Author: Tiffany

Tiffany Zeno Discussion 8

I have always felt that in order to effectively communicate with others, you must take time to learn about different identities, culture, race, religion, etc. I believe it is extremely important to have an open mind when it comes to beliefs and values that differ from your own. I knew this class will further expand my knowledge regarding different identities, which is why I was interested in taking it. I am someone who enjoys to travel and learn about different cultures, therefore it is vital for me to be aware of different identities. I also work with the autism population, so to better assist those in need I must expand my knowledge with different identities.

Although I was aware of the many different  identities, I did get a deeper understanding of the different genders and sexualities. I was not aware that some people considered their sexuality to be intersex, asexual, or allied. I do have friends in the LGBTQIA community, and support the community as a whole, however to fully support a community I need to know all it is that I can know about it. Expanding my knowledge about this community can help me further promote equality.

Before taking this class, I was aware that women are not treated equally as men. However, one thing that really stood out to me this semester was the lack of gender-neutral language. I was aware of some feminist write “womyn” instead of “women.” Also, as I mentioned in one of my discussions, I have attended a lecture where the speaker would say “chairwomen” instead of “chairmen.” Language does promote the invisibility of women. Therefore, moving forward I will be more conscious with the words I choose to help promote equality for women.

One of my favorite things regarding this class’s format was being able to read everyone’s personal stories, views, and opinion. It helps me keep an open mind regarding certain topics and see how different others personal journey’s are. The Institutional Artifact project was extremely helpful in learning how the different genders are perceived. I never really paid attention to how gender roles are presented in TV shows and movies. Moving forward, I will look for how gender roles are displayed in TV shows, movies, and certain institutions.

Tiffany Zeno Institutional Artifact Paper

Basketball is one of the most popular sports that have attracted vast interests and created sporting heroes and legends who have been idolized in society. All over the world, basketball is a sport that is played and viewed by people of all gender, race, ethnic background, religion, and socioeconomic backgrounds. As the world is increasingly becoming inclusive and diversifies, women’s basketball teams have been established to provide a platform for women to showcase their talents. However, women and men basketball teams and player are treated differently due to gender concepts such as: gender equality, gender stereotypes, and gender mainstreaming.

Gender is one of the most significant differences between the two leagues. Gender inequality is a common occurrence witnessed since history in the sports industry, politics, corporate world, and society. Both genders were brought up differently, with the boys being encouraged to be exuberant and physical, whereas girls are taught to be modest and less physical. The inequality in treatment for males and females has resulted in unfair opportunities and advantages for men, with women being forced to fight for what they deserve. Historically, athletics were male-dominated, leading to gender discrimination in sports. As a result, unequal media coverage, limited resources and exposure, and a significant wage gap have been recorded. The two significant leagues were established to cater to the different needs and genders of the basketball player.

The National Basketball Association is a professional league for men playing basketball, whereas the Women’s National Basketball Association was formed in 1996 as a professional basketball league for women. Over the years, both leagues have evolved into successful basketball associations that attract large crowds. Notably, the NBA seems to be gaining media broadcasts as opposed to the WNBA. There is no doubt that women receive little credit for their basketball efforts compared to the men. Notably, sexual objectification of women by the media is higher, as the media prefers to talk about their personal lives, relationships, and personalities to their talents (Rowe 548). As a result, women’s basketball has not been broadcasted, as it deserves even though women work just as hard as men; and they are equally competitive. As the WNBA strives to make positive progress with most women advancing in their basketball profession, the media continues to give attention to the men’s teams. Therefore, this is an illustration of gender mainstreaming in the basketball industry.

Media broadcast of women’s basketball is significant, as it boosts young female athletes’ confidence while also rewarding them for their hard work. For an equal amount of dedication and work, the WNBA players do not get the same expectations, just as in most careers where women are paid less than the men while doing the same job do. The media exposure of NBA players earns them more commercials and television shows, better endorsement deals, increased sales of sportswear, and filled basketball courts, which make the NBA players more revenue, which increases their pay (Wang et al. 37). The highest-paid player’s salary in the NBA is currently twenty-five million dollars, and the minimum wage being about eight hundred thousand dollars. For instance, in one season, Michael Jordan, a basketball legend, would earn thirty million dollars. In contrast, the WNBA paid salary for players is approximately one hundred and ten thousand dollars annually. Notably, the wide gap between the league’s players is an illustration of gender inequality.

Ticket prices, sponsorships, and merchandise sales generate some revenue for the leagues, part of which is used in the compensation of the players. Due to the publicity gained, the NBA enjoys more broadcast, attendance, partnerships, endorsements, among other deals, and the players receive about fifty percent of the revenue earned. However, the WNBA compensates its players less than fifty percent of the income earned, due to the poor broadcast, meaning the players are underpaid. Debatably, some of the WNBA players are reputable for their high skills, competitiveness, and proficiency in their profession as compared to some NBA players. Yet, the NBA teams continue to generate more revenue than the WNBA team. The women’s basketball seasons are also longer than the men’s, and they are characterized by increased trips overseas to play. The NBA also comprises of over thirty teams, which means the league receives increased viewership attendance and revenues. In contrast, the WNBA consists of twelve teams, which earns the league less income.

While it is quite challenging for women to have equal opportunities in sports like their male counterparts, it is more challenging for women of color or those within the LGBTQ communities to attain the same opportunities. However, women athletes have come a long way, with most of them standing on the shoulders of athletes such as Billie Jean King and Lisa Leslie, who advocated for inclusivity in sports. As a result, women in sports have a larger podium today that enables them to collaborate and unite to fight for their rights. Household names, such as Serena Williams inspiring younger women from all races to have confidence in their craft and fight for equality. To reduce the inequality, stereotypes, and gender mainstreaming, male athletes and basketball players can help spread awareness and advocate for equal treatment of their colleagues. Similarly, developing gender equality policies are to protect male and female athletes and sportspeople from exploitation. Providing fair media coverage will attract more audiences to both leagues that generate support for women and girls, leading to equal compensation.

Works Cited

Rowe, David. “Media and sport: The cultural dynamics of global games.” Sociology Compass 3.4 (2009): 543-558.

Wang, Yubo, et al. “Television coverage and outcome uncertainty in sports: Empirical evidence from the NBA and WNBA.” RICYDE. Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte 10.35 (2014): 34-45.

Tiffany Zeno Gender Identity Project

In the recent years, the conversation about gender identities has been growing tremendously. Numerous factors are associated with the increased popularity of gender identities. One of the key influences has been the modern society shifting away from the two traditional genders, male and female. The world comprises over 50 genders and it is upon someone to determine their specific identity. In simple terms, gender identity refers to an individual’s perception and idea of possessing a specific gender, which may or fail to adhere to their birth sex. Aspects such as social class, race, and culture among other identity categories influence the gender identity that individuals select. I identify as a cisgender woman and the development of this identity is related to body politics and the social learning theory. Every individual should seek to identify a gender identity that they feel is suitable for themselves and should avoid doing it at the behest of the societal, racial, or cultural pressure and expectations.

Gender identity is an important part of the being of a person. Cultural norms and institutions play a crucial role in the gender construction and maintenance process (De Francisco, Catherine, and Danielle 29). As mentioned above, I identify as a cisgender woman, which means that I identify with the same gender assigned at birth. One of the main possibilities behind my gender construction process is because of the environment I was brought up in. Ever since I was a child there was always the need to act prim and proper always backed by the phrase “act like a lady.” My father enforced rules regarding wearing “appropriate” clothing for women, not to speak a certain way, and how women are expected to date. This unconsciously made me wary of the way I acted and the way I conducted myself. Therefore, I grew up with the condition that I always need to act like a girl or a woman and meet all the societal expectations.

Looking back, I understand the role of the social learning theory on my upbringing and gender construction process. The social learning theory identifies that social conduct and behavior emerges from imitating and observing other people (De Francisco 38). In addition to my father’s strict rules, I was always given examples of behaviors that I ought to copy and adopt from other women. Such behaviors and conduct revolved around numerous things such as dressing, talking, and relationship expectations. As a result, I grew up observing and imitating these behaviors and they had a huge influence in the development of my gender identity and how I behaved.

The body politics that come with identifying as a female is enormous. Body politics refers to how the genders are expected to care for their bodies as well as the way everyone’s body should look. Growing up, there was always the constant urge about how to mind my body as a female. If even a hair was out of place, it would elicit teases. Therefore, I find myself being very mindful about how I carry myself around. Even despite this caution, I often feel like it is very unfair to have all these conditions and expectations involving women, yet men are exempt from them. It only goes to prove how the society is very critical of women while being unfair in showing the same criticism towards men. The modern society and future generations should move away from these traditional societal and gender views and perceptions.

Sadly enough, being a female often comes with some form of objectification. Objectification refers to how society views people as solely objects meant for the pleasure of the viewer. Some cultures and societies often and still objectify the women, despite the progress that has been achieved towards their empowerment. The society is often filled with perceptions about how people who are cisgender should behave and mostly this stems from a point of objectification. The depths of the objectification of women trace back to the traditional societies and their gender roles. Women were considered property in these societies and their main role was to cater for their families and husbands. It explains why they lacked any form of power and authority, at home and in the society.

Personally, this form of objectification has made me at times be wary of myself in order to conform to the societal constructions of being a female. The “rules” for being a woman in society often contradict themselves. For example, women are expected to be sexy yet classy, resilient but not to overbearing for the man. Oftentimes we work hard to educate and make a living for ourselves, to then be downplayed in the work field because we are viewed as less than. It is very unfair for societies and cultures to continue objectifying women and treating them in that manner, yet we have proven that we are deserving of all the privileges accorded to men.

Although I identify as a cisgender woman, I am open to all other sexualities and I believe that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and do what makes them happy. Regardless how someone identifies I believe everyone should be treated equal and should not be expected to conform to societal standards. No one has a right to judge and reprimand other gender identities, instead the world should works towards being more accommodating and trying to understand the different identities.

 

Works Cited

DeFrancisco, Victoria, Catherine Palczewski, and Danielle Dick McGeough. Gender in Communication: A Critical Introduction, Second Edition. Sage Publications, Inc.: 2013.

Tiffany Zeno Institutional Artifact Project – WNBA

The social institution selected for analysis is the WNBA. The artifacts of analysis in relation to the said social institution include marketing and salaries. These can be analyzed using gender theories/concepts in comparison to the NBA. The gender concepts that shall provide the analytical frame include gender equality, gender stereotypes and gender mainstreaming.

Gender equality in the WNBA can be analyzed in light of salaries and the size of the leagues. There is a huge pay gap between players in the NBA and the WNBA. The gap is so staggering that it cannot be explained a simple case of economics. To illustrate, an NBA star like Stephen Curry earns 37.4 million dollars yearly while salaries in the WNBA as a whole can only gross $71,635 in a year. The huge discrepancy in salaries between the NBA and the WNBA points to the absence of gender equality. In the prevailing sense, gender equality represents the provision of equal opportunities, outcomes or conditions for men and women. This is not only evident in the salaries but also in terms of the size of the leagues. At the moment, the NBA has 32 teams with 15 players each while the WNBA has 12 teams with 12 players each. This discrepancy is inexplicable outside the lens of gender inequality.  Thus, salaries and the size of the league in the WNBA point to the lack of gender equality in the institutions.

Gender mainstreaming and stereotypes are manifested in relation to the marketing of the WNBA. To begin with, little is known of WNBA and its stars, with far less publicity accorded to stars in the organization in comparison to the NBA. This can be explained in terms of gender mainstreaming, which has failed to be undertaken in marketing policies in the NBA and WNBA. Gender mainstreaming demands that considerations like gender equality, representation and fairness are factored into policymaking and related processes. Without gender mainstreaming, all the publicity in Basketball has been reserved for the NBA, ignoring the WNBA. The absence of marketing and publicity for the WNBA can also be explained in terms of gender stereotypes whereas Basketball is considered a male sport. This has led to the lack of interest in promoting the WNBA and consequently, the lower levels of publicity.

Tiffany Zeno Discussion 7

Institutional Artifact Project.

Artifact for Analysis: The sport basketball. Focusing on the WNBA, and the lack of recognition they deserve regarding salary and marketing.

The three concepts I have chosen to discuss this issue are: 1. Gender mainstreaming, 2. Gender Equality, and 3. Gender Stereotypes.

These concepts put emphasis on how the drastic the WNBA differs from the NBA. I myself am not someone who is completely into sports. However, I do believe regardless of gender, race, or sexuality people should be provided the same opportunities as everyone else.

Women in the WNBA do not make as much as the men in the NBA. For example, NBA super star Stephen Curry receives a yearly salary of 37.4 million dollars. The WNBA salary as a whole, as of last year, was $71,635. Phenoix DeWanna Bonner is the highest paid basketball player in the WBNA. She receives a yearly salary of $127,500. This relates to gender equality. It is clear that women basketball players are not getting paid the salary they deserve.

There really is not a lot of marketing for the WNBA. I believe this relates to gender stereotypes and gender mainstreaming. Basketball is mostly considered a male sport, therefore time and money is not put into growing the WBNA. An example of this is, the WNBA preseason is not broadcast, but the NBA preseason is.  The WBNA has been fighting for more teams in order to “be more marketable.” They currently have 12 teams with 12 players, meanwhile the NBA has 32 teams with 15 players on each.

Something that we have learned this semester which I can apply to this draft is gender in social institutions. I believe the WNBA is also a great example to institutionalized discrimination and systemic inequalities. Gender is created, not just within families or interpersonal relationships, but also with structure of all major social institutions. These institutions shape and mold the experience of us all (DeFrancisco).

The WNBA is something that is widely known and women are still being treated unfair. Imagine the treatment of other working women/women in general. As I was doing research on this topic, I came across Quora. The answers regarding why the WNBA was struggling were disgusting. The answers, made by men, regarding this question were: “There is already a NBA,” “Players lack charisma,” and “Players are not talented.” This in itself shows how women are viewed, why things need to change, and how men feel entitled and bash women.

Tiffany Zeno Journal 6

As an adult, you begin to realize that sex is a popular topic and is something that is completely appropriate to discuss openly; at an appropriate time of course. We have learned from young that it is completely okay, appropriate, and understandable to deny or refuse to have sex with someone. We are also taught not to force any one to have sex with us, as that is considered rape. However, while there is much emphasis on consent, there is not much on invitation.  There have been many times when women would received unsolicited dick picks from men, obviously insinuating their desire to have sex. There has even been times were comments were made about the things that men want to do to women sexually that is not necessarily inviting. All of which are considered degrading, and does not necessarily make a women interested in participating in a sexual encounter.  The article “Sex Talks” explains the importance of being inviting when it comes to sex.

Focusing on consent can hinder a bond between two parties. When you request sex from someone and they agree(consent), it is as if they are doing you a favor. Through just consent, sex is usually just a woman agreeing to please a man. Consenting to a sexual encounter means to let someone do something to you.  A quirk of invitations, is that, if accepted, gratitude is called for both from the inviter and invitee(Kukla). An invitation can lead to a more positive sexual experience rather than a request. One of the parties, if not both, can initiate the thought of a fantasy, or the thought of pleasing the other party. As most may know, in order to make a women orgasm you must first please their mind.  When someone invites a women for sex and discusses her likes and dislikes prior to the actual encounter, 9 out of 10 times she’ll will feel respected, appreciated, wanted, and pleased. Good sexual negotiation requires a collaborative discussion regarding interests, constraints, and limitations. When it comes to sex, the aim is for sexual intimacy, not sexual requests.

There can be times when one may act on a sexual activity just to please the other party. It is also common for women to not feel comfortable in refusing a sexual encounter, even if they do not feel comfortable enough to engage in the activity. Hence the importance of why just consent and refusal are not the only language of sexual negotiation. It is important to be appropriate in your appropriate when discussing sex. It is even more important to effectively negotiate the topic of sex so you know whether or not a person is interested in a sexual encounter, and so you are aware of what the other party is and is not comfortable with. In ethical sex, consent and refusal will not be a topic of discussion. However, there can be ways where an invitation can come across as uninviting and degrading. If you are properly and not forcefully inviting someone for sexual activities, then the proper language will be to accept or deny these encounters.

Tiffany Zeno Discussion 6

The movie The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson tells a story of widely known activists for the rights of the LGBT+ community who sacrificed her life for the changes in the status quo. As the plot unfolds, the audience can take a closer look at the personality, stance, values, beliefs, and attitudes of Marsha Johnson, who was one of the historical figures that contributed to the Gay Liberation Movement. Her life was rife with difficulties and social injustice that led to the marginalization of the people who did not define themselves as cisgender or cissexual. Although decades have passed from the day of her tragic death, the story of Johnson is relevant as never before.

The documentary attempts to shed light on some of the most nuanced and complex life circumstances that shaped the personality of Marsha. Trans activist Victoria Cruz conducts an investigation on the details of Marsha’s death that was defined by law enforcement as suicide (France). Taking into consideration the evidence and opinions of those who were close to Johnson, Cruz tries to uncover the truth that may stand behind this tragic event. After watching this movie, I realized that discrimination, police brutality, and violation of fundamental human rights against transgender of color is a deeply embedded vice of the American society. The criminal justice system and media were biased against the minorities’ representatives and neglected their freedom of choice and self-identification.

Stories of CeCe and Johnson demonstrate that social institutions prosper on the discrimination and prejudices of people who do not abide by Western culture’s standards. They indicate that the situation requires a reappraisal of an entire worldview with decisive and thorough changes in the status quo that would not allow crime and violence to ruin human lives. The criminal justice system and media are hostile to the free and lawful citizens of the country who associate themselves outside of the standardized conventional limits of gender, sex, and race.

Tiffany Zeno Reading Journal 5

Given racism, bigotry, and hate towards transgender people in contemporary society, it is crucial to acquire an in-depth understanding of how race, gender, and sexuality are interconnected within the context of criminal justice and media. In this way, Johnson uses the word “transgender” as an umbrella term for people who do not align their identity with the in-born sex. Her writing serves as a credible source of information on the functioning of white cisgender privilege.

This definition is problematic due to the inconsistency of opinions and viewpoints in the academic community. Johnson uses a concept of trans* as an indicator of gender nonconformity. The understanding of how people define cissexual and cisgender greatly contributes to the knowledge of how privilege operates (Johnson 97). Cissexual and cisgender are the adjectives that describe people who do not resist their socially-sanctioned categories of sexuality and gender. The case of Cece has demonstrated that when a person does not fit in deeply embedded boundaries of social functioning, it can lead to the violation of fundamental human rights and social injustice.

CeCe was convicted of a crime deeply rooted in bigotry, hate, and homophobia that provoked the dispute. Cissexism served as a foundation for the conflict that resulted in the incarceration of CeCe, trauma, and decreased quality of life. Her belonging to the minority group was the defining factor in the interpersonal aggression on the street. Trans* individuals still encounter discrimination and prejudices that endanger their lives and lead to hatred and social inequality.

Tiffany Zeno Discussion 4

Identity terms help people define themselves and other people around them, but they must be used with understanding. Even a small change in seemingly similar words can be offensive and enforce prejudice because of how they were created. For example, “colored people” have a negative connotation in comparison to “people of color” because the first statement was used when racism was institutionalized. I use many terms to describe myself, but the main ones are heterosexual, ciswoman, and feminist. I am heterosexual because it defines my sexuality, which is useful to show that my sexual orientation is not “the default.” I am a ciswoman for this same reason and also because I think that my experience as a female is essential for my development as a person. Finally, I believe that defining myself as a feminist allows me to show which beliefs I support directly.

The theory about metaphors shows that they can hide gendered norms or images. Every person recognizes these metaphors but hardly ever thinks about them. Metaphors can add something poetic to our lives, and we often use them without much thinking. Thus, it is not surprising that ships are almost always called “she.” This links to a metaphor of sea as a character, and often a female one. It shows the idea that nature is often described in female terms. Many other vehicles are also personified as women and can be even called soft names or “capricious” because they have to be “conquered” or are “hard to deal with.” These examples show how metaphors divide the whole world into two groups and add romanticism to this difference. Such comparisons always make “female” objects passive, trickish, or emotional.

Tiffany Zeno Journal 4

In the modern-day, language can be termed as either politically correct or politically incorrect. Still, I think that, in the real sense, language is continually evolving, and its use extends beyond the political domain. Nothing illustrates the evolution of language than the present-day use of gender-neutral terms like ‘man.’ Traditionally, the words ‘man’ and ‘he’ were accepted as gender-neutral terms, but the wake of feminism has revealed that these words are not really gender-neutral. In this respect, it is crucial to be cautious about the words we use.

Furthermore, the philosophy of language has unraveled that language can either serve to promote or alleviate racial discrimination. A typical case in point is the use of the phrases ‘people of color’ vs. ‘colored people.’ On one hand, the phrase ‘people of color’ collectively refer to all non-white individuals, but it eliminates divisions based on racial lines. Conversely, the phrase ‘colored people’ denotes non-white people, but it emphasizes skin color as the unique identifier, thereby promoting institutional racism.

Finally, considering that society has evolved significantly, it is crucial to use language that reflects the contemporary needs of society. Arguably, the language used in traditional society used to promote the invisibility of women. It is hard to argue with the psycholinguistic evidence that traditional society championed males and disfavored females, and, by extension, the language used was crafted to serve this purpose.

I also used to reject the idea that language promotes the invisibility of women until I attended a lecture, and the speaker substituted the maleness in language with femaleness and claimed that it was gender-neutral. For instance, instead of saying ‘chairmen’ of the board of the university, the speaker would say ‘chairladies’ of the board of the university, but the board was comprised of both men and women. Everybody understood when the term chairmen was used, but everyone seemed bothered when the word ‘chairladies’ was used in the same context. The confusion was proof enough that language has always been promoting the invisibility of women.