Why a Lesbian Bar?

I usually surround myself with people that have things in common with me. We share the same interests, behave similarly, come from similar backgrounds or just “click.”

I’m a straight young woman in my 20’s and conservative when it comes to romantic relationships. One of my close friends is gay and I feel as comfortable around him as I would with a straight friend. But I don’t feel the same way about lesbians; in fact I don’t have any friends who are lesbians.

I’ve never been interested in engaging in any conversations with them unless they approach me.

In my mind, I have a fabricated a perception of lesbians I created back in middle school and high school. Most of the members of the school’s women’s basketball team were lesbians.

They didn’t behave in a feminine way like me, especially the girls from the basketball team. Some of them used to hold hands and their behavior was manly. Their outfits were long loose shorts and shirts three sizes bigger than their actual size. They wore white socks and tennis shoes, instead of sandals that exposed my pedicured toenails. Their hair was always picked up in a bun or a ponytail, very different from my long blonde locks.

And that is why my professor assigned me to a lesbian bar for my listening post.

My New Favorite Show

I have to admit that sometimes I watch TV purely for entertainment. MTV and Nickelodeon (yes, I said Nickelodeon) were two of my favorite networks not so long ago. Sponge Bob Square Pants used to distract and relax me for a few minutes. It would put me in a state of mind where only Sponge Bob's unreal adventures mattered; instead of gas prices and car accidents.

After school started this Fall, my programming habits changed. As a journalism student, I watch mostly news on CNN and any other show related to my field of studies. In this class we discuss a variety of issues related different cultures and communities and I found a direct link to a new tv show that helps me understand it in a different way. World of Jenks is my new favorite show. Andrew Jenks meets exceptional individuals very different from his background and in a week experiences with them what it's like to be in their shoes.

We often talk about homeless people, black people and people from different cultures and I believe this is a show every journalist should watch because of the diversity and the real life experiences. I'm also glad MTV has decided to incorporate this type of show into their programming; mostly because it's teenagers and younger adults watching the show.

Image Source

Gender Differences

Hello!

I wanted to share with you this story from CNN. NY Jets football players in the locker room harassed a female reporter from TV Azteca, the second largest TV station in Mexico, during an interview with a Mexican player.

Reporter Ines Sainz personally received an apology from the owner of the Jets after the incident.

During class we’ve discussed the diversity of ethnic backgrounds and social classes, sometimes it’s uncomfortable for a woman to be in a predominantly masculine environment.

Obviously this is an incident and doesn’t happen often, in fact, there are about a thousand women reporters around the nation covering sports.

Female Reporter in Uncomfortable Situation

Opinions Count!

Curiosity is my main attraction to a career in journalism. They say curiosity killed the cat, but it’s in my nature to question and manifest a sense of inquisitiveness for the unknown. In fact, not knowing just makes me want to dig a little deeper and find out what’s hidden beneath the surface; in this case, other cultures and different ethnic groups. I’ve always liked the city I live in for the mixture of cultures and that’s what makes it a unique and exciting destination.

I come to this class with a fairly clear understanding of my opinions when it comes to ethnicity, but also with the objective to understand them a little further. The exercises we’ve done and discussed in class quite accurately reflect my personal opinions and point of view.

Introduction

Hello!

This should be an interesting course! I'm looking forward to the class discussions on controversial topics. Miami is a melting pot of cultures and our classroom is a reflection of the great community we live in. I believe understanding other cultures is one of the components that make a well-rounded reporter.

Veronica