summary blog

Anna Mullen
COMM 380
4/22/12


Summary Blog

For this project I started by applying different ideas from the text into my life hoping to find something that I could relate to in terms of gender identity.  I thought about the different elements that make up my identity, and I realized how substantial both my family and friends are in every aspect of my identity because in a way, I am who I am because I have been shaped that way by who I interact with.  I was raised by just my mother and father, but many people have lived with more than one family before reaching adulthood, and parental gender socialization will be accomplished by multiple adults (Galvin, K. 2006). With this in mind, I decided to look at gender identity at the interpersonal communication level to see how different people influence each other’s identities through their interactions with each other.
To research my topic of interpersonal communication, I planned on interviewing three individuals (two girls, one guy) about how they view their own personalities, how their personality might change when around family versus friends, co-workers, classmates etc., and what aspects of their personality they believe have been shaped by friends and family.  While I was starting my first interview I realized it would be a lot more effective for this thoughtful topic if I wrote down my questions and allowed each of them several minutes to think and write their responses.  As part of my observation I also took notes about my interviewees and kept a journal of my own thoughts and interactions with people on the days of 4/18/2012 – 4/19/2012.
The questions that I asked my interviewees consisted of:
How would you describe yourself in terms of gender? This can be just describing words or a larger explanation about how you view your identity.

Consider who raised you for the most part while you were growing up, (could be parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.) Have any of your personality traits come from these people? If so, what are they?

Do you believe your friends have shaped your personality in any way? If so, how?

How does your personality and the way you define yourself change or differ when around family, versus friends, co-workers or classmates? Why do you think this happens?



During this project and talking with the individuals I interviewed, my ideas about interpersonal communication were mostly reinforced.  Although my sample size for my interviews were limited to only three people, they all had similar responses on how both their parents and friends have contributed to specific parts of their identity.  An interesting response from all three of them was hoe they’re more laid back in front of their peers because there isn’t any fear that they will be judged, unlike when they’re around their parents or family (personal interview 4/16/2012).
This project got me considering my own identity and allowed me to analyze more deeply about who helped shaped my personality through interactions; I found this experience to be very interesting.  I also got the chance to dig deeper into the lives of some of my friends, and see more clearly why they are the way they are, which was eye opening.
The topic of interpersonal communication and how it relates all aspects of a person’s personality to their interactions with people throughout life reminds me to not be quick to judge an individual by how they speak, act, or do certain things.  It’s important to know that what has shaped a person’s values, morals and beliefs has much to do with the people that person has spent the most time interacting with.  Not one single person holds the same experiences as someone else, so when interacting with a new person it is important and to your advantage to remain open-minded and unbiased.



References:

Galvin, K. (2006). Gender and family interaction: Dress rehearsal for an improvisation? In B. J. Dow & J. T. Wood (Eds.), Sage handbook of gender and communication (pp. 44). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Personal Interviews with Gabbie E., Briana W., Brendan R. (4/16/2012)

kash

Brooke's Gender Identity Project

Sara's Creative Project

Here is my creative project. Enjoy!

concept all blog

Anna Mullen Concept Application Blog:

I am looking at gender as socially constructed, meaning that who we are and how we define ourselves in terms of gender exists on a higher level than just on an individual level. A specific concept from the text that can be considered with this idea is gender identity at the interpersonal communication level. I mentioned this concept in my introduction blog for this project becuase I believe this concept fits perfectly with my gender identity of interest. Interpersonal communication refers to how persons influence each other's gender identites through their interactions with each other (DeFrancisco and Palczewski 2007). This concept basically defines what I will be studying in a person's gender identity. I will look at a few peoples' gender identities, specifically how they describe themselves in terms of gender performance, how they perform their gender identity around their family or household, and how they perform gender around friends, co-workers, etc. I will look at similarities and differences between how a person acts and even how they veiw themselves in different interpersonal groups.

Blog #7 - Fin.

First, my apologies for posting after midnight. UNL Air was being ridiculous!

I appreciated all of the input on Chapter 17! Everyone had unique and interesting concepts to add to the conversation, and it allowed me to see the chapter from more angles.

The first question for Chapter 17 had two very different opinions, but these opinions seemed to occur because of the angles people were reading the chapter from. People generally agreed or completely disagreed with bell hooks' view on love. Those that looked at her view as seeing a relationship with equality and mutual respect seemed to agree completely. Those who thought that you had to have the exact view of feminism as bell hooks did not agree at all with her viewpoints. There were only a few people that both agreed and disagreed.

Everybody seemed to have the same opinion of the Patti Stanger video and patriarchy. Everyone found several examples existing within the interview. There was only one person that thought that Patti was encouraging women to be independent, but I do see where that individual was coming from.

I am so excited for the discussion tomorrow and to hear more about all of your thoughts and ideas! :)

Blog #Last - Feminist Spirituality

I really liked what all of you had to say about both male dominance in the Bible, as well as the Madonna video. There were a few commonalities between people and a few very interesting parts of certain blogs that I really liked! However, those will be in the discussion tomorrow, so be on the lookout!

Aside from that, I'll go ahead and answer the questions as I think I would have to bring what (little) I know for y'all to know about before the discussion :)

1. I really have no solid idea about what the Bible says in the way of male dominance, but there are some narratives that I remember that are based from the Bible. However, these stories have all male "protagonists," which made me side with hooks' thought that the Bible is male-dominated. The stories were of Moses parting the sea, Noah and the whale, Jesus' life, Daniel & Goliath, and Adam. Those contrasted (in terms of numbers) with the "stories" I knew of women, which were limited to Mary (who, I just knew about birthing Jesus) and Eve (who was made from Adam). I think the numbers speak for themselves - but that is from my surface view of scripture. Maybe there's in-depth things that I didn't mention here, but for someone who hasn't studied Christianity, it seems very male-dominated to me.

2. To preface what I'm about to say about the Madonna music video, I'll just say that this summer I did a project on her, so I'm a little biased/too in-depth with information about her. Anyways, I know that she was raised in a Catholic family, which she was not a fan of, but it is prevalent in her music lyrics and titles. Anyways, I think the biggest connection to religion I heard in the song was the line "he says that he's going to marry me, and we can raise a little family." I'm not too sure if this is any kind of real religious rule, but I know that my family has taught me that when you get pregnant, out of wedlock, you need to get married to make things "legitimate" - and marriage I always equate with a religious ceremony.

Well, those are my two cents! They'll be in the discussion tomorrow, but just as a first glance, here's my side. Enjoy!