A Reflective Essay on “Bitch” by Beverly Gross
The term “Bitch” has been around longer than any of us could ever remember, which revealed that
society still has its past in the present, where in ideologies as to who was the more dominant and
submissive of the male and female genders. For all we know, men were the dominant gender
throughout history, but as we move unto the present, though still evident, we are starting to see a
change in the spectrum where in females are starting to become dominant as well. As society moves
forward, we are starting to accept the idea of equality amongst genders, especially with new found
genders which are slowly being accepted into society.
“Bitch” as we know it, was a known profanity that had taken a new meaning throughout history. Before,
it was a misogynistic term which insults a female. Why insult a woman you may ask, well based on the
article, it was believed by many of those who tried to define “Bitch” in the past, was that it was a term
used by men who were threatened by a woman, threatened not through physical means, but
threatened by the fact that she acts more like a man than he does. As before gender equality was a
thing, men were considered to be “dominant”, and women were “submissive”. So, if a woman where to
take a dominant stand, it would be taboo, since their role in society was to be submissive and to let men
take charge. The term “bitch” was used to discourage women into being dominant.
As time went on, the term developed new meaning, women began to use the term as to describe a
fellow woman that they didn’t like, while misogynistic men still used the term to insult women. “Bitch”
in way, though starting as a term to insult women, was evolving as a term that would empower women.
Even though the article of Beverly Gross was published in the year 1994, some of its statements are still
relevant as to this day. Which clearly emphasizes that gender equality is yet to be achieved and that
misogyny is still a thing.
Moving on to this century, the term “Bitch” has a whole new meaning, it’s used to insult not only
women, but also men and other genders. It’s described as “someone who’s either always toxic towards
others, opposes certain ideas and criticizes in a rude manner.” And though it may have a bad meaning,
its actually being used to now empower women, and other genders aside from the males. “Bad Bitch”
which can be heard in some of the lyrics of today’s music, is synonymous to a hard-working woman, or a
powerful woman.
The term “Bitch” has evolved into a term that can be used in numerous ways, be it a positive, negative,
degrading, or empowering way, the way we express ourselves defines the words that we say, Beverly
Gross wanted to know exactly what does the term “Bitch” meant and she also discussed how it had
affected women during the year 1994, she ended with how it was an insult that can be appropriated and
be taken advantage of. The lesson that I learned from her article, is that we can take all the hate and
turn it into something positive and influence others, be it a male, female, gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, queer, or anyone else with the idea of empowerment and gender equality.
An Essay on the struggles of a GenZ kid.
As a young adult growing up in a changing environment where in culture suddenly shifted from a
conservative outlook into a more liberal way of life, where in expression of different kinds has become
the norm, it’s almost as if I started a new video game and ended up playing in the middle of the
storyline.
My generation, who we collectively come to call the early GenZ generation, has been introduced into a
new kind of culture, a culture separated in two where in some of us where left in the aesthetics of the
past and those who just rode the way of time and adjusted gracefully.
As time passed by, from the 2000’s unto the 2010’s life has always been puzzling, it’s always “you
shouldn’t do this,” or “you mustn’t do that” as if everything I try to do has to be judged first before I
actually do it. Pursuing my wants became a dream ever since my mind was trained to do what was
necessary instead of what was wanted.
As I grew up my curiosity always got the best of me, always wondering how this and that made this and
that, and so on and so forth. Along with that curiosity though came creativity, which opened a new type
of thinking, to imagine.
My life has been full of times where I always end up in the darkest corners of my room and the only light
that makes me see life a little brighter is music, the rhythm which produces calmness in a chaotic mind
served as a medicine to a lowly feeling of sorrow and depression.
As some medicines heal what needs to be healed, some of us just want more, and end up getting
addicted to its effects. And for me, I’ve been addicted for years, but I don’t plan on getting sober
anytime soon.
Most of my teenage years seems foggy to me now, somewhere along the lines I had forgotten to
remember, I couldn’t see the smiles I had when I was young and the moment I thought I’d never forget
is now lost in time along with the other messed up childhood delinquencies.
My mind growing up was so unorganized that I seem to mix and match memories and sometimes fiction
into reality, where in I thought I remembered it correctly but would be corrected by a friend who shares
the same memory. I go home always wondering if I’ll remember the next great moment of my life, but
until then, it is what it is.
An Essay on Music
Music is one of the most significant and powerful aspects of my life. My life would be utterly devoid of
melodies and harmonies. Listening to and playing music allows me to de-stress, relax, and motivate
myself during difficult times. I enjoy listening to music on my way to school because it helps me prepare
for the day ahead. It's like a memoir of my life because it's been with me through everything.
I didn't have the same passion for music as I do now when I was younger. I mostly listened to whatever
was on the radio or what my parents were listening to. I wasn't particularly fond of musical
compositions. There was a little bit of pop music thrown in here and there, but that was about all I liked
back then. Whether I was in the car, the house, or anywhere else, there was always some Linkin Park,
Paramore, or My Chemical Romance playing in the background. I didn't like that type of music when I
was younger, but now that I'm older, I enjoy it because it allows me to reflect on memories from my
childhood. When I reached my adolescence, music became my life and gradually began to suffocate my
soul.
I believe that music has the ability to convey a wide range of emotions. Whether the emotion is joy and
happiness or sadness and despair, music expresses it through rhythms, harmonies, and lyrics. My
Chemical Romance’s song "Cancer" is such an emotional and inspiring song that it always brings me to
tears, especially when I see it performed live. Music has a tremendous impact on our emotions, causing
people to cry or burst out laughing.
The musical images that music and song can conjure up are astounding. Music, like a time machine, has
the ability to transport me back in time. It allows me to relive lost and forgotten moments in my life.
Songs that tell a story, such as classical and country music, can paint a picture. Classical music tells a
story without using words, which is a tremendously powerful thing. This, I believe, applies to the adage
"music imitates life, and life imitates music."
Music, I believe, has a wide range of effects on people. Music is more than just something to listen to or
play for me; it is something I feel. In my life, music is extremely important. It brings me closer to my
friends and family, I believe. It also seems to help me get through things. For example, I remember
traveling to other places and singing songs the entire time. Music is a tremendously powerful force in
my life, second only to my heart.
An Essay on why most kids (and even adults) like Spiderman
When I was a kid the first superhero movie that I watched was superman, I was so immersed in the film
that I believed that one day, even I could have superpowers. But as I got older I learned that everyone
can’t be superman, no one ever will, no one has the temperance that he does, the bravery, the super
strength, he was invincible, no one could stop him.
As I entered my young teenage years, I saw Sam Raimi’s Spiderman, for me it was the perfect film I had
watched, the next thing I knew I was Peter Parker trying to climb the walls of our tiny apartment in Abu
Dhabi. His life story was somewhat realistic to me, having to deal with a lot of social problems and
insecurities and losing my Uncle Ben, he was my role model, and I remembered asking my mom to buy
me a full Spiderman suit just so I could feel what it’s like to be a superhero. For the coming years I
followed the Spiderman series up until now because I still believed he was the best superhero because
he was the one I felt connected to the most.
Eventually Andrew Garfield reprised the role of Spiderman in 2012 where I feel most of the gen Z kids
felt the connection as he portrays the role at a realistic level that only they could understand, being a
high school kid often bullied and being in a rebellious phase at that age, it was as if he lived a life so
similar to ours and that I think was what made us all come to love Spiderman.
Fast forward to 2017 where in MARVEL decided to create a film universe where all their comic book
heroes stayed in, Tom Hollands Spiderman was the new kid we’ve come to love, he displayed a more
powerful Spiderman but a very young Peter Parker. My younger cousins fell in love with his character
and looking at them reminded me of how I watched Toby Maguire stopping a train from falling.
The emotional connection that we had towards this characters was so strong that when a rumor popped
up that Andrew Garfield, and Toby Maguire where to reprise their roles in the 2021 movie Spiderman:
No Way Home, it felt nostalgic. To see the three generations of spidermen in one film is such a great
moment to see, because it shows us, especially those who watched the first ever Spiderman movie, the
foundation of who we are from the beginning up until now.
So why do most kids (and adults) like Spiderman? Well I think it’s because out of all the superhero
movies out there, his was the most relatable of all, and that unlike most superhero films, his story didn’t
start the day he was born, it started when he was unto a path of independence, keeping in mind that
with great power comes great responsibility.
A reflective essay on “FML” by Arizona Zervas
The song has a hip-hop rhythm were in the bass is strongly evident with a numerous samples used in
making the beat. The song talks about how the singer is willing to enter a semi abusive and strict
relationship with a woman who’s independent and hardworking.
He goes on to express how he tends to jump from relationship to relationship but for her he’s willing to
stay committed and change his life upside down thus the “FML” or “F*ck my life up” line in the song. He
goes on to say that “Basic B*tches never last,” where in he’s saying that women who are simple and
linear wouldn’t last in a relationship as it would end up boring or unsatisfactory.
The song encourages empowerment towards women, saying to be unique and to not wait for someone
to do things for them but to take initiative and work hard for themselves and not anyone else, because if
they do, people would gravitate towards them. Being attractive isn’t always because of looks, but more
on personality, there would be times where you look good but your personality is distasteful and some
people don’t like that.
To summarize, the song is all about how a strong and independent woman can make men want to
submit to them because of how they are. How a lustrous man is willing to turn his life around just to
please and get the girl.