brittanyjoko

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#PitPup #pitperfect #pitbull #pitbullsofinstagram -

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I think they are meant to be! #pitbullsofinstagram #PitPups #pitperfection #matchmakerstatus #getsome

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Can't take him anywhere...

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I love this time of year!#FavoriteHobby #SandVolleyball #Spanx #AltonSportsTap #BumpSetKILL #GoinUpOnATuesday #ItsAFamilyTradition #UltimateStressReliever #TakeItOutOnTheBall #GoHard #YesAllTheHashtagsAreNecessary (at Alton Sports Tap)

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Social Construction: Gender Roles & Homosexuality

Our sex refers to the biological chemistry of our bodies; it’s what “parts” we have and the chromosomes that make up our DNA. Gender is a learned social identity.

My Uncle Jay was once Aunt Julie. He was gay and identified himself as a man. He went through a big transformation over a long period of time to show on the outside how he felt on the inside. He began taking testosterone, got a hysterectomy and a double mastectomy. If you saw him today, you would never know he was once a woman. His sex is female because of his chromosomes, but his gender is male.

Jay’s situation sort of reminded me about the section of Chapter 5 in 'Cultural Anthropology' referring to the Two Spirits, a social status native to Indigenous North American societies, (Capo, 2013). Like Jay, these individuals function as a different gender role other than the typical role that their sex would generally hold. Also like Jay, Two Spirits become this way “not to avoid unpleasant aspects of their assigned gender roles but to resolve their gender dysphoria, or profound sense of mismatch between their birth sex and their gender identity” (Crapo, 2013).

Here in the U.S., homosexuals are sometimes shunned or looked down upon by certain groups in society or even their own families. I believe it is getting better in the U.S. but to say that homosexuals are not discriminated against is pure refutation.  According to the textbook, Two Spirits held a sacred status and move up in wealth and prosperity. Oh what I would give to get the same respect for those that are gay in our society here in the U.S.! It would solve a lot of moral and political issues and lower the suicide rate among the gay community.

Unfortunately, I find this subject hard to bear. I have many gay friends and family. Just 2 years ago, I lost a good friend as a result from suicide. As a very handsome, fun-loving, young man with a bright future ahead, he came out of the closet shortly after high school and his family basically disowned him. They are a highly religious family and he hid in denial for a long time. When he came out, his parents did not accept it and basically excluded him out of their lives, completely ashamed of him. His friends quickly became his family and support. Roughly 8 years later, when he hung himself, his parents essentially blamed it on his friends because he had been drinking when it happened. The people that were closest to him were not even welcome at his funeral. But if he had more support from his family (and society as a whole), his smile and quirkiness would still be warming hearts today.

I have read up on this issue and the results are horrifying. Unfortunately, it is hard to document specific statistics because it is very difficult to label someone to be gay if they are no longer living to declare it, especially if his/her family is in denial.

But what we do know is that “many studies have found that (lesbian, gay and bisexual) youth attempt suicide more frequently than straight peers” (suicideology.org). If people were more accepting, like the Two Spirits, many people would have a lot better lives, or live at all.

Wake up People it’s 2014. All I have to say is get use to it!

  Crapo, R.H. (2013) Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&name=DLFE-334.pdf

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My diet, his metabolism

I had a lot of feedback on my discussion post for my Adult Development class so I thought I'd share it. The topic was self-regulation and meta-cognition: My boyfriend likes to eat late at night. He doesn’t just snack, he goes and gets a bag of burritos from Taco Bell or hits up the local Jack n the Box for greasy tacos. I love greasy tacos. I know that he can afford to intake the extra calories because he has the metabolism of a squirrel. For me on the other hand, if I eat like that at night, there is no skipping the gym the next day! In the beginning of our relationship, I went right along with him and indulged happily. But quickly began to realize it was taking affect on my trouser size. So I have to self-regulate myself when he decides to take a drive for the munchies, I have to control the urge and modify my normal behavior. I knew that if I was going to cut this habit, I needed to substitute it with something else. So, when he gets his late night meal, I nibble on frozen grapes, wheat thins or nuts and berries. This way, I am still in the act of eating, which suppresses the craving, but doesn’t add all the extra calories. In the end, I am the one with the diet of a squirrel and him with it’s metabolism, life just isn’t fair.

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Yellow Thunder - Indian Prisoner

A response to an article published in the Chicago Tribune in reference to Native Americans in Prison.

I think that when it comes to practicing religion in prison, it should be a case-by-case basis. Obviously if it is something that adheres to the rules of a prison, the situation should be examined and perhaps particular ceremonial activities should be allowed with supervision, as stated in the article. We have to remember here, these guys are criminals and although everyone makes mistakes and (in this situation) it is a minimal security prison, they still have rights. That being said, we cannot forget that prisoners could try to take advantage of this situation and chaos could break out, you never know what isolation and containment can do to someone.

As stated in the textbook, “The practice of a religion creates greater solidarity among its participants, enabling them to work more effectively together and accomplish more” (Crapo, 2013), so if the prisoners are comfortable and stable religiously, I think it would provide a more stable environment within the prison walls.

I definitely think that holding Yellow Thunder down and cutting his hair was wrong.

As natives to this country, I do believe they should be able to practice their religion. We stripped this of them before. Maybe, since their practices differ from most, an exclusive prison can be built on a reservation so that they are able to practice their rituals in containment.

So yes, I do think they should be able to perform their ceremonies in prison, under the above circumstances and good behavior. I don’t think prisoners should give up ALL rights, but limited to those that are entitled. Religion is a right that I think should be able to be practiced, even in prison, and I think this should apply to all prisoners, not just Native Americans.

As soon as I saw this topic, it reminded me of the military and the exceptions they make for certain religious practices. Even though the U.S. military is voluntary, recent adjustments have been made to the guidelines and rules on uniforms and regulations. “Now, for example, Jewish troops can seek a waiver for a yarmulke, or Sikhs can seek waivers to wear a turban and grow a beard,” Associated Press. The link below provides further information.

Crapo, R.H. (2013) Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Military-Religion/2014/01/22/id/548447

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-11-21/news/9311210305_1_indian-prisoners-indian-religious-practices-state-prison

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IF PETER PIPER CAN PICK A PICKLE, I CAN PICK A PUNK!

-JOSHUA, THE BOYFRIEND

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Brittany Kohler | I may be obsessed with this site... Just sayin'

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Military Robot

I had to share this... This is a discussion thread from my Adult Development class. The topic is about personality traits and how it relates to stress, especially in a work environment. I decided to write about the Marine Corps. I was really bothered by her response to my initial post. Some people are so misinformed about how the military works!

CLASSMATE: Being in the military, I heard, does change a person's personality. Being ordered around all the time would be hard for me. Some people prefer someone telling them how to think and feel. Stressful situations are my downfall. I get really excited when I am stressed out and snap on people all the time. I wish I could control my feelings when I am stressed, but it is very hard, especially lately...

MY RESPONSE: I don't agree that the military changed my personality, I am the same person. I didn't change who I am, but I did change my behavior.

I don't like being ordered around either! I don't think anyone does. But eventually, if you work hard, you become the one in charge and accept great responsibility that beings about personal and team accomplishment. That's when you start feeling like your doing something. The Marine Corps takes great pride in Leadership. Leadership is not telling people how to "think" or "feel", its mentor-ship and guidance to shape the Marine into a morally sound, professional individual. This type of brotherhood is critical to accomplish a mission, improve the work environment and influence camaraderie throughout.

The Marine Corps trains us in stressful situations because, well, war is stressful. So if we are trained in laid back, relaxing environments, we would be prepared when overseas. Managing your stress is paramount.

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