Explore. Learn. Apply.

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[melanie729]

Social Media

I see daily on social media and even with self-help articles and even religion that continuously tells people how to be better or even how they're not quite there yet in life (even though that has its good place too at times--we need the push) BUT they never teach or encourage your value now or that you're even good enough yet

I hear all the time from friends and read posts that so many people are unhappy where they are right now (School and job mostly). That wherever they are in life as of right now is just temporary (which is true, but unfortunately can't enjoy living in the now). I've even found myself doing that too on occasion

But, honestly, where you are in life right now is exactly where you're supposed to be. Be encouraged and know that this is your life; it's not over yet. You have extraordinary value and place in this life. Don't allow anyone to tell you you're not good enough or you're almost there or that you just have to work harder.

I feel like this is a start to actually feeling self-love, self acceptance and self-worth.

This is usually what I encourage my students because of what they tell me how social media affects their self-image

[melanie729]

Thoughts as an Adult

Recently I’ve been taking this course on Religious Studies and I’ve come to realize that I’ve been blinded to the religiosity of my upbringing and morals that have influenced my perspective and expectations out of life. I’ve been drilled with gender roles, racism, homophobia, and even strong patriotism without question or doubt (because if you also were raised in a religious household, you’d know that any kind of doubt would deem as sinful or a wrong way of thinking). Now, I have begun my own research and study of the different types of religion (since it has now caught my interest) and the effects it has on the environment, economy, and culture. 

I am approaching it in a sociological manner, with a neutral standpoint, and not come at it in a theological attitude because then that would defeat the purpose of my research, right?

I am beginning this journey and hope someday to collect all my data and make it into a book in the near future! Wish me luck! 

[melanie729]

I’m gonna start actually using this as my platform of blogging and sharing ideas to help support and pivot educators, students, and just people willing to have an open mind and open heart to together as bloggers and thinkers alike

[ucresearch]

How Did Toys Get Stereotyped by Sex?

Elizabeth Sweet, a postdoctoral scholar in sociology at UC Davis, is working on a book about toys, gender, and inequality over the 20th century: 

In my research on historic toy advertisements, I found no period during the 20th century when the gender-based marketing of toys was anything near what we see today. In the 1975 Sears catalog, for example, toys came in many hues, and science kits and kitchen sets showed boys and girls working together.

But with the growth of the consumer economy, toy companies worked to stimulate demand by honing their appeal to kids. Gender categorization provided a handy tool for toy companies to define target markets, and gender stereotypes drew the interest of young children forming their own sense of identity.

There was also a shift in cultural understandings of gender: Belief that males and females are fundamentally different, and stereotypes about women, grew in the 1980s and 1990s despite broad support for gender equality.

Today, the pink-washed versions of toys that had been marketed solely to boys for decades are touted as a shift toward gender-neutrality. But while these toys may broaden the offerings within segregated toy aisles, they do nothing to challenge the underlying fact that the aisles are still segregated. And rather than busting stereotypes, such toys reinforce the idea that gender is the primary determinant of interests and skills.

More meaningful change will require toy companies to think outside of the gender box — and beyond the limiting colors that signify gender. Instead of more pink weapons and building sets, toys should be made using a full spectrum of colors (including pink) and with diverse themes, and they should be marketed to both boys and girls.

Many argue that de-gendering toys would prevent children from playing with gender-typical toys and force them into a sea of drab and homogenous toys. Quite the contrary: making toys gender inclusive doesn’t prevent a girl from selecting a pink doll or a boy from picking a blue truck — it just stops such a selection from being obligatory.

We know from a wealth of research that there is far more diversity among boys and among girls than there are categorical differences. If we get rid of reductive gender messages in product design and marketing, we may find out just how diverse children’s’ interests can be.

via New York Times.

[melanie729]

I'd like to see Burts Bees come up with a makeup line!

[mylittledreamhome]

Dream patio.

[mylittledreamhome]

magic

[elorablue]

Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes: By The Minimalist Baker

[georgianadesign]

Jennifer Bevan Interiors, South Pasadena, CA.

[onegreenplanet]

Spicy Lemon Sauteed Broccolini [Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo-Friendly]

[cartoonpolitics]

[cartoonpolitics]

[cartoonpolitics]

refers to baseball pitcher Mo’one Davis .. (story here)

[cartoonpolitics]

"As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems." .. (Pope Francis)

[cartoonpolitics]

"The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously." .. (Julian Barnes)

[mylittledreamhome]

Dream patio.

[supersonicart]

Akihiro Mizuuchi’s Edible Legos.

Artist Akihiro Mizuuchi designed edible chocolate legos that can be used just like the actual toy (just more delicious).  See more below!

Read More

[jcacciolagallery-blog]

Yum!