academic & professional portfolio
In this essay, I examine how harmful masculine norms fueled by patriarchal ideals and sexual entitlement fuel gender-based violent crime. I unpack two major cases of femicide, the Santa Barbara massacre and the Pulse nightclub shooting.
As I study gender relations through the lens of my own womanhood, I ponder whether to embrace femininity or to reject traditional beauty standards? I answer this question using the films Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and The World of Suzie Wong (1960) to explore how media perpetuates the idea that women’s worth is largely determined by their appearance.
In this essay, I use sociological theories from Marx, Benjamin, and Perkins-Gilman to analyze how economic pressures, mass production, and gender imbalances lead to the mistreatment of female artists. Using Canadian artist Jessie Reyez and her song "Gatekeeper" as a key example, this essay shines a light on the challenges and resilience of marginalized musicians.