Assignment Takeaway 1

As a Black woman who grew up around people with various backgrounds and cultures I identify most with the integration of difference. As previously mentioned, I am a Black woman, a descendant of enslaved African peoples who were forced to adapt and I still carry that burden today. Although that is the most obvious reason I identify with integration of difference I also grew up around different cultures and often wanted to learn more. For example, Spanish was taught in my elementary school which sparked my interest for learning about different cultures, now I currently have a declared minor in Spanish. I also have a wide variety of music genres in my playlists that include Disney soundtracks, Motown oldies, Bollywood, and anything else in between.

Beyond enjoying and learning from other cultures I also make an effort to stay aware of issues that impact their communities. The representative image I chose is a screenshot of my favorite playlist on shuffle. I chose this image because music is a major part of my life and no matter the genre, language, or culture the music comes from I appreciate and enjoy it the same as each song on that playlist. 

Takeaway Assignment 2

For this assignment, it was hard for me to choose a value that truly resonated with me. I feel most of the values mentioned were biased, blanket statements that did not take into account the various cultures that are included in the United States. For example, my family is of Caribbean origin as far as we can trace back. Caribbean families do not soften their approach in any situation whether it is good news, bad news, surprises, or even something as simple as nicknames. For example, I spent the majority of my childhood being called Toothless by my immediate family because of the gap where my front teeth were meant to be. These nicknames are not exclusive to family members but also members of the community.

Although I resonate with value 11: Directness, Openness, and Honesty, I do not think these statements apply to Americans only. These blanket statements also do not acknowledge Creole, Gullah, Geechee, and Gullah Geechee peoples who are Americans. They lean into their ancestral cultures which come mostly from African cultures who also tend to be direct with their communication.  I believe that most cultures outside of the United States have similar values, but due to the significant cultural differences and nuances, our values appear to be the complete opposite of others which can be perceived as negative. 

Representative Visual Image is a picture of my brother and me in our childhood. The photo was provided by my grandmother. As seen in the picture I am missing my front teeth which did not grow until about age 8.

Takeaway Assignment 4

Both women and men are over-sexualized, however, women’s breasts are considered sex organs within the media whereas male breasts (pecs) are acceptable to show in the media. Both males and females have breast tissue, only women are treated differently because of their sex. In most representations from the media, women were portrayed as weak, aloof, dainty, innocent, home-makers, etc. while simultaneously being sexualized even while participating in acts that were not sexual in nature. In comparison, men are hypermasculinized in media and considered to be tough, logical, strong, etc. Men are allowed to comfortably express sexual thoughts, imagery, or gestures, and is often encouraged.

For example, in the early 2000s, many gum commercials used the imagery of a woman’s dress or skirt blowing up from the wind as she began to chew the gum. In this example, the woman in the advertisement experiencing the gum is depicted as an almost erotic experience. In contrast to the male versions of gum commercials the air may blow their hair, they may attract the attention of women from all over, the editing may focus on the flavor of the gum. In the male versions of gum commercials, the focus is on the product regardless of the actor is presented. The male model or actor sells the experience, whereas the female model or actress sells the appeal or idea of the product.  

The representative image I chose is a screenshot from a video that is linked. In the screenshot shown, the woman speaking is talking about how regardless of how much women cover themselves they are looked at like sex objects. This is shown in the video as well as the camera showing the crowd of men staring lustfully proving her point.