I found this week’s readings to be very insightful and eye-opening. In the article, ”Sex and Gender 101” by Kyl Myers we are taught the difference between biological sex and the social/cultural construct of gender. While in the second reading, “Feminism is for everybody,” by Bell Hooks goes into depth about the concept of feminism and the setbacks that are present in our society/culture. Both readings provide a massive about of information, however, it all comes down to what our society views as should be and shouldn’t be. 

The article, ”Sex and Gender 101” by Kyl Myers was very insightful to me because there were a lot of terminologies I did not know before. Such as the terminology/categories that are in gender. These terms/categories are called, “gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression.” Kyl Myers emphasizes throughout the article that all these categories mean different things. Kyl Myers also points out these categories don’t always “align because of fear of how they will be perceived if they challenge traditional gender norms.” After reading “Sex and Gender 101” I was overwhelmed with the amount of information I was reading, but I think that is the point. Gender is not Black and white. Society has tried to drill in our minds that we should function in the roles we are born into. This article is reminding us that every single individual is different. We all have our own assignments, identity, and forms of expression. 

In “Feminism is for everybody” also discusses the views our society believes what should be and shouldn’t be. For example, in the reading, Bell Hooks says, “Most men find it difficult to be patriarchs… But they fear letting go of the benefits. They are not certain what will happen to the world they know most intimately if patriarchy changes. So they find it easier to passively support male domination even when they know in their minds and hearts that it is wrong.” This is a clear example of our society’s norms on how a man should be and shouldn’t be. Our society says men should be tough and dominant. If a man were to go out on that norm, they will receive a negative response from society. In my classmate’s snapshot, Erika Jimenez shows a picture of a man doing laundry while his baby is strapped to his chest. In her caption, she briefly explains a story of her brother-in-law receiving a negative response because he is a stay-at-home dad. Because her brother-in-law, and the man in the picture, went out of the norm of what a man should be he is now called “soft, submissive, lazy, etc.” The reading continues by explaining the feminist moment will only be accomplished when we can understand one another. I happen to agree, femininity, will always be seen as a negative trait because of society’s assumptions. Society has to reshape its views to understand feminism and gender. I believe this generation has taken a great step to reshape society and I hope it continues.

• Myers, Kyl. “Sex & Gender 101.” Raising Zoomer, Raising Zoomer, 17 Apr. 2018, www.raisingzoomer.com/article/2016/1/6/sex-and-gender-101.
• Hooks, Bell. Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics. Routledge, 2015.