https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz Mac Clark • COMD363 en-us 2021-01-12 02:59:39 UTC 2024-12-08 22:08:11 UTC hello@padlet.com clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087379586 2021-01-14 14:41:50 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087379586 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087448494 2021-01-14 14:54:54 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087448494 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087487485 2021-01-14 15:02:32 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087487485 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087510166 Gender reveal cakes are examples of objects that retell the gender binaries. The cakes depict boys through "masculine" objects and girls through "feminine" objects. The "Touchdowns or Tutus" cake assumes that if the baby's sex is male, he will like football, an aggressive, "masculine" sport. Whereas, if the baby's sex is female, she will be interested in dance, a graceful, "feminine" sport. In gender reveal cakes, girls are defined with the color pink and "feminine" artifacts, such as makeup or high heels, portraying them as delicate and pretty. Boys, however, are defined with the color blue and "masculine" activities, such as shooting or racing, portraying them as tough and manly. These cakes force stereotypes upon the unborn baby when in reality, it is possible for a boy to enjoy dance or for a girl to be interested in racing. By presenting objects as strictly masculine or feminine, gender reveal cakes reaffirm the ideal that women are docile and beautiful while men are active and strong. ]]> 2021-01-14 15:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1087510166 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1106946145 While there are countless ideals surrounding a woman's reproductive system, one of the most daunting seems to be the overwhelming pressure to have children. In many cultures, it is seen as a woman's duty to not only bear children but to dedicate their lives to raising them. Of course, while many modern women have rejected the social norm of having children, society still accepts the notion that a woman's most meaningful role is motherhood. The article linked below is a prime example of the pressure to be a mother, as it works to actively retell the construct that women need children to live happy, full lives. The article lists why a woman, if she's young and married, should have a child, with reasons including: "Your Future Self Is Begging You To", "Kids Will Make You Happier", and even "It Will Make You A Much Better Person". The article explicitly reinforces the idea that in order to be her best self, a woman must be a mother. However, the ideas in this article are outdated and harmful, as women who choose not to or unable to have children are not morally inferior or inherently unhappier than those who do. Additionally, the article mentions nothing about men needing to have children, reaffirming the social construct that women are the only gender pressured to have children.  ]]> 2021-01-20 17:53:20 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1106946145 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115551583 2021-01-22 19:17:33 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115551583 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115567743 2021-01-22 19:21:35 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115567743 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115578732 Drag superstar RuPaul is no stranger to controversy, but his 2018 comments about bio (cisgender women) and transgender drag queens have outed a bigger problem in the drag community. As included in the article linked below, when asked if he would allow trans or bio queens to compete on Drag Race, RuPaul answered, "Drag loses its sense of danger and its sense of irony once it’s not men doing it." Ru's comments were not only hurtful to the communities he discredited but fed into the larger issue of the lack of representation in televised drag. Despite being excluded from TV, the real-life diversity of the drag scene, from old-school activists such as Marsha P. Johnson to newer performers such as Juno Birch, has always included women. In fact, drag, as an art form, works to revise social constructs and present gender as something that can be molded, as stated in the article. In drag, there is no right way to be a performer, allowing artists to define gender on their own terms, without the worry of adhering to societal norms. RuPaul's definition of drag, a more socially palatable version that only includes cis gay men, not only reaffirms misogyny in the lgbtq+ community but directly violates the purpose of the art form. Drag was created to rework harsh binaries and perform gender in any way the artist sees fit, so why shouldn't the most popular drag television show convey that?]]> 2021-01-22 19:24:19 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115578732 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115764454 Any American woman has heard the concept of "flattering" clothing. For example, if your body is an apple shape, you are instructed to avoid short shorts, or if your body is an hourglass shape, you will look the best in high waisted pants. These arbitrary rules, which only apply to women, contribute to the social construct that in order to look presentable, women must wear clothing that "flatters" their body type. Not only is this concept based on personal aesthetic (what does flattering even mean, anyway?) but it reinforces the idea that women need to look a certain way, often the most pleasing to men, to be accepted in society. These fashion rules reinstate the difference in the gender binary by giving strict rules for a woman's appearance while men, who also have varying body shapes, are never told to dress in a "flattering" way. These made-up fashion rules reaffirm the social norm that women must pay special attention to the way they present themselves while men are able to express themselves freely, without judgment. ]]> 2021-01-22 20:18:16 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1115764454 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1132359565 2021-01-27 16:10:49 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1132359565 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1132393494 Despite all genders growing body hair, society shames women for growing theirs out. This is because body hair on women is seen as unconventional, as it directly violates a code of femininity. Women who are seen with visible body hair, especially on their legs or armpits, are labeled as unkempt, lazy, or even dirty. According to the gender binary, body hair makes women unfeminine and therefore, unappealing to men. However, more women have begun to make the choice to publicly grow out their body hair, including models such as Indea. Indea, an Instagram model, is known for accepting her natural body, and many of her posts feature her body hair in an empowering way. The photo below of Indea reworks the gender binary by showing women that they can have body hair and still be sexy, directly combatting the idea that they must be hairless in order to be desirable. ]]> 2021-01-27 16:16:36 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1132393494 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1133965362 The gender binary requires women to look presentable at all times. Often, being presentable includes an extensive regime of cosmetic tasks, such as styling hair, wearing makeup, and even wearing shapewear during pregnancy. Despite maternity shapewear's recent resurgence, with popular brands such as Kim Kardashian's SKIMS and SPANX hopping on the trend, using garments to slim a pregnant body are not a new idea. During the Victorian era, pregnant women continued to wear corsets to minimize the size of their growing bumps. Though the concept of constricting a pregnant body may seem ridiculous, it perfectly embodies the absurd standards of the gender binary. Maternity shapewear retells the misogynistic, and often fatphobic, beauty standard that women must look a certain way in order to be accepted by society. An important element of this unachievable standard is thinness, as being thin is a key component for a woman to look presentable. This is because if a woman is perceived as fat, she is automatically labeled as sloppy and unattractive, immediately affecting the way she will be treated in society, especially by men. By requiring women to adhere to this standard during a time where they are unable to control the changes happening to their bodies, maternity shapewear strictly reinforces the absurd gender norms placed on women.  ]]> 2021-01-27 21:47:33 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1133965362 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1133976061 TikTok inspires the re-emergence of countless fashion trends, but one of the most influential has been the reappearance of androgynous male fashion. Newly rebranded as femboys, male creators of all identities have begun to explore feminine styles on their accounts, adding items such as skirts, eyeliner, and nail polish to their everyday wardrobes. Citing inspiration from modern musicians such as Harry Styles, Jaden Smith, or Lil Uzi Vert, these creators are pushing the envelope on what it means to be masculine, therefore rewriting the rigid male binary. However, as it is with any variant from the binary, femboys have come with significant backlash from certain viewers. Conservative audiences claim that they are "acting like girls" or "not real men" because of their fashion choices, trying to impose strict gender roles on their current expression. Though, negative criticism from the right has not stopped the femboys from trying to rid TikTok of toxic masculinity. Femboys continue to blur the lines between masculine and feminine, ignoring social norms and performing their gender as they see fit, without concerning the binary. ]]> 2021-01-27 21:52:03 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1133976061 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1149054172 2021-02-01 14:59:26 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1149054172 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1156388953 Barney Stinson, the sharply dressed womanizer from the TV show How I Met Your Mother, is a prime example of the binary's double standard when it comes to sex. In the show, Barney has a reputation for sleeping with every woman he sees (as long as they meet the Western beauty standard), and this behavior earns him "legendary" status among his peers. However, what if Barney was Barbie? Would her behavior still be considered legendary? Absolutely not, as the gender binary has strict rules towards women's sexuality. If a woman has too many sexual partners or is perceived as being sexually promiscuous, she will be labeled as a slut who does not respect herself. This is because the binary paints women to be submissive, innocent beings, who should only see sex as a way to please their male partner. This idea is supported by the binary's notion that men, because of the testosterone levels in their body, have higher sex drives and consequently, are unable to control their urges. This idea is reinforced in How I Met Your Mother, as the women Barney sleeps with are often labeled as naive and unassuming, as only he is allowed to initiate the encounter. His character reinstates the notion that because of their biology, men should be allowed to be sexually promiscuous without judgment, while women are not only shamed for exploring their sexuality but are ultimately expected to be the less sexual gender. ]]> 2021-02-02 23:47:30 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1156388953 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1164827466 Almost every woman has been catcalled at least once in her lifetime. Whether a man has yelled an explicative, whistled, or offered what he thought was a compliment, these unwanted comments from strangers are, unfortunately, a common experience for women. Though there is no concrete answer for why catcalls occur, an explanation may be the binary's definitions of the genders' demeanors. The binary gives men permission to be crass and assertive, encouraging them to share their unfiltered thoughts no matter the circumstance. Women, on the other hand, are expected to be pleasant and accepting at all times, even if they are placed in an uncomfortable situation. Catcalls reinstate the idea that men are allowed to be aggressive without consequence, as their behavior is seen as the inevitable result of an influx of testosterone. While women, who are the victims of this harassment, are expected to either ignore the comment or take it with a smile, as the binary instructs them to be agreeable no matter the situation.]]> 2021-02-04 16:57:54 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1164827466 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1165214641 Plastered on the coffee mugs of Millenials everywhere, #GirlBoss seems to have taken the corporate world by storm. In its essence, the GirlBoss movement is a 21st-century idea created to show women that they can have the same successes in careers that have been traditionally reserved for men. However, in addition to its problematic capitalist roots, as well as its tendency to be racially exclusive, the title of the movement itself raises red flags about how "feminist" the notion actually is. For example, would a man call himself a BoyBoss? No, because it is assumed that men will inherently be bosses. This assumption is rooted in the binary's belief that men are biologically smarter than women, and while this belief has been reflected in all elements of society, it has been one of the most prominent hurdles in the workplace. Therefore, by the movement putting a female moniker in front of "boss", not only is it diminishing the significance of the title, as it creates a separate category just for women, but it ultimately widens the workforce gender gap. This is because the GirlBoss movement, despite having the goal of equality, actually reinforces the ideas of the gender binary. It places women in another category than men rather than striving for actual change, proving the binary's rule that men will always be the superior, smarter gender. And until the movement redefines its concepts of female inclusion, #GirlBoss will never achieve true equality, no matter how much branded merchandise the movement sells. ]]> 2021-02-04 18:02:29 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1165214641 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187330744 2021-02-10 13:48:44 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187330744 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187334942 In the age of OnlyFans, an increasing number of women have decided to tap into their sexualities and use their bodies as a way to generate income. Of course, people still continue to shame these workers, which is the purpose behind Alex Cameron's sex work positive anthem, "Far From Born Again." In his song, Cameron praises sex workers for being liberated, "In control in command/She's just a woman in charge of her plan," while also calling out the men who shame them, "Same men tell that her to stop/Are the same suckers that pay." Cameron's lyrics, and music video featuring commentary from real-life sex workers, make an important statement about the hypocritical nature of the sex work industry. The gender binary shames women who use their sexuality to earn income, labeling them as whores who are morally corrupt, however, men who contribute to sex work, by funding and consuming the practice, are left unscathed. Cameron's song directly calls out this double standard, presenting the sex worker as intelligent, financially independent, and in charge of her own sexuality, while the men are described as bitter hypocrites, who, despite shaming the sex worker, still pay for her services. Cameron's song, and the ideas behind it, directly rework the logic of the gender binary, presenting sex workers as smart, empowered, and financially stable, while the men who condemn them are seen as angry hypocrites. ]]> 2021-02-10 13:49:33 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187334942 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187382836 In 2019, the career of Melissa Viviane Jefferson, better known as Lizzo, skyrocketed. Her music, including hits such as "Truth Hurts" and "Juice," seemed to get attention from audiences everywhere, and her music became so loved, she was even named TIME Magazine's Entertainer of the Year. However, Lizzo's cultural impact goes much further than her Billboard hits. Lizzo has dedicated her time in the spotlight to body positivity and empowerment, showing women everywhere that being fat, or black, is not something they need to apologize for. In fact, Lizzo has dedicated her platform to showing women, as well as young girls, that these traits are beautiful, special, and overall, something to be proud of. However, these ideas, despite being refreshing and important, are considered radical by the traditional binary, as whiteness and thinness are integral parts of feminine beauty. In opposition to social norms, Lizzo's message of pro-black body positivity revises the gender binary by showing women that they are still beautiful and worthy, despite having attributes that do not align with the binary's traditional view of feminity, such as blackness or fatness. ]]> 2021-02-10 13:58:59 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187382836 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187508254 Sexist jokes are not a new concept for comedians, but even comedy's most "feminist" male entertainers have profited at the expense of women. John Mulaney, for example, despite being praised for his off-stage activism, such as advocating for Planned Parenthood,  has still managed to incorporate sexism into his sets. In his 2012 Netflix special, New In Town, Mulaney joked that a movie like Oceans 11 could never be remade with an all-female cast, because, "You could never put together a heist with women...because two would keep breaking off to talk shit about the other nine." The comedian then goes on to make jokes about how women, even in the high-stakes situation of a heist, would continue to make snide remarks, such as, "I love how you can just wear anything," distracting themselves from the mission to focus on tearing each other down. This stereotype comes from the binary's idea of how women should interact, as the traditional binary requires women to judge and ridicule other women for not "correctly" performing feminity. Mulaney's joke feeds into this notion, by repeating that women, when grouped together, are passive aggressive and petty, reinforcing the binary's idea that women must be pit against one another instead of working together. ]]> 2021-02-10 14:21:12 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1187508254 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208913205 2021-02-16 22:06:15 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208913205 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208916273 To the surprise of men everywhere, not all women naturally have thick brows, dark eyelashes, or clear, dewy skin. However, women feel pressure to consistently wear makeup, causing men, and sometimes other women, to believe that something must be off if they choose to ditch their concealer. These reactions from peers are due to the binary's outline of how women should look. According to the binary, women must be presentable at all times, which includes tasks such as dressing in a "flattering" manner, styling their hair, and consistently wearing makeup. If a woman goes against this standard and chooses to go makeup-free, she is often seen as sloppy, sick, or if she makes it a habit, brave. Of course, there is no pressure for men to wear makeup or to present themselves in a certain manner, so this sexist standard upholds the idea that only women must adhere to these rules. The expectation for women to wear makeup reinstates the binary's ideal that a woman needs to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society. ]]> 2021-02-16 22:07:47 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208916273 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208925108 Gender-neutral names are on the rise. While some may argue it's because the names are cuter, as Charlie is most certainly trendier than Charles, parents are saying their choice for a unisex moniker comes from embracing the possibility of their child's gender fluidity. The article linked below explains that though parents may know the sex of their baby, they may not know the gender, which is why some are opting for a name that does not have a specific identity assigned to it. The idea of gender-neutral names opposes the binary for two reasons, the first being the idea leaves room for fluidity in gender and the second being it allows for the choice of a masculine or feminine name, such as the traditionally female Avery, to be given to a child of any gender. Both of these ideas go against the binary's strict two-gender system, as they allow for not only changes in gender, but masculine and feminine characteristics to be interchangeable between genders. Parents intentionally choosing gender-neutral names reworks the binary by allowing for their child's gender to be fluid throughout their lifetime, a concept excluded from the traditional binary. ]]> 2021-02-16 22:11:53 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208925108 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208931220 When a young girl chooses baseball over Barbies, or overalls over a frilly dress, she may be labeled a tomboy. While the term isn't seen as inherently negative, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about what it means to be a girl. Since girls are not traditionally seen as strong or adventurous, or really associated with any trait that is labeled masculine, partaking in "masculine" activities is seen as expressing masculinity. The notion of tomboys directly retells the binary's definition of how boys and girls should express their gender, as it reiterates the idea that girls partaking in certain activities makes them masculine. In reality, elements, like wearing pants, playing sports, or being rambunctious, are gender-neutral. Therefore, labeling these activities as masculine, and the people who participate in them as expressing masculinity, takes away a young girl's right to perform her own version of femininity. There is no right way to be a girl, and othering the girls whose preferences do not fit the binary's definition creates a dangerous label, one that reinforces strict rules on how to perform their own gender. ]]> 2021-02-16 22:14:32 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1208931220 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236711302 2021-02-24 15:11:39 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236711302 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236726532 Gottmik, a current contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13, is the first trans male to ever compete on the televised drag show. Assigned female at birth (AFAB), Mik identifies as a man who performs with a feminine drag persona, and not only is his drag groundbreaking but so is his personal gender performance. In addition to Mik's drag being feminine, his gender performance outside of his career reworks the traditional trans-male narrative. Self-described as a femme trans boy, Mik embraces femininity both in and out of drag, redefining what it means to be masculine. Mik explains that some trans men fear femininity, as they may believe subscribing to feminine gender stories "demasculinizes" them. However, Mik emphasizes that there is no one way to correctly perform femininity or masculinity, but instead, reinforces that either identity can be performed in a variety of ways. This ideology works against the binary by showing trans and cis males, as well as people of other genders, that there are no boundaries to performing masculinity, introducing the idea that incorporating femininity into male gender performances does not diminish a masculine identity.  ]]> 2021-02-24 15:14:19 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236726532 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236752755 TikTok has been a safe haven for Gen Z to be unapologetically queer, especially when it comes to gender performance. Popular user Dissgrace, pictured below, uses their platform to proudly showcase their identity, which they describe as "nonbinary, femme they/them." Though Dissgrace occasionally experiments with masculine styles, such as mustaches or unkempt eyebrows, their content mainly shows them performing femininity, such as wearing feminine clothing and makeup in their videos, rewriting traditional definitions of the nonbinary identity. People often stereotype the nonbinary identity, assuming those who identify with the term must present androgynous in order to identify outside the binary. Dissgrace's content directly opposes this outdated view, as they show that nonbinary can look a variety of ways, and presenting as masculine or feminine is just as valid as an androgynous gender performance. In addition to challenging gender stereotypes, the concept of nonbinary itself reworks the gender binary. Not only does the nonbinary identity mean there are more than two genders, but the identity allows for people to continuously tweak their gender performance as they see fit, without considering the expectations that come with a two-gendered system.  ]]> 2021-02-24 15:18:44 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236752755 clarkmac61 https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236953141 Megan Thee Stallion, known for hits such as "WAP", "Hot Girl Summer", and "Captain Hook," is the newest star in the rap genre. Achieving what few female artists have before her, Megan has been able to make a name for herself while also rewriting harsh stereotypes of women in rap; the rap scene is a genre dominated by misogyny, as women's roles in songs are usually limited to hoes, drama to avoid, or mothers. This not only makes it difficult for women to be successful in the field, but any successes female rappers do achieve are automatically attributed to their physical appearance and sexual personas, instead of their immense talent. Although she does present a sexual persona, Megan's work combats these ideals by presenting a different angle of her sexuality, one that labels men as disposable and herself as a hustler. By performing her gender in this manner, Megan aligns herself with roles that are traditionally occupied by men while also reworking the binary's ideas of womens' sexualities. Instead of presenting herself as demure and modest, Megan is assertive and sexually-experienced, working to break the stigma that comes with being a single, sexually-active black woman. Her songs reverse stereotypes as well as empower women to boldly own their sexualities, concepts that rewrite both the binary and the rules of the rap genre. ]]> 2021-02-24 15:54:21 UTC https://padlet.com/clarkmac61/t4fqdezstal2yjfz/wish/1236953141