What Women and Gender Studies Means to me Puntea Razavian WGST 480 Dr. Ketchum

WOMen and Gender STudies This major gave me a sense of community and my own identity. Switching majors, I was quickly reassured that I made a right choice. I was learning subjects that were not only interesting but made me realize that there are others that think and feel the same way I do. Growing up, - I was the only liberal in my conservative family. - My sexuality - Gender roles and gender presentation

Queer Theory Taking Queer Theory helped me better understand my sexuality and that I do not necessarily need to fit into a specific box or label. I learned that sexuality itself can be fluid. Coming from a more conservative family, especially with parents that immigrated from a country that has no tolerance for homosexuality, it has been very difficult to express how I identify myself.

Social Construction of Gender The social construction of gender has always been a very fascinating theory to me. “Gender reality is performative which means, quite simply, that it is real only to the extent that it is performed” Butler I’ve never been too feminine or too masculine in the way I dress or present myself. My parents have always questioned why I do not dress more feminine.

Foucault and Institutions of Power While taking Women and Gender studies and Philosophy classes I have studied a lot about Foucault and his theories of power. I am always very fascinated by these theories and the forms of power that control our lives. The institutional forms of power have a strong affect on how we present gender and sexuality into our communities and society.

The Future After I graduate in Spring of 2019, I am interested in going into Graduate school… I hope to pursue a career in Social Work particularly concentrating on LGBTQ children. ~THE BIG DREAM~ Create an organization or a non-profit for LGBTQ Iranians