Today in sociology I spat in a spoon and was interested in the reactions I got. Two girls were asked before me, but both said it was too gross. Then I heard someone say "Ask a guy to do it." This made me wonder why is it socially acceptable for a guy to spit in a spoon, but not a girl. So I volunteered because I've always been the type of person who wants to break these stereotypes. I think one of the reasons I'm so against those that a job "for a boy" comments is because of how my dad raised me. When I would come home from school as young as kindergarten and tell my dad about how all the boys told me I wasn't as good as them at sports because I was a girl. My dad told me not to listen and prove them all wrong. Later that day a girl came up to me and told me what I did was disgusting. At first I was a bit offended she was judging me. Then I laughed and said someone had to do it. The more thought I put into it I realized that she was trained to think this way from her parents and society as we learned in class. I believe these judgments apply to so much more than our sex or our actions. It also applys to race, religion, sexual orientation and much more. I know that I for one was raised in a strictly anti-gay family and I believed that it was unacceptable for anyone to be that way. However, after having a teacher who was gay I realized that being gay didn't define who he was as a person. I think its a big problem in out society when we are so quick to judge. It's so important to step back and realize that a lot has to do with the society and family people were raised in.
Megan- first off good for you for breaking the mold- I didn't hear that person say 'ask a boy to do it' but I knew I would've been just as interested in doing it myself because why do we still have these stereotypes? At first yes I was kinda grossed out and then thinking about it further I realized it isn't that gross, I mean it kinda is, but in other situations it's not that gross (I realized I spit in public! LIke what? haha I had no idea). I applaud your spitting on a spoon, I feel it's kinda sad it took me awhile to be like 'oh ok it's not that bad' but I guess now that I'm more aware of it and how the situation affects how you feel about something, I'll be more chill and open about the next time you spit in a spoon haha
ReplyDeleteP.S- I love the picture and the title of your blog- It's so Perfect!!!!
Props to you for having the confidence to actually volunteer to spit into the spoon. I think it's so true that sexist stereotypes exist and even though they may not be as severe as in the olden days, they still exist because they have been embedded into society. People aren't even aware that they reenforece these stereotypes. The two girls who rejected spitting into the spoon before you probably weren't thinking "I'm not going to do it because I'm a lady" but just because of what the connotations are that go along with spitting.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Megan, good job for not being embarrassed to spit in the spoon. I didnt think it was gross, it wasnt something too out of the ordinary as most people say.
ReplyDeleteI agree that our parents are the main sources of where our mindset comes from. Like the two other girls, being taught that it was gross, refused to spit.
But this is what we were taught since grade school and now is the time to wake up and realize that we have our own thoughts and actions to judge, like you did with going against the grain and spitting in the spoon.
nice job :)
Yes! I think that sociology can definitely help us see where people's judgements come from and that can help us take it a little less personally when we realize that they have learned to think that way.
ReplyDelete