Introduction

Culture is a beautiful concept is it not? The idea that everyone’s culture is unique, and even moreso, how people identify with their culture creates such a unique array of identities. Culture is “holistic in the sense that [it]—beliefs, norms, spirituality, and values—[is] not sharply separated from human social life or the organization of the universe” (Champagne, 2014). Culture is all encompassing and brings people together that otherwise may not ever cross paths. After consideration and thoughtfulness, I narrowed down a culture that I closely identified with down to my core, being a woman. 

Throughout my exploration of femininity and being a woman during this ethnography, I wanted it to be completely gender inclusive. I encourage anyone to think deeply about their masculine and feminine energy and how that contributes to their identity. I do not want to confine a “woman” to any gender, but rather let people see themselves wherever they are at. I see myself as a woman with feminine and masculine sides to my character, but I know others define themselves in all ways. That is accepted and that is welcomed. The differences in a culture are what make it a holistic community, one that is all-encompassing. I encourage you to be open-minded throughout this narrative and in your own life, as our identities are fluid and ever-growing. 

Throughout this process, I have decided to focus on women in male-dominated fields and how that has affected the identity of who they are as women. I am specifically interested in women in the three fields that I find myself perpetually dominated by male energy: athletics, STEM, and in my home environment.  Two driving questions that I set out to answer, in order to get a better definition of the word ‘woman’, was “What does it mean to be a woman?” and “What empowers people in their femininity?”. These are abstract questions but they serve a very important purpose of forcing myself and others to think deeply about who we are to our core. 

Personal Narrative – Athletics, STEM, Home Life

Diving into this culture was interesting as I worked to identify what about being a woman really stood out to me and why. A common theme that was present in my findings was the juxtaposition of masculine energy throughout my evolution, as I navigated the inner workings of what it was to be a woman. I noticed that one of the main reasons that I really appreciated my femininity was because of the male-dominated environments I had grown up in. This environment created in me an ability to be fluid in my identity as a woman as I often see my own identity encompassing masculine energies. It also created a stronger sense of womanliness as I was constantly outnumbered by males. 

For me, being a woman means having a careful balance of so many contradicting attributes and doing it with gracefulness. I find myself having opposing personality traits that work together in a balancing way, a yin and yang. I am strong but I am also sensitive. I am extremely stubborn, but also put others first and am often selfless. I am competitive but also inclusive. I am mature but also childlike. I see these same kinds of opposing characteristics in all of the women in my life, all well rounded in their unique ways. I am empowered in my femininity through my more compassionate sides. I think I have a heart for others and often think outside of myself. This is something that empowers me because I can empower other women through my love and support. I think too often women see each other as competition, when really we are all quite similar and one’s beauty never takes away from another’s. 

[1] Athletics 

My growth as a woman was hugely influenced by my love for body movement and athletics. I have always thought that girls are extremely competitive and strong, ever since I was young largely due to my participation in sports. I began playing soccer, as every young child does, at the age of 5. This was a vivid memory for me and one that shapes my growth. I played on a co-ed soccer team when I was young with two of my brothers that are close in age with me. Our team was the best in the league, we were the Flaming Blue Tigers, intimidating I know. During one of our tournaments, the team we were playing against did not have enough players that day for some reason. Since it was YMCA and so relaxed, my coach gave over our striker, one of the best players on the team and a leading scorer. I was furious to say the least, the competitiveness in me was fuming. But this was a pivotal moment for me in my athletic career, realizing the intensity of my competitive nature, that even at a young age I took athletics so seriously. I continued to play soccer for school teams and on a select traveling team until the end of high school. 

I write down about my athletics as it shows the timeline and consistency of my behavior towards athletics since I was young. It defined who I was until the end of high school. Once I got older and more competitive, the teams I played on were all female teams, surrounding myself with all females was something I had never had anywhere else in my life except in sports. So the greatest example that I have of a large group of women, of this culture of women, is one that is incredibly tough, persistent, driven, tenacious, team-oriented, and competitive. This is my definition of women, this was how I saw my female peers as I grew up. It is interesting that my teams were all female, but my training outside of that was all male dominated. I trained with my brothers, I lifted weights with my brothers, I went on runs with my dad, I scrimmaged with the boys team for fun. I had these two opposing sides growing up in sports, one that was team-oriented and dominated by females. Then I had another side that was striving to get better, to play against guys because they pushed me to be skilled in a different way. Athletics has absolutely grown me so much and has contributed to my idea of femininity in that women are strong and driven. They are the most tenacious when passionate about something, but they also know how to work with those around them to accomplish a greater goal. 

[2] STEM 

For me, growing up in STEM was always positive, I never had an experience that sticks out to me where I did not feel supported as a woman. However, it has been difficult to be a woman going into a field very dominated by men. I have been passionate about medicine since I was little, following my dad around as he made his surgical rounds to his patients. As I have gotten older, I have had a lot of questions regarding my path in the field. Questions like, “How are you going to balance being a doctor and a mother?” “Are you following in your dad’s footsteps?” These questions are valid, but my dad was never asked if he could balance being a father. Is parenting, when in a monogamous relationship, not a mutual responsibility? Following in my dad’s footsteps is never how I choose to view my passion. I am passionate about medicine because I am me, I have a love for people and the human body, and I want to contribute to people’s wellbeing. I rather not attribute my passion to my father’s career, as if he paved the way for this career for me. He absolutely has contributed in a substantial way to my interests but it is not the sole reason I have chosen this field. I think as a woman in STEM it is vital to be able to hold your own and remember why you do it. STEM careers are largely dominated by male figures, and this can bring about a lack of recognition for females in the field, as if they are not taken as seriously. I have set my mind to show up and make a presence in whatever environment I am in, regardless of the genders around me. 

[3] Home Life 

Lastly, growing up in a male-dominated home was very empowering for me and my growth as a female. I have 5 brothers and no sisters. People growing up would show sympathy for me because I was outnumbered, however I have always viewed it as a positive. I love my brothers and I think they largely contributed to my growth. They created a sense of comfortability in myself, that I was inherently different than them in some ways and that was okay. All of us were different, regardless of our genders. I grew up competing with them, we made each other better. Even getting food at dinner time was a competition. I think one of the best parts about growing up with all brothers is how they made me feel as a woman. My brothers never saw me differently, they never underestimated me. I did everything they did and likewise. We were equals. It was such a beautiful environment to grow up in; that I never once doubted my capabilities as a woman, and I still do not. 

Methodology

To conduct my primary research I decided to interview Belle, a Chapman STEM student who struggled in her identity as a woman while engulfed in the sciences at Chapman. I wanted to interview her because of her background in STEM and her desire to go into dentistry in the future. Belle and I interviewed in person, as she is my housemate. I also interviewed my mother, Cindi. I chose to interview her because she has a unique perspective while being the mother to five boys and one girl. I interviewed her over facetime as she lives in Washington state with the rest of my family. Both of the interviews were incredibly insightful and had so much depth to them. Our conversations even got emotional at times. I did not include a list of my interview questions because I really wanted the interviews to be conducted more like conversations. I asked them my driving questions and asked them questions to lead in the direction I wanted to go, but then I really just listened. It was a beautiful process and felt very natural this way. 

Interviews – Primary Research 

[1] Belle – STEM student at Chapman

I conducted an interview with a Chapman student named Belle. She is a STEM student at Chapman getting her BA in Health Sciences. She remembers vividly coming to Chapman early for an advising session. There were all males in her Crean advising appointment and one of the heads of the biology department there. Belle was told that if she wanted to succeed in the sciences that she could not be in a sorority, however, the males that outnumbered her did not receive the same talk. From then on Belle felt as though she was viewed poorly for her appearance, even by her female teachers. That to dress in a feminine way or to look feminine and be smart were contradictions. She noticed herself sensoring what she wore on the days that she had her science lectures to come across to her teachers in a certain light. Belle felt as though she had to suppress her femininity to be viewed as intelligent and worth their time. 

During Belle’s sophomore year she took a physics course. Belle thought she might really thrive in physics as she was interested in science and skilled in math. She said that she really put in the work for this class, more than any class she had ever taken before. The first test came around, and she had put in countless hours, skipped meals, late nights into studying for this. Belle ended up setting the curve for the class. A few weeks later, Belle overheard that her peers in the class had been slandering her work, convinced that she was overly flirtatious with their male teacher and that he favored her. She said that she began to doubt herself, wondering if she was not smart enough to be in STEM. If her peers did not accept or think she was capable of scoring high on a test, then maybe she did not belong in the field. Belle had to once again feel as though she needed to suppress her femininity to be taken seriously. This experience for Belle was very disheartening, but even more so she steered away from a field in science that she was really good at and actually enjoyed. Belle became ashamed in her femininity. Elsewhere in her life, her femininity was celebrated, but in STEM it was a burden. 

Despite these negative experiences in STEM, Belle is looking forward to a career in medicine. She expressed that women in male dominated fields, like STEM, are so integral to the growth and innovation of the company. Women naturally bring a different perspective to the table than a man. Women know what it is like to be a woman for one, many women know what it is like to give birth, to have nurturing extends. These are traits that are unique to women and only they can offer. She talked about how health and wellness in companies is driven by women. Being a female in STEM is not always easy, but it can be so rewarding, paving the way for other women to come. 

I asked her to define what being a woman is to her. She said her definition of a woman is based off of her role models. Her mother worked in a man’s world, in the car industry. She said that her mom never let people’s doubts affect her own vision for her life. She always appreciated her mother’s advice to never let a man tell you who you are or what you are capable of. I also asked her to express how her femininity has been a source of empowerment for her. She said that her femininity has made her realize that “[she] can.” 

[2] Cindi – mother to five sons

I also interviewed my mother, Cindi. No one better to interview about being surrounded by males in the home than her. It was very interesting to get her perspective on how raising boys was so different. My mother defined being a woman as someone who possesses “a balance in strength, love, and support.” She finds empowerment through her femininity in her intuition as a mother and in life. She expressed how she appreciates how perceptive she is, a trait that she attributes to being a woman. She sees the deeper meaning into things which helps her to recognize the depths to life’s circumstances and people’s emotions. 

She then went on to talk about how the family dynamic of having six boys in the house and one other girl was for her. She said initially she wanted all boys, she felt that she was action oriented, independent, and athletic which aligned with having sons in her mind. She realized that there was a great challenge with raising so many boys however. She felt for a while that she lost herself because of the difficulty she felt in connecting with her sons all the time. She would express sensitive topics at the dinner table and everything was taken lately or as a joke. Very little was seen with depth and very little was sacred. She felt unappreciated because of this, that her qualities of being a mother, being in tune with her emotions, were being unappreciated. 

Having gone through this, she now feels that she is more grounded in who she is more than ever. She no longer feels the need to have someone validate the way in which she is feeling. Living in a male dominated household has also made her more open-minded, to see the world from completely different perspectives than her own. She has learned to allow people around her to just be, to be different than her and have that be celebrated. That difference does not need to take from her own femininity, but rather enhances it, it shows how powerful it is when shown in juxtaposition with so much masculine energy. 

Analysis

I think what I found really beautiful about this ethnography is that it allowed me to see the diversity in perspectives. It is interesting to interview women about being a woman, as it is an obvious and unspoken topic. If someone identifies as a woman, people assume traits that go with that identity, but never really talk about what deeper meaning goes along with being a woman, or a man for that matter. I thought it was interesting that Belle defined a woman as the female role models she holds in her life. She did not look inward, but rather looked outward at who has impacted her as a woman. My mom on the other hand, defined a woman as someone who balances many things and personality traits with grace. I also found it interesting that I defined it in a similar way to my mother. I described being a woman as a yin and a yang, being in touch with multiple sides of myself. 

I found it really inspiring that during my primary research interviews, both interviewees got very personal and told about the extremely challenging and raw parts about being a woman in a male dominated environment. In juxtaposition with that, they both finished on more of a positive note about how women in these fields can create change around them and within themselves. Belle talked about women being vital to new innovations and discoveries in science and businesses as they bring other perspectives. Whereas Cindi talked about how her confidence in herself and her femininity ended up evolving and strengthening because of her male dominated environment that used to once tear her down. I also have seen my presence in male dominated spaces as a positive experience for my life, making me strengthen my identity and be fully confident in who I am. 

Conclusion

Femininity is a beautiful and complex concept; it is multifaceted and is found within each of us. It was such an incredible experience to find out more about what defines a woman, how women in male dominated fields grow because of it, and the challenges that come with being in tune with your feminine side. There is so much strength in being a woman, and placing a woman in a ‘man’s world’ only makes her that much more powerful and recognized for her uniqueness. 

References

Champagne, D. (2014, October 18). Understanding Holistic Indigenous Cultures. Retrieved from 

https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/understanding-holistic-indigenous-cultures-8QR0Z67ItUG5he7UwX_SRg

J, B. (2020, April). A woman in STEM and its effect on her identity [Personal interview].

W, C. (2020, April). A woman in a male dominated household [Telephone interview]. 

Happy Friday and welcome to my blog! Today I will be discussing…. drumroll please. RESEARCH! Exhilarating I know. This research actually fascinates me however. Being a science major myself, the concept of research can be daunting and boring at times, but this project has been so refreshing for me. It has been a wonderful chance for me to dive into research that I am really passionate about, allowing me to become more well-versed on this subject. I have been researching about women. Complex creatures, I know.

I was going through some secondary research articles and found a lot of interesting information related to women and their underrepresentation in certain fields and why that is, as well as the negative effects it can have on women. What I found so refreshing through my primary research, was the amount of positive feedback I received from the women I interviewed. They all looked at their situations (being in male dominated environments) as something that has empowered them and challenged them to grow. It was so encouraging to hear such great feedback from these women about the strength that they feel in their respective fields.

It was interesting how the interviews differed however. One women discussed being a female athlete in a male dominated sport and how that is pushed her to be her best. She spoke of the experience very highly, saying it made her stronger and she owes a lot of who she is to her sport, her coaches, and her teammates. However, the woman I interviewed in STEM said that although she loves her field, it has caused insecurities for her at times. In school many women are in the STEM education system, but in the workplace there is very little female representation. This can be daunting as we are approaching these careers as women. We ask ourselves if men are more desired in these fields or if they are seen as more capable. It can make women frustrated I think, and even make some second-guess their abilities. I think in the long run it makes women tough, to overcome the doubt that they are faced with from outside sources.

I think from my research I have noticed that it is interesting that sometimes when a woman in a male-dominated field is successful, the first thing that is mentioned about her is that she is a woman. As if that fact is more noteworthy than her successes and accomplishments in her field. This is something that I would like to find more information on in my other interviews or in further research. I am curious if other women feel this way, that their success is maybe put in the shadow of their gender. I found a lot of similarities in my research. It reminded me that women are so dope, they are strong and have faced adversity in so many ways. It was an honor to conduct the interviews that I did and I look forward to piecing together my project.

See you.

Hello and welcome to my blog post. For my upcoming autoethnography I am focusing on women who flourish in male dominated environments. This is an environment that has grown me and made me into the woman I am, so I was curious how it has effected other women as well. I am conducting primary research in three areas: women in male dominated households, women in STEM, and women in athletics; three areas I find myself fitting into as well.

For my secondary research I have found a lot of information pertaining to women in male-dominated work places. This site has offered some helpful information about the challenges that women go through that work in these fields, challenges like sexual harassment in their workplace. Another good site talks about how this gap has been created since we were in elementary school in the STEM (science, math, etc.) subjects. It also gives great sources for how change can be made for better representation of women in these fields, perhaps through policy change and changing the way STEM is encouraged at a young age.

“Currently, women represent 42.6% of the head coaches in women’s sports while men represent 57.4% of the head coaches in women’s sports. In contrast, women represent less than 3% of the head coaches in men’s sports.”

– Walker and Bop

There are currently very few female coaches in male-dominated sports such as football and basketball. There is also an immense pay gap in the sports industry, due to fan population and other factors. Just recently, Katie Sowers became the first female coach to get her team to the Super Bowl in the NFL. She is not just notable because she is a female (which should never be the basis of someone’s success, their gender) but she is also an incredible coach. She is the assistant offensive coach for the 49ers. She helped them achieve the status of second in the league for offensive rushing and points.

In terms of women in male-dominated households, there is not too much research done. There is some research regarding family dynamics in households and what genders tend to take on what chores, but there is not much information regarding how this dynamic effects women that were raised with all boys. This has an extremely prominent effect on girls as their childhood, like anyones, is a pivotal time for their development. Being raised alongside all brothers, cousins, etc. absolutely will have an effect on a girl, how she views herself, her confidence level, her personality, how she interacts with other males and females throughout her life, and much more. I hope to find some more research about this topic to support my own experience.

https://woodsophie11.wixsite.com/mysite

The purpose of my website is to show others a part of my identity that they may not know looking at me first glance. Yes, I am a woman, a pre-med student, and an American, but I also have a love for art that I do not always showcase and this project allowed me to explore that. I hope my readers enjoy my take on a ‘photo essay’ and the qualities that I think should be an important part of everyone’s life: travel, creativity, and movement. 

Let’s just say the photo essay was bittersweet for me. Navigating wix.com was difficult for me as I have never done something like or used this format. I think the biggest challenge for me was to find a template that was most similar with my vision for my site. I played around with a few different styles but ended up choosing a photography-based template, as my project of course was picture-focused. I also had many issues with the internet aspect of the project as I moved somewhere for quarantine with unstable Wi-Fi. Once I got past the internet and formatting issues, I actually loved the nontraditional design of this essay. I have always loved photography; I never really kept a journal or a diary, but instead have always documented my life through pictures. This project was really fun for me to design and allow my creative side to come through. I definitely enjoyed making this type of project more than a typical essay because it was so different than anything I’ve ever done. 

It was very hard for me to narrow down my photos and videos/gifs so that my page did not seem overwhelming but still got my point across to my audience. I tried to choose a wide variety of images that represented every aspect of the topic. So for example: for my traveling section I wanted to show pictures from most of the places I have been, as well as images that represented different sides of traveling. I wanted to include variety, not just have the focus be myself, but also my photography and my point of view on life. 

I wanted my audience to get to know me first, therefore I had my introduction on the first page to describe my purpose and thought process. I then wanted the layout to be logical, as it sent the readers to a table of contents essentially so they could browse freely. This allows for an independent experience while navigating my site, which was my goal. I wanted my audience to be able to pick and choose where they spend their time based on what resonates with them. 

I wanted to be transparent with my audience, and I tried to portray that in my writing. I wanted my writing to be the last thing that the readers saw on each page so that they did not feel forced to read my excerpts to be able to understand my identity, but instead it could add more detail after they had browsed already. I hope my writing came across as genuine as I expressed who I am and why, while also inviting my readers in to relate to travel, creativity, and movement as well with phrases like “dive in” and “go explore.” 

https://woodsophie11.wixsite.com/mysite

Well this is an interesting time, isn’t it? I never have felt less in control of the outcomes of life as I do now, and honestly I’m really enjoying it. Yes, this pandemic is tragic and scary and uncertain, but it has also caused a lot of good. The earth is getting to breathe again; the environment is improving because everyone is lessening their carbon footprint. Homes have come together more than before. Lives have slowed down, focusing on personal growth. The world feels more united than ever before in my lifetime. With how fast this virus spread from one corner of the earth to our own backyard, you cannot help but feel connected globally. 

Because of Covid-19, I have taken the time to breathe and slow down my pace of life. I am always going it seems, spreading myself too thin, but now have been forced to pause for a second. I am away from my family while staying in Orange, trying not to let go of my last year of college just yet. So it has felt isolated, but also less claustrophobic. I have taken time to make a daily routine in my planner each morning. I have exercised each day, whether that be playing basketball, going for a run, or doing yoga. I have reached out to loved ones that I haven’t spoken to in a while. I have cleaned and organized. I have had time in the day to study, and still have time to unwind. I have had time to explore the hobbies I usually do not get to. My days seem to fly by even while being in quarantine, I have not found myself bored even once, as there is always self-growth to be had. 

Every morning I write down the three most important things I need to accomplish, and what I am looking forward to the most that day. This helps to focus my intentions, as no day should go to waste. This has been helpful for me as I wake up, knowing I cannot really leave my home, still being able to accomplish what I want to and hold myself accountable. 

I have found so much beauty in this time honestly. I have felt a closeness to my friends, my community, and myself. I am appreciative for this pause on the craziness of everyday life, and a chance to reflect. I do worry for my grandparents, and my loved ones that I am away from, hoping they are well and safe always. Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. I think it’s so important to be able to let go and understand that we are but a mere soul in this universe, looking to spread light to those around us. We cannot hold too firmly to plans or expectations, as life’s waves come and go. 

“Sunny with a chance of drizzly rain”, I overheard on the tv as I ate my cereal. Sunny it is! It’s 5 minutes till class starts, am I surprised that I lost track of time? I sprint upstairs and throw on a sundress and my backpack full of books and head out the door to my thrilling lecture that is awaiting my late arrival. The surface of my skin stung as I flung open the door; the cold, sharp air biting at me. No time for a coat as I speedwalked to organic chemistry with my airpods bumping Julia by Mt. Joy. 

“But Juliaaaaa

Fix me a blue sky in a warm sun

And I’ll be….”

My humming was abruptly stopped by my professor assigning the homework for tonight… 37 molecular practice problems, a quiz, and a video. I thanked him for his time at the end of class and began my walk out, but not before noticing the sound of a heavy downpour. A pitter patter on the rooftop ceiling of the classroom was all that I could hear above my music blaring. 

“Sunny”, I repeated to myself confused. “Sunny…”, and then it clicked, “sunny with a chance of drizzly rain.” Of course in Orange, drizzly rain means torrential downpour for a short period of time, and then who-knows-what weather next! I could not stop thinking about how once again I wore the completely wrong outfit for the weather, I shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but for some reason it still shocks me. 

All I can do I guess is start my 20 minute walk home. With my head down from embarrassment, I try to smile at my peers walking past me, looking sorry for me and confused, as if I’m an oblivious girl living in California for the first time. Pretty spot on actually. On top of wearing a short sun dress in this downpour, my dress happened to be white. As I am avoiding giant rain puddles on my walk home, because I’m only wearing my Rainbow sandals, I am also focusing on covering my hair over my shoulders and around my body to ensure that my dress does not turn see-through from the rain soaking through the thin, linen material. Good thing I did not have my hands full, as I used all of my appendages to hold my dress down and cross my arms for warmth all at once. I couldn’t believe I did this to myself once again. But here I was, trudging through the rain, hair soaked and dripping wet. Here I was on another “sunny with a chance of drizzly rain” day in sunny Socal.

When I first came across this phrase “rhetorical analysis” I thought it would solely apply to written text and how the author is effective through their word choice. After deeper thought and research into the topic I came to realize that we are all our own authors. Every time we speak we are using rhetorical devices that help make our audience believe us, feel our emotions, or agree with our point of view. This can be done subconsciously or consciously.

Let’s go back to our high school selves, shall we? I like to think of how I communicated with my parents, especially when I needed something from them. Picture this…. prom was coming up in just two weeks and I wanted it to be memorable, so of course there had to be an afterparty to celebrate the big night. I strategically approach my parents, beginning by boosting their ego with a compliment or genuine words of gratitude. I then use pathos to pull at their heart strings, asking them to think back on their senior prom and the happy memories that encapsulate that time.  As they reflect back on their youth, it is now my time of attack, I pop the question and ask to attend the after party hosted by my friend Katie. After buttering them up a little and playing to their emotions, my request was granted. 

In my example above, rhetorical devices were most definitely used to get a desired response. This is just one example of how rhetoric is used in everyday speech all the time. Maybe in an argument you are establishing your credibility on the subject being argued to make your argument more viable. The possibilities are endless.

After watching numerous Tedx Talks, with rhetoric in mind, I came to realize what is really effective. I noticed that the speakers that used anecdotal references always received positive interaction and participation from the audience members. Allowing the audience into the speaker’s life breaks down the third wall, allowing for a more intimate interaction, and therefore more effective in winning them over. Appealing to the emotions of the crowd was also very helpful in gaining the audience’s attention and respect. Lastly, crowd participation was effective, which acted as a way for the audience members to feel included, a sort of second person point of view. Opening the speech up to the audience helped to engage them and allowed them to help create the narrative. There are many ways to be an effective author in speech and writing.

Now go ask that lucky gal/guy to prom !

Happy Friday! Let’s talk about the fear and uncertainty surrounding, dun dun dunnn.. College ! 

This word can bring about so many different emotions for so many people. For some it is unfamiliar, for others it is overwhelming, scary, it can mean freedom, a new beginning, financial burdens, uncharted territory, and many other realms. The choice of a college is something that most high school seniors deal with or entertain. It can be daunting, but it is a path out to the ~real~ world for many. 

For me, I had many fears encompassing college, but one was how do I know what direction will be right for me? I thought I wanted to do something involved in the medical field, but I was also interested in photography, and global affairs intrigued me, but wait, then my humanitarian side of me was awakened and wanted attention and growth. I felt as though this decision of a college major and field of study was the end all be all. The truth is, it really does not matter as much as people think. One can jump, hop, and skip around until they land somewhere they like. Some graduate in a completely different field than where they end up working, others entertain multiple interests by having a minor or by double majoring. 

My point is, there are options. 

I was always the type of person growing up that said yes to everything. My parents told me that I always had too much on my plate and that because of this I could not focus on one aspect really well. This is what I feared going into college, but realized quickly that your undergrad years are the time to explore. Experiment! Take that class in ceramics that you have always wanted to take. Minor in something completely different than your major. Join all the clubs you can. My involvement on and off campus helped to take the pressure off of the choice of a major and career path. Despite my dedication to the sciences and my pre-med undergrad degree, I still pursued all of my many other interests. 

I had the pleasure of going to Orange High School and meeting with AVID senior students who were considering furthering their education. This was such a fulfilling experience and I am already looking forward to our next meeting time. I met with three boys who were seniors and all had passions that will carry them into a successful undergrad degree if they so wish to take that step. Surprisingly, they were all interested in computer science of sorts, involving gaming, coding, and data analysis. I think their concerns were similar to mine at the time in that they really liked many different things and were not sure how to hoan in on one aspect. It was nice to talk about all of the opportunities that a university can give you so you never have to miss out on learning and expanding your mind and skills. 

Memes. Such an interesting word when you say it to yourself over and over again.. Also interesting that memes have recently made a huge appearance in social media of all kinds. I think many people struggle to understand what a meme really is, but honestly it can be anything someone wants it to be. One of my professors last semester started off the class saying, “Please just inform me first if you are going to make me into some sort of meme.” He said this because he knew the power of them and the frequency at which they are spread. 

After reading Heidi Huntington’s “Subversive Memes: Internet Memes as a Form of Rhetoric”, I found myself thinking back to the many memes that have been ingrained in my mind from people posting and sharing them repetitively. It seems that almost all memes have more of a purpose than just to receive a laugh from an audience member; they are created strategically to represent an idea and to sway an audience. Memes, like any other form of rhetoric, serve a purpose designed by the author themselves.

Huntington wrote something that stood out to me when she said that “in countries that lack opportunity for democratic process, the use of memes to express dissent is akin to a public protest assembly (Mina, 2012, para. 8).” I thought this was a very interesting point as I find a lot of truth in it. I think memes have allowed people, whether in a country that honors democracy or not, to express theiropinion without reprimand. They can simply be a parody on a pop culture reference, or even be highly political but are more accepted by the general public when in the form of a meme, helping them reach a broader target audience. 

Above is a meme referencing both Bob Ross and Donald Trump. The audience for this specific meme is almost everyone of my generation (and older), as Bob Ross is really popular currently, especially on social media and in memes. The audience does get narrowed down as clearly this is a highly political meme with potential controversy here. The audience also contains those who are politically active or may feel strongly against our current president. Bob Ross is known to be overly positive and optimistic, always saying his painting mistakes are “happy little accidents.” This is depicting Trump as being so nonchalant and happy with the fact that he is building a giant wall between the U.S. and our neighbors. Obviously, this meme can get deep quickly as it sparks political conversation by just using parody and humor mixed with political issues that are prevalent today. 

Memes can be such sneaky little devils.