The Groups that Shaped Us, Feminism, Sexuality - Essay Example

Journal 1. The groups we participate in always shape and reshape ourselves. In high school, I communicated with the girls from my class and school. I had several friends I could spend my time with, gossip, and do other things girls usually do. Certainly, the ideals and values of my surrounding left their trace on me. On the other hand, I can say that I chose my surroundings according to my values and ideals. There was nothing extraordinary about groups I interacted with. There existed a usual image of an ideal woman. She had to be pretty and kind, proud and nice, smart and pleasant in communication. She was to dress well and be a good housewife. She was to love kids and get married to a nice fellow. However, it is also important for a modern woman to get an education and make a career. Driven by these ideals I was proud of myself and believed that I was not far from becoming an example for everyone. However, at the moment, having problems with studying, I feel a bit disappointed with myself. This is caused by the ideals I pursue. I can be rather selfish; however, as I follow the values and ambitions dictated by modern society I feel a bit pressed and start tormenting myself. I get upset when I do not meet the values I believe in. However, as I got this task I thought that, perhaps, most of my ideas are really not my values and desires. They are imposed upon me from outside. The world helps us in reaching aims that are really ours. Perhaps, I should not lose my comfort over things and should remember that I am what I am, and love myself independently of my compliance with the common ideals.

Journal 2. I think that feminism is about the equality of males and females. Western women strive to be equal in everything and fulfill male functions. As a result, they have received some freedoms and rights, but they have also lost some of their privileges initially belonging to our sex. Feminism aroused the struggle for equal opportunities in education and work. However, women still do not possess all opportunities of males. They often have problems with promotion, get lower wages, and cannot return to their previous jobs after maternal leave. Women often have to reject their nature to prove that they are equal to men. Women have also struggled against exploitation and subordination by males. Women want to be respected and viewed as equal partners. However, this is the world created by males and for males. Men are so accustomed to perceiving women as inferior ones that this is still expressed in their behavior and speeches. I think that it is necessary to educate males teaching them to love and respect women, who are their mothers and wives. I believe males and females have a bit different functions in this world. Certainly, they are able to complete the same tasks and occupy the same jobs and positions. Yet, females have other tasks in life. We are educators and carers. We are to preserve the culture and knowledge of the civilization developed by men, who like to fight and are in constant search. Both sexes are very important and cannot exist without each other. A woman should remember that she is a woman. To be equal to a man doesn’t mean to do the same work. You are to be able to influence the minds and souls of other people in your own female way. These are the conclusions I’ve come to.

Journal 3. Sexuality is the engine of marketing. The reproductive function being a human basic instinct, appeal to it sells best of all. Girls learn that they are to be sexual from an early age. Frankly speaking, I think that it is quite logical: a woman should be sexy to make a man fall in love with her. What is bad about mass marketing and advertising are the sexual identities imposed on the population. When advertising or pop culture introduces some image, people start pursuing it and in case you do not meet the journal 1. The groups we participate in always shape and reshape ourselves. In high school, I communicated with the girls from my class and school. I had several friends I could spend my time with, gossip, and do other things girls usually do. She had to be pretty and kind, proud and nice, smart and pleasant in communication. She was to dress well and be a good housewife. She was to love kids and get married to a nice fellow. However, it is also important for a modern woman to get an education and make a career. However, at the moment, having problems with studying, I feel a bit disappointed with myself.