By: Anonymous - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

When it comes to life and especially dating, it is natural for women to expect or even demand men to act in a gentlemanly manner. For instance, the man usually must initiate conversation and at some point ask the woman out, once he has accomplished that he is expected to pick her up, open doors for her, pull out chairs, push in chairs, and pay for her meal and any other activities such as mini golf or a movie, all while keeping her fixated and content within an exciting conversation. Does the man do this because he wants to? Or is it because he feels compelled to because that is what the woman expects and even what society expects? I personally feel that with all the talk about women's march towards equality, I find it odd that they some women who demand such independence expect such treatment. Treatment that could be mistaken as disrespect; disrespectful in the way that it suggests women are not capable of doing any of these things on their own. Not capable of taking a man out for an equally exciting night out, or simply able to open the door for themselves. Yes, we have come to know this as common courtesy but at some point does it not suggest that the man still holds all the power? Traditionally the man plans out the night, while the woman has no say in the evenings' activities. This shows a lack of equality in a relationship that should be shared equally by both the man and the woman. It comes to one final question. When a man asks out a woman and she is not involved in any of the nights' planning, from the location of the pick up, to the destination, to the opening of her car door, and the payment of the meal and activities. Is it respectful? Or disrespectful?

By: Jade - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

Numerous blogs on this site are about women and their rights, but I was thinking about something a little different. Many people don’t realize what really goes on behind closed doors in the senate because it’s mostly ideas that they don’t want the people to know about. This is not something most men and women want to even talk about for the fear of being shunned by society. Why is it that our state and house representatives can serve one term and work part-time, but get paid for full time work? They get all the benefits they could ask for, without having to pay a dime. When it came time to make budget cuts, they cut education instead of their own salaries. In my opinion, life would be a whole lot different, if they paid for even a portion of the things everyone else in the world has to pay for.

They also don’t participate in our health care, retirement or social security, which we all have to pay for. For some reason, all of the people representing our state have their own separate plans. It’s no wonder that none of them care about the problems everyone else is facing. It’s not fair to everyone who works hard for their money and has to save everything they can just so one day they can retire and not have to worry. Meanwhile, all these people have to do is serve four years and they’re set for life. I find that utterly ridiculous, but there is nothing we can do about it. The legislators are so focused on their party, democrat or republican, that they aren’t realizing what is truly best for the people of the state of Michigan. What happened to “of the people, by the people, for the people”?

By: Anonymous - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

Shady: That's how I feel when I pick up my monthly birth control. It's odd that one little trip to CVS can leave one so low and degraded. Do I have a boyfriend? Yes. Am I sexually active? No. Do I still feel the impending shame upon visiting my pharmacist? Absolutely. These days I feel as if birth control has such a negative connotation even with its various uses. Yes, many do use it as for the specific reason of its name; birth control. But even then, women are just taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves. Is that so wrong? And the many others who use birth control for medical reasons such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, acne, pain, ovarian cancer risks, and regulating their menstrual cycle are simply taking care of themselves . For more serious matters its ridiculous that all women should feel the negative reactions to using it. The truth of the matter is that this invention is helping keep unwanted children off the streets and others in good health. I think society should really take these methods into consideration and change the outlook of birth control. Also, more so than just society, women themselves need to realize the connotation and stop making assumptions as to the reasons their friends and acquaintances are taking birth control. If you were to ask many women what their feelings were on their peers reasons for using birth control many would likely answer for sexual reasons and think lowly upon those users. However, changing the outlook has to start somewhere and truthfully women and teens themselves could make a big difference in this area.

By: Rudi - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

I had an experience not too long ago that really shocked me. I was lightly messing around with my boyfriend at the time, and I came to learn a very interesting fact about him; he had never taken a sexual education course before. This guy is a college sophomore, you’d think he’d have taken some form sex ed., but he had nothing. Needless to say, I got my anatomy textbook out, and taught him a few things about female anatomy, and, most depressingly, how babies are conceived.

His problem was that he had never been in a setting where he was required to learn these kinds of things. He had gone to a Catholic school up until his junior year of high school where he then enrolled in a fine arts academy. Obviously parochial schools get leeway on what they teach, but it was the arts academy that really got to me. Having spent my high school summers at band camp, I know a thing or two about teenage musicians; they tend to be rather sexually adventurous. Yes, the ones going to an academy are a lot more serious about their art, but they also live with each other the entire school year. Incidents are bound to happen.

Now I know that parochial schools won’t change their curriculum because pre-marital sex goes against their beliefs, but I feel like private schools, just like public schools, should have some form of sex ed. required to graduate. Not only does it increase awareness of pregnancy and STDs, but it’s a good thing to understand how the other sex operates. Nobody should have to break it to a 20-year old that the stork doesn’t bring babies.

By: Dana Hensley - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

This is a video of an anorexic model; she weighs as little as 70 pounds. I'm aware that some men do suffer from anorexia, but not nearly as much as women do. I feel like "losing weight" or "not eating something" has crossed every females mind at least a dozen times. This video is so real that it's sickening. Woman shouldn't feel this pressure to be so skinny. As twisted as this modeling picture is, and the idea behind it- I feel like it could have a positive effect. I don't think that many women would look at that picture and dream to look that way. And hopefully most women would realize that this is how we should feel about any model- anorexic or not. Not everyone has the same body type, and not ever woman is meant to be tall and skinny. We should all love ourselves for the way we are- personality and body. No more letting society or models influence our decisions, especially when it comes to harming our personal health.

By: Kaity - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

The other day I was at a family party, and while helping with the desserts, I asked my ten-year-old cousin if she would like some cake and ice-cream. Her response? “No thank you I can’t, I’m on a diet.” I was so caught off guard by what she had just said to me! When I asked her why she was on a diet, she said she needed to lose weight because she was fat. Now we all know that as we grow, some children have a bit of a belly. But it was NEVER considered fat, just that the child was still growing into their body. It was never a concern to anyone, especially the child.

How early in life is media now infesting the minds of children of our nation? Extreme dieting, anorexia and bulimia were typically observed by young women who entered the stressful world of high school. Keeping up with unnaturally skinny models and movie stars is hard on these young women who want to be skinny, beautiful, and accepted. Nowadays though, does this really only apply to young adult women? Or are the stressors of wanting to be skinny effecting children as young as ten? Girls this young shouldn’t be concerned with the way they look. Their only concern should be which type of cereal would be more fun to eat, not the amount of calories they are consuming.

By: Lea B - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

I recently heard about the woman who is attempting to look like Jessica Alba, not just because she feels she is not good enough but because she wants to get her man back! I wasn’t so shocked at first, women try to look like celebrities all the time, just turn on your TV and there is probably a whole section in the news dedicated to showing women how to dress like their favorite actors for less. But this woman had taken it to another level, she was getting plastic surgery, that’s right, going under the knife just so she could look like what she thinks is better and please her man!

Personally, the extremes women go through to look good for men have always bugged me. Sure men try to look good too, but how many of them spend hours shaving, putting makeup on, fixing their hair and deciding what to wear. As if that wasn’t enough, now we have women spending money and going under the knife with the sole purpose of winning back their men! If that isn’t scary I don’t know what is!

To all the women out there, we’re all getting older and no one is going to look the same after 40-50 years. If your man is with you just because of your looks, rest assured it’s not going to last. So my message is be yourself and if someone doesn’t love you for you then don’t waste your precious time!

By: Anonymous - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

Everybody says that we have to be good daughters; we have to be nice to our mums, appreciate her and love her.

Well mum, I love you and I cherish you and I would do anything for you. You’re always there for me, from the moment that I wasn’t even born yet, when I was still a flesh with no heartbeat. I want to repay you mum. I want to make you happy, because you made me happy all the time, just by being by my side.

I love you mum. Is that not enough? Did I do anything wrong? What’s the matter mum? Why is dad crying? All that I can remember is I moved out, went to college and you came to visit me in the middle of the semester, with huge suitcases before you went to off to your visit relatives. “I don’t need this anymore; I want to give them away to your aunts”. That was what you said. That was your first lie.

Weeks had passed and nobody could reach you. Where were you mum? You said that you would call; you said that you’ll be back soon. My grades were falling mum, my weight dropped 13 pounds; I missed you and I’m worried.

Months had passed and I finally heard from you. I’m sorry I ignored you at that time but I was hurt, angry, upset, disappointed, and utterly confused. I’m not saying that I get it now, because I don’t mum. I deserve an explanation, at the very least.

It’s been almost a year now mum, and I’m still hurt and upset. But I missed you. Always have and always will. Very very much. I need your guidance, your assurance, your support. I’m growing up mum, and I need you. If I ever see you again, I don’t know whether I want to scream my lungs out at you or to hug you so tight till my bones hurt and never let go. But one thing for sure is that I’ll never stop loving you mum. Ever. Please come back.

PS; To my dear friend, stay strong love.

By: Anonymous - from the series of guest posts written by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

I went shopping the other day because I wanted to buy some clothes for me and my brother. So, I went from store to store looking for some decent clothes. The first thing everybody does before they buy clothes is to look at the price and of course, I do the same. So, I found these cute blouse and jeans and I loved it. Before I purchase it with my credit card, I searched for price tag to check for the price and I could not believe my eyes. A simple women’s blouse was almost fifty dollar and jeans that were torn on the knee were almost seventy dollars. So, I put it back and had to say farewell to those cute blouse and jeans. Then, I went to men’s section to look for some clothes for my brother and their clothes were so much cheaper than women’s. Everywhere I went, it was same. So I thought to myself “Why women’s clothing so expensive than men’s?” Is it because the quality of women’s clothing is better than men’s? Is it because the materials to make women’s clothing are so massive than men’s? Everywhere we go, we would sometimes think about these questions. Tell me what you think.

Women’s Clothing: Ways to Look Slim (Without losing the flab!)

Always remember to accentuate your assets! This would draw the attention away from the other problem areas of the body and give you a slimmer look overall. Avoid wide and broad belts if you have a large waist. If you have nice legs, go in for a knee length skirt with a basic shirt to bring more attention to the legs.

• For the top-heavy women, always avoid clingy fabrics on the top area. You need to go in for darker colors. Look for tops with raglan sleeves or ones that fit loose and slim down to hug the hips and waist. You can go in for thin materials like cotton or cotton jersey. The one way to look slim would definitely be the use of one-color dressing. This helps to slim down the overall silhouette. As mentioned before, if you have well shaped legs, then go in for a knee length skirt to draw the attention away from the top area.


• The kind of fit you choose for your pants can also go a long way in making you look slimmer than usual. Your pants should at least be long enough to cover half your heel. If you are on the shorter side, wearing a straight leg or slight boot cut can elongate your leg. Avoid French pleats or cropped pants. Ensure the pants fit you snugly and not too tightly. An excess of fabric on the bottom area would add bulk and give it a shapeless look. Long pants create the illusion of a longer body; and in turn, can make you look slimmer.


• Colors help you in various ways to look slim. Well, black therefore rates high on the list of women on the heavier side. This does not mean you always have to wear outfits in full black and lose your connection with color. You can go in for bright hues but use these to highlight body areas, which can be used to your advantage. You wouldn’t want to wear a color that screams for attention and shows you in the wrong light. Similarly, you may also need to check the large patterned tops or pants you may own. Large patterns tend to add bulk to your body. Look for some delicate designs instead.


• If you are heavy on the hips choose clothes with small padded shoulders (if you must wear padded shoulders). Large shoulder pads can make you look really huge which if something, you obviously wish to avoid. Wear tops that reach your hips so that it slims down the problem area. Go in for jackets, shirtwaist dresses with straight, classic cuts and tailored suits. Wear lighter shades on the upper torso and dark stockings below. Choose patterns that go below your knees. This would underplay the hip area. So, if you really wish to wear a dress, look for an ankle length, flowing one. Stick to A-line patterns and avoid umbrella and pinafore cuts.


• Always choose garments with vertical lines. This is one of the great ways to look slim. The use of vertical lines also elongates and slims down the body by adding height to it. These lines can be created by pinstripes, prints, topstitching etc. Horizontal lines add width to the body, so avoid these in any form.


• Wearing loose clothes all the time may not always be the right way to look slim. Instead, opt for clothes that fit well! Avoid wearing small sized clothes as well. I have often seen women go in for something that is smaller than their regular size only because it has caught their fancy.


• Wearing skinny or slim bangles and bracelet styled watches can make your arms look thinner.


• Avoid shiny fabrics in loud colors. These reflect light and thus will make you appear larger.


• Women’s clothing are available in a variety of options today, so finding the right cut and style to flatter you may not always be as difficult as you think. These various ways to look slim should definitely help you get a new look without sweating it out on the treadmill!

Source: Buzzle.com

By: Anonymous - from the series of guests posts by Dr. Baldwin's students at Michigan State University.

“Sorority girls are sluts.”, “Sorority girls are dumb.”, “Sorority girls party all the time.”, “Sorority girls are….” And I could go on and on with all the incorrect stereotypes that people have of sorority girls. It is not fair that the actions of one person or one sorority affects how others think of ALL sororities and people involved. We had spring recruitment for my sorority tonight and one girl came in and said her roommate was angry with her for coming because of those stereotypes above and she did not want her friend to turn into a “typical” sorority girl. Well roommate. You are wrong. Not all sorority girls are like that, not even close. Sorority girls are sluts? Many of the girls in my sorority have boyfriends that they have had for a long time. Sorority girls are dumb? Well, my sorority has the highest GPA in Greek Life on campus. Sorority girls party all the time? What about last Saturday night when a bunch of us watched A Walk To Remember in my room?

My sorority is not filled with carbon-copy girls, we are completely different. That is why I fell in love with this great group of girls. I was able to hold interesting conversations with them, about topics I was actually excited to be talking about. I do not know about other sororities, but I am sure that none of the sororities on my campus fit the stereotypes.

Just because groups or organizations have stereotypes/reputations does not mean they are true. The same goes for reputations. Most of the time, stereotypes and reputations are formed by the impression the group made on the community many years ago, not by the current members of the group/organization. Before you knock something down, make sure you give it a fair shot. This rule should go for everything in life, including meeting other people. Do not just base a relationship off of what has previously been said about the person. Give them a fair chance. Give everything in life a fair shot and you might just fall in love with something, or someone, unexpectedly.