After reading “Sex & Gender 101” by Kyl Meyers, I developed a better understanding of biological sex and the three main categories of gender, such as gender assignment, gender identity, and gender expression. When Meyers mentions children being “socialized according to the gender roles of the culture they were born into.”, I instantly thought about gender reveals and the stereotype that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. The breakdown of the different sex chromosome variations that Intersex persons can have was very helpful; I wasn’t aware of them beforehand. It’s definitely important to discuss topics such as gender with the people you surround yourself with. Learning from each other will help create a safe environment. I genuinely enjoyed this reading and how it focuses on the fact that “biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation aren’t mutually exclusive.” Meyers concludes with, “Every human’s identity falls along multiple spectrums…Kind of like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure!” and I think that’s such an important message. 

     “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks focuses on her definition of feminism: the movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. Mass media makes feminists out to be anti-male when in reality, the problem is all sexist thinking and actions. The goal isn’t equal pay; the goal is dismantling patriarchy and ending sexism, as she states. This was an essential read for me because I learned about the movement’s history and the problematic areas surrounding early activists. Towards the end of the reading, Hooks writes, “Feminist politics is losing momentum because feminist movement has lost clear definitions.” Personally, her definition and breakdown have helped me understand the movement a lot more.