Importance of Communication in Gender, Politics and Social Change
From this course, I have learned various things concerning the intersection of gender, politics and social change across a range of Asian societies. Over the years, gender has been an important subject of discussion due to various issues such as inequalities and the importance of women in the society (Jackson 2011, p. 11). Undergoing various units especially in aspects related to communication has enabled me to realize that media plays a crucial role in facilitating communication which aid in educating people and in influencing positive attitudes and behavioral change. When I joined this course, I knew little about how these issues interrelate, but through continuous research and undergoing different topics, my knowledge has been advancing.
According to Hjorth (2013, p. 25), social issues especially those related to gender are important to know because they influence various things such as development and distribution of resources in the society. Understanding about politics and social change is also crucial because it enables one to realize what has been changing, and what can be done to ensure the society lives better (Li 2014, p. 17). This unit has changed my knowledge concerning these aspects and has prepared me to confront all issues that are likely to impact the society.
The course has also improved my knowledge concerning the importance of appreciating others in the society and communication issues that affect the social wellbeing of the society. Initially, I had little understanding concerning gender and the role of women in the society, but through undergoing this course, I have realized that opportunities should be equally distributed irrespective of one’s gender. According to Huang (2008, p. 190), social issues cannot be addressed if women participation in the society is ignored. For this reason, the society should give ladies high level of inclusion through allowing them to have higher levels of education, higher workforce participation, empowered and emancipated, and so forth.
Additionally, undergoing this course has also enhanced my knowledge concerning the role of gender in relation to various aspects such as race, ethnicity, community, identity, politics, religion and postmodernity. As time goes on, gender is being influenced by this factors, and the society’s view concerning this aspect seems to have been changing (Säävälä &Tenhunen, 2014). Therefore, the course has been crucial in assisting me to understand how these issues influence people’s perception to gender. It also plays a crucial role in assisting me to understand what has changed and what is likely to emerge in the future.
Gaining Knowledge on Gender and Women’s Role in Society
From the Asian experiences and issues discussed in the course, I can understand various things concerning my world and life. For instance, the course content has enabled me to realize that politics influence some of the social issues realized in the society. When Asia adapt political environment which fosters equality for all people, some of the discrepancies realized in the society may not exist (Kenny, 2017). For example, adapting politics that shows the importance of gender equality may play a significant role in eliminating the discrepancy that exist between men and women in some aspects.
I have also learned that if a social change is well implemented in Asia, it can play a significant role in addressing issues that affect the whole community rather than few or one individual. According to Whitehead et al (2013), one of the factors that hinder development in Asia is biasness in intervening issues that affect the society. This course will be fundamental in my future career because it shall assist me to ensure when intervening issues, I focus on ensuring the measures implemented benefit every person in the targeted group.
The course has also taught me how to communicate issues of development and factors that hinder people from accessing opportunities which can assist them to have fulfilling lives. Through undergoing various units in this course, I have realized various things that shall help me to practice my profession in the right manner. For example, I have learned that inclusive and participatory approach empowers active citizenship to create a sustainable social change. With this kind of knowledge, I shall be able to ensure I focus on inclusion and allowing others to participate in different things depending on their capability while practising my profession.
The course has also given me an insight of my own world. For example, it has assisted me to realize that communication plays a crucial role in promoting proper governance and in strengthening fragile and transitional democracies. Manyozo (2012) affirms that when issues are communicated, people understand what is going on, and decide what they need should be changed to attain better outcomes.
The concepts, issues, and case studies explored in this course relate with my experiences, and issues in my life, society and future profession in different ways. For instance, gender inequality has been an issue that requires to be addressed in Asia over the past years (Simons 2015). The course covers various factors concerning how to eliminate gender imbalance such as women empowerment, equal distribution of opportunities and so forth.
Understanding Gender’s Relation to Other Aspects
In Asia, sexuality has also been an issue that every person feels it need to be addressed. According to Lightfoot (2016), sexuality-related matters such as rape has been one of the major issues that affect women. The course discusses various aspects concerning sexuality such as the concept of women bodies.
The concepts discussed in this course will be beneficial in my future profession because it shall enable me to understand some of the social issues that prevent Asians from realizing better lives and implement effective measures to address them. For example, having provided detailed information concerning the relevance of communication with social issues such as gender inequality, sex, racism and other factors, I shall be able to understand how I can use this tool to address these issues.
The knowledge obtained from this course shall also enable me to understand how to work with the current and emerging political, gender, and social movements in the contemporary Asian communities. According to Sinanan et al (2014, p. 2015), working with movements that advocate for better living of people is fundamental because it makes the voices concerning what impact the wellbeing of the people to be heard.
The concepts discussed in this course have also impacted the way in which I view the world and life. Initially, I did not know that some of the issues that I witness in the society have great impact on development. Having undergone various concepts in this course, my perception concerning the impact of social problems such as gender imbalance has changed to believe that we live in a society where equality is one of the significant factors that make people to realize fulfilling lives.
The issues discussed in this course have changed my future profession to a great extent. Having enabled me to realize that inequality dominates the society, I now feel that working with organizations that advocate for equality and fighting against social issues that impact the well-being of the people shall give me a fulfilling career life.
The issue and case studies have fully prepared me to become a professional who understands that every person has an opportunity to strive for better life irrespective of the difference which may exist. It has also enabled me to feel that while practising my profession, I shall encourage a high level of inclusion especially for the minority group and the children to participate in various things that they are discriminated from such as leadership.
References
Huang, Y 2008, ‘Consuming Sex & The City – Young Taiwanese Women Contesting Sexuality’, in K Youna (ed.), Media Consumption and Everyday Life in Asia, Routledge, New York, pp.188-202. Hjorth, L 2013, ‘Locating intimacies of place and gender (Seoul)’, in [email protected]: Mobile, Social and Locative Media in the Asia–Pacific, pp. 23-37.
Jackson, P 2011, ‘Queer Bangkok after the Millennium: Beyond Twentieth-Century Paradigms’, in P Jackson (ed.), Queer Bangkok: 21st Century Markets, Media, and Rights, Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, pp.1-14.
Kenny, S. (2017). Developing communities for the Future. South Melbourn: Cengage Learning
Li, L 2014, If You Are the One: Dating shows and feminist politics in contemporary China, International Journal of Cultural Studies, pp.1-17
Lightfoot, L 2016, Sexuality and culture: the appeal of studying gender at university, The Guardian, 14 January.
Manyozo, L 2012. Media, communication and development. London, New Delhi and Thousand Oaks: Sage, pp.1-23
Säävälä, M &Tenhunen, S. 2014, ‘Innovation: transforming hierarchies in South Asia’, Contemporary South Asia, Vol. 22, No. 2, 121-129.
Simons, M 2015, ‘Fallen Angels: The children left behind by Australian sex tourists in the Philippines’, The Monthly.
Sinanan, J, Graham, C & Zhong Jie, K 2014, ‘Crafted assemblage: young women’s ‘lifestyle’ blogs, consumerism and citizenship in Singapore’, Visual Studies, vol. 29(2), pp.201-213.
Whitehead, S, Talahite A, & Moodley, R (eds.) 2013, ‘Post-structuralist and Postmodernist Approaches to Gender Theory’, pp. 38-63. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.