Option 1

    The article, “Stacey Abrams Didn’t Play it Safe. Neither Do These Female Candidates written by Susan Chirra and Matt Flegenheimer, referrers to how women are pressing, powerful figures in politics. Although, it was not always true that women had the ability to play such substantial roles in politics. For example, “They want to run and win on their own terms. Some are coming for their own party. And many are not waiting their turn, as past generations were mostly content to do” (pg 1).  This quote is exemplary of how women are no longer abiding by the unwritten rules of the past that require a female to be self-contained and not fight for what they believe in. This example reminded me of the text, “Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us,” due to the fact of taking control of the future but taking the unbeaten path and not accepting concepts for what have been considered societal norms for quite some time. Having the position to serve the people, but not being accepted by others, is exactly what happened to a proud Boston City Council member, Ayanna Pressley. So much in fact, she, “ had to spend the first days of this campaign just defending my right to run” (A. Pressley). Thus, it is also true women are not accepted by all at a first glance because of sexism or skepticism due to another inhibiting factor. However, progress is being made as Ayanna is the first black women to serve on Boston’s City Council.      

    The complementive article in the assignment, Jill Soloway on Donald Trump, Locker Rooms and Toxic Masculinity, is a eye opening article. The author of this text clearly has a problem with the President of the America, and rightfully so. Our President is certainly not the most well mannered, but he is after all, our president, which demands respect. Being said, the focus of Jill Soloway’s article revolves around locker-room talk, and President Trump’s despairing quote considering a woman and her genitalia. This, “locker-room-talk,” is what deeply resonates with Jill. In the article, she refers to how it is unacceptable for society to be blind to the fact that boys will not always be boys and men do not have to act the way they do. What I found interesting, and eye opening, is that she feels that men do not only talk negatively about women in the locker rooms, but everywhere. It is discouraging and disappointing how negative her view is on men, but it comes from evidence and experience, which must be respected.

     This text can be related to a text read for class, “ Safe Spaces”, forwarded by Barbara M. Newman. This text refers to accepting those in the classroom who are not straight. However, it also talks about how outward influences such as parents, religion, shows on Television, etc, substantially influencing children. When I was a child, the president was George Walker Bush. Now President Bush was not a bad person, but was however, not politically wise and the country suffered because of this. Deeming it safe to say, he was not really a role model. Who was a role model, was President Barack Hussein Obama. President Obama was an articulate, intelligent, quality man who provided the American people with a role model as he was respectful and engaging. Granted, his policies are controversy, he stood a proper presidential figure, the same cannot be said for our current president. Thus, the vernacular of men must be taken much more seriously and along the mindset of what every parent tells their kid(s) when he or she downloaded Instagram, “Don’t post or comment anything you wouldn't want your grandparents to see.”  This mindset instills the ideal that if something Is inappropriate, discouraging, racist, sexist, or otherwise, it is not to be said for it serves no purpose but to cause pain and animosity. Having the mindset of only saying what would be acceptable in front of your grandparents would a create a much safer, welcoming environment.

    

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/31/masculinity-traditional-toxic-trump-mens-rights/99830694/