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Brianna Lopez
John Kubler
English 115
16 October 2014
Ethnography
For this ethnography, Ive decided to interview couples in my church. So I hypothesized
that most of the results are going to be that the male is dominant and most of their responses
would be conservative responses such as not supporting prostitution and topless beaches.
The couples I scrutinized for the 30-minute examination, was Dominic and Britni. Both are
seniors in CSUN and they both have been in a relationship with each other for about a year and a
half and claim to love each other very much. They dont publicize their affection towards each
other, but it doesnt affect the way they feel about each other. (They choose not to show affection
towards each other in public because they dont want their friends to feel awkward about being the
third wheel or just awkward in general). They show how much they love each other through
different ways. Dominic shows his love and passion towards Britni through his acts of service and
words. Britni does so through her physical affection and words of affirmation. During my time
with them, they only held hands for 10 minutes tops, and then Dominic let go of Britnis hand. I
asked Britni if she wished they held hands more often, and she said that she would like to, but
Dominic wants to limit it especially in public. So through just observation, it seems as though
Dominic is dominant over the relationship.
In regards to the questionnaire, it was more than obvious that Dominic was the dominant
one in the relationship. When asked, who is more dominant in the relationship, both Dominic
and Britni did not hesitate that Dominic was the dominant one in the relationship. When they were
also answering the questions, Britni would wait for Dominic to answer first unless he offered for

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her to go first when responding to the question. He also decides where theyre going for the dates
and he made the first move in their relationship. For the advertisement though, they both had
different opinions about who is dominant or not. Britni argued that the woman was the dominant
one because it seems as though the men are flocking to her. Dominic argued that the man was
dominant because hes holding her up and without him, the woman wouldnt be in the strong
position in the advertisement.
Statistical coverage of the questions of all participants.
1. What city do you live in? Do you room together or live separately?
a. 100% live in the valley
b. 60% live together
2. How much time do you spend together each day? On the weekends?
a. 60% said they spend time with each other once a week for 3-5 hours.
b. 40% said they see each other 4-6 hours every day
3. Where do you usually go for a romantic night out, or just to have fun on weekends?
a. 100% said a dinner and a nice scenery
Who usually decides where to go for the dates?
a. 80% male picks
b. 20% female picks
4.

In the beginning of your relationship, who made the first move to break the ice and start
the dating relationship?
a. 100% male

5. What did that person do to get the other person to take interest and agree to go out?
a. 80% males asked the women out
b. 20%, the man flirted with his eyes

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6. Who do you think is more dominant in your relationship?

a. A. 80% of couples said the male was dominant
b. 20% said dominance was even in their relationship
7. Should collegiate female track athletes be allowed to race on the mens track team? Y N
In the Olympics? Y

Why?

a. 90% of couples said women shouldnt compete

b. 10% said females should compete
8. Do you agree with the new US militarys decision to let women fight side-by-side with the
men in the armys infantry combat forces?

Y N

Why?

a. 50% of couples said women can fight with military (males of the relationship)
b. 50% of couples disagreed with women fighting with military (females of the
relationship)
10-- Would you be in favor of letting women go topless on Los Angeles beaches? Y

a. 100% of couples favored no

11-- Do you know who the singers Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj are? Have you ever seen any of
their videos or live performances? If so, do you think their sexual exhibitionism in performances is
going too far?

N Why or why not?

a. 100% of couples know these celebrities and have seen either their performances
or videos
b. 100% of couples all agreed that Miley Cyrus and Nick Minajs sexual
exhibitionism in performances is going too far.
c. 60% of couples said its going too far because it is a bad influence on young
girls

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d. 20% of couples said its going too far because Cyrus and Minaj are portraying
themselves as sexual objects
e. 20% of couples said its going to far because Cyrus and Minaj are portraying
weakness and insecurity.
12-- Do you think female high school students should be allowed to wear these short cut-off
shorts to school? (SHOW PHOTO OF THE GIRLS)

a. 100% said no
13-- Should prostitution be legalized in Los Angeles?

a. 100% didnt support it.

14-- On a date, if a girl wears a short, tight-fitting microskirt to a dance club or party, do you
think shes degrading herself and becoming nothing more than a sexual object?

Y If a female

college student wears the same microskirt to a college party, is she presenting herself as a sexual
object?

Why or Why Not?

a. For both parts of the questions 100% of couples said they dont agree with a
high school nor a college girl wearing a micro-skirt to any party and are
degrading themselves as sexual objects.
b. 100% said its because the woman wants unhealthy attention. One of the
couples added that scientifically when women wear provacotive clothing, that
men will automatically look at them as an actual object like the way they would
see a screw driver.
15-- What makes true love possible in your relationship today?
a. 100% said God
b. 40% added honesty with their God answer.

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16--

Then, show them a full color copy of the ad that your group chose to perform;
ask both of the partners who they believe the characters are, what they think the
dramatic story behind the ad is, and who they think is more in control of the gendered

relationship depicted in the Ad. Note their responses in your mind.

a. There are mixed views on the advertisement. 100% of couples were at first
confused on who was dominant in the advertisement.
b. 50% of 80% of the couples said that the woman was dominant and that the
men were her servants. The man is picking the woman out of submission. (80%
of the 50% were women in the relationship and 20% was a man).
c. 40% of couples said that it was the man because hes holding the woman up in
his arms.
d. 60% of couples agreed that the woman was the empowered one in the
advertisement
e. 20% of the couples said that the advertisement portrays a reverse way of how
society sees women.
It seems as though there is a linkage between each persons sense of personal
empowerment in their own romantic relationship and their opinion of who is in in control in the
Ad relationship. The male, who both female and male of the relationship claimed to be the
dominant one, said that the male in the advertisement was the dominant one (most of them). There
were a few of the males who said that the woman was the empowered one, so dominance did play
a factor in their perspective of the Ad relationship, but not so with all the men. Most of the women
said that the female was the dominant one in the Ad relationship, even if they all agreed they
werent dominant in their own relationship. There was one couple though; who said dominance in

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their relationship is equal, shared opposite opinions. The male in the relationship, said that the
woman was dominant, but the female in the relationship said that the male was dominant. So there
is a sense of the dominant one in the relationship saw their gender in the advertisement as the
dominant one, but the results are very mixed because most of the females who claimed they
werent dominant in their relationship, thought that the female in the advertisement was dominant.
It doesnt seem like dominance was a factor when it came to questions regarding to sexual
behavior/expression. Both females and males in the relationship didnt support nude beaches,
prostitution, and provocative attires.
There seems like there was a linkage when it came to female rights and gender equality.
Most of the men, who claimed to be dominant in the relationship, believed that women shouldnt
compete against men in the tracks. Some of the men were a little iffy about women being in the
army. The only thing they supported about women being in the army is because they wanted to
support female rights.
There is no linkage of what makes true love possible in regards to dominance. All the
couples believed that God is the center and glue that makes their relationship last.
In conclusion, it does seem as though dominance does play a role when it mostly came to
equality and empowerment. The men didnt totally agree on women competing against guys nor
women really being in the army. The males all believed that males do have a different physique
than women, therefore, it would be more difficult for women to fight with men. One male also
pointed out that America has a no man left behind policy and so if there was a woman in the
mission, it might slow the team down. Some of the men even believed that the man in the
advertisement was dominant over the female. For females in all the relationship, dominance didnt
really affect their views on the advertisement and on other things as well. Most women supported
females going on track against males and for women being in the army. In the other questions

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regarding sexual behavior and what makes true love last dominance was not a factor that swayed
any of the couples opinions and beliefs. All the couples regarding to those questions, were all
unanimous in their answers. So, dominance is key in relationships regarding to certain
issues/aspects, but its not the main thing that overseas all males and females in regards to other
issues/view points of life.