#aff40

To compliment the concept of political correctness that was discussed during the mentor plenary, this video shows how leaders like Donald Trump can twist the intentions behind political correctness to make them seem negative or counter productive. Political correctness is vital to the health of our country and to our sense of culture and unity. It is because of people like Donald Trump, who use fear tactics and emotional appeals to persuade people to use threatening and dangerous language and actions against others, that being political correct is so imperative. Minority groups and those who are persecuted because of their differences deserve to know that leaders who push a discriminatory agenda do not represent the views and feelings of the majority.

This short YouTube video touches on many of the ideas that are discussed in the ‘Intersexion’ film we viewed for the plenary. One of the most crucial points I believe should be taken away from the two videos is the notion that surgery for intersex individuals is widely unwanted by the individual and unwarranted under modern medical necessity. It is largely a cosmetic surgery preformed to conform to societal standards about sex and gender. Additionally, surgery is usually preformed on these individuals when they are too young to be able to provide consent. This seems unfair as the individual has to live with the ramifications of that surgery for the rest of their lives. As the ‘Intersexion’ film discusses, society’s classification and the intense push for surgery makes intersex individuals feel as if they are required to live in fear, embarrassment, and shame. This is not the kind of world I want to live in. We need to change our status quo from one of hate and judgement to one that openly accepts the differences among us.

Art is such an excellent medium in which to communicate ideas, especially ones that require critical analysis and unfiltered thinking. The 2016 Women and Creativity Student Exhibition allowed students of DRC to use their artistic talents to express their opinions on many of the topics we discussed in K&P this semester like gender, sexuality, and identity. I want to briefly examine the image used for the flyer as I feel it is significant. The image encompasses an array of elements, starting with neon colors in the background contrasted with a shadowy dark girl which I interpret as conferring the message that we all experience life on a continuum with different experiences determining exactly where we fall. Some days we may feel as if our lives mirror a swirl of neon colors and others we may feel like we are being enclosed by darkness. Additionally, there is a separation of how we are all truly feeling and how we portray ourselves to everyone else. If there was one important element to reflect on for the semester, I would say it has to be the notion that women need to rely on other women. We have to ban together as a group of people who no longer think the status quo is acceptable and are willing to challenge the norms set by society. To reflect back on the concept that sometimes we hide behind illusions of happiness, it is imperative that we allow the women in our lives (friends, family, peers, and acquaintances) to reflect their true selves free from judgement and condemnation. It is not until we feel safe among one another that we can really push for change. The artists in this exhibition are taking a huge step towards relaying this message to society through their work. 

Society tends to send confusing and conflicting messages about what is considered an ideal body type. ‘Big butts’ are often referenced in pop culture and the media but the connotations these references have on normal/average individuals are seemingly less significant. J-Lo and Beyoncé defy the norms set by society because they are known for, accepted, and given power because of their ‘big butts’. However, this does not mean that everyone who has ‘big butts’ is accepted as well. A great quote about this topic says, “women’s bodies are the site of cultural battle for power, privilege, and dominance”, I think it speaks to the desire to eliminate fat and also shows that this desire is culturally constructed and is attached to social class, gender, and race. Additionally, it can ultimately be tied to systems of oppression. In our contemporary culture, a fat person is usually associated with poor health or a lack of self-control and motivation. However, the fat body has recently started to be viewed in a positive and even sexual way proving that society’s interpretation of the perfect body is consistently changing. A great example of this is the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition, which features a model, Ashley Grahm, who actually has curves! The Swim Suit Edition has a past reputation of providing very sexy material to its readers and usually conforms to the representation of a ‘perfect’ body as deemed by society. The fact that Grahm was used as the cover model could mean two things, first, that Sports Illustrated has decided to defy the norms and go against their previous habits of portraying girls that society has expressed are ideal. Or, second, that bigger girls are now what society actually wants. I have included a picture of this year’s (2016) sports illustrated cover and last years (2015) for reference and comparison.

Lastly, my plan for action, well at least where I got a little bit of inspiration this past week. Patricia Hill Collins writes in “Toward a New Vision: Race, Class, and Gender” that social change is vitally dependent on “seeing the barriers created by race, class, and gender as interlocking categories” and that “transcending these barriers” will aid in “building the types of coalitions essential for social change” (p.606). Importantly, we have to work together to radicalize the current set up of our society and the way in which it works.