An Introduction to ME!!!

Hey Mrs. Tweed and my fellow Girls and Leadership classmates!

 I’m Samantha and I’m currently a junior at UCF.  I’m originally from Tamarac, Florida, and I’m in the process of changing my major from Molecular and Microbiology to Health Sciences Pre-Clinical. I’m also pursuing a minor in Women’s Studies which has become my passion!

                When I looked at the series of questions given to answer for this introductory blog assignment, I thought that my answers would just flow out without hesitation, but I was faced with difficulty.  I think girl’s studies  shows the idea of how girl’s express themselves and what they believe, how they look at the world and how the world perceives or doesn’t perceive them. Girls are seen as doubly disadvantaged and dependent because they are females and thus are seen as the weaker sex, and they are also young so they are looked down upon as unintelligent, naive or weak minded. Girl’s studies looks at the true nature of girl’s and how they defy the stereotype that girl’s are doubly reliant or not developed compared to Women or boys. It looks at the myth that girls generally lack a self identity and an awareness of themselves, and provides examples to prove the contrary. The world looks at the girl as something that needs to be saved or constantly guided to reach a state of successful self confidence, and awareness. In reality they are very capable, self aware, and show leadership and confidence in many spheres of their lives. Girl’s Studies undertakes the task of showing us just what girls are really capable of.

                I believe Girl’s studies is vastly different from Women’s studies because Women’s studies looks at the initial oppression of women, and their stages to gain independence and equality  the movements, the history, and the constant struggle in society and worldwide for women in the past, present, and future. Women’s Studies only examines’ women once they reach adulthood and totally neglects some of the most crucial stages; that is the girl child and her growth. Girl’s studies focuses on youth and what she experiences.

                I’m interested in Girl’s Studies because girls in general are an underrepresented but very crucial portion of the population. Essentially girls become women, and it’s the experiences and trials and tribulations that they go through that mold them into the women they become. I wanted to step back and really be able to take girls out of the broader category of children and focus on them. I’m interested in girl’s studies because I’m very curious to see how the world at large perceives this portion of the population and how girls’ perceive themselves. I’m also interested in gaining more knowledge so that I can look at girls and change some of my own assumptions that I’ve never really considered before.

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to examine girls in a light I’ve never seen, and I’m ready to challenge my beliefs and create new ones.

I hope everyone has a great semester!

Samantha D.

 I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus and the blogging protocols.