business post week 4

When I was reading chapter 8 in the book I was at the part where Julia T Woods was discussing pressures to comform to femininity with girls in school. I was also thinking about typical gender stuff like how girls wear pink and wear "girly" form fitting clothes typically, and baggy dark colored clothes are typically reserved for males. I work in a public school in Kensington (philly) and I was thinking about how the kids that I see at work every day do not really fit into the typical stereotypes of gender. Now I just want to put it out here right now that I am in no means insulting anyone or being judgemental, these are just observations I have noticed. The neighborhood is a very poverty stricken area, and it is also a"rough" place to live. I think that these aspects definitely reflect on these children and their personalities, because most of them definitely do not fit into the typical gender stereotypes. The females mostly wear big baggy pants and t shirts that are usually boys clothes. I know for a fact that this happens because they get hand me downs from older siblings or adults in the family. If you cannot afford to go out and buy all of your children clothes that are the right size for them, then you give them what you have available, even if it is too big or clothes meant for the opposite gender. The girls also do not usually act what you would consider to be "ladylike". They act tough and have mouthy attitudes and are loud and outspoken. If you even look at one of them the wrong way then forget it..you will definitely pay for it. Most say that "ladylike" females do not raise their voices or their hands to you. These girls will engage in a fist fight without even thinking twice about it. They will hit you, whether you are male or female, with no fear. If you ask me, this is learned behavior from their environment. "Children and adolescents generally do what is necessary to gain the approval and acceptance of their peers". (p. 199) There are a few exceptions of females that do wear girly type clothes and are less rough around the edges. Some have very pretty hair do's and are more dainty. They keep to themselves and will walk away from a fight instead of starting one. Since these girls do not fit in with most of the other girls they often get bullied, attacked, and harassed for being prisses and not being girls that can hold their on in the streets. I personally think that some of them are jealous of the pretty hair and nice clothes so they bully the girls because they can't match up to them. On page 198 Julia Woods says "girls often make fun of or bully girls who don't wear popular brands of clothing or who weigh more than what is considered idea". In this instance she is wrong because what actually happens is the total opposite of what she says. Girls that do wear popular clothing and are smaller and thinner are the ones who have hell to pay for it, because they are fewer and farther in between than the other girls. I think that she wrote the book based on her own experiences and what she has personally seen and learned, but she is not always accurate for every single person or location in the world. I think cultures and areas play a big role in how people's personalities and looks are formed as well. Where you are from or what is available to you also plays a big role as well. People are products of their own environments, so it is not safe to assume that all females and males act the same. We all grew up in different ways and in different types of locations. Everyone has their own different childhood and personal experiences, and this is a huge part in making us who we become.