A lot of people feel that abortion shouldn't be a political topic and I can see where they're coming from, but at the same time it needs to be something disscussed among all citizens and everyone should have an opinion on it. Personally, I never really had an opinion up until recently on the topic. My uncle's fiance had an abortion about five months ago because they found out the child was going to have down syndrome. Although I understand why they did it, I was still very disgusted by their choice. I feel that every human life deserves to live whether they will have problems or not.
As for the presidential candidates, Govenor Romney is pro-life meaning he is against abortion and President Obama is pro-choice meaning he feels it is the women's choice on whether she should get an abortion. Its pretty easy to see who I agree with. I understand that President Obama wants every women to have the choice to have an abortion and I think he's right to some extent. If a women was raped or, like with my uncle and his finace, the couple finds out the child will have special needs, then I think it is ok to get an abortion. However, I know there are some women who use abortions as a form of birth control and I think that is just uncalled for and disgusting. It's like saying you're too lazy to use other forms of birth control.
Although both candidates make good points, I feel that I agree with Govenor Romney more in that I am pro-life. No child deserves to die even if they are still inside the womb.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
In the Service of What?
Quotes:
Quote #1: "Educators and legislators alike maintain that service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling."
I completely agree with this quote because this is what I'm going through right now. I feel that the service learning I am doing for this class has really helped me with my understanding of the classroom and teaching styles. I can see first hand how everything is run and be able to run things myself. So I would have to say that I agree with the educators and legislators in saying that service learning provides rich educational experiences.
Quote #2: "For Thanksgiving this year my stepmother helped serve the seniors their Thanksgiving dinner. This was a very rewarding experience helping others in need. It seemed that the dinner was something special to them; it was a chance for them to get together with their peers."
I really liked this quote because it showed that this person was honestly getting something good out of their service learning experience. I find that a lot of people, especially young people, think it's stupid to go and help people in need, but I was glad to read that someone understood its value and is getting something out of it.
Quote #3: "After they returned, the students' perspectives on these elementary school children had changed. They were 'surprised at the children's responsiveness and their attentiveness,' they found the children to be 'extremely polite and surprisingly friendly,' and they discovered that they 'listened well and had excellent behavior."
This quote caught my eye because I had the same reaction after a few sessions in my service learning. The school was in a tough neighborhood so I was expecting this kids to be exactly that. However, I was surprised at how well behaved and polite these kids were to me and I can tell they really seem to enjoy having me there to help.
Quote #1: "Educators and legislators alike maintain that service learning can improve the community and invigorate the classroom, providing rich educational experiences for students at all levels of schooling."
I completely agree with this quote because this is what I'm going through right now. I feel that the service learning I am doing for this class has really helped me with my understanding of the classroom and teaching styles. I can see first hand how everything is run and be able to run things myself. So I would have to say that I agree with the educators and legislators in saying that service learning provides rich educational experiences.
Quote #2: "For Thanksgiving this year my stepmother helped serve the seniors their Thanksgiving dinner. This was a very rewarding experience helping others in need. It seemed that the dinner was something special to them; it was a chance for them to get together with their peers."
I really liked this quote because it showed that this person was honestly getting something good out of their service learning experience. I find that a lot of people, especially young people, think it's stupid to go and help people in need, but I was glad to read that someone understood its value and is getting something out of it.
Quote #3: "After they returned, the students' perspectives on these elementary school children had changed. They were 'surprised at the children's responsiveness and their attentiveness,' they found the children to be 'extremely polite and surprisingly friendly,' and they discovered that they 'listened well and had excellent behavior."
This quote caught my eye because I had the same reaction after a few sessions in my service learning. The school was in a tough neighborhood so I was expecting this kids to be exactly that. However, I was surprised at how well behaved and polite these kids were to me and I can tell they really seem to enjoy having me there to help.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Cinderella Ate My Daughter
Quotes
Quote #1: "You can gussy up Pocahontas's eagle feathers only so much. As for Mulan, when she does show up, it's in a kimono-like hanfu, the one that makes her miserable in the movie, rather than her warrior's gear" (Orenstein 14).
This quote is explaining how the more "ethnic" Disney characters don't show up as much as the main Princesses when it comes to little girl's outfits. Even in Mulan's case, the outfit with her attire is a feminine one that she didn't even like in the movie. I was shocked by this because I never even thought of them before. I guess because they are the "manlier" of the Disney characters, the creators just over-look them. It's kind of messed when you think about it because its like society is telling young girls who they are allowed to like and how they're suppose to dress.
Quote #2: "There is, however, ample evidence that the more mainstream media girls consume, the more importance they place on being pretty and sexy" (Orenstein 16).
This I did not find surprising at all. Of course the more girls are exposed to pop culture and mainstream media, the more they are going to want to look good. The problem is that the girls shown in mainstream media are suppose to look "perfect" but today's technology, all those "perfect girls" that are seen in ads, tv, and movies, don't even look like that because of the help from computers. That's why I get so upset when young girls wished they looked like models or actresses. The models and actresses don't even look like that themselves.
Quote #3: "Meanwhile, according to a 2006 survey of more than two-thousand school-aged children, girls repeatedly described a paralyzing pressure to be 'perfect': not only to get straight A's and be the student body president, editor of the newspaper, and even captain of the swim team but also to be 'kind and caring'" (Orenstein 17).
I was also not shocked when I read about these statistics. I to was the kind of girl who was worried if I was nice enough or caring enough to other people. Sometimes I would feel more self-conscious about that than I would about my looks. I think there's pressure out there for girls to be nicer than guys because it's the "feminine" thing to do. It all goes back to SCWAAMP. If a guy is really nice and friendly it makes him seem weak because society wants them to be tough, however if a girl is nice it seems normal.
Comments: I was always the kind of person who thought that Disney movies were great and always taught us life lessons. However, the more and more we discuss the real meanings behind them, the more I don't want my own kids to watch them.
Quote #1: "You can gussy up Pocahontas's eagle feathers only so much. As for Mulan, when she does show up, it's in a kimono-like hanfu, the one that makes her miserable in the movie, rather than her warrior's gear" (Orenstein 14).
This quote is explaining how the more "ethnic" Disney characters don't show up as much as the main Princesses when it comes to little girl's outfits. Even in Mulan's case, the outfit with her attire is a feminine one that she didn't even like in the movie. I was shocked by this because I never even thought of them before. I guess because they are the "manlier" of the Disney characters, the creators just over-look them. It's kind of messed when you think about it because its like society is telling young girls who they are allowed to like and how they're suppose to dress.
Quote #2: "There is, however, ample evidence that the more mainstream media girls consume, the more importance they place on being pretty and sexy" (Orenstein 16).
This I did not find surprising at all. Of course the more girls are exposed to pop culture and mainstream media, the more they are going to want to look good. The problem is that the girls shown in mainstream media are suppose to look "perfect" but today's technology, all those "perfect girls" that are seen in ads, tv, and movies, don't even look like that because of the help from computers. That's why I get so upset when young girls wished they looked like models or actresses. The models and actresses don't even look like that themselves.
Quote #3: "Meanwhile, according to a 2006 survey of more than two-thousand school-aged children, girls repeatedly described a paralyzing pressure to be 'perfect': not only to get straight A's and be the student body president, editor of the newspaper, and even captain of the swim team but also to be 'kind and caring'" (Orenstein 17).
I was also not shocked when I read about these statistics. I to was the kind of girl who was worried if I was nice enough or caring enough to other people. Sometimes I would feel more self-conscious about that than I would about my looks. I think there's pressure out there for girls to be nicer than guys because it's the "feminine" thing to do. It all goes back to SCWAAMP. If a guy is really nice and friendly it makes him seem weak because society wants them to be tough, however if a girl is nice it seems normal.
Comments: I was always the kind of person who thought that Disney movies were great and always taught us life lessons. However, the more and more we discuss the real meanings behind them, the more I don't want my own kids to watch them.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
The Influence of Cartoons
Quotes:
Quote#1: "Then students started to notice patterns- like the absence of female characters in many of the older cartoons. When women do appear, they look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds- even in many of the new and "improved" children's movies" (Christensen 130).
Reading this quote really shocked me. Beforehand, I was a little confused on what the author meant by women being portrayed different in cartoons than men. After reading this, I totally understood and was kind of disgusted on what that really meant. This is part of the reason why so many young girls have problems with the way they look and sometimes drive themselves to eating disorders and depression at such a young age. These are just cartoons so it's pretty obvious that no one looks like that but it still gives young girls a false image of how they should look.
Quote# 2: "Both of these tales leave young women with two myths: Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption- in their case, through new clothes and a new hairstyle" (Christensen 133).
This quote really caught my eye because I always found it gross when girls thought they needed to have a boyfriend. I have honestly never had a boyfriend and its not because I'm against it, I just feel that at this point and time in my life, I'm not mature enough to handle a relationship so I never did. I know many people feel that once you get to a certain age, it's like a law that you need to have a boyfriend or girlfriend and I don't think that way. I'm not the kind of person to have a boyfriend, just to have a boyfriend. I feel like the author of this article agrees with me in saying that it's disgusting that these cartoons for young girls are sending the message that you are only happy if you have a man.
Quote# 3: "Turning off the cartoons doesn't stop the racism and sexism. They can't escape, and now that they've started analyzing cartoons, they can't stop analyzing the rest of the world" (Christensen 134).
Here the author is saying that just because you don't let your kids watch cartoons, does not mean they won't be exposed to the racism and sexism that society teaches our kids. You will still find it the news, movies, other television shows, and even in commercials. It's not about keeping your kids away from it because racism and sexism will always be there, but it's about teaching your kids that racism and sexism is wrong and that we are all equal.
Going farther into the topic of sexism and racism in movies, here is link that explains some more interesting and surprising messages: http://racismandsexismstartyoung.blogspot.com/2011/12/racism-and-sexism-in-disney-movies.html
Quote#1: "Then students started to notice patterns- like the absence of female characters in many of the older cartoons. When women do appear, they look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds- even in many of the new and "improved" children's movies" (Christensen 130).
Reading this quote really shocked me. Beforehand, I was a little confused on what the author meant by women being portrayed different in cartoons than men. After reading this, I totally understood and was kind of disgusted on what that really meant. This is part of the reason why so many young girls have problems with the way they look and sometimes drive themselves to eating disorders and depression at such a young age. These are just cartoons so it's pretty obvious that no one looks like that but it still gives young girls a false image of how they should look.
Quote# 2: "Both of these tales leave young women with two myths: Happiness means getting a man, and transformation from wretched conditions can be achieved through consumption- in their case, through new clothes and a new hairstyle" (Christensen 133).
This quote really caught my eye because I always found it gross when girls thought they needed to have a boyfriend. I have honestly never had a boyfriend and its not because I'm against it, I just feel that at this point and time in my life, I'm not mature enough to handle a relationship so I never did. I know many people feel that once you get to a certain age, it's like a law that you need to have a boyfriend or girlfriend and I don't think that way. I'm not the kind of person to have a boyfriend, just to have a boyfriend. I feel like the author of this article agrees with me in saying that it's disgusting that these cartoons for young girls are sending the message that you are only happy if you have a man.
Quote# 3: "Turning off the cartoons doesn't stop the racism and sexism. They can't escape, and now that they've started analyzing cartoons, they can't stop analyzing the rest of the world" (Christensen 134).
Here the author is saying that just because you don't let your kids watch cartoons, does not mean they won't be exposed to the racism and sexism that society teaches our kids. You will still find it the news, movies, other television shows, and even in commercials. It's not about keeping your kids away from it because racism and sexism will always be there, but it's about teaching your kids that racism and sexism is wrong and that we are all equal.
Going farther into the topic of sexism and racism in movies, here is link that explains some more interesting and surprising messages: http://racismandsexismstartyoung.blogspot.com/2011/12/racism-and-sexism-in-disney-movies.html
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