Kelly's Blog

Blog 11

kjc01 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:26:37 +0000

Recently I read an older article that stated vitamin E was the sexy vitamin. Apparently, vitamin E deficiencies will shrink males’ testicles and females will reabsorb the fetus back into the uterus. So, it was used for fertility purposes. It was thought that if you took vitamin E, you would become more attractive. I do not find this to be highly factual. I do think that if a person has scarring from a burn, cut, etc that if vitamin E was massaged into the area that it would improve circulation and healing. However, I do not think that that was what sellers had in mind when they were advertising vitamin E. I think that they were pushing the vitamin in order to make people believe that they had to fit some social norm of sexy or attractive and scarring as well as infertility did not fit those norms. People were profiting off the misfortune of others. People thinking that taking vitamin E would improve their chances of conception spent lots of money when all they had to do was eat a balanced diet. I do not understand why people just didn’t eat nuts or use vegetable oil in their cooking in order to get the amount of vitamin E the body needs instead of ingesting pills. So, vitamin E is not a sexy vitamin. Individuals will not have an attractive glow, scent, whatever, if vitamin E is consumer regularly in addition to what they may or may not be getting from food. It is however I necessary vitamin for body functioning.

Blog 10

kjc01 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:57:54 +0000

As I was eating breakfast this morning, I was watching the Today Show on NBC. Al Roker and another co-host interviewed two people on the topic, my husband does not appreciate me or how to get your husband to appreciate me. The two being interviewed recommended that individuals who feel this way communicate these feelings to his or her spouse. I did not listen to the entire interview because I had to go to work, but I believe that was the jist of it. Generally, women are feeling under appreciated for all the work they do in and outside of the home. They feel that they are carrying more than their fair share of the load of housework. My mom was sitting there with me watching and she made the comment, “can you see that having any effect (long term) on your dad?” I think that my dad would be able to see the inequality, but I do not see any conversation ending in semi equal housework loads. This is not the say my dad is lazy. He works very hard all day at work and is great with home and vehicle repairs. Still, it would help my mom out a lot if he would wash the dishes every once in awhile. I was trying to find that interview or article online, but could not find what I was looking for. Funny enough, I was lead to self improvement sites. Which reminded me of this movie I have seen, If a Man Answers. In this movie the main character is trying to get more attention from her husband and is recommended a dog training book. In the end, she realizes that it is not her husband (dog) that changes his behavior, but her change in approaching him. So, women improve and change themselves in order to better suit their men.

Blog 9

kjc01 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:15:38 +0000

Recently, I was told that our local paper is super saturated with sports article. I didn’t think much of it until I actually read the entire paper and not just what I wanted to read. I was told that when asked why this was or why an article was not added, they were told there was not enough room. I looked back at older issues and there always seemed to be room for the many sports articles, but not many other topics, such as local arts. Generally, sports are considered a male past time, where anything artistic is considered feminine. Although, women too enjoy reading sports articles, it would still be nice to see an article or two geared more toward females. I do not want to continue with the division of male versus female, in other words saying this article is for women and this article is for men. However, it would be nice to have a well rounded paper with variety including several topics and not just limited to a single or few select topics. We are now getting the paper in color so that is a nice change. Maybe with a few friendly nudges we can change not only to modern day color, but to equality as well. Personally, I would like to see more than just sports articles and maybe more local events outside of the sports realm.

Blog 8

kjc01 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:34:39 +0000

I was shocked when I read that there are groups of people who are trying to get prostitution legalized in all states, not just Nevada. Generally, I am okay with each individual person being able to choose what they do or do not do with their body. However, prostitution can be very unsafe. Just as prostitution is unsafe, so is anorexia. Almost immediately after I read that there were groups who were trying to legalize prostitution, I read the there are pro-anorexia groups. True every person’s body is their own, but anorexia has so many health detriments. Anorexia decreases anaerobic strength, endurance, oxygen capacity, and causes overall general weakness second to food deprivation and dehydration. That is just looking at anorexia from a physical performance standpoint. Anorexia affects so much more than just physical performance. So, even though individual’s think their bodies are distorted or that they are obese, they are really impairing almost every system within the body. I do realize that our culture strives or almost always rewards weight loss and leanness, but at what cost. If anorexia continues, eventually that lean toned body that individuals are trying to obtain will be lost because the body will begin to tap into that for the energy it needs to survive. Once that lean muscle is gone all that is left is skin and bones and that is also not a desirable body image. I am pro health and believe that anyone who is supporting anorexia is encouraging severe health risks which could eventually lead to death.

Blog 7

kjc01 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:27:42 +0000

Sometimes it can be really difficult to come up with how womenj are represented within society. A lot of times I unfortunately over look any inequalities because that has been what I have known or I take no notice of it at all. However, lately my mom has become increasingly more frustrated with the lack of help with the housework from my dad. She is extremely greatful for his assistance with larger scale house repairs, but would like for him to take a turn doing the dishes. Just taking his dirty shoes off at the door would make her happy. My dad will take his shoes off when he enteres another person’s house, but sees nothing wrong with tracking, not just the average amount of dirt that comes off shoes, but a lot of dirt (he is a mechanic so there is a lot of dirt, oil, and grease; which does not go well with carpet). So, in addition to working eight hours a day at work, my mom has to come home and work some more. Yet, although his job is more physically demanding, my dad can come home and try to relax. There is a major inequality in terms of housework distribution. I do not think the distribution will ever change. Sometimes I do not think my mom would want it to, unless she wants her white clothes blue. However, a little more respect from others, myself included, would make her job a whole lot easiet. I know I would not appreciate all of what is expected of my mom to be expected from me, so a little more appreciation would not hurt.

Blog 6

kjc01 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:18:02 +0000

Last weekend I watched the new movie Penelope with Christina Richie and Reese Witherspoon. It was about Richie’s character Penelope, who was born with a pig’s nose and ears, and her trials to be accepted by everyone, including herself. I thought it was an excellent movie. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. I liked how at the end of the movie, Richie’s character Penelope asked her class what they thought the moral of her story meant. Anyway, I could definitely see how the class’s previous discussion on body image relates to this movie. As I just mentioned, Penelope was born with a pig’s nose and ears, which needless to say is far from the social norm or what women, particularly women of privilege, are thought to look like. It can be difficult enough fitting into societies’ standards without being born with a pig’s face. Whoever, set the standards that women are expected to live or measure up to is wrong. I do not think it was one individual, but individual cultures that over the years established these unobtainable standards. There is no way I will ever live up to the standards that are expected of me from my culture. But, truth be told, I do not want to live up to every standard. There would be now room for individuality if everyone followed along. I would like to fit into the healthier body image ideal, I stress the healthy. This is not because that is what I am suppose to do, but because it is healthy. I would have more energy.

Blog 5

kjc01 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:02:09 +0000

I cannot remember which reading went along with our class discussion over the differences in how men and women talk. At the time, I did not think much of it. However, now I am really recognizing the differences. There is a woman in one of my other classes that sits sort of caddy corner behind me, who is constantly ending every question she asks with “sorry.” It is driving me crazy. She has nothing to be sorry about. She raises her hand and is called upon. I really cannot see why she feels the need to always say “I’m sorry.” I do not know if she feels she asks too many questions and is too boisterous or what. Sometimes it seems as if she thinks she will never be able to arrive at any intelligent answer to her own questions because after she receives an answer she responds with extreme astonishment. I think it is almost an unconscious reflex. Maybe she does not even know she is doing it. She reminds me of the movie Wedding Date with Debra Messing and the scene where she is told her constant sorries are annoying. Anyway, because of my classmate’s constant apologizing, I am now it seems more than ever aware of how women approach and respond to situations differently than men. I will have to go back and find the reading or readings that went over the differences in how men and women talk in order to better understand why it is that we speak so much differently.

Blog 4

kjc01 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:03:14 +0000

One of this week’s class readings was “Biphobia” by Marcia Deihl and Robyn Ochs. Towards the end of the article they asked, “Can you spot a bisexual when you meet one?” This made me laugh because just the other day a girlfriend and I were discussing how we use to be so concerned about which wrist to wear our watches on or which ear a guy we had a crush on did or did not have pierced. We were so afraid of being judged in high school, we tried to stay as average as possible. Now we both realize how stupid we were and know that just by looking at someone we cannot really tell a person’s sexuality. If we still believed that a determinant of sexuality depended upon which wrist your watch was on, then either my girlfriend or myself would be homosexual or bisexual because I prefer to wear mine on the left and she prefers to wear hers on the right. Other than we were afraid of being judged, I do not know what we were so concerned about. Personally, I am not attracted to females, but I would not be offended if someone was interested in me. It would not make me reevaluate my own sexuality. Honestly, I would be flattered because generally someone is interested in you because they find you attractive and enjoyable to be around. Who does not want to be liked for who they are? Who really cares which wrist your watch is on? Whoever can up with the multiple if you have this or do this you are homo/bisexual had a lot of time on their hands, as well as their own issues.

Blog 3

kjc01 — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:02:47 +0000

As I was channel surfing, trying to find something I wanted to watch, I ran across a Dr. Phil episode. This episode was discussing the N-word. I believe they were trying to come up with some reason for all the continued animosity between African Americans and Caucasians as well as why it is okay or not okay to use the N-word. I realize I came into the show about half way through and may not have gotten each individual’s true thoughts on the issue, but I became upset. In my head now I hear someone say, “I’m sorry you are upset. It is not like you spent years in bondage.” I feel like I am constantly on guard because I don’t know who is an extremist. I agree with the Reverend that was a guest speaker via satellite, that the historical significance of a word is important; however I also agree with one audience member that tone is also a critical issue. Yet, there seems to be a double standard. Dr. Phil showed a video clip of a famous comedian making a joke using the N-word. Afterwards the two current famous comedians slapped hands and laughed, but it seemed to me that just before they were adamantly against the word and then later told an audience member that one tone is okay but another is not. I do have to agree that the audience member’s one example of the use of tone pertaining to the word seemed a little off, but her point to me was tone is a factor. Additionally, the four main guest line up was racist in itself. Three to one is hardly ever good or fair odds. Slavery is a terrible part of our history and should not be repeated. Yet, all these isms: sexism, racism, classism, seem to cause continuous arguments as opposed to solutions. I am not saying I have the answer, but there will always be people on the extreme ends of racism. I don’t even know what to say anymore. Can I say black, brown, or African American? I realize it is a label, but way is it okay for me to be described as white or Caucasian? I don’t even feel I can write the N-word, without being chastised. These two issues are on the small scale of what is wrong with racism. Even on the Tyra Banks show there was an episode about the animosity of African American women towards Caucasian women who married African American men. This may be an infuriating statement, but I did not put anyone into slavery. Because of the color of my skin, it is believed my ancestors did. Almost every nation has a history of slavery for one reason or another. Sad, but true.

Blog 2

kjc01 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:15:27 +0000

I am currently taking an ethics course in addition to this women’s studies class. I am finding several similarities as I continue with each course. In my ethics course, my class seems to go off on tangents. In my ethics class, we were discussing classism and later found ourselves discussing the difference between the words ignorant and stupid, just as this class discussed the misunderstandings of the word feminism. I believe we concluded that to be ignorant we lacked knowledge, where as to be stupid even if we had the knowledge we would not know what to do with it. In terms of classism, the less privileged would be considered stupid and the privileged beyond reproach. So, how did the privileged become and how do they stay privileged? The unprivileged are lied to or misinformed by the privileged. So the unprivileged become stupid because they are not given correct information in order to make informed judgments. We were discussing when Plato was a philosopher; however, this can still be applied today. There is an inherited inequality where people blindly believe what has always been. I do not want to make hasty generalizations, but it can be difficult for many people, myself included, to recognize the inequalities expressed in everyday life. The English language is an excellent example of this. Robert B. Moore wrote “Racism in the English Language.” He showed how many ways the word black can be used. For example, blacken can mean to defame and black-balled can mean ostracized. I guess all I can say is get a good education in order to combat these injustices.