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[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

How does a zombie move?

Although Micheal Jackson has provided his own twist to the movement of what we consider a zombie, their natural body movement depicted in media through tv shows and movies like Walking Dead and Night of the Living Dead take a different spin. When I think of zombies I think of them in slow motion. They are supposed to be dead so they have no energy to store or burn, making them rely on the minuscule incentive of flesh to push through their lifeless scenario. In that sense, zombies are inspiring. They find that purpose to move even when there is no substance within them. This is why they have a weighted fashion to their movement. With every step a zombie takes, they stay grounded to the earth as their burden to bear, even though we see the slight limp with every step that emulates a bounce of energy and defiance. It is the restriction and boundaries that makes the essence of a zombie and their nature interesting. With a constant fight to keep moving even though the weight of the earth is pulling them down, the moments when we see the zombie surmount over that struggle surprise us. Imagine how a body that can barely move and has so many physical limitations, but then catches up to a human and defeats them, it is like a heroic story of an underdog. When the zombie is right at the neck of its prey, it finds the energy from somewhere, maybe the prey or person itself, to attack and feast on it. This can be seen with the inclusion of the arms of a zombie before an attack. When zombies are limping along, the arms usually swing in a lifeless fashion, just as attachments to the body with no substance. The arms are ultimately dead without any tension or energy. However, when a zombie nears its next victim, the arms play a vital role to its success, usually consuming or strangling the prey. This burst of energy and movement in the last seconds give the zombie hope of freeing themselves of the rock constantly on their shoulder.

             In addition to the weighted feel of a zombie, another glimpse of hope that becomes deranged and shatter is the idea of the limp. To me, the opposite of a limp is a bounce. Even though they are functionally the same act, but the difference is a bounce is pushing away from the earth to detach themselves, while a limp is considered a fall that grounds us more down. Zombies may perceive this shift of weight as a bounce as a shimmer of hope in achieving their goals, where a human would view it as a limp because zombies are lifeless and do not have goals. The perception of what the purpose of a zombie is influences how we recreate and describe their movements. What if we believed zombies bounced in every step and instead of dragging themselves they tugged themselves. Dragging makes the intentions of a movement more reluctant while tugging involves a sense of dignity and will. Since we see zombies and humans opposite when comparing living and not living, we create this choreography that includes descriptions to disassociate them with anything to do with energy. However, I believe that any movement itself that comes from a zombie has more energy than any human because of their will to defy the lifelessness and inactivity to become active.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Manifesto- Boo to the Rollins College Neighborhood System

As Rollins College student, I value a liberal arts education greatly to the point of where we should be able to explore new areas of knowledge and dabble in numerous topics for discussion. However, I am unpleased with the method of curriculum development thus far at Rollins College regarding the neighborhood system. The requirements of the neighborhood system requires each student to take 5 classes (total of 23 credit hours) from a choice of around 3 classes per semester to receive a “well balanced” education that considers multiple aspects of learning. Although I have found my classes thus far to be enjoyable, I am malcontent with the system for the following reasons.

The neighborhood system limits our networking ability to only one group of around 70 students to travel with in our class.

The neighborhood system limits the types of classes we can explore as students.

The neighborhood system attempts to segregate and create rivalry between students that is ineffective and altogether disappointing that a school would want social rivalry on campus.

The neighborhood system wastes the time of students who should be able to take classes that furthers the career they want to pursue.

The neighborhood system wastes the time of students by requiring them to attend silly neighborhood events where we hold flags and chant. Instead of chanting, we can be studying, working since many of us have jobs, or contributing to other clubs.

The neighborhood system wastes the money of students who are here for a degree, by making them take classes that are not required for their major or minor. Without the neighborhood system, students can work to receive an extra major or minor.

The neighborhood system is not taken seriously by all professors as in the 2016 inaguration close to 5 professors attended the ceremony intoxicated.

The neighborhood system has given students the most stress regarding work load and difficulty. The purpose of this program is to expand learning not to ruini GPAs.

The neighborhood system is not supported by the majority of professors and teachers.

A way to approach this issue can looking into the core mission of the neighborhoods and maintain that value while reconstructing its approach. If we want students to be well balanced, there are several methods to take.

The International Baccalaureate Program(IB) is a high school curriculum that aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. They focus on creating well balanced students by incorporating these aspects into each class and curriculum. As an IB alumni, I believe they have done this successfully with teachers who are trained to incorporate multiple levels of learning into each specific agenda. Rollins College should consider this as a new approach to achieving their goal of creating well rounded global citizens.

Allen Kupetz, a professor at Rollins, also proposed a TENS Gen Ed Curriculum that allows students to have more freedom in their education. There are problems with the RFLA system, and we cannot stay quiet.

So until we receive the change we need, do not sign up for an RFLA course. We need to make a statement. Boycotts have the ability to shake the ground.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Yoga Pants Manifesto

I love yoga pants. I will continue to wear them to the gym, to the park, and to the mall.

I believe we should not criticize women or men for deciding to choose comfort over “good manners” and social visual appeal. Yoga pants in everyday lives is a new movement that does not just address the idea of efficiency and individual choice, but it also allows people to be more versatile. I am not a person who wears jeans all the time because I feel they are constricting to my movement and do not allow me to reach my full radius of motions, especially for someone so active.

Condoning yoga pants in my perspective is promoting the idea that we do not want people to meet their full potential and be efficient, we rather see the struggle of people with them choosing to suffer. Although the struggle of having to pull my pants up every five seconds or feeling a belt stab into my hip every time I sit allows me to appreciate yoga pants when I put them on; I do not wish it upon others. This idea of dressing well to show a person we value their importance is not the only thing we can do to show we care. Our actions and words have worth too. I can try in many other ways to provide this image, but my other wants and needs of being comfortable do not have to be sacrificed as well.

I get it. Fashionistas who love the way they look or feel can dress and wear whatever they like, but I just hate being trashed for my decision to wear yoga pants because people do not think they are real pants, and should not be worn without other articles layering it. When a person tells me, “oh you look so comfortable” while I am in yoga pants, it seems insulting, like you are calling me selfish for choosing myself rather than appealing to your expectations. In a time and place, conforming can help bring people together and accomplish a certain goal, like if everyone was wearing a costume for a performance. However, when I am individually going to the grocery store, I can focus on myself.

I am committed to myself and wearing yoga pants in public as pants because I believe in using my full potential bodied movements that this apparel allows me to do. Finally, I am committed to wearing clothes that I want to be in and feel comfortable in because I am worth it. 

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Social Justice and Robin Harris

The other day I attended a social justice presentation at a college. A woman speaking there, Robin Harris, was sharing her story to social activism with the NAACP as a gay pastor. She is the epitome of a total badass who stands up for her beliefs and speaks for those who are not being heard. She went to prison a couple times for these actions, but her intentions are always to giving life to others. I wish more women were like this in regard to standing up for what they believe without fear for being seen as bossy or too harsh for a girl. We can make changes. It is our role to make positive change for the women out there who are stuck and cannot use that voice because they are in danger or are threatened. Also, we should not limit our activism as a chain of solely representing women; that is not inclusive. Find things that you are passionate about, and speak up regardless of it being a “lady problem” or not. If you think the black community still needs change to receive equality socially, support it. If you feel strongly about the problem of sweatshops across sea and the violation of human rights with these terrible working conditions, make it a scene in public and get people to discuss this. Harris made a strong point about we cannot be afraid to have these uncomfortable hard conversations. Yes, not everyone is going to agree, but rather than being irritated with it, we can choose to listen and try to find a way of understanding to make change. For instance, Harris made a comment about a politician who I support, and although I do not agree with her, I still think she is awesome and has a good general cause. In conversation, we can have a talk on gun control and what role politicians truly have because I believe she wants to change the foundation of politics, when I think you have to change the majority of what people believe and the politicians will follow. I am happy to see women like her take charge about something they are passionate about, without being extreme and inconsiderate. She seemed level headed and empathetic, which is a quality all people should strive to achieve.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Red Number Two

Xaviera Simmons’ photograph feels so authentic, and in the moment. She claims ownership over these moments and does not deny them because some things she just can not control. It makes me think about how spontaneous our actions are, even when we try to control situations. Every reaction we make is different, like she cannot control the wind from blowing or the board from falling, she must work with it. The concentration of the images compared to the landscape background focuses the dynamics of our control over the environment. She managed to layout these cultural images on the board and place them where she thinks they belong. But she cannot place the mountains where she wants them, they are immovable. These images she documents within the photographs also show the culture that belongs in these mountains, but are not always apparent.

           What stands out the most to me is the red board that is glued or taped together. Her carrying it makes it feel like there is an entire culture of pain and violence we do not see when we seem the forward images of the pieces of culture in the paintings. It is the people who bear the burden of that culture who can actually feel and see the extreme pain and oppression in the red, which is why she is carrying it. We can only see the glimpse of what it must feel like, but we cannot experience it because we do not carry it. We are not there. All we can see is the landscape and the things that once belonged there. For that moment, they had control over that land, but lost it until someone else comes to reclaim it.

I feel like if I were to just jump in this photograph, I would be framed into an artifact and added to her collage. People would look at me for a few seconds but never really see my details because I am small in regard to the big picture, especially next to the red frame. I do not have control, and I can’t move… at least I have beautiful scenery around me…that I can’t explore. Hey, but think I look interesting and nice, so isn’t that enough?

Let me trade places. So now the woman is the artifact and I am the woman, the woman in control. I can maneuver the collage in any way I want to; so I will move them in a way that makes them happy. I can move the pictures in a different arrangement so they can meet new artifacts and create new relationships. They will like me because I give them more opportunities to be different things, and they would never stay still. But if I really loved these pictures, I would set them free and let them flow in the air to explore on their own. Through the mountains they can wonder.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

#skeletonwar 

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

The Swamp Thing

The Swamp thing is an interesting character that is neither a man nor woman because it is not a human or even a mammal, but a system of plants like a vegetable that is tied to the earth and swamp. The swamp thing tries to fool itself into believing it is a human, rather a man who is still alive somewhere inside this composition of swamp. With this new identity as a monster who also considers himself a man at some points, he offers an alternative masculinity to stereotypes that is wild to gender norms. He becomes reflective to his actual essence and goes beyond the typical characteristics of feminine or masculine to ask himself if he is human more than anything. If he is, than he is a man because that was his former identity he associated with as a husband and scientist and friend. But if he is not a man, does the addition of the plant give him a feminine twist? Is he mother nature as well in one? Considering mother nature and nature in general as a woman, this incident would be her defying moment of taking over the man finally and gaining control. This saga defies the boundaries of gender and man vs nature themes. Nature is not nurturing or providing rebirth as it does in many stories, but she is destroying what man is. She is taking away the right to live and develop that she gave them to be  greedy and powerful. Man in general in this comic succumb to this, but it is the power of the swamp thing to find the humanity and balance between man and nature and man and woman to create a solution. The Swamp Thing shares this dynamic of working with the polar opposites of these comparisons to find a resolution. For instance, externally the monster is strong and powerful, but he is also reflextive. He has empathy for humanity as mother nature does by allowing the rebirth of many things and cycles, this is because he longs for the feeling of emotion that he once knew and now he feels the softness of the earth too.

Regarding the role of men in this saga, other than the antagonist, these men follow gender roles, yet are huge disappointments in how ineffective they are to solving problems and being proactive. It allows the women characters to engage in power roles subverting gender myths, but it also damages the mens identity. For instance, Abby is the main female character who is searching for Alec, who is dead and has been engulfed by the worms, while her husband is fearful and wants to end the mission. This displays opposing roles these two characters perform of leadership and reluctance. While their relationship carries unusual gender norms, the majority of other men stay consistent with their masculine gender identities, which can actually be pathetic. For instance, one man wants to confess his love to Abby, but claims he cannot express it in words and he cannot find the words, showing how lost he is and uncapable he is to share emotions. Also, the man who hires Dr. Woodrue refuses to listen to his entire story, and ultimately is left to die because of his stubbornness to not seem ignorant in the eyes of another man and his longing to gain superiority. His desire for pride was his downfall. These are qualities that are strongly associated to masculine personas, however in this comic these behaviors are used to destroy and the men rather than support them.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Historical Leaders

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of listening to Pulitzer Prize winner Jon Meacham speak about characteristics of past leaders to learn how the familiarities of the past could be used for the future. It was not a surprise that all the leaders he mentioned and discussed were men because hey that is how the world worked in the past, but what was most interesting was the qualities he mentioned were those to be considered most feminine in society. These great men had to make themselves vulnerable to act in such a way and create a balance between how they negotiate their behaviors.

             Humility was the first topic Meacham discussed. He used President John F. Kennedy as an example of his ability to claim fault in what he did wrong with the Bay of Pigs because at the end of the day all humans make mistakes. Especially as a person in the light with the expectations to be perfect as the main representative of America, he had to connect with those and ground himself as a person. His vulnerability and reflection are qualities our society typically does not associate with men or even leaders. When asked about the characteristics desired from a leader, reflection and vulnerability are not prioritized in many peoples minds because it does not present itself as strong and undefeatable. Maybe this supports why not too many women hold authoritative roles because those traits are preferred in a more secretary and advisory role rather than a presidential one. However, these are necessary traits to constructive development, and if a leader can reflect on his or her faults on his or her own it can result in great leadership ability as Kennedy did.

             Another component of great leaders Meacham elaborated on was one we usually do not think when we think of politicians and that is candor. Why don’t we expect honesty when it comes to leaders? Is it because they have proved us wrong in the past or because their image and how they perform certain roles placed at a higher importance than character? This can contribute to how we give men the stronger roles because they fit the image which is more important than the actual character and credibility. Winston Churchill had amazing candor with his ability to speak with his audience in conversation rather than speaking at them in a superficial way. He could relate to his people, not just the men of his country but the women too.

             Overall, these qualities described are ones that should be human qualities of great leadership and not just feminine or masculine ones, but socially we decide to subject things into one category or the next for our own benefit of organizing information. This is partially why when we think of a leader we think of masculine figures and qualities like those that are aggressive and stoic rather than reflective and candor. However, as history has provided us, it is a mix of these characteristics that makes a great leader.  

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

The Gender-Neutral Public Bathroom

In this multi-stalled public gender-neutral bathroom, all stalls are fully enclosed and private. All are equipped with a small trash can attached to the stall side wall, and the toilets are automatic flush. Four rolls of toilet paper are stocked in a medal case. The two handicap accessibility stalls include the same, but also have rails and changing tables that again are completely closed. Paper towels are also offered in these handicap stalls, but only in those stalls. Outside of the stalls there is an arrow designed hand wash area. At the sink you can wash your hands and dry at the same sink with the sink also being a dryer. Across from the door at the end of the bathroom there will be a long mirror, that people can use without blocking traffic. At the bottom left corner of the bathroom (at a birds eye view),  there will be a first aid kit vending machine which also includes pads and or tampons. Some locations may choose to also locate one of it’s official first aid centers here, with people working the area. There can be an emergency exit through here as well, which can lead to the other entrance of the first aid center that is attached to the bathroom, but expands into another room/building. Therefore, if someone is truly injured they do not have to go through the bathroom in order to reach first aid. Trash cans can be found at the other three corners of the bathroom. Colors and décor can vary based on the theme of the location.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Quiergender

Quiergender- the whatever you want me to be gender

With so many gender options, Facebook offers more than 58 when creating a profile, I would like to create a 59th which is quiergender. This gender is to accommodate all the people who need to classify people in a gender. This gender is to help organize your brain in the way you want to. Basically, you can gender a person who identifies as quiergender in any way you want without them getting offended. It is for those people who really don’t care about how you see them regarding gender, so rather than making the person who is classifying the quiergender person life more difficult, the quiergender allows you to create any assumption you want… but only regarding gender. The person internally can feel more feminine or masculine on the spectrum and it can fluctuate, but you have an easy going temper that helps you understand that other people are lazy and want things simple, so you help them out and allow them to make the decision. Although, I identify as a woman, and will continue to be gendered as such, I believe this option will open new doors to self-confidence and compassion for others. Quiergender makes you focus on yourself and how you view yourself versus how other people view you. It gives the assumption that society has the power, but in reality, the quiergender has the confidence to not succumb to constantly fighting in order to be accepted. It is deceiving others into thinking they have the power over your identity, but the quiergender still does.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

A little Fan Fiction

Gwarp’s New Family

 Synopsis: Hermione realizes that Gwarp has grown attached to her, and since Hermione is graduating soon she introduces Luna Lovegood to Gwarp. Gwarp hates Luna, so Luna tries to change that.

Begin Scene

Hermione enters the Forbidden Forest searching for the tree binded in rope. She continues to walk until she comes across the open space in front of the cave and tree where Grawp sleeps.

Hermione: Gwarp… Gwarp I have a surprise for you.

She waits intently since she knows Gwarps regular reaction to her presence. She can hear Gwarps murmurs in the distance as he is shuffling to stand and walk toward her. She feels the ground shake with every step he takes until he is right in front of her. Grawp smiles at the sight of Hermione. He takes Hermione with his hand and places her on top of his head. Hermione takes a second to pat his head as he returns her inches off the ground where he drops her at a safe distance, which makes both of them laugh in joy… their regular greeting ritual.

Hermione: Now Gwarp I have some news for you. Hagrid is extending his year at Grenilwitch University and I am unfortunately graduating this year, and I don’t want to leave you alone.

Gwarp begins wailing and falls back at the clevis of the cave the shakes and begins to break.

Hermione: Gwarp stop it! Hold on! Gwarp. Calm. Down.

Gwarp continues to cry and falls to the ground grabbing Hermione’s ankles. She manages to kick herself free and walks up to his face and knocks on his forehead, as if it was a door.

Hermione: If you won’t calm down, you won’t get to hear the surprise I have for you. And I don’t want to hear your crying.

Gwarp sniffles and begins to compose himself into a sitting position. He pouts but looks at Hermione.

Hermione: Now I would never leave you with no one here for you, so I brought a friend.

She pauses

Gwarp looks up with curiosity.

Hermione: Gwarp, this is Luna… Luna Lovegood.

Luna steps out in front of the bushes with a small grin.

Gwarp eyebrows wrinkle together as his lips become persed. He seems displeased. Stumbling to his feet he pounds toward her, grabbing her entire body and brings her up to his nose. He sniffs her and draws back in disgust, dropping her from nearly 15 feet in the air

Hermoine: Gwarp no! Luna

Hermoine races to grab her wand and casts a spell to freeze Luna in mid air

Hermoine: “Gravlyiona”

Luna is shaking as Hermoine returns her to the ground safely.

Hermoine: Gwarp no, she is your friend, and without her you will have no one, so you better learn to respect her and love her. If you don’t… well I will never come back, not to visit, not to care for you. She is my gift to you and you should take care of my gift.  

Gwarp looks apologenic at Hermoine and cleans one of his tears with his fingers and offers it to Hermoine.

Hermoine: I am going to miss you too Gwarp, but you have to trust me. I am leaving you in good hands.

Gwarp touched Hermoines face with his finger and Hermoine grabbed on and hugged his finger. He looked back at Luna still uncertain.

Hermoine: Luna, you just have to be assertive and he will listen.

Luna: Oh no Hermoine, I am sure we will be fine just the way we naturally are. I can sense it.

Hermione: (Unsure) okay. Are you alright if I leave you to get to know each other?

Luna: We are fine Hermione. Thank you for introducing. We are going to be the best of friends, right Gwarp.

Gwarp longs for Hermione as she walks away and then goes back to sit in front of his cave, with his back to Luna.

Luna walks toward Gwarp.

Luna: I think this cave is beautiful. Did you create these markings all by yourself?

Gwarp does not acknowledge her.

Luna: Back at my home we used to use dead boarshead eyelashes as bristles to create drawings on the walls of our Percionan cave, and then the outlines would come to life and fly around.

Gwarp looked at his hands uninterested.

Luna walks up to his folded hands. And as she looks more intently at the drawings on the wall, she notices how they are stories he has created of the creatures in the forest he has seen. One animal he keeps creating in the pictures are horse-pigs.

Luna: Are these your friends?

Gwarp shrugs his shoulders.

Luna: You seem to like horse-pigs a lot. You draw them often. Have you ever met one up close?

Gwarp shakes his head side to side. Luna stares at the carvings as an idea springs into her head and she grins.

Luna: Gwarp, I will be back soon. Now I have a surprise!

********* The next day**********

Luna finds herself stumbling through the Forbidden Forest once again, but this time with a new pal by her side: A pig horse. She had found bought this baby ponlet in the black market of Diagon Alley. Luna stood outside of Gwarps cave awaiting his appearance. Unlike Hermione, Gwarp could sense Luna’s foul sweet smell distinctly. Although he was not fond of Luna, he comes out to respect Hermione’s wishes.

Luna: I found this abandoned Ponlet runt. His litter and mother rejected him, so I had to take him. I was hoping you could take care of him. You seem very loving and caring. I thought, since you love horse pigs, maybe you would want to.

Luna knew this was an opportunity she needed to make Gwarp trust her, as well as to help him gain some responsibility too. Maybe this was something he was longing for.

Gwarp smiled the widest smile Luna had ever seen and giggled with excitement as he hurried to grab the tiny ponlet.

Luna: Now wait Gwarp. *She steps in front of the horse pig* You can’t just grab him, he will be smooshed. You must be gentle. Here.

Luna grabs Gwarps finger and places the ponlet in his finger. The ponlet nibbles on Gwarp and he begins to chuckle. Luna laughs as well. She notices some berries on the floor, takes them and places half of them in Gwarps other hand. She begins feeding him to the ponlet. Gwarp sees her and models it.

Luna: What are you going to name it?

Gwarp creates a loud yowl as the ponlet bites his finger in mistake of the berry. Although he yells, he remains calm physically, not wanting to harm his new baby.

Luna: I like that name

Luna continues to assist Gwarp in his first day of nurturing the little Horse Pig. After she creates a bed for the runt to sleep in she walks up to Gwarp, takes the ponlet from his hands gently and brings it to it’s new bed. She grabs Gwarp by the finger also showing him the shelter she created for his new baby. She places the tired Horse Pig into its bed and turns to Gwarp. She smiles. Gwarp, thankful for the new friend and purpose, smiles picks up Luna and places her forehead on his forehead. They close each other’s eyes and breath together for one moment. Luna knows this was the bonding they needed. He trusts her now, and she trusts him. All he needed was someone who felt that they needed him too. Gwarp set her back on the ground because he knew she had to go for the night. Without the need to say a word, she walks out of the forest, and back to Hogwarts.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

After writing today, and talking about Emma Watson, I found myself rewatching one of the best things ever! A VERY POTTER MUSICAL and I love Mama Umbridge. I definitively relate most to her

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

My girl Watson

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Will the Strongest Man be Stronger than the Strongest Woman

As a fighter, my entire life I have been segregated to only competing against other women. I win titles as the “Women’s Champion of blah blah blah” and although it is a satisfying title, I crave more. I do not want the limitation of just specifically being the best “womens” fighter, I want to be the best fighter; no additional adjectives. Science tells us the strongest man will always be stronger than the strongest woman, and I do not deny that fact; however, I want the opportunity to compete with them. The industry wants to categorize so it is an equal playing field, but that is just a waste of time and effort because there are too many variables when it comes to fighting and training and styles of living to make it “even.” We are not experiments who only have one independent variables to many dependent. It is the exact opposite; we have too many independent variables for one dependent, which would be to win or lose. People begin training at different ages for different lengths of time and everyone eats differently, and has different regimens. It is about finding the perfect combination of all these different variables to win, man or woman. So if you give me a strong man to fight, do not assume I will lose because his optimum strength is more than my optimum strength because neither of us will ever reach that level. I can find fault in his technique and win that way, maybe he does not train as much or as effectively as I do, and I am stronger. All I am asking for is an opportunity. I am not denying science, but I just think that if we really want to consider science, think of the scientific method in the first place. When comparing people there are too many variables other than man or woman. MMA please listen to this because I know I am not the only female who feels this way.

#shoutoutoftheweek Emma Watson is someone I admire, and I am truly inspired as she was the first person to win “Best Actor” award by MTV. Thank you, MTV, for creating this gender neutral award to accredit human beings for their overall talent regardless of gender. I hope other industries begin recognizing this division as well.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

What am I?

Even though I identify as a woman, my actions and characteristics are not exclusive to that group. Depending on the situation and the role I want to perform, my level of femininity fluctuates. Although I am never completely feminine with my decisions or actions, I believe generally I correspond with that group. With that being said, the social expectations of is expanding to accepting women’s roles in authority as challenging and noncompromising figures, which a couple of decades ago would have been condemned. Before, women were to be seen, not heard. We had to stay and nurture our children and husband. I feel powerful as a woman to lead and take assertive roles, but I do not believe I am manly for doing it. I spent my weekend helping both men and women shoveling sand into sandbags, and as I was shoveling by myself a man talking to his friend next to me commented “Man if this young lady has been shoveling all by herself, we shouldn’t be complaining.” Although this is can be somewhat viewed as a back handed comment about how men should be stronger than women, I did not see it that way. Yes, I am strong... I like to believe I am stronger than most men. I feel proud to be a woman who can be both feminine and strong, even if the strength does fall into a masculine category. In all, I do identify as woman, but I do not conform myself to fit into one complete box stereotyping between the genders man and woman. I am a wild child, and I look forward to exploring all the behaviors and characteristics that includes.

[tophbecauseitrhymeswithtough]

Janelle Ginestra is a choreographer legend