In Korea, plastic surgery is becoming the social norm for its citizens. About 15-30% of Korean under the age of 30 women are said to have had cosmetic procedures. In a documentary we watched during class time, it was stated that it was common for kids to undergo procedures proceeding their high school graduations. . The fascination and desire for plastic surgery derives from the obsession with Korean pop stars. Most K-Pop singers have had their features entirely reconstructed through the means of various facial surgeries. Common procedures include a popular double eyelid surgery that lifts the eyelid giving the illusion of larger eyes, rhinoplasty (nose) and jaw reconstruction.

In America, plastic surgery is also on the rise and has become more accepted in society. Although Americans appear to be obsessed with body image and beauty, I feel we still have a circulating message of loving yourself the way you are and to embrace your own unique beauty. It seems that those in Korea are taught that there is only one way to be beautiful. Mothers are completely fine, or even encouraging, of their daughters undergoing surgeries to change their natural features rather than reassuring them that they were beautiful the way they were born.

I don’t believe that there is anything wrong with wanting to have cosmetic procedures done in order to achieve comfortability and happiness in your own skin, but it could be a problem that Korea seems to have just one standard of ideal beauty that is only obtainable through surgeries. It sends a message to the audience when a large, influential industry is only accepting of one type of look or image and rejects all others as inferior. I think it puts substantial pressure on Korean youth to undergo these surgeries in order to feel beautiful or desirable.

Another discussion we had in class was about children’s use of the internet and the effects that exposure to the media has on them. Parents are capable of setting up controls or prohibiting their children from using technology that allows internet access, but today we live in a society where this content is available through peers, schools and by other means.

Media is inescapable. If you can’t keep your children away from the content on the internet, it is important to educate them on how it should be used. The internet is a powerful tool that can potentially destroy reputations and portray false identities. We are in an age where it has become necessary to engage in the media to stay in the “loop” and maintain social status. It can be addicting and it can be the source of anxieties that our past generations have never had to cope with. Anonymity gives us the power to share ideas that we would never speak of. Access to new technology has opened up many opportunities to interact with each other in new ways that were never before possible. We have allowed others access to personal  aspects of our lives that could lead to threat or danger of our self-esteem and safety. It is important to be aware of how internet and technology imposes on our lives and be aware of who we truly are in the absence of the media.

A Muslim graduate student came into our class this week and discussed her Islamic faith, beliefs and practices. Many Americans have misconceptions of Islam and associate it with terrorism or violence, which is far from the reality of the religion. Islam is actually a very peaceful religion that does not impose on the people who choose not to practice it. Much of these misconceptions come from the media coverage by most news outlets. Whenever you turn on your television, ISIS is often being covered for its recent acts of terrorism or threats. ISIS is in no way affiliated with true Islamic beliefs. It is very important that people take the time to do their research and hear firsthand experiences from those who practice Islamic faith rather than maintaining ignorance and believing the negative connotation delivered by the media.

The religion has restrictions and I find it interesting that some people who identify as Muslim do not follow all the rules taught by the Quran or that they practice through their own personal interpretations. Some Muslims strictly follow the text and others loosely base their beliefs from it. Some women cover themselves, while others choose not to or believe they do not have to. Some Muslims drink and some choose not to participate in a lifestyle that includes alcohol consumption. There is a vast range and diversity of people who follow Islam, yet much of the public tends to have one sole image or idea of how they believe these people to be.

It is a shame how uncomfortable and self-righteous people become when they are exposed to unfamiliar experiences. This is especially true when the differences can be visibly seen, such as involving a way of dressing. Because our women expose skin, many automatically assume that some middle-eastern women are oppressed when in reality they most likely have no desire to express themselves in a revealing manner. If a Muslim is praying in public and doing one of their five daily prayers out in open view, some may become suspicious of their intentions and are fearful because they are not knowledgeable of their rituals of faith. It is easy to reject a less dominant culture or group of people and nurture a stigma surrounding beliefs other than our own. It is s simple to think that our perspectives and practices are superior to those that are less common or controversial.

I find it funny how Middle Eastern music does not promote sexual profanity or obscene lyricism, yet in America, our music industry thrives off of these aspects. Artists like Lupe Fiasco, who is Muslim, have peaceful, thoughtful messages in their music. If anything, American music and American culture is the one that feeds hate, objectification and harmful themes to its people. We have to stay educated and gain a new perception of where we stand in regards to others. We have to question what we know and understand why we feel particular ways to certain human groups to make sure our viewpoints were not force fed to us by popular belief.

On Saturday April 2, my friend Antonella and I attended Penn State’s 12th annual “New Faces of an Ancient People Traditional American Indian Powwow” from 6-9 p.m at Mount Nittany Middle School. The celebration featured American Indian drum music and songs, Native American dance, Native American foods, and several American Indian vendors. The participants as well as the audience members were of various ages, ranging from infants to elderly adults.

The powwow was a very high-spirited and enjoyable event. It was a very humbling experience to watch others be passionate and celebrate their own culture regardless of my limited foundation of knowledge of American Indian heritage. The dress attires were vibrantly colored, detailed and beautifully constructed. Much of the dressing embodied symbolic material and signs. I had asked a young girl what the wheel on her dress was symbolic of and she told me it was the “Medicene Wheel”. In Native American culture it is significant to healing. It represents the Four Directions, Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Tree. These aspects symbolize dimensions of health and the cycles of life.

The theme of “healing” was very prominent throughout the celebration. A woman who spoke had described the drums and dancing rituals as an aid in healing. She said to leave the weather behind and be present. Another man who commentated most of the show said “bad” was non-existent and that he was always happy because he made the conscious choice to do so. He said how simple it was to speak with your mind and how special it was to speak through your heart. I was astounded by the mentality that this group of people shared and became inspired. They stressed the importance of unity and how together we are one people.

Two women sat in front of Antonella and I. One of the women was local and had some Native American heritage, while her friend actually lived on a reservation in Wisconsin. The local woman asked me if I would go up to dance on the floor with her and of course I complied. It was an opportunity to be further consumed in the tradition. While we were in the middle of the gym, the other Native American woman talked to Antonella. Antonella is Peruvian, but the woman commented that she had features very similar to the native people. She explained Peruvians had ties with her tribe and they conversed for awhile. The woman gave Ant a blessing.

There was a hand drum competition in which the men played the drum while chanting American Indian song. Their voices aided by the drums were compelling. The styles among the mens’ performances were similar, but still each unique and personal.  I wish I had more knowledge on the meaning behind these songs and some translation, but the presence of emotion each man had was strong and engaging.

I really enjoyed the time I spent at the powwow. I was floored by the energy all the dancers had as if they were untouchable. Within this time period, nothing else mattered. Worries were put aside to celebrate this tradition. I have utmost respect for American Indian culture, the way they value the earth, people and their customs. It is a very sad history that these people have endured and the reality of reservations today are heartbreaking, but during the ceremony everyone carried a positive attitude. I am grateful that they are willing to open up and share their way of life with people like myself and I am thankful for my experience.

Kim Kardashian posted a nude selfie to social media and received great backlash from the public. As a grown woman, I believe Kim Kardashian capable of making her own decisions in regards to how she wishes to present herself and her body. As far as having a responsibility due to her massive social media platform, I do not think that she has an obligation to set a “positive” example in the eyes of the public.

It would be the right thing to do, as a celebrity, to take advantage of having a mass following (especially young females) and draw focus to important matters instead of putting strain on the importance of physical appearance. With millions of followers, public figures have the power to make a profound impression on the youth, but instead use their status to promote their self-image and brand. Today, social media is an aid in success to draw attention and gain popularity. In the end, it is all about making a profit.

Kim Kardashian is not a humanitarian or a human rights activist. She gained her following as a reality TV star. We, the public, are the ones who have made her. We are her platform and we provide the attention that she feeds on. To her, the reaction of the people may not affect her, but just the fact that people are watching drives her. The Kardashians thrive off of attention, positive or negative. Controversy is initiated to stay relevant. In the end, the public is the one who have put her in the position of influence she holds and then we complain about her.

On another note, if a male public figure were to post such content, he would not receive the scrutiny that a woman like Kim Kardashian has received for her nude selfie (which technically was not even fully nudity).  Slut-shaming is real, and in a way I do respect Kim Kardashian for continually acting out in a way that draws slut-shamers because she is not allowing critics to dictate her choices pertaining to her body. It is vital to not conform to ideals of hatred or shaming and change who you are.

In the end the issue is not with nudity, but with our society’s obsession with the over sexualization of the female body. Not all female nudity is forced or provocative, but natural. We as a society have this problem with breast feeding. We shame women for their bodily functions because of our condemning, over sexualized society and media that objectifies their bodies. Men can roam around shirtless without a second glance, but god forbid the outline of my nipple is poking through my shirt. Why are you so offended by my anatomy?