Rape Victims in Africa

When I first saw this photo, it was very thought-provoking for me. At first glance, there is a mother and her son reacting to a tragedy that happened. Reading the context that comes with the picture, the photo journalist states that her son had been thrown to the ground by soldiers before they raped and beat his mother. She insisted that her son be photographed as well because she seemed to express more concern about his well being than her own.

In one of the descriptions of Muller's photographs, the text states that an African woman said, "If we go to the fields, we get raped. If we take our goods to sell in the markets, we get raped. There is danger everywhere for women."

Well, this definitely hits pathos right there. The audience, surely people who are unaware of these incidents happening daily in Africa, must feel a sense of devastation for these women. Personally, it's unbelievable to think about how people think that this is okay, or that rape is an acceptable act.

To better understand why this happens, I think it's a good idea to look at their culture and their views on women. This topic could be an entire essay by itself, but I'll keep it short: Congo, Africa is described to be "the worst place in the world for women."

The emphasis of the photo is the mother and the son. It helps that the mother and son are the main focus of the photo because the background is simple: just a blue wall in a plain room consisting of no furniture. It's hard to see the mother's face, and it's only possible to see a small portion of the boy's face as well as the wound on his head; however, it's evident that the level of emotions are high in this photo.

Why this photo is effective at getting the meaning across to the audience:

• It informs the audience of the dangers of women in parts of Africa.
• The photo is emotional and appeals to the need to nurture.
• The photo emphasizes what is important to the mother: nurturing the child in this time of distress. 

Pete Muller, the photographer, has a bio on his site that states, "I strive to create images and material that demand consideration for the lives of those depicted." This short sentence is very powerful, and I think he accomplished his goal of doing that with this beautifully portrayed photo.

Muller's site: http://www.petemullerphotography.com/#/bio 

Do Gender Roles Still Exist?

Gender roles, according to this article, are defined as "social expectations that dictate how each gender is to speak, think, act, and engage with each other.

Our society in the U.S. now, in comparison to the 1950's, has changed the expected gender roles that used to be. In the '50's, it was expected of women to be homemakers, so they stayed home and were responsible for the running of the house and raising the children. As for the men, they were in charge of being the sole providers for the family.

Although this may be the roles for many today, these expectations have been altered, and one reason is that more women are starting to have aspirations for careers.

According to this study by the Pew Research Center (as shown in the chart on the left), " Two-thirds (66%) of young women ages 18 to 34 rate career high on their list of life priorities, compared with 59% of young men."

Perhaps this is because women are feeling more empowered and capable of accomplishing things that were more dominantly done by men before. 

Furthermore, The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that in the '50's, the labor force participation rate of women was just 33.9%, and in 1998 it increased to 59.8%.

This just shows that more women want to make something of their lives besides just being an at-home mom, and that their households probably depend on the dual income from both the mom and father.

For the most part, I know some stay-at-home fathers, and I know many women who hold off on husbands for a career. However, I also know many people who conform to traditional gender roles. Either way, I believe society is being more open-minded about changes in traditional roles, and it's a good step toward gender equality.

Talk to you soon,

Alexis

Females Working for NFL Jobs

  

"You can't work for the NFL if you're a girl," declared my close friend. "only old men work for the NFL."

Needless to say, my reaction looked a little like this:

This was said to me several months ago, and since then, something spectacular happened in the NFL world that made me think of this comment immediately. The first female coach was hired, and her name is Jen 'Dr. J' Welter. She was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as a training camp intern in late July and lasted until August. Although she is yet to be hired by another NFL team, she has inspired many women who wish to do the same thing.

So, there must be some difference between her and other NFL coaches, right? Well, according to the cornerback for the Cardinals, "She fits right in. You don't even know that she's a woman when she's in there giving guys technical input."

In other words, gender doesn't define greatness. Great people- no matter what gender- define greatness. 

So, Mr. Close Friend Of Mine, still believe girls can't work for the NFL? Let's talk more.

Sonia Gysland is another inspiring female in the NFL as an athletic trainer, and is a member of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS). According to this article, "she's almost impossible to keep up with."
                                                                               
Athletic training includes a wide range of duties from treating injuries on the sideline, to unloading equipment at the stadium in preparation for taping ankles or other various body parts. These duties are completely capable of getting completed by women, even though this field has been dominated by men for a long time.

Going back to the article about Grysland, she exclaimed in an interview that she thinks it's "easier for a team to hire a female when they've already done it in the past and it had worked out great."

This sounds pretty accurate, and I'm sure aspiring athletic trainers (including myself) are thanking her for leaving such a great impression as a female working in the NFL.

Consider this when going back to the quote from the beginning: "only old men work for the NFL."
Sure, men have dominated jobs for male-dominated sports for a very long time. It's just a fact. However, these slowly-appearing female faces in the NFL might just help turn that around.

Furthermore, on the site for PFATS, there is a bold statement in the scholarship section that states, "Female athletic training students are encouraged to apply." Afterall, they're looking for knowledgeable, hard-working people. Not just knowledgeable, hard-working men.

Overall, I think it's important to realize that it doesn't matter what gender you are. If you want a career in a male-dominated field, then work hard and do it. If you want a career in a female-dominated field, then work hard and do it. Gender doesn't matter.

Talk to you soon,
Alexis