Conclusion - Tyler Jester

I found Sport and Gender to be one of my favorite classes to go to each week. A lot of information I had background knowledge on but having this class really enhanced my knowledge and allowed me to expand on what I knew about all of the different topics we discussed throughout the class. One article I found very interesting was the one dealing with the Athletic Director’s Dilemma. It was interesting to see how athletic directors solve problems about what sports to keep based on revenues toward the university. Basically, this gives the small male sports team hardly any chance to succeed. Everyone knows football and men’s basketball bring in the most money for universities but it was interesting to see how universities tried to comply with the Title IX requirements having so many scholarships available for those two main sports. This was not the only article that I found useful. Each and every article along with the discussions in class were helpful for me to understanding each topic being discussed. A few of my other favorite topics were Kobe and LeBron, and Magic Johnson dealing with AIDS. As a Lakers fan, I was automatically drawn to the articles dealing with Kobe and Magic but anything dealing with basketball definitely drew my attention.

Writing a blog did a couple of things to help me. The first way is that it kept me accountable. Posting a blog held me accountable because I needed to make sure I posted something each week, and if I didn't then everyone in the class could see which weeks I would have missed. The other way writing blogs helped me, was that it made me think before I wrote entries and posted them. Knowing that the blogs will be on the Internet and available to the public made me proofread and rethink my thoughts before posting, just so I know I was being politically and grammatically correct on each entry.

I believe each group presentation had its strengths and weaknesses but I really enjoyed everyone’s presentations, especially the presentation on Jeremy Lin. I thought it was interesting to see how we would have portrayed a female version of Jeremy.

The main thing I will take away from this class is to try and make sure that everyone is treated equally and fairly, no matter the gender, sex, race, or sexual orientation. All anyone wants is an opportunity and it should not matter who you, everyone deserve an opportunity to succeed at something they take pride in. 

Conclusion- Erin Scott

When I first enrolled in this class I wasn't aware that we would be covering so many topics. I had no idea how there would be enough content to last us an entire semester. I expected us to focus solely on gender in sports. I was very wrong! 

This class is one of my favorite classes that I've taken at BG. This class made me think about a lot of topics that I would have never thought of before. I really enjoyed the class discussion and being able to express my views as well as hear the opinions of others. Some of my beliefs were challenged while I also developed ideas and opinions on topics that I had never thought about before. I think that this class really made the class more open and accepting of others. I like that it challenged the belief of thinking in binaries. I think it was important that we discussed the topic of race in sports because it still remains a large issue that I think many people overlook. Also, being a woman I saw the issues that females faced in sports but I was not as aware of the issues facing men in sports. Homophobia is a big issue in sports and we've talked about we would need an athlete in a big sport to come out. Earlier today Jason Collins, an NBA player announced that he is gay. Before this class I would have paid no attention to the story and would have realized how courageous he is for being an open gay athlete. I will be very interested to see the reactions and see if other athletes are more willing to be an open gay athlete.

I truly enjoyed this class and I am so glad that BG offers this it! Thanks for the great semester Dr. Spencer!

Extra Credit: Female Portrayal in Hip-Hop Music -Logan Walker

My group did our in-class presentation on Athletes and Hip Hop. Some different aspects of the topic we wanted to look at were how athletes were related to hip hop artists and vice versa, similarities of the two, and how athletes and hip hop artists portray one another. We included video clips of athletes rapping and hip hop artists playing sport. One aspect that we did not talk much about was how female athletes are portrayed and related to hip-hop. I would just like to elaborate some on this thought since the question has been brought up.

I would like to start off by saying that we do not see women portrayed as much in this light because more times than not it is male hip hop artists who are intrigued by male sports. For example, we talked about in our presentation how Jay-Z took over the Brooklyn Nets and then decided to let someone else take over because he wanted to become an agent. Jay-Z founded Roc Nation Sports. The reason he had to hand some responsibility of the Nets to someone else is because he could not be an owner and an agent. We really do not see any female hip-hop artists making these types of moves. We are more aware male hip-hop artists athletic backgrounds than female hip-hop artists. As we have touched on in some class discussion this year, there is not as much popularity when it comes to female sports as there is in male sports. When it comes to male hip artists they seem to have more fascination in the female athlete’s physical attraction more so than the actual sport they play. I would also like to add that Skylar Diggins who just signed with the WNBA also signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports. This was big news for female athletes. This was a great decision on her part and I am intrigued to see the endorsements she will have coming her way.

I would like to compare male athletes portrayal in hip-hop artist music compared to females. I would like to look at how the two parties are represented. The first song I wanted to look at is entitled “Kobe Bryant” and it is by hip-hop artist Lil Wayne. The song is based on the greatness of Kobe Bryant and has excerpts in it from ESPN analysts talking about Kobe’s greatness. When hip hop talks about males athletes it is usually strictly about their athletic ability. I looked at an article entitled, “Black Womanhood, Misogyny, and Hip Hop Culture: A Feminist Intervention,” by Anita Simmons. The article talks a lot about how black females are mistreated when it comes to hip hop music. It talks about how in white and black hip hop artist’s music there seems to be a hatred or mistrust related to black women. It is stated in the article, “I feel personally targeted by the sexist rage in hip hop that reinforces the patriarchal, dominant stereotypical views of black women and their sexuality that have been promoted by American men, both white and black” (Simmons 27). This is Simmons kind of touching on the previous point that I made that females, athlete or not, are strictly spoken about more so as an object than being appreciated for their qualities, such as success in sports or overall accomplishments. Also stated in the article, “I argue that the systemic hatred of black women did not start with Hip-Hop, but has deep historical continuities that precede the latter” (Simmons 28). Simmons is saying right here that the negative portrayal of black women did not start with hip-hop but it has always been a problem in the world and hip-hop is just a continuation.

Finally, I do not think that this is how black females would like to be represented, but they do not have much of a choice when this is how hip hop artists want to portray them. Looking back at Don Imus and his comments about the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team he called them “nappy headed hoes” and also made comments about their tattoos. After he made these comments he tried to defend himself by blaming it on hip hop music. I personally think that it was a poor excuse by Don Imus to blame his actions on hip hop, but in reality, hip-hop artists do portray the black females in this light. Some final comments I’d like to make are that it is hard to relate female athletes to hip hop in a positive way especially when they are victims of hatred and sexism in hip hop music. Male athletes are spoken about strictly in regards to their athletic ability but unfortunately female athletes do not get this luxury. 

References:

Simmons, Anita. "BLACK WOMANHOOD, MISOGYNY, AND HIP-HOP CULTURE: A FEMINIST INTERVENTION." 1.2 (2008): 27-28. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Humanities_History_and_Social_Sciences/Cultural_Studies/Cultural_Landscapes/Volume_I_Issue_2/Cultural_Landscapes_Journal_1_2_2008_C_Anita_Simmons.pdf>.

Slam. N.p., 25 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/womens/2013/04/skylar-diggins-signs-with-roc-nation-sports/>.

Conclusion Greg Gantt

When I first enrolled in the class for the semester I knew I would enjoy it based off of my first class with Dr. Spencer. I learned a lot this semester from topics ranging from race to gender to disabilities to equality in sports. I think my favorite portion of the class would have to be discussion. The readings set a good tone for topics but the discussion showed me others points of views whether similar or different. Gave me a chance to see how people of other gender and ethnicities felt about topics. At times I did have my own opinion but there were plenty of other times where I was agreeing or learning from someone else.
The only recommendations I could give is requiring everyone to discuss in class whether it is one or two times a day. I think this can only help to make the discussions that much better. I also enjoyed the blogs. For those who did not always speak in class I was able to understand their opinion through their blog writings.
All in all this class not only helped me academically with critical thinking but also in everyday life. From having conversations about sexuality I was able to better understand what people go through for just choosing to have a different sexual preference. I learned to be more understanding of everyone and to accept difference. I enjoy this class and love the amount of freedom I had to speak my mind. Continue to keep up the great work, enjoyed you as my professor Dr. Spencer.

Extra Credit Presentation Follow Up Greg Gantt

Amirah happens to be a good friend of me and this article is a good one. I think that women athletes are reflected as queens to Hip-Hop. Just like basketball and hip hop go hand in hand I think it is the assumption every man needs that perfect woman. When I say this I am referring to the thought that when rappers mention women athletes I think it is their way of honoring them. A lot of times it is not always positive. I do not agree that if it is negative that it should occur but in a sense I think it is expected from rappers to sexualize these athletes. It is not fair though. But in a sense I think the women athletes need to speak up if they are being honored in demeaning way. I think women athletes have close relations to hip hop since a lot of times women athletes are sexualized such as Serena Williams. It is not fair but sex sales and it only helps her when rappers talk about her. Just like Salt N Pepa choosing to use sexy lyrics because at the end of the day people like that and want to hear it. In reference to Don Immus he was wrong but makes a great point in that hip hop songs always talk about hoes yet they are not judged. But he was not a rapper he was a talk show host who verbally assaulted specific women and not women in general. That is where the issue came into play. Had he just said nappy headed hoes randomly on no topic it would have just been seen as why is he talking in that manner.

Extra Credit Study Guide Greg Gantt

What are some of the critiques of LeBron and Giselle’s photo on the cover of Vogue, especially in light of LeBron being the first African American man to be featured on that cover? In reality it was a signifying debacle; he appeared with a hulking, raging visage, grabbing onto the lithe, smiling, and white figure of supermodel Gisele Biindchen, a la King Kong clutching Fay Wray. The photograph controversy lies in that why is the first ever African-American male to be featured on the cover reflectng a stereotype. The photographer says the picture was not meant to upset but I feel that she is controversial and because she is well known it is okay for her to portray sterotypes because she is an "artist."

Extra Credit: Jonathan Kozol Presentation

On Friday night, in the Wolfe Center Donnell Theatre, educational history was made. Now when walking into this presentation, I had no idea of the importance of the talk that was about to happen.

To set the background, Jonathan Kozol, is a lifelong educator and political activist, who is a Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar. His journey through life is meaningful because of the impact he has made in his profession and his daily life.

To begin the lecture, Kozol easily stated, “Teachers are his heroes.” He spent his life in elementary schools and fully realizes that teaching can sometimes be a thankless commitment. He started his career in 1964, was an English major a Harvard and Rhoades scholar, who simply loves literature. Though his father wasn’t impressed with his calling for education, Kozol started off as a kindergarten substitute teacher and worked his way up to 4^th grade teaching.

When looking at why he wanted to be a teacher, Kozol mentioned how the 1964 events with Martin Luther King, Jr. changed his life. During the times of the incidents and riots, he wanted to help but really didn’t know how too. He clearly remembers driving to the black community in Boston, nearby his hometown, and asked a local pastor on how he can help. The pastor explained how Kozol could help the people in Mississippi by fighting the injustice here, because there was injustice everywhere. Kozol was called to be a teacher and pass along his world-class education.

Though Kozol marched with Dr. King, remembers his words, and even the sound of his voice, he admits that his journey was not always easy. He spent most of his career in the Bronx working with the youth in bad areas and actually wrote several books about his experiences.

Throughout the lecture, Kozol’s message was clear. He even stated, “I hate to be bitter, but lives are at stake, my friends. I have to speak from my heart.” Teachers are under fierce attack and racial isolation does damage the youth. Though the system may be broken, we, as in all of us, must take a stand. Charter schools are not the answer; books, class sizes, and talents in classrooms do matter! Though there may be injustice with politicians, Kozol is committed to doing his part. He admitted how he has lived a good life, but he wants to keep passing along his message and keep sharing his personal stories until his dying day.

He told personal stories that moved the crowd. They were first hand accounts of the unfair practices in the inner-city schools around the nation. Though discrimination still exists, Kozol believes that the foundations of teaching can overcome the obstacles if they receive the appropriate help. The teachers who believe in the real mission don’t value only tests and agendas, they foster happy places and are great at what they do.

It may seem radical, but his message could not be denied on Friday night. Kozol has even depended on his mentors, like Mr. (Fred) Rogers, to let him know that it is okay to stick you neck out and you will survive.

The last message of the night: “The innocence of children will out live us all.”

-Alex Solis 

Conclusion: Alex Solis

This past semester, I had the opportunity to be enrolled in SM 4250, a course focused on sport and gender. Throughout the semester, the class learned about a variety of things from history to current news. We covered topics such as gender, race, sexual orientation, physical disabilities, diversity, as they related to sport.

Looking back on my experience, this class was very unique because it really did open my eyes to a range of topics that relate directly to my interests and future. It is amazing to think how my fundamental views were changed and challenged through class discussion, presentations, research, and interactive learning opportunities. The material I learned, especially that about gender and diversity, is information that I find very useful because it relates to any job field or community. Even by writing in this blog, I was given the opportunity to express opinions, discuss research, and truly have an open conversation with classmates. For example, one topic that really impacted me was gay and lesbian athletes in sport. Not only did my group do our presentation about this, but there were also posts and comments about this subject. Through in-class discussion, I was given the opportunity to really share my honest opinions. When writing in this blog, I had the chance to remove myself for the first person discussion, truly think out my thoughts, and form a well-structured message.

In the end, I really appreciate this class because of its environment, participation, and discussion we had. I am more knowledgeable about topics relating to sport and gender and am excited to utilize the knowledge in my future profession. Also, thank you Dr. Spencer for the course leadership you provided, it has been a great time.

Until next time...  

Study Guide Questions - Andrew Hayes

1.    What are 8 defensive positions (apologetics) in response to the “lesbian bogeywoman image” in sport, according to Griffin (1998, p. 66)?

Silence – Organizations and advocates do not voice support for gay athletes when the media erupts. (Billie Jean King)

Denial – Denying the presence of lesbians in athletics or on their team/area. Maria Navratilova and her trainer denied their relationship for years.

Promotion of a feminine, heterosexual image –Schools scrutinize a woman’s “heterosexual credentials/Hetero security check” 1. Visibility of relationships, 2. Appearance and demeanor and 3. Attitudes and actions about lesbians in sport.

Promotion of a heterosexy image – To portray that their players are heterosexual, leagues have put out sexy calendars and photographs showing skin and cleavage.

Search for heterosexual-only space – Parents wanting to send their daughter to a lesbian-free team or program.  One father said he didn’t want to see any ‘butch-type’ women around.

Attacks on lesbians – Not allowing lesbians on the team, getting players to come to your school by talking bad about another school (they’re all lesbians)

Preference for male coaches – Parents feel their daughters are safer with a male coach than a lesbian coach.

Acknowledgement but disassociation from lesbians – ‘I don’t have a problem with lesbians, but don’t call me one.’

1.    Despite a high percentage of black males who participate in (or even dominate) some sports, what did statistics reveal (as of the writing of this article)?

Blacks are still discriminated against.  They are said to not be capable field managers, and there are few black coaches and people in the front office.  Additionally, black athletes are highly represented in the sports that they had access to (basketball, football) but are underrepresented in sports to which they have not had access to such as hockey, soccer, swimming.

Conclusion - Andrew Hayes

Over the course of this semester, i realized how wide and all-encompasing the topic of "Sport and Gender" really is.  I came into class on the first day assuming this class would basically be a semester long study of Title IX, and I couldn't have been more wrong.

We dove into subjects of race, stereotypes, sexuality, competence, prejudice, discrimination, and countless other subtopics.  Each one these topics really helped me understand some of the issues and problems that still exist in sports today.  I was so happy that this class was structured as a discussion-based class, because it was very interesting to hear everyones unique opinions and views on certain subjects, especially those that are typically controversial.  The discussion that was generated (although sometimes slow to start) was definitely the highlight of this class.

With the help of my classmates, the lectures, and the articles, I truly feel that I now have a more well-rounded perspective on the relationship between sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and sport. For instance, the exercise in class where we had to name latino athletes, and as a class we named countless men, but could only name a handful of women.  Little things like this exercise really opened my eyes to the lack of publicity that women's sports receive, and how minorities are underrepresented in certain sports.

Overall I'm very thankful for this class and how it was structured.  It was a very positive experience and facilitated a lot of great discussion.  It was a breath of fresh air compared to the other classes I'm taking this semester that require my nose to be in a textbook all the time.

-Andrew Hayes

Study Guide Questions--Lindsey Landversicht

Study Guide Questions

1.      Prior to Magic Johnson’s announcement about being HIV positive, what were the common understandings about who typically contracted AIDS?

a.      A common understanding about contracting AIDS was that the people who contracted the disease were going to die.

2.       What were some of the outcomes of Magic’s announcement (i.e.., people’s reactions, understandings about HIV, AIDS)?

a.      When Magic made his announcement people were shocked and mourned about him telling everyone he had HIV was retiring from basketball immediately. Those people acted like it was a “death sentence.” His former teammates were calling him to talk and later on when he wanted to return to the game of basketball he was criticized because people thought he would give the virus to other players.   

Conclusion-Lindsey Landversicht

After completing this class this semester it is safe to say that I have learned a lot of new information and gone more in depth on some topics that I already had some knowledge about. One of the topics that really stuck out to me was about how athletes are discriminated when it comes to them being gay or lesbian. It is just crazy how people can just judge one another based on their orientation. I really hope in the future athletes will know that it is okay to come out and admit to being gay instead of holding it in and hiding it from everyone.  A second, thing that I enjoyed learning more about was Title IX. I was informed about Title IX in my previous classes and when I was in high school but I was glad to go more in depth about the topic and how it actually works. I have never kept a blog before this class. It was interesting to keep one and comment on other student’s blogs in the class on what we thought about the current topic. It was also interesting to read more on what each of my classmates thought about the topic that we were discussing in class before. I think after writing comments on my fellow classmates blogs this semester it makes me want to make my own blog and write about important information in the sport industry and let other people read it and get their feedback on it.  This class has been one of my favorite classes that I have taken so far here at BGSU. The reason being was I just really liked how this class was based on discussion and I liked how a lot of us got into the topics and we could just talk about it for a period of time. I also enjoyed this class because we weren’t taught straight out of a textbook it is nice to mix things up when teaching by having a discussion, getting into groups to do group work and to watch videos and look at the information on the power point slides. It was nice to learn about new information and to not hear the same information over and over again like I have experienced in some of my other sport management classes. I wish all students at BGSU were able to partake in this class I think a lot of the students who aren’t sport management majors would enjoy this class. I will take a lot of this great information and will be able to use it in the future when I have to have discussions with other people or I can use the information when I have a certain job title and one of this issues that I learned has come up.

Study Guide Questions #2: Joshua Kovacs

1. Give examples to illustrate Asian influences in American culture.

• Asian tattoos, movies like "Crouching Tiger" being the highest grossing foreign film, Chinese food being on every block, cartoon like Pokemon, and yoga becoming mainstream. 

2. What is "Orientalism" as suggested by Edward Said?

• "Exotic, mysterious, racist labels historically applied to the East by the West"
• West: Big Industry, masculinity, and big money.
• East: Femininity, weakness, delicate, and poor.

Study Guide Question: Joshua Kovacs

1. What are some of the critiques of Lebron and Giselle's photo on the cover of Vogue. especially in light of Lebron being the first African American man to be featured on that cover? Do you agree or disagree with those critiques?

• People were bringing in the comparison of the photo to old WW1 propoganda that showed a ravaged ape having a white women in his arms dangling, the poster said, "enlist to defeat the mad brute".
• I do not believe that this was the intention of Vogue magazine but rather a strange coincidence that happened. The picture was supposed to show that Lebron played fiercely on the court and all of the pictures depicted athletes along with white supermodels through out the magazine.

2. What was the "Beijing Backdown," as Guerrero (2010) refereed to it?

• Lebron James and Kobe Bryant vowed to speak out about the crisis in Darfur and China's role in it before the Olympic. Kobe even was involved in a commercial about the incident. When it came time to speak out and say something while in Beijing, the two backed down and decided to tell everyone that they will let politicians handle it the best way they knew how and basically left the matter alone. 

Conclusion: Joshua Kovacs

I really enjoyed this semesters class on sport and gender. I enjoy classes that spark debate and classes where you are encouraged to share your opinion on popular topics as well as here others opinions on them. Some of the topics that I enjoyed include Michael Jordan and the effect he had on the sports and business world. He was the best basketball player of all time according to many and also one of the most marketable people in all of sports. He made just about every company he came into contact with millions of dollars and didn't do to bad from a personal standpoint with money! He created such an iconic brand that he makes million still after retiring in the early 2000's. He will forever be admired by fans and coveted by companies to sell their products. The topic about Britney Griner being offered a contract by Mark Cuban was interesting because it has still yet to play out and people are not sure if he did this for a publicity stunt or if he will invite her to the summer games to try out. Many believe that she needs to stay at the WNBA level and help elevate women's basketball but still some think it would be great to see a woman try and compete at a men's level, even if it is a publicity stunt. This also bring the discussion of a woman attending the NFL combine which was also an interesting topic covered in class because it marked the first time a female was invited to compete. She may have had to leave due to injury but it shows how much woman have done to reach equality in terms of athletic proneness in today's sports. In conclusion, I enjoyed the semester in this class and it opened my eyes to all of the controversial problems of equality in today's sports world as we strive for equality among all.

Conclusion - Jeff Kravetz

Over the course of the semester, the topics we covered in class really brought different ideas and opinions to think about.  The most important thing I learned was about each of the most controversial topics in sports today such as, homophobia, transsexuals, and the way women and men are perceived by sports fans and audiences.  I learned more by discussing and presenting my own opinions in class, which made grasping the topics easier. The most useful thing in class were the clips from YouTube that related to each topic.  Sometimes, I wasn’t sure of some topics or people that we were discussing and would have been lost if I didn’t actually see it.  For example, I didn’t know about the Williams sisters and the controversy at Indian Wells.  The videos of it actually happening and their father’s response made the topic more interesting.  The most interesting topic to me was the image of males and females in sport, such as in bodybuilding magazines and the way women are portrayed in magazines.  I enjoyed looking at the different pictures and advertisements in magazines such as Flex, because I read magazines similar and haven’t noticed those types of subjects unless you really dig deep into the content.  I also enjoyed writing blogs and posting comments every week because it helped me evaluate what I knew or what I wanted other people to know about a subject we were discussing or to try and create questions that could lead to more answers or opinions.  I think this class will help me express my opinion and see things deeper than what it really talked about.  If I see things on television or ESPN that talk about female athletes in a certain sense, I’ll know what the media is trying to portray them as or see if there is a problem with what they have to say.  The class ultimately makes me think about topics outside the box and get a deeper meaning than what is really shown.  

Study Guide Question- Dan Pesato

“Cool pose” (Majors, 1990)

1.     Despite a high percentage of black males who participate in (or even dominate) some sports, what did statistics reveal (as of the writing of this article)? What do you think those statistics would be like in 2013?

Despite the high percentage of black males who participate in some sports, statistics reveal that less than 6% of all the athletic scholarships given in the United States actually go to African Americans. Also, an estimated 25-35% of high school black athletes do not even qualify for scholarships due to academic deficiencies. Of those black athletes that receive the scholarships, as many as 65-75% may not even graduate from college.

I feel that today, there are many black males who have made the mark in the sports they play. I believe that the percentage of athletic scholarships given is definitely higher in 2013. If they put in the work to become a collegiate athlete, then they should deserve the chance to make that happen. As of 2007-2008, black male athletes receive 22.8% as compared to other minority groups (Westfall, p.1).

 

Conclusion: Zane Langdon

a.     What did you learn?

The main thing that I learned from this class was to be more understanding of all of the different issues of sports and try to understand them from other peoples point of view.  Throughout the semester we were faced with many topics I had never thought about before, so the ability for me to sit back and think about my view point on these was something that was truly extraordinary.  I am appreciative of all of the new information I have learned and I cannot wait to go out and try to learn more.  

b.     What did you find most useful?

I found the topic about Jordan the most useful as it pertains to my minor the most.  On the business end, looking at the impact he has had is truly amazing.  He has transcended the world of sports and it is interesting to see if we as a sporting community are truly better off for it or not.  While he has opened doors, he is also the only one that is drawing comparisons in every sport of who will be the next Jordan which is a huge task for anyone to live up to.

c.     Were there any readings and/or topics that were especially interesting to you?

I would say that the topic of Brittney Griner playing in the NBA is something that was very interesting.  This is because of the various opinions that are on the issue and the people who are out there, but no one wanted to step on toes in this situation.   Many people I feel like held back on what they wanted to say simply because they did not want to offend people.

d.     How did writing blog or journal entries help you to think (and write) differently about certain topics?

Writing these made me try to address all sides of the issues and try to be understanding and address all sides of the issues.  I think that it has made me always seek the truth in the situation which is something that is very crucial to great writing.

e.     Overall, what will you take from this class that will be especially useful for your career?

I will take the ability to understand all sides of issues as you interact with people and make sure their feelings are understood as well as not step on toes.  My future jobs will put me in the position to interact with many people so the need to be understanding is crucial.