"Girl" vs "Woman"

   I have honestly never been too bothered by the girl/woman interchange. I haven't thought about it too much. Either I'm just not too picky or I am still young and consider myself to be a girl in some cases. However I will say that I do my best not to call men, boys. I'm not sure why I have focused on that and noticed that difference and not for females... but I'm glad I saw this because, thinking about my own opinion on the subject, I do think it can be pretty offensive when "girl" is used inappropriately. The phrase "don't be such a girl" is really annoying. Or, "you're just a girl what do you know?"... that one sucks. I feel like females are generally more disrespected by men than women disrespecting men. As a female myself, there could be some major bias there! But who cares, this is my blog.

Pros and Cons of Kids Using Digital Technology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feQJndK_z6o

I thought this was a great Youtube video about the pros and cons of technology use. There are an abundance of amazing, good things that technology provides and children can grow a lot from many programs out there. However, I feel like the family unit is being harshly affected. I fell like in the past, families hung out together without any distractions and became really close. But now, it's like there is more secrecy and in order to be together, you have to fight to get your kids to put away their phones.

Stories Matter

"The Danger of a Single Story" TEDTalk.

This amazing talk really moved me and caused me to open my eyes and reflect on the ways that I think, the stories that I  seem to share or connect with and then the mostly false stereotypes that all of society is guilty of making. Lately I have been thinking a lot about the type of person I want to be including the way I think about interactions with other people and how I choose to let them affect me. A few years ago I was very simple minded and didn't necessarily care too much about what was going on outside of my own personal life bubble. But after having some amazing, eye-opening experiences in the past couple of years, I feel that "life" is about making connections with people that may be outside of that bubble. It's about opening your eyes to different views and different ways of life. It's about learning and maybe even experiencing others' stories so that false judgments, stereotypes and biases can be eliminated. I used to think that my life was all about me. However I have come to a different mindset that my life is about connecting with others. I don't even have a life if no one else is in it. I don't have a well-rounded, full life if I don't make connections and have some pretty crazy experiences to help shape me.

Stories help give people these experiences. I recently went on a European vacation, visiting Spain, Austria and Germany. I had great experiences there, learning about the wonderful, yet very sad and depressing events (such as the holocaust) that have shaped those countries. I would have never known about those events if it wasn't for the journal entries and stories that people told who experienced it. And it has greatly changed my views of what matters in life.

Parenting with Technology

Parents have hard enough jobs as it is! Technology has made some aspects of parenting somewhat easier, however I feel like it is the easy way out! However most parents say that it actually complicates things more because they are disciplining less and caving or giving in way more to their kids.

"About 70 percent of parents said that smartphones and tablets didn’t make parenting any easier, according to the June 2013 survey." 

It's a tough world and technology is making it so that kids feel entitled to such great privileges without earning anything. 

Simon Sinek and Millennials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MC2X-LRbkE

Simon Sinek is pretty much a genius, but I thought this topic went really well with my research topic. I feel like millennials do feel somewhat entitled to things and I think that is directly related to how we were raised. We were raised with technology and social media which made it so that we were never happy with what we had... we always needed and wanted more. I think millennials are more ambitious because of it; however I think it we have lost the true meaning of hard work and family values.

Children and Technology

The biggest reason I am so interested in this topic is because a child's development is negatively being affected but the easy and quick access to smart devices and everything they are capable of showing. It is affecting their cognitive, psychological and physical development in the critical ages and stages of their development. It makes me so sad!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201212/how-technology-is-changing-the-way-children-think-and-focus

This was a great article on this topic and what exactly the children are being affected by and how serious it is!

Children and Technology

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/technology-children-negative-impact_b_3343245.html

This article really helped me understand so many of the negative impacts that technology has on children! So many of things displayed in this article are things that I have seen with children throughout my life.

"Today’s families are different. Technology’s impact on the 21st century family is fracturing its very foundation, and causing a disintegration of core values that long ago were the fabric that held families together. " I hate that this is happening. The family unit is being attacked in this world and I know the internet and easy access to social media aren't helping!

The Truth Is Hard

I want to propose a different view to this: the truth it easier. It's the lies, deceit and manipulation that makes this life so hard. It's dealing with the effects of not living/telling the truth that makes life so difficult. Think about how simple and easy life would be without all the manipulative games and tricks being pulled by so many politicians and "people of power" (meaning anyone that influences your life). "The truth is more important now than ever"... preach! I'm only 21 and I am already sick of being lied to by fellow peers and politicians in this world. I am sick of not being told the truth. I am sick of truth no longer being the standard. The center of who we are. Lies can make people believe they are someone they are not... meanwhile they are living a lie. The truth is hard? No. The absence of truth is hard.

Thanks for Speaking to Utah Women

In response to this article by Marina Gomberg, I think it is very effective. Her use of imagery and while speaking about what some of her duties are as a mother definitely pull on some heart strings. Her tone is very sarcastic which is extremely effective. Especially in this day and age. Sarcasm works well into arguments by helping people relate to an issue while being able to see/feel someone else's point of view. Marina Gomberg is calling for an action in this article. She is making people aware of a huge issue and asking the people in charge to make pay equal for men and women.

Silencing Elizabeth Warren

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless she persisted.

She was warned that what she shouldn't move forward.

She was given an explanation that what she was doing was wrong. 

Nevertheless she persisted and became an example to women everywhere.