For the four assignments that you choose to complete throughout the semester, you will reflect on your takeaway from each. Do not copy and paste your assignments. Think of this space as a brief way to communicate how the assignment engaged you, how it was personally relevant, and reflect on how you learned more about yourself after completion. Each assignment recap will need to contain an illustrative picture. Examples will be provided.
Assignment #4
Within advertisements, men and women are depicted differently to “attract” their population. Women are represented to be these beautiful women, who are fit, and take care of their homes. While men are seen as the alpha-male figure that is strong, fit and working hard-labor jobs. There were not many differences between both cultures- both cultures whether it is in Hispanic countries or in America, promote the males to be the head of society and portray them as fit and invincible. As for women, they are the cleaners and the caretakers.
There are many implications when gender-stereotyping within advertisements. First, it places these false expectations on men and expects and anticipates them to have these strong physical characteristics. The same ideas can be applied to women, it expects for them to have these perfect bodies and be the one that cleans and does laundry. Advertisements such as these portray what is known as gender stereotypes and have slowed down the progression towards gender equality. They can prevent people from following their dreams, feeling down, losing their self-worth, and so on.
Assignment #3
Erin Knotek is a Junior that is studying psychology and Spanish and spent her summer in Oviedo, Spain. One of the main themes that Erin focused on was the aspect of mental health when traveling, being away from family, etc. One of the main anxieties that Erin felt was over the idea of traveling abroad admits everything that was going on in the world. But one thing I did enjoy was that she brought forth methods to help cope with the anxiety that’s that might come with traveling abroad. There was a major shift between pre-departure Erin and Erin once she returned home. The Erin that we met when she returned home did feel anxious, but immediately found a way to cope with this anxiety. She also found ways that could benefit her mental health such as scrapbooking. We see a shift from controlling anxiety through controlling one’s thoughts to controlling her anxiety by placing it into other activities. To use your anxiety to turn it into something for good.
One of the main reasons that I choose this blog is because of how she focuses on mental health and traveling abroad. An upside is a factor that she was studying in Spain for Spanish. As a Latina, I have always wanted to travel abroad or even within the nation. But this aspect brings forth a lot of anxiety, particularly what could come with traveling. I loved seeing her develop into an individual who once placed her anxiety to the side, to an individual that used her anxiety to create memorable experiences that helped calm her anxiety. I would enjoy one day studying abroad but would love it even more to one day live abroad.
Assignment Takeaway #2
The American culture has become accustomed to this fast-paced life. A life where we always have to be on the move with little breaks and time spent on ourselves. Often, this is looked down upon and seen as unproductive. Thus, they have become comfortable with living a life that is constantly moving; where they are constantly busy and filling up their schedule for the day. American’s have become workaholics- a term that they have become to associate with their personality, their character, and who they are as a person. They have become so used to this lifestyle that even vacations are detail-oriented and planned to the last second.
Since I was young, I have always needed to be doing something. I always needed to be working, completing homework, planning meetings with others, attending school, or other social aspects of my life. I have become used to this lifestyle of overfilling my plate with volunteering, work, and so on. There have been times that I have stayed up for more than 24 hours with little sleep in order to accommodate my busy life. It is just the lifestyle that I feel that I have to live. If I am not working or completing something, I feel unproductive and feel as if I wasted a day. I know this is not the mentality I should have. In fact, I know how others from other culture’s would react because I have heard it from multiple different people stating that I need to slow down, enjoy life, and stop overloading myself with tasks and responsibilities.
Assignment Takeaway #1
For this assignment, I most identified with Integration of Difference. As I was reading over about this stage, I gasped at how much I related to many of the statements that were made within the introduction paragraph. This stage is an individual who does not define themselves to a certain culture but is instead an individual who is bicultural or multicultural. They are individuals who can say that they never feel at home. Being born in Florida by two parents from different cultures and then moving to a completely different state at the age of 10 can make one feel isolated. Growing up, I would always tell my friends and family that it was hard to be as Latina-American. Because in reality, I never felt like I fit in with my Hispanic or American culture. I just learned to “fit in” with the community that I live in and made friends with others who were in the same position as me. Multiracial kids with no actual “home.”
This assignment brought forth a lot of light into my life. I did not know that there was actually a developmental model that described what many individuals in my position are experiencing. My expectations for this course were to be able to learn more about the psychological aspects of my culture and of those around me. I feel like that is becoming a reality through my readings and assignments. I am excited to learn about what is to come.