How has your perspective changed since I started the class?
Since the beginning of the class, I have learned new concepts and had different perspectives on people in society. Indeed, I can now clearly see how each institution affects people’s lives through interaction with different people in the community. Places of work, schools, religious institutions, and social media platforms contain similar characteristics and adhere to a given set of rules and guidelines. For young people, education institutions are crucial in shaping the futures and training them to adapt to society. How people are socialized changes as people interact with people from social institutions. My perspective on how feminism is expressed in various social institutions has changed since I have realized that feminism has radicalized the manner sexual harassment cases are handled. Before, I thought that feminism only empowered women, but feminism is responsible for the introduction of policies that protect both men and women from sexual harassment. The importance of respecting people’s gender was also emphasized in feminist studies. In the world, some people identify themselves as transgender, meaning they don’t identify themselves with any gender. These people go through a lot of hardship in the community since people do not accept them as members of society. My perspective on them has changed since I can relate to transgender people freely without fear of discrimination. Relating to people in society is important since it creates social bonds and structures that promote gender equality.
What will you take from the course?
Sincerely, the course has educated me on many things concerning gender studies. One of the most important aspects that I have learned is to respect different social institutions in society since they play essential roles in shaping the community. Religious institutions play a crucial role in maintaining spirituality in society, while schools educate young minds to bring out their best. Without each social institution playing its function, there will be an imbalance leading to chaos. Notably, I have understood how various artifacts play different roles in society. Items such as films, books, and articles are essential tools in promoting equality in gender. Unlike movies and books, artifacts have different messages on how people perceive gender; hence the artifacts act as symbols or representations of how people understand sex and gender. Indeed, I have realized how respecting one’s gender promotes peace and unity within the society. Transgender people are occasionally bullied or attacked by people because of their sexuality and beliefs. I have learned to respect and treat everyone equally since gender and women studies emphasize that everyone is equal.
How did the format of the class affect your learning and your motivation?
Indeed, learning through this format is a new experience since I am used to lectures in lecture halls. However, I have had enough time to revise each bit of the syllabus; hence I have had a deeper understanding of women and gender studies. It has profoundly affected my daily schedule since I have to spend most of my day reading and understanding the topics. Lectures are easy to understand since the lecturer explains the concepts easily. The learning format has affected my learning motivation since I am not with people. I can discuss different ideas on gender studies. Notably, long hours of reading have been a problem since I have to make time for house chores and other activities. Generally, the experience was robust, but I was able to make massive progress in understanding different ideas in women and gender studies. I also enjoyed the freedom of learning on my own and controlling my timetable.
