Portfolio Summary

I have learned a lot this semester about gender issues and all the issues that surround us in our daily lives.  After compiling all of my artifacts, I noticed some interesting points.  The first is that my artifacts are most related to the females.  I do not watch a lot of sports or television shows that are geared towards a male audience.  Besides being around my male friends, I am not exposed to a very masculine culture.  I have two sisters, both my cousins are women, and since I have always lived with other girls, I have very little knowledge about what men like to watch on television or what they notice about the female gender.

Overall, I think my artifacts take a feminist perspective.  The first artifact I collected was right after the project was assigned on an episode of Desperate Housewives.  After that, I just started noticing gender issues everywhere, from grocery shopping and advertising, to television shows and movies.  The artifacts that I wrote about as my personal experiences were only a few of the experiences that I have had since I started this project. My artifacts all seem to point out issues of gender discrimination in the workplace or in sports.  Last summer was my first opportunity to intern in a real workplace environment and working at Northrop Grumman, being one of few females in the office, was a new experience for me.  As I interview now for jobs after I graduate, I realize how much my gender really does affect my job search, from over-the-phone interviews, to face-to-face interviews and even just visiting a perspective employer to see a tour of the facility and office.  I think I am able to better understand now how much gender really does affect us. 

Again, I feel like after looking over all of my artifacts together, there is a gender bias in them. I wonder, looking back on the artifacts, how a male would have interpreted these artifacts I wrote about. I wish I had tried harder to focus on what men might see as a gender issue, but it seems like in class and in the textbook, women face more gender issues than men.

Before this project, I always knew that gender would one day impact me in something I want to try or achieve; I just didn’t realize that it already had.  I also realized that these negative concepts, both of men and women, constantly bombard us every day, many people just do not realize it because it is something we have never really stopped to think about.  After this project, I have a greater appreciation for women in the workplace, equality in sports, and challenges that we may face that I do not even realize are partially because of my gender.  There are some things that are out of my control, but I can always stand up for myself.  I am confident that in today’s workforce both genders are equally capable, but I do not think this issue is going away any time in the near future.

Media and Self-Concept

The magazine Marie Claire is a popular magazine around the world.  Magazines such as this have shaped the way we view our ideal body-image and self-concept.  I tied this magazine back into the reading we discussed last week about men’s magazines and women’s magazines and their target audiences.  Marie Claire is a magazine that is meant to target young adults and address issues pertaining to them, such as fashion, dieting, and sex.  However, more and more teenage girls are reading these magazines and getting the wrong message.  The media is constantly influencing how society views our gender and what is considered “acceptable.”

(2008, May). Marie Claire, 15, 5.

Self-Image and Self-Esteem

Gamble and Gamble (2003) define self-image as the sort of person you believe yourself to be and self-esteem as a measure of the value you place on the images you have of yourself (44). Young women’s magazines today are constantly shaping the way young girls and women fele about the their self-image and self-esteem.  In an August 2007 issue of Glamour I found in my roommate’s room, the topics on the cover page include “Tricks for your exact hari type,” “Sexiest Jeans for Your Body Shape,” and “20 ways to be healthier without even trying.  It is no wonder that more and more teenage girls, who are actually the ones reading these magazines, have negative self-body images.

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

(2007, August).  Glamour Cover Page.

Children’s Games and Activities

When I was at home for a weekend, I was babysitting my neighbor’s children.  One couple has two-year old twin girls and the other has an 8 year old girl.  I could not help but notice the games and toys they had.  Everything was dolls, barbies, and board games like candy land or Old Maid.  We discussed childhood games and activiites with Dr. Manning in class and the idea was interesting.  I know that the games and activities we play as children affect our behavior and values as we mature into adults.  I hope that when I have children, whether I have boys or girls, I give them toys and experiences to expose them to everything. I don’t think it’s wrong for girls to play with trucks and action figures or for boys to play candyland.

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Single-Parent Families

Gamble and Gamble (2003) state that there is a growing number of single-parent families in which the mother or father is solely responsible for a child (p.198).  Gilmore Girls is one of my favorite television shows and it is a great example of a single-parent family. Loreli has raised Rory by herself since Rory was a baby and his really acted as a mother and father to Rory. Although Rory’s father comes back in to her life periodically, responsibility always falls on Loreli.  I think the show displays many gender issues, including the work-life balance Loreli faces, as well as her romances throughout the seasons.  Loreli definitely displays sex-role development in that she is almost identical to Loreli.  The two have not only a mother/daughter relationship but also a true friendship.

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Sherman, A. (Creator). (2000-2007). Gilmore Girls. [Television Broadcast].  California: Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238784/

Glass Ceiling and Glass Walls

Last fall, I had the opportunity to participate in the first Women’s Leadership Program sponsored by the Office of Student Activities.  During the class, I received a book called Exploring Leadership For College Students Who Want to Make a Difference.  In the class we had female leaders in the corporate world come in and address the class on struggles they have faced in their careers. The book discussed gender diversity and the workplace and issues that women face.  I am still reading the book and it is helping me understand challenges that I will face as I enter the corporate world after graduation.

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Komives, S., Lucas, N. & McMahon, T. (2007). Exploring Leadership for college students who want to make a difference. California: Jossey-Bass.

Women Befriending Women

In a recent episode of Desperate Housewives, the women throw a Bridal Shower for Edy. Their bridal shower, however, breaks all the stereotypes of showers.  The shower was coed which I think is still unusual for bridal showers.  The shower was hosted by her friends because she was blackmailing them because of an issue she had with Susan.  This show in general depicts most of the negative aspects of female friendship when Edy is involved.  The other women are close and exhibit depth and breadth (p.150), as discussed in Gamble and Gamble (2003).

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Grossman, D. (Director). (2006, April 16: Season 2, Episode 19). Desperate Housewives. [Television Broadcast]. California: Universal Studios.  http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/schedule/daily

High Heels

A member of group six for our artifact presentations, the “grab bag” group, chose high heels as her artifact.  I was working out the other day and heard the song “Red High Heels” by country singer Kellie Pickler.  The song is about the power and confidence women gain by wearing high heels.  The song talks about Kellie breaking up with her boyfriend and making him jealous by wearing her red high heels. 

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Pickler, K. “Red High Heels.” From the album Small Town Girl (2006). http://www.lyrics.com/index.php/artists/lyric/kellie-pickler-lyrics-red-high-heels

Talkshows

I could not find anything in my notes or book that directly relates to Talkshows, but we did briefly discuss media during class.  This morning, I was watching Rachael Ray and I thought about the fact that so many morning talkshows are really directored towards women than men.  This morning, Rachael Ray was doing hair makeovers and making quick dinner recipes.  She had a stylist to give recommendations for trendy summer haircuts.  Ellen, from what I have seen of it, is also geared toward women, and of course The View is primarily focused on women.  I can make this connection to the fact that in traditional households woman are more likely to be at home and watching television during the day.

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

This is from a personal experience a friend told me about.  Gamble and Gamble (2003) define sexual harassment as unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature (p.277).  One of my friend’s had an internship for the summer.  One day at work, her boss came up to her, pulled her close to him and kissed her. She did not see it coming and was so shaken that she quit the next day, arranged to pick up her last paycheck, and never went back.  I am not sure whether or not formal charges were ever filed but I know the coordinators of her internship were notified.

Gamble, M., & Gamble, T. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Masschusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company.