Vulnerable Measures: Sexism

Our society today is provoking something that needs fixing. Sexism is getting out of hand. Feminists of both genders are fighting for equal rights. Feminism is not just for women, it is also for men. It is for anyone that believes that equal rights are for everyone and not just men. Making it clear, feminists aren't women or men that hate men themselves.

Most problems that contain sexism would be in the working industry. Everyone knows so well that women who are working the same job as men, are paid less. Many women aren’t okay with this but, they don't do anything about it because they don't want to lose their job. To back this up, another incident would be that most female roles in the working industry aren't taken seriously. There was a book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists, she talks about her experience and what other people around her experienced. In her book, page 28, she had asked, “Why should a woman's success be a threat to a man?” Now thinking about it, there are facts about how men were once leaders and currently still are - somewhat. They were and still are the physically strongest. Now, it isn't like that anymore. It doesn't matter whether or not you're physically strong, it is based on whether or not you're mentally strong. Any man or woman can be intelligent, creative, and original. Men and women are equal, we are just blind to it because of how it is portrayed.

There are more severe incidents but an incident that isn't really brought up would be when a woman is blamed for her own rape. In 2014, Judge Robin Camp had asked the victim why she couldn't “prevent her rape by skewing her pelvis to avoid penetration.” Basically, what he had asked was why couldn't she just her rapist or not open her legs. Later on during the case, he had apologized. Although, those who thought or think just like Camp, know that in order to prevent a rape is to simply not be born a girl. We can’t control that. In order for rape not to happen is for men to have decency to not take advantage of a woman. Men shouldn't be able to do whatever they please because they think that women are brought into this world to be used for their body. In society, the finger is still being pointed to young girls who get raped due to the way they talk or the way they dress. Our society is making little girls, young girls, women, to be dressed a certain way to fit into society. Everyone now needs something in order to be categorized into a group. Women shouldn't be put down nor should be taken advantage of for what organs we have that are “appealing” to satisfy men's needs.

Last quarter, I had witnessed something referring to sexism in one of my classes. In my social justice class, we were learning about sexism. While we were arguing about some topics that are included within the bigger topic, boys were becoming uncomfortable when us, girls, said, “Periods.” The boys had said, “You don’t need to talk about that” or “That isn't important.” We, girls, responded with, “But, it’s life.” We kept going back and forth. I then included that the boys talk about their personal things but we don’t mind because it’s normal, it’s part of life. I didn't see anything wrong with men/boys talking about what they experience and I never will. Men shouldn't be disgusted when it comes to feminine products and what females produce from their body. Men act like they aren't capable for women products or women in general. Men just aren't normalized in a woman's environment. Another problem that had happened in that same class was that boys and girls always sat opposite sides of the room from each other. We wouldn't collide. We would stay within our gender or “group.” Those two problems that I mentioned are problems that occur everywhere and we think it's okay because the way it is portrayed.

Two quotes by Tyler Blanski, interprets them with the word of God, 'Then God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' So out of the ground God had formed every kind of animal and brought them to the man to see what he would call them.”
This quote gives information about Adam and animals, but it gives an idea on how God chooses to help him. Therefore He made Eve, “Whatever the man called the animals, that was their name. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and took one of his ribs and made it into a woman and brought her to the man.”

This quote is saying that God made Eve for Adam to help him. In society now, men take advantage of the women because they believe that they are only there to please them. They may even think that women are useless but it is more than that. It will always be more than that. We, as a union, must teach one another in order for problems in the future to be mellow.
“God made Eve for Adam, NOT Adam for Eve.” - anonymous

Nonfiction Book Response

The nonfiction book that I'm currently reading is, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, I've only read a small section and it is about having a good marriage. Basically what the section is talking about is how you know you have a good marrriage and when you don't. It also connects with any religion you are in that it will/can help you overcome the thing that is destroying you and your significant other. In the 'Good Marriage' section of the book, it gives a problem and solution type of vibe to it.

A passage that I had seen that was interesting to me would be, "I think people expect too much from marriage today. They expect perfection. Every moment should be bliss. That's TV or movies. But that is not the human experience..-Like Sarah says, twenty good minutes here, forty good minutes there, it adds up to something beautiful. The trick is when things aren't so great, you don't junk the whole thing. It's okay to have an argument, It's okay that the other one nudges you a little, bothers you a little. It's part of being close to someone." The reason I chose this passage is because it is so true. This passage shows part of your life that you will receive soon enough. It is basically saying that just because someone you love annoys you or bothers you, doesn't mean you have to let it all(love, memories, laughter, happiness) go just because of that. We should hold on to someone like that because that's how you know they truly love you. Another passage I saw was, "...the joy you get from the same closeness - when you watch your children, when you wake up and smile at each other - that, as our tradition teaches us, is a blessing. People forget that...- Because the word 'commitment' has lost its meaning. I'm old enough to remember when it used to be a positive. A committed person was someone to be admired. He was loyal and steady. Now a commitment is something you avoid. You don't want to tie yourself down. - It's the same with faith, by the way. We don't want to get stuck having to go to services all the time, or having to follow all the rules. We don't want to commit to God. We'll take Him when we need Him, or when thing are going good. But real commitment? That requires staying power - in faith and in marriage." I chose this passage also to the fact that commitment isn't a scary thing, and that is what the passage is trying to say. Society all around us is stuck trying to be on our own and not be faithful/loyal. Our society now is lost and that is why so many of us believe that we cannot be saved.

After reading my nonfiction book, I know I won't forget most of the things I read within the section and within the entire book. When I was reading the section, 'Good Marriage', it gave a little nudge on marriage with religion. It taught me that our religion shouldn't hold us back from who we love or what we love. In the book, it basically said that our mind changes through the years we experience new things. The things we experience, whether good or bad will always have an effect. The effect then will give us the chance to grow. Being able to go through something so drastic and having the chance to grow is something I will not forget.

I commented on Dena's blog.
I commented on Vanessa's blog.
I commented on America's blog.

Gratitude

The person I'm most thankful for would be my mom. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be alive today. I wouldn't be here today, not because she gave birth to me but because she had taken me out of a place that I've been stuck in for about 4 years. I'm still in that zone but I'm not as bad as I used to be, all because of her. She is the reason I'm living, why I'm healthy, why I actually want to live. I love her. The other people I'm most thankful for would be my brothers. They taught me all sorts of things. They took care of me when I wasn't mentally okay. When they found out what was going on with me, they were supportive. They were there for me. They continue to still be there for me.

I'll never forget what my uncle had done for me and my family about 9 years ago when he was here. He would protect us. He would protect my mom, as a brother would of course. My uncle was a strong man that was also dealing with other things in his own life but he never left us out. He was a giver, he gave me love when I felt alone. He was like a best friend. I'm forever thankful for him. May he rest in peace.

I adore my friends and my boyfriend, I'm so grateful to have them. They are also the reason why I want to live. They bring happiness to my life and that is all I ever want. I know they would do anything for me and I for them. They have absolutely no idea how much they have impacted my life. I love the fact that Dena and I share the same sense of humor. I adore the fact that Shay and I have a bond that no one can break, we're sisters. I love how Andrew is my best friend who loves me for me and only me. My friend, Destiny, has always been there for me and I love her. Others who we may just talk with no labels, it makes me feel good that they feel the need to speak to me. For that, I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for every single person in my life. Even people I don't speak to them anymore or I'm not friends with anymore, I'm still grateful for them. Although we don't speak anymore or aren't friends anymore doesn't mean I have forgotten everything they've done for me. It doesn't mean I have forgotten everything they've taught me. I'm not one to hold hatred. I still have love for those that aren't in my life.

I commented on Christian's blog.

Gallery Walk

I learned so many things during our Gallery Walk today. I learned about Bonneted Bats on how they are endangered due to them being killed when trees are being cut down. They are not even like bats, they are more like bees/squirrels/birds. They like flowers and pollen. They also depend on noise. I learned more about Ebola. I learned how when it spread, it had one mutation. It is more deadly now due to it being transferred by bats. The main cause was because of fruit flies.

In Ohio, some students are finding a way to end bullying. They are trying to see that if they were to tell their experiences, others will want to not make others feel that way anymore. In other cases, Donald Trump and Barack Obama had a meeting. They both had problems with each other in the past but they overcame that when they were talking about how Trump will lead our country. They were grown enough to not be critical to each other or bring up old beef.

Election Blog

Last night was the election for the presidency. Trump won. I honestly have lost hope in our country. I mean, who in the right mind would allow this. Although, we should not worry. He may say he'll build a wall, he'll deport mexicans, etc. He may say all those things but he won't be able to do it. He will certainly try but most likely he won't succeed, hopefully. It is not just him ruling our country. It is Congress and Senate also. Half of America's population is Mexican and/or foreign in some way. He cannot kick all of us out. He is able to take out illegals but not legals. We are a union, with or without a President that gives us respect. Therefore we all have to work together in order to get along together.

Trump winning can do a lot for this country. It can change a lot for us due to his actions before. Although he says he will now accept others, we all don't know that for sure. Most of us are angry at the fact that Clinton didn't get the votes she deserved. Some are still with Bernie. And the rest are voting for someone who isn't even known for something as well as Trump and Clinton. Some even say that Trump is lesser of a problem when it comes to Clinton. But that is not the point anymore, the point is to be able to communicate with each other now that we have Trump.

Who I " voted" for was Bernie Sanders. He may have been old, he may have been small, and he may have not been able to do what he said he will do. But, he had a big mind full of ideas and ways to make it actually happen. He would be better off in Congress, those who voted for him and/or liked him, know that. Now, we have Trump as our next president, and we all are hoping that he doesn't mess it up.

Newscast Revised

Chicago Cubs Win

  In over 100 years, The Cubs had won Game 6 for World Series vs The Dodgers. This occurred on Saturday night, October 22nd around 7pm at Wrigley Field. 0-5 was the score of this big win for themselves and for their fans.
“...but this right here is unbelievable right now…”, said Kyle Hendricks when asked how it feels like to win a game that allows them to go to the World Series after 71 years.
When the game had ended, once they won, fireworks had gone off for this great win. Everyone was going tremendously wild. There was screaming, crying, and fireworks! The fireworks really brought out the celebration because it allowed everyone to be loud to show appreciation. They deserved it. The Chicago Cubs deserved it.

1st Quarter Reflections

I read about 7 books for the 10 book reading challenge. Most of them are fiction. Most of them are some that I have already read during summer or a few years ago. And some are ones I haven't quite finished reading. By the end of November, I will probably be done with the ten books and will go on to fifteen and so on. I enjoy reading so this challenge is and never will be a problem for me.

This ELA class has benefited me with putting more details into my writing. I know that is what I lack the most out of everything. I leave out specific details that are needed. The more we have of annotating and all, the more I would be greater with it. Even though we are moving forth with or without it, I will strive for more details than ever. Although, I do feel as if I'm much more better than I was before.

 I don't toot my own horn usually but I think of myself as a good writer. Especially when it comes to things I actually like writing about. Since August, I've been trying to paint a picture for those who read my writing. In this class, we do have somethings I enjoy writing about, therefore most of my writing will be more advanced than others that aren't in my exact "enjoy writing about" section. Now, I've been okay with all of the topics we are supposed to write about. I no longer have a problem with writing about things that I don't necessarily like.

Compare/contrast

The Giver, both the movie and the book, the grandparents scene is different. I think the only reason why they put the Grandparents in the beginning is because they wanted to move faster on love and more memories to come. The only reason i could think of as to why they would put the Grandparents into the end for the book is to give the suspense about love and memories - putting it all together at the end instead of having it all figured out in the beginning, giving nothing else at the end.

Personally, I did not like the fact that they chose someone much older. Although, it is okay because it gives more of a mature vibe to kids who are watching the movie. But, if they actually chose a 12 year old, it would give kids an actual lesson that we aren't young enough to know anything in the world. We are not young to not know anything about the world. That we are capable of knowing and solving things no one else can. That, would have been much better. Jonas was seen as a 12 year old boy with pale eyes. Obviously, in the movie he is not 12 nor does he have pale eyes. An actor I would've chosen to be Jonas would be, Chandler Canterbury. Chandler may be 17 but he looks much younger and he has somewhat pale eyes. He would have been a better choice, my opinion.

I would have to say the book gave me a much better understanding. Lowis broke it down and made it more easier to understand than the director of the movie did. The book was more understandable due to it taking its time to actually reach the climax and action of the whole plot. The movie just rushed all of it, it got right to the point. Yes, I like that too but I like suspense of the book way more. Especially, the book explains and gives way more details than the movie.

Essay

Memories and emotions help people to shape themselves. Jonas is a dynamic character because at first, he was somewhat selfish. He would only worry about himself, basically. He would mention others but he would mostly worry about him and what he got. When Asher mentioned someone applying for Elsewhere, Jonas shrugged because it did not involve him nor did it worry him - "Jonas shrugged. It didn't worry him." (48). Also, when mention a Three, he remembered himself - "Jonas did too. Although, he had been a Three at the time himself." (54). He did not know pain. He knew nothing about anything. Therefore, he wasn't able to feel pain. At the end of the book, Jonas has all these memories and emotions. He has all of those under control. He cares about others more than himself to the point where he had left the community in order for everyone to get the bad memories but following up with the great ones - "If he stayed, he would have starved in other ways. He would have lived a life hungry for feelings, for color, for love. And Gabriel? For Gabriel there would have been no life at all. So there had not really been a choice.” (174). It said that he wept because he couldn't save Gabriel, he no longer cared about himself - “He wept because he was afraid now that he could not save Gabriel. He no longer cared about himself” (174). That is love. He transferred love to Gabriel. He was able to because after everything he went through, he still had something strong within himself, just for Gabriel. Jonas saw war and death. He went through all that pain. But through it all, he found something brighter. He saw the beauty of having memories.

To find love, you need to go through hardships. That is what Jonas went through. He saw all the terrible things that had been taken away. And, he saw all the great things that had been taken away - color, laughter, animals etc. With all the terrible memories that had been expose to him, he chose to focus on the greater good. He focused on what could be good for himself and the community, memories, feelings, love, and nature, colors. With the hardships (bad memories - pain), he found love. He was given the opportunity to love and to care. He found love for those he surrounded himself with, especially Fiona, "...female Eleven named Fiona. Jonas liked Fiona." (28), The Giver, You may stay here tonight. I want to talk to you. But you must be quiet now, while I notify your family unit...notify the new receivers family unit that he will be staying with me tonight..."and Gabriel, "And he had taken Gabriel, too." As he shared fondly bonding with the people he loves and cares about, he found love.

The Giver Blog signposts

     Again & Again:

      When I was reading The Giver, I've seen lots of repetition of the word, Released. The very first incident with released was in Chapter One. The pilot had took a wrong turn, "NEEDLESS TO SAY HE WILL BE RELEASED." And then with that, becomes the very first time Jonas had used the word released when playing with his friends, "That's it Asher! You're released!" This may be showing up again and again all because of it being very important and it may be very connected to Jonas. 

     Contrast & Contradictions:

        When reading The Giver, Chapter Four, there had been a contrast and contradiction when Jonas had suddenly liked Fiona. It had said that Jonas liked Fiona and that she was a good student and all, "...female Eleven named Fiona. Jonas liked Fiona...was a good student, quiet and polite, but she had a sense of fun as well..." And let me remind you that this is when they were volunteering in the House of the Old. Jonas, the main character, may have been liking Fiona due to his recent incident with the apple. It may be changing him causing him to like or love, or any feeling whatsoever. It's out of the ordinary, that's why. 

Introduction

I'm Kiana, an 8th grader who goes to Heritage Middle School. I am speed. All I do in my free time is look at dank memes, all types of them. I am a conversationalist. I love being able to talk about anything, it doesn't matter what it is as long as it is something I'm interested in. I'm a soccer player. I sing. I write about my thoughts and feelings. I want to be a doctor, I love the idea of helping people and making them feel better. i am very open minded, about anything. I'm a very neutral person, the type to not take sides.

I like a lot of things but I also dislikes a lot of things. I don't like many foods nor do I like many people nor do I like many shoes. I somewhat dislike everything, it's crazy. Although, the things I like, I like very much to the point where I don't want to try something new. 

       

KACHOW👏🏾