Thursday’s “The Needy Penis” lecture really brought a lot of things to light for me that I have never really thought about before. Before Sam’s lecture I never thought about how sex is really made for men. In movies and in porn it really is centered around the male orgasm. I never thought about how the goal of sex is really shown to be when the man experiences pleasure rather than the female in the relationship. I don’t know why the topic of the female orgasm is so taboo.
In college a majority of students are having sex frequently. I don’t feel that anyone should be shy to tell their partner how they feel or how they want to feel. I feel like females are taught by porn and movies about how sex is “supposed” to go. I can’t name any movies off of the top of my head where the woman having intercourse tells her male partner that she wants him to go slower or kiss her more. Sam was extremely accurate in telling us how sex is portrayed like its SUPPOSED to be done fast and hard and go however the man dictates it to lead them to their own orgasm. Sam also brought to my attention how sex is really over once the man orgasms. His statistics were shocking to me! The fact that 75% of females are never having orgasms during sex is honestly depressing to hear as a female. Before this lecture I always thought of sex as equally as enjoyable for both parties. It is a shame that most people are influenced by what we are shown on TV and act accordingly. It really does make me feel bad for my gender as a whole. Why should we not get to dictate how we want to be pleasured?
In college though, having sex with someone who isn’t your boyfriend or girlfriend isn’t uncommon. I think a lot of women, in this circumstance especially, don’t feel comfortable speaking up about what they really want out of sex. It is extremely uncommon like Sam said for sex to go the way it would in a female centered sexual encounter.
After this lecture I don’t know if I feel empowered, exactly. I just feel very surprised and I definitely am thinking about how true Sam and Laurie’s words were. I think once I can find someone who I feel comfortable with I will be able to tell them what I want to get out of sex. It is understandable that girls don’t want to do this with men they aren’t 100% comfortable with because the female centered sex isn’t what is common to most men who have intercourse. Hopefully this will change and women too can feel like they are getting the same experience as men.

Learning the stages of racial identification was very interesting during Tuesday’s lecture. Before this lecture I had never thought about how people can be in different stages of dealing with racism. I had also never thought about how people can progress as well as move through these stages. According to what this guest speaker said about stages 4/5, those are the stages I believe I fit in to the most.
He described the last few stages as being very racially aware and accepting. I grew up in New Jersey and still live in a very diverse area. My high school consisted of almost over four thousand students all coming form different cultures, races, nationalities and backgrounds. Because of this, race was never something that I had an issue with. From elementary all the way through high school I was put into every day situations with kids who were not just white like myself. I’ve grown up with kids of all different backgrounds for as long as I can remember. I never felt superior or felt others were inferior to me. I was very accepting of every different kind of person throughout my entire life. However, this lecture really did open my eyes to how other people can view and deal with race much differently than myself.
I thought it was extremely interesting when the guest speaker was showing himself going through the stages through his power points. It was very interesting to see how he spoke about being concerned with looking “too comfortable” smiling with tons of white people in numerous photos. It caught me off guard to see how he presented himself as acting “pro black” to distance himself from seeming too friendly with other races.
I believe that the stage someone is in absolutely depends on their environment and exposure. Kids coming from all white or all black or any other kind of area dominantly occupied by a specific race are bound to all be in different stages. Not every one is exposed to all different kinds of races growing up. Currently, I have a roommate who is African American and one of my best friends. She grew up in a mostly black environment with not as much exposure to other races like I had. She admitted to having a hard time adjusting to Penn State with so many students who came from different parts of the world. I think this is a perfect example to how exposure can effect people’s interactions with other races. We got into our fair share of fights and disagreements in previous years. She admitted that this was because she was uncomfortable with her surroundings and felt alone not being with people who she was so used to feeling comfortable with and relatable to. I think it is important to understand that people can learn from their surroundings.

Growing up I always had people who identified as “gay” in my life. I come from an extremely diverse area and an extremely populated area where many kids in my high school were “out” by the ninth grade. Every day I witnessed gay couples walking through the hallways of my school and I never even looked twice I was so used to this in my daily life. At least three friends in my close friend circle are gay and lesbian. Having such close and frequent experience and exposure homosexuality, I have never thought that being gay was a choice. However, I am aware that many people throughout the world and this country believe that people actually choose to be gay.
I think the main reason people think other choose to be gay is because it gives them a sense of comfort. I don’t think people, especially those who are religious, want to believe that people can truly be born as homosexuals. A lot of people would rather believe that gay people are choosing to be sinful according to the Bible. I can see how religious people would not like to think that God would actually create someone who is born sinful and homosexual.
The student in class on Tuesday who raised his hand and said that he used to pray in Kindergarten that he liked girls was so brave and such a great example of homosexuality. Obviously for this individual, being gay was not a choice. I really hope that he opened the eyes of people in class who were close-minded to the idea of homosexuality being a trait that people can just have despite their efforts or wants.
This entire subject is so important to me. Knowing so many people in my life who are gay has really been a blessing in my opinion. They taught me to accept everyone no matter what they identify as. As I said, some of my gay friends are my best friends. I look at them no differently than I look at anyone else. It truly upsets me to see gays being discriminated against or bullied, especially for religious reasons. Sam’s other examples of what can get people sent to “Hell” was a great way to show us all how ignorant we are as a society. Why is being gay any worse than being envious? Literally every student in Soc 119 is going to Hell according to the Bible, but no one seems to care about any of these other sins as much as they care about homosexuality. This is extremely hypocritical and I really hope that Sam’s lecture really changed the minds of these students who felt that being gay was something to be offended by.

When Sam brought up this issue of abortion and rape in class I wanted to stand up and applaud him. His use of empathy to get the class thinking, in my eyes, was a perfect way to bring this issue into the light. As a female I take the issue of abortion and rape extremely seriously. When I hear candidates and Republicans like Mitt Romney talking about making the option of abortion obsolete I get extremely offended. When I see females that support Romney my mind is blown. This is one of the most important issues to be in this country and I don’t think enough people think about it the right way. I don’t believe that those who support the idea of terminating the abortion option have used empathy when thinking about this issue.
I think empathy is so important when dealing with such controversial issues. Simply just imagining, as Sam said, a twelve year old girl getting raped and getting pregnant is enough to really get anyone’s mind going. How could the option of abortion for a situation like that get taken away? Who has given the leaders of this country the right to decide what women can and can’t do to their bodies? The powerful men of this country can’t relate to the thought of becoming pregnant and having a child. I’m sure if they had done as Sam said and imagined it being their own daughter, mother or sister, perhaps they would be thinking differently. No woman should be forced to have a child, especially when this child is one that was literally forced upon them.
I have a friend who has been raped and the only bright side of that entire situation is that she did not get pregnant. She had to go through an extremely lengthy process to get the man who attacked her imprisoned. During this time she was extremely terrified. She spent months fighting against her rapist. Imagine if she had actually gotten pregnant and would have had this child as a result of this horrific incident. I would have supported her abortion. Why should she be forced to have this child when it would serve as a reminder of this tragedy? Also, she was an unprepared teenager. People should be thinking about these kinds of examples when addressing this issue that effects so many of us.
I can only think what I would do if this happened to me and abortion was not an option for me. I cannot support anyone who wants to tell me what I can and can’t do with my own body. I can only hope that these potential leaders get their heads out of their asses and learn to use empathy to better address these issues that so greatly effect the lives of all females living in this country.

Strictly given his appearance, I find him very approachable. His long dreads and dark skin is not something that phases me, personally. I come from a very diverse town back home where I am surrounded by an innumerable amount of kids that also dress the way he does, have similar hairstyles, and are also African American. Just by looking at him, I feel as though we could have a lot in common because he does at least physically look like the type of people I have been surrounded by my entire life. We would probably share common interests and styles, despite our racial differences. I am a white girl, but that has never gotten in the way of my many friendships with people of other races and backgrounds.
I think too many people are intimidated by people who look different than themselves. I have no doubt that the long braids would be reason enough for many people who are not black to stay away from interacting with this guy. Maybe some people think his hairstyle is weird or that he looks like a stereotypical “thug” with his Beats on and dark skin color. He should not be judged on his looks alone. It was nice to hear that people of other races ask about his hair due to their genuine curiosity. However, this should not just be a drunken activity. So much can be learned just by simply asking questions. Long dreads or braids would become so much less foreign to people like me (white people), or anyone else if we knew what it was like to have hair like that. Knowledge on subjects that deal with our every day lives can definitely bring people together.
There was a point though, in class, once Sam did the activity where he placed the man from the video in a chair across from him in an imaginary interview setting, this man did come off as unapproachable. However, this was not due to his physical appearance. As I said, his hair, clothing and skin color did nothing to induce this. His body language made him appear very unapproachable. He was slumped in his chair and seemed very uninterested toward what Sam was saying and the entire activity in general. I feel that a lot can be told through a person’s actions rather than their appearance. If this guy had been smiling, or sitting up straight, or showing any ounce of enthusiasm I would have had a much more positive view of him. I believe people should be judged through what they do rather than how they dress or how they decide to style their hair. So many potentially great interactions will be lost if we continue to judge people by their looks.

Prior to the “Whose Land Is It?” exercise, I had never really thought too much about the land I live on and how my family ended up acquiring it. Watching all of the videos Sam has provided on Native Americans and even talking to the representative from the reserve really opened my eyes. Of course, these videos and lectures have made me feel remorse toward the Native American victims that are portrayed. It does scare me to think that one day my family could be in their place. I can’t fathom the idea of having my home taken from me and then being forced to relocate against my will.
However, I do think that the idea of conquering one another is in human nature. Although what has happened to the Native Americans is morally wrong, my family wouldn’t have the land we have today if it wasn’t for this constant conquering that occurs throughout history. If the Native American land had never been taken over where would I be today? Although this goes against what is morally correct, I feel that our nation as a whole has benefitted more than suffered consequences as a result of taking over Native American land.
I don’t know if there is a way to prevent occurrences like this from happening again. History has a tendency to repeat itself, and most likely will repeat itself by the time of my great grandchildren. It is not obscure to think that one day my family will be the ones struggling to just sustain simple day-to-day life. I can’t quite wrap my head around how we could survive being taken away from the land and lifestyle we know. The Native Americans that have been moved to reserves are still fighting to crate a successful lifestyle for themselves. Americans should take this as a warning. One day, we will be put into their places. We should be taking action to care for the ones we’ve bullied throughout history. The Native Americans are a snapshot into our future.
Taking over Native American land may have benefitted America in some way, but it also showed us as barbarians and savages. How can we call ourselves this “Great Nation” if we have taken away this entire group of people’s rights. We have abused the Native Americans and have done nothing but sit by and watch them suffer as we reap the benefits of the land that should not belong to us. America is portrayed as a nation of equality and righteousness. We should live up to this name and help out those who we have betrayed. One day, we will be in this place of despair that the Native Americans now know as home.

This question really pulls me in many different directions. This topic is not something I’ve thought about too often. I’ve always just done what I felt was the right thing to do. Any opportunity I’ve been given to make a difference and help others, nine times out of ten I’ve taken advantage of. After thinking about this question though, my response is most likely one that will not be received as popular. I do not feel we have a concrete responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Of course, helping those less fortunate than us is always a great and honorable act, and something that I would definitely do and encourage others to do as well. I don’t believe that those people in a devastating lifestyle should be ignored or left alone to fend for themselves. However, I don’t think it is our responsibility to be the ones to help them. It should not be something we are expected to do or something we are supposed to do. I believe helping those less fortunate should be something we just want to do.
I would take any opportunity to help someone who is in an unfortunate circumstance. The act of helping others is just something that I personally enjoy doing. However, is it my fault that they are living a poorer lifestyle than my own? Should I, as well as many others living my kind of lifestyle, feel as though we owe everyone less fortunate than us some sort of aid? There will always be people who are worse off than others. In my mind, unfortunately, not everyone can be saved or compensated. It is a good deed to help these people, but it should not be something left up to me, or anyone like me. This may come across selfish, but my life comes first, and then I will reach out and help those around me. I don’t feel that it is fair to be held responsible because I was born in a favorable lifestyle. Being born into an area or class is something that is out of a person’s physical control.
Of course, choosing to help others truly does make a difference. Watching the videos of the men in Haiti who only used $1 a day, or hearing Sam tell us stories of how an entire sociology class gave a Haitian woman a house is truly heartwarming. The Haitians were displayed as appreciative for the help they received and these small acts truly did make a difference. I don’t believe that the help they received was required by these Americans. However, I do believe that what they did is the moral thing to do, not a responsibility. Giving help to those born less fortunate should be a choice not a duty.

Men are taught my society and mass media that women are “supposed” to have hair-less bodies and smooth skin. All their lives they watch commercials on television of women dancing around with their smooth legs as various types of razors and shaving creams are advertised. This plants an image in the typical man’s head of what women are supposed to look like to be considered acceptable and beautiful. However, men are not the only ones who feel this way toward women. Women are exposed to this idea of beauty as well. I know many other women who would raise their brows at another female who had visible unshaved facial or body hair. I don’t believe this is because people are incapable of forming their own opinions of beauty. I believe this occurs because people have a strong natural desire to want to fit in. Women shave not just because of the pressure put forth by men. Women feel they have to shave to be accepted by everyone.
Facial hair and body hair is taught to society as a masculine trait. No television show, movie or commercial has any women with beards or long leg hair as its star. Most individuals strive to be a representation of what they are shown to be the pinnacle of beauty. Most females looking for the attention of a male are going to do what they feel necessary to get a man’s approval. Shaving is an unwritten rule of something that women are taught they must do from an early age. Most girls don’t even think twice about shaving. You are told and taught you must do it at a young age and it is a natural routine you continue to do for the rest of your life.
Personally, I shave weekly and have never thought about why. Shaving has been something I’ve done since I was a preteen and it became as natural of an act as brushing my teeth. Shaving, to me, felt like another step in my own personal hygiene routine. Until we were shown in class the story and photo of Ohio State University student Balpreet Kaur I never questioned why I take so much time to take care of my body hair. Bapreet Kaur was exploited on Reddit.com by another student who found her facial hair something to make fun of. I found it very inspiring that Kaur stated she was not embarrassed or humiliated by the picture seen by thousands of people on the internet. She received both negative and positive comments about her excess body hair. Not shaving is part of Kaur’s religion and she is proud to be an obedient Sikh woman. Unfortunately, most women are not as brave as Kaur and many of us fall under the pressures of society to be the advertised version of what is “beautiful.” Kaur is steps ahead of a majority of women in the world by not being afraid to go against the idea of what is acceptable.

After watching Omar Offendum’s performance in class last week, there is no doubt that music and art can be used to help bridge the gap between the east and the west. Art and music speak a universal language and everyone can take these forms of art and relate them to their own lives and cultures. Music is used as a public forum for individuals to use around the world. It brings focus to issues that are not always directly addressed by people in typical conversation. Music is plays such an an important role in every culture. It is an ingenious platform for getting attention brought upon the messages the artists are trying to get across. Hip-hop is a common factor between these two regions. A majority of these areas have hip-hop influence their every day lives. Offendum is extremely talented for being able to have such great success by being able to please both the east and the west’s audiences.
Omar’s music in particular was written and performed in more than one language. His work does not have one specific audience, allowing him to reach out to more listeners of different areas. The public in both regions will be able to understand his work and listen to his messages. Omar is choosing not to cater to simply his American audience’s needs or to his Middle-Eastern fan bases’. He is using something so powerful for all cultures, hip-hop. Hip-hop has always been used one of the biggest tools of expression internationally. Music in particular has no physical appearance and cannot be discriminated against. No matter what, music will always been open for anyone and everyone to listen to.
Although Omar’s music was in both English in Arabic, it didn’t deteriorate any connection I felt to his song. “Destiny” had a very clear message to get across to its listeners. Within only a few minutes, Omar had brought my mind to think about the issues going on between the east and west. His music got my thoughts focused on something I wouldn’t have ordinarily given any attention to. Words are a powerful tool and can have such a powerful effect.
In Soc119 when we video-chatted with an Iranian native my mind was blown. I never would have gotten this opportunity in any other class. Sam just gave the entire class an opportunity to experience something they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to. All it took was one dialogue for me to realize we shouldn’t be as divided from other cultures as we currently are. The current boundaries between the east and west should not be as distinct as they are. Music can be used as a dialogue for these areas, and hopefully more artists like Omar Offendum arise.

At first, this concept was slightly difficult to wrap my head around. I completely agree with Sam's position on this topic after re-watching this video numerous times. He is absolutely correct that we must fully experience and accept something before we can become truly comfortable with it. Over time, differences will begin to fade and become less of a barrier between people through experience. I believe that such unfamiliar circumstances or differences should be addressed head on before they can become obsolete.
I never realized this was the way I handle differences until Sam put it into words. Among my own personal experiences I have a best friend who's sister is blind. At first this was extremely intimidating. I've never interacted with a blind person before and I absolutely did not know how to interact with her. The first time I ever met her I was painfully awkward and honestly avoiding as much interaction with her as I could. Now I ask myself, why did I ever do that? She is a person just like me and I would be extremely offended and hurt if others treated me the way I first treated her; as if she was some other species. However, over time I let myself ease out of the discomfort.
Once I had my first conversation with her, which was about something so familiar and comfortable, our high school, my eyes had been opened from that moment forward. It seemed I had been the blind one. She spoke exactly as I did, made jokes and was fully relatable to me and my every day experiences. Within a few weeks of interacting with this girl on a daily basis, I was completely over my fear of interacting with this girl solely because she was blind. Why should I let a physical difference interfere with a relationship? I would never not speak to a person because they're black or any other different race than my own. I should have treated this girl the same way I would treat any individual that didn't look like me. Through this experience I learned it does take time and endurance to truly become comfortable with something outside of your typical comfort zone.