Author Archives: Samantha Rojas

Samantha Rojas- Reading Reflection #3

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The readings that were given this week on privilege and oppression were some of the best clear and concise readings on both topics that I have yet to come across. Both writers, Marilyn Frye and Peggy McIntosh did an excellent job at not only explaining the two, but also pointing out their differences, and making personal connections, that as a reader, made it very relatable and easy to understand. After completing the fourth discussion board, I began to think about whether I was right or wrong in stating that the neighborhood is a privilege. The reason I stated this is because I am currently moving into my first apartment which is located in “South Slope”, and how difficult it was for me to land one here. In the last few weeks, I have seen 4 apartments in Park Slope and was denied by every single one of them. I knew that I had more than enough in my savings and worked towards having good/excellent credit since I knew this day would come, and yet I kept getting turned down. After getting turned down, I would politely ask why, and they would say “The landlord simply went with another applicant.” After expressing my concerns to my parents and asking whether or not they had any trouble during the time of their move, they said they never had any issues, but mainly because many of the homes that were previously owned/rented, were owned/rented by Hispanic people. When I went to see the last apartment, which I thankfully landed, I explained to the realtor, who is also a minority, how exhausting it was to continuously get turned down for unknown reasons. He turned to me and said, “well for starters, you’re not white”. I appreciate writers such as McIntosh who allowed me to feel that although this kind of privilege was hidden, it doesn’t mean that people like me haven’t acknowledged or recognized the privilege that has been taking place in what I consider to be my home.

Samantha Rojas- Discussion 4

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My parents immigrated from Mexico in the late 80s soon after getting married and began a new life in the NYC borough of Brooklyn. Although the neighborhood in which they landed was not as highly recognized as it soon became, they always expressed that they felt they fit in with the other Hispanic families that resided there. Within the first year of moving to the US, my parents opened their business, which is the first Mexican bakery in Brooklyn. It slowly but surely became successful.  As time moved on, so did specific groups of people in the area, and it was clear to see that many white families were starting to move in. I feel that being able to have grown up in Park Slope was a privilege, yet one I had no control over. Although Park Slope was not always this way, it is now known to have some of the most lavish brownstones in Brooklyn, great elementary and middle schools, restaurants on every corner, parks for your little ones to run and play, etc. Due to my parents’ hard work, I was able to attend private schools growing up, with friends whose parents were part of huge companies, including me on their vacation trips, and was fortunate enough to travel the world growing up. Yet still, it was very clear to see how I stood out as the only Mexican girl in my all-white school. I am privileged in a way where I was given opportunities that others have not been given. I experience religious privilege because I can easily find a place of worship. I also have heterosexual privilege where, unlike many others, I do not have to feel the anxiety of coming out or being treated poorly due to my sexual orientation.

 Being a Mexican-American woman in the United States is oppressive in many ways. Not long ago, my family, and I experienced discrimination by being told to “go back to our country” when simply speaking Spanish at a bagel store we have been going to for over 15 years. Like many women of color, I have also experienced a difference in pay, compared to the other women at work, for doing the same job. Being able to physically see how one can move ahead, or backward, in life, due to their sexual orientation or race, was very emotional for me to watch. After watching the video and doing the readings I understand that to be oppressed means to be restrained or restricted to do something or be someone due to things I can’t control, such as being a Hispanic woman. To be privileged means having the ability to do something or have something due to my gender, or another example, ethnicity, that others cannot have or do because they are at a disadvantage.

Samantha Rojas- Reflection 2

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After reading a few of the excerpts from “Beyond the Gender Binary” By Alok Vaid Manon, as well as watching the short interview, I was left in complete awe. Alok shared their personal experiences with complete transparency and utilized their platform for the greater good. A few of the things that I admired from both the video and the excerpts were the comparisons that were made to prove a point: How can one person, out of almost 8 billion people, only be able to choose between two genders? Alok emphasized thinking beyond this belief. Both genders, male and female, should instead be viewed as two of an infinity of options, “like two stars in a galaxy”. By stating that there is a galaxy, we are not only recognizing the existence of two stars but also acknowledging the billions of other stars that make the galaxy as wondrous as it is. 

If I’m being completely honest, as appreciative as I was to read and learn more about this matter from the perspective of someone who is both nonbinary and nonconforming, I couldn’t help but also feel angry. Of course, I have heard about the unfortunate experiences that many have gone through for simply being their authentic selves. Yet to recall that there are individuals who make such hateful comments on a matter that they choose to not learn about is not only disheartening, but ignorant. As Alok stated, I hope that as time goes on, we will all do a better job at not emphasizing and exaggerating the differences between both males and females but instead celebrating them. I was taught from a young age that the world is so much more beautiful when you remember that you’re not the only one in it, and I can only hope that others will remember to do the same.

Samantha Rojas- Discussion 3

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To move beyond the gender binary for Alok Vaid Manon means moving beyond the idea that there are only two options, male and female, rather than acknowledging that there is an infinity of possibilities when it comes to gender. Expressing our gender in different ways should not have to be accompanied by a million questions regarding why we look the way we do or have to hear others’ opinions on what they believe is right or wrong. Since society has pushed only two genders upon us, people, even those in political power, have made it extremely difficult for nonbinary people to exist in a world that feels accepting and more importantly, safe.
Since I am a cisgender female, who I guess you can say, expresses myself in a feminine manner, in this sense, I can say that my gender identity fits the binary norm. In the past, this has not always been the case. Growing up, I was constantly compared to my older sister who was girly, sensitive, and not the athletic type. It was obvious to many that she enjoyed getting ready for school, etc. Unlike my sister, I loved sports (I still do) and could have cared less about my outer appearance. Although I knew we looked different, I was still confused about the comments and questions I would get asked due to how I dressed. One day, in the girl’s bathroom in 7th grade, a girl named Jennifer approached me and asked whether I liked girls. I looked at her in confusion and asked, “No, why?”, to which she simply replied, “just asking”. For those who are wondering, I mainly just dressed in jeans and t-shirts or t-shirts and sweats, did not wear any makeup, and definitely didn’t have my nails done. They would constantly break whenever I played softball, so there was no point in getting them done. Since my appearance was not feminine enough for some people, those people automatically assumed that I was a lesbian, unlike my sister with the long hair down her back dressing in dresses and skirts.
Since time, gender has proven to be fluid and complex the way I express myself now is different than how I did then. I didn’t change the way I dressed on purpose, rather I just let nature take its course. Although I was approached about my appearance and asked about my sexuality based on how I dressed, the experiences that I have had when confronted are in no way similar to what many others have experienced. As Alok has mentioned, regardless of our appearances, “we should all be treated with dignity and respect -one in which these factors do not have a bearing on safety, employment, or opportunity”. To live in a world that celebrates our differences rather than shame them should not be difficult or even be questioned.

Samantha Rojas: Reflection 1

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I absolutely LOVED Feminism is for Everybody by Bell Hooks. Although this week’s discussion post was based on the first chapter, I couldn’t help but keep reading beyond. As she stated in her introduction, it is a short handbook written in simple text reminding us to never stop imagining a world “where there is no domination. Where females and males are not alike or even always equal, but where a vision of mutuality is the ethos shaping our interaction. Imagine living in a world where we can all be who we are, a world of peace and possibility.” It saddens me that when many people think about feminism or the feminist movement, the central message is often forgotten and the belief that the movement is “anti-male” outshines it. Am I upset that, as a woman, men get preferential treatment because they are male? Yes, I am, but that does not make me anti-male or anti-anything for that matter. As Hooks continuously mentions in her book, it’s the principle. But as usual, and as many of us have seen, I feel that the media does not always make things easier by showcasing a false narrative to the world. As much as we would love to see men succeed, we would love to do just the same. We are all created equal.

Sex & Gender 101, as I also stated in my discussion post, gave me great insight into sex vs. gender. There were certain terms, such as cisgender or gender expressions that I have been exposed to in past conversations or have seen on social media, but I never really looked into their definitions so it was great to sit and read a simple article explaining each term in-depth.

Samantha Rojas: Discussion 2

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Before reading “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand”, if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t necessarily believe that feminism was solely anti-male, but I did believe that it mostly was. The reason why I feel this way is because, as Bell Hooks stated, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression, but throughout history, men have been the ones to do just that. Yet after reading her chapter, Hooks brought up several valid points that I did not think of before. As she explains what sexism is, I now understand that sexism against women does not only come from men. Hooks explains that the definition of sexism itself implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, no matter who perpetuates it (female, male, children, etc). Due to what many of us, including myself,  see on tv and various media platforms, feminists are represented as women who are anti-male rallying together in hopes to prove that men are our enemies, whether at home or in the workplace. 

Since the feminist movement is to end sexism, no matter where it comes from, Hooks pointed out that the movement moved from having an anti-male sentiment to now focusing on how to better gender injustice. Of course, not all women are feminists, and we have seen women also identify as anti-feminists. Just this past year, we have seen women across the country march for and against abortion laws. As Hooks stated, “Concurrently there can be no such thing as power feminism if the vision of power evoked is power gained through the exploitation and oppression of others”. It is no secret that there are women who tend to seek competition with one another, but as long as it continues, the feminist movement will not reach its highest potential of being the great power it deserves to be. Similar to the words written at the end of this chapter, it is vital to remember the central message and definition behind the powerful word: feminism, and fight for what it stands for.

“Sex & Gender 101”, by Kyl Myers, was a great read which delved into gaining a better insight into sex vs. gender. I had already had a good understanding of the differences between the two, but I enjoyed discovering more about gender assignment and how children are often socialized in stereotypical ways, which further leads to their treatment and how they learn.

Samantha Rojas- Discussion 1

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Hi everyone! My name is Samantha Rojas, I use she/her/hers pronouns. I was born and raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn and still reside here to this day. Although I was born and raised in this country, my family is originally from Mexico and immigrated here in the late 80’s. This semester will be my last semester at BMCC and I will be obtaining my Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. After I graduate I will be transferring to FIT where I will pursue obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and Marketing, since my dream is to become a Marketing Executive one day. I enjoy traveling the world, especially with loved ones, making memories and soaking in different cultures. My favorite trip so far has been Tokyo, Japan! The food, people, and overall environment was something I had always dreamed to experience and I’m so glad that I did. I have also traveled to Paris, Amsterdam, Cuba, Jamaica, and have just recently returned from a holiday trip to London and Manchester. I also enjoy reading magazines and watching films whenever I have the chance to. Fashion and travel magazines are mainly my favorites when it comes to magazines, but when it comes to books I enjoy reading horror and thrillers (some of my favorite authors include Stephen King and Gillan Flynn). I presently work and have worked for the New York City Department of Education as a teaching assistant since 2016. In this role, I have learned how to organize, plan, and execute lessons for smaller groups of children that require extra one-to-one support. Although I am a teaching assistant, I have many of the same obligations a teacher has.  A few of these responsibilities include overseeing plans, teaching mini-lessons, sitting in on IEP meetings, and assisting with translations and PTA presentations. Since I am a fluent Spanish speaker, I was also given a long-term substitute position for the 2020-2021 school year in a first-grade dual language classroom where I taught a full class on my own. Although I love working with children and have learned so much, my passion is in marketing. Since I completed all my required courses and now had the liberty to choose any course I wanted as an elective, I was excited to see this course being offered. Although I enjoy reading articles on gender and women’s studies, I would love to delve deeper into how gender affects our lives on a daily basis. For right now, I don’t have any suggestions for films or books, but if I happen to come by anything, I will be sure to share!