Take a Selfie - Gender and Popular Culture by Simran Grewal

Then vs. Now - My first Self-Check

simrangrewal496 — 2025-04-11 22:16:29 UTC

Firstly, I didn't realize how many unconscious biases I held about gender roles. I thought I was open-minded, but I didn't fully grasp how much popular culture had shaped my ideas about femininity, masculinity, and queerness. This assignment made me pause and reflect on how media normalizes certain gender expressions while excluding others.

Seeing the overlaps Understanding Intersectionality.

simrangrewal496 — 2025-04-11 22:22:11 UTC

Before this course, I had heard the word "intersectionality" but didn’t fully understand it. I now know it refers to how various aspects of identity—like race, gender, class, sexuality—interact and shape experiences of oppression or privilege. Learning about this helped me better understand how feminism can be more inclusive and how some voices are erased in mainstream pop culture.

What I watch, What I Missed

simrangrewal496 — 2025-04-11 22:26:48 UTC

I used to binge-watch shows without questioning how women, queer folks, or people of color were represented. Now, I pay more attention to who gets screen time, who has agency, and whose stories are being told. I realized how normalized male-dominated narratives are, especially in action films or romantic comedies.

My Role in the Work

simrangrewal496 — 2025-04-11 22:29:56 UTC

I now understand that silence can be a form of complicity. I can challenge transphobia and homophobia by speaking up when I hear harmful comments, supporting inclusive media, and amplifying queer voices. I can check my own internalized misogyny and keep learning. This is lifelong work, and I have a responsibility to be active, not passive.

Final Self-Check

simrangrewal496 — 2025-04-11 22:39:51 UTC

If I were to check myself at the door now, I’d say: “Be critical. Stay open. Don’t assume you know everything.” I’ve learned to ask whose stories are being centered, who’s being left out, and how I can push for more inclusive spaces both online and offline.