Author: Kianna Holm

Kianna Holm Journal #4

In the reading we learned about feminist philosophy of language. One of the topics was false gender neutrality which I agree with. They tried to make “he” and “man” neutral but it isn’t. Janice and Adele both showed that when using he and man in sentences needed she and woman. I think that a gender neutral term that would be appropriate to refer to both men and women is “a person” or “people”.

Another topic that was read about in the text is Maleness as norm. Like I had said before in  the U.S we do have gender specific occupations in the title. For example, we say garbage man not garbage women or mailman. But then there are titles that do have like a waiter and a waitress. This is probably the most common one used. One reason people don’t like gender specific occupations by the title is that the use of these terms seems “premised on the idea that maleness is the norm, and that women filling these jobs are somehow deviant versions.” But this is also a key objection to the use of ‘he’ and ‘man’ instead of ‘she” or “woman”. 

 

Kianna Holm Discussion #4

After reading “Identity Terms” I think the term that most describes me is “People of Color” vs. “Colored People”. When people look at me they say I am a colored girl. I don’t like any of these terms “people of color” or “colored people”. I like to be approached or recognized as a black woman. Some people say it doesn’t make a difference but for me it isn’t. “People of color” or “colored people” refer to a group of blacks and was created years ago, during slavery and the prime of racism. That term was used to belittle us. 

One of the theories in the “Feminist Philosophy of Language” that caught my attention was “1.3 Malesness as Norm”. In the U.S we do have gender specific occupations in the title. For example, we say garbage man not garbage women or mailman. But then there are titles that do have like a waiter and a waitress. This is probably the most common one used. One reason people don’t like gender specific occupations by the title is that the use of these terms seems “premised on the idea that maleness is the norm, and that women filling these jobs are somehow deviant versions.” But this is also a key objection to the use of ‘he’ and ‘man’ instead of ‘she” or “woman”. 

 

Kianna Holm Gender Identity Final Portfolio

 Gender identity is a very relevant topic today. Many people have their own ideas about the correctness and error of each sexual behavior and these people are very precise about their ideas. Gender identity is defined as a personal conception of oneself as male or female, both or neither. Your gender identity is how you feel inside and how you express those feelings. 

I would categorize my gender identity as female. Sex is the labels of male, female or intersex, given to someone at birth based on their body parts. My sex is female. I was born with a vagina and overtime as I got older my body started developing as a women’s would. I started having my menstrual cycle, my breasts and butt were getting bigger. 

Sex role development begins in infancy. It is a basic factor of a stable identity. The key component to identity formation are the social influences. This includes parental expectations, peer relationships and social  experience. From the time children are born, parents tend to treat their child by their sex, from the name given to the baby to the toys they get to play with. This places the child into one category or another. The simple act of decorating a room or providing access to various play things is connected with factors of adult influence. 

Even toys and TV shows seemed to be gender analyzed. As a child, I loved to watch Dora. I had all of her toys and merchandise. I grew up with Barbie dolls and fake kitchen sets, things that girls would like to play with. Usually boys go for toy guns and action figures. This does play a role in one’s gender identity. 

When considering myself, growing up I was raised as a girl and I’ve always thought of myself as a girl. I did play a lot outside with the boys and I have always related more with boys rather than girls but that’s because I have a lot of older brothers and cousins.

To start it off with small detailed information about myself, my name is Kianna. That is a female’s name. Middle name, Felicia, which is also feminine. When I was younger I had a white room. White is known to be a mutual color not really masculine or feminine, but I had pink flower stickers all over my walls and dolls everywhere. Pink is said to be a color corresponding to girls. 

Gender expression is how a person shows their gender identity. It includes physical expressions like ones clothing, hairstyle, makeup, and social expression. Some examples of gender expression are masculine, feminine, and androgynous. These concepts are also related to the concept of gender role. My gender expression would be considered feminine. Usually when people look at me they consider me to be a girly girl. I like to wear dresses, skirts and crop tops like most women. But I don’t limit my closet to these. I have jeans and tshirts like men do too but that isn’t my main wardrobe. Based on my hairstyles I think anyone would be able to identify masculine or feminine. I like to wear long weaves and braids.

Orientation/ attraction is a term used to describe sexual and/or romantic attractions to others. This can be categorized as straight, lesbian,, gay, bisexual, queer, etc. I categorize myself as straight. I like men. People often ask how do you know you don’t like women and I find it weird because usually being gay, or liking the same sex, is looked down upon in many cultures. Mine , for instance, my family is Jamaican. So gay people are always being bashed and punished. There’s even several songs made about how gayness is not accepted. This is also how culture plays a part in one’s attraction. 

I have a sister named Salina. She’s older than me but we have the same parents and we grew up in the same house with the same rules. But she was always the opposite of me. She wasn’t such a girly girl. She likes wearing jeans and sweats. She comes off aggressive. She’s more of a tomboy. She’s also gay which I am not. This made my conclusion that although experiences may be similar the end result isn’t the same for everyone. 

To conclude my statement, gender identity is not simply defined by what we are but more so the combination of our physical appearances and our inner self. Often people have  difficulty identifying with either of the sexes especially when genetics factors of abnormal development are present. Gender identity is not a black and white matter, chromosomes, environmental factors, and psychological factors all influence the individual’s sense of being male or female.so the big question is what if I didnt play with dolls but trucks instead, or what if i had a unisex name, What if something in my life changed would that changed my identity from who I am today?

 

Kianna Holm Journal #3

In this reading we learn about the theories of gender and sex. Researchers use these theories to explain where gender  comes from. Three theories are biological, psychological and critical/ cultural. The biological theory states that the distinction between men and women are due to inherent and hormonal differences.” This approach tends to be debatable because it leaves little room for sexual expression and gender because it claims both are dependent on biological makeup. The psychological theory of gender  revolves around the question of whether gender is natural or whether gender is a social constructed category. For example, boys and girls learn to be boys and girls. Because girls are like their mothers biologically they see themselves as connected to her. Because boys are biologically different or separate from their mother, they construct their gender identity in contrast to their mother. According to the cultural theory, children adjust their behavior to match  with the gender norms of their culture from the earliest stages of social development. For example, if a child lives in a very traditional culture they might believe that a woman’s role is to care for and raise children, while a man’s role is in work and industry. Through these observations, children form roles related to what men and women can and cannot do. 

 

Kianna Holm Discussion #3

This chart exercise really made me think about myself and how I feel about myself. In the first column I wrote my hair, my smile and my calves. My hair isn’t my favorite part of my body. I have coarse, think 4c type hair. My hair has always been a big thing for me and my family. My mom would take care of my hair and treat it so it would grow nice. I hated my hair when I was younger because I’m tender headed and my hair was always hard to comb  out. My mother made me realize that my hair is a part of who I am. She went on about how black peoples hair is always looked down upon but it’s actually beautiful. From the shrinkage to the unique curl patterns. So before my hair would make me upset but i’ve learned more about it and learned about what works best and i’ve learned to love it. I did cut my hair off but i still love it now. I look forward to doing different hairstyles and things because sometimes it helps build my confidence. My smile is my favorite feature on my body. I love how wide and bright it is. I love the effect it has on people. I’ve gotten complaints that my smile has made people’s day and the feeling that gives me is great. My least favorite thing on my body is my calves. I think I have huge, manly calves. I used to get teased about it when I was younger. I hated it. I still don’t like them but i think now that i’m older i’ve learned to just deal with it because i can’t change it. Looking at my calves or just having them exposed sometimes makes me really insecure. I feel like when people see me that’s all they see but I’ve learned to realize I may be exaggerating. While doing this chart after the readings i think that one of the theories that relate is the  psychological theory. “Psychological theories emphasize the internal psychological processes triggered by early childhood experiences with one’s body and interpersonal interactions with primary caregivers and close contact.” I think because I was teased and had so many bad experiences with my hair or calves, I think I’ve learned to dislike them. But because i’ve gotten so much good feedback on my smile that might play a part on my i love it so much. 

People use embodied communication to differentiate and oppress. When people communicate face to face they don’t just exchange verbal information but rather communication encompasses the whole body. People tell me all the time that I’m too girly. When I’m standing and unconsciously have my hands on my hips or when I do my makeup. Ways of refusing the command performance include using norms against each other. “…women have used the role of mother as their foundation for public advocacy. They manipulate the expectations of being caretakers to seek social justice.” I would explain my embodied communication using the psychological and cultural theories. 

Kianna Holm Journal #2

 

The gender binary is a system that pairs together sex and gender. It classifies two genders: males who identify as men and females who identify as women. Any quality, feminine or masculine, that pertains to the way a sex is supposed to act within the social norms refers to the gender binary. This categorization is the mainstream in most cultures and societies around the world, which reflects in all areas of life from lifestyle choices to occupations.

Expectations of how you’re supposed to dress, private and public behavior, sexual orientation, personality traits, careers, and the usage of restrooms are some areas that are strongly dictated by the gender binary. For example, in the USA, a transgender woman who recently transitioned from being a man was told she cannot use the women’s restroom. In China, a young girl was punished by her teacher for displaying rowdy “boy-like” behavior. These types of situations happen all over the world, but the people in these cases were all affected by the concept of a gender binary. This shows the effects that gender has on one’s lifestyle, also expectations as to how that person should behave in society. Each culture determines their own gender roles and definitions of masculine and feminine, but there are a few common traits of masculinity and femininity shared by many cultures.

Femininity refers to the qualities associated with being “womanly.” Masculinity refers to the qualities associated with being “manly.” Feminine traits are often seen as shameful or embarrassing when males portray them. These traits range from physical appearances, like wearing crop tops, to having uncontrollable emotional reactions, especially for sadness and fear. Femininity is often considered a sign of weakness in many cultures, whereas masculinity and being a man ties to power. There is an association of strength, aggression, and leadership with the idea of being masculine. Because these traits are associated with masculinity, masculine women tend to hold more power than feminine women. Eventually societies will begin to realize that stereotypes of masculine and feminine behaviors and characteristics are inaccurate. 

 

Kianna Holm Discussion #2

After reading and analyzing each gender diagram I think that the best one is the last bullet, “Sex, Gender, Sexuality Interlace”. In this diagram they separate the different categories and unlike the rest of the diagrams this one gets a little more descriptive under each section. 

One group that I value is the FAMILY group. I have a big family. I am also the youngest girl so I get a lot of the pressure to be successful. My family has helped me and influenced me in positive ways. They have pushed me to my fullest and have helped me to be the best version of myself. Most of my family members never even made it past high school so there is a big burden on my back to pass and outdo the rest. 

Another group that has helped to influence me is FUTURE/ CAREER . I’m not talented. I can’t do hair or nails. So school is really my only route. I don’t have a PLAN B. School is my only choice so this is why I have to do my best and it’s hard sometimes but when I think about my future it’s just something I have to reach. 

Although my FAMILY and FUTURE/ CAREER has influenced me in many ways they have also interfered. My family can be a bit forceful so they all have their minds made up on what I’m going to do and how I’m going to live. Another thing is like I said before, my family is big so I don’t really have many friends. I feel like this causes me to be a little antisocial. My future is all I think about. Sometimes I catch myself thinking too much about it and trying to do all the right to get there plus some that I forget that I’m still a teenager and I need to live that life too. I forget that it’s okay to hang out with friends and party. And because of this I do start to feel like I’m losing myself and my youth. 

Kianna Holm Journal #1

In this reading, I think the most important concepts are gender and identity. Gender has been conceptualized into 3. “1. gender as equivalent to sex 2. gender as separate from sex 3. gender as the assignment of the meaning to bodies.” Identity is how you define yourself.

Gender as equivalent to sex is basically the stereotype we put on men and women. For example, saying “men are naturally aggressive.” Gender as separate from sex is a little deeper in meaning. “Sex is what you are born with, and gender is what you become through interacting with other people.” With that being said there are many ways to become feminine or masculine because your gender develops based on your social interactions. A person can acquire feminine or/and masculine gender characteristics. Separating sex from gender allows a way for people to express their sexuality. (Gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, queer, etc.)
“When we say that gender is the assignment of meaning to bodies, we are addressing the process by which people categorize and label…people as gendered individuals.” Allowing people to use words like “penis” and “vagina”.

Speaking from my point of view and my experiences. Separating sex from  gender is the best way to determine identity.  Personally, I was born a female and I am a straight. Some people are born women but perform male-like traits. I think that separating sex from gender gives people more options as to figuring out who they are. It doesn’t force people to have to label  it gives them the advantage to try different things.

One concept that I think is important is the different gender stories. This is important because everybody has a different perspective on genders which some of our gender stories does play a part because of the different experiences we’ve had. Gender stories can be differed for religious, cultural  reasons or even from personal experiences.

 

Kianna Holm Discussion #1

Hello, my name is Kianna Holm. I am 19 years old and this is my last semester at BMCC. I want to become an anesthesiologists, so I’m taking all my pre-reqs to get into the nursing program.  I’m from Jamaica, Queens, NY. I’ve lived there for most of my life. During my free time I love to watch movies, listen to music and go out o new places.

I come from a large family. I have 4 sisters and 6 brothers. My dad has 10 kids and my mom has 5, 4 with my dad. We didn’t all live together but we were together often. I’m the youngest girl out of the group so that did come with some benefits but I also think that it has made me think differently about genders and their roles.

During most of my childhood years I’ve been really skinny. I used to get teased for it but I had older brothers so it wasn’t often I’d hear the stupid “Do your parents feed you?” comment. But of course they cant be with me all the time to defend me so I still hear it. When I got to high school I didn’t have my brothers I was by myself. The girls at my school were thick, curvy and they’ve grown breast and their bodies have formed and were still forming. Then there was me, still shopping in the kids department because that was the only thing that fit. I would wear a training bra everyday hoping to make them grow. I started to feel left out and just not the same. I started to question myself, trying to figure out if something was wrong with me. I was confused as to why haven’t I experienced any of these normal teenage phases.

I met a few girls at my school who were feeling just as insecure about their bodies as I was but in a different way. I didn’t get why some of them was complaining.  They looked great! They had everything I wanted plus some. But they didn’t like it. There were many reasons why, but the most common reason they all said was It brought them attention they didn’t like. They wanted what I had and I wanted what they had.

At that time I wasn’t thinking like how they were. I felt left out so I just wanted to fit in but sometimes that’s not always the best. I didn’t even think about the things they were saying while hoping to be like them. I didn’t think that looking like that would draw attention because so much attention was drawn to me for being skinny so I thought it was normal to look like that. I thought I was out of place. I later learned that there isn’t a “normal” way to look. Everybody is different and everybody’s body is different. I realized that no matter how you look or what you do people would always have negative things to say to you.

This is when I finally learned to just love myself and everything about me. Although I may not be happy with everything I have there are some people who are dying to look like me. I’ve learned a life lesson that you’re never going to be happy if you don’t love yourself. Self love is the best love, because if you truly love yourself, along with all your flaws, there’s nothing that anybody can say to take that confidence away.