Megan M. Ramdin : Gender Identity Project

Perspectives through One’s Eye

Gender identity is always mistaken and confused by sexual orientation. They are often mistaken for the same thing while they are different. Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Gender identity refers to what an individual feels from within themselves. A person who is born a boy may feel like a woman from within and exhibits his identity through feminine clothes or behavior. Likewise, a person who is born a female may later in life identify herself as a man by dressing or acting like a man. Gender identity has always been an issue due to the fact one refuses to follow the social construct to find out who they are.

The social construction of gender difference is a philosophical theory according to which gender is socially constructed. It discusses how the biological basis of the differences between the sexes does not explain their lived differences and inequalities. It’s about having look at the sex-gender distinction and the different explanations that have been given for the near-universal inequality between men and women. For example, toys we receive as children by default, footballs, and trucks for boys and princesses and dresses for girls. Magazines that portray women in a sexual way, but men are almost never portrayed in the same way.

Gender roles have indeed changed over time but not within specific households. I am a woman that is born into a strict Indo-Caribbean home that if one is to deny the social construct to be someone that we truly are, we would no longer be acknowledged. I am the last-born woman in my family as well as the youngest.  My mother grew up living within very strict norms, in a village where gender roles are clear and followed to this day. Women cook, serve, clean, love their families, whereas the men were the providers. In an Indo- Caribbean home, a woman especially a last born is given high expectations to be well educated, respected, knowing how to cook, and cleaning. You have three other siblings that went through the process that I would have to go through. I would always try to set a higher example that they never did. I would feel praised when my parents would acknowledge my actions. But my sister and I would have to do tasks that were assigned to us because the “boys couldn’t do it”.  For example, in an Indo-Caribbean household, men aren’t allowed to clean a restroom because that was a lady’s job. Why must it only one’s personal job? Cleaning is everyone’s job not only one woman. Degrading one’s gender doesn’t make them feel good about themselves. Another aspect I can touch upon would be a curfew. Females in an Indo-Caribbean household should be in their house before the sun sets but fine for a male to come and go whenever they like. Double standard much? I would say. Up to this day, I come home right after school, sometimes the train would be delayed and my parents would call me non stop to see where I am, yes I understand they are concerned but if I was to be one minute late, I wouldn’t hear the end of it.

Psychological theories focus on the internal development provoked by early childhood experience. This perspective focuses on how our unconscious thoughts and memories influence our identity and beliefs. These theories are known as social learning and cognitive development. We often come across this idea when we try to replicate the other person’s behavior. Social learning theory posits gender is a learned behavior, learned by observing, analyzing, and modeling others (DeFrancisco, 4). Personally, I feel that the social learning theory best illustrates the gender awareness process as human beings are social animals and develop through social interactions. Growing up, I always wanted to be like my mom. The super mom, the multitasker because she seemed to have everything under control even in the toughest times. I remember in my youth, mimicking her every move. From washing the dishes to trying on her shoes, wearing her makeup, and wearing her apron. My family would laugh hysterically. Not to be funny but just admirable of her actions.

We all grow up to be acknowledged in the world. But how do we know who we want to be? We as humans use this process in our everyday lives. This is how the human mind grows and changes within time. This is known as cognitive development theory. Cognitive development theory seek to explain human behavior by understanding the development of identity as a process that goes through stages (Piagent, 1965).   Cognitive development basically includes how we develop our skills and knowledge to understand what’s going around us which is includes the part of brain development and cognitive development again somehow affected by our social values and norms.

People do not merely internalize gender roles as they mature but they respond to changing norms in society. Children learn to categorize themselves by gender very early on in life. A part of this is learning how to display and perform gendered identities as masculine or feminine. Boys learn to manipulate their physical and social environment through physical strength or other skills, while girls learn to present themselves as objects to be viewed. Children monitor their own and others’ gendered behavior. Gender-segregated children’s activities create the appearance that gender differences in behavior reflect an essential nature of male and female behavior.

Megan M. Ramdin : Discussion 3

BODY PARTS:       FEELINGS: MESSAGES: THEORIES:
 

Eyes

Happiness

Weary

Stress

Optimistic

Sadness

–       The happiness that lies within my eyes, is witnessing the smiles I get to put on each and every face of people I encounter every day.

–       The weary/stress corresponds with each other. From studying to working, I get frustrated when a patient doesn’t understand work regulations or when I just don’t understand the text in a Statistic textbook.

–       My optimism always gives me hope in pursuing my future with any limitations. The positive energy within my spirit will always guide me into a successful pathway.

–       The sadness that lies within me is for the souls that are no longer with us. Not to physically watch me blossom into the woman I am today but always leading me to the correct route.

Psychological    Theory: Social Learning/ Cognitive development theory:

–       I think the two categories I chose for psychological theories correspond with each other. We all grew up with different people and some are more likable than others and we question ourselves why? Well, when we encounter with one and other, we analyze them based on their appearance, mentality, and body language. We visualize these three aspects and then think to ourselves; how can I shape my well-being or future to be better of an individual than they are. We all have dreams to have a family and shape them into someone better in this world. but where do we get this judgment from? We analyze the world and try to obtain qualities that we or children will acquire someday. Sometimes when I’m talking to an individual who comes to me for advice and the other individual is being immature in the situation, sometimes you have to be the bigger person and take the high road and don’t take that detour they’re on.

 

Hair

Beauty

Silly

Exhaustion/Frustrating

–       My hair has always attracted attention. I have a mid-thigh length, so I can see why many are astonished by it. Your hair says a lot about you, it gives you the satisfaction for yourself that you look acceptable. I’m an Indo-Caribbean female, most of us have long black hair that represents our identity.

–       Hair can be portrayed in millions of styles. When I’m in a goofy mood, I usually but my hair in two ponytails and move my head from left to right to feel them bounce off my ears.

–       My hair can be extremely frustrating. I have naturally curly hair and it’s hard to control the frizz whenever I wash it. Even when I’m trying to do my hair for work, it takes me approximately 1 hour to straighten my hair.

Critical/Cultural Theory:

–       The cultural theory part, when I choose to follow the tradition of having excessive long black hair. I could have chosen to not follow the heritage and do as I please. My parents have always been on the cultural traditional side to always follow rituals, social practices, and festival events.

       Talk Confident

Amusing

Motivational

Quarrelsome

–       My family/friends mostly relate to this category because they have such a huge impact on me. They always told me I always have strong statements to make. When I do express my words, it’s a boldly as possible.

–       I always enjoyed putting a smile on other faces. it warms my heart when I can fill someone with laughter.

–       The motivational speeches towards myself and my family/friends are always my friends. I love inspiring individuals to discover themselves they never knew they had.

–       I can be very argumentative when it comes to making a stand in something I believe in, proving someone wrong or proving my innocence. My strong use of vocabulary tends to transform when I get into this character.

Psychological Theory: Social Learning/ Cognitive development theory:

–       We all grow up to be likable, wanted, loved, and accepted by each and every one. But in reality, there are some people who would just dislike your soul without even approaching you. So, with the people who do value us in life, we make the decision on how we want to display our words depending on the individual.

 

 

 

  1. In what ways does your embodied communication comply with the command performance?
  • Embodied communication would comply with command performance because our bodies are just that way, we are forced to be mannerly when meeting someone which is to greet them. The image of yourself that is embodied in the communication. For example, When I’m going for an interview, we have to be respectful, create a great first impression, shake their hands, and greet them. That’s both verbal and physical, our body is in command to do that. This would be more as a cognitive development theory, to analyze your audience before you make your gesture. Going back to the example provided, full-on eye contact, firm body posture, as well as a smile. Also, reasoning with my cognitive abilities if I’m presenting my image accurately.

 

  1. Are there any ways you have refused a command performance?
  • I think we refuse command performance in our everyday lives. A request is being made to us, we don’t abide by the command, and do as we please. For example, if we are told to complete chores by 4 pm by our parents. Although they gave us specific instructions, we chose to disobey. We eventually complete the task but on our own time, not when it is demanded. This would be more toward a social learning theory. We are told to complete a task to indicate if you were to receive an award to determine if the appropriate behavior was initiated.

Journal 3: Understanding Gender,Sex & Bodies

  • Sex refers to the biological divergent between male and female and gender discuss the social differences between male and female. Society’s focal point seems to be gender rather than sex. Researchers between sex and gender to study differences between human males and females with substantial accuracy. Sex is based on physical differences, for example, men and women have different genitalia. Gender is based on social factors, for example, women are expected to be more nurturing than men. But gender alters throughout the years and culture, as different groups have different for males and females.

 

  • In Chapter 2, “Theories of Gender/Sex”, many valid points have been made on the viewpoint of how we one and other. Three concepts stood out to be as cognitive development, social learning, and gender schema theory.

 

  • Social learning theory concentrates on the reinforcement of the biological attributes, the concept of rewards and punishments, and stereotypes. For example, it states “According to this approach, young girls tend to be rewarded for being polite, neat, emotionally expressive, and well behaved. Young boys to be rewarded for being independent, emotionally controlled, and physically active” (Page 38-39). We often come across this idea when we try to replicate the other person’s behavior. Personally, I feel that the social learning theory best illustrates the gender awareness process as human beings are social animals and develop through social interactions.
  • Cognitive development theory concentrates on the betterment of cognition in order to be aware of the gender-related aspects. We as humans us this process in our everyday lives. This how the human mind grows and changes within time. We don’t carry the same mentality we had from elementary school. It focuses on thinking, remembering, thought processes, decision making, and problem-solving. For example, it states “unlike social learning theory, this approach recognizes the more active role children play in developing their identities” (page 6).
  • Gender Schema Theory that a child learns from their environment and culture in which they live in a concept of what it means to be a man or a woman. For example, it states “In cognitive development theory, children first adopt a gender identity and then preform behaviors consistent with it. For example. When young boys say they cannot play with a doll because it is a girl’s toy, they are categorizing behaviors and objects using a gender schema and depending on where something fits in the schema, they decide whether or not they can do it” (Page 6). Gender schema not only have how individuals process information based on their attitude/beliefs that direct gender-appropriate behavior due to cultural influences. For instance, a child who was brought up in a very traditional culture might believe and upon observations that a woman’s role is as a housewife, whereas a man’s role is in work and industry.

 

  • In both videos “Shrinking Women” and “Ten responses to the phrase man up”, both spread powerful messages through their art of poetry. Both speakers express on the pressures and stereotypes placed on genders in society. I love the message, and I like how they declare their message in a way that doesn’t put another cause down but instead lifts each of them up as equals. I personally feel like the problem with our culture is that everyone always has something to save and most of us care way too much on their opinion. But how do we stop the judgments when that’s all we’re surrounded by? For example, it states “Men’s bodies are the unspoken norm to which women’s bodies often are compared and devalued (Weitz, 2017). Men are to be strong, women weak; men should be tall, women short; men should be substantial, women slender; men should be sexually aggressive, women passive. When men are presented as vulnerable (young, clean-shaven, soft-looking skin, big eyes), viewers notice because the image is playing against the macho gendered norm. The result is not just gendered/sexed bodies but a system that requires particular groups of bodies to dominate over other bodies (Lorber & Martin, 2011). Women all over the world are objectified every day with how they are supposed to look/act through advertisements, social media, celebrities, etc. Men are also are taught from a young age to be bold and fearless, and when the traits are displayed as monsters. This toxic culture has hurt us all. It won’t end until we educate ourselves and our children that people just don’t fit into a one size fits all mold and we have to not only accept it but embrace it.

Megan M. Ramdin : Discussion 2

 

  • After analyzing each gender diagram, I think the best bullet that describes me is “Sex, Gender, Sexuality Interlace”. I tried to make my image as vivid as possible for you all. Many elements in my life have shaped me to be who I am today. These two categories are the main reason for my astonishing outcome.
  • My family has influenced me tremendously throughout my lifetime. The bond between us is beyond unbreakable. My family isn’t perfect. We fight. We get on each other’s nerves. We all have our own lives and struggle with our own problems. Sometimes we don’t wish to share with each other but that’s okay because at the end of the day we have one and other. Through their soul of inspiration, love and support are what kept me on my toes today. My parents are an old-fashioned couple. They want the best for my siblings and me, but whose parents don’t? My father has always been head over heels about me getting the education I wish to pursue. I admire that. His decision on my education is based on what I want to study and now what they want. My mother on the other hand plays the best friend I never had at times. She teaches me everything I needed to know from respect to morals/beliefs, cooking, etc. I’m very grateful for who I’ve become today because of my parent’s teachings, values, and disciplined. My siblings fully support me in every action I take. Sometimes my eldest sibling has more privileged than I. We always get into an argument because there is always double standard judgment between us because he can go out and return when he feels like because he’s a man and because I’m a female I need to have a curfew. One thing that my parents and I seem always disagreements some aspects of my life. Their mentalities are different from mine, especially in today’s centuries. Sometimes the way I analyze my life isn’t to their liking and it shouldn’t. I’m my own person and I will have different beliefs, morals, values, and likes/dislikes. Sooner or later they will have to accept it whether they like it or not. But that doesn’t make loose love for them one bit, it just makes me stronger as an individual to adjust their mindset. The words “family” is a word that can be articulated in a thousandth of ways but expressed differently through each and every individual. 
  • From my values that my parents taught me, I think shaped myself to be who I am today to form my personality. We all encounter individuals every day or even a lifetime. Sometimes wish to be as half the person they are someday based on their personality. By this I mean, we all have traits we want to change/gain about ourselves and we all go through a process. First, I focus on the habits I want to change, whether it’s forming a new habit, getting rid of old or a bad one. Second, I change my self-beliefs. Telling myself I cannot change, then I will never. Keeping a positive mindset and negativity free can result in a healthier process. One of my favorite traits that I uphold is humbleness. I carry this trait with great merit. The way I view this trait in my character is by being a helping hand to others. For instance, when dancing with others I seem to pick up on the choreography a little faster than others. Now, I have two options, stand there, laugh, and watch their struggle or help them step by step on their errors. Just because I had it down pat doesn’t mean I need to impetus to boast about myself but rather let my action speak for me. Individuals always remember the good we leave in them.

 

  • Being a woman in today and all of history is tough. Everyone always has something to say about our appearance, mentality, or just because they want to be judgmental. Throughout all of history, women are always portrayed as “feeble and housewives” and men as “durable and huntsmen”. Throughout the years, women were told they cannot do the same as men because we’re “not capable”. When we brave women, no matter what sex we are labeled as or labeled ourselves as, we can do anything once we put our mind to it. Throughout my life, because I have many individuals tell me I can’t do something because of my height. What does my height have to do with anything? The best is when I prove them wrong and do it twice as better than they expected.

 

  • The values that I uphold today are many but the ones that were taught and self-taught integrity, respect, equality, and empathy. These values I carry with my everyday lives show that they were no different from each other. We all have different mentalities but have the same qualities from different perspectives.

Journal 2: Understanding the Binary System

 

Gender binary refers to as classification of gender as two opposites and nothing more or less. Society usually differentiates two genders as male and female.

The biological sex is assigned identity and they are expected to play the role based on it. There are several explicit and implicit laws, rewards, and punishments that are certain if a person follows those defined rules or not. There are policies which encourage the gender-specific roles and identity expressions, whereas others that discourage a person from following the role or expressions of the so-called opposite gender-specific roles.

 

It determines how a person should think, act, and feel based on his/her biological makeup. Therefore, it invades all aspects of an individual’s life. As they are based on age-old setting, tradition and so on therefore, they have institutionalized over the span of time. Parents play the most important role in influencing these socializations based on gender, especially in the early years by rewarding gender-appropriate behavior and punishing gender inappropriate behaviors. For example, it states “Sociologist Karen Martin studied what parents say to their children about sexuality and reproduction, and found that with children as young as three and five years old, parents routinely assumed their children were heterosexual, told them they would get (heterosexually) married, and interpreted cross-gender interactions between children as “signs” of heterosexuality (Martin 2009). This kind of socialization is an additional element of normative sexuality—the idea of compulsory monogamy, where exclusive romantic and sexual relationships and marriage are expected and valued over other kinds of relationships” (Willey 2016). Therefore, heteronormativity surrounds us at a very young age, teaching us that there are only two genders and that we are or should desire and partner with one person of the opposite gender, who we will marry.”

The constraints are faced both, by males and females due to genderism. Genderism isn’t natural but is forced categorization or labeling which starts at an early stage and gets naturalized nature.

But how can we acknowledge and focus on the challenges that men face in our gender binary system without discrediting the challenges that women, transgender people, non-binary people, and gender non-conforming people face?

Gender dictates our dress, private as well as public behavior. However, children who express gender in ways that are perceived to be outside of these social norms often have a very different experience, boys seen as feminine (at any age) face a variety of challenges. Pressures to conform at home, mistreatment by peers in school, and condemnation by the broader society are just some of the difficulties facing a child whose expression does not fall into line with the binary gender system. Masculinity is the qualities associated with being male. It includes strength aggression power. Any deviation from it often results in antagonistic attitudes, prejudice, and mistreatment in public areas or the workplace. Men are expected to show restrained emotional reactions related to fear or sadness. Men who are emotionally expressive are often ridiculed. Moreover, rigid adherence to the norms of masculinity which include “dominance, violence, anti-femininity, emotional control, and self-reliance”, sometimes result in undesirable outcomes like negative emotionality, including depression, aggression and hostility, and poorer overall psychological well-being.

“The social world is complex, and rather than reducing human difference to simple binaries, we must embrace the world as it is and acknowledge the complexity” (Kang 64). The rise in individualistic societies gave rise to individual identity thus bringing in more gender identities such as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transsexual). These people are otherwise called genderqueer, agender, and bigender. Society at large had trouble initially in understanding and accepting these differences but today, in most of developed countries which are mostly individualistic societies have even legalized the LGBT genders along with the male and female genders. Other countries that are collective in nature and that which are controlled by religion condemn it by saying it is unnatural. Gender labels are, however, needed to have a respectful place for every individual in the society.

Kang, Miliann, et al. “Unit II: Challenging Binary Systems and Constructions of Difference.” Introduction to Women Gender Sexuality Studies

 

Megan M. Ramdin: Discussion 1

Hello classmates, my name is Megan M. Ramdin. My major is Science of Health Professions, I very excited at ending my journey at BMCC Friday, super excited. I just need this writing-intensive class to complete my degree. I work as a pharmaceutical Technician; I love helping people especially in this pandemic. I’m really excited to be a part of this class not only because I love to voice my opinion on certain discussions but also listening to feedback from others. We are all so different and all want different things and that’s what makes us special. Being different and weird is awesome cause who wants to be boring.

Before I get into storytime with myself, the videos that Professor Waychoff posted for us to watch of previous students and their journey was absolutely beautiful. Watching these students proudly share their stories with others is empowering. I think can relate to “Eczema”. I don’t have the skin condition, but I always struggled with self-confidence. I used to have major acne in high school due to swimming. The chlorine made my skin so dry and itchy and every day a new critter would appear on my face. I tried to change my physical education class from swimming to volleyball, but they didn’t let me. Every morning I would try to apply makeup to cover the spots and pimples, so I can feel good about myself. When it was time to swim, I would always tell myself, “it’s all going to wipe off and I’ll look hideous again”. Whenever the period was over, I would rush to the locker room to reapply for my next class. I hated that I had to create this image of me just so I could feel good about my appearance. When I would get home from school, I would run to the bathroom to wash all the makeup off and stare at myself with a natural face in the mirror. I would question myself “why can’t I be beautiful?” or “why can’t I look like other girls on my social media with beautiful skin?”. I scroll through my social media admiring these girls with their beauty and imagined why can’t I be beautiful like them. My self-esteem was extremely low, I don’t even think I had one ounce of hope I was beautiful. I would tell my best friend “why can I be pretty like you? You have no acne, beautiful skin. You look beautiful with or without makeup”. She then responded “Megan, you think a few pimples make you ugly? If you think so, they don’t. The thoughts you’re carrying about yourself are ugly because you are beautiful. Beauty doesn’t always lie between the outward core of attractiveness but qualities that lay within us”.  When she told me that I started to realize that I have so many negative thoughts about my appearance, but I never counted the positive energy I portray for others. Not one person had ever told me I was ugly to my face, maybe they thought it but never announced it. I always thought I was ugly because I never accepted the fact, I am beautiful within. And until I didn’t except the fact, I am I would always have a negative thought about my appearance. As of today, I do struggle with some insecurities, but I don’t let it get to me. I don’t wake up every day to please anyone but myself, so no one opinion should matter on what they have to say.  I learned to overcome my negative thoughts and replace them with positive uprising one. Were all beautiful in our own ways.

Journal 1 : Understanding the Concepts

“You may have not had the opportunity to analyze your own beliefs and feelings about gender, and you may be unaware of some of your own assumptions and biases”. (3)

we as humans have different conceptions on a discussion that may cause a rivalry. Gender, identity, and perspectives is one of them.

 

  1. First concept: Gender
  • An ordinary society always depicts each other as “male, female, gay, straight, masculine, and feminine” (4). Gender roles are expected behaviors that are assigned according to one’s sex by the norms and values of a society or culture. They are expressions of behaviors that exhibit femininity or masculinity. Females are expected to gentle, caring, nurturing, and submitting, while males are expected to be dominant, aggressive, strong, assertive, and violent.

 

  1. Second concept: Identity
  • Gender is a person’s sexual identity. Gender identity is personal identification as male or female or both, and neither. It is a self-identification with regard to the concept of gender. Gender identity is congruent when a child conforms to the role assigned according to their sex, as for example, identifying themselves as a girl when one’s sex is female. It becomes nonconformity or incongruent when gender identification goes against one’s sex category, as identifying oneself as a boy when they are biologically female or vice-versa.

 

  1. Third Concept: Others Perspective
  • Everyone is going to have their own opinion on your life. But should you care? You’re living for you and only you. People may judge and talk but at the end of the day is you made a decision and happy for yourself. You may be a role model for other individuals. Changing your lifestyle and identity. If you struggle with your image, find supportive people who are willing to support you no matter what. For example, my best friend, Kristal, she has a tendency to always post sad quotes on social media whenever she’s feeling blue. When I message her to ask, “what’s the matter?” or “are you okay?”. She always gives a bland response and says “yes, I’m fine”. Even though I know something is bothering her and she gives signals to me she isn’t herself, I try my best not to get angry at her but keep positive energy to cheer her up. Sometimes a friend is all you need to view a perspective on a matter you would never.

 

The misconception of Gender and identity has been a major misconception individuals still seem not to understand. The passage gave a break down on how and what is to be addressed when discussing this matter. Over the centuries, the lifestyles of every single person have changed such as fashion, music, customs, etc.