Gender
For years now gender has only been associated with; boy or girl or female or male. As time has gone on it has been become such a complex word. There is more to it than just what you identify as, and society has different perspectives on this topic as well.
The westerns had a set of beliefs that associated sex with male and female, gender with masculine and feminine, and sexuality as heterosexual and homosexual. To some those all mean the same while to other they have a completely different opinion of that.
Catherine G. Valentine mentioned in the book The Kaleidoscope of Gender that, “…contrary to the stereotypes of masculine and feminine there are no certainties of absolutes” She then proceeded to say that “…real people behave in feminine or masculine behaviors in certain situations.” I couldn’t agree more with that statement. If you were to put a female into a situation that requires her to stand strong and firm, society would consider that masculine although they view her as a female. So, reflecting back to the westerns beliefs that gender is associated with masculinity and femineity… does that still apply to a situation where one acts opposite than the gender they are viewed as?
Feminism
“Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression” was stated in the book Feminism Is for Everybody by Bell Hooks. Being a feminist is making a stand for all women rights. It’s to be seen and treated equal as the male gender. Maxine Zinn and Bonnie Dill really touched based on colored women. They mentioned how being a colored person is hard, but different for men and women, but it’s extremely hard for a colored woman. With being not only a woman, but a woman of color I couldn’t agree more. One song that I feel intertwined with feminism as a black woman is “Brown Skin Girl” by Beyonce. This song uplifts women and remind them of their value and worth. It builds confidents in the areas where society might try to tear down.
What is one thing you do to build your confidence?