SB7

Class this week was interesting talking about institutions and ideologies. I found it fascinating watching the transgender parenting video and how close minded we are as a society when it comes to defining a family. I think we have all heard the saying "We choose our friends, not our family"? Well I don't find that entirely true, I have many friends that I consider family, many are my parents friends that have been in my life since birth whom I considered as aunts, uncles, role models, etc. My best gal friends from kindergarten I consider as my sister because I feel I can share anything with her. One of my "brothers" has a two year old whom I consider my nephew as if he was my own blood. And don't those of us who are pet lovers find ourselves considering our pets as "our children". I know I do so what difference is it whom we consider family? Who are we to judge on how a family should be and who should be in it. I find my "extended family" no different than those who are gay or transgender wanting to have children or consider themselves in a different parenting role than society demands them to be. We think too much inside the box and I was glad when the daughter in the video stood up for her parent as she was trying to figure out what she wanted to define herself as. I know there are some people who have problems with being gay or homosexuals getting married but I think it is an awesome thing. It may not be something I choose for myself but I see no reason why people can't be happy with themselves and find others who make them feel special. My dad always makes the joke "Let them be as miserable as the rest of us". His philosophy is no one should get married, too much stress lol. I have a cousin who is gay and his partner is an absolute sweetheart and I hope that someday they get the chance to officialize their togetherness and maybe have a family of their own.

Here are some of my "extended siblings" to prove that you can choose your family and blood is not always the thickest bond.

   ..... ok never mind this website apparently thinks my photos are too large to add to my post:( So! On to Google Pics! This clip resembles the fact we need to think beyond the binary boundaries and be more accepting. 



http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=3_usvLThJK3iCM&tbnid=d4wVSTM1W-ELEM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hanfordsentinel.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fschools-prepare-for-transgender-law%2Farticle_32cbd57a-6459-11e3-922a-0019bb2963f4.html&ei=FvA4U8XWEOvfsAS4tYKoDg&bvm=bv.63808443,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNEs2UzzDOJF2H_8_Oxf5vzzqRTkpA&ust=1396326663440185

SB4

What was your favorite toy(s) as a child? The one thing you would play with hours on end without switching your attention to something else. Maybe one that has been passed down through generations or something you got from someone special that made you smile. Now think about how society would define the toy. What I mean is, would society define it as a girls toy, boys, or no preference (unisex)? 

One of my favorite toys was Lego's, and I am not talking about the duplos. I am talking about the small pieces with knights, castles, spaceships and blocks of multiple colors; mainly primary colors for the longest time. My father introduced me to his love of Lego's when I was two years old, a little young for playing with pieces so small, but lucky for my dad I was not a child that ate them. 

I never considered the thought that Lego's that I played with were considered more of a "boys" toy. I just knew that it was something dad and I loved to do. It wasn't until my grandma and other family members bought me pink Duplo Lego's because they were more "girly" and was afraid I was turning too much into a tomboy. My guy friends would come over and play Lego's with me and would just be brutal to my Lego's, throwing them as they had their epic battles, bitting off the heads and breaking some of the pieces. I would get so mad but I was considered "such a girl" when I would fuss that the Lego's were not in their rightful places. 

As I grew older Lego introduced the "Friends" Lego just for girls! Bright pink and purple Lego's where the pieces and people were bigger, for our smaller hands, not being able to change outfits or come apart like the traditional Lego's. I was frustrated that the thing I loved the most as a child was being in a sense segregated by the gender that you were. 

Growing up with this confusion I would ask my dad if I was meant to be a boy since I liked "boy" Lego's. He would explain that Lego's were meant for anyone and the variations in the Lego sets were just to help introduce more kids into liking the Lego's. It didn't matter what Lego's I liked and that I never had to be a boy to do or play with anything. My dad always encouraged my sister and I to do anything we wanted and to never let anyone tell us it was "just for boys" or "was a man's place", we were just as good (if not better) than any boy. He helped my oppression for liking a stereotypical boys toy and made it an awesome childhood full of happy memories as well as a continuing obsession for collecting Lego's to this day.