Source 1

:https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/how-does-culture-affect-roles-women-and-men-ministry

This article talks about women and men in different cultures. Women in culture are mentally abused, physically abused, restricted, and discriminated against. There are those who can’t fight against their culture because  of their families. For example the United States isn’t perfect, there are still restrictions on women in jobs and society. Women are leaders and powerful so this article proves that men try to take that away from them. This article is related to my topic because it speaks about women in their countries. “Although most cultures look down upon women, and up to men, they express it differently.” Which it’s true because in the movie Brave is about making a change. The main character gives a speech about how parents should let their kids choose their own path and just be there to guide and support them. It’s up to us to make a change and the first step is giving women equality just like they did in the movie. 

Source 2 

https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/multimedia/2020/2/infographic-visualizing-the-data-womens-representation

The article focuses on showing and explaining women’s role in society which relates to my topic because that is what I’m bringing to light in my essay. “Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in the highest political positions.” Also women are constantly being undermined socially, economically and culturally. The charts break down the progress that has come a long way. Women deserve better and this article shows that they are taking a stand but are facing challenges along the way. Men get all the power and glory that’s why in Brave a female is the one who saves the day not a man. In the article it mentions how women have been making scientific discoveries throughout history but many don’t know that because men take all the glory. “ Although women have been behind a number of scientific discoveries throughout history, just 30 percent of researchers worldwide and 35 per cent of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study are women.” Women can do the same thing men can do and sometimes they do it even better. 

Source 3 

Bad Feminist Essays, Roxane Gay

This book is about being a feminist while loving  and enjoying things that could seem un lady like with the feminist ideology. It has a collection of essays that talk about politics, criticism and feminism. Her stories are about gender and sexuality , race and entertainment, politics, gender and race. All of those topics played a role in shaping her and helping her realize her worth into society. “ Don’t tear other women down, because even if they’re not your friends, they are women and this is just as important.” wow this statement is everything! And true there should be no reason why we should put each other down since men already do that enough for us. So yea this book is related to my topic because not only does it speak on the issues but the author is writing about how she finds herself with the challenges. Owning who you are is magical and no one can take that away from you.

 I chose the Disney movie Brave because it focuses on social and cultural issues. Merida proves that women are strongly independent and powerful. She comes from a scottish family with three younger brothers, her mother the queen and her dad the king. Merida is a skilled archer who creates her own path in life. Throughout the movie she shows courage, confidence and intelligence. This movie is so inspirational to young female viewers since it shows that you can be yourself  while still being loved and respected for who you are. I have re-watched this movie many times because having a movie where a female isn’t downgraded or having to need a man to save the day is superior. The other Disney movies have the lead female depend on the love of a man and that’s  the problem with society, women don’t need a man to succeed. Yes we can have relationships while being individuals with goals of our own. Merida was so influential that she got her clan to change their tradition of arranging marriages for their children to letting their children choose when they are ready to get married. Women have to deal with various issues such as molding their bodies to comply with cultural standards, violence, shame, skin color and child marriage. Speaking on women’s social and cultural issues is important to me because I am a Latina woman who is starting a career so I know how difficult it can be. I need to stay informed and let others know what it’s like to be a woman in this world.  When it comes to jobs and education men get more privileges than women which isn’t fair. Sexism is another point shown in the movie. The main character learned archery while being feminine. Adults and children need to be educated. We have to teach kids that embracing who they are is perfect and powerful. No one can take who you are away from you. 

 In paragraph 28 Nguyen stated “I would like to make a broad, accurate statement about immigrant children in schools. I would like to speak for them (us). I hesitate; I cannot.” I think that it would be good for Nguyen to tell her story. Although Nguyen shouldn’t make a statement for the other immigrant children because she can’t speak on others’ situations. Immigrant children have a different experience so it won’t make sense that she speaks on something she doesn’t have the knowledge of. Nguyen tells us her story how her dad married her step mom and  that they moved into a “middle class suburban Grand Rapids’’. Not every immigrant child gets that lucky. Nguyen and her sister came to America not knowing how to speak English which is very common for immigrants. She mentions being in third grade and looking different than everyone else. “Thus I attended school in such ensembles as dark red parachute pants and a nubby pink sweater stitched with a picture of a unicorn rearing up.” Surely she is ashamed of having less than others and tries to put her energy on obtaining the stuffed lion. She described how her sister and her are opposite. Growing up she noticed that it’s the same for immigrants and that’s the reason she can’t make a broad statement. She was more ashamed than embracing her culture so it doesn’t really fit an immigrant child. She rather speaks English than her native language. Nguyen didn’t even know her history and was embarrassed about it. At that moment school wasn’t her save place like she bragged about. “ I reassure  myself that they will grow up free, they will be okay.” Nguyen had stated this after describing ‘the kids with heads bent down’. She makes it seem like she has it all and wants to comfort herself in the idea that other immigrants will have a great experience.

  Both President Lincoln and Kennedy did great things for the United States. But they didn’t get to handle many problems during their presidency. They did things different but were on the same side. Those steps that Lincoln and Kennedy took to make the United States better was only the first step. Sadly both were killed before they can finish their goals. For staters, John F. Kennedy supported policies for racial equality. Kennedy was behind the idea of the Peace Corps. He wanted to provide aid for the poor, education and increasing medical care. In Kennedy’s speech, he stated “ let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us” This is such a great point, we waste our time on disagreeing rather than being open minded and coming together. Abraham Lincoln’s “ Gettysburg Address” was an amazing speech. Which focused on the Civil War due to the reason for the north and south separation. He impacted people and saw the best in those who wanted to take a stand. Lincoln even pointed out that the Declaration of Independence talks about equality. All Kennedy and Lincoln wanted was for everyone to realize we are more than color or race. We are unique and deserve equality. Nobody should be judged based on their gender, skin tone or culture. Clearly two independent individuals with connections weren’t enough to make people aware that we deserve peace and comfort. In today’s world black people are being killed and facing racial violence. Which lead to Black Lives Matter movements. Those movements gave us a chance to unite as one. Immigrants are still being mistreated. We need to be able to make sacrifices and want a better tomorrow. This quote from Lincoln’s speech, “these dead shall not have died in vain- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom- and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Our ancestors didn’t fight wars for us to have a future to end up disappointing them with not being able to put our differences aside and be equals. Slavery shouldn’t have existed because it was unfair. Kennedy and Lincoln were different but used their presidency for good which we can be thankful for. 

Malcom X felt he was free even though he was in prison because knowledge is power and he use it properly. Malcom x didn’t let nothing stop him, he needed to express himself and went for it. By learning to read and write Malcom X was able to reach a bigger population. He washable to write articles about his beliefs and speak in large groups about his ideologies. Freedom and Literature are more related than what people think. Literature is where people feel free to express themselves. There is freedom of speech which means people have the freedom to say whatever they want. So literature its a way to express someones freedom of speech. Literature also maintained freedom between writers and readers. Malcom was proud to obtain knowledge in prison because that’s where he learn that it was time to take a stand. “It was both ideas together that moved me to request a dictionary along with some tablets and pencils from the Norfolk prison colony school” He continued practicing until he perfected his writing and pronunciations. The dictionary was the power tool that got him to understand everything. “I was so fascinated that I went on” this sentence proves he was enthusiastic about learning. In prison there’s  a lot of down time and Malcom was productive by learning how to read and write in prison.  It was clear that Malcom was a determined and a hard working person by the technique he used to learn how to read and write.

The way literature connects people such as writers and readers or readers and readers is through freedom. Malcom comments on how images who read where debaters and considered celebrities. ” An inmate was smiled upon if he demonstrated an unusually intense interest in books.” Which is why he preferred to read in his room isolated from the others.  I believe that prison was life changing for Malcom. This quote verifies my statement, ” I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life.” Not only that but prison gave him the time and resources he didn’t have available. For Malcom kit was more about how he got there than what he got out of it. He learned how to make the best out of a situation.

 Language shaped Amy into the writer she was meant to be. It was a guide, her passion and how she expressed herself. She was raised by a foreign parent which isn’t easy when a parent isn’t fluent in english. It was a challenge she proved she could overcome. Depending on the environment she was in she spoke other “englishes” . With her mom and husband she was more relaxed  and intimate with english. People looking down on her and her mother’s english gave Amy the motivation to Major in English. For example, “ I happen to be rebellious in nature and enjoy the challenge of disproving assumptions made about me.” She was aware that she spoke differently around certain people. Amy pointed out how she was ashamed of her mother’s english because it reflected badly on them. “And then I said in perfect English” I don’t think there is a thing such as perfect english just correct pronunciation. As a teen she had to make calls for her mother to translate. Amy explains how her mom was treated when she spoke english and that it was unfair. Which should have given her a better perspective on how people are treated when they don’t “properly” speak another language. Therefore, Amy wrote a book that her mother could understand and you can tell she was proud when you read the last sentence. “ I knew I succeeded where it counted when my mother finished reading my book and gave me her verdict: ‘’So easy to read’’.”

  I think those who learn english as their second language know how different they sound from their peers. It’s noticeable when someone is fluent and they look at you like you don’t know what you are saying. There are cultural differences in language. Language takes a huge role in culture. Language has many components to it, you have to be able to comprehend and communicate with it. English is my second language and sometimes you can hear my accent. Accents don’t mean they aren’t fluent. I know when others sound different then me. Like I would sometimes say a word in spanish when I meant to say it in english. I speak my first language in public when I want to communicate something discreetly. I can relate to Amy because my mother is also an immigrant who doesn’t speak very good english. Just like Amy, I translate calls and read letters for my mom so I  have seen how people get annoyed by her when she tries to communicate. 

Keiry Ramirez (she/her) My major is undeclared.

  One thing I’m excited about for this class is writing essays because I’m interested in expanding and maturing my writing. I can also get a chance to improve my grammar. I’m currently not nervous about any topics regarding the class at the moment. 

  The qualities of good writing are thinking outside the box, patience, discipline, passion and their own unique writing style. Additionally, being able to get straight to the point makes one claim very useful in good writing. To be a good writer one has to be confident in their work, can’t be biased or let emotions get in the way. It’s important that the writing is fluent because the audience will be able to understand the message the writer is trying to portray.  

  Easiest part for me is writing my opinion and what I interpret. One thing I do well is painting the picture enough for my statements to be comprehended. Using evidence and explaining further. The hardest part is wrapping up because I get caught up in not repeating myself which leads up to a vague ending.  From my perspective this is what I need to improve on. You may think otherwise and that’s fine but for right now I believe that’s what I need to improve. 

  At the moment my major is undeclared. Therefore, I don’t know what genres of writing are expected from me. With effective writing it can take me a long way. It can make me more professional.