The play that was preformed in class was very eye-opening and showed how extremely ridiculous plastic surgery can be. Turning around the obsession that our society has developed for woman with who want to enhance their breasts was not only creative, but also made me think of how ridiculous we are. It just seems so unbelievable the measures people go in order to modify themselves into what they think is perfect. TV shows are based around watching people go under the knife in order to come out looking completely different. Tabloids exploit celebrities who have gotten work done and make sure that they are exposed. Women fight to make themselves look good, but what is the point?

Because of the media, we are constantly being shown images of thin, tone, tan, and sleek women who have abs that you can wash clothes on and perfect hair, make-up, and clothing. Yes, most of the time these models are airbrushed to look like dolls, but young and impressionable girls still strive to look like the girls they see on TV, in movies, and in magazines. There are also so many shows that take a girl who doesn’t dress well or know the first thing about make-up and make them over into a more beautiful version of themselves. So many girls feel so uncomfortable in their own skin and don’t believe that they are remotely attractive. Although they don’t do anything as drastic as get plastic surgery, they still believe that they aren’t good enough and need to be better.

Jessica Simpson, who has been criticized time and time again for her body weight has recently came out with a show called the “Price of Beauty,” where she goes into different countries and cultures and finds out how those women define beautiful. By talking to women about their customs, she finds out that everyone thinks something different about being attractive, and what we think in the United States is completely opposite to what people across the world believe. Not everyone is obsessed with being skinny and having a thin perfectly straight nose.

Women today have become so insecure in their own skin that they forget to realize that they are beautiful in their own way. Everyone has something different about them that make them unique, and because we are shown day in and day out thin rail girls with perfect features, we lose any sort of confidence that we once had. Women come in all shapes and sizes and its okay! We aren’t all made to look the same and therefore we shouldn’t have to feel that we need to put ourselves through so much stress to be better than the next.

I personally think that learning Mandarin is very beneficial especially in finding a future job. The economy turns to China for many things and knowing the language can only improve your chances of moving up the ladder of success. My cousin is fluent in Japanese and obtained a business degree from NYU and basically had his choice of jobs just for being able to communicate in that foreign language. I feel that knowing Mandarin enough to communicate will make finding a job easy.

I am happy to see that more high schools are implementing a wider language selection for students to chose from. In 7th grade we had to take this class that introduced us to French, Spanish, German, and Latin, which were the options available at my High School. By dabbling in each, students got a feel for what each language was like, however, the choices were limited to only those 4. Most people decided on either Latin or Spanish and for the next 4 years, we would learn everything we possibly could and were given the choice to take advance classes or stay in standard ones. I, like many other people, chose to learn Spanish and developed a good understanding of the language. I would try and get into the easier classes just to get by and score the A. As I moved on to college, I stuck with Spanish and just like in high school, I managed to get by. Yes, I was able to apply some of my Spanish skills abroad while visiting Spain, but even with the 7 years that I was enrolled in Spanish classes, I still fell that I will never fully use the language to my benefit and I knew this the whole time I was taking these classes and never cared to fully apply myself.

Although I know that learning Mandarin would be a lot more difficult than learning Spanish, I feel that if I knew that the language would help me out in my professional career, I would be more inclined to learn. China is so highly populated and plays a huge part in so many jobs that it would make communication so much easier if American high school students started learning at a younger age. I feel that it is such a useful tool to know any language, but Mandarin specifically would just make you stand out in a crowd.

This article was very intriguing, and I was happy to learn that Mandarin is becoming a popular language to learn even though it is rather intimidating. I know many young adults chose to learn Spanish because it is easier to grasp and most think it is a useful tool for communicating with foreign parties, but the new direction in language is definitely moving towards Mandarin.

I played this clip while sitting in the living room of my apartment with my roommates and everyone got quiet to listen to what it was all about. Needless to say, we were all appalled. A game like this has no need being in society and can only be dangerous. Yes, we allow for extremely violent games that involve killing and there are been so much debate surrounding them, however, rape completely brings video gaming to a completely new level.

A lot of people have mentioned the game Grand Theft Auto, and my roommates brought up Halo. Both are extremely violent and parents have become outraged that such games exist on the market. They even made a video game rating system due to all the controversy surrounding them, but as much as we may not want to admit it, video games have an impact on people, and violent acts are often learns and mimics from actions taken on a game. Younger generations are learning from playing. They no longer go outside and play in the yard. Everyone has some gaming system that consumes a good part of his or her free time. We can’t our youth getting their hands on such disgusting and destructive games.

The Japanese government must step into to control these animated games based on violent sex. No one wants their culture to be known for something so gross and demeaning to women. No only is it harmful to those who play it, but it is completely irresponsible of the government to allow these games to be put on shelves. There is no way that they can’t see how wrong it is. They don’t even have enough courage to make a comment to CNN, which speaks louder than any apology they possibly could have made.

The game featured in the video title “Rapelay” scares the crap out of me. I am about to live in New York City and the fact that there are games out there that are teaching people to rape on a subway platform is absolutely outrageous. It is scary enough being down in a subway alone, especially being a female. It is unsettling to think that there are people who sit at their computer and grope and rape a woman for entertainment. There has to be something off with these people in the first place to think that it is okay to have these games in our society and then to use them as pleasure. I don’t think that this is even a good outlet for people who have raped, or are thinking about raping. If anything, this just makes them want to do it more and shows them that it’s okay to attack young women on subway platforms.

Some of my favorite childhood memories involve me playing Barbie in my basement with my friends or by myself. Sunday morning I would wake up and go immediately downstairs and play with the dolls for hours on end, only coming upstairs to eat. The best days were when one of my parents would take me to the toy store and allow me to pick a new Barbie out. With so many on the shelf, I would look at each one and see what they could offer me, and without fail, I would always choose a white doll. Although I am I white female, I can clearly remember thinking that I wanted a doll that looked like me. I was extremely surprised during and after watching this video. It seemed odd to me that the black children wouldn’t have picked that doll that closely reflected them, but as I thought about it more and more, I am beginning to understand why those children made the decisions that they did.

I truly believe that the media plays an extremely important role in these children’s choices; however, I don’t think that they consciously know why they are doing it. When you turn on the TV, you see a lot of shows that are consumed with white actors. Although you may not reflect on this fact and just want entertainment, it is true. Children may not understand the idea of racism, but they are being exposed to it and it seems like the media isn’t going to change its ways.

I do think that Disney has done a poor job showing children that animated heroes can come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. I know that when I was a little girl, I dreamed of living the fairy tale life that Belle, Arielle, and Cinderella did. Who doesn’t want to find their prince charming, become a princess, and live happily ever after? Disney has come out with movies featuring a Native American, Middle Eastern, and Asian princess, but it took them over 10 years to make a film featuring a black princess. Even in the films made in the 80’s and 90’s, the evil character was always a different and darker color than the prince and princess, and the two who were in this fantasy world were always of the same race. Children see these movies and are affected by them, even though they don’t realize it.

All and all, the video was not only sad, but very shocking to see such young children dealing with race issues and not even knowing it. These expressions and the agony on their face when they were choosing the good and bad doll just broke my heart.

Reading this article made feel extremely sorry for this young girl, Constance McMillen. Not only is the school board out casting her, but also they are turning her schoolmates against her. There will be people who are going to get mad at her and not understand that she is not doing anything wrong by wanting to bring a female date. Not only is it not fair for this school to deny the entire school prom on behalf of this little issue, but they are making Constance feel like there is something wrong with her, when there is nothing wrong at all.

In my high school, there were three girls who were very open about being lesbians. Two of them were partners and the other had a partner at a neighboring high school. I remember when they all came to prom together, two of the females wearing tuxedos, and I clearly remember the comments that were made behind their backs, but NEVER were they denied to go. Obviously some high school students are going to immature and ignorant watching a female dressed up in a suit slow dancing with another girl, but for those of us that were fine with it like myself, I didn’t think twice about it. They didn’t ruin anyone’s prom night; they had their fun and went home like the rest of us. Also, it is by no means a big deal that she wants to wear a tux to prom. Just because you are a girl doesn’t mean you like to wear a dress! I know guys who showed up to my prom wearing blue and green tuxedos, and I found them a lot more distracting then the lesbian couple.

I was happy to read that to ALCU was intervening on this issue because the entire thing is a little outrageous and they should be annoyed that this event is being blown up into such a national news story. The ALCU should not stop until they work this issue out, because even though it seems like a stupid, insignificant event, it will be a huge step for them.

All in all, I feel extremely sorry for Constance McMillen, her family, and her partner when it comes to this article. She is being made feel as if something is wrong with her, when nothing is. She is probably extremely embarrassed when she has no reason to be because many schools across the country allow same sex couples to attend a high school prom. I don’t understand why the school board thinks it is going to make people so uncomfortable. Yes, like I said before when recalling my own prom, there will always being those rude and obnoxious people who don’t know any better or are just trying to be funny, but the younger generations are becoming a whole lot more liberal when dealing with these issues.

I actually saw this news story in the airport as I was trying to make my way home from spring break. I was sitting with a friend and we were both watching and she turned to me and said, “she will be fired if she doesn’t produce a winning season.” And to be honest, I completely agree. Although I think it is wonderful that a woman is stepping into this position, I have to wonder what the purpose was for naming this woman head coach. Some of the football players are probably bigger and stronger than her and may not take her seriously, which could result in drama. Although she seems shy and sweet, she must have an element to her that is absolutely fearless. From her interview, it is apparent that she wants to be in this position and that she is qualified for the job. Yes, I bet when she steps onto a football field she isn’t as calm and shy, but who is when they play a sport?

My high school was extremely big on sports, especially football. We centered our fall on going to games and being fully committed to the boys who played the game, especially me since I was a Varsity Cheerleader all four years of my high school career. The boys who played at my school were extremely stereotypical of high school football players and I can’t help but keep them in mind as I listened to Natalie Randolph’s interview with CNN. Under no circumstances do I think they would have tolerated having a female coach. Not only were they too pigheaded, they were too prideful of the sport to think that a woman, no matter how qualified she was, could help them win games. I learned a lot standing on the sidelines for all those games, and football is a dirty sport that requires a strong, outspoken coach. I am not saying that Ms. Randolph doesn’t possess that boldness, but other coaches may feel that they can walk all over her because she is female.

I am not against a woman being named head coach of a high school football team, but I would have to say that CNN and the city of Washington DC are causing quite the fuss over her, which makes me even more fearful for her job. All the publicity makes her look like a celebrity and draws attention to the High School, which may make rival teams want to kick their butt more on the football field. I am proud that woman is stepping into such big shoes, but it does make me nervous. I can see people taking advantage of Natalie Randolph and this being more than she can chew.

I also think that this was a really great question to ask and be put on a blog response. I do feel that there are general stereotypes for every race that could be applied and seeing different answers to different people would be very interesting.

Some background information on me, I am a 22 year old white girl from an upper class town. I went to school with one black boy, but spent a lot of time in New York City where I was exposed to a lot of different ethnicities.

So what do I see when I look at you? To be honest, I thought you dressed very well and were comparable to most of the boys I hang out with. Nothing about you screams rapper, thug, or drug dealer. I don’t know anything about your personality to assume that you would be any of the above. Although I understand where you are coming from by asking this question, I do believe that most people who decide to take Soc 119 are already very open minded and not quick to judge. Yes, if you went to the town I grew up where you would be one of the few black men, maybe people would be a little curious as to why you were there and be fearful. Those people however, haven’t been exposed to as much as students at Penn State.

I am very curious as to why you believe that a white person would be so quick to judge you. Has something or someone in your past taken an opportunity away from you for being your skin color? I also, can totally see why you feel this way. Although I believe that world is becoming more accepting about the physically difference between people, there are those who were brought up with strict beliefs and aren’t willing to change their views. Hopefully, these racist depictions will disappear with future generations.

I would like to comment on the hip-hop culture that was noted above. These black men who become rappers and make a lot of money aren’t necessary thugs. Maybe they grew up in poor conditions, but they clearly have made a name for themselves and wanted to be something. Music, no matter what type it is, is extremely inspiring. No matter if they turn into drug dealers or are wrapping about “bitches and hoes,” they have made the decision to become famous and have worked hard to be where they are. So why should we judge them?

Now that you’ve posted this, I do want to know how you perceive yourself. What do you like to do? What was your childhood like? Where do you see yourself going in the future?

I do not blame Hines for creating Roxxxy since there seems to be a market for it, but the scary thing is there are people who want to purchase this extremely expensive sex toy. What I can’t seem to figure out is WHO wants to buy this, certainly not any male that I hope I’d be interested in. I understand that there is males out there that are shy, older, and not social, but this bring creepy to a completely new level. I was extremely disturbed by Hines article because I can’t imagine that there are men out there that feel okay with using this product. It’s extremely to imagine a man having a full-blown conversation with Roxxy and than not only getting intimate with this robot, but also sleeping with it and hearing it snore!

I do believe that men and women have different sexual needs, but I would hope that someone who I am interested in wouldn’t feel the need to stoop to the level of buying a 7,000 dollar toy to get complete pleasure. I would not be okay with learning that my boyfriend or husband had a Roxxy under the bed. Although women have more sex toys available to them, none are as creepy as this. I don’t believe that the male version, Rocky would sell well to women as Roxxxy does to men. Most women don’t have the same sex drive that men do and are a little more rational when it comes to making big purchases.

As for Hines, although maybe a little sick minded, I think he making a wise investment in making these dolls because just by the initial reaction, he is going to make a lot of money off of Roxxxy. In reality, there are probably plenty of lonely, older, anti-social men who want to have sex but don’t possess the skill of trying to get a woman. And lets be real, sex will sell, even in this weird form. The technology that Hines has put into Roxxxy is extremely advanced and he should be noted for that. It’s extremely high tech and when you think about it from a science view, it is very amazing.

All in all, I think that then men who are purchasing these sex robots may have a deeper problem then just wanting to fulfill a sexual need. I think it is embarrassing for someone who uses Roxxxy as a partner, having conversation with her and sleeping with her. There are a lot of sick people out there who are going to buy Roxxxy and abuse her, which is a completely different issue, but I can see men taking Roxxxy to a completely different level that is even sicker than her initial use.

This past Monday, I went to the theaters to see Avatar. It was an amazing film that was a movie experience unlike anything else. Its 3D animations were so unreal that you felt like you were on Pandora with these Avatar creatures. All my friends raved about, as well as my parents, making the movie relatable to all generations. Also, the media attention it has been receiving lets one know how well appreciated this film it by all. It has been nominated for Academy Awards and did extremely well at the Golden Globes.

After watching the film, I sat and just thought about the concept of the movie and one of the ideas that came to mind was how similar it was to Pocahontas. My first reaction to the movie was “Wow, I have seen this plot a million times,” but still, I loved the movie. When discussing Avatar with my friends, they all had the same reaction. Why is it that the white man creates a problem just so another white man can come in and save the peaceful people? However, there is a lot more than can be mentioned about this movie and should be focused on. Its nod to the environment and future setting make it extremely thought provoking. The ideas that James Cameron had when making this film are beyond the imagination and he should be getting the credit he deserves for that, not for the plot. It’s a simple story that is surround by much bigger and better ideas.

I was excited to see this post and read the article “The Messiah Complex” by Brooks. I completely agree with his thoughts. This “white” hero comes to the Avatar’s colony to save them from evil and without them; they would not have been able to make it on their own. Why is it though that the man must be white? We see this similarity in many films and although some question its message, most of us don’t even think twice about it. Even Disney has used this exact plot in their version of Pocahontas, teaching this idea of “The White Hero” to children. We as a society are so use to this concept and every generation has seen this plot in a movie. It is a story that will continue to get passed down because it is something everyone knows and will sell to audiences.

Regardless, this movie is an experience unlike any other and deserves to be seen for is effects and technology, not for its plot. Seeing it in 3D and just realizing what technology is coming is life changing. Avatar is altering the way we see movies, and this business will never be the same.

Making the decision to enlist in the army is a very difficult choice. Not only are you putting yourself in the line of fire, but also you are leaving behind family, friends, and every day comforts to support your country. Everyday can be scary and frightening and the people who make the decision to become apart of our nations fighting forces are extremely brave and heroic. Knowing that it takes a certain person to become apart of the army, one would be happy to have these men and women fighting for our country. I personally trust that those who are apart of army are protecting our country and I am thankful that they have made the choice to do so. But why would one care what these people do in their spare time? Why is the army so concerned about having straight members in the army instead of good soldiers?

The “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is extremely unsuitable for the army. We have these people putting their lives on the line for the United States of America and we are telling them they are not good enough because of their sexual preference. It is extremely wrong of the army to deny the LGTB community the right to support and protect the country especially because they want to. Being homosexual should not weaken the moral of the army. Just because a man or women likes someone of the same sex, doesn’t mean that they are a weak person. In fact, it takes a strong person to admit to being LGTB and standing up for what they want and believe in.

This article really made me realize how hard it must be for LGTB soldiers and the pressures that they have to face because of their sexual preference. Darren Manzella put his time into the army and deserves all the credit in the world. Knowing that he is gay should not make anyone think differently about this man. I do not understand why is has to be so secretive. You can’t tell by looking at anyone if they are homosexual and it shouldn’t bother anyone that a member of the army is apart of the LGTB community. Like stated before, these people have willingly put themselves in the army in order to protect the United States. It takes a certain person to do this and we shouldn’t judge them because they go home to someone of the same sex. Darren had all the rights of an American citizen and the military is stripping them all away.

All in all, the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is extremely discriminating to the LGTB community and the military needs to accept the fact that although these people engage in sexual activity with people of the same sex, these certain individuals care enough about the country to enlist.