My name is Kara Corallo. I turned 18 about a month ago and I am currently enrolled at UCF as a freshman. I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Women's Studies with hopes of ultimately becoming a social worker and maybe even eventually writing a novel. The topic of feminism and the study of women was introduced to me after reading a heart-wrenching article in VOGUE magazine about Waris Dirie - an FGM (female genital mutilation) victim from Somalia and now a well-known model. The story broke my heart and I realized I would never be satisfied with myself if I never helped these victims in some way, shape, or form.
As I mentioned in class, gender and sexuality are completely different things to me. Gender is pink and blue, sexuality is male and female. Although I am "pink" and my gender preference is "male", I still feel very adamant about protecting other peoples' preferences that may not be widely accepted. The stereotypes for feminism and sexual orientation are frustrating to me because the people who joke about them are ignorant due only and completely to the fact that they are basing their judgements off of folly misinterpretations that happen to be in vogue.
My favorite type of writing is creative writing - mainly poems, short stories, even random sentences that pop into my head. I once dreamed of becoming a lyricist but I'd prefer to have a more rewarding career. I am incredibly interested in 2nd-wave feminism and the historical aspects of the feminist movements - such as famous women during these time periods. I've always been really interested in Valerie Solanas and I've been looking to buy her SCUM Manifesto. Although I find her philosophies and theories preposterous and extreme, I can't help but find the intensity with which she writes powerful and extremely alluring.
Also, I don't know if you guys are familiar with the magazine BITCH but I bought my first one about a month ago and it made me feel rather empowered, so anyone who hasn't heard of it or has but hasn't read one yet - I'd encourage you to buy one at your nearest book store!
I think gender is important to me because it establishes who I am as an individual. I think that the previous sentence can be misconstrued so let me clarify. The label itself has no establishment on my individuality, but the fact that I think of myself as a "pink" allows me to embrace specific aspects that I
consider "pink" in nature. The effect that my gender has on me makes me self-aware and independent. Our culture is infatuated with superficial characteristics. I'm tired of being harassed, hit on, whistled at, watching my friends lose any ounce of self-respect they thought they had at clubs and parties. I have a brain. I am not just an object. I am beautiful on the inside and that's the only thing that matters to me and the only thing that should matter to everyone else. I don't support women who hate men. That is one thing I will never understand and something that will continuously frustrate me. If men are respectful of women and their boundaries, if they act like gentlemen and behave in an appropriate and mature manner then I will respect them as well. I think that every relationship (platonic or not) depends on respect and that's why I can't comprehend women who "hate" men.
I have read, understood, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus and the blogging protocols.
