PSYCHOLOGY 1: Stranger Fruit, Whiskey Dreams, Reproductive Years

This psychology assignment, titled "Stranger Fruit, Whiskey Dreams, Chapter 3: Reproductive Years," presents a student's personal narrative reflecting on their experiences during their late teens and early twenties. The narrative explores themes of self-esteem, body image, relationships, and mental health challenges. The author describes their feelings of self-hatred, low self-esteem, and the impact of social media on their self-perception. The narrative details their experiences with Tinder, a relationship with a boy named Hudson, and the subsequent psychological issues, including anxiety and depression, they faced. The assignment also touches upon the stigma associated with mental illness within the author's family and their journey towards self-discovery, including their charity work in Cambodia. The assignment provides insights into the author's personal struggles and growth during a formative period of their life.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PSYCHOLOGY
Title: Stranger Fruit, whiskey dreams
Chapter 3: Reproductive Years
I started studying Bachelor of Arts in the age of 18 from the Edith Cowan University. At that
period of my age I hated myself. I hated each and every part of my body including my afro hair,
my curves as well as my facial structure. I wanted myself to be skinny like the models of
Instagram. In order to cover up my low esteem, I joined Tinder. With each and every match, I
used to feel better about my looks. In the same age, I moved out from my parental home and
shared a 3 bedroom apartment in the city with two other girls.
At that period of time, I used to fantasize about sex a good amount of time in a day. I believed
that I am the oldest virgin in the town. Majority of time, when I meet up my friends at dinner, we
discussed that lack of attention we are getting from males, excluding the unsolicited picture of
male genitals on Tinder. I used to hate my life. One day, on my way to a local food store, I met a
boy named Hudson. He lived two streets down from my location and hence meeting him became
really convenience. He used to exercise a lot and hence was blessed with tall and toned physique
along with blonde hair. The first time we decided to get physically intimate, I was not sure
whether, I should let him know that I am circumcised or not. The first time he noticed my
citreous he noticed that the top half was missing. Perplexed, he asked me what has happened. I
go highly depressed and refused to talk about it. He got quite, hugged me and gave me a hug. He
also apologized for enquiring me about my private part. Things go awkward between us and
eventually he broke up. As the reason, he stated that he did not think we, as a couple were
compatible and it is not my fault but it is his fault.
What did that even mean?

2PSYCHOLOGY
At the age of 20, I stated dealing with psychological issues like anxiety and depression. It made
me feel like my world has come to an end. I had stated feeling isolated much earlier, but at that
age I had to deal with the added stigma, the weight as well as reality of being a black girl who
had got mental illness. Psychological illness ran in my family. However no one was comfortable
in our house to communicate about the same. There were stretches of relieve , at times for moths,
however, the panic attack would always come back and each time was worse than the previous.
During that time, I used to watch TV series featuring strong female characters with whom I
could relate.
In my final year of university, I traveled to Cambodia with one of my friends and initiated
charity for women’s heath in south Sudan. While working with women of the nation, I felt that
my life was far more privileged than them. I felt that that like them, I never felt issues with
everyday necessities like menstrual products. I realized that I resided in a patriarch society.