Michelle Rodriguez Discussion Post #2

If i had to describe Gender to someone using a photo I would go with the Genderbread Person. I find it to be very simple and can be easily understood. We are who we are despite what others label us or what society has labeled as “normal” or “acceptable.” And if that means your gender doesn’t “match” with your genitals or you’re a woman who likes other women, etc., then so be it. I can’t help but to question each time I hear the word “normal” what is normal? normal to whom? Because even everyone’s sense of normal are not all the same. I’ve always thought gender and sex to be separate and apart from each other because I have family members and close friends who were born one sex but identify as the opposite sex. I’ve been around all types of people all of my life. So this concept wasn’t new or out of the norm to me. At times I think that also fuels my naivety because I find it hard to understand how people can dislike other people simply for the way they look, color of their skin, gender, sex, etc. without even taking the chance to get to know them. I didn’t grow up in a religious household at all and for the most part my parents did not enforce “gender” roles, though there were exceptions, such as the girls washing dishes/cleaned the house because “women cleaned and kept house” or my brother taking out the garbage because that was a “man’s job.” If anything, my father made sure his children were self sufficient, and didn’t “need” anyone but themselves-man or woman.  We were all taught to go to school, educate ourselves, find a job and live life however we saw fit. My father couldn’t stress that enough. And again this is how I in turn raise my sons.

Values:

Family–Family is important and for the most part are there with you throughout important times in your life, no matter how big or small it may be. Throughout life people come and go but family is constant. My immediate family and I are pretty close and my brothers and sisters and I along with our children try and get together as much as possible. Life goes by in a flash, so we try to make as many memories as possible. And we teach our children the same in the hopes that it continues. And it is disheartening to see and know or even hear about others who aren’t as lucky to have a supportive family, people who aren’t judgmental and just generally want what’s best for you constantly in their lives pushing them to do/be better.

Work–Work is important because without a job there is not much you can do to self sustain. Work gets you money. Money you need in order to buy food, clothes, pay rent, enjoy life, etc. It’s always best to get a job doing what you love because then it doesn’t seem like a job. It will be something you look forward to doing everyday, spending all your time. Which at times will be more than you spend with your family/children.