Average Jane ?

Do women's bodies get shaped by the media?

Should we find some ads of women offensive?

In class this week we were discussing how women try so hard to be someone other than the person they really are. We see beautiful women in magazine ads that are tall & so skinny its like skin & bone. The perfect person seems to always be the person we want to be, when in reality that person does not even exist.

From when we were little we were shown the "perfect person." We all played with Barbies, and they were all blonde, tall, skinny, & all around perfect. She even had the hot boyfriend! Then as we get older, we pay more attention to shows like The Hills (one of my favorite shows) where all the people are these perfect people, who have fun lives, & live in the heart of California. I know that I try to copy outfits and hairstyles from the show. We love to be like the famous people we see on TV. We figure that if they can look good, so can we.

Getting back to the idea of offensive ads, for me, when I see these ads that are "offensive" I don't get offended. It really does not bother me, seeing skinny women & the perfect doll or stars getting photo shopped for their photo shoots. Yes, women are used a lot to look sexy & whatever, but if those ads weren't like that would you find yourself buying that product? I don't know.. maybe it's because I am pretty slender & I don't have a problem with my appearance and that's why I don't get offended. I understand why some people

would be upset though and for those people I would tell them that if they find serious offensives by

those ads they should try finding products they can support, like Dove which supports self esteem.

School teaches us more then they say...

People are always influenced by others. When we are young we watch the outside world & the people around us. Our parents have a huge influence on who we are. The way they act is pretty much the way their children will act.

School is also a great influence on kids. It may seem like we are only learning the generic math, science, english, history, & a language... but really school teaches us how to interact with others. We learn how to socialize & understand different things about the world. When you look at kids who have been home schooled they often times are not very outgoing and social when compared to kids who have gone to school their whole lives.

It is interesting how situations and environments mold a child's mind & personality.

Human Nature

Is it true that you are a product of your parents? Well of course from the scientific stand point... but what about socially? Do their parenting skills & the situations they put you in really effect the kind of person you will be? Do they really make an influence on your life?

Personally, I think that the way you are brought up molds who you are. I watched a video about a girl who was locked in a bedroom for over 10 years of her life & when she was finally let out she had no social skills. She acted like some kind of wild animal. It is odd because I don't know anyone like that & I'm sure most people don't, but was she like that because all she knew from the beginning of her life was being by herself?

When I look at my friends & even my family members, I can see their parents in them. They all act very similarly to them & that is because those people were the foundation of who they are. For example, I have a cousin who is in college now & he is so much like my uncle.. it's crazy. My uncle is a police officer & all my cousin's life that's what he has wanted to be. He is now majoring in criminal justice. The same can be said for another cousin of mine. Her mom, my aunt, & my mom all started off as spanish teachers & now my cousin is in her last year at U of I studying to become a spanish teacher.

People are the same as their parents. I believe it is because they have watched their parents & sort of used them as a model as they grew up. It is interesting how much an effect people & certain situations can have on people.

Why is death so scary?

This week in class we have been watching the movie Tuesdays With Morrie. This movie has a lot of meaning behind it. It has opened my eyes to the meaning of life & the end of it. I think that it has shown me that Americans are truly afraid of death.

Our lives are so busy. We are moving every second & we don't really have time to think about dying. It is something no one likes or feels comfortable talking about. Morrie tries to explain that if you enjoy your life then you will not be afraid of death. i believe that is true.. it your life well, sucked then obviously you'll be scared to die. It is a feeling of not accomplishing anything, but if you lived life as best you could & did everything you could to enjoy it it will be easier to let everything go.

American culture is very materialistic. We like our cars, flat screens, ipods, & everything else we have. It is a scary thought for most of us (I know this is true for me) to go through the day without my cellphone. I think that many people think about death as just laying there with nothing. You don't know what to expect & of course you won't have that $200 cellphone or $2000 computer. It is hard to imagine a day without those things, but thinking about a whole

eternity without them makes the thought of death that much harder.

Welcome to America !

Many people think, including Americans, think that our culture is a culture full of lazyness, materialistic things, and many other negative things... this really bothers me because I do not think it is true. Just because we have money does not mean it should be looked at in a negative way. It is interesting how people look at our culture and what they think about it.

We, as Americans, like things. We like to have stuff because we are able to buy them. It should not be looked at in a bad way though. Money should not be looked at as a bad thing. There are many people who complain that we are a selfish, but I really do not think that's the case. When you ask someone about our culture they say that we are "fake" & "love money", but if you asked an american if they would like to live in the middle of nowhere with dirty clothes, no showers, & basically nothing that they have now they would freak out & say "no way!" but that is how most countries are. It is weird how people can talk bad about America, but if you were to take all these things away from them they would freak out...