Listening to Global Voices

Before Ethan Zuckerman's TED Talk, I shared the same belief as everyone, that we have all the information we need at our fingertips. Zuckerman speaks out in order to relieve us of the erroneous mentality that we (Americans) are the only people on the internet. He then proceeds to point out that over 17.7% of Twitter users are Japanese as apposed to only 8.3% of American users. Weird how we still don't hear from (or pay attention to) the other 82.3% of Twitter population.

I also learned that according to NASA, there are dark spots in the world because of the lack of electricity in some countries such as Africa, Madagascar, as well other countries. This in fact, partially justifies why we don't hear much from those countries on social media. When basic necessities such as electricity are not yet met, undoubtedly there will be less people's voices being heard online.

NASA picture of "dark spots"

By thinking outside my social bubble, I look forward to the day where Google can properly translate a webpage written in Chinese to me. I know that the day will come where translators will become more efficient and deliver decent translations, while making my communication skills in other languages much easier.

I also know that by being a Global Business Management major I am a sort of xenophile that wants to build bridges among cultures like the video talked about. I intend to be able to tie in my Hispanic-American culture and traditions with other people around the world in the workplace.

Le Club de Francais y club de Espanol

My friends are already used to hearing "I'm going to a club"

And by that I don't mean Cloud N9ne or Oceans 7 type of club.

Being a freshman in college I knew I had to continue being involved in school activities so during the first month of school I signed up for the French club, the Spanish club, the International club, the Health club, the Young Life/ Christian Challenge club, and even the Exceptional Students club. Of course I couldn't possibly find time to go to all of their meetings and in the end became the French club VP and Spanish club treasurer.

I decided to become involved in the two mentioned clubs because: 

1.  Both clubs were holding elections and.. 
2. They go past the France and Mexican borders and incorporate "francophone" countries into their culture as well as the Spanish and South American countries.

In France it is polite to greet someone either with a handshake or with 1 kiss or bises on each cheek. In the Latin community they are more affectionate and incorporate hugs and kisses when greeting close relatives. 

The French and Spanish cultures share a lot of similarities from the structure in which the languages are written/ spoken, to the way they show affection toward family members.

The only difference I have found thus far is the games played in each culture.

In our first French club meeting I met our elected president and I learned that he sings in francophone churches here in Arizona. In French club last week we played a game (I had never hear of) called Boule, or more commonly known as Bacci Ball here in the U.S. Turns out, that even though I have horrible aim, and could not see my target I was "a pro" in Boule, according to our club president (who was my biggest rival throughout the game). Lol

LGBTQ..RSTUVWXYZ

In the past we tended to differentiate boys from girls in the way they dress, the length of their hair, the tone of their voice, and even by muscularity. However, gender classification has gone far beyond the appearance of an individual. Rather than stating if a person is straight or gay as if it were as simple as contrasting colors black and white, more options are being added to properly classify individuals.

Nowadays it is common to find someone that openly states being something other than 'heterosexual' or 'homosexual'. This all due to the new found progressiveness and acceptance for LGBTQ communities. (Statistics shown here) 

Often times when we meet a non-heterosexual person, we assume that they will more likely take on the role of the opposite gender simply because they are not 'straight.' However, these ideas have rapidly changed. Now, individuals can classify themselves as Straight, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Tran-sexual, Queer, or other. The idea that sexuality is based on a spectrum and that there are levels to it has been ever-growing.

According to the University of California they will soon be allowing students to check more than one box in their admission applications when classifying their sex, gender, and sexual orientation. 

Options for gender would be as follows; Trans male/ Trans female, Gender queer/ Gender nonconforming, and Different identity.

Options for sexual orientation would include; Heterosexual or Straight, Gay or Lesbian, Bisexual, and Not listed above.

Allowing individuals to have more options while filing paperwork relieves the minor anxiety they might feel by only being able to check one box. (Similar to what a mixed race individual feels when checking more than one box for 'race.') This option would also give the person requiring the information access to preferred pronouns when addressing the individual. 

UC has taken the first step toward greater inclusion for the LGBTQ community and undoubtedly in the next few years, many more public facilities will follow in their footsteps.   

Being a Girl

"What's it like to be a girl?" I heard this question all too many times going from middle school to high school. Because the majority of my friends were boys, I learned to (somewhat) understand the way they thought and talked. Unfortunately they could not say the same about me, or girls in general for that fact.

Often times I sat through school lunches listening to these boys talk about how big (or small) a girl's @** was, how hitting the gym was really paying off, how easy or slutty a girl on the cheer team was, or just in general making sexual remarks. Keeping in mind that these were all guys on our varsity cheer team, I couldn't help but think "this is seriously why guys join cheer," which of course explained why there were more guys than girls on the team with a 4:1 ratio.

So what's it like to be a girl? 

Well for starters, we are more private when it comes to sexual activity and will only share this with our closest girlfriends, as opposed to most guys that are more prone to disclosing this information with close girl or guy friends. Hence, we do not want to constantly hear about how 'hot' or 'easy' another girl is. Although, guiltily I can admit we also compare guys and their "game spitting" with our friends.

Our bodies are different. We get periods. So if we are quieter than usual do not make comments like, "It must be that time of the month again.." or "She's acting difficult, she's probably on her period" not only could you be wrong but if we are, it only adds the need to punch you.

We are expected to have neater hand writing, which I have proven true in most cases-- but then there is my best friend since elementary school that just ruins the odds.

What we choose to wear tends to be tied to our personalities or sexual experiences. Example 1: It's an Arizona Summer, a woman is wearing short shorts instead of longer shorts = "She's obviously asking for attention so it's not the guys' fault if they stare or say something"
VS.
Example 2: It's an Arizona Summer, a man is wearing short shorts instead of longer shorts = "what is this, the 70's? I guess it is kinda hot outside so it doesn't matter"

The biological differences between male and females are countless and can be altered, who's not to say that feminism will become even more popular and create gender equality within the social norms.