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?

Today’s music industry in America has come a long way from its original roots. With the popularity of rap music on the rise, we have new voices and new sounds that we have become accustomed to in our society. While some claim to listen to music only for the rhythm and beats, does it matter what the words to those beats are proclaiming? The content of music today is obscene and considerably audibly graphic, but it seems that we rarely discuss the message of the music.

In hip hop music, the lyrics are often degrading toward women. Females are often referred to as “bitches”, “sluts”, “hoes” and several other dehumanizing ways. It is crazy how this has become the norm and how desensitized we have become to the language used in music that we lack awareness on how it may be affecting our perception. Who are we as a society if the themes in an industry with substantial influence revolve around degrading, objectification and hatred toward others? Do we even hear it?

There is also a sense of strong masculinity in hip hop music. There is a feel that men in the industry are expected to be tough, have wealth, power and women surrounding them. Men are targeted for being weak and called terms that are often used to describe women as if being a woman was not something you wanted to be. The hatred toward those who identify as homosexual is prominent in the rap industry. It seems that from what is being said, being a straight male is the only respectable status to have in America according to this music.

Themes of violence, drug use and sexually explicit content is also voiced through the lyrics of hip hop. Young kids may hear these references and think it’s “cool” to participate in destructive or harmful activities that they believe their idols are engaging in. Hip hop promotes a hazardous, unrealistic lifestyle if you take what is being said seriously. There are references to murder, overdosing and sexual assault, yet we sing along because the beat is “catchy”.

A lot of the class believed that the lyricism in popular hip hop or rap music did not affect them or have influence on their lifestyle. You can listen to hateful messages yet not be a hateful person or to coincide with the theme of the material. I think that this is true, but I also think it says something about us a society that we do not care about what is being said. The music may also be affecting us in ways we are not even conscious of. It challenges our morality and our values. We have become numb to offensive content and what is being said that a line becomes blurred of what is acceptable and what we can get away with saying.

I

On March 23, Penn State held its semiannual Pride Rally on the steps of Old Main in recognition of the LGBTQ student community. Students, faculty, local high school students, and community members all gathered together to support individuals who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Student speakers stood up at the top of the steps to share their stories and experiences of being LGBTQ throughout high school and how their support system was altered after arriving at Penn State. They praised the school’s acceptance and resources for LGBTQ individuals and how their lives were changed after being exposed to the sense of unity that the school offered. Many shared what “pride” meant to them and what the significance of having events such as the rally was in being proud and unashamed of who you are.

Some of the student speakers shared their coming out stories to the crowd, each being unique to the person. The support they received from their family and friends ranged from quite accepting to being kicked out and surviving homelessness. They discussed the harassment they faced in high school and the social alienation they have experienced throughout life. Most of them described their challenges easing once they come to Penn State where there was a large population of LGBTQ students. One of the speakers stated that approximately 16% of the students here were queer, which is an absolutely substantial amount, considering only about 4% of the American population is LGBTQ. A student who was thrown out into the streets after revealing their sexuality to their parents said that it was okay because they had made new family here at Penn State. This same individual was given an award at the rally for their significant contributions to the State College community. It was interesting because I had also talked to this person after the rally and they had said that they use the pronouns, “They, them, and their”. Personally, I think gender fluidity is awesome and I really respect that, but I feel that it can be very easy to offend someone if you lack awareness. It is always important to be cautious and try to have an understanding.

At the event, a man named Shane Bitney Crone got up and spoke. He starred in the documentary “Bridegroom” directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that had won several awards including the best documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013. He briefly described to us his story which was the feature the documentary being shown on campus later that night.  He shared how he had been in a very committed relationship to a man named Tom Bridegroom until he tragically passed away in 2011, before gay marriage was legal. Crone had been denied access to his partner by the hospital and Bridegroom’s homophobic family would not allow him to attend the funeral. There was nothing that he could do due to his absent legal rights. Although it had been a devastating experience, Shane Bitney Crone said he had no hate or anger towards the family. He had received an overwhelming amount of support from people such as Neil Patrick Harris, George Takei, President Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey- who debuted the documentary on her OWN channel. Crone had received messages from thousands of people who said that he gave them inspiration and hope for the future. Overall, it is imperative that LGBTQ have all of the same, equal rights as all citizens in America. While gay marriage is now legal, discrimination is still existent.

The energy at this rally was high-spirited and positive. This event allowed the students who are out and open to be prideful of who they are, but also allowed other students who are not out and open to know that it’s okay. For those in attendance who do not identify with LGBTQ and could not directly relate, it was eye-opening and an opportunity to be compassionate toward those who struggle with the response to their sexuality. There was a great flow of diversity and representation from all people of the spectrum. We had the chance to listen from not only gay individuals, but also transgender and asexual people who are sometimes less acknowledged by the public. The message of “pride” meant being whole-heartedly who you are regardless of what others may say and feel. There are always people out there who will love and accept you the way you are.  You are not alone.

The way men and women are portrayed in the media and especially in popular hip hop music videos are slightly different. Our conceptions of the roles of males and females are conceived largely through images and ideas that we consciously or unconsciously gather from the media. Women are often treated as objects to the man’s desires and simply a prop used in popular music videos. In Nelly’s music video for “Tip Drill”, Nelly lingers around women in skimpy bikinis and slides a credit card down the butt crack of one of the women on set, a prime example of the objectification present in the industry.

Beautiful, skinny, large breasts, and a big booty are all common traits of women cast to be in music videos. These females are often depicted to being hanging around popular musicians to their pleasure and to the appeal of the audience viewer. While the male artist is usually fully dressed, the woman is often wearing tight, revealing outfits that leave little to the imagination. The women in these videos appear content, but we do not know the true insight on their thoughts or feelings of how they are being portrayed without the influence of a paycheck.

Men in the spotlight are often represented in terms of high masculinity. Large muscles, stern expressions and positions of power are common traits of men in the industry. Men are portrayed as strong, independent and as the “boss”. It seems that the standards for males to fit in with society’s idea of “masculinity” have increased. In order to be respected, you are told to show little emotion and that you must dominate over your surroundings. Acquiring women and groupies seem to make you “the man” as if females were assets or accessories to the male image.

The media gives us an idea of what it is to be masculine and what it is to feminine. Femininity is often viewed as a weakness. Men with feminine traits are often ridiculed or not taken seriously by their male peers. Part of masculinity includes always proving your strength and power. Very little, women are the ones depicted in the position of power and domination. It is possible that this is because women are very rarely represented through positive, respectable images.

On Monday, February 22 award-winning, transgender writer and public health consultant Willy Wilkinson gave a speech in the Hub on behalf of the LGBTQA Student Resource Center. Wilkinson specializes in transgender issues and is trained in consulting community health organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to provide equal access for the LGBT community. He is experienced in working with communities of color, substance users, sex workers, youth, and disable individuals. Willy Wilkinson promoted his recent book Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: Viewing Trans Justice with an Intersectional Lens, in which he writes about his experiences of being a biracial, trans male and the inequality present in society.

Wilkinson not only discussed his personal experience, but took an educator role as he gave his lecture. He was very interactive with the audience, asking if anyone could define “Intersectionality”, which he described is the overlapping of social identities such as race, gender, and class, and how they create systems of discrimination or disadvantage. He not only talked about his experience as a trans male, but also his experience of being an Asian American man. Willy Wilkinson read an excerpt of his book about “monoracial bonding”. The story was about an encounter he had with an Asian woman in a grocery line who made a remark about his mixed daughter having white physical traits just as her own daughter had, but the woman suggested the presence of these features was negative. He went on to say that this woman was trying to bond with him over their shared Asian heritage as if it were superior, with the woman assuming he was fully of Asian descent.

Willy Wilkinson also went into the reality of inequality in society for those who are transgender. He talked about the employment, housing, and healthcare discrimination of transgender people who are trying to obtain such services. This discrimination is illegal, but something that is still occurring on a daily basis. Wilkinson went on to say that some trans people are denied coverage for medical complications, even when they are not related to transition health care claims. This is outrageous because these people are being denied of basic human rights and services that should be provided under any circumstance to any individual. For a transgender individual, their gender orientation almost becomes crippling to their survival as it affects multiple dimensions of their life.

He had talked about the police harassment that transgender individuals face. He mentioned a trans woman named Monica Jones, who was taken into custody after being assumed to be a prostitute. This treatment is disgraceful as transgender people are left nearly defenseless under the abuse of power. It is an injustice that not many do not seem to stand up for or fight to be solved. In addition to police enforcement, housing in prisons is also a concerning issue. Many prisons house inmates based on their sex at birth, which can be degrading, cruel punishment, and violent if a transgender person is not placed within their identity.

Much of this discrimination causes trauma among transgender populations. Suicide is a huge problem among the transgender community. Willy Wilkinson shared that 41% of transgender people have attempted suicide, which is nine times more likely than the general population. There is great suffering that comes with the disapproval of being someone you truly want to be. Depriving someone of the acceptance to be the person they are at heart can cause shame, self-hate, and depression. It is heartbreaking to think that trans people feel that life is so unbearable because us as a society have created a hateful environment and dehumanize others who don’t fit with our perception of “normal”.

Wilkinson discussed the “cis” gender label. Which is given to the category that we describe as “normal” or the majority of the population. Using this label is proper and does not give privilege to those who fit with the majority’s standards or traits. If we compared gay people to someone who is strait and described the one person “gay” and the other “normal”, this is flawed. It is important to not identify the traits of the majority as being superior to aspects of people that are less prevalent.

I learned a lot about the injustice and discrimination of transgender people from Willy Wilkinson’s lecture that I had not been aware of before. He was a very engaging, intelligent speaker. I had not personally heard stories directly from a trans individual before. Transgender people are such a small portion of the U.S. population, but it does not make them any less deserving of protection in every form. I am blessed that it is fairly easy to be who I am in this world, but am so uncomfortable that this same world makes life so intolerable for many others who do not fit a certain mold. While we are making progression as a society, it still is not a safe place for people who are transgender and that is absolutely unacceptable. Everyone has a place and deserves the equal opportunity of pursuing the life that they want to as who they are, comfortably.

Who is the target audience for the show?

Gameface is a documentary focused on LGBT athletes and their acceptance in society, but also the daily struggles they face of being an “outcast” compared to the social norm. Although a film revolving around sports, I feel the target audience was everyone and the purpose of the film is to educate those on the topic of being transgender or homosexual in the heterosexual dominant field of athletics. I believe it was eye-opening to the discrimination and backlash that those who identify as LGBT face while trying to pursue their passions.

In Jane the Virgin, I also do not believe there was a specific target audience. If anything, I think this show would be more targeted to females because the main character was a female dealing with relationships and pregnancy. Some women may find the situations that Jane encountered relatable. There were many references and depictions of Latin culture, but I felt as if the show could appeal to anyone. It was entertaining and contained an enjoyable story line, although it may have been unlikely and not very realistic.

What stereotypes (if any) did you find in the show/characters/theme? What harmful stereotypes did you find (if any)?

I feel that Gameface did not embody any stereotypes because it was a true following of two people in the LGBT community and unique to their experiences. It did show how some male athletes were uncomfortable with their peers being homosexual in the locker room, as if they were sexually deviant individuals, which is unfair and not true. I think it comes down to those irked people being uncomfortable with their own sexuality.

Jane the Virgin portrayed virginity as being “pure” as it is commonly associated with. The show used a symbolic white flower to show virginity and it died away as Jane approached adulthood. The show also portrayed homosexuality, specifically lesbians. I think the depiction of lesbians in the show was very inaccurate. These women were portrayed as very feminine and sexual, sleeping with both men and women, and cheating on everyone. This is a very damaging stereotype. It showed lesbians as also sexually deviant and manipulative.

Discuss the potrayals of any racial/ethnic/lgbt audiences in the sitccom. Where they realistic?

In Gameface it showed the public reaction to those who are transgender and gay in sports. Many were opposed to Fallon Fox competing with females and booed her every time she walked out into the ring. Terrence Clemens did not come out to the public until the end of his college career. This showed society’s discomfort with athletes having “unconventional” sexuality. It showed where we are as a society and the inequality that is existent in our world today.

In Jane the Virgin, there was much portrayal of Latin culture. I am not knowledgeable to know if this was accurate of this culture, but it did not seem to be threatening or misleading. As I previously stated, the portrayal of homosexual characters in this series was poor. The women were very one-dimensional while the diversity of real lesbian women is broad. It is important to portray the variety of traits of individuals in the LGBT because the majority of the public cannot relate the experiences of those in this limited community.

What did you like/dislike?

I really liked Gameface because in class we discussed the topic of Fallon Fox and whether it was fair for her to compete as a female MMA fighter. I did not know much about the topic previously, but they documented that she was licensed and approved by professionally to compete in her field. After following her story in the documentary, I felt as if I had a more personal perspective of her lifestyle and viewed her as nothing but a woman. I believe she deserves to compete as a female MMA fighter against other females.

I liked how Jane the Virgin had a strong female lead and that she was not a typical white girl with cliche problems as many American television series follow. I think the show included a strong, independent female theme and I think that is a critical message to young women.

What was missing?

In Gameface  I think they could have included race topics in addition to the focus of sexual orientation. Fallon Fox is not only trans, but a woman of color. She did not discuss once about her ethnicity or culture and the way it played into her life. Terrence Clemens was also black and they did not discuss any race topics associated with basketball or the relevance of race in the sport. I think he could have had a lot to say about his experience of being a black, homosexual male.

In Jane the Virgin I think they could have gone more in depth about the topic of her virginity and her choice to do so. I feel as if there are many stereotypes regarding “virginity” and I think the producers could have gone more in depth with this topic without creating the usual pure image.

How valuable do you think this show is for the target audience and the group represented in the sitcom?What evidence can you provide to show its value or lack of value. Give your overall opinion (grade) for the show/shows you watched. )

I think Gameface conveyed a very valuble message to viewers. I think it showed that regardless of their sexuality, Fallon Fox and Terrence Clemens were completely normal people. They had the same passions and ambitions, but faced discrimination based on solely one aspect of their lives. I think it is important for athletes to see this and to be open-minded about their teammates and competitors. Acceptance is key.

Jane the Virgin created a sense that women were in charge of their lives and their bodies. This is valuable information for young women. Jane made her own choices about what she wanted to do with her body, kept her job despite her boyfriend asking her to quit, and overall made the choices that would make her feel comfortable regardless of what others’ expected of her.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StHdZsBPw88&w=560&h=315]

Chris Rock hosted the Oscars this year. Rock had the responsibility of hosting an award show in which no black people in the industry would be recognized, so in his monologue he had to address the elephant in the room. As a comedian, he took the comic approach. It was appropriate because he made the issue funny without putting a damper on the mood, although the issue itself was not very funny.

He mentioned how back in the 1960’s there was probably discrimination of nominees, but black people were protesting bigger issues. The way he conveyed this joke incited laughter, but it is quite true. With inequality and social discrimination, racism in entertainment seems to be the last worry of people of color. This made a point, though. I think a lot of the focus was that there is discrimination in the entertainment industry, but this stems from discrimination in our entire society and not solely in Hollywood. There is a bigger problem.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnKs_dWcVuM&w=560&h=315]

This week I also saw a statement that Leonardo Dicaprio won in the Best Actor due to “white privilege”. To me, this sounded outlandish. I believe Leo was every bit deserving of his Oscar. He is a very talented, well-acclaimed actor who has had a history of outstanding performances that were every bit of deserving of an Oscar. I believe that there are some people who need to be learn to differentiate between someone associated with a white privileged system and their true accomplishments. Plus, he used his speech to address global issues and underprivileged individuals, specifically the indigenous.

On another note, in class we discussed Fallon Fox, transgendered MMA fighter. She is a male to female fighter who has matches with female athletes. Some speculate whether this is fair. Do they expect her to compete with male fighters? To me, that would be unfair and ridiculous. She is now, and identifies as a female. It is insulting to her as a human being.  But is it fair that she competes with females? She looks like any other female MMA fighter: a little masculine, muscular, and fit. I am not sure, but it seems correct. I think that is dependent on scientific evaluation, which I am not knowledgeable on.  Either way, she deserves a place to pursue her passion and talents. It is not fair to be treated like an alien for being who you are and doing what you love.

Sexual Orientation in the media has been a controversy starting in the 1950s-1960s. Topics such as pregnancy, contraception and other aspects were considered “too sensitive” so sexual orientation was  “too sensitive” as well. Before the 1970s, there was little to almost no information or mention of homosexuality in the media. In 1972 the first movie about homosexuality came out to the public.

The TV film “That Certain Summer” was able to be viewed. The two characters Martin Sheen and Hal Halbrook played love interests who had to hide their sexual orientation from their friends. Following “That Certain Summer”, in 1975 the first gay couple appeared in the TV Series “Hot I Baltimore”. “Hot I Baltimore” is about the bizarre happenings of the residents that live within the walls of the Hotel Baltimore. These residents of the hotel become like family with one another as well as the sexual orientation of George and Gordon as gay lovers.

Once the entertainment world saw there was a real audience for LGBT characters and themes, shows like “The L Word” and “Queer as Folk” showed up in the media. Following those, Friends was popular in the 1990s and allowed for LGBT to become present on there as well. Ross divorced his wife Carol because of her becoming a lesbian on the show. The controversy continued with the wedding scene between Carol and Susan.

Since the 1970s, we see more and more TV shows that continue with homosexuality being present. Major networks such as ABC, FOX, ABC Family and Netflix with shows such as Glee, Modern Family, Pretty Little Liars and Orange Is The New Black. These shows present every sexuality from homosexuality, bisexual to transexual with Caitlyn Jenner’s new show “Life as Cait”.

Representation of the LGBTQ community on television has increased according to GLAAD’s (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) most recent report “Where We Are on TV” which analyzes the overall diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and LGBTQ characters on cable networks for the 2015-2016 television season. About 4% of regular characters on broadcast television were identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The highest rates ever were during the 2012-2013 television season with 4.4% of characters. In exact numbers, this year there were 35 out of 881 primetime broadcast regular characters that were gay, lesbian, or bisexual and an additional 35 recurring LGB characters. In cable television, there was an increase from 64 to 84 LGB characters and also an increase in recurring characters from 41 to 58.

Although in the past year there has been an increase in representation on television for the LGBTQ community, the numbers are still on the low side. GLAAD also found through their study that there is a lack in racial diversity of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered characters. Of the LGBTQ characters portrayed on broadcast television, 69% were white, 19% black, 7% latino, and 6% asian. On cable and streaming platforms, the percentage of white characters representing the community were slightly higher between 71% and 72%. Overall 30% were portrayed as lesbians and 20%. From the GLAAD report, it can be concluded that a majority of this community’s representation is white male. This lack in diversity can be harmful to the public’s interpretation of the LGBTQ who use television to gain insight on the lifestyle and experiences of those in this particular community.

Proper representation of lesbian, gay, and bisexual is vital in the media because outsiders use media as a source of information in instances where they are not familiar with particular subject matters. It is estimated that about only 3.8% of Americans identify as LGBT. With a majority of the country identifying as heterosexual, it may be difficult for those to understand the lives and experiences of the individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. “Each of us lives at the intersection of many identities and it’s important that television characters reflect the full diversity of the LGBT community,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO & President of GLAAD. “It is not enough to just include LGBT characters; those characters need to be portrayed with thought and care to accurately represent an often tokenized community.” While we have made progress in the media with including the community more often in popular televised shows and series, the accuracy of these portrayals are even more important. Creators and producers must use caution in developing characters with these sexual orientations. They must be careful to not include harmful and outdated stereotypes that can jeopardize the reputation of those in the LGBTQ community. With latest shows, for example Orange is the New Black, audiences show interest in stories they are not often exposed to, but there are still many perspectives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals to be conveyed through television shows. It is important to show the multi-facets of the LGBTQ in the media after being scrutinized and misrepresented in the public eye for so long. Audiences learn much from the television that they watch, so it should be made a priority to makes all representations that of which align with reality.

Stereotypes restrict reality. A stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person and lgbt people have always been a victim of this act. A stereotype that we see a lot in the media about gay men is that they are overly feminine. This stereotype is shown in almost every television show or movie with a gay man in it. Along with this stereotype we often see gay men depicted as hairstylists or fashion designers. In most television shows and movies with a gay male character we only know that the character is gay by how they portray them with over exaggerated femininity, most of the time on television the gay male is never seen showing affection to another male and is usually not in a relationship with another male. An example of this stereotype can be found in the movie Mean Girls where Damian is the gay male character that is “too gay to function” as one of the other characters stated. Another example in television is the show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt where Tituss is the gay male character who is very feminine and fashionable. If we look to the media to tell us about gay men we would only get that they are feminine, soft and stylish. We wouldn’t even think about the only thing that actually makes them gay which is the fact that they like men.

Stereotypes about lesbians are just as bad if not worse. With lesbians there are different categories for different stereotypes. In some films and television shows we see a lesbian that we automatically know is a lesbian because of how manly she looks. Butch lesbians are always depicted as manly as they can get. They have short haircuts, tattoos, and is most likely driving a pick-up truck. It’s like in order to be a lesbian you have to be manly in some way. But what we mostly see in television are femme lesbians. Usually when there is a lesbian on a show or movie she has to be femme and she will most likely be in a relationship with another femme lesbian. A femme lesbian is a lesbian that usually wears make up, has long hair, and is the ideal lesbian for society’s standards. This way she can be lesbian but the men viewers can still have a crush on her. Another stereotypical thing that happens in television shows that has a lesbian character is that in some point of the show she sleeps with a man.

These stereotypes are troubling to lgbt acts and people because people that don’t actually know a gay person or has never been around one would think that all gay people are like how they are represented on television. It is important to keep in mind that gay people are not all the same, there are different types of people no matter what their sexual orientation is. No one likes to be stereotyped.

All together, Sexual Orientation on Television has made an impact in how we view a lot. Most of our world has come to the times where it is extremely uncommon for us to come to views with these things. We have made it a long way since the very beginning. We live in a society that makes changes as the time evolves. Our society likes acceptance more than the generations before us. We are coming more to terms with reality. As we continue to address issues like this in the media, television and other sources we will begin to see a change in the way people are viewed. Eventually a stereotype will hopefully stop being a judgement of a person.

It seems as if the portrayal of women in advertising and media has come a long way, but instead of progression, it seems that in society we have regressed into a false, objectifying visual representation of women. In the mid 1950’s the sexist depiction of women was obvious and upfront. Stereotypes and roles of women were instilled through obvious remarks in advertising, but presently we have transitioned into an unspoken, passive degradation of females. Sometimes we may not even be aware of the impact or the effect of what we are seeing.

We hear often that “sex sells”, but more specifically this profit is made off of female sexuality. The female body draws attention, pleases the eye, and makes products more alluring. At the same time, ironically the women used in the ad tend to be treated the same way a product would be- like an object. While companies and business make great money off of this technique, it often comes at a great cost to females. Standards are set for how women are supposed to look, most forms being unrealistic, unhealthy, and unobtainable. Fit, curvy, beautiful, and sexy. These are the traits that make a women “desirable”. But what about being intelligent, witty, empowering, and all the other factors that can make someone a desirable human being and not just an object to look at?

For being woman in the media, it seems the role is to look good, fulfill the needs of men, and be a sexual being. I am very for women expressing their sexuality and doing what they want, but by their own choice and not being put in the position to do so. There is nothing wrong to me with being a female while also being sexual and embracing your body, but as said in Dreamworlds 3, it becomes a problem when women are only represented as such. Women are depicted in one-dimension and our sense of reality of what being a woman is becomes warped. When casting for advertisements or music videos, producers seek beautiful, “perfect” girls to fill the position. The problem is that the majority of women in the world do not fit this idealistic standard. Even those women chosen do not even look like they appear thanks to makeup, airbrushing, and the use of advanced editing technology.

The message that the media conveys through these visuals and the representation of women is that our value falls into “looking good”. Not only that, but looking good for men. Men do experience the pressure to meet unrealistic physical standards as well, but often note as much and are often not objectified to the extent that women are. This trend will most likely continue as long as a profit is being made from it, or unless we somehow quickly evolve and change our ideals.

The documentary Miss Representation focused on the gender stereotypes of women portrayed in the media and the role that women play in society. Unfortunately it is a very sad position that women are in (especially for a black or minority woman) because women are objectified, degraded, and treated as less than the male counterparts. This idea and perception stems from how women are depicted in film, on television, on the internet, and any other form of media. We learn at a very young age that being a girl has a negative connotation. Girls are “weak and fragile” and not suitable to be leaders because they are not a “strong, dominant male”. It is disappointing because women are just as much capable to be successful in any position of power, but that opportunity is taken away before it is even offered. When in competition with a man, a woman most often does not stand a chance.

Another issue is that women are often competing with other women. Females are so quick to tear each other down and scrutinize each other most likely out of insecurity. Embracing and supporting each other as women is the first step in breaking gender stereotypes. If women cannot respect members of their own gender, how can we expect a male dominated culture to? Rejection and judgements add fuel to the fire that all women are getting burned in. We need more positive role models, and we need to be positive role models ourselves for our peers and the younger people in our lives. We need to be a representation of reality because from a very young age this warped ideology of women being inferior is pumped through children’s brains.

It is saddening how much a women can achieve in her lifetime, but we are often blinded to her accomplishments because we are busy analyzing and talking about her appearance. A man in any position is not judged based on his looks but how he carries himself. The public bases the value of a woman on her attractiveness. In the media, they don’t talk about a woman’s success, but what she is wearing, her hairstyle, or how young she looks. To sum it up: women are generally not taken seriously.

It was appalling the amount of women who have served in congress in comparison to the thousands of men. Even worse, women are often discouraged from running for leadership positions. It is hard to imagine a change in the representation of women when mostly all males are representing us in politics and in charge of the way women are represented in media. It comes back down to supporting one another as human beings, especially female to female. Women need to feel empowered and know that they are capable of doing the things they are often told not to and define their own value as a human being.

This week we talked about culture appropriation vs appreciation. It’s difficult because the line is blurred when it comes to this topic because it can be opinion based and obviously there can be a really unpopular opinion of someone’s actions. I think it comes down to intentions and being educated. I think if you really like an aspect of a culture, you should be able to in some form celebrate it if you know the meaning behind it. You need to be respectful and in no way endorse stereotypes because that is when “appreciation” becomes damaging and offensive. The more I think about it, the situations become more subjective. It really depends on the matter and how it is carried out by the person engaging in a cultural crossover. It can be a very touchy subject for some people, which I can understand. Especially when culture is being used for fashion and becomes misinterpreted or discredited.

Another topic we talked about was stereotypes if women in TV and Film. People in the class got heated over the show “Gossip Girl” and how one of the female characters was in a relationship and perceived as a prude or needy. While the other female character in the show participated in the hook-up culture and was viewed as more independent, but a slut. It’s amazing because when it comes to males and their romantic or sexual relationships, they are very rarely labeled. If a woman decides not to engage in hooking up, they are seen as virtuous, “good”, and inexperienced. Whereas if a girl goes out and hooks up with several guys, she appears as dirty, a “whore”, or less valued.

In my personal experience, I have seen this happen. I had once been hooking up with a guy and he asked me while how many guys I had been with. I was slightly appalled at this. It was as if my value or the amount of respect this kid had for me was going to be based off of the number of guys I had engaged in sexual relations. I think it is truly something that doesn’t matter because it doesn’t change the person that I am based on the amount of people I have physically touched. I think it’s different if you engage in hurtful activities, are toying with peoples’ emotions, or have bad intentions, but otherwise it shouldn’t matter. It’s part of a person’s past and it can’t be undone even if they have changed their ways. So why base the value or respect you have for someone based on something that is considerably none of your business?

I am very against the double-standard that exists between men and women. It is very unfortunate that women are objectified in the media and given unrealistic expectations that society wants them to meet. Men may experience this, but definitely not on the same level that females do. It causes a lot of anxiety, depression, and awful feelings for young women because the media creates and ideal of how they should look, act, and be. There needs to be more role models and celebrities that appeal to the majority of “normal” girls, who we can look at and say, “She looks like me”, a thought many women never encounter when engaging in the media.

On Wednesday Feb. 20, 2016 Dr. Marc Lamont Hill gave a lecture in Alumni Hall as a part of the SPA Distinguished Speaker Series. Hill is currently a host of HuffPost Live, BET news, and a political contributor for CNN. In addition he is an award winning journalist, a previous professor of African American Studies, and a social justice activist. A Philadelphia native, Marc Lamont Hill focuses on topics such as race issues, drug reform, imprisonment, and legal rights. He is a published author of several works, and really, the list of his accomplishments could go on and on. In his presence, his intelligence and success was very prominent in the words he so powerfully spoke.

Hill discussed many issues in our society. The common theme was the corruption that thrived in our country today. He strained the past we should not forget pertaining to racial injustice, sexism, and other forms of inequality. He suggested that we should not wallow in the past, but that we mustn’t forget a past that we so “conveniently” don’t want to remember. Marc Lamont Hill stressed how we have come far from a dark history, but it is not enough. We are not there yet and we can do better to fix racial injustice. He suggested that we need to start asking the right questions and gain a new insight, that students weren’t “drop-outs”, but “push-outs” due to the lack of proper resources. He stated how theoretically “driving while black” is a crime, but also we can look at it as “patrolling while racist”. Hill said how drug addiction wasn’t a crime, but a health disorder. These were just only a few examples that I can think of.

Marc Lamont Hill discussed sectionalism, in addition to race, there is also gender, class, sex, and anything that divides us humanly. He pressed the idea that these aspects did not stand alone, but when analyzing an individual, each characteristic must be taken into account. He talked about how some people side solely with the injustice in one section but wont jump in the defense of another, which was an interesting outlook. An example being how a black man may fight for racial inequality, yet becomes silent when it comes to women’s rights. Also, how having a cause and standing up for something can make you feel very alone and be painful, but signify you are doing the right thing mostly likely when the majority is not standing behind you. That one day, the people who never supported you may come to celebrate your victories, but that it’s okay because it was for the well-being of everyone. Any movement is to better us all as a whole and not just for ourselves. We are a family.

I was very inspired by Marc Lamont’s speech. I had chills at points during his lecture. He is an extremely intelligent and passionate man who had so much to convey in only a short span of time. As a white female, a majority of the audience were people of color. I felt much of his lecture was directed to those people, but it was not subjective and I didn’t feel out of place. At one point he had everyone stand up and sing the Black National Anthem. If we didn’t know the words, he gave us a moment to look it up on our cell phones. Out of my ignorance, I had no idea there was a Black National Anthem, but it was very beautiful and moving. Being within that audience, I could see how many people agreed with him and could relate to the struggles of being a minority in America. In this, I felt my privilege and the guilt that comes along with that. Another message he had was that too many people do not do anything and we have to start getting involved. Hill told us we did not have to start an organization or a movement, but to join and be a part of one. This definitely made me question myself and analyze my choices. I want to do better and support a cause, not only to bring purpose to myself, but to help others so that we can be unified. It sounds cliche, but we are no better than people who don’t care if we don’t do anything to make a change.

Individuality is stripped when we use stereotypes. We are also falsely categorized into groups that seem “fitting” just because we have a few certain, common traits. Media one of the largest contributors to stereotypes and creating these images in our head of what people are. These images are simplification of cultures, lifestyles, and human beings. What we see in the media is often false representations of individuals and human groups. We apply this information and this “false image” to people we see in real life. Humans are lazy and so quick to throw someone into a category because we are so uncomfortable when we cannot find a fitting label for someone. People have to have the satisfaction of defining everything and we fear when we cannot.

Labels are very threatening because we have preconceived notions of how we should feel about certain groups fitting under that label. It is damaging to integrity and society. We have false expectations of others when stereotypes are applied and we become so ignorant. I wish we could just be. I am me and you are you. If we want to be defined, we should be the person to make the choice of who we want to be. I wish we didn’t belittle one another by seeing each other as mere categories.

Privilege comes with stereotyping. The”What Would You Do?” bike video demonstrated this very well. The black man stealing the bike got way more negative attention than the white man or the blonde woman. People saw this black man and automatically thought he was up to no good because maybe they saw him as a “thug” or a “criminal” just based off of the color of his skin. The white man got less attention and people even helped the female steal the bike because they saw her as a “damsel in distress”. These labels change how we react to everything and create great biases. It is amazing how much treatment varies based on solely looks and how we are unconsciously associating people unfairly with different traits. We think we know people whom we have never even spoke a word to. How silly.

It’s funny because when I tell people my last name is Russian, they think “Oh you like to drink” or “You must love vodka”.  I have heard people say “I didn’t expect you to be nice because you’re pretty” and “You hang out with a lot of guys, you must be a slut”, etc. I think everyone experiences stereotyping a little bit everyday because we are constantly being judged everyday. I suppose it is a part of human nature. Our minds are doing the work before we even realize it. It is just important to tuck those thoughts away, tell your mind to shut up, and give everyone the same chance to show who they are.

The recent film Brooklyn portrays a young Irish woman named Eilis in the 1950’s who immigrates to America in efforts to seek a better future for herself. Her older sister arranges her travels with the assistance of their former priest, who now resides in Brooklyn, New York. At this time, Brooklyn was home to many Irish immigrants. The priest, Father Flood, makes the arrangements for her job, residence, and enrollment in bookkeeping courses. Eilis works in a department store and lives in an Irish boarding house among a few other young women under one motherly landlady. Soon enough, she meets an Italian young man, sparks a romance, and marries him unbeknownst to her family back home. She meets conflict upon returning to her home country after her sister’s death when facing the decision to stay or return to America. The movie displays an emotional journey of regret, struggle, joy, and romance.

The idea of immigration has transformed quite a bit over the past 60 years. Back in the day, we may have had an existing image of Europeans traveling days overseas to begin new life in America and aspiring to achieve the American dream like the main character, Eilis. Today, we may have an image of Spanish people illegally crossing the border or Middle Eastern refugees escaping a war ridden country to retreat to safety. Some may leave their homes in order to support their families, while others to personally begin new life. In this film, Eilis is very fortunate to have had a job and shelter prearranged upon her arrival. Many immigrants do not have that privilege and arrive with nothing and no connections in the country in which they are fleeing to. They must fend for themselves.

Immigration was once a reality in every individual’s history. Whether we have to trace far back in our ancestry, or we are presently not American natives ourselves, immigration is a common link between every person residing in America today. Our ancestors struggled as well as Eilis did with finding new independence, coping with extreme homesickness, doubts, and at times, hopelessness. Despite the struggles and the difficulty to adjust, there is also hope, excitement, and breath of freedom.  The film portrays strong Irish heritage and portions of Italian culture that existed in Brooklyn, New York during this time period, which accepted many immigrants. The story of Eilish meeting her Italian love interest in the United States may be the same story among our great grandparents.  The film displayed strong Irish heritage and bits of Italian culture that thrived in Brooklyn at this time.

This movie made me reflect on my own heritage and the lives of my great grandparents who immigrated to America from European countries. I never knew them or know much about their experience, but I had never wondered what it was like for them to leave everything behind and begin our family here in the United States. My grandmother’s family was Italian, so I could relate to the strong Italian culture presented through Tony’s family in the film with the loud talkers, big Italian feasts, and bold familial relationships. If the family I have known in my lifetime have cultural similarities to the characters, I could only imagine how strong the presence of individual culture had been back in the day in America in that time period. It’s amazing how much more hesitant our country has become with accepting immigrants into our society as if we have forgotten where we came from.

Beyoncé, a pop culture icon, has great influence over the media and millions of fans all over the world. Her image is that of what many consider the “ideal woman”. She is beautiful, curvy, fit, light skinned for a black woman, talented, charitable, etc. Being a powerful female public figure, though, does this send a bad image to those who follow her? Is she complying to high,  unobtainable standards that fit a desired mold in society? Is she really a feminist  as she claims to be? It’s debatable among many people.

I think a woman such as Beyoncé is empowering. She exudes confidence. I think she inspires young women to obtain that same pride without sending the message that you have to “look like this”, but just love yourself. It can  be argued that she is sexualizing herself, and that she shouldn’t, but where does it put us if we tell a grown woman she shouldn’t look or act a certain way? Bell Hooks believes her to be a “terrorist on feminism” or “anti-feminist”, but I think that implies a certain conservatism that women should embody, where as women should be free to make the choices they want to with their body.

I think Beyoncé breaks the double-standard. With her dress attire, her raunchy lyrics, and her lifestyle. Women are often told they can’t be “sexual”, where as men drop rap songs all about sex and objectifying women. That’s the “norm”, but god forbid a woman does it. A woman shouldn’t be shamed if they want to do the same and make money off it. I think she redefines gender roles. She has a family, she works hard, and she’s a boss. She has her own style and doesn’t seem to shame other women who contrast.

I believe that supporting other females’ decisions is an important part of being a feminist. If we are criticizing a woman’s attitude or choices, that puts us two steps back in the wrong direction. Unless somebody is being outright sexist or degrading others, I don’t find anyone in the place to make judgments or call for action against somebody. A man can do only so many things wrong and get criticized for it, where the list for a woman is endless. Everyone is entitled to their own freedom of expression.

We also have to keep in mind she is an adult. Maybe some young girls can get the wrong idea of how to look or how to act, but I’m not sure how much that is imposed compared to maybe someone age-relatable, maybe like Kylie Jenner. Even then, maybe that is not the problem. Maybe we should give young kids courses in media literacy to train how they interpret these messages and figures. We shouldn’t have to change people because others interpret them negatively.

I don’t watch TV anymore. It’s so strange because everyone is always talking about the particular shows they watch and keep up with, but I don’t spend my time doing that. I used to watch TV to fill time before college,  but I don’t do it anymore because there’s not much time to, or I prefer to waste my free time in other ways. I didn’t make this choice consciously, it just happened that way and I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. If I need news or information, I can just get all of that from online. I don’t find any benefit from watching TV shows. I feel like it’s an influence that anyone can live without. All TV shows have themes or ideas that can be imposed on the viewers and a lot of people sit in front of the screen binge watching episode after episode without wondering about the effect it may be having on them.  There can also be a lot of misrepresentation of people and ideals in popular television shows that construct a false reality. I feel content knowing my thoughts or ideas recently are not from anything I’ve seen or watched before, but from my own head.

I can say, though, I will watch movies. I love movies. It’s a good thing to enjoy now and then. I like a lot of genres and really enjoy obscure, indie films. I can’t remember every movie I’ve seen in the last three months but I recently saw ‘Brooklyn’, ‘I Am Sam’, ‘Gods and Monsters’, ‘A Beautiful Mind’, and ‘Secret Garden’. They are all very random, some older, movies. My roommate and I like to find random, critically acclaimed movies to watch on occasion. I enjoy seeing if they match up to their hype.

The music I listen to, also very random. Artists that I constantly listen to are The Weeknd, G-Eazy, Ellie Goulding, Pvris, State Champs, Hozier, and JBiebs (who doesn’t). I don’t have a particular taste, if you know those artists, it’s a pretty vast range and very different styles. I’m open to giving anything a chance regardless of genre or how old it is.

When it comes to looking for news, I don’t go to a particular station or site. I’ll check out ABC, NBC, CNN, and FOX. I often look at multiple news sources. They all have their own biases and it’s a good idea to read a little from everything to achieve more of a well-rounded perception of what’s happening in the world.

SOCIAL MEDIA. I’m all over it, unfortunately. It’s addictive and a huge waste of time. It causes people to be so insecure and base their validation on who gives them attention. It creates so much unnecessary anxiety in the generation. There’s something seriously fucked up about it, but you can catch me on insta, twitter, snapchat, facebook, etc. I follow the basic “popular” celebrities on them. You know, the Kardashians, Hadids, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and most people who are relevant. Also young, beautiful females who set impossible beauty standards and make you feel bad about yourself, but you can’t stop looking. It keeps you in the loop and probably knowing too much.

Since I don’t watch much TV, I don’t recall too many recent commercials. The last advertisement I saw was actually in Ad Club. It was an ad that was for hamburgers, but it was mocking the Dove ‘Real Beauty Campaign’ that targeted young girls with their slogan “Like a Girl”. The message from Dove was meant to empower young girls and females, but this burger commercial was just a mockery to make “Burgers Great Again”. I forget the company, but it appeared to not take Dove’s attempt to empower young girls too seriously. Afterall, it is accused of being a ploy for profit as they are a brand of Unilever’s- which owns Axe body spray, known for sexualizing females in their ads.