Aisles of Segregation

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/1114/1224326570945.html

Walk down the toy aisles in any store and you'll see a clear distinction between the girl's and boy's section. One area with a pink theme is bombarded with glitter, dolls, princesses and household-based toys. Now move on to the blue-themed area that is filled with action figures, guns, and cars.

Simply, these  gender-stereotyping toys are sending the wrong messages to children. Products that are aimed towards girls are reminding them what they are capable of and that is wearing pretty dresses, admiring themselves in front of vanity mirrors and taking care of household work. The message is pretty clear: girls are only good for domestic roles and making themselves look good. On the other hand, boys are given a sense of patriotism and are encouraged to be superheroes and athletes; it makes them seem active, daring and sporty.

However these messages can negatively affect the way we think. It pollutes the minds of children by giving them the idea that girls and boys are so fundamentally different that there are no toys available that both genders will be able to enjoy. Back in the 70s and 80s, toys were unisex but nowadays they are categorized specifically for boys and girls. Take Legos for example. They used to market to both sexes until they created two completely different Lego universes. They've added a Lego Friends line which is there attempt to market towards girls. Lego Friends points out the assumptions that society has on girls with the most common being that they are genetically programmed to like pink and participate in home-decorating activities. 

Before

After

Now I firmly believe that the media has a lot to do with the gender inequality that plagues our culture. It's apparent to me that women are badly represented in the media while men are praised by society. In movies for example, the male is usually the hero whereas the female is a damsel in distress waiting for her "Prince Charming" to save her. I think society tries to enforce the idea that men will always be superior over women. Instead of being stuck on that old ideology, our society should start gravitating towards gender equality. (343)

Room for Debate

Should College Be For Everyone?

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/03/01/should-college-be-for-everyone

There is a question going around whether college is suitable for everyone. In my opinion, I think EVERYONE should aspire to go to college. I say this because having a college degree opens up a lot of opportunities and doors for you that you may not receive with only a high school diploma. Statistics show that between 1973 and 2010, the jobs that require education beyond high school more than doubled from 28 percent to 60 percent. This shows that more and more jobs are requiring you to have a post-secondary education. Furthermore, a college degree can give you the credentials you need to get the job that you want and it gives you a higher chance of being hired. In other words, having a degree can lessen the competition with others who are also applying for the same position. With our economy, jobs aren't easy to find and when jobs do become available, the company would most likely hire the person with the higher education. Kevin Carey points out in his discussion that we are living in a mobile society where workers need credible evidence of their skills and abilities to get a job. This is highly accurate because no one in their right mind would hire an individual who has no experience or skills whatsoever for the job that they are applying for. For instance, an individual would not be allowed to operate on someone without proof of having completed the required training and education to do so. Not only that, a college degree means that you earn more money. According to Anthony P. Carnevale, people with a college degree make 84 percent more in their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. So if you want to be financially stable, opting for a college degree is your best choice. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to this issue. College may be available to everyone but it doesn't mean that they can afford it. College IS getting more and more expensive these days which can discourage an individual from trying to attain it. And for those who are able to get their college degree may not be able to pursue the career they want due to the unavailability; It's not always guaranteed that they will be able to get the job that they want after they complete their education. Going to college isn't mandatory but I believe that everyone should pursue a post-secondary education to survive in today's economy. (415)

Related Articles: 
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/who-shouldnt-go-to-college/
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/commentary/should-everyone-go-college

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Generation WE Reflection

First off, I noticed that Generation WE includes people with different ethnicity. It reveals how America has become so diverse over the years. I agree with some of the points that were made in the video such as the future of politics and where it will stand in the future. We will see a change in our politics because we will be the ones making the choices once we are of legal voting age after all. As of right now, with the reelection of Obama, our generation seems to aim more towards the democratic party. Another point that was made in the video was the perception of America. I don't agree with people's view that America is “arrogant” because I think we are far from it. Our generation is more caring, intelligent and creative. People today are more involved within their communities/or clubs; These qualities are changing America for the better. Their perception also effects me in a way because I AM a part of this generation so knowing that people actually think that way about America makes me want to take action. I'd hate to be a part of something that is affiliated with such negative connotations. In the video, they also point out that we should attempt to restore the American Dream. However, I think it's time for us to create a new dream because we can't always fall back on the same dream. I think a new vision is necessary for our country to evolve and expand even further. (253)