roles are now changing; we are evolving to a less stereotypical society, but we have a long way to go.

Because of I am a child of the media, a product of the technological age, I am heavily influenced by the images and a major target of marketing agencies. I am bias in these regards because I have lived in the gender stereotyped society, but am now seeing the change of gender roles.

Word Count: 496

Article Analysis: “Encountering Mass Culture at the Grassroots”

Cohen’s research focuses on how buyers, specifically the working-class, find and react to mass-produced goods. Her argument is that though people share the experience, they do not always have similar reactions (13). Her dominant focus is on Chicago because it had the most records available for the 1920s and 1930s time frame. She offered an example on how people still shopped at local grocers rather than chain markets that sold mass-produced, name-brand goods (11). Also, how people saw the same movie but had different reactions to particular scenes (13). Key vocabulary from include mass culture, mass consumption, and “nationality hour.”

            Methods of research that Cohen utilizes are literary criticism and history. She looks at the newspapers of various ethnic groups, listens to the stories of people who lived during that era. She also uses sociology to further her research and understanding by studying the overall way of life of working-class civilians.

            Sources used in the article were both primary and secondary. In the paper, Cohen includes charts and graphs that depict the economy and the amount of available goods in Chicago at the time. She also references first-hand accounts to make the argument more reliable.

            I thought the overall argument was interesting and informative. Mass production and name-brand items are huge in today’s industry and it is exciting to see where the industry got started. Since I and my family classify as the middle-class, seeing how people were affected by this economic change is intriguing. Questions for discussion I would pose are how are people in all economic classes affected by the industry, as it is larger than ever before?

Article Analysis: “The Concept of Cultural Hegemony: Problems and Possibilities”

           Lears references the work of Antonio Gramsci to offer his argument that people are influenced and shaped by cultural hegemony, which can also stem from the type of economy and power structure the society utilizes. Aided by Gramsci’s ideas, Lear concludes the piece saying that “culture is…absorbed and shaped by each individual” (593).

            To support his argument, Lear uses support from Gramsci. For example, Lear references Gramsci’s idea of cultural hegemony to address “the relation between culture and power under capitalism” (568). Lear goes on to say that cultural hegemony can be used to facilitate ideas on the power of dominant groups and the compliance by the subordinate groups (568). Hegemony and domination must be paired together to understand how each concept works, and because “consent and force nearly always coexist” (568). Key terms from the article are hegemony, cultural hegemony, consent, ideology, historical bloc.

            Methods employed by Lears include literary criticism and looking at the history, culture, economy, and studies the work of Gramsci. Sources Lears uses are scholarly and in the footnotes, he is able to provide readers with evaluation and examples of ideas that are stated in the paper.

            I think the article analysis was very well written and analytical of the culture. I am interested in how people are influenced by culture, and mixing hegemonic practices makes the topic very interesting. One question I would pose for discussion is how is American culture influenced by cultural hegemonic practices?

What Defines Me

What defines a person? His or her actions, breathes, tangible items or intangible moments that seem to be priceless? A person can best be defined by his or her interests; intellectual interests influence our thinking and personal interests influence our actions and choices.

Social Psychology, theories on personality and intelligence are an interest of mine. Fascinated with why people are a certain way, I have a passion for working with people which provides opportunities to analyze their actions, based on age groups and social settings, to better understand and help them. I also have a curiosity in sexuality, gender, social constructs, and normalization in society because of the prevalence of gay rights in the news. My place at such a diverse institution also influences me to learn about my peers and to better understand society as a whole, especially in the means of how concepts are socially constructed and how greatly it influences society.

Children are another a major interest of mine. I have worked with many different types of children in a variety of settings. They are interesting to me because everyone, despite all of our differences as humans, has a childhood and was a child at one point. Being able to influence a child’s up-bringing for the better motivates me.

My passion for creativity, psychology, and children has heavily influenced my career choice of child-life specialization. My personal interest in improving the lives of children in hospitals has influenced my actions. I have volunteered with domestically abused children and raised money for children at John’s Hopkins Children Center.

In combining intellectual and personal interests, I am able to define myself as more than a mere student of Psychology, cheerleader, sister, friend, or other various roles. Rather, the intersectionality of the roles is how I can be defined. 

Word Count: 299

The Inner-City ORCHkids

Reciprocity
Valerie Koury
Word Count: 270

“Not good…We heard gun shots…we had to walk the other way to school…A man died that day,” a second grade response to what is good about Baltimore.
The first time I walked into Lockerman-Bundy Elementary, my schema for an inner-city school was lost. Colorful murals filled the walls. Looks can be deceiving; I did not get my hopes up about the types of students that filled the vibrant school I would be working with. I was nervous about being down town, with flashing blue lights and meandering people. Yet, everyone at the school smiled and greeted me as if they did not notice the setting, mitigating my apprehensions.
I worked with students to complete program evaluations for ORCHkids. ORCHkids is an after-school music program that works with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to teach children to play and to care for instruments, while providing a snack and two extra hours of care beyond the normal school day. My first day was going well, and then I met Desha. Her spirit was remarkable and rejuvenating. She and the other staff and students truly enjoy being at the school and engaging with the music. The program consists of dedicated volunteers and teachers, and hardworking students who want to be successful in music. Though the program is contingent upon limited resources and thoughtful donations of supplies, the enthusiasm for music and education is the key to the program’s success.
I never knew working with a group of inner-city students could be so rewarding and refreshing. “Music is a gift…people can use it to express themselves,” a second grader’s answer to her thoughts on music.

Point: It is important to never judge based on stereotypes; there is good and bad everywhere. Never underestimate the power of a small group’s determinism and dedication, for you may miss out on a school of opportunities and enlightenment.

It was the Best of Learning, it was the Worst of Learning

My school’s math and economics requirements made me tremble, but I had teachers that taught me methods of learning and note taking that compensated for my lack of ability and allowed for my success.               

            Those teachers also could easily identify the area to the students, as well. This sets the class room experience apart from others because a student feels like the subject is worth studying and it is more memorable because they have a concrete example they can relate to. Skilled teachers make the lesson comprehendible, but truly knowledgeable teachers engage the student, making the lesson invaluable.

(Word Count: 98)

            Most teachers strive for the success of their students, but some teachers lack basic skills that allow students to attain such. When a class revolves around reading off of power point slides, talking at me, not to me, and not engaging me at all, the chance of truly learning is lost to boredom.

Curriculums are demanding, however, students will not be successful unless they comprehend the basics before advancing. Thus, teachers should not rush into complex materials before ensuring they have covered the basics. Not taking time to adequately teach material and answer questions puts a damper on the learning experience.

(Word Count: 101)

Intolerance Will Not Be Accepted

Intolerance Will Not Be Accepted

Valerie Koury

Word Count: 298

I was drowning; he was unaware I was gone. I had no idea that the person who would become my best friend was letting me drown at the time. This created a strong friendship. He confided in me his secret sexuality; I confided that I had a homosexual sister. I never stopped accepting him for exactly who he was, but Sam neither accepted himself, nor did he allow others to accept him. He feared rejection and ostracism from his family and peers. It was not fair to me, nor was it fair to Sam that he felt it necessary to end his life because he could not bare the overburdening acts of bullying any longer. I panicked at the thought of Sam’s potential suicide. Would I lose my best friend to the discrimination that society imposes on those who love differently?

With Sam’s life in my hands as motivation, I took an enormous leap of courage and sought help. Without revealing his homosexuality, I informed his mother about the bullying Sam had undergone. Knowing he would be unbelievably upset with me for what seems an act of betrayal and risking our friendship, I attempted to save the world from a tremendous loss.

I lost Sam as a friend that day. But losing someone as a friend is better than losing them as a person. I accepted my moral obligation to help a friend in desperate need; I would not let my friend drown in the murky water he saw as life.  

Tolerance is an objective attitude; acceptance is a fully assenting attitude. “Each person deserves [my] respect. Everyone has the right to their own opinions, but not the right to hurt people and put them down because of who they are” (Nicole King). Intolerance will not be accepted.

Belief: Acceptance.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Gandhi): Generation Responsibility

Whether forced or longed for, today’s generation faces great responsibility. Teens are influenced and pressured in areas of responsibility from schooling to changing the world. Craving the freedom of adults, teens pressure their parents into giving them more freedom, in turn, responsibility. Caught up in the responsibilities of their own, it is easy for parents to distribute responsibilities to their still-maturing teenagers.

Our generation engages in the idea of molding an identity amongst our peers, exemplifying the title of responsible. We are maturing more rapidly than ever, showing we can handle the responsibility, whether it is forced or longed for.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Gandhi) 

 

Word Count: 100

Two Birds With One Stadium, Blog 5 repost

Black and orange; the colors swam through my blood stream while my mother, an Orioles fanatic, prepared me for my first baseball game. We traveled from Arkansas to Maryland to watch. Fans flock from all over the country to see “The Birds” play at Camden Yards. Thus, the Orioles stadium provides a nostalgic, family-friendly event, and an All-American tradition of watching baseball, in a stadium that has been around for as long as families remember.

You can see the stadium from a mile away; you’ve almost reached “Bird Land.”  Though every person has a different experience, each person shares one thing: walking through the stadium gate that awaits the magic. My mother and I walked through hand-in-hand; the energy was electrifying. This memory, along with countless others created with family and friends, is one reason how the Orioles stadium creates nostalgia. Not only do you remember the game itself, but you recall the path that paved that memory: the journey through the gate.

Camden Yards gathers people from all backgrounds because of the love for an All-American sport. Everyone energetically fills the stadium, feeding off of each other's energy. Camden Yards gives fans of all kinds a place to congregate and enjoy the game together.  

My mother and I rooted the Orioles to victory and we have been cheering ever since. Moments like these shape our lives. With all of the changes that people are challenged with, Camden Yards has remained, creating a sense of stability in an all-changing world.

Word Count: 250

Two Birds with one Stadium

Black and orange; the colors swam through my blood stream while my mother, an Orioles fanatic, prepared me for my first baseball game. We traveled from Arkansas to Maryland to watch. Fans flock from all over the country to see “The Birds” play at Ripken Stadium. Thus, the Orioles stadium provides a nostalgic, family-friendly event, and an All-American tradition of watching baseball, in a stadium that has been around for as long as families remember.

You can see the stadium from a mile away; you’ve almost reached “Bird Land.”  Though every person has a different experience, each person shares one thing: walking through the stadium gate that awaits the magic. This memory, along with countless others created with family and friends, is one reason how the Orioles stadium creates nostalgia. Your spirit heightens as you look for your seat; you look around to see fellow fans all ready to experience the Orioles.

Ripken Stadium gathers people from all backgrounds because of the love for an All-American sport. Toddlers who grow into the elderly that fill the stadium can enjoy a baseball game because the stadium welcomes everyone; giving fans a place to congregate and come together to feel part of the team that represents most fans’ hometown.                

These are important aspects to consider when thinking in terms of preservation because with all of the changes that people are challenged with; the Orioles stadium has always been there, creating a sense of stability in an all-changing world.

Word Count: 246

Shhh! My Style is Talking!

Your style is talking about you. What’s it saying? The 1960’s earrings style screamed rebellion and trite, but today’s fashion steps away from that trend, lending itself to inimitability in an evolving, not rebellious, culture.

Teens experiment with new fashions and gain a sense of their identity; political turmoil was an impetus for fashion change in the sixties. Throughout this time, “changes associated with women empowerment, various issues relating to human rights and racial equality were reflected in the acceptance” of what was once deemed extraneous fashions (1960’s Hippie Fashions). Earrings not only provided a sense of style to a woman’s outfit, but part of her inner rebel and identity that she cautiously crafted. The fashion transformed from conservative, an added flair to accentuate a woman’s dress, to a freeing style, expressing the inner beauty of a woman on the outside.

The earring fashion is now more representative rather than rebellious. Earrings represent a person’s style, revealing an inkling of personality without ever saying a word. Men and women alike have adopted the earring fashion to spotlight their outfits and their personality. There are the small pearls, conveying the message of class and sophistication; the large hoops demonstrate the glamorous, trendy style; gauges give indications of delinquency and a “punk” type of style.  

Today’s society introduces an array of fashions that are acceptable because of the welcoming society and the cultural diversity that America offers, not because of political rebellion. Earrings are a form of creative expression and can be a fun craft project, truly revealing the creator. Because today’s fashion sense follows that of the sixties, evolving from the incautious, commonplace earrings to ultimate creativity and freedom to styles, it conveys the idea that society is open to ideas that sway from the “norm,” and tolerant of differences; earring styles merely one example.

Ranging from the primitive fashion trends of Lady Gaga to the quaint, professional style of Laura Bush, today’s culture accepts all styles. Will you follow the trend or will you craft your own style? Either way, your style speaks for you; the world is your audience.

Word Count: 349

Eccentric, Expressing, Encompassing--Earring Fashions

A 1960's style, demonstrating the fashion
of over-sized earrings.

“The bigger, the better,” always said, but lacking clarity in its reference. The 1960’s earrings style followed “the bigger, the better” trend, but today’s fashion society steps away from that trend, conveying the message of inimitability in an evolving, not rebellious, culture.

The 1960’s holds a title for bearing rebellions, especially those of fashion. During the youth years, it is normal for teenagers to experiment with new fashions and gain a sense of their identity. This exact concept is viewed in the sixties, but because of political issues. During this time, “changes associated with women empowerment, various issues relating to human rights and racial equality were reflected in the acceptance” of what was once deemed extraneous fashion (1960’s Hippie Fashions). Earrings were bulky, providing not only a sense of style to a woman’s outfit, but part of her inner rebel and identity that she cautiously crafted. The earring fashion transformed from conservative, an added flair to accentuate a woman’s dress, to a freeing style, expressing the inner beauty of a woman on the outside through large, eye-catching earrings.

     Lady Gaga, an icon and inspiration
                 in today's fashion world, is prided on her unique sense of style.
                Sporting a classic earring style, Gaga shows that
                        it is okay to be different, giving women a chance to
                          express their inner diva and fashion artist.

Today’s society brings about an array of fashions that are acceptable because of the mainstream society and the cultural diversity that America offers, not because of political rebellion. The fashion sense of Britney Spears and JLO in the nineties sent the message to teenage girls that they could, too, be popular and beautiful by wearing earrings that screamed attention-grabbing. Trending from the earring fashions of the sixties, the women of today’s fashion-concerned society have adopted and added to the booming style of over-sized, wild earrings. Because today’s fashion sense follows that of the sixties, evolving from the incautious, commonplace earrings to vibrant earrings, it conveys the idea that society is open to ideas that sway from the “norm,” and tolerant of differences; earring styles merely one example.

Ranging from the primitive fashion trends of Lady Gaga to the professional style of Laura Bush, today’s culture accepts all styles. Especially in places such as New York and Los Angeles, fashion headquarters, anything goes, so break out the earrings, the bigger, the better!

Word count: 349

Twirls, Loops, and Other Forms of Communication

      Twirls, loops, with precise pencil strokes across the dotted line, I carefully crafted the letters into what seemed to be jumbled mess. I was copying my name, a miniscule task to a third grader. Yet, I was impeded by a challenge: Cursive handwriting. I was scolded for not holding my pencil correctly; for not remembering how many humps went for an “m” and an “n”; for failing to not make my letters with as much precision as my peers.

      I was determined to write something, despite how illegible my handwriting looked. Writing and reading always captured my attention; I attempted to fill my insatiable thirst for knowledge by practicing writing and reading. Despite all of the learning that took place to teach me those skills, nothing had ever rattled my brain like cursive.

    That Saturday, I asked my mother to buy me a writing tablet so I could practice what I was working on in school. Mother was pleased with my determination, thus we practiced all afternoon. With her help, I conquered what seemed mission impossible. Not only could I write legibly, but I crafted each letter with the exact precision I had once strived for. No longer was I burdened by the task of writing nor was I faced with embarrassment when Mrs. Fox would compare me to my classmates.

    Twirls, loops, with precise pencil strokes, I carefully crafted the letters onto the non-dotted line, reading proudly what was a legible piece of art: my name. 

Word count: 247

What's Your Secret? AMST Blog 1

Downtown D.C. near the Capitol Building, Pennsylvania Ave.

  “…as far as I’m concerned, I’m not here to live a normal life. I’m sent here on a mission…” (Howard Finster). Mission impossible? No way. Mission accomplished? Not yet. My mission is to help others express and embrace themselves in all of their uniqueness. I enjoy delving into the inner workings of my peers to seek out their secrets. Postsecret motivated me to see what people keep hidden away and to assist them in freeing themselves from their secrets.  And who am I, you inquire? Just your average Arab girl from Osceola, Arkansas. Howdy! I am the daughter of my Palestinian parents, fourth of five children, and a first generation student of UMBC. I am majoring in Psychology with hopes of pursuing a career in Child Life Specialization. My passion is learning about and helping others. This summer, I volunteered at the Maryland Special Olympics, an amazingly heart-warming experience.


Word Count: 149