The rEvolutionaries

(See your own beauty)

IstheselfesteemoffemalestudentsatHighTechHighaffectedbybeauty
standardsmorethannonfemalestudents?

Sophie Kay
Group Members: Hannah Coleman, Monique
Mendez, Zoe Valentin
High Tech High
Teachers: Lisa Griffin, Mona Kiani, Bernardo Quintero
Fall Semester 2015

Table of Contents

PersonalNarrativePrivilegeEssay:
ALifeofLuck
...
Page2

PrivilegeInterview:
BrownSkinnedandBeautifulIsabelMurilloonthehiddenstruggles
ofgrowingupasaminorityraceinAmerica
...
Page7

ProjectProposal:
BeautyStandards
...

Page10

Experiment:
BeautyStandardsSurveyFrequencyTablesandGraphs
...
Page11

AnalysisandImplicationsofExperiment:
BeautyStandardsatHTH...
Page19

ExperimentWriteUp:
GroupReflections...
Page23

ResearchProcessandSourceSummaries:
TheChangingFaceofAmerica...
Page28

InterviewHighlightsReflection:
Beyourownbestfriendandfindyourbeauty...
Page30

LatinAmericanCompareandContrastPaper:
Genderinequalityandpaydiscrimination
inLatinAmericaandtheUnitedStates...
Page33

SophieKay
PersonalNarrativePrivilegeEssay
ALifeofLuck

Inmylife,IfeellikeIhavealwaysbeenawareofsocialinjustice.Likethetimewhenwe
weredrivinginthecarandIaskedwhothatraggedymanwasonthestreet,tearsstreaming
downmyfacewhenIwasmetwiththeanswerabouthowtherearepeoplewhocanteven
affordshelter.Orlearningaboutslaveryinclassandfeelingsick,neverunderstandingwhy
anyonewouldtreatanyonedifferentbecauseofthingstheycantcontrol.InnowaycouldIever
saythatIhaventhadprivilegeinmylife.Itwasonlytoday,whenImwritingthis,thatIfoundout
thatcomparedtothemajorityofAmerica,Iliveintheupperclass.OverthelastfewdaysIve
beentryingtothinkofatimeIvebeendeprivedsomethingIneededbecausemyfamilycouldnt
provideit,yetIhavenomemoriesofanythinglikethatneveroccur.Ittookmealongtimeto
realizetheopportunitiesthathavebeenjusthandedtomeallmylife.Intodayssocietyitswe
getsosweptupinthewhirlwindofyourourownlivesthatweforgettotakeastepbackand
realizetheamountofeverythingwehave.Itssoeasytodistanceyourselffromtheknowledge
thattheirarepeoplewhostrugglewiththingsyoudontevenhavetoimagine.Igrewupbeing
toldoverandoverWereveryprivilegedorYouaresolucky,bymyparentssomuchthatit
eventuallylostitsmeaningtome.IbecamenumbtothenotionthatIindeedamsoincredibly
lucky.HoweveritwasntuntilthisprojectthatIrealizedthatwasallitwassheerluckthatgave
methislifefullofopportunitiesandamenities.WhileIamhere,livinginthissituation,other
peoplearehavingtoworksomuchharderoractuallysufferingbecauseofchance.Myeyes
havebeenopenedtoalltheprivilegearoundmeandIhavebeenremindedtobegratefuland
notsquandermyopportunities,aswellasusemypowertohelpotherswhodonotgetthesame
choice.
Ateverypointthroughoutmylifesofar,IvebeenincrediblyluckythatmyparentsandI
neverhadtoworryaboutourfinancialsituation.Iwasntalwaysawarethatnoteveryonelived
likeusWhenIwasfour,myfamilystarteddoingaprogramcalledAdoptaFamilyatchristmas
time.WewereassignedtoTheMartinezesaSanDieganfamilyinneed.Wespenttheweeks
beforetheholidaybuyingcountlessgifts,clothes,christmasdecorations,andtreatsforthem,as
wellasmanygiftcardstobuylivingessentials.MyparentstookmetoToysRUsandhadme
pickedouttoysIwanted.Iwassoexcitedaboutthenewtoys,butwasthenleftinjealousyand

confusionwhentheytoldmethiswasforthekidsofanotherfamily,notforme.OnChristmas
evewepackedupeverythingintoourcaranddrovetoalowerclassareasofsandiego.The
deeperwewentintotheneighborhoodthegrayereverythinggot.Trashedstreets,decrepit
chainlinkfences,andtinycrumblinghouses.Wepulledupatatinyshacklikehouse,gotout,
andrangthedoorbell.Wewerewelcomedbyawomanwithawarmroundface.Shecriedoutin
happinesswhenshesayus,andthrewherarmsaroundmymomsshoulders.Behindherwas
ahugefamilyofpeoplewhointroducedthemselvesonebyone,allnoddingtheirheads,smiling
wideandpouringwordsofgratitudeontous.Ilookedaroundtoseethatthehousewasonly
oneroomexceptforatinybathroomthatcameoffofonewall.Therewereaboutfive
mattresseslaidoutinthefloor,withunwashedblanketscrumpleduponthem.Theirentire
extendedfamilyshowedupandeveryonewassmilingeartoearandcryingtearsofhappiness.
Alittleboyandgirlmyageintroducedthemselvesthengrabbedmyhandandshowedmetothe
othersideoftheroom.Withhugeproudsmilestheyshowedmeasmallbucketfullofbroken
toys,puzzlepieces,andrattybarbies.Theytoldmetheseweretheirtoysandshowedmeeach
one.Ididntunderstand,howcouldthisbealloftheirtoys?Thiswasalltheycouldafford,yet
theysharedeachonewithmewithprideandlove.Aswewereplayingtogethermyparents
cameoverandpresentedthenewtoysIhadpickedouttothem.AsIwatchedmynewfriends
eyeslightupwithamazement,Ifeltanewfeelingofwarmthinsideofme.ThatdayIlearned
thatthesekidsalmostlivedwithnothingcomparedtome.IrealizedthateverythingIhad,other
peopledidnt.ThingsInevergaveanythoughttopeoplestrugglewitheverydayoftheirlives.
WheneverIneedtoberemindedtobegrateful,Ithinkofthatsayandhowhappytheywere,
eventhoughtheyhadnexttonothing.Ivedecidedthat'showIwanttolovemylife,nomatter
whatsocialclassImaybe.
Igrewupinanonreligiousfamily,howeverIwastoldoverandoverbymyparentsthat
whatIbelievedinwasmydecisiontomakeandIwouldbelovednomatterwhat.Naturally,
beingmycuriousself,IwouldaskeveryoneIinteractedwithabouttheirreligiousviewsand
nevershyawayfromsharingmyown.IrememberdrivinginthecarwithSarah,mynannyatthe
timeandherexplainingtheconceptofheaven.Beingathreeyearoldconstantlyhauntedby
questionsaboutlifeanddeath,theideaofanafterlifefilledwithuninterruptedhappinessand
omnipotentpowerwasincredible,andIpromptlydecidedthatIwantedinonwhateverreligion
shewaspartof.Myparentsletmeclaimreligiousandinnowaybelittledme,foritputmy
existentialfearatbayforalittlewhile.Ithendecidedtogobacktowhatmyparentsbelieved
andstartedtogetintotheatheistbeliefsquitestrongly,althoughanappreciationforthelove
3

thatsurroundedreligionstillresonatedwithinme.Thenmypositiveassociationwithreligious
beliefsstartedtochange.WhenIwasfourIgotanewnanny,andafteraconversationwithher
aboutgoditendedwithherscreamingatmethatmyfamily'sbeliefswerewrongandwewould
gotohell.Beingfour,Iburstintotearsandwhenmyparentscamehomeshewaspromptly
fired.Thenagain,nowinfirstgradewhentwoofmyfriendsfoundoutIdidntgotochurchthey
toldmemyparentsandIweregoingtodiesoonbecausethatmeantgoddidntloveus.To
savemyselfIfearfullyliedtothemthatwe
did
believeingodsothatwasntgoingtohappen.To
thisdayreligionissomethingIthinkaboutalot,andnowovermytraumaticexperiencesIhave
ahugeadmirationforpeoplewithfaith.OfcoursethoughIcanneversaythatIveexperienced
beingphysicallyhurtorunsafebecauseofreligiousdiscrimination,whichsomanypeoplego
through,butitdefinitelyhasbeenoneofthebiggeststrugglesofmylife.
OneareaofprivilegeIdidntevenknowwaspartofthistopicuntilthisprojectismental
andphysicalableness.Ihavebeenquitethehealthypersonallmylife.Neverhavingtodeal
withchronicproblemsthatrestrictmefromdoinganythingIwantto.Formanypeoplethisisnot
thecase.Againitsallchance,whetheryougetthesameopportunitiesasothers.Ididntsee
myprivilegeinthisareauntilmylittlebrotherwasdiagnosedwithautism.Seeingsuchasweet
kidhavingtostrugglewithsomethingsohardmademerealizehowunfairitwasthathewill
havetodealwiththishiswholelifewhilemyselfandmanyotherwillnot.Ivemetsomany
peopleconfinedwheelchairsorwhohaveothermentalorphysicaldisabilitiesthatdisablethem
todothesamethingsotherscan.However,Ivealsoseenthesepeopledoincrediblethings,
whilehavingtoworkharderthanphysicallyormentallyablepeopledo.Helpingpeoplewith
thesedisabilitiesissomethingweallcandoreallyeasily.Inowseehowimportantitistohelp
peoplewhodonothavethesameprivilege.
InpreschooltherewasaboynamedKylewhowasinmyclass.OnedayIwalkedupto
him,whisperedUm..I...Ithink...IthinkIhaveacrushonyou,andrantotheothersideofthe
playgroundasfastasmyshortlittlelegswouldcarryme.Lookingback,IdontrememberifI
actuallyhadbutterfliesinmystomachbecauseofhim,orifIwasinfluencedtobelievethis
becausehewascuteandeveryonelikedhimandthatswhatIwastaughttosayinthat
situationbytheteenagersonTVandtheromancelaidenprincessmoviesIgrewupwatching.
BeingsaturatedinpopularmedialikeallAmericanchildren,everyexampleofloveIsawatthe
timewasextremelyheteronormative.MyperspectivecompletelychangedIbecamefriendswith
aboynamedBenjaminduringpreschool.Ondifferentdays,twodifferentwomenwoulddrop
himoffattheclass,eachofwhomhecalled"Mommy".Iaskedmymomaboutwhyhehadtwo
4

momsandshewentontoexplaintherewasmanywaystomakeafamilyandallofthemwere
right.Shealsotoldmethatwhileyoumostcommonlyseemenandwomenwhofallinlove,men
canlovemenandwomencanlovewomen.Ididn'tseeanythingwrongwithitandquickly
accepteditasafactoflife.Benjamin'smomsobviouslylovedhimandeachotherandtheywere
sonicesotherewasn'tanythingwrong,justdifferent.Andthatwasthat,quitesimplereally.It
wasntuntil4thgrade,whenIgaveanyotherthoughttoit.Iwashavingapleasantconversation
withmyschoolprincipalinheroffice,whenaboyinmygradecameinredinthefacewith
anger.Hewascryingabouthowsome5thgradeboyswerecallinghimgay,eventhenheswore
hewasnt.Irememberbeingsoconfused,atwhytheywouldsaythatifhewasnt,andwhyhe
wouldbesoupsetbyit.That'swhenIlearnedthatatthetimegaymarriagewasntlegal,and
thatsomepeopletwisteditintoaninsult,andmadepeoplefeelbadaboutwhotheywere.From
thegetgoIfounditdisgustingthatpeoplewouldeventhinkitsweird,letalonehurtsomeone
becauseofit,yetIveneverhadtoexperiencewhatitfeelsliketobethevictimofthat.WhileId
considermyselfacceptingandwelcomingtoallsexualitiespeopleidentifyas,sofar,Ive
identifiedasastraightfemale,whichIneverwouldhaveconsidereditaprivilegeinillhearing
thehorriblestoriesofwhattheLGBTcommunitysometimesgoesthroughbecauseof
ignorance.
ThroughoutmychildhoodIwasluckyenoughtoneverbeconfinedbysociety'sgendernorms.
Birthdayandchristmasgiftsdidntjustconsistbarbies,princessclothes,andeasybakeovens
toplaywith,butalsolegos,spacetoys,sciencekits,andbooks.WhileIwasencouragedtobe
myownselfandtonotcompromisetofollowtraditionalgenderroles,asocietythisingrained
witholdideasofwhateachgendershouldbelikewillstillinfluencefamiliestryingtheirhardest
torejectthestatusquo.CountlesstimesIvebeentoldtoSitlikealady,Eatlikealady,
Speaklikealady.Whileitseemsharmlessontheoutside,itreinforcesthisideathattobea
realladyyourappearancemustbeattractive,calm,quiet,andperfect.Girlsareforcedto
believethattheirworthlieswithintheirappearance,thenaregivenimpossiblebeautystandards
toliveupto.IveseriouslystruggledwithinsecuritiesaboutmyappearancebecauseIdontlook
likewhatbeautifulwomenaresupposedtolooklike.ForthepastfewyearsIhavebeganto
feelthedifferencesofhowIamtreatedbecauseIamfemale.Withmostsuccessfulpeople
beingmenandwomenbeingpaidseverelyless,thereisalreadyapreconceivednotionthatas
agirlyouwillnevergainasmuchcaliberasyourmalecounterparts.Femalesalsohavetoworry
abouttheirsafetyandwellbeingmuchmorethanmalesdo,whichlimitsmanyopportunitiesas
wellascausesemotionaldamage.Icouldbesubjectedtofeelweakandpowerlessbecauseof
5

harassmentorviolencethatmalesdonthavetoendure.Safetyandmentalsecurityisa
privilegethatourgroupdoesnothave.
WhenIfirstlearnedracewasathingIwasaroundtheageoftwoorthree.Iwas
obsessedwiththedisneymovie
Mulan
whereaChinesegirlgoesintobattleandsavesChina
fromenemies.IwasinlovewiththestoryandlookeduponthecharacterasarolemodelsoI
askedmymom,WhydontIlooklikeher?.Mymomwentontodescribetomeabouthow
peoplewhooriginatedindifferentpartsoftheworldlookeddifferent,andeventhoughIwould
neverlooklikeMulan,thattherewasbeautyintheuniquenessofeachgroupofpeople.After
thatstageofmylife,Igrewupinquiteadiverseworld.Ihavebeeninthehightechsystem
sincekindergartensoIhavehadtheopportunitytobeinschoolandbefriendswithkidsofall
backgroundsandraces.Ineverreallythoughtaboutracethatmuch.Everyonelooksdifferent,
evenwithinethnicities,sotomeitwasjustpartofwhatmadeeachpersonspecial.Whenwe
begantolearnaboutslaveryinschoolIwashorrified.Itwassomethingthatreallyupsetme,(as
itshould),andthatswhenIbegantorealizethattheskinIwasborninhadactuallygaveme
somekindofsicklegupinthisworld.Beingawhite,blondehaired,blueeyedfemale,Ihave
grownupinaworldcenteredaroundamediafilledwithpeoplewholooklikeme.Thereforenot
onceinmylifehaveIfeltoutofplaceorunderrepresentedbecauseofmyskincolor.Ihavehad
somanypeopleinternationallyacceptedassuccessfulorbeautifultolookupto,soIvenever
feltlikethatwasoutofreachformyself.Afteralltheprivilegeandreassurancethathasjust
beenhandedtomecomparedtohowothersaretreatedisridiculous.Justbecausetheywere
bornwithcertaintraitstheycouldeasilyfeelalienatedinaworldthatismainlyrepresentedby
whitefaces.Evenmoreterrifyingisthatthecolorofyourskincandictateviolentactsagainst
you.NotoncehaveIbeenrandomlyselectedattheairport,beenharassedorinjuredbylaw
enforcement,orstoppedatimmigrationcheckpoints.Ibeenabletoflythroughmylife
unscathedbydisgustingracialprejudice.Untilwebegantotalkabouttheseissuesinclass,I
neverknewwastherepeopleinmylife,peoplethatIamfriendswithwhohavenothadthis
privilege.


Interviewer:SophieKay
Interviewee:IsabelMurillo
10/12/15
PrivilegeInterview
BrownSkinnedandBeautifulIsabelMurilloonthehiddenstrugglesofgrowing
upasaminorityraceinAmerica

OnMarch9th2000,IsabelMurillowasborninMexicoCity.Onlymonthsafter,herfamily
movedtoSanDiego.DuringpreschoolIsabelstruggledwithmakingfriendsduetonotbeing
abletospeakEnglish.However,bythetimeImetherin2005,shewascompletelyfluentinthe
language.Weinstantlybecamebestfriendsandhaveneverstoppedforthe10yearssince.
BecauseofourfriendshipIhavebeenabletoenjoyandlearnsomanythingsabouther
Mexicanheritage.Thingslikeherhugelovingfamily,hermother'samazingMexicanfood,and
hercolorfullydecoratedhouseanditsfestivitiesduringholidayssuchasCincodeMayoandDia
delosMuertos.EversinceelementaryschoolIwasalwaysinaweofherglowingtananddark
wavyhair.Fromthemomentyoumeethertheresanairofconfidenceabouther.Hergreen
eyesshinewhenshesmilesandshejustseemsreallyhappycomfortableinherownskin.
WhenIfirstfoundthatthiswasntalwaysthecase,itreallydistressedme,soIwassogladto
havethisopportunitytolearnmoreaboutherexperienceasanAmericangirlwithbrownskin.

DoyourememberwhatitwaslikewhenyouwerenotabletospeakEnglish?Iknowit
wasalongtimeagothough,soitsokayifyoudon't.
Yeah,Ido.

Canyourememberitbeinghardorconfusingatall?
LikewhenIspokeorwhenpeoplespoketome?

Anythingthatwouldmakelifeharderforapreschooler.
WellIrememberbeingabletounderstanditbutIdon'tknowifatthispointIknewhowtospeak
itornot.OnceIgotalittleolder,likefour,IknewhowtospeakitbutIjusthatedspeakingit
becauseIthoughtIsoundedlikeaboywhichmademereallyinsecure.

Haveyoueverexperiencedpeopletreatingyoudifferentlybecauseofyourheritageor
whereyouwereborn?
Notreallyseriously,althoughIgotmadefunofinballetacoupletimesbutI'mnot100%sureif
itwasbecauseofmyheritage.

DoyoufeellikeyourcolororLatinapeoplearerepresentedenoughinthemedia?
YeahIthinkwehavebeeninrecentyearsbutthatisjustmyopinion.

Istheresomethingyouthinkwhitepeopledon'tunderstandaboutbeingapersonof
color?
Yes,wewillneverknowhowitfeelsliketobeadifferentperson.Sobeingacolorperson,we
comefromdifferentbackgroundsthanwhitepeoplesoofcoursetheywon'tknowhowitfeels,
andviseVersa.

WhataresomeadvantagesofyourMexicanculturethatyouthinkotherheritagesmiss
outon?
Ithinksomethingthatsomeheritagesmissedoutwasfamilyandlove.Ifeellikewearemore
unitedandjusthavesomuchpassionandloveforourheritage.

Haveyoualwaysacceptedyourappearance?
*Answerswhilesmiling*
No,whenIwasreallylittleasallmyfriendswerewhite,soIreally
wantedtobewhite.ForalongtimeIhatedhowIlookedandwantedtobedifferent.ButonceI
grewupIacceptedit,andnowImgladIhavemycolorandIlovemyskin.

Reflection
ThiswassuchagreatexperienceformebecauseIgottositdownwithmybestfriend
andhearhertalkaboutherselfinawaythatshenevernaturallywould.Itwasliketakinga
breatherfromourdaytodaybanterandhavingtimetoreallyremindmyselfwhomybestfriend
isinherheart.Ihadtheopportunitytolookbackonallthegrowingwehavedoneinorderto
becometheyoungwomenwearetoday.Itremindedmethatlifeisajourney,andthatthings
weren'talwaysthesameastheyarenow,andnotjustthingsyoucannoticeexternally,but
internallytoo.Ibelievethisistrueforeveryonegoingthroughastruggleorhealingfrom
something.Iwasoverwhelmedwithprideforher.Seeinghergofrominsecureaboutsomething
8

shecouldntchange,toglowingwithconfidenceandselfacceptancehasbeensuchanamazing
thingformetoexperienceovertheyears,andhasreallyinspiredformetootolovemy
appearanceandmyself.Hearingherstoryfromtheoutsideperspectiveofaninterviewermade
merealizethatwhatshewentthroughwasntsomethingshecouldcontrolandwassomethingI
didnthavetopersonallyexperiencejustbecauseofthecircumstancesofwhoIwasbornas.
Itsincrediblyunfairthatastrugglelikethatcameasafacetofheridentity.Nooneshouldhave
togothroughsomethingbasedsolelyonchance.WouldIbeadifferentpersonifmylifehadthe
samecircumstancesashersorotherwomenofcolor?
BeforethisinterviewwhenIthoughtofraceIthoughtaboutthebigthingswestudy
about,andhavetriedtofixlikediscrimination,segregation,andslavery.HoweverInevereven
stoppedtoconsidertheinternalstrugglethatmightoccurforapersonofcolorbecauseof
misrepresentationorunderrepresentationinoursocietiesmedia.Stilltoday,in2015,there's
certainstereotypingandjudgementtowardsethnicities,aswellasawhitebeautystandard
impossibletoliveuptoforourdiversecommunity.Notonlyisitunrealisticforgirlstothinkthey
needtochangewhotheyaretobebeautiful,butit'sridiculousthatthetruththatthereisbeauty
inallcolorsandracesisnotcommonlyacknowledgedandtalkedabout.Hearinghertalkabout
itinpasttenseaftereverythingwe'vebeenthroughtogether,seeingherfinallygettolookback
onherself,justremindedmehowIreallyhopethatyoungergirlsgoingthroughthesamething
shedidgettheopportunitytolookuptoher,andotherwomenlikeher.Herskincoloris
beautiful,andwatchingherrealizeithascertainlychangedmyperspectiveontheworld,and
couldhelpsomanyothers.

SophieKay
ZoeValentin
HannahColeman
MoniqueMendez
10/15/15
ProjectProposal
BeautyStandards
EssentialQuestion:
IstheselfesteemoffemalestudentsatHighTechHighaffectedbybeautystandardsmorethan
nonfemalestudents?

Justification:
Ourtopicisbeautystandards.Thisisimportanttousbecausewewouldntwantour
friends/family/futuredaughterstofeelpressuredtolookacertainwaybecauseofoursociety.
Ourtopicrelatestoprivilegebecausemosttimes,privilegedpeoplearewhatwestereotypically
labelaspretty.Wewouldbeinterestedtoseehowthisgoeshandinhand.Beautystandards
havetakenovertheworld.Wevetalkedabouthowthebeautystandardsdifferinavarietyof
countriessuchascomplexion,bodyshape,facialfeatures,etc.Weveexploredhowsociety
haschangedthewaywelookatourselves,andintroducedthehottestnewfad:plasticsurgery.
Ouressentialquestiondelvesintoourownculture,righthereatschool.Wewanttoexamineif
thegenderyouareattractedtoaffectsthewayyouperceiveyourappearance.Inorderto
addressthisquestion,weplantoconductsurveysandasocialexperimentwithourveryown
highschoolstudents.Whileconductingthesurveys,wewillask:

Doestheoppositesexdictatethewayyouviewyourappearance?

Whatarethestandardsofbeautyforbothgenders?

Doyoufeellikeyourouterappearancedictatestheamountofpositiveattentionyouget?

Bycollectingthisdata,itwillraiseawarenessaboutissuesregardingbeautystandards

inoursociety.Itwillhelpothersbecomemoreeducatedaboutinsecuritiesandhowtheycan
affectyoungpeople.Thefourofusareverypassionateandthoughtfulgirls,whoworkwell
together.Wegetalongwellandhavealreadyhadsomuchfuntalkingaboutthingswealready
knowregardingbeautyinoursociety.Sofar,weallhavebroughtaninterestingspinonthis
topictothetable,sowehavemanyleadswewanttofollowandlearnmoreabout.Allofus
seemdedicatedtoexploringthiscauseandwillgiveouralltolearningaboutit.
10

ZoeValentin
MoniqueMendez
HannahColeman
SophieKay

BeautyStandardsSurvey
FrequencyTablesandGraphs

WesurveyedstudentsatHighTechHighinordertoanswerthequestion
IstheselfesteemoffemalestudentsatHighTechHighaffectedbybeauty
standardsmorethannonfemalestudents?Wehadagroupof107
studentsintotalfillout10questionsurveys.Wehadanearlyequalamount
ofthegenderswith51ofthestudentsinoursamplesizeidentifyingas
femaleand56identifyingasnonfemale.

11

Question:Doyoufeelliketheoppositesexdictatestheexpectationsyousetforyour
appearance?

Yes

Female

28

No

23

28/51=55%

Nonfemale

23/51=45%

51

28/50=56%

23/57=40%

22

34

22/56=40%

Total

Total

34/56=60%

56

22/50=44%

34/57=60%

50

57

107

CircleGraphs:

12

Question:Doyoufeellikeyoureexpectedtoputworkintoyourlooks(i.e.applyingmakeup,
stylinghair,dressingup,etc.)bytheoppositegender?

Yes

Female

35

Nonfemale

No
35/51=69%

16

16/51=31%

35/58=60%

16/49=33%

23

33

23/56=41%

Total

Total

33/56=59%

51

56

22/58=40%

33/49=67%

58

49

107

CircleGraphs:

13

Question:Doyoufeelasthoughyouputeffortintoyourlooksforyourownenjoymentorfor
theapprovalofothers?

Yourself

Female

39

Others
39/51=80%

12

Nonfemale

12/51=20%

51

39/82=48%

12/25=48%

43

13

43/56=77%

Total

Total

13/56=23%

56

43/82=52%

13/25=52%

82

25

107

CircleGraphs:

14

Question:Ifyoucould,wouldyouchangesomethingaboutyourfeatures(i.e.eyecolor,nose
shape,pigmentationofyourskin,haircolor,etc.)?

Yes

Female

42

No
42/51=82%

26

51

9/39=23%
26/56=46%

30

Total

9/51=18%

42/68=62%

Nonfemale

Total

30/56=54%

56

26/68=38%

30/39=77%

68

39

107

CircleGraphs:

15

Question:Ifyouansweredyestonumber6,wouldthechangeinyourappearancebefor
yourselfortheapprovalofothers?

Yourself

Female

39

Others

39/42=93%

23

42

3/6=50%

23/26=88%

Total

3/42=7%

39/62=63%

Nonfemale

Total

3/26=12%

26

23/62=37%

3/6=50%

62

68

CircleGraphs:

16

Question:Haveyoueverreceivedanegativecommentaboutthewayyoulook?

Yes

Female

40

No
40/51=78%

11

Nonfemale

11/51=22%

51

40/72=55%

11/35=32%

32

24

32/56=57%

Total

Total

24/56=43%

56

32/72=45%

24/35=68%

72

35

107

CircleGraphs:

17

Question:AtHighTechHigh,doyoufeel
pressuretolookacertainway?

Yes

Female

11

No
11/51=22%

40

Nonfemale

40/51=78%

51

11/21=52%

40/86=47%

10

46

10/56=18%

Total

Total

46/56=82%

56

10/21=48%

46/86=53%

21

86

107

CircleGraphs:

18

ZoeValentin
MoniqueMendez
HannahColeman
SophieKay

AnalysisandImplications
BeautyStandardsatHTH

WesurveyedstudentsatHighTechHighinordertoanswerthequestionIstheselfesteemof
femalestudentsatHighTechHighaffectedbybeautystandardsmorethannonfemale
students?Wesurveyedagroupof107studentsintotal,with51ofthembeinggirlsandthe
other56beingboys.

1) Whatistheprobabilitythatyoufeelexpectedtoputworkintoyourlooksgiventhatyou
areafemale?
P(expectedtoputwork|female)=35/51=69%

2) Whatistheprobabilitythatyouputeffortintoyourlooksfortheapprovalofothersgiven
thatyouarenonfemale?
P(effortforapprovalofothers|nonfemale)=13/56=23%

3) WhatistheprobabilitythatyouareafemaleatHTHandwanttochangesomething
aboutyourfeatures?
P(femaleandwantstochangefeature)=42/107=39%

4) Whatistheprobabilityyouareanonfemaleandsaidyouwouldchangeyourfeatures
forothersgiventhatyouareanonfemale?
P(wouldchangefeatureforothersandnonfemale)=3/107=3%

5) WhatistheprobabilitythatyouareafemaleatHTHandfeelliketheoppositesex
dictatestheexpectationsyousetforyourappearance?
19

P(feelsoppositesexdicatesexpectations|female)=28/51=55%

6) WhatistheprobabilitythatyouareafemaleatHTHandhavereceivedanegative
commentaboutthewayyoulook?
P(receivednegativecomment|female)=40/51=78%

7) WhatistheprobabilityastudentatHighTechhighfeelspressuredtolookacertainway
orisnonfemale?

P(Feelspressuredtolookacertainwayornonfemale)=67/107=63%

8) WhatistheprobabilityafemalestudentatHighTechHighfeelspressuredtolooka
certainway?

P(Feelspressuredtolookacertainway|female)=11/51=22%

Ourgroupsessentialquestionwaswhetherornottheselfesteemoffemalestudentsat
HighTechHighwasaffectedbythebeautystandardsmorethannonfemalestudents.Wewere
abletogiveoutasurveytoover100studentsintheschoolandaskthemquestionsregarding
beautystandards.Wewantedtokeepourquestionsstrictlyrelatedtotheschooltoseehow
kidsourage,too,wereaffected.Onequestionwehadonoursurveywas,Ifyoucould,would
youchangesomethingaboutyourfeatures(i.e.eyecolor,noseshape,pigmentationofyour
skin,haircolor,etc)?.Alreadywithhavingthisquestionanswered,welearnedfromourdata
that62%outof51femalessaidYes,theywouldchangetheirfeatures.Wedidpredictthat
femaleswouldsaythattheoppositesexdoesdictatetheirappearancemoresothan
nonfemales.Reflectingbackonourdata,thatturnedouttobecorrectbecauseoftheabove
evidenceapplied.
Fromoursurveywewereabletogetalotofanswerstoourwonderingsaboutthe
differencesbetweenhowfemalesandmalesareaffectedbybeautystandards.Wesurveyed
HighTechstudentswithquestionsthathadtodowiththepressurestudentsfeeltohaveagood
lookingpeoplewhoidentifyasfemaleand56peoplewhoidentifiedasnonfemale.Repeatedly,
femalestudentsansweredthattheydofeelpressureontheirappearancemuchmorethan
nonfemalestudents.60%ofthepeoplewhoansweredtheyfeelpressuretoputeffortintotheir
20

lookswerefemale.Outofthe51femaleswesurveyed,69%saidtheydofeelpressuretoput
workintotheirlooks.Thismeansthatthemajorityoffemalesfeelliketheyneedtodothingsto
theirappearanceinordertobeaccepted,whilethemajorityofnonfemales,(59%answered
no),feeltheydonot.Oneofthemosthardhittingpieceofdatawecollectedwasthat82%of
femalessaidtheywouldchangesomethingabouttheirappearanceiftheycould,whileonly46%
ofnonfemalesansweredthattheywould.ThisshowsthatfemalestudentsatHighTechHigh
areoverwhelminglymoreinsecureabouttheirappearance.Outofthefemaleswhosaidthey
wouldchangesomethingabouttheirappearance,93%answeredthatthechangewouldbefor
themselvesinsteadoffortheapprovalofothers.Thisimplicatesthattheinsecuritiesoffemale
HighTechHighstudentsmaybemoreofaninternalstruggleinsteadofinfluencedbysocial
interactions.
Ourpredictionwasthatmorefemaleswouldsaythattheoppositesexdictatestheir
appearancethannonfemaleswasconclusive.Wefoundthatitwasconclusivebecause28out
of51femalesagreedthattheoppositesexdictatestheexpectationstheysetfortheir
appearancecomparedtothe22outof56nonfemaleswhoalsoagreedthattheoppositesex
dicatestheexpectationstheysetfortheirappearance.Anotherreasonthisisconclusiveisthat
inononeofourquestions,69%ofthefemalesansweredthattheyfeelthattheyareexpectedto
putworkintotheirlooksbytheoppositegender,while41%ofthenonfemalesansweredthat
theyfelttheywereexpectedtoputworkintotheirlooksbytheoppositegender.Onepatternwe
foundinourdatawasthatmanynonfemaleskeptansweringthattheoppositegenderdoesnot
influencetheirappearance.Anexampleisthat60%ofthenonfemalessaidthattheydidnot
feelthattheoppositegenderaffectstheexpectationstheyhavefortheirappearance.Another
examplewasthat77%ofthenonfemalessaidthattheyputeffortintotheirlooksfor
themselvesinsteadofforothers.Onethingwewouldchangewouldbesurveyinghighschool,
middleschool,andelementaryschoolstudents.Bydoingthiswewouldbeabletoseeiftheres
anagewherekidsstartlettingotherpeoplesjudgementsaffecttheirappearances.Wecould
alsoseehowyoungerkidsideasofwhatbeautystandardsarecomparedtowhatolderkids
ideasare.Anotherthingwewouldchangewouldbetotakeoutourquestionaskingwhat
people'ssexualpreferenceis.Wewouldchangethisbecausethequestionendedupbeing
confusingforthepeoplewesurveyedandmanypeopledidnttakethequestionseriouslyor
wereconfusedaboutwhatitwasasking.Lastly,wewouldchangehowmuchwestressedfor
peopletotakeoursurveyseriously.Sincewedidnttellmanypeoplehowimportantthese
surveysweregoingtobeforourproject,manypeopleansweredjokinglyorjustdidntcare.
21

Throughoutthisentireexperiment,wecansaythatfemalestudentsatHighTechHigh
feelmoreaffectedbybeautystandardsthannonfemales.Ourcompileddatawasconsistent
withourpredictionstowardsouressentialquestion.Wefeelasthoughitwasansweredquite
clearly.Fromtheprobabilitieswevecalculatedandthesuggestedconclusionswemade,we
wereabletohaveamoreinsidelookontheprivilegeofnonfemalesregardingbeauty
standards.Femalesallovertheworldareirrefutablypressuredbysocietytofitspecific
standardsinordertobebeautiful.Thatbeingsaid,weunderstandthatnonfemaleshave
beautystandardsaswell,butasourdataindicates,doesnotfeeltheconfinesasprominentlyas
females.BeautyObsessionasexpertscallit,isontherise.Mediaplaysalargeroleinthe
youngergenerationsdailylives,whichmakesthemmoresusceptibletolowselfesteem
regardingbeautyideals.ThisfactwasprovenwhenlargeamountsofKylieJennerwas
scrawledunderneathourquestionWhatdoyouthinkthebeautystandardsforyourgenderare
inoursociety?.Notonlydofemaleshavetoexperiencethisextremepressurefromsocial
media,buttheyarealsosubjecttogreaterharassment:eachother.Duetotheoverwhelming
straintolookacertainway,aggressivebullyingbetweenfemalesbecauseofissuessuchas
physicalattributesaswellassocialstatusareontherise.Wevelearnedthroughoutthisproject
whataserioustopicthisis.Ourexperimentallowedustoexpandourviewsonthisissue,and
relateittosomethingwepertainto.Overall,wevemadesignificantfindsaboutourschool,
femalesandnonfemales,aswellasoursociety,andthewaybeautystandardsaffectallthree.

22

MoniqueMendez
SophieKay
HannahColeman
ZoeValentin

ExperimentWriteUpandGroupReflections

Privilegeissomethingthatplaysabigpartinallofourlivesandithasthepowerto
controlitinbothpositiveandnegativeways.Privilegecancomeinmanyforms,asufficient
amountofsomethatmostpeopleoverlookonadailybasis.Afewofthesocialstructuresthat
canaffecttheprivilegeinyourlifecanberace,gender,sexualorientation,socialclass,etc.
Havingprivilegemeanstohaveanadvantage,opportunity,orrightthatisnotsharedby
everyone.Itgoeshandinhandwithprobability.Theprobabilityofsomethinghappeningcanbe
affectedbytheamountofprivilegethatonehas.
Probabilityisthechanceofapossibleeventoccurring.Youcanuseittocalculatethe
liklinessofsomethinghappening.Numbersbetween0and1areusedtomeasureit.1indicates
100%probabilityand0representsnochanceoftheeventoccurring(0%probability).Youcan
representprobabilitythroughfractionsandpercentages,correlatingtothedecimalsbetween0
and1.Thereistwoformsofprobabilityexperimentalprobabilityandtheoreticalprobability.
Experimentalprobabilityiswhenyoudoanexperimenttofindtheprobabilityofanevent
occurring,usingasamplesizetorepresentyourprobablegroup.Theoreticalprobabilityisthe
probabilityofyourfavoredeventifyoukeptincreasingyoursamplesizelargerandlarger,
thereforegettingamoreaccurateanswer.Whilecalculatingprobability,sometimesyouneedto
findcalculationsformorethanonerelatedevents.Whenfindingtheprobabilityfortheseevents,
youneedtodeterminewhethertheyareindependentordependentevents.Forexample,ifyou
weretofindtheprobabilityforpickingakingoutofadeckof52cards,thentheprobabilityfor
pickinganace,yourprobabilityforpickinganacewoulddependonifyoureplacedthefirstcard
ornot.Ifyoudidreplacethefirstking,thenpickingthesecondcardwouldbeanindependent
eventtopickingthefirstcardbecausenothinghaschanged.However,ifyouweretoputthe
firstcardaside,theprobabilityofthesecondpickwouldbedifferentbecauseyouchangedyour
samplesizeto51thereforechangingthechancesofdrawinganace.Thatmeansthatthe
secondpickwoulddependonthefirst,makingthetwopicksdependentevents.Whentryingto
23

findtheprobabilityofmultiplefactorswithinaprobabilityscenario,itscalledcompoundevents.
Thisiswhenyouaretryingtofindtheprobabilitythat
both
eventAandeventBwillhappen.For
example,youhaveaclassof20studentsandwhich10ofthemarefemalesand5ofthemhave
blueeyes,andyouwanttofindtheprobabilityofrandomlycallingonafemalestudentwithblue
eyes,thatisacompoundevent.Inthatscenario,tofindthecompoundprobability,youwould
addbothprobabilitiestogether.Ifyouweretofindtheprobabilityofrandomlycallingona
studentthatwasfemale
or
hadblueeyes,youwouldaddtheprobabilityofchoosingafemale
andchoosingablueeyestudenttogether,andthensubtracttheamountofstudentsthathad
both
blueeyesandwerefemale.
Wehavefoundthatbothprivilegeandprobabilityaffectoneanother.Sinceprobabilityis
basedonthelikelinessofaneventhappening,someonewhohasmoreprivilegeismorelikely
togettheoutcometheywant.Therefore,themoreprivilegedapersonisinacertainarea,the
highertheirprobabilitywillbeofgettingpositiveoutcomesthroughoutlife.Thisalsomeansthat
ifapersonhasmoreprivilege,theyarealsomorelikelytohavemoreopportunities.Duringthis
project,wewatchedseveralvideosabouttheAngryEyeexperiments.Thesevideoshelped
showushowunfairitistodiscriminatesomeoneonalackofprivilegetheycantcontrol.Italso
showedusnottotakeourownprivilegesforgranted,tobegratefulfortheprivilegeswehave.
WealsotriedanexperimentinclasscalledDrivingWhileBlackorBrown:AMathematics
ProjectAboutRacialProfiling.Itshowedusthedifferenceofwhatunbiasedandbiased
discretionarytrafficstopswouldlooklikebasedonaninclassexperimentwedidandrealdata
fromoutsidestudies.Theexperimentshowedushowoftenpoliceuseracialbiasintheir
workplace.Fromthiswehaveseenhowtheresapossibilitythatmorepeopleuseracial
profilingintheirworkplacestoo.Thisshowedusagaintonotdiscriminatesomeonebasedon
somethingtheycantalter.Bothoftheseexperimentshelpedillustratetoushowimportantitis
tonotletfacetsofouridentitiesdictatetheopportunitieswehavetosucceed.Overall,privilege
affectstheprobabilityofoutcomesapersonislikelytohave.

ZoesReflection:
Examiningmyculturalidentity,andtheprivilegeIhaveinmyownlife

hasbeenan
eyeopeningexperience.Ivedefinitelytakensomeofthesimplerthingsinlifeforgranted.Ive
alsohadopportunitiesthatothersaroundmemightnothavehadbecauseofmysocialclass,
sexualorientation,andablebodiness.Ihavenoticedthatthesetraitshavehelpedme
throughoutlifeinavarietyofways,suchasbeingabletowalk,talk,andactwithmorefreedom
24

thanthosewhoarenotprivilegedinthosesocialstructures.Theseexperiencesrelievedmeof
burdensthatthosepeoplefaceonadailybasis.WhileIcanexpressmylikingtowardsaperson
Iamattractedtowithlittletonojudgement,thoseintheLGBTcommunitymightnotbeaslucky.
Icaneasilywalktothenearestwaterfountain,butthosewhoarehandicappedhavetofind
otherwaystodothesamething.Ontheotherhand,IalsorealizedIlackprivilegeincertain
socialstructuresaswell.Forexample,mygender.Therearemanydisadvantagestobeinga
female,suchasthepaycomparedtomales,andourveryownexperimentthebeauty
standardswehaveandtheconsequentialeffectsonourselfesteem.AlthoughIregisterthe
nonprivilegeinmylife,IdontletitcontrolthethingsIwanttoaccomplish.Iamdeterminedto
notletthingsIcantchangeaboutmyselfdefinewhoIamgoingtobeandwhatIamgoingto
do.ImgoingtoaccomplisheverythingIwantregardless(andevendespite)ofthoseprivileged
structures.Thismentalityhasinspiredmetosparkchangeinoursociety.Raceisstillanissue,
genderisstillanissue,andnotenoughpeopleunderstandorawareofthestrugglesothersface
onadaytodaybasis.Ithinkthatpeoplewhoareprivilegedinthemoredominantsocial
structuresshouldbemoreawareofwheretheystandonthespectrum,andhelpthosewho
strugglewiththosefactorsofprivilege.Itssadthatweliveinasocietywhereweconfineand
discriminateothersbasedonthingstheycantchangeaboutthemselves.Ifwealltakethetime
tounderstandaperson,andlookintowhatmakesthem
them
,wewillallbeheapsmore
empathetictowardssituationsandopenmindedtowardsideasandpeopleconsequently
makingtheworldabetterplaceintheprocess.

HannahsReflection:
Throughthisproject,IhavelearnedthatIcanusetheprivilegesIhavetohelpothers
whodontsharethosesameprivileges.OneprivilegeIhavethatnoteveryonedoesisthatIm
white.Thisallowsmetonothavetoworryaboutbeingdiscriminatedaboutbecauseofmyrace.
Fromthisproject,IhavelearnedthatIcanusethisprivilegeasapositivethingtostandupfor
otherswhoareraciallydiscriminatedagainst.Inthepastmynonprivilegeofbeingfemalehas
hurtmebecausepeoplehavenotallowedmetodothingsbecauseofthefactthatImfemale.
Inthefutureitcouldpossiblyaffectmemorebecausetheresalwaysachancethatabosswill
discriminatebasedonsomeonebeingafemale.Thisprojecthasalsoshownmethatyoucan
useyourprivilegetohelppeople,evenforthesmallestofthings.Forexample,whenIwasin
elementaryschool,ItrippedandmyfriendhelpedwalkmetoabenchbecauseIcouldntput
pressureonthefoot.AnotherthingthisprojecthastaughtmeistonottaketheprivilegesIhave
25

forgranted.Therearealwaysgoingtobepeoplewhohavemoreorless,whethertheyhave
moremoneyoraresimplyamale,butyouhavetolearntonotforgetallthethingsyoudohave
andusethoseprivilegestohelpothers.Iveseenhowsomepeoplehaveeducatedothers
throughvideosandstudiesabouthowtochangepeoplesideasaboutprivilegeandIhopethat
throughthisprojectwehavebeenabletodothesamething.IalsoreallyhopethatasIget
older,IcaneducatepeopleabouthelpingandstandingupforothersasIbecomemore
passionateaboutdifferenttopics,likewehavebeentryingtodointhisproject.

MoniquesReflection:
Privilegetomealwayswillmeanhavingtheupperhandtohavetheabilitytodo
somethingortask.ItisjusthowIvealwaysviewedit.IthinkmyprivilegewouldbethefactthatI
amfromafinanciallystableandwellroundedfamily.IthinkItendtotakethatforgrantedat
timesandtheresdaywhereIseemtojustopenmyeyesandcherishmylovedonesand
everythingIhave.Theyrealwaysthereformeandhelpmethrougheverything.Withoutmy
family,myparents,IdontknowwhatIdbedoingnow.Mynonprivilegewouldprobablybe
beingafemaleandofcolor.Though,othersconsidermyethnicity,whichisMexicanAmerican,
aminorityIbelieveitsnotasitsagrowingpopulation.Whatreallyhurtsistheracialjokesand
slurssaidthataremorethanoffensivetowardsme.Beingagirlalready,IamtoldthatIam
incapableofaccomplishingmanyacademicthingsandthereforeIstriveformybestaspossible.
Secondly,beingafemaleofcolortotopitoff,otherstendtothinkthatmyacademicbackground
maynotbeasrichwhencomparedtoanotherchildnotofcolor.IfIhadtosacrificemy
privilegestomaketheworldalittlemorejust,thensobeit.Ithinkpeopleneedtostartbeing
moreopenmindedandstopdiscriminatingincertainways,onewayoranother.

SophiesReflection:
Overthepastcouplemonthssincewebeganthisproject,Ihavefeltmyselfgrowing
moreselfawareaboutmyplaceintheworldandhowithastreatedme.Beingawhite,blonde
haired,blueeyedfemale,Ihavegrownupinaworldcenteredaroundmediafilledwithpeople
wholooklikeme.ThereforenotonceinmylifehaveIfeltoutofplaceorunderrepresented
becauseofmyskincolor.Ihavehadsomanypeopleinternationallyacceptedassuccessfulor
beautifultolookupto,soIveneverfeltlikethatwasoutofreachformyself.Otherwhowere
bornwithcertaintraitstheycouldeasilyfeelalienatedinaworldthatismainlyrepresentedby
whitefaces.Evenmoreterrifyingisthatthecolorofyourskincandictateviolentactsagainst
26

you.NotoncehaveIbeenrandomlyselectedattheairport,beenharassedorinjuredbylaw
enforcement,orstoppedatimmigrationcheckpoints.Ibeenabletoflythroughmylife
unscathedbydisgustingracialprejudice.Ihadnocluethatpeopleinmylifehavenothadthis
privilege.WhileIveneverbeenunfairlytreatedorjudgedbecauseofmyrace,anareawhereI
ampartofanoppressedgroupismygender.Withmostsuccessfulpeoplebeingmenand
womenbeingpaidseverelyless,thereisalreadyapreconceivednotionthatasagirlyouwill
nevergainasmuchcaliberasyourmalecounterparts.Femalesalsohavetoworryabouttheir
safetyandwellbeingmuchmorethanmalesdo,whichlimitsmanyopportunitiesaswellas
causesemotionaldamage.Althoughalltheprivilegegiventomeisunfair,equalityisntalost
cause.BecauseofmyraceIhavesomewhatofanimmunityofbeingshamedbecauseofmy
color,andsometimesamessagecanbemorepowerfulwhenitiscomingfromanoutsideparty.
Idonthaveafirstpersonconnectiontoracialoppression,sostandingupwhensomeoneis
beingmistreatedcouldhaveanimpactonchangingopinionsabouthowwrongitis.Beingan
allytoanoppressedgroupcanstrengthenthecausebybringingpeopletogetherandshowing
thatevenoutsideforceswontstandforit,thereforeeliminatingthechanceofsomeonegetting
awaywithhurtinganotherhuman.

27

SophieKay
10/29/15
PMClass
ResearchProcessandSourceSummaries
TheChangingFaceofAmerica

FormyresearchaboutmytopicBeautyStandardsIreadaCNNarticletitledWhatis
BeautyandWhohasit?,writtenonJune29,2011.Thisarticlewasinspiredbyaphotography
exhibitinLosAngelesthatwasapparentlycreatingabuzz.Theexhibitshowedphotographsof
women,bothmodernanddated,fromallracesaroundtheworldthatmostlyeveryonecould
agreewereaestheticallybeautifultolookat.Italsolookedattheunderpinningsofthebeauty
industry,includingtheimpactithashadbycelebrityculture,theriseofplasticsurgery,andthe
prominenceofphotoshop.Inthearticletheyinterviewseveralbeautyindustryveterans
includingsupermodelVeronicaWebb,BeautyEditorofMarieClaireMagazine,andadirector
fromLOrealcosmetics.Throughoutthearticlethewriterbringsupthefactabouthowfastthe
industryhaschangedsoquicklybyfinallybringingmodelsofcolorintothespotlightand
beginningtorecognizeethnicfeaturesasonesmoredesirablethancaucasianones.Webb
herselfwasthefirstblackwomantoachieveamajorcosmeticscampaign.Theyalsogoonto
referencetheTIMEmagazinearticle
ThechangingfaceofAmerica,w
hichtalkedabouthowin
thefuturethemostcommonracewillbemixedrace,andhowwhentheyblendedthefacesof
multipleethnicitiesandbiracialpeople,howstrikingtheimageswere.Quicklyintodayssociety
ethnicfeaturesarefinallybeingappreciatedasbeautiful,maybeevenmoresothantraditionally
desirablewhitefeatures.Theywentontodiscusswhythebeautyindustryseemstobe
evergrowingandmoneygeneratinganditseffectsontheselfesteemofthoseinvolved.
Talkingaboutthecontrastfromthedayswheretherewasnovariationofcolorofthe
modelsontherunwaysandwhogracedthemagazinecoversCNNcitesasurveydoneby
AllureMagazineaboutbeautystandardsofmoderntimes."Sixtyfourpercentofallour
respondentsthinkwomenofmixedracerepresenttheepitomeofbeauty,thesurveysays.And
ofthoserespondentswhosaidtheywishedtochangetheirskincolor,"70%reportedthatthey
wantedittobedarker.Fulllipsandcurvybodiesarealsocoveted.Thishasanextremeeffect
onthebeautystandardsinthemindsofgirlsallacrossthecountrynottomentionontheirself
esteem.Howquicklytheindustryischangingshowsthatbeautyisafluidthingandthisisboth
forthebetterandtheworst.Finallywereinatimewheregirlsofcolorcanfeelbeautifuland
accepted,andthatisawonderfulthingandshouldstayasis,buthowdoesitimpactour
28

generationwhentoday'steenidolshaveachievedtheirstatuswithlipinjections,tanningrituals
andimplants?AndwhatshouldwethinkoftheseclaimsofCulturalAppropriationwhen
caucasiangirlsusemakeuptricksandsurgeriestoachieveethnicfeatures?
WheninterviewedSupermodelVeronicaWebbpointsoutthateveninanindustrywhere
perceptionsarechangingandlooksareliterallyeverything,discriminationisstillprominent.
Webbsaysthatinanybusinesswhenyouqualifyandcanperformoneverylevel,butyou're
rejectedoutofhandbecauseofyourskincolor...notevenyourskincolor,buttheperceptionof
your'race,'there'snothingmorefrustratingthanthat,saysWebb.
Herwordsmademewonder
ifthisoutstretchesoutsidethebeautyindustry.WhiledoingresearchIrealizedhowmuchlooks
playintowomen'scareers,evenoutsidetheworldofglamour.Beautyhasadrasticimpacton
thequalityofawomanslife,andIdaresayprobablymuchmorethanmens.Fromskincolorto
symmetry,eveninthistimelooksplayintoimpressions.Awomandressedtothenines,faceof
craftilymadenaturallookingmakeup,andashinygroomedmanecansayeverythingabout
her
Wow,now
she
hasherlifetogether!W
hileaslongastheyvetookashoweratsomepoint
mencanrolloutofbed,combtheirhair,throwonsomeclothesandwalkoutofthehouse
unscathedbythejudgingglareofsociety.Studieshaveshownagainandagainthatifyoumeet
yourcountiesbeautystandardsyouarethoughttobemoretrustworthy,competent,and
virtuousthanthoseofuswhodonot.
JeanClaudeLeGrand,directorofL'Oreal,oneofthebiggestcosmeticscompanies
worldwide,waysinabouthowthepublicperceptionofbeautyaffectsthepersonalopinion.
"If
youaretobealeader,LeGrandsaysthatyouhavetounderstand'thereisalinkbetween
beautyanddiversity'.Forus,themoreyouarediverse,themoreyouaresuccessful,saysLe
Grand."
Inthetimewhenthepeoplewiththemostlikesontheirinstagrampostsaredeemed
themostimportant,andshareableissynonymouswithsuccessful,powerinnumbershas
neverbeenmoretrue.Ifeelasifwearenowintheageofselfieawareness.Everylikeonyour
socialmediapostsstackinguplikescorepoints,ratingyourlevelofattractiveness.Incelebrity
culture(whichcouldverywellbenicknamedbeautyculturefortheinfluencewefreelyoffer
themthesedays)relatabilityissellability,andsomeonewhosacceptedasbeautifulacross
manyculturesandgroupscanappealtosomany.Ifinditterrifyingthatbeautysomethingthat
canhavemassiveeffectsonthecourseofyourlifecouldbeunchangeablebecauseofwhoyou
werebornas.Hasthebeautyoftheindividualbeenlost?Orperhapslookingexoticisjust
anothertrend?WhilethefaceofamericabeginstoblendIhopewewillstillhaveaneyeforthe
specialthingsabouteachandeveryperson,nomatterwhatcolororbackground.
29

SophieKay
12/9/15
PM

InterviewHighlightsAssignments
KimberSimpkins:Beyourownbestfriendandfindyourbeauty

Todiveevendeeperintotheworldofbeautystandardsandthe
harmfuleffecttheyhaveongirls,wewantedtointerviewsomeone
whocouldgiveusinsightintoboththestruggleswomengothrough
withbeautyaswellaswhateveryonecandotogainconfidencein
themselves.WehadtheopportunitytointerviewKimberSimpkins.
Kimberisanaccomplishedyogateacher,anincredibleauthor,and
aninspirationalrolemodelforallwomenwhenitcomestoselflove
andconfidence.However,Kimberhasbeenonahardjourney
herself.Whenshewasjustateenshedevelopedaneatingdisorder,
whichstuckwithherformanyyears.Asanadult,shebecamea
lawyer,yetwasstillunhappywithherbodyandlifestyle.Shedecidedtomakeachangeinher
lifeanddedicateherselftothehealthofherbodyandsoul.Shebegantopracticeyogaand
meditation,whichshelovessomuchshedecidedtoleavehercareeranddedicateherselftoits
world.Throughmeditationshelearnedtostarttreatingherselfwithloveandcompassion,and
theacceptanceandconfidenceinherselfandherbodyfollowed.Kimbernowhaswrittenthree
books,
Full,
aboutherownjourneytoselfloveandhealth,
52WaytoLoveYourBody,
and
10
WaystoSeeYourselfasBeautiful.
Afterovercomingherownselfesteemproblemsshe

decidedshewantedtohelpothersdothesame,andstartedworkingwiththeSanFrancisco
basedorganizationAboutFacebydoingworkshopswithgroupsofteenagegirlsandwomen
aboutbodypositivityandselflove.Everydayshehelpsheryogastudentstofindtheirlovefor
themselvesaswellashelpingcountlesspeoplerecoverfromeatingdisordersandseetheir
beautywithherblog,herworkshops,andherpractice.
Webeganourconversationwithkimberaskingherwhatherstrugglewithselfesteem
lookedlikedandwhatitwasliketogothroughthatjourney.Whentalkingabouthowherformer
eatingdisorderbeganshesays
Ididntunderstandwhymybodydidntlooklikethe
modelsbodies.Thosemediaimagesdefinitelyhadareallybigeffectonmeandmyidea
ofwhattheperfectbodywas.
Thiswasreallyinterestingtomebecausethat'swhatreally

30

drewmethisproject.Ifeelasthoughourmediahasbecomesosaturatedbyphotoshop,plastic
surgery,andunhealthyweightsthatmakebeautystandardsimpossibletoliveuptobythe
averagerwoman.Iwantedtofindoutiftheyactuallyaffectthewayweseeourselvesand
Kimber'sstoryshowsthattheydo.
Weaskedherhowsheovercameherstrugglesandbegantoseeherselfasbeautiful,
andherresponsewassomethingIhaventstoppedthinkingabout:
Thebiggestchallenge
waschanginghowItalkedtomyself.Ihadreallyinternalizedthisvoiceofcriticism.And
GivingmyselfahardtimeforhowIlookedandwhatIate...Ididntrealizethatitwasn't
myrealinnervoice.
Thiswassomethingthatreallyresonatedwithmebecauseitssomething
Ivebeenstrugglingwithsincemiddleschool.It'struewhentheysaythatyoureyourbiggest
critique,anditseemsasifbeatinguponourselvesinternallybecauseofcomparingourselvesto
theseperfectimagesinthemedia,isahugecauseofdepletedselfesteem.
Whenaskedwhathighschoolstudentslikeourselvescouldpersonallydotohavea
positiveimpactonourselfesteemKimbersaid
Beingengagedandbeingcriticalaround
media,lookingatmediareallycarefullyandseeingwhatthemessageisandhowtheyare
tryingtomakeyoufeelarereallyusefultools.
Thisissomeofthebestbodyimageadvice
Iveseenbecauseitsreallyeasytoforgetthatthemediaisntrightandmaybepurposelytrying
toseeyourselfinacertainlightjusttomakemoney.Ilovethisideaofstickingupforyourself
andnotlettingpeoplewhoarejusttryingtomakemoneyoffyourinsecuritiesgettoyou.
Towrapupeverythingwehadlearnedfromherintheinterview,weaskedwhatwas
thingswecoulddirectlydotogainconfidenceandloveourselvesandourappearances.She
says
Youshouldembraceyourinnerteenagerandberebellious.YoushouldsayF
you!tobeautystandards.Embraceyourinnerrebelliousnesswheneveryou'recalled
upontoconformtosomething.
Thisreallyresonatedwithmebecauseitremindedmeabout
thepowerweholdinourhandsasstrongyoungwomen.Justbecausetheworldhasbeen
tellingusonethingourwholelivesdoesnotmeanwehavetogiveinandgoalongwithour
society'sbeautystandards.Insteadofgoingwiththeflowandtakingthedamagetoour
selfesteem,wecanrebelagainstthenormsandreallytruly,loveourselves.
AfterhavingourconversationwithKimber,Iimmediatelyfeltachangeinmyself.Ihave
toadmitthatinthepastitsmademeuncomfortablewhenhearingotherpeopleacknowledge
theirownbeauty.Ididntwantthemtofeelbadaboutthemselves,itwasjustwhatsocietyhas
conditionedmetothink.Throughadvertizingthattellsyouyourenotgoodenoughandamedia
whosdefinitionofperfectisimpossible,ourbrainshavebeenwarpedintothinkingwerenot
31

beautifulandconfidenceisthreatening.Talkingtokimbermademerealizethateveryone
is
beautifulanddeservestobetreatedassuch.Buthermainmessagewasthatthiscomesfrom
within.SheshowedmethatIhaveallthepowerinthissituationtolovemybodyandseemyself
asbeautiful.SincethismaybethefirsttimeinyearsIvegivenmybodycompassion,Iamso
gratefultoher.

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SophieKay
12/2/15
LatinAmericanResearchAssignment
GenderinequalityandpaydiscriminationinLatinAmericaandtheUnited
States

Thetwoarticles
GenderDiscriminationIsattheHeartoftheWageGapby
AnthonyP.
CarnevaleandNicoleSmith
ofTIMEmagazine,and
WhatGenderInequalityLooksLikeIn
LatinAmericaby
JohannaMendelsonFormanoftheHuffingtonPost,bothgiveaglimpseinto
theunderprivilegedcareersofwomeninbothpartsoftheworld.TheTIMEarticlestatesthati
theU.S.womenearn77%themoneythatmendo.EveninthemanyexperimentsSocial
Scientistshaveconductedaroundgenderinequality,aftercontrollingallfactorsthatcouldhave
aneffectonpay,womenwerestillfoundtoearn91%ofwhatmendidforthesamejob.Inthe
Huffingtonpostarticle,theysaythatinLatinAmericathewagegapbetweenmenandwomen
rangesbetween60%90%.Theysaythatrace,occupations,andageareknowntobehuge
factorsthatalsoplayintothegenderpaygap.Thisshowsthatthepayinequalityinbothareas
arequitesimilar,whichleadsmetobelievethattheexperiencesofambitiouswomeninthe
workplacearearequitealike.BothAmericanandLatinAmericanemployersthinktheycanget
awaywithpayingwomenlessforthesameamountofwork,whichextremelyunfair,and
damagingtotheeconomyandfamilieswhothesewomenareprovidingfor.
BothArticlesgoontotalkaboutthekindsofjobsthatwomenaredoingandwhateffect
thathasontheinequalityofmeninpowercomparedtowomen.IntheUnitedStatesarticle,
theyexplainthatwomenhavethemajorityoflowpayingservicetypejobssuchaswaitresses,
retailers,assistants,andnurses,whiletheyonlymakeupatinypercentageofhighpaying
highpowerjobslikeengineers,scientists,doctors,andmanagers.Intheotherarticle,they
showthat54%ofwomeninLatinAmericaaredoinginformaljobs,wheretheyhaveno
protectionsrightsordocumentedpay,whileonly48%ofmenareinthesameposition.Ithink
thatmanyAmericanwomen,whilestillexperiencingdiscrimination,havetheprivilegeofworking
ataformalworkplaceandenjoyingthebenefitsofworkerrights,whilesomanyLatinAmerican
womendonot.TIMEshedslightonwhywomenmaynotbeofferedasprestigiousofpositions,
thefactthatpeopledonotwanttocoverwomenfortimetheymighthavetotakeofffor

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maternityleavewhentheywanttostartafamily.InbothLatinAmericaandtheU.S.womendo
nothavethesameprivilegeasmenwhenitcomestohavingbothchildren,andacareer.
Becauseofthejobswomenarebeingforcedtotakeaswellasbeingseverely
underpaid,thistakesawaysomanyopportunitiesfromthemanddisablesthemfromfollowing
theirowndreams.Itcreatesastigmaaboutwhatsocialroleswomenareallowedtoplayand
sincetheyarenotencouragedfromayoungagetoaimhighonthecareerladderlikesmales
are,theyarelabeledincompetenttodojobsthattheycantevengetinthefirstplace.However
afterreadingeacharticleitseemstomethatsit'sevenharderforwomeninLatinAmerica,with
manycountriesinbadpovertythereisevenlessopportunitiesforwomenwhoneedtoprovide
fortheirfamilies.Despitethediscriminationwomenfaceinbothcountries,eacharticle
highlightedwhathasbeendonerecentlytoattemptequality,andwhatmorecanbedone.TIME
pointsoutthingsthathavebeenputintoactionbytheObamaadministrationsuchas
Paycheck
FairnessAct,whichwouldrequiretransparencywithinincorporationstoexposegenderpay
discrimination.TheyalsobroughtuptheFamilyandMedicalLeaveAct,whichwouldprotect
womenwhowanttostartfamiliesagainstlosingtheirjobsorbeingdeniedpregnancyleave.
HuffingtonPoststateshowallLatinAmericancountrieshaveratifiedthe
TheConventiononthe
EliminationofDiscriminationofallFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,thewhichisto
eliminateemploymentdiscrimination.Whilebothareashavemadeleapsandboundsinthepast
fewyearstocreateequalityintheircountries,bothhavealongwaytogo.Howevercontinuing
toshedlightontheprivilegesmenhavethatwomendontonlybringsthemclosereveryday.

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