We ALL Can

By Aileen Espinoza

My pop culture project challenges patriarchy and the degrading of females and their successes. I chose to challenge patriarchy because I believe that women contribute to the well-being of the world in so many incredible ways, but they are not given the credit they work so hard for. Young girls grow up thinking that their only purpose in life is to care for their children and husbands, fearful of opportunity. This harms the self-esteem of girls all over the world, because they are taught that they are no match against men. It is harmful to young boys because they grow up thinking that they have to be intimidated by women and that it is not okay to “lose” to a girl, lowering confidence and creating an anger toward women and themselves.

The message encoded in my project is that women have historically achieved so much, in all areas, and young women need to know that. It is important for historical movements and impacts made by women to be taught and embraced in order for younger generations of all genders to feel confident and motivated to be the best version of themselves. 

---

Aileen Espinoza is a first year student majoring in Criminal Justice. She says, "The intent of my advertisement is to challenge male patriarchy and promote the success and achievements of all women."

For the Sons of Tomorrow

By Demi Pinal

I chose to challenge toxic masculinity because, as someone in the Hispanic community, I have seen the after-effects of toxic masculinity one too many times. In my culture, we hear the term "machismo" more often as a way of being for a male. Machismo to many Latinx men means to never show any emotional expression, always look tough, and hold lots of pride in your manhood. We see mostly the older generation accept this idea and pass it down to the next era of sons. Unknowingly, this places lots of pressure on young boys to live up to the expectations of the macho men before them. It’s a repeating cycle that harms the girls and women just as much. By taking so much pride in one’s manhood or ego, sometimes it can be easy to degrade another group, not taking their feelings into account. Because of this being a cultural norm, no one can escape the routine until someone brings attention to this issue.

---

I am a first-year, first-generation Chicanx student here at CSU San Marcos. I am currently majoring in Sociology with a concentration in health, wellness, and education. My intention for my piece entitled, For the Sons of Tomorrow is to awaken the emotions of those who have suppressed them, in hopes to gain acceptance within themselves. Additionally, I’d like to evoke compassion in individuals who may have never known the detrimental effects of toxic masculinity. I wish to bring together all populations in order to create a more equal society through acceptance and understanding of one another.

Homophobia

By Emily McGuire

Homophobia is bullying and beating kids for their sexuality. Homophobia is crying alone in your room because you could never come out to your family. Homophobia is deep-rooted, internalized hatred. Homophobia is the worst thing in many people’s daily lives.

Homophobia, like all other phobias, is rooted in an irrational fear. The irrational fear is of people who love or show romantic interest in those of the same gender. Homophobia is something that affects many people worldwide, including me. There are laws in place in 73 countries making it illegal to be with someone of the same sex romantically, even in private. Despite this, even more people around the globe show their pride in being LGBTQ+ every single day.

Being straight is like an invisible safety net that the LGBTQ+ community does not have the privilege of wearing. LGBTQ+ people face many inequities in terms of money, legal protections, job opportunities, adoption options, and much more. In “Marriage is Marriage” from Ms. Magazine, author Sarah Boonin notes that “DOMA made more than 1,000 federal laws referencing marriage become inapplicable to us.” DOMA is an acronym for the Defense of Marriage Act. This act meant that same-sex couples could not get married because marriage was supposed to be “between one man and one woman.” It had originally barred marriages of same-sex couples at the state level, but was overturned by United States v. Windsor. The bill lost even more power with the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, saying that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right, thus legalizing gay marriage across the country.

Even though same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015 for citizens of the United States, there are still many homophobic and judgmental people who try to ruin people’s lives because of their sexual orientation. “Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism” by Suzanne Pharr tells an eye-opening tale of the dangers of being openly queer in the modern world. When talking about homophobia, Pharr states that “its power is great enough to keep ten to twenty percent of the population living lives of fear (if their sexuality is hidden) or lives of danger (if their identity is visible) or both.” People can face the loss of their jobs, “heterosexual privilege and protection,” safety, credibility, and so much more just because they are (or are thought to be) LGBTQ+. Though it is a protected category, and sexual orientation cannot be asked at a job interview, some employers look for any visible signs of “gayness” and make-up reasons why person wasn’t hired or why they get fired if they were already employed.

Same-sex marriage is legal in the US. LGBTQ+ peoples are considered a protected class. Life is still hard for people who identify (openly or closeted) as LGBTQ+. There are still laws in place in 43 states in the United States where murder of gay people is allowed and defended in courts of law (it’s called the Gay and Trans Panic Defense). Only six states currently don’t allow this defense, and one state is repealing this defense in June. There are still attacks on people who are gay (or thought to be) and places where gay people hang out (bars, clubs). The hatred of gays is passed from generation to generation and many times gets worse. Like racism, there is no reason behind the hatred other than fear. But this fear costs people their jobs, their homes, their children, and too often their lives.

Despite this, everyday people celebrate their own pride in themselves and others like them. People who are starting to accept themselves and their sexuality and/or gender, people who are helping others who have been kicked out by homophobic family members or roommates, people who are starting to transition to their true gender, people who are fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ folks, and people who are making the legal changes to ensure we get treated equally. We are all equal, and homophobes must realize it. There is nothing wrong with loving someone of the same gender. There is nothing wrong with presenting as a gender other than what you were assigned at birth. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to have a gender. There is nothing wrong with not being sexually attracted to anyone. There is nothing wrong with being attracted to anyone despite their gender. There is nothing wrong with being LGBTQ+.

There is nothing wrong with being me.