Gender has always been, and will continue to be, an important issue. Much has been said recently about workplace discrimination in terms or hiring, promoting, and paying.

Gender influences the way students are perceived and tracked. For example, there is an assumption that boys are better at math and science, girls at English and languages. While there are many examples in which this is disproved, teachers, parents and other students still cling to this stereotype.

Gender influences how we dress when we go to work, school and out in the public. There are perceived notions about what a boy wears and what a girl wears, and they are quite different.

At some point in your life you have encountered gender stereotypes, either as the recipient or the observer.

Your task is to write about a time in which you became aware of gender. For me, it was when I was a hot little girl who wanted nothing more than to take off my top like my brother had, and found, with a spanking, that it was unacceptable for me to be bare.

What about you? Try to tell the story with as much candor as possible, retaining the innocence that you held at the time. Include dialogue that might have taken place. Actions that you witnessed or that were imposed upon you. Things that you felt, heard, perceived even if no words were spoken.

Humor is okay if it is appropriate to the telling.

Work on this one. Be honest.