Sex, Gender, and Success: An exploration of symbolic violence, microaggressions, and biological influences in life
For this assignment, you will write a personal essay (around 800 -1000 words) about events and thoughts that have directed your education options and choices. Your essay should include the following elements:
Introduction (1–2 paragraphs)
Begin with an introduction of who you are, your education plans, and your career aspirations. (My education plan is ABA psychology)
Examples of sex-based education (2–3 paragraphs)
Describe an incident or experience in your academic past that seemed linked to your sex (as perceived by those involved) or one you discovered through research. What was the biologically based argument as it was? Did it open an opportunity for you or prevent you from a path you wished to take? Reflect on the reasoning behind using sex as a determining factor in the situation and add any thoughts you have in regards to that reasoning (e.g., agree, disagree, and why).
Examples of symbolic violence (2–3 paragraphs)
Include referenced definitions of symbolic violence and hidden curriculum. Add any further explanation necessary to make the concepts clear.
Identify an example of symbolic violence with the hidden curriculum that you have experienced or observed in your educational past or discovered through research. Describe the incident or item involved. Describe your thoughts on the act of symbolic violence at the time and how it shaped your educational experience (your thoughts, actions, decisions, etc.).
Examples of microaggressions (2–3 paragraphs)
Include a referenced definition of microaggressions. Add any further explanation necessary to make the concept clear.
Identify one or two gender-based microaggressions you have experienced or observed (either directly said to you, or overheard yet still impactful) or discovered through research.
Describe your thoughts on the microaggression(s) at the time and how it/they shaped your educational experience (your thoughts, actions, decisions, etc.).
Conclusion (2 paragraphs minimum)
Conclude with a summary of the three influences discussed in your paper. Reflect on how you might navigate the situations now using your current knowledge and insights. End with a discussion of how we as a society might alter one of the influences you discussed and why it is important to do so (or why it would be problematic to change things).