Blog # 9

I guess in a way pop culture has had an influence on the way that I view the differences between men and women. I do not think there is any way pop culture could not influence the way we see others or see the differences between genders just for the simple fact that it is all around us all the time. There are advertisements everywhere that force the "ideal" image of both women and men on every American. Also, there are so many TV shows and music videos that try to sell these images. It almost makes me feel that women have to be pretty to get any where in life, and also makes me feel that if you are a man you must make a ton of money to be worth any thing in our country. These are not my beliefs but I can see how this is what pop culture is forcing on us and trying to make us feel sometimes. Pop culture has probably influenced the way I understand race and class. I have not necessarily changed the way I feel about race or class but it has helped understand the way that others think of race and class. By watching movies that show various stories about race or stories about class it can help people understand what others have to endure and what others are faced with in our culture. I see things on TV all the time that are sexist but it is so much a part of our culture that I do not really think anything of it. There are always men putting down women or saying sexist things to them but it is excepted in our culture. If something is just outrageously sexist I will point it out to people and want to discuss it though. The first connotations that come to mind when I hear the word "feminist" are hairy arm pits, no make-up, tough, rough looking, strong, cammo pants, army boots, and activist. This is mainly what I thought before I took this class and it has changed since. I do not have such negative connotations so much any more. I think these associations came from the media and just hearing other people talk about feminists. Even when other people talk about it, they probably get their ideas from the media too.