Final+Reflection

Looking Back... Overall, this course was a lot more than I had bargained for. I did not realize that I would learn so much across such a wide variety of subjects. I have learned, specifically through the current events, a lot about international issues. Women around the world do not share the same rights and privileges that we in America do. This class has helped me to open my eyes, and has shown me some true issues that our international society faces. I had never heard of FGM, human sex trafficking in Hawai’i, breast ironing, and bedee rolling prior to my time in Women in Literature.

I also learned a lot about myself through this class. I learned that I am heavily influenced by society in my opinions of the definitions of masculinity and femininity. I also never expected to find myself writing one of the most important essays of my life thus far, my college application essay, on a grilled cheese sandwich. I learned the value of editing, rewriting, and getting the opinions of others in order to perfect a piece of my own writing.

The final project was a great learning tool on multiple levels as well. First, it was probably the largest project I have ever undertaken. The importance and helpfulness of timelines and calendars truly came through on this assignment. Additionally, I really liked being able to pick a topic that sparked my interest. I think that having such a wide range of subject matter to choose from (virtually anything related to gender roles) really allowed me to pick something that truly peaked my interest. I also found it interesting to hear and learn about what my fellow classmates selected for their final projects.

I have already begun to apply the knowledge I have gained from this class to my life. I often come home and share with my parents what had occurred in Women in Lit. I also step back occasionally, and try to observe the roles of males and females around me, and take note of when these roles are being challenged.