Manly Men

By Marwa Allavi-Osmani

For WGSS 205, Marwa Allavi-Osmani created a website entitled "Manly Men," as a challenge to representations of toxic masculinity.

Marwa wrote: "Toxic masculinity is a constant issue that is being brought up everywhere in the world. U.S. society and the social norms are just now beginning to evolve, slowly accepting people for who they are. However, the growth and change with this ideology has not progressed far, considering all the hate and judgment that many of young boys and men are still receiving. This stereotypes and standards men and boys are being put under, that they have to be this big strong man who has to conceal any emotion for fear of being called weak, gay, and feminine, makes them feel obligated to only dress and think a certain way.

"A woman, for example, could go out wearing “boys clothing” and no one would think much of it, whereas if a man were to go out in “women’s clothing” people would give them weird looks, judging them based on their choice of clothing, and making assumptions about them, without even knowing who the person is. The main outlet that these boys and men must freely express themselves is through their choice of clothing when their words or actions are not enough to show people that men can be free to choose what they want to wear and who they want to be.

"My hope with this website is to educate people and show them a side that they didn't see before and help them understand that clothes don’t have a gender. I want boys and men to learn that it is okay for them to be who they are and be free to express themselves through their clothing without fear or shame of what the people around them think."

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Marwa Allavi-Osmani is a first year student at CSUSM, majoring in Biochemistry.

Luminate

By Alyssa Weeks

My project not only challenges unrealistic and exclusive beauty standards but it also satirizes the culture industry as a whole. It’s a seemingly harmless advertisement that conditions us to believe that our bodies as they are, are not good enough and must be altered in order for us to be happy. “Alterations” always mean buying products to minimize our individualism and follow the status quo. The ability of the culture industry to dictate how we think of ourselves, what we buy, how we act, and how we feel, demonstrates the unfounded levels of control the ruling elite have upon the masses.

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My name is Alyssa Weeks and I am a third year transfer student studying Political Science. I plan to focus on bettering my hometown of Oceanside and generating progressive change locally, for the time being. This piece was greatly inspired by the 1980s film They Live, a movie that speaks to class struggle and capitalism, while embodying the somewhat cheesy but heartwarming vibes of the 1980s.

Just Do It!

By Jocelyn Sandoval

My name is Jocelyn Sandoval and I am a second year student majoring in Psychology. My WGSS 205 project challenges the way advertisers choose to sell their products. Advertisements meant to sell clothing items, beauty products, and nearly anything else have implemented the sexualization of a woman's body to 'enhance' sales. I propose that a product can be advertised and sold without sexualizing women's bodies.

I plan to gain experience with clinical psychology following my undergrad work, and I hope to be able to continue my studies past my B.A. I am currently gaining professional experience working for the county and I plan for this experience to set me up for success in my desired career. I have discovered more about who I am since attending university, specifically the power I have and what I am capable of as a woman.