Week 8

                It was an interesting occurrence that I had just finished taking the BEM sex role inventory when I began reading this week's chapter on "Becoming the Woman or Man You Want to Be" (Corey & Corey, 2008). At first, I did not feel that what I had scored on the inventory would be reflected in the chapter as it began discussing male and female roles. That was until I began reading the section on "Alternatives to Rigid Gender-Role Expectations" (Corey & Corey, 2008) because my results from the inventory resulted in an androgynous classification.

                I definitely agree with the section on androgyny and my score on the inventory. Throughout childhood, I was always called the tomboy in my family. I loved roller skating, riding my bike, and playing football with my father. As I began to enter middle school, I could definitely tell that I was not like the rest of the girls. I did not seem concerned with the latest fashion trend going on, but I was definitely more interested in joining an environmental club, playing a musical instrument, and playing sports during lunch. I favored being in leadership roles such as student council and choosing shop class as an elective over home economics. I will confess that I do have some feminine qualities in comparison to my masculine qualities. I have always enjoyed helping others. Hence, why I developed the first LGBTQIA graduate group at my old grad school and actually enjoyed being a teaching assistant. As of recent, I have also begun to enjoy getting to know people instead of consistently keeping to myself.

                I am really hoping that one day my fiancé and I can get married anywhere in the US. We have already discussed that once I complete my education and achieve getting a job (hopefully), it will be her turn to pursue whatever she wants. I agree with the points made in the article that my psychological well-being has definitely changed for the better when I met my fiancé (Kim & McKenry, 2002). I can only anticipate that it will increase to get better as we continue to cohabitate together until I finish my education and begin the planning of getting our marriage plans in order (Kim & McKenry, 2002). Personally, my relationship with my fiancé has helped to alleviate my depression due to coming out to my parents. Although my father speaks to me regularly, it is approaching one year since I have talked to my mother.

Corey, G. & Corey, M.S. (2008). I never knew I had a choice: Exploration in personal growth (9th
Edition). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole

Kim, H.K., & McKenry, P.C. (2002). The relationship between marriage and psychological well-being.Journal of Family Issues, 23(8), 885-911.