After completing the readings, we learn that feminism is the movement to end sexism, oppression towards women and etc. Gender has so many levels to it. Identity, expression, and assignment. These can be expressed in so many ways but, in our society we have so many negative outlooks set on gender and a closed mind thought process on expression this can also play part into feminism. Negative beliefs about gender and feminism is a social concept to keep control over men and especially women and humans everywhere. It is true that there is a strong belief that feminism is steamed against men but it is not true because we learn that even women can be considered sexist. The example in the reading feminism for everybody they talk about abortion rights and how you cant be anti abortion and a feminist. that would be oppressing her and taking her bodily rights away. In a sense the true meaning if feminism is floating because of so many misconstrues about it. There is no doubt that there were women who used their hate and rage for men to strive their burning fuel for change but because of media that was the only thing being mainly projected. Personally, I think it is still like this today. The media is a huge way to either make change for the better or worse. If the movement came together instead of trying to set one way of expression and helping people see what we really want to change.

In FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY explores feminist views on issues such as women, sex, sexual orientation, fertility, marriage, partnerships, and parenting, as well as views on female beauty and masculinity. Hooks emphasized the criticality of feminist theories, especially the self-critical consciousness of feminism. She combined gender with class, race, and other power relationships for thinking, analyzed the differences within feminism, and analyzed love based on unequal gender relationships and feminists’ demands for love.
In Sex & Gender 101, it is said that gender identity refers to how a person thinks about themselves about gender. Gender distribution and gender identity do not always “match”. If a person feels that their gender identity matches their gender distribution, they will be considered cisgender. For example, if a person feels that their gender identity does not match their gender distribution, they may think that they are transgender, or gender-queer, or non-dual, or gender inconsistent. The gender pronouns someone uses are an aspect of gender identity—whether someone wants to be called “she” or “he”, or use neutral pronouns such as “Z” or “they, they, and them.”
After I read the two articles, I feel that gender is very important for each of us, and the times are evolving now. Some of us were girls when we were born, but as we grow up, we will have mental thoughts and want to change gender. Nowadays, some people are discriminated against because of homosexuality, and some people are also discriminated against because of transgender. But in my opinion, these changes are all normal. Why should we discriminate against others based on our own opinions?

Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. 

In “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” Bell Hooks stated, “If feminism is a movement to end sexist oppression, and depriving females of reproductive rights is a form of sexist oppression, then one cannot be anti-choice and feminist.” Considering, a woman cannot be pro-life and feminist at the same time, I chose this art piece by Crazy Squirrel (April 2020) to represent this statement. Despite the fact that the woman in featured in photo is a power symbol for feminism, she contradicts the movement by saying that women should not be pro-choice. What many “feminists” fail to recognize is that denying women control over their bodies is oppressive, especially if they are pro-life. Hooks’ definition of feminism is precisely what it should be: a movement driven by a desire to end sexism and seek equality, rather than a bias against men and other women.

 I think gender identity is a huge issue in society,  a stereotype of how a woman and men should portray themselves. A woman getting paid more than a man is suspicious, worrying about how we dress or look to fit someone’s standard to fit in, changing our personality to be accepted. Many people have different beliefs, the LGBT+ is one of the groups of people that are scared to be who they are base on how society treats them as sinners, being called names for coming out as a homosexual. Man is supposed to be though, men don’t cry, men don’t wear makeup, a man should act masculine and show no fear. Women are supposed to be mothers, dress feminine, cook, and bake. That’s how society portrays gender. 

As I was reading sex and gender 101 and feminism is for everyone it reminded of things I already know, but have never giving much thought about how society influence and shapes you in stereotypical ways according to your gender.

I remeber growing up I used to love playing with my cosuins hot wheels car track even asked my parents many times to buy it for me , but they never did because it was a boys toy. As years have past things change today I babysit for a boy who’s 7 years old and he enjoys painting his nails and has some toys that are “consider ” for girls. I’m happy to see how some things have change for some families but not everyone has that privileged. There is still so much to learn when it comes to gender, sexism and feminism.

“Feminist Politics: Where we stand” really made me think about the wrong idea of feminism that I already held in my head based on experiences, tv shows, and even school. When I think about feminism, it is the idea of women fighting for their rights, for equality against men. Females creating a movement to go against men is the first thing I think about when I hear feminism. I’m not sure where this idea comes from, but I think the word feminism naturally was defined that way in my head because of the narratives they partially illustrated, not the whole story. According to Bell Hooks, “ As contemporary feminism progressed, as women realized that males were not the only group in our society who supported sexist thinking and behavior – that females could be sexist as well – anti-male sentiment no longer shaped the movement’s conscious- ness.” (Hooks, 3) As women, we are already brainwashed by the idea of us having a disadvantage, and it creates this behavior in women to find their human potential and go pursuit it against each other.

it is very interesting to think about how many people would think of themselves differently and even change as people if they thought more about their own gender identity and sexuality. I find it very likely that most people would not think of themselves as solidly one gender or their cis gender or 100% straight if they did not have an ever-present social pressure to box them into the one they were assigned at birth. It’s also worth noting that this pressure and “boxing in” of sexual identity and gender is heavily related to living in a colonized and oppressive society, and that it is just a few of many freedoms that have been taken away from many cultures and peoples.