#comm330

I used the portfolio project as a way to express my personal and educational opinions on the concepts learned in class. In this portfolio I speak on a lot of different artifacts regarding race, gender, and class.

A lot of my artifacts are about the oppression of women in our society. Women are underappreciated, overlooked, slut shamed, overly sexualized, and are forced to deal with sexism every day. Being a woman, I have experienced these things all too often. We are criticized for sexual activity and sexual inactivity, we are seen as the lesser being because of socially constructed gender roles. Women are at the bottom of the hierarchy but are the most needed being. Most of the oppression of women stems from the patriarchal society that was once a norm in America. This societal belief has been passed down from generation to generation without the realization that times are changing, and women aren’t required to be submissive to a man. However, the man is not the only one to blame. Their behavior stems back to parenting style of most Americans. We tend to teach our sons to be tough and emotionless, which leaves the women as the ones attempting to break down the tough exterior while getting treated badly.

I also added artifacts about racial inequality in America. I commented on the fact that black families today have to teach their children how to properly behave around people of authority because their lives depend on it. Black people have always been seen as a threat to society and are blamed for America’s high crime rate. Also, the privilege white people have that allows them to be overlooked for major crimes, when they are actually the ones doing the most hate crimes. I related this back to the privilege white people were given even when they servants, just like the black people were.

Another topic of discussion in this portfolio is the oppression and discrimination of transgender individuals. Transgender individuals have to fight every day to be accepted in American. They are being seen as ‘freaks’, ‘weirdos’, and other degrading names, rather than being seen for who they are or aspire to be. Trans people even have to battle society over their own personal gender identity and gender fluidity. Every person going through a transition doesn’t have a good support system, which leaves some people to fight their battles alone. Transgender people are faced with abuse, bullying, and hate crimes. With all that trans people have to endure, there are many transgender activists that are in the public eye that are constantly fighting the big fight to change the laws and people’s opinions.

This portfolio project was a good way to learn examples of major issues in our society. It makes you look at your home country in a different light and recognize what is actually happening around you. I hope that one day America can be a country that accepts people as they are, treats everyone equally, and allows us to live in peace.

Thank you for the follow @rising-writer