Zenith Project by LaylaD

How Did It Feel?

How Did it Feel?

We judge individuals on a daily basis. It is human nature for us to compare and contrast other people to ourselves. People are judged, often unfairly because of their color, social status, gender, and many other factors.

To understand other people, we can step into their experiences, and understand what we can about their situations.

About the Author

Layla Dessouki

Layla Dessouki is 18 years old lives and attends Los Altos High School. She is studying design at Freestyle Academy of Arts and Communication. She lives in Los Altos, California with her parents, brother, and dog. Layla enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family. This fall she will be attending Chapman University, majoring in peace studies and public relations and advertising.

Layla Dessouki https://www.blurb.com/

How Did it Feel?

Layla Dessouki

Dedication For anyone who sees themselves in these photos.

iii

Acknowledgements I’d like to thank Ms. Parkinson and all my friends and family who agreed to model for my photos.

v

9 10 14 18 24 30 35 36

Introduction Body Image Sexuality Mental Health Gender Race Conclusion Works Cited

8

Introduction Does discrimination of minority groups exist in our daily lives? Discrimination has existed from the earliest of human societies, up until our modern societies of today.

The topic of discrimination is an important one; most individuals have engaged or experienced discrimination at some point in their lives. People discriminate against each other intentionally or unintentionally, happening due to lack of knowledge or societal delusions and ignorance. It might be argued that this is our human nature, that our mind makes us judge other people because that’s just who we are. To start fighting discrimination, it is important to determine how misconceptions form in our minds and are promoted in society. It is essential to understand the contrasting types of discrimination that occur and how they affect people’s lives.

9

Chapter 1

Body Image

“They told me my natural hair was unproffessional; I changed it to look like theirs.�

Natural hair is intimately associated with racial identity for many people of African descent. Regulations have always existed in the past, and African-Americans often conformed to western style hair through haircuts, wigs, and relaxers. Now, many black people are choosing not to conform by leaving their hair in natural hairstyles, causing conflicts to come to light.

13

Chapter 2

Sexuality

“But you’re too feminine to work on cars. It’s a man’s job.”

A so-called characteristic of masculinity is strength. This leads to instances of “straight-acting” gay men, a misidentification derived from fear and ignorance.

Strength is expressed when opposite of feminine characteristics. False masculinity causes other men who have grown up more naturally feminine to be ashamed.

17

Chapter 3

Mental Health

“I don’t know how I’d be able to focus without my meds.”

During teen years with the accumulation of responsibilities and demand of school increases, ADHD symptoms often get worse. Grades may fall because of problems with distractibility and poor concentration. Stimulant medications are often prescribed for teens in treating ADHD. These medications help with alertness throughout the day and help with school, but are easily abused.

21

“Sometimes when I get anxious, I start popping pills like they’re candy.”

25% of teenagers in the US struggle with anxiety. Though it is treatable, 80% of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder do not receive treatment. A lot of this anxiety stems from teens’ need to be perfect. Good grades lead to good college leads to success in adult lives. Society places more value in higher achievers, leading teens to be driven by perfection and, often leading to anxiety.

23

Chapter 4

Gender

“My dad told me it didn’t matter what college I went to because I’d end up giving up my career to take care of the kids anyway.”

As a new generation of fathers take on some household and childcare responsibilities they are enthusiastically praised, though women are often expected to deliver more than men when it comes to these responsibilities and are not praised nearly as much.

27

“If her nipples are inappropriate, why am I allowed to walk around shirtless?”

Many people consider the image of a bare-chested woman as obscene. Men walk around bare-chested, but if a woman does it, she is shamed and punished for the same act. Breasts often come under fire in situations that aren’t even about exposure.

Breastfeeding in public is criticized, exposing problematic assumptions that breasts should not be seen, even when it is something as basic as feeding a child.

29

Chapter 5

Race

“Sometimes, people are surprised I speak English. They seem even more surprised to find out I have an office job and that I’m not a gardener.”

Roughly one in three Latinos have reported being affected by personal discrimination in the workplace and when seeking housing based on their race. In their personal lives, they are criticized for speaking Spanish with peers or told to “go back to their country.”

33

Conclusion Diversity is a principle found when we show mutual respect and appreciation of each other’s differences and beliefs. When we as individuals work together to effectively apply our differences, a competitive advantage is earned. We use our judgments as shields in order to avoid emotional attachments. These judgments often lead to generalizations and discrimination wherein lies the problem.

Discrimination is one of the biggest issues plaguing most societies today. Society needs to support victims of discrimination, helping them to integrate into society.

As Khoudia Diop said, “Diversity is what makes life interesting.”

35

Works Cited “ADHD in Teens: Symptoms, Treatment, Medication, Driving.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-teens#2.

Bussel, Rachel Kramer. “Free the Nipple! The Problem With How We Think About

Breasts.” Time, Time, 12 Dec. 2014, time.com/3631924/free-the-nipple-breasts- sex-symbol/.

Lopez, Mark Hugo, et al. “Latinos’ Experiences with Discrimination.” Pew Research Center’s Hispanic Trends Project, Pew Research Center’s Hispanic Trends Project, 25 Oct. 2018, www.pewhispanic.org/2018/10/25/latinos-and-discrimination/.

“Teen Anxiety: How Perfectionism Fuels Anxiety in Teenagers.” PsyCom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986, www.psycom.net/perfectionism-teen- anxiety/.

37

How Did It Feel?

How Did it Feel?

We judge individuals on a daily basis. It is human nature for us to compare and contrast other people to ourselves. People are judged, often unfairly because of their color, social status, gender, and many other factors.

To understand other people, we can step into their experiences, and understand what we can about their situations.

About the Author

Layla Dessouki

Layla Dessouki is 18 years old lives and attends Los Altos High School. She is studying design at Freestyle Academy of Arts and Communication. She lives in Los Altos, California with her parents, brother, and dog. Layla enjoys reading and spending time with her friends and family. This fall she will be attending Chapman University, majoring in peace studies and public relations and advertising.

Layla Dessouki https://www.blurb.com/