Author: Thurmya Davis

Thurmya Davis

Gender Communication

May 30^th 2020

Journal Entry 1

“Your power is your radical self. Find it” – Aya Chebbi. I love this statement because I do believe that no matter gender role, sexual orientation, or classification a person’s superpower is being their complete and true self! I grew up in a religious home, obviously strict (and even judgmental at times) towards views on gender that did not comply to the normal “rules”. Even though I do disagree that there are neutral genders or third genders, I have never been a judgmental person. I am big on people living their life they way THEY WANT TO! So overall, my first time reading about gender role (first chapter in Gender Stories) I found it very interesting to hear different perspectives about gender roles.

As I read this chapter, one thing that I definitely agree with is that gender is a sensitive topic because of our stubbornness to accept something that is different. In the same breath, as I mentioned earlier I do think that gender and sex is a fact not an opinion. Meaning, when we are born with a penis, we classify as male. When we are born with a vagina, we classify as women. Now with that being said, I still believe people should be able to date and engage in sexual intercourse with whom ever they choose. I also believe that people should be able to wear what ever they want to wear, choose what ever profession they want, and more! Because just as this chapter stated, your identity expresses who you are as a person. Even off the topic of gender roles, choices is one of the biggest elements in life. In agreeance with this chapter, human’s have the choice of (almost) everything. You may question why I say “almost”. I say “almost” because we do not have the choice of choosing our parents, or financial situation when we are born, or how we look when we are born, and same goes for sex. We do have the choice to change all of these things are we get older though. As we get older, we have the choice to choose how we dress, the choice of our partners, and even how we identify. The question is if we choose to identify as woman even though we were born a man, does that mean we are not a man? While I respect other’s decisions, I still believe that no matter what a male is a male and a female is a female. It is okay to be one sex and live “the life” a different sex. I personally just think, every still classifies as the sex that they were born.

Thurmya Davis

Gender Communications

June 1^st 2020

Journal Entry 2

“Individually we are one drop. Together we are an ocean” – Ryonosuke Satoro. I chose this quote because today’s reading is collectively about how society norms separates us. I agree with this chapter because division is our number one weakness and oppressor at this moment, and actually since the beginning of time. We are not only divided by gender, we are divided by race, class, careers, and culture. While I do understand and agree with some parts of “division”- such as different culture practices- I do believe that it is absolutely wrong to divide people and treat them wrong because of how they identify (whether that’s gender, race, or class). Binary systems is a system that I do agree with because to me it is just evident that we all are different; men are different than woman, black is different than while, high class is different than low class but that doesn’t mean its okay to discriminate against each other!

Adding on to my idea of discrimination, I want to give an example on how I think. For example, I see nothing wrong with the idea of “men bring home the bacon” and women take care of the kids. On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with the opposite. The point is, why discriminate? Different things work for different people. In addition to that theory, I agree with today’s reading that discriminating careers are wrong. Men should be able to be elementary school teachers, care givers, etc. However, I still agree that it is natural nature for women to know how to nurture a child. Moral of the story is I am always going to look at most situations with a 50/50 mindset.

That same mindset applies to how I feel about gender. I believe gender is a part of a person that cannot be change. Just as a person cannot change their DNA make up (race), or what family they were born into. Yes, we can identify as different things, but facts are facts. If I wanted to identify as Indian, could I? Well now that I identify as Indian, am I considered Indian even though I may be a full blown Italian? In my opinion, I do not think so. I believe that there are somethings about ourselves that cannot be changed, and I am okay with that. I am also okay with others disagreeing and living their life in which ever makes them happy. No matter how one identifies we should not allow gender, race, class, or culture divide us. ❤

Thurmya Davis

Gender Communication

June 4^th 2020

Journal Entry 3

“People share common nature, but we a trained on gender roles”. I decided to utilize this quote for today’s journal entry in light of the fact that I agree that humans are trained depending on their sexual orientation. While I am still a believer in there being two genders, I do recognize that society has forced elements on human depending on your gender. Who said pink is for girls, and blue is for girls? There are many examples of this and it definitely makes it harder for parents and children as children start to develop their own likes and interests.

Predominately going off of facts, men brains are typically bigger than female brains. This chapter reminded us to not over analyze everything and to actually see things for what it is. Men are typically bigger than woman so that why their brains are a bit bigger, simple! However, it is not about how big the brain is, it is about how our brains are made to make us act certain ways and possess specific traits. Studies prove that women and men brains have differences physically and mentally. I think it is only right to acknowledge that two different species will act in two different ways. What causes the debate is the fact that a percentage of men and women act differently then what science say they should.

Regarding this chapter, the author enlightens us that the brain commonly develops in one of three ways: biological, psychological, or cultural. I totally agree with this because biologically the brain is going to cause a child to do certain things because of their chemical makeup. Psychological experiences can change the develop of a child’s brain because their brains are still learning and developing (this can cause change in a child’s interests). Cultural elements and experiences can also influence a child. For example, if a girl child is raised by two mothers than it is a strong possibility that she will accept same sex relations.

Thurmya Davis

Gender Communication

July 2^nd 2020

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.

Thurmya Davis

Gender Communication

June 11^th 2020

 

Gender Identity Project

 

I just wish they would get to know me. I just wish they would of actually gave me a chance. Is it my fault that my presence intimidates them without me even trying? It is right to exclude me because I may be a tad bit different than the others? These are the questions I think about when I think about the experience that changed my life. I like that this class is not only about the scientific version of gender. I appreciate that we learn that factors such as race and social class can play a role in gender discrimination. This experience that changed my life includes me being discriminated against based on all of these factors.

 

My gender identity is one of being a young black women. I believe my gender identity is based on biological theories, brain development, and psychological theories. Learning that there are many other factors that contribute to gender roles has given me an appreciation for others ideas and feelings as it pertains to gender. I will be discussing how biological theories, brain development, and psychological theories are some of the top factors that influence my gender, and why I most likely experienced the discrimination that I have.

 

I like to wear my hair in a variety of ways. Different textures, colors, and lengths. I like my nails long most of the time, sometimes I want neutral colors, sometimes I want bright colors. I naturally have a strong presence, yet I am balanced. I am confident. I speak up, I am the person to raise my hand when no one does. I stick up for myself, I do not let people run all over me. Unfortunately, all of my qualities stem from being a black woman. I say unfortunately because these qualities should not be assigned to only black women. Because of our oppression, these qualities are then considered ghetto, or intimidating. So, on top of me being African American I’m a woman as well? What a double threat, not only for others but for me as well. Because of this I have to conform to others idea of what professional looks like. I have to mellow out my personality to fit in with others. I am the outsider when I am in environment that usually do not accept many of my kind.  This type of environment do not accept different personalities, and creativity. Yet this type of environment promotes diversity, and inclusion.

 

My biological make up says I am a woman of African decent. So I do things that girls do with the influence of black culture. I wear cornrows, I embrace my curl pattern, I cant help that my lips are big or my hips spread. The walk I have is strong, it comes from my black mother. I cant help that either. My brain development comes from what I grew up around. Growing up in the time of 1998-2020, times did drastically change in front of my eyes. Ideas of gender, racism, technology, and more grew drastically as I grew into a young woman. I’ve watched same sex marriage become legal (which is great for equality), I have watch flip phones turn into smart phones. Because of smart phones, I’ve watched along with millions of other people live footage of racism. My generation have seen the ideal body type change from slim and tall to thick, very thick. Even facial features have standards; big lips, small noses, chiseled cheek bones, perfect teeth and more. It is so easy to be influenced by society’s standards, this is a mixture between brain development and psychological theories.

 

“Gender identity is our internal experience and naming of our gender. It can correspond to or differ from the sex we were assigned at birth…This core aspect of one’s identity comes from within each of us. Gender identity is an inherent aspect of a person’s make-up. Individuals do not choose their gender, nor can they be made to change it. However, the words someone uses to communicate their gender identity may change over time; naming one’s gender can be a complex and evolving matter. Because we are provided with limited language for gender, it may take a person quite some time to discover, or create, the language that best communicates their internal experience. Likewise, as language evolves, a person’s name for their gender may also evolve. This does not mean their gender has changed, but rather that the words for it are shifting” (Gender Spectrum). I really like this piece of writing from Gender Spectrum because it conveys to its audience that a persons identity is to be respected. This piece of writing recognizes the shift that is happening in this world due to gender identities. Just as I expect respect because I identify as a black woman, the same goes for anyone no matter how they identify.