Category: Institutional Artifact Project

Institutional Artifact Project

Growing up as a black woman, I have always had to have a different conversation than others. With my mother or older women around me than others. The conversations about my skin color and how not to act around certain people so they would not get the wrong idea about who I am. These conversations resulted from the social institutions that exist in gender . One of many institutions are microaggressions . Microaggressions are verbal or nonverbal insults that happen every day in the world. Whether it is consciously or unconsciously, these insult messages come off as hostile and derogatory towards a person based on their belonging to a group. For instance, race, racial Microaggression is the feeling of insult colored people face by others in their daily life, this can also be verbal, nonverbal, intentional or unintentional.  One outlet that subliminally sends a message of negative stereotypes towards black women is TV sitcoms,reality shows and movies. Throughout my adolescence i came up watching many great classic tv shows. Such as A Different World, The Bill Cosby Show, Family Matters and so on . These tv sitcoms were all black casts and they delivered encouraging messages that black families can be successful and loving. Before these shows aired , most of the main watched shows were all white casts. There was little recognition of black successful people on the media. When African Americans were displayed in the public eye it was somewhat like today. Focused on violence , and negative outcomes never really the brighter side of things.

Focusing specifically on the classic TV show named A Different World aired for the first time the year 1984, it was a worldwide success for the African American community. This show debunked the ideas and labels that were placed upon blacks. The title sequence of the show had many messages that were outstandingly important around that time and still speaks to this generation. A Different World had six seasons of episodes and in between the seasons of the show, the theme song was sung by three different African American artists. Which was legendary Aretha franklin, phoebe snow and R&B group Boys to men. The title sequence focused on African American women and men representing the military, law, doctors, business, sorority’s, sports, professors and more. I believe this show is sending the powerful message that African Americans are the opposite of society’s negative opinions, and will continue to excel in areas of doubt evidently through their success.

One of the ways gender identity is developed is by social learning. This is when behavior is learned by analyzing, observing and modeling others. Growing up in high school it was emphasized by males and females. For me i refuse for my gender identity to be connected to the negative ideas of black women. Since slavery days , black women has been viewed as sexual beings . it is still unfortunately being repeated today on reality Tv. For example the Tv shows like Love & Hip-Hop and Bad Girls Club. In these shows its usually black women and Hispanic women who are the main focuses. The behavior in these shows consists of vulgar language, name calling towards one another, baby father drama, women dressed provocative and always seems to be the wife of a rapper or their career is being a stripper. How come these shows arent promoting positive messages for women of color ? like the show A Different World did . Black women are more than sex symbols and wives. We can be lawyers , Teachers, Police officers and Judges.

“Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies” by “Miliann Kang, Donovan Lessard, and Laura Heston” it discusses many issues and situations that are going on in society concerning gender . There are binary systems and binary perspectives. This consists of making people believe that men and women have nothing in common. This out come results from stereotypes such as , men are strong but women are emotional and weak or men are leaders and women are to be submissive. This causes division , which has been proven through research especially in the work force field .  Which occurs in the media as well . This is why i truly believe this is the reason why we see Hispanic women and black women in movies many times playing the gender roles of a maid, nanny, or nurse or even a stay home mom. Men who hold positions in female dominated positions still receive higher earnings that women who hold the position. This is a clear indicator of division which is also referred to as the glass escalator .

Overall it starts within us to debunk the negative ideas of black women, Hispanic women, Asian women , all women. We need to no longer be silent , but raise our voices for equality. Lets stay consistent and reverent.

Institutional Artifact final

Gender Analysis of an Institutional Artifact

The marriage institution allows for a platform to analyze the subject of gender. When it comes to marriages, therefore, most people prefer making it official through a sacred ceremony and special ritual commonly referred to as a ‘wedding’. The religious wedding ceremony is an artifact that has existed within us for decades, probably one that often illustrates the meaning of sexual relationships and behaviors among humans. Nonetheless, while the manner in which religious wedding ceremonies are conducted has dramatically changed over the years, they still offer the opportunity for people to reflect on the topic of gender in general. For instance, this is a ceremony where both men and women play different roles; they put on different attires and they are each expected to behave in a certain manner. When one looks at gender, in reference to anything, it does not always mean just the women, it also means looking at how different things are done out of the experience of being a man or a woman (Kang 11).  For instance, in a gay wedding ceremony couples of the same sex who play quite the same roles; they put on almost the same attires and they are assumed to be the ‘same’ since they are of the same sex. When one looks at gender in reference to such weddings, it does not always mean being a man or a woman, it also means looking at how different things are done out of the experience of being a man or a woman (Kang 11). In that light, this essay provides a sexed/gendered analysis of the ‘religious wedding ceremony’ as an institutional artifact. Applying gender lens to the artifact of the religious wedding ceremony illustrates that men and women are socially accustomed to occupy dissimilar roles, expectations and challenges that allow them to be treated differently thereby creating biases, barriers and indifferences, lessons that people can learn when it comes to redefining gender roles

The artifact and its context

A religious wedding ceremony is an artifact that remains quite symbolic for different people and regions across the world. Traditionally, it was said to be a ceremony that was more of a spiritual celebration meant to bring the people together as a symbol of sharing life forever. For such a ceremony to happen, the couple must not just be strong in faith and religion, they are also required to enroll in pre-marital counseling and attend services occasionally before the actual wedding day. Usually, such weddings are associated with artifacts such as a white wedding dress, music, an album, vows and flowers. The selection and meaning of these particular artifacts in any typical religious wedding make the event appear quite sacred for those involved. In such a wedding ceremony, the couple is also expected to say the ‘Till Death Do us Apart’ wedding vows, exchange rings, unify the event, sign a marriage license, declare that they are officially married and then head out to the reception. So, during the entire time from the ceremony to the reception, a religious wedding is one that is fully governed by certain traditional customs that are often handed down from generation to generation.

For gay couples, a wedding ceremony as an artifact remains quite symbolic for different people and regions across the world. Same-sex ceremonies often come up with different ways to change what the crowd thinks when it comes to a traditional ceremony. Such ceremonies do not always do things the same way as opposite-sex couples’ wedding, particularly when it comes to walking down the aisle, choice of song, speeches, labels and displaying affection to the crowd. Whereas there are those who think that planning such a wedding can be reasonably difficult, this is one ceremony that always turns out to be beautiful right from the procession to the reception.

How the artifact helps understand the aspect of gender

While attending a religious ceremony, irrespective of whether it is a gay wedding or one between a man and a woman, it is easy to notice how certain things that actually happen in the event reflect on the aspect of gender. Traditionally, weddings between a man and a woman were said to be highly-gendered when it comes to the expectations and roles played by both genders. For instance, when it comes to stereotypical gender roles, the bride is expected to wear a white dress, carry a bouquet of flower and take her husband’s name, while the man is expected to wear a suit and ask the bride’s father’s permission (DeFrancisco et.al, 133). These practices have grown tremendously, and are now very common among people; this is so, that they tend to be assumed as very important and necessary in the ceremony. It is true that there are alternatives to most of these conservative wedding artifacts, ones which people need to consider. For instance, while the white dress might currently be a standard artifact, it was just introduced by Queen Victoria back in the 19th century and does not have to be a norm. Customarily, the bride is expected to wear white as a symbol of purity and innocence on her wedding day, a color that may not necessarily portray who they are. Then there is also the aspect of handing off the bride to the groom by her father that often happens in conventional weddings till date. Men often find it respectful to acquire the bride’s father’s blessings before legalizing the marriage, but others would rather view it as an outdated practice that needs to stop. Interestingly, the same weddings are said to be the ‘bride’s day’ as though the man is not to be fully involved or honored as much as the woman.

On the other hand, in a gay wedding the ceremony portrays the values of the couple, including who they are. This makes same-sex wedding ceremonies different; not just because they are based on the couple’s creativity, but also because they lack a specific guideline to be adhered to.  Whether it is a lesbian or a gay ceremony, there are a number of ways in which the couple may decide to walk down the aisle. For example, the couple may walk together, one partner may do it first then the other follows or the couple can have more than one aisle. So, with the gay-wedding ceremony, who walks down the aisle, who waits for the other or who makes the speech may not necessarily matter.

By viewing the artifact of religious wedding ceremony using the aspect of gender, I realize that most of the things which happen in weddings remain intensely gendered. Arguably, weddings are good, but they tend to portray different genders in a certain way. For instance, feminists would argue that certain traditions need to be done away with, to reduce the many barriers that are created in the process. Through the traditional wedding gown, a woman is restricted to wear white on ‘her day’ even though it does not reflect on her personality. Still, the same woman is handed over from her father to her husband as though she is a burden or property (Foss 16). While the other traditions such as the standing ovation and the ‘first look’ appear to be moderately harmless in wedding ceremonies, they often paint women as ‘romantic’ objects that need to be admired by everyone. While looking at the crowd, they want to attend weddings to witness how beautiful the bride is or how the groom stares at her or to know who catches the bouquet and garter.  As a result, I hold that the religious wedding ceremony is an artifact that implies that there is only one way of saying ‘I do’ and that it is the only wedding custom that religious people should adhere to. Some practices and artifacts are sweet, others are mystifying, yet others are just bizarre. Thanks to same-sex weddings, a lot has changed ever since they were legalized. These ceremonies have taught the world that gender roles can be re-defined, and that it is not always about ‘who the bride is’ and ‘who the groom is’.

The gendered nature of a religious wedding often portrays itself even before the wedding day, usually through the proposal that is mostly done by the man. More gender distinctions begin to reveal themselves throughout the planning process and on the day of the wedding.  A couple of examples make it easy to comprehend that religious weddings are full of gendered practices and traditions that often promote the continuity of gender inequality and sexism. It is the perceptions that people have towards masculinity and femininity that determine the roles that both men and women play within weddings. When certain things such as throwing the bouquet or the bride walking down the aisle are omitted from the wedding, then it is seen as less traditional. In other words, a religious wedding ceremony is an artifact that illustrates that gender inequality is propagated through the presence of gender unequal roles, sexism, stereotypical beliefs and the gender differences linked to certain wedding practices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

DeFrancisco, Victoria Pruin, Catherine Helen Palczewski, and Danielle E. McGeough. Gender in communication: A critical introduction. SAGE Publications, Inc., 2014. Pp.129-137

Foss, Sonja K., Mary E. Domenico, and Karen A. Foss. Gender stories: Negotiating identity in a binary world. Waveland Press, 2012. pp. 1-29

Kang, Miliann, et al. Introduction to women, gender, sexuality studies. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries, 2017. pp. 9-42

 

Institutional Artifact Project

Social institutions like family help with the influencing separate but also groups like communities and societies. Family can be considered as the primary representative of socialization, in addition family is also the first establishment through which people grasp an understanding of social behavior, expectations, and roles.

Just like a society as a whole, family as an institution is not steady. It can change along with the community, and as a household and as family construction changes, so does society; to me this is a push and pull effect. As soon as a person is born, they are related to that family up until the death of the said person; participating in the delight and dejection of the individual. The presence of a family plays an important role in child development and again is existent in all human factions. Within families, there is a blood relation, and there are sexual relations between men and women. These are the common relationships within a family and are steady because of the foundation and establishment as an institution.

This is the reason why we should not be promoting what is called a “traditional” family in society and just what that family would consist of; a mother, a father, and some siblings because not every family is mapped out. If someone were to gather a bunch of people, or go around asking whoever they see what a family is comprised of, you would ultimately get copious amounts of variations from those who are defining what their definition of family is and none of them can be considered wrong. We can all agree that we have seen over and over again, what a “traditional” family is, take cartoons like The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, and even the classic family sitcoms like Full House, Malcom in the Middle etc., That everyone has their own ideas on family and another family shouldn’t ill repute the other due to their dynamics. I also believe that their shouldn’t even be a “common standard” that a family(ies) should be held against.

For instance, a child with two dads would consider that a normal family, the same goes for a child who has one parent or, two moms to all of them their individual families are  normal, and who’s to say that they aren’t? Take  the show Modern Family for instanced, a perfect example of a non standardized family. Not only do you witness homosexuality in the family but, there is also a multiethnic marriage including children; representing the many different ways a family is composed of. I consider American Dad in this category as well all because of Roger and the goldfish Klaus, because let’s be honest who do you know who has an alien that is apart of their family. More “traditional” families would be for example, Family Guy, this cartoon is slightly more in accordance to society’s issues and has a coarse way of putting a funny twist on the issues that we currently deal with and face in modern day society. The main focus I’m getting at is that, the world changes and will continue to change and we need to start changing with it, try to make people who aren’t comfortable or have never felt comfortable because they don’t fit society’s, “norms”, and “standards”. They should and need to feel comfortable with who they are, how they identify themselves, and how they express it; in order to have a stable and well functioning society we need to have everyone in it take part of it so that it is productive and not destructive.

The first step to this, is of course communication. Communication is key in life itself and is one of the highest tier of machinery in are arsenal. However, even though we have it we don’t use it to it’s full capability, in any relationship communication is key and very important. The communication between a child and their parent however, is considered one of the most important relationships someone can have. A child, should feel comfortable in their own home and also comfortable with their parents to where they can tell them anything that is happening to them and whats going on in their mind. A child should be able to call home a safe space and feel comfortable in that space. Another reason, on why communication is important is that, kids also need to educated on the importance of acceptance, and accepting others around them in despite of their differences. They should also be taught to treat everyone equally and with respect even if they have a disability, a different sexuality, a insider themselves a different gender, etc., When we ignore different types of groups and different types of people, they pick up on what we are doing and think it’s right because they see others doing it and ignoring the many different types of groups does not make them go away but again influences our kids to do so because they think it’s right.

 

Once a child knows they are able to go to an adult, regardless if it is their mother, father, aunt, uncle, etc., about any issue they may be having, whether it is bullying, just to talk, school, etc., they will most always do so. When children feel heard, appreciated, accepted, etc., they will continue to keep the lines of communication open. Just having the ability to be able to go to someone may be a great deterrent to something bad. Not everyone has someone they can lean on and that can have lasting and detrimental effects.

The Art of Communication also works in behavioral correction, even though a child’s behavior begins at their household, as the kids grow they must learn on their own in the world as well. Sometimes they may be exposed to the negative behaviors and actions that we have to step in and correct for them and give them an explanation on why this is wrong. There are also books, that one can read that aid in helpful and effective communication between parent and child, that involve the many issues that yet have to be solved, and discussed about; these books are also made for specific ages.

Instructing children on how people are people should be the number one subject, we teach them, what matters the most to a person is who they are, and how they treat those who are around and closest to them. Others, may help along the way with their benefactions that you may or don’t make towards your household and ultimately to the community. Teaching are kids on how it’s not okay to judge other people based on ethnicity, looks, clothes, their families, etc., Is a lesson that should be thoroughly taught. This will help our children to grow into respectful adults who respect anyone and everyone around that are deserving of this respect. In addition it will make them do a double take on judging someone on their outer exterior, thus making them acknowledge that no one can fall under just one category, and that the world is a kaleidoscope. No one on this earth is better than the next person, we all deserve equal respect regardless of our skin color, ethnic background, education, etc., If we can’t learn about each other and neglect each other, thinking that we should all be in our own lunch tables, then we have a long way to go, and at the rate we are going now it doesn’t seem like we’ll ever reach a goal or ever come together as a better community.

 

Institutional Artifact Project (Draft)

Social institutions like family help with the influencing separate but also groups like communities and societies. Family can be considered as the primary representative of socialization, in addition family is also the first establishment through which people grasp an understanding of social behavior, expectations, and roles.

Just like a society as a whole, family as an institution is not steady. It can change along with the community, and as a household and as family construction changes, so does society; to me this is a push and pull effect. As soon as a person is born, they are related to that family up until the death of the said person; participating in the delight and dejection of the individual. The presence of a family plays an important role in child development and again is existent in all human factions. Within families, there is a blood relation, and there are sexual relations between men and women. These are the common relationships within a family and are steady because of the foundation and establishment as an institution.

This is the reason why we should not be promoting what is called a “traditional” family in society and just what that family would consist of; a mother, a father, and some siblings because not every family is mapped out. If someone were to gather a bunch of people, or go around asking whoever they see what a family is comprised of, you would ultimately get copious amounts of variations from those who are defining what their definition of family is and none of them can be considered wrong. We can all agree that we have seen over and over again, what a “traditional” family is, take cartoons like The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, and even the classic family sitcoms like Full House, Malcom in the Middle etc., That everyone has their own ideas on family and another family shouldn’t ill repute the other due to their dynamics. I also believe that their shouldn’t even be a “common standard” that a family(ies) should be held against.

For instance, a child with two dads would consider that a normal family, the same goes for a child who has one parent or, two moms to all of them their individual families are  normal, and who’s to say that they aren’t? Take  the show Modern Family for instanced, a perfect example of a non standardized family. Not only do you witness homosexuality in the family but, there is also a multiethnic marriage including children; representing the many different ways a family is composed of. I consider American Dad in this category as well all because of Roger and the goldfish Klaus, because let’s be honest who do you know who has an alien that is apart of their family. More “traditional” families would be for example, Family Guy, this cartoon is slightly more in accordance to society’s issues and has a coarse way of putting a funny twist on the issues that we currently deal with and face in modern day society. The main focus I’m getting at is that, the world changes and will continue to change and we need to start changing with it, try to make people who aren’t comfortable or have never felt comfortable because they don’t fit society’s, “norms”, and “standards”. They should and need to feel comfortable with who they are, how they identify themselves, and how they express it; in order to have a stable and well functioning society we need to have everyone in it take part of it so that it is productive and not destructive.

The first step to this, is of course communication. Communication is key in life itself and is one of the highest tier of machinery in are arsenal. However, even though we have it we don’t use it to it’s full capability, in any relationship communication is key and very important. The communication between a child and their parent however, is considered one of the most important relationships someone can have. A child, should feel comfortable in their own home and also comfortable with their parents to where they can tell them anything that is happening to them and whats going on in their mind. A child should be able to call home a safe space and feel comfortable in that space. Another reason, on why communication is important is that, kids also need to educated on the importance of acceptance, and accepting others around them in despite of their differences. They should also be taught to treat everyone equally and with respect even if they have a disability, a different sexuality, a insider themselves a different gender, etc., When we ignore different types of groups and different types of people, they pick up on what we are doing and think it’s right because they see others doing it and ignoring the many different types of groups does not make them go away but again influences our kids to do so because they think it’s right.

 

Once a child knows they are able to go to an adult, regardless if it is their mother, father, aunt, uncle, etc., about any issue they may be having, whether it is bullying, just to talk, school, etc., they will most always do so. When children feel heard, appreciated, accepted, etc., they will continue to keep the lines of communication open. Just having the ability to be able to go to someone may be a great deterrent to something bad. Not everyone has someone they can lean on and that can have lasting and detrimental effects.

 

Institutional Artifact Project (Sports Edition)

“I have often been asked if I am a woman or an athlete. The question is absurd. Men are not asked that. I am a woman and an athlete” – Billie Jean King. Sports are dominated by men. Basketball, football, soccer, baseball, race car racing, and more. Only 8 years ago (in 2012) it was announced that the first time in history all participating teams in the Olympics would have female athletes. In 2013 it was announced that fencing was the only sport that women outnumbered men; only beating them by 2 people. This is an ongoing problem in the sports community. Women in sports are overlooked and shadowed by men. The NFL was created in 1920 vs the WPFL was created in 1999 (almost 80 years later). The NBA was created in 1946 vs the WBNA being created in 1996 (50 years later). Inequality against women in sports can not be justified. Why is there is gender label on having fun, and having athletic skills? It is discrim-inatory behavior that men are automatically given access to enjoy sports, yet women have to fight for that luxury. Is this because of biological theories, brain development, psychological theory, or just biased ways?

When a couple birth’s a little boy, as the boy reached grade school is it immediately sports time. The little boy will be in little league sports such as baseball, basketball, football and more. As the little boy reaches high school, sports are supposed to fund college tuition and hopefully even become a professional career that turns the little boy into a millionaire. It is the opposite for little girls. Little girls are expected to get college scholarships by earning the best grades. A very small percentage of girls can become dancers, cheerleaders, or tennis players. Women’s basketball scholarships became available decades after men. In 1972, the Education Amendment is what made sports scholarships for women possible. This amendment states, “Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance”. This was in 1972, for decades women were struggling to pay for college while men were able to receive free aid for playing sports.

 

Even though women are still struggling to get more media coverage in sports entertainment, we have come a long way. Women in sports entertainment now have women basketball, football, baseball teams and more. While women do deserve the same sell out arena’s, screaming fans, and tv coverage the main issue is the pay gap. According to Forbes, a male athlete can earn up to the least on thirteen thousand dollars per game vs the female athlete earning the least of four thousand dollars. That pay gap is nine thousand dollars, nearly ten thousand dollars which is totally unfair. Just last year Forbes released an article titled “Why Females Athletes Earn Less Than Men Across Most Sports”. According to this article, tennis is the only sport that women earn the same amount of money, sometimes more. As stated previously, remember that tennis is typically looked at as a feminine sport (in society). In 2018, nine out of the ten highest paid female athletes were tennis players. Another piece of evidence that tennis is sought out to be a sport for females; what about women who play professional basketball, football, baseball, swimming, track, and more? The average salary in the WBA in 2018 was a hundred thousand vs the NBA being thirty million dollars; completely insane. The media’s reason for this is because society prefers to watch and spend money on sports that have male athletes.

It is true, is it not much sports companies can do if society prefers male athletes. So this is in issue in society. I believe this is a mixture of biological theories, brain development, psychological theory, and just biased ways. It is true that biologically men are typically more aggressive and competitive which are both required to play professional sports. Brain development plays a role in this discrimination because since men typically have these biological traits, women are were used to forcing themselves to not like certain activities because it wasn’t “lady like”. Similar to brain development, psychologically women will subconsciously think they would not enjoy a sport because of the aggression, competitiveness, or even getting dirty. All three of these theories caused bias ways, and gender discrimination within sports. Even though we have mad great progress, we still have so much work to change the bias way of thinking to give women athletes the attention and pay they deserve.

Abdoul Galiou Dabre Institutional Artifact Project

Social institutions are areas having people with similar goals or are serving the same purpose. These institutions are part of a larger dynamic social order, which governs how people conduct their activities. Some conventional social institutions include education systems, families, religious institutions, and places of work. In these places, both men and women interact freely, causing some gender-related issues (McDonald 7). In most cases, members of one gender are oppressed by fellow workers, or the law put forward by the social institution. All education facilities from the lowest to the highest are social institutions that human beings go through. Many gender-related issues arise, affecting both boys and girls in the learning institutions. In the lower stages of the education systems, many gender-related cases are not reported. Still, as students grow, they understand how society runs, making it easy to identify gender bias in the institution.

Universities and colleges are educational institutions that report numerous sexual harassment cases such as rape, sodomy, and body shaming. Most rape cases biased against girls since most boys argue by claiming they had consent from the girl. Almost all girls in universities are eighteen years and above, making them responsible for their actions, and this makes it easy for male suspects to evade jail time. Many universities have recorded many cases of students sleeping with the lectures to get good grades or to avoid harsh punishments such as expulsion. Many of the girls who suffer from this abuse hardly report it to the authorities because it is shameful or because of the leverage the lecture has against the student. The laws that protect girls from such forms of abuse are not followed in many cases making it hard for girls to get justice. As a way to cub such instances of harassment various learning institutions have come up with laws and policies that protect students, staff members and faculty members from any form of sexual harassment.

In my essay, I would like to analyze the City University of New York (CUNY) law against any form of sexual harassment. This a sexual harassment policy promotes mutual respect and understanding between all the students, staff, and faculty members (Blumberg, 350). Sexual harassment against anyone is illegal in the country, and the university will also not tolerate any acts of sexual discrimination or harassment. The policy will be disseminated through the various channels of the institution to educate all students and staff on sexual harassment and put measures and procedures to protect all personnel. The university establishes measures to investigate and punish all people accused or convicted of sexual harassment cases. Any member of the university community claiming to be sexually harassed should report to the necessary authorities immediately since delays might make the investigations difficult. After reporting, the university should conduct thorough investigations on the allegations and provide justice to the offended parties.

According to the university laws, it’s illegal for any member of the community to engage in sexual harassment or retaliate to any person raising concerns on a case of sexual harassment. Notably, it’s illegal not to report any sexual harassment incident or interfere in investigations involving sexual harassment cases. According to the university, sexual harassment is defined as any request for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, or any written or oral communication indication sexual misconduct. For the policy, it’s illegal to give sexual favors to get a good grade, promotion, or employment. In the university, sexual injustices may occur between people of similar sex of different sexes. In most cases, sexual harassment occurs between members of the community with unequal power such as students and faculty, members, employees and supervisors, and faculty members with different authoritative positions.

However, it may also occur between individuals with equal power, such as students or co-workers. In some cases, the person with lesser power in harassing the person with more authority, such as a faculty member being harassed by a student, may appear. According to the policy, types of sexual injustices include demanding or requesting favors for a promotion, employment, or excellent academic performance and presenting inaccurate results for students refusing relationships with faculty members. Other unwelcome sexual misconducts in the institution include sexual teasing or comments, sexual slurs or verbal abuses, discussing sexual activities, suggestive sexual letters, forced sexual intercourse, sexual touching or gestures, and graphic remarks on someone’s sexuality. In the institution, sexual relationships among students occur, but relations between students and faculty members are dangerous. This because students may be forced into sexual activities with faculty members in fears of harsh replications such a poor results. Furthermore, students engaging in sexual activities with faculty members are likely to have an unfair advantage over the other academically. If the relationship ends, both parties are expected to harm each other anyway.

The policy clearly states that each individual has a professional responsibility of making sure that the only activities in the institutions are teaching, grading, counseling, advising, and evaluating students and employees in the institution.  This policy also punishes any person making false claims of sexual harassment against any member of the community. The policy should not be used to oppress or disadvantage any person in the institution. Through the university’s administration, the institutions provide clear guidelines on handling and interpreting sexual related cases. The university president, vice chairman, and Dean of students are responsible for overseeing any sexual harassment cases. There are several penalties and actions taken against people accused of any sexual misconduct to enforce the policy. Some of the penalties include job termination or expulsion from the university. Through this policy, the university has prevented many incidences of sexual harassment against any member of the institutions community.  Clearly, the university has put a good policy to fight sexual harassment but there are still many cases of sexual assault in the institution. The university should educate students and all staff members and students on their sexual harassment so that they can easily report to the authorities. For this purpose the school has introduced institutions such as clubs and gathering that sensitize on policies of sexual harassment (DeFrancisco et al. 132).

From the artifacts’ analysis, it’s clear that the education system and its objects cause significant gender case issues. The study changed my view on gender-related topics since it is difficult to have a permanent solution. Most of the people who promulgate gender bias do it unintentionally, but people misunderstand the message. However, education institutions should be at the frontline in fighting gender issues and promoting both male and female genders in school activities. This will play a significant role in promoting equality among men and women and creating equal chances for women and men in society. The policies on sexual harassment should be enforced with the intensity they deserves since many people suffer from sexual injustices in the society.

Kianna Holm Institution Artifact Final Portfolio

We live in a country where there is a high demand for equal rights for all. But still today there are still many women treated unfairly in contrast to men.  Men tend to receive higher pay and better access to promotions. This reality of inequality has been portrayed in the movie, “What Men Want” directed by Adam Shankman. 

The movie, “What Men Want”, starring Taraji P. Henson, presents a scene where Taraji’s character, “Ali, is overlooked for a promotion she thought was hers” (Rosa and Radloff), but instead was given to one of her fellow male coworkers. Within the embarrassing scene, “Ali’s boss tosses a football to the man who’s getting the [promotion], but Ali intercepts it” (Rosa and Radloff). This scene within the movie illustrates a feeling that many women know way too well, it’s the feeling of losing an opportunity over male privilege. 

In today’s society, women are more likely to be ‘top performers’, but less likely to be the boss. Only 5% of Fortune 500’s CEOs are women as presented in The Women’s Leadership Gap. “Institutionalized discrimination refers to the unjust and discriminatory mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals by society and its institutions as a whole, through unequal selection or bias, intentional or unintentional, as opposed to individuals making a conscious choice to discriminate”. Women are more likely to be ‘top performers,’ but less likely to be the boss. Why is that? If women work harder why aren’t we getting the recognition deserved. For example, my mother works in a school and she wanted to get a promotion, so she worked really hard, probably harder than anyone else in her job, just to be promoted. And when the promotion was given, she didn’t receive it and a male coworker, who barely attended work, received it. She was mad, but not only because she didn’t get the promotion, but because when she asked why she didn’t get it they said because the male coworker is more dedicated to the job because he doesn’t have kids. This made my mother later realize that your color and gender has an effect on the outcome of your future. This shows that even though women tend to work harder than men they aren’t rewarded nearly as much as men. But not only are women rewarded less than men, they are also paid less. 

Women’s median earnings are lower than men’s in nearly every occupation, according to another report released this week from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a nonprofit think tank. For example, “In 2020, women earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by men” as presented by PayScale. The evidence provided by PayScale demonstrates the gender pay gap or gender wage gap, which is the average difference between the remuneration for men and women who are working. And the gender pay gap displays that women are generally considered to be paid less than men. For example, my aunt works in a business firm, she has been working there for over 20 years. And she wants higher pay and bonuses, but they won’t give it to her although she has been working at her job longer than anyone else has. She told me that most males at the firm tend to get higher bonuses and pay than she does. She was so frustrated, but still continues to try to get more pay. This displays the idea that gender privilege is present still today. 

Systematic inequalities are “patterns of differential group treatment repeated across time even in the absence of overt discrimination”. Systematic inequalities are policies that keep people of color and women from gaining power, which are enforced through laws and etc. For example, CEOs or people in headquarters of a company are mainly men, white men to be specific. About 46.9% of the labor force is made up of women. And only 5% of those women are CEOs. Of the companies that made up the 2019 Fortune 500 list, only 33 of those companies had women CEOs. This illustrates the idea that there is a miniscule number of women in higher positions in businesses. 

In brief explanation, women tend to be treated unfairly in the business world. We are paid less and given less promotions, even though they tend to work more than men. And institutionalized discrimination and systematic inequalities can be used to demonstrate the ideas of gender inequality from all aspects. Women are strong and hard working, we deserve to be treated fairly. If we live in a country where there is freedom and equality then why aren’t 50% of CEOs women? And why aren’t men and women given equal pay? 

Works Cited

Rosa, Christopher, and Jessica Radloff. “Taraji P. Henson Hopes Her New Movie Inspires Women to ‘Keep Fighting.'” What Men Want. Glamour.com, 

www.glamour.com/story/taraji- p-henson-on-what-men-want. Accessed 8 Feb. 2019.

THE STATE OF THE GENDER PAY GAP 2020. PayScale, 

www.payscale.com/data/gender- pay-gap.

The Women’s Leadership Gap. Center for American Progress, 

www.americanprogress.org/ issues/women/reports/2018/11/ 20/461273/womens-leadership- gap-2/

.

 

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.

Nyoka Foster Institutional Artifact Project

In many cultures and traditions, religion is the root and the source of morality and ethical values.  It is commonly associated with divinity, spirituality, and purity.  Religion provides purpose and reasoning, as well as offers ways in which we can become righteous and pure beings.

We are often introduced to religion at a very young age. Many religions share the common custom of blessing or purifying a child when they are born or a few months after. An example of this is called a “Christening” or a baptism, these terms are commonly used within Christian/Catholic faith. In most cases, it used to admit/welcome a child into the faith practiced by their families. From then on, the child becomes familiar with a divine being, who they must love and fear; they must habitually practice the folkways of being to align with their family/cultural function.

This pattern relates to the development of our childhood, this is where our social learning about our sex, gender, concepts, and gendered base habits are formed. Social Learning is a theory on we acquire information by watching and imitating the people around us. In our development stages, we are hardwired to adapt to Binary systems and heteronormative culture. In other words, a system or culture that says our sex and our gender is invariable and that we only have two genders, men and women. It also assumes that these two gendered bodies are assigned to one another and that they have a masculine and feminine role to perform. Religion, in most cases, reinforces these gender regulations and that it is sinful to go against the methodical practices.

Women are generally ridiculed of challenging these methodical practices.  We have been taught to be seen and not heard, and that our bodies are meant to be kept sacred and pure until marriage. Since childhood, we’ve been trained to not belong to ourselves and that our bodies were made for public enjoyment and scrutiny. We were designed to be mothers, wives, laborers, fetishized, humiliated, frail, and dehumanized within a pious patriarchal society.

The poem “Her Kind” by Anne Sexton and the short story, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The film, The Color directed by Steven Spielberg based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker, and a speech delivered by Sojourner Truth and unveils the impact of religion, patriarchy, prejudice on women, otherness, and gender. When Anne Sexton states, “I have found the warm caves in the woods, (/) filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves, (/) closets, silks, innumerable goods;(/)fixed the suppers for the worms and elves: whining, rearranging the disaligned (/) A woman like that is misunderstood”(Sexton 8-14). In these lines, Sexton highlights the societal expectation of a woman during the 1920s. Sexton describes herself complying with these standards while feeling unfulfilled. The author suggests that women are often misunderstood and are voiceless in a male-dominated society. This has led women to conform and to carry out, “feminine” and domestic gender roles projected unto them to keep the society functional. 

In “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, the author uses a character who is a very old man with enormous wings to show how society cast boundaries and create categories to understand the otherness.  This short story shares the concept of Social Constructionism and the one drop-rule. According to “An Introduction to Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies”, Social Constructionism the human interpretation and definition that is shaped by cultural and historical context. This character was frequently referred to as an Angelic messenger based on its enormous wings.  When Marquez states, “The town priest comes out too, and tests the man to see whether he’s an angel. He decides he’s not, since he doesn’t understand Latin (obviously the Lord’s language). Plus, there’s the issue of the smell.” He is highlighting senselessness of categorization, the egotistical nature of human behavior. The priest rejects the old man as an angel because of his own perception of divinity. He mentions the smell of the old man to suggests anything that is transcendental must be pure and clean and must be aligned with his methodical convictions.

The short story also aligns with the way society perceives Transgender and Non-binary individuals. Our societies and institutions frequently cast members of the LGBTQ+ community as other or as a threat to the Binary concept. Similar to the main character “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” the LGBTQ+ community is here to reveal and inform our society that the implementation of labels, roles, and categories is oppressive and unnatural.

Historically shown, Black women specifically, were even deemed as chattel. Our Bodies were seen as inanimate objects, which justified the rape, the exploitation, and the vandalism that took place upon us.  We are regularly, if not always, placed on the bottom of the pyramid.  Malcolm X would concur he stated, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.  The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman.” The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” from his 1962 speech in Los Angeles. Sojourner Truth would second that concept when she delivered her “Ain’t I a Women” speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention. This speech was a reminder that one, Black women are human beings and two, that was in fact, women. The intersectionality of being Black and a woman in American was and still is a double whammy.

The film, “The Color Purple” directed by Steven Spielberg based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker,  provides insight through the lens of the main character, Celie of the mistreatment of Black women. In the film, I was able to pick up on the use of symbolism through the characters. A Black woman by the name Sofia is a perfect example of this. She is an Alpha woman, and that refuses to be beaten down by Black men/men, misogyny, and racism. However, when her timid husband decides to lay his hands on her, she becomes protective and on edge and defensive with everyone. Now, it is easy to use the term, “Angry Black Woman” to describe Sofia’s character but she has the very right to be defensive and on edge in a world that is threatened by her proudness and strength. As mentioned in the film she has been fighting off men her whole life and I can only assume why she chose Harpo as her husband. He was unlike the toxic men she came across and the men shown during the film. So, when he finally decides to establish and reinforce his masculinity with an attempt to hit her, he has violated the trust within their marriage. He has also informed her by his actions that she is no longer safe in her own home.

Black women like many other women want to feel loved, respected, and protected. Very often, we see the narrative in the media about underrepresented groups “acting out” or protesting/ causing “havoc” in our society, it is up to us and the dominant group deciphers the meaning/reasoning behind it.

“These monsters ask us how we perceive the world, and how we have misrepresented what we have attempted place. They ask us to reevaluate our cultural assumptions about race, gender, sexuality, our perception of difference, our tolerance towards its expression. Then ask us why we have created them.” (Cohen 20.)

Cohen, Jeffrey Jerome. “Monster Culture: Seven Theses.” From Monster Theory: Reading Culture. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1996. 3-25.

McKissack, Pat, 1944-2017. Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman? New York: Scholastic, 1992

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia.  “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.” North Dakota State University, translated by Gregory Rabassa, 2007, https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/CreativeWriting/323/MarquezManwithWings.htm.

 The Complete Poems by Anne Sexton, published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 1981 by Linda Gray Sexton.

Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. London: Women’s Press, 1992. Print.

Stephen Spielberg, director. The Color Purple. Warner Brothers. 1985.

Institutional Artifact Project: Damaging Disney Narratives

    Can you think back to when you were a child and you used to dream of being a princess? They seemed to have the perfect life, they were pretty, lived in a big castle, and more than that a handsome prince always swooped in to save them. Like many young girls I grew up wanting to be a princess for those exact reasons. Disney made it look so glamorous, who wouldn’t want to be one? It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that those movies, those stories, were not really what they seemed to be. There were subtle messages of matricide, beastiality, cannibalism, and an unhealthy expectation on women. It is unfortunate to look back on once beloved movies and now feel disgusted. For this paper I will examine one of the first Disney princesses, Snow White, and what her image and story does to push the narrative of dim yet pretty women, maternal resentment, gender roles, and coded language.

     The story of Snow White starts off very sweet. She is a happy child loved by both parents. From an infant her beauty is praised. She has skin so pale it’s compared to porcelain and lips so red they are compared to roses. While Snow White is a child her mother falls ill and dies. Her father, who is a king, remarries. The stepmother has a magic mirror that she asks the same question to every day, “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all.” The mirror always says that she is. One day when Snow White reaches ‘maturity’ the stepmother asks the question again but this time the mirror says that Snow White is the fairest. This enrages the stepmother, who by this point in the story has been nicknamed the wicked stepmother.. The mirror has told her if she eats Snow Whites heart she will be the most beautiful woman in the land. Engulfed in anger the wicked stepmother decides she will have Snow White killed. She hires a huntsman to kill Snow White. The huntsman feels bad for Snow white and is taken with her beauty so he lets her go. He kills an animal and gives the stepmother its heart. Snow White is now wandering through the woods looking for safety. She stumbles upon a house that she thinks is empty and decides to make herself at home. Soon after she arrives seven dwarfs, whose home she’s in return. They are upset but let her live with them in exchange for her cooking and cleaning. The wicked stepmother soon realizes that snow white is alive and decides to kill her herself. She makes three attempts to kill snow white. The first time snow white is saved by the dwarves. The last time they were too late. Snow White ate the poison apple her step mother gave her and she stopped breathing. The dwarves are sad. They put snow white in a glass coffin. At her funeral service a handsome price comes by. He has never met Snow White but even in death he finds her beautiful. He gives her a kiss. She wakes up and they ride off into the sunset happily ever after together.

       I wanted to tell most of the story to give context. From a very young age Snow White was sexualized. In the movie, even though her dress  covers

 her, her hips are still very prominent. Her skin is smooth, her lips are pouty, and her eyes are doe-like. Throughout the movie various characters, even animals, are so taken with her beauty that they follow her round. A theme that is very prominent in Disney movies is that there is an evil stepmother. The matriarch figure is always the bad guy and needs to be dethroned by the younger, more beautiful princess. It pushed the narrative that when women reach a certain age they become angry and have outlived their usefulness. There is also the theme of the male savior and princesses being too dim to not know what was good for them. Even though Snow White knew her life was in danger and that her step mother wanted to kill her, she kept opening the door for her. She kept inviting the danger inside and the men had to step in and protect her. Snow White is shown to be very naive, however, that doesn’t matter because she is so darn pretty. Even after death the men didn’t want her beauty to go to waste so they put her on display. Then again another male savior came in and made all her problems go away with one kiss.

      One of the videos we watched this semester “Shrinking Women” spoke about women losing their sense of self in relation towards men. “You (she says referring to her brother) have been taught to grow out, I have been taught to grown in.” That quote is a perfect mete fore for the story of Snow White. Her entire life because she was a woman she was confined while the men around her, whether it was the huntsman, the dwarves or Prince Charming, made decisions for her and held all the power. And along with telling women their place in the world this story also perpetuates unhealthy narratives for me. ‘Prince Charming’ doesn’t even have a real name, he is rooted in his good looks and duty to just save a damsel in destress. Snow White’s father is absent thought the story only appearing when he marries the wicked step mother so he wouldn’t have to raise Snow White. And the dwarves, they are hard working men not very bright or handsome but they work themselves ragged to provide.  These gender roles are what we are taught define us. They my be subliminal in the movie but they carry over into our real lives. I get angry watching this movie now. I find it to be very destructive to the psyche of young girls and boys. This movie puts gender in a very structured box. It tells that a woman’s place is at home taking care of the chores and that a man’s place is out working and that a mans is to be out working or to be a woman’s savior. It devalues the older women in our lives and suggests that a woman’s value lies solely in her beauty. I find solace in the fact that this move was mad in 1937 and there has been much princess evolution since then. It is unfortunate that many generations had this type of princess to look up and aspire too.