Our Inspiration:
Stereotype ActivityWhistling Vivaldi
Project Description |
To start our study of stereotypes
Our first reading was Whistling Vivaldi. This story is about an African-American man describing what happens when he walks down the street. Strangers would cross the street when they saw him coming and avoid eye contact just because of how he looks. These people were stereotyping him, because of his race and gender they assumed he could be dangerous or violent. One day he started whistling a classical song by Vivaldi as he was walking. Strangely, people regarded him differently when he whistled.
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Writing Process
Personal Piece
I had a really hard time with this project in the beginning because I simply was not sure what I needed to break free of. Eventually I came to fact that I needed to break free of the unspoken stereotypes. The things my mom says, getting honked at as I walked down the street are just two of them I addressed these topics and asked myself why these things were expected of me. Why do I need to be girly? Why do I have to be judged for what I look like?
I am not just a girl,
I am more than a feminine individual
I don't understand why men catcall girls
Why do you think I need your approval?
It's degrading to be objectified like that.
I feel like a piece of meat,
instead of a human being.
I dress the way I dress and I do the things I do for myself,
Not to look pretty for society.
I wear makeup to feel confidence
I wear jeans because that’s what i feel comfortable in
not to make my ass look good.
I don't do anything I do for anybody but myself.
Why is it, that because I am a girl,
I must be pretty and pink, polite and kind?
Because that is not who I am
I am blunt and sarcastic
and I have a bad attitude
I don't have curly, cute handwriting
I don’t follow the rules
When a guy catcalls me I want to yell “screw you” and flip them off,
but I am also afraid.
I'm scared that some guy is going to stop his car and grab me.
I'm scared that he's going to do something horrible.
They don't see the girl looking around cautiously, making sure nothing can go wrong.
I scowl when I'm walking to the bus,
smiling makes me look weak.
I can't walk alone after dark for that exact reason,
I am seen as a weak and as an easy target.
My mom complains about me not wearing dresses or skirts,
But that is simply not who I am.
I am strong and independent
And fearless and brave
I am bitchy and rude
I am also vulnerable and thoughtful and smart!
Most people see my inadvertence to school and test scores
And they think I don’t care
They see a rebellious teenage girl
Not the overflowing bookshelf in her bedroom
Or the girl who almost cried because she hurt a ladybug
Just because I am a girl
And I have these physical aspects about me,
Does not mean you get to judge me for what you see.
There are many things that only the closest to me know.
I am more than a feminine individual
I don't understand why men catcall girls
Why do you think I need your approval?
It's degrading to be objectified like that.
I feel like a piece of meat,
instead of a human being.
I dress the way I dress and I do the things I do for myself,
Not to look pretty for society.
I wear makeup to feel confidence
I wear jeans because that’s what i feel comfortable in
not to make my ass look good.
I don't do anything I do for anybody but myself.
Why is it, that because I am a girl,
I must be pretty and pink, polite and kind?
Because that is not who I am
I am blunt and sarcastic
and I have a bad attitude
I don't have curly, cute handwriting
I don’t follow the rules
When a guy catcalls me I want to yell “screw you” and flip them off,
but I am also afraid.
I'm scared that some guy is going to stop his car and grab me.
I'm scared that he's going to do something horrible.
They don't see the girl looking around cautiously, making sure nothing can go wrong.
I scowl when I'm walking to the bus,
smiling makes me look weak.
I can't walk alone after dark for that exact reason,
I am seen as a weak and as an easy target.
My mom complains about me not wearing dresses or skirts,
But that is simply not who I am.
I am strong and independent
And fearless and brave
I am bitchy and rude
I am also vulnerable and thoughtful and smart!
Most people see my inadvertence to school and test scores
And they think I don’t care
They see a rebellious teenage girl
Not the overflowing bookshelf in her bedroom
Or the girl who almost cried because she hurt a ladybug
Just because I am a girl
And I have these physical aspects about me,
Does not mean you get to judge me for what you see.
There are many things that only the closest to me know.
"That" Card
Group Video Project
My group did our video o derogatory terms. We went out in public and asked strangers on how they used these words and how the felt about them.