Week of Sept 3-9 Disc. Question #1

1). Talk with one man and one woman who are 20 years older than you.  Talk with one woman and one man who are 40 years older than you.  In each conversation, ask them to explain how men and women were expected to be when they were 20 years old.  As them to explain what behaviors, goals, and attitudes were considered inappropriate for woman and men when they were 20 years old.  Compare their responses with view held by 20-year-olds today.  Discuss your findings in a blog post.

For this discussion question I chose to speak with my parents and my cousins. Women in Vietnam at the age of 20 were expected to work for a degree and receive a higher education in order to live a richer and more fulfilling life because many Vietnamese families were already born in poverty. The parents wanted them to live a life better than the parents themselves. They were also expected to take care of the family and to make sure that there will be food on the table for others that work full time jobs. Some attitudes that were considered inappropriate would be disobeying rules and commands and talking back. Women lived a harsh lifestyle in Vietnam. As for men, once they have completed their education, at the age of 22 they were called for service to the army. My uncle being one of the soldiers, was expected to kill Viet Congs on the war front. Men were expected to get an education and if they could complete their 4 year degree before 22, they could choose to go toward a higher education that could possibly get them out of being on duty for the army. My cousin's lifestyles were completely different from the people i spoke to that were 40 years older than me. My cousin was expected to do normal house chores around the house while going to school for a 4 year degree. Their goals and expectations were not very far from our 20 year-olds today. Definitely, the men and women 40 years older than us would have very different lifestyles. Seeing that they were expected to serve the army due to war, I did not have to go through would that process. Today, I am expected to help around the house and to receive my 4 year degree. Once i have received my 4 year degree, i may choose if i want to go toward a higher degree or find myself a job. My goal would be to find a nicely paid job that is stable enough for a family.