Assignment Prompt & Instructions
**Choose one of the options below, and develop a response of at least 500 words.** Please double space your document. Use MLA or APA formatting if you know how. If you don't know these formatting styles, just make sure that each time you quote from a reading, video, or lecture, that you make it clear which one you're referring to; also, include page numbers if the document has page numbers (like the book by hooks). This is not an , so it doesn't need a formal structure. However, it should be well-organized and well-edited–just to make sure your ideas are clearly presented.
#### **Option 1**
We've discussed [five aspects that comprise**beauty ideals**Links to an external site.](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGFdnbLq68/EDGCnH9f4WR-WMpqARYpQw/view?utm_content=DAGFdnbLq68&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer) **:** 1) they’re changeable; 2) beauty is like currency; 3) beauty ideals prescribe behavior rather than actual appearance; 4) beauty ideals drive consumerism; 5) beauty ideals are eurocentric.
**Interview two people of different ages.** Ask them how much time and money they spend on their appearance. Ask them how they feel about their appearance on a daily basis. Ask other _questions that might reveal to you their understanding of beauty ideals._ (Note: Don’t use the term “beauty ideals”; someone who hasn’t taken a class like this probably won’t be familiar with the term.)
Then, _interpret_ their responses. **Don’t turn in their responses** or the questions; instead, **write an analysis** of their responses. **Discuss how your interviewees are impacted by the beauty ideals of our culture.** Make sure to use specific quotes from their responses in your analysis, but don’t just summarize the interviewees’ responses. Remember to use [terms/conceptsLinks to an external site.](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/187ZgAIZ0i-py2nOcdzYeJYYg3zMegXrzSafwZyg1POw/edit?usp=sharing) from class in your analysis.
Be specific in your analysis, and try to **refer to the five characteristics** of beauty ideals. For example, if your friend talks about getting dressed up to earn extra tip at their serving job, or receiving free cosmetic products through Instagram posts, these are examples of beauty being like currency. If the person speaks about spending a lot of money on cosmetic services (eyelashes, nails, etc) or paying for weight loss products or medications, this is an example of beauty ideals driving consumerism.
OR
#### **Option 2**
Consider a movie, TV show, video game, or book that was important to you at some point in your life. Or, consider a specific TV, film, or book _character_. **How did that show/film/book/video game or character impact your understanding of yourself in the world or who you could be, specifically in regard to gender (which may, of course, overlap with your other intersecting identities)?** Be specific about this, using [terms/conceptsLinks to an external site.](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/187ZgAIZ0i-py2nOcdzYeJYYg3zMegXrzSafwZyg1POw/edit?usp=sharing "Link") from the course.
For example, did the show/film/book/character impact your understanding of your own appearance and what it means in the world (beauty ideals)? Or, did you internalize messages that pathologized normal bodily functions like, for instance, menstruation? Did the character help you see how you could challenge gender expectations, or did they reinforce cultural ideas about hegemonic masculinity or emphasized femininity? These are just a few examples; you can use any of the readings or our discussions in class as a lens through which to examine this topic. This is an extension of the question asked in the [Media Discussion](https://cerritos.instructure.com/courses/95162/assignments/1803533 "3.1: Media (Collaborative Assignment)"), so feel free to expand on what you've written there.
OR
#### **Option 3**
Use this assignment to dive deeper into a **health-related topic** that is of interest to you and is related to the concepts of the class. Some examples include gender affirming care, abortion rights and other reproductive rights, sex education, birth control, and forced sterilization. Choose one topic, and find **two or three** recent news articles. Read them, and discuss what you learned and how it connects with ideas from the class. Make sure to introduce the titles and authors and include a link for each source.
It's important to only use trustworthy, credible articles as sources of information. [This resourceLinks to an external site.](https://introtocollegeresearch.pressbooks.com/chapter/the-sift-method/) can help you with this, and I'm happy to discuss this with you as well, so please reach out if you have questions. Make sure to refer to [terms/conceptsLinks to an external site.](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/187ZgAIZ0i-py2nOcdzYeJYYg3zMegXrzSafwZyg1POw/edit?usp=sharing) from the course as you **discuss what you learned from the news article(s) and how it connects with the content from the course.** The [Cerritos College library has several databases that contain newspapersLinks to an external site.](https://libraryguides.cerritos.edu/c.php?g=671097&p=4723845#s-lg-box-wrapper-17457972), and that you might find useful. You can also use any of the resources linked in the "Further Reading" section of the [Health 2](https://cerritos.instructure.com/courses/95162/assignments/1802364 "4.1: Health 2") assignment.
### **What to Submit**
A document of **at least 500 words** that answers one of the prompt options above. The document should be double-spaced and should cite course materials, always making it clear which source you're referring to.