TOW #24 - UN Women Ads

            This image displays the continued problem of gender inequality. The text displays a real Google search. It is part of a series of images created by the United Nations. With these images, the UN aims to show people a serious worldwide problem, and hopes that it will one day be fixed. The United Nations is an extremely credible source. Many nations are members of the UN, and together they work to make the world a safe and happy place.

            The collection of images was created in 2013, reminding people that, while progress has been made to lessen gender inequality, we still have not reached a perfect balance. This audience is the entire world population. There are acts every person can do to increase gender equality in their life.

            An important strategy is that the Google search was a real search, and those auto-fill responses were the ones that came up. This goes to show people who think that there is no need for the feminist movement are not necessarily correct. The effect of the Google search leaves people slightly horrified, and inspires them to make a change.

            The author’s purpose was to give further inspiration to the feminist movement. The author wanted it to be clear that there are many people who don’t think men and women should be equal. I think the purpose was achieved. As a picture is worth a thousand words, it is clear to see that there are people who do not view all genders as equals, and that needs to change.

TOW #23 - Wild

Wild, From Lost To Found On the Pacific Crest Trail, is a nonfiction story about a woman who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Following her divorce, Cheryl Strayed hiked the PCT, facing many obstacles along the way. Strayed is an award-winning author who has written four books. This book is written in first person, allowing readers to fully understand Strayed’s journey.

This book was written to tell a story for entertainment, so it is not informative. However, this book is not for everyone. There are details and descriptions that make Wild unsuitable for children. The book was published in 2012, at which point the author was 43. During the memoir, Strayed was 26. I suppose she felt that her story should be heard.

This entire book is a narrative, which leads to ethos. Readers believe what Strayed writes because they understand that this is her personal adventure, so she must know what she is talking about. Her purpose is simply to share her story, and readers believe with what she is saying. It is not an argument or an opinion, so we do not agree or disagree, but we can understand her experience and feel sympathy for her pain.

The author’s purpose in Wild was to inspire readers that this too shall pass. Strayed loses her mother and essentially the rest of her family, goes through a divorce, leaves everyone and everything behind to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, and then is okay. Her life doesn’t end. The world doesn’t stop spinning. Everything worked out in the end. Even though I am only half way through the book, I would say that Strayed does accomplish her purpose. This is because we know that it will get better, and that she is healing.

TOW #22 - Letting Kids Swear

            In the article, “Why I Don’t Really Give a F*ck If My Kids Curse,” by David Lesser, a father shares an opinion about why expletives are not the worst words children (or even adults) can say. In this piece, Lesser explains that children are going to repeat words they hear, but it doesn’t matter. He also explains certain other words that he would prefer his five-year-old daughter did not say. David Lesser establishes ethos by explaining that he himself is a father, so he has firsthand experience about children cursing, and why they should or should not do it. He also is a former attorney, and is now a stay at home dad.

            The audience of this article is parents, as it explains to them why cursing children are not the worst things in the world. The context is that the author’s daughter has begun to curse, and he wishes to persuade other people that it is okay. As children grow up, we are exposed to more words, and children do not always understand when appropriate or inappropriate times to use these words are.

            One device that made the article effective was the way the author added in curse words. He used them effectively by comparing them to other words such as “stupid” and “hate,” which shut things out. By using these words, David Lesser shows how casually they can be used, and how it is not a big deal when one slips out of someone’s mouth. Clearly, this helps achieve his purpose.

            The author’s purpose was not to attempt to encourage parents to let their children use curse words, but an attempt to soothe parents’ worries, saying that, yeah, they will use expletives, but no, it is not the end of the world. He shows parents words that can have worse connotations than the average expletive. Even though I am not a parent, Lesser was able to show me that expletives are okay to use in the right situations.

TOW #21 - Rapists

            This text was written about a Reddit thread explaining the rapists’ point of view. Katie J.M. Baker wrote the article. Baker has written many articles on jezebel.com. She is also a national reporter for BuzzFeed and is stationed in New York.

            The article discusses how rapists do occasionally feel remorse, as well as cite statistics that say most victims know their sexual abusers. The audience is the general public, as most people are familiar with the problem of rape in our society. The context of this piece is the growing feminist movement. More people are beginning to speak up against rape, using outlets such as twitter’s #YesAllWomen.

            Baker uses juxtaposition to compare how some rapists do not care about their victims, while others do feel remorse and even understand that their victims do not want what is being forced upon them. This shows readers that #NotAllMen are bad guys, and that some people will show compassion. The article also reminds readers how not all rapists are men, and women can also rape.

            The author’s purpose was to suggest that we stop assuming that “boys will be boys,” and that it is okay to hyper-sexualize people. Bake reminds people that rape culture is a real and prominent issue in society. Her purpose was a little bit fuzzy, as there were times where it felt like she was sympathizing with the rapists. Because of this, I would argue that her purpose was not crystal clear or fully achieved.

TOW #20 - Wild

            My IRB, Wild, From Lost To Found On the Pacific Crest Trail, seems very similar to Eat Pray Love. Written by Cheryl Strayed and Elizabeth Gilbert respectively, both books are memoirs that begin with a divorce that pushes these women to life changing adventures.

            Cheryl Strayed, an author who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, wrote Wild. Her story began when her mother died, moved on to her divorce, and described her hike. Strayed is an award-winning author who has written four books.

            This book was written for entertainment, not information, so it has no specific information. However, there are some word choices and minor details that show that children should not read this book. Strayed did not publish her book immediately after her journey. The book was published in 2012, at which point the author was 43. During the memoir, Strayed was 26. I suppose she felt that her story should be heard.

            This entire book is a narrative, which leads to ethos. Readers believe what Strayed writes because they understand that this is her personal adventure, so she must know what she is talking about. Her purpose is simply to share her story, and readers believe with what she is saying. It is not an argument or an opinion, so we do not agree or disagree, but we can understand her experience and feel sympathy for her pain.

            The author’s purpose in Wild was to inspire readers that this too shall pass. Strayed loses her mother and essentially the rest of her family, goes through a divorce, leaves everyone and everything behind to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, and then is okay. Her life doesn’t end. The world doesn’t stop spinning. Everything worked out in the end. Even though I am only half way through the book, I would say that Strayed does accomplish her purpose. This is because we know that it will get better, and that she is healing.