Jennifer's Body

Jennifer’s Body, released in 2009, stars Megan Fox as the head cheerleader and most popular girl in school.  Megan plays the role of Jennifer, who becomes bedeviled by a rock band and goes on to eat human flesh, specifically that of the male species.  The reason Jennifer becomes possessed is because the band had to make a virginal sacrifice, and the human they sacrificed, Jennifer, was not a virgin. While our culture is being swamped with stories about supernatural males and romance, this story gives us a different perspective, telling a story about a supernatural girl who seeks revenge and goes on to make males suffer for what has happened to her.

Jennifer's Body

Jennifer’s Body helps to spread fear of women’s bodies and sexualities.  While this movie is marketed as a dark comedy, it is an example of pop culture’s deprivation of the roles of women.  Women’s sexuality is feared, and often young girls are punished for possessing their sexuality.  However, Jennifer is made out to be a strong character that is in charge of what happens to the males surrounding her, because she has that mystical power.  The media usually tells us that when the woman possesses sexual desire then she is evil, and this is shown when Jennifer is violent towards the males.  This same aspect takes place in the 2007 film, Teeth.  The main character, Dawn, holds a sexual advantage over all the men in the film.  More and more films in our generation give female characters a powerful, lead role.  In our society, as well, the role of females is becoming more important and necessary in order for society to thrive.

The anxiety over female and male sexuality has been around in American culture for a long time, even before these films we know and love.  As we grow up, we begin to see that the newer films are targeted towards younger and younger audiences though.  With the portrayal of Satan, religion can be pulled into the mix as well, creating an even wider genre of what these films are about.  All we know is that with time things will continue to change but they still manage to hold on to something from a previous generation.

Different Perspectives

            Attending public schools my whole life has affected my perspective and views in more ways than one, and definitely for the better.  Being Muslim, there are many rules in my religion, and they are very important to follow.  Thankfully my parents did a great job of teaching me right from wrong, what I am allowed to do and what I am not without sending me to a private Islamic school.  They trust me to do what they have taught me and stay away from trouble and that’s what makes me so confident in how I act and the things I do.  It also makes them proud and able to trust me. 

Taken from: ACLU

Many of the Muslim girls my age have attended and graduated from an Islamic school.  This has its advantages, but I also feel like the parents enroll their kids in those types of schools for the wrong reasons.  They force their children to go to private Islamic schools just to keep them away from the rest of the world; afraid they will do something to go against our religion.  Eventually of course, the students become comfortable with where they’re at, but they also start to wonder about other people’s lives and what they are missing out on, sometimes causing them to get into even more trouble by going behind their parents’ back.

My high school held multiple dances over the years and my mom allowed me to go to them.  Many Muslim mothers would not allow their daughters to go if given the opportunity, assuming it will be something too out of the ordinary, and unnecessary.  It was obvious to me that I could not dance with any of the guys and I had to stay out in the open where everyone else was.  Whenever my Muslim friends would find out I went to a dance they’d say things like “you’re so lucky you went to the dance” or “how did you get your mom to let you go?” like it was something so unusual to them.  But to me it was just normal, it was high school and I paid extra attention to everything that went on.  And with all the events, the games, and the people I hung out with, I had the chance to learn about so many different things and learn to love people no matter what! People loved me in return; I was voted “most friendly” and prom queen my senior year.  I had the perfect high school experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Having been able to spend my whole life with people of different races and religions made me a better, more accepting person.  There will always be symbols and situations where two people or groups of people have different thoughts or opinions.  It’s all about understanding each other and seeing why the other person thinks the way they do.  I’ll always listen to what someone else has to say because it may also help me think in a different, better way.  But no matter what I’ll always be one with positive thoughts and ideas.