(no subject)
At work. Going to dinner tonight with troy and mer (I think). Sticking to the short north. Maybe Rojo maybe Bettys.... who knows! It will be nice to sit down, eat, and relax. Tonight is a study night, I think. I got an 86 on my first midterm in psych and need to do better on the second one but the material is harder. Lets see how i do! I want to start reading more books. Im thinking of getting some just to put on my book shelf so when I have free time I can read. Im not sure if I have enough self discipline to do that but we'll see. I can always try.
My mom called me yesterday just to let me know that it was 108 where she lives. haha. I call her to tell her weird things too... we are similar in that regard.
I got an air conditioner for my room finally... meaning we can sleep on my bed and no more sore back for me. I'm so glad I bought one cause I sweat a lot. Like seriously a lot. Like today I have major wet pits. Its so gross and embarrassing. Ive tried every deodorant!
Below is something I wrote about labeling for extra credit. I wrote it in a hurry so please disregard any spelling or gramatical errors.
If we stopped defining orientation by the gender of the person we get involved with and started defining relationships by the quality of attachment, respect, and behaviors toward each other the world would be a better place for the most part. Labels define who we are, who we are with, what types of actions we perform, etc. Without labels, we would be forced to examine the individual not the label they self posses or society possess for them. This is my first point: without labeling relationships, we would no longer have to self identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, queer, gay, lesbian, and any other label that might exist. This is important for without those labels, one cannot judge based on the social constructions but of the relationships themselves. Not labeling oneself gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, etc might aid in realizing that love is love regardless of certain stereotypes say in for example a “lesbian” relationship. Not self identifying might actually help someone realize his attraction to someone whom he might not have thought he was attracted to proving love exists because love exists not because labels exist because love exists. The quality of the relationship would then have to be examined. A good relationship would be based on how much love you have for a person rather than for a gender. As with this, not choosing to define gender and/or not labeling love would benefit someone significantly, especially if the person identified as being a third gender or genderless.
My second point is much like my first one but instead the change from self identifying to non-labeling it’s the change from society labeling to not self identifying. This would be a great change. Take for example the social construction of the word “Lesbian.” Though it houses specific gender constructs according to heteronormative society it also houses specific class and racial constructs, as well. If society measures relationships based on the quality of love, then class constructs as well as racial constructs of sexuality might cease to exist. If class racial, as well as gender constructs of sexuality cease to exist according to society then one would have to measure the amount of love and attraction between two people, rather than between classes and races. Though I am not saying this would alleviate issues of discrimination, pressures to love someone society tells you to love would cease to exist, as well. If society ceased to label relationships, then perhaps the heteronormative values of love would cease to exist, as well. Without labeling societies constructs of sexuality the word heteronormative (in response to sexuality) would be no more.
My third and final point is without labeling sexuality discrimination based on labels would not exist. However, since we (as a society) have been conditioned to believe from the beginning that love between two people of the same gender (for example) is wrong then dropping labels right at this instant would not rid society of hate based opinions on the amount of love you have for someone (that might not go along with the status quo). Discrimination would be based on the amount of attraction rather than the social construction of labels. As with this, dropping all labels and instituting a love based relationship model would also aid (even more) in discrimination. Because not only will the conditioned stereotypes still be present but the model institutes relationships based on actions rather than labels. Labeling, though harmful in some regards, might actually aid someone in the “coming out process” for example. Labeling can also be a way for someone to slowly feel comfortable in her sexuality skin. The opportunity not to label also liberates some from the heteronormative and societal constructs of sexuality that would not exist in labels if relationships were based on the amount of love an attraction rather than what sexuality is called. Since love would be an action based model rather than a label based model and since discrimination will still be present then so will self doubt and pressures to “act right" instead of “labeling right”, as well.
My mom called me yesterday just to let me know that it was 108 where she lives. haha. I call her to tell her weird things too... we are similar in that regard.
I got an air conditioner for my room finally... meaning we can sleep on my bed and no more sore back for me. I'm so glad I bought one cause I sweat a lot. Like seriously a lot. Like today I have major wet pits. Its so gross and embarrassing. Ive tried every deodorant!
Below is something I wrote about labeling for extra credit. I wrote it in a hurry so please disregard any spelling or gramatical errors.
If we stopped defining orientation by the gender of the person we get involved with and started defining relationships by the quality of attachment, respect, and behaviors toward each other the world would be a better place for the most part. Labels define who we are, who we are with, what types of actions we perform, etc. Without labels, we would be forced to examine the individual not the label they self posses or society possess for them. This is my first point: without labeling relationships, we would no longer have to self identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, queer, gay, lesbian, and any other label that might exist. This is important for without those labels, one cannot judge based on the social constructions but of the relationships themselves. Not labeling oneself gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, etc might aid in realizing that love is love regardless of certain stereotypes say in for example a “lesbian” relationship. Not self identifying might actually help someone realize his attraction to someone whom he might not have thought he was attracted to proving love exists because love exists not because labels exist because love exists. The quality of the relationship would then have to be examined. A good relationship would be based on how much love you have for a person rather than for a gender. As with this, not choosing to define gender and/or not labeling love would benefit someone significantly, especially if the person identified as being a third gender or genderless.
My second point is much like my first one but instead the change from self identifying to non-labeling it’s the change from society labeling to not self identifying. This would be a great change. Take for example the social construction of the word “Lesbian.” Though it houses specific gender constructs according to heteronormative society it also houses specific class and racial constructs, as well. If society measures relationships based on the quality of love, then class constructs as well as racial constructs of sexuality might cease to exist. If class racial, as well as gender constructs of sexuality cease to exist according to society then one would have to measure the amount of love and attraction between two people, rather than between classes and races. Though I am not saying this would alleviate issues of discrimination, pressures to love someone society tells you to love would cease to exist, as well. If society ceased to label relationships, then perhaps the heteronormative values of love would cease to exist, as well. Without labeling societies constructs of sexuality the word heteronormative (in response to sexuality) would be no more.
My third and final point is without labeling sexuality discrimination based on labels would not exist. However, since we (as a society) have been conditioned to believe from the beginning that love between two people of the same gender (for example) is wrong then dropping labels right at this instant would not rid society of hate based opinions on the amount of love you have for someone (that might not go along with the status quo). Discrimination would be based on the amount of attraction rather than the social construction of labels. As with this, dropping all labels and instituting a love based relationship model would also aid (even more) in discrimination. Because not only will the conditioned stereotypes still be present but the model institutes relationships based on actions rather than labels. Labeling, though harmful in some regards, might actually aid someone in the “coming out process” for example. Labeling can also be a way for someone to slowly feel comfortable in her sexuality skin. The opportunity not to label also liberates some from the heteronormative and societal constructs of sexuality that would not exist in labels if relationships were based on the amount of love an attraction rather than what sexuality is called. Since love would be an action based model rather than a label based model and since discrimination will still be present then so will self doubt and pressures to “act right" instead of “labeling right”, as well.