Beyond the Politics of Inclusion

I would like to comment on the reading “Beyond Politics on Inclusion: Violence Against Women of Color and Human Rights” by Andrea Smith.  She points out a very good statement: “We must center women of color in the analysis; it becomes clear that we must develop approaches that address interpersonal and state violence simultaneously. In addition, we find that by centering women of color in the analysis, we may actually build a movement that more effectively ends violence not just for women of color, but for all peoples.” This approach had never occurred to me, but it makes total and complete sense. In addition, I did not realize that the United States policies had such negative effects on issues such as sexual and domestic violence involving women of color. I now have a better understanding of the bigger picture of “human rights”. The protection of fundamental human rights was a foundation stone in the establishment of the United States over 200 years ago, and look how far it has gone…not very!

http://www.sistersong.net/

Resisting Violence Against Women

I would like to comment on the chapter 10 reading from Shaw and Lee: Resisting Violence Against Women. I would like to start by commenting on the statement that “Men are likely to suffer physical violence at the hands of other men. In childhood and adolescence, males are especially at risk for suffering physical abuse by female and male caretakers and sexual abuse by other males.”  I find this information especially surprising, who would have thought. I would also like to comment on the pornography involvement with violence against women. I agree with the book when they view pornography as eroticizing unequal power relations between men and women. Pornography is usually associated with the male population and it starts at a young age, and can install this image in their head that women are inferior to men in regards to sex, which can lead one to sexual violence against women.  Regardless if it is hard-core or soft, pornography puts a negative label on all women. Yes people argue it is entertainment, which it is, however if it is going to stay within our culture (I do not see it ever fadingL) it could be portrayed with less controversy: explicit sex without violence that is neither degrading nor dehumanizing. Overall I cannot fathom the statistics involving violence against women, and the most shocking of it all is that it is underreported! The book states, “Although women are less likely than men to be victims of violent crimes overall, women are 5 to 8 times more likely to be victimized by an intimate partner.”  To me this is ridiculous. Intimate is a word that describes closeness, warmth, friendliness, familiarity, and one that you can cherish, so why on earth would someone want to victimize someone who is to resemble those things?

http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence/

http://www.now.org/issues/violence/

http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/violence-against-women---a-fact-sheet/page.do?id=1108440

Women's Work Inside and Outside the Home

I would like to comment on the chapter eight of Shaw and Lee, which was one of our readings for the week; Women’s Work Inside and Outside the Home. It is quite amazing how far women have come since the beginning of what we now called the United States of America. It almost seems like women have been forced on this rollercoaster ride, which has had its up and downs, twists and turn, while accelerating fast at times, and almost trying to slow them down to a complete halt other times. It almost seems like women regardless of what they want are on the continued rollercoaster ride, not allowed to be let off for nothing, except maybe to attend to family matters. I do not mean to put this into such an analogy, but that is how I can explain this terrible norm that has been casted down upon women and minorities. It is like everyone is watching them ride this ride waiting for some sort of crash, so they do not have to deal with them, or waiting for them to say we are content. However I feel that if there is this continued glass-ceilings, glass elevators, vertical and horizontal segregation, value and prestige associate with work that men and women do and so forth that this roller-coaster ride will never be stopped.

http://www.jobprofiles.org/library/students/10_surprising_stats_on_women_in_workplace.htm

The History of Working Women

I would like to comment on the reading A Brief History on Working Women. I would like to start off by stating that I cannot believe the discrimination among women, especially women of a non-white background. I reflect on how I have perceived myself as “having it rough” because I am woman; however I have come to realize that I am a woman of a white background, so with that comes some privileges. I am not saying that I am satisfies with the position of woman, because I am not. I am just suggesting that out of all the individuals and groups discriminated against, the ones who suffer the most would be women of a non-white background. In the reading it mentioned something about women of color receive double oppression of not only sexism but racism too. I could not image how life was and still is for many of these individuals. I fortunately have been award the white privilege, without even realizing it. There are many things I have access to more readily than those of color without fully realizing it. I also feel that it was terrible what the White Anglo-Saxons did to the Native Americans, destroying their culture, because it was not the culture of the dominant individuals (whites). I think it was very interesting that Native Americans had more of a matrilineal family structure. Native Americans had a culture where the woman held a more important role. I think that the White Anglo-Saxons tried to destroy this culture, because of the fear of it spreading into the mainstream culture. I mean could you imagine what life would be like if our culture was more like that of how the Native Americans use to have? Very different, that is for sure.

Partners as Parents

I would like to comment on the reading Partners as Parents: Challenges Faced by Gays Denied Marriage by Charlene Gomes. I feel puzzled by the beginning of this reading when I read the part of the constitution, and then finished the rest of the reading, which suggests that this bit in the constitution apparently does not apply to homosexual couples or that they are very well at finding the loopholes. There are just many stipulations of any law with regards to homosexuality. I found it interesting that generally if the noncustodial biological parent consents, stepparents may adopt the child(ren). Yet, in the same situation, same-sex life partners usually require rigorous home visits and family studies. I also found it interesting that gays are more readily allowed to adopt special-needs children. Like the author mentions, why are the people who some label as unfit to parent often given children with the most needs and care? Beside if a gay couple is willing to follow through on adopting a special needs child; that shows there has to be something there that is lacking in others. I mean there are some heterosexual couples who give their special needs children up for adoption, merely for the fact that they are special needs. The most appalling thing in the reading was the couple cases she mentioned. The sad part is, those are just two examples of theses bizarre cases that made it to the public. I am sure there are many more that go unnoticed or recognized. Ward vs. Ward decision was the most shocking to me. They awarded a father’s petition for a change in custody based on the mother being a lesbian, despite the fact that the father had been convicted of murdering his first wife. I mean, come on! Where is the evidence on that one? Any person could tell you that was a terrible and stupid decision. What is wrong with our JUSTICE system? In my assumption, there seems to be no justice in this world, and if some argue there is, well, it is going to the wrong hands!  Reading this has really made me questioned this stratification system in which I live in. Come on people (especially the ones who should know better), do your research!

http://isocrat.org/science/children_of_ssp/effects.php

http://gbge.aclu.org/parenting/summaries-leading-research-gay-parents

Man Child

I would like to comment on the reading Man Child: A Black Lesbian Feminist’s Response by Audre Lorde. I think this is an inspiring reading. The writer describes how she has no specific way in raising her children, especially since she is lesbian, African American, and a feminist. She states, “The truest direction comes from inside. I give the most strength to my children by being willing to look within myself, and by being honest with them about what I find there, without expecting a response beyond their years. In a way they begin to look beyond their own fears”.  I think this takes a lot of courage to do this. She also mentioned that she wishes to show her son that she is not there to do the feelings for him. Which before this I had never took into consideration, but most men do let woman do their feelings for them. Not all men, but most.  Any man can state an opinion, but can they state their feelings? I think it is true what Audre says, “Men who are afraid to feel must keep woman around to do their feeling for him”. As I am sure there are many assumptions as to why woman stay with a man. Maybe it is biological, woman “feel” more than men, whatever the circumstance, I found it quite interesting. I feel like she has done just as good or if not a better job than that of a heterosexual couple does in raising their kids. It shows in the comment of her son Jonathan reflecting his strongest benefit of growing up with lesbian parents, he felt he knew a lot more than most other kids his age that he knew, and that he did not have a lot of hang-ups that some other boys did about men and women.

Girls Camp Rock

I would like to comment on the reading about the Girls Rock Camp. I think that the Girls Rock Camp was a great idea. It sounded great in the reading; however I was glad we were shown the documentary film in class, because it gave me a visualization of what the reading was trying to explain. I mean learning about what Misty does for these children during the reading was great. I guess I just wanted to emphasize how beneficial the film was to actually see the wonders Misty was talking about in the assigned reading. I am sure that all girls have felt the way Misty described feeling when she was not allowed to play in a band with boys. It may not pertain to music, but I am sure every woman can relate to being told they cannot do something because they were a woman. I think she has done so much for girls, to give them the confidence they need to do something others might not believe can be done. She was influenced by Ladyfest, which I attached a link if others are interested to see what it is about. It is also a somewhat toned down spinoff of Riot Grrrl Revolution too. I guess I cannot stress enough just how great things like the Camp Rock for girls that Misty does is. It is just what girls need growing up in this influential and pressured world.

http://www.ladyfest.org/

http://www.girlsrockcamp.org/main/

Riot Grrrls

I would like to comment on the reading about the Riot Grrrl’s by Alison Jacques. I think the Riot Grrls were so influential. I feel almost like I missed out on it, however I attended Sara Marcus’ talk on campus about the Grrrl Revolution, and she said that is a typical response from most girls. They feel like they missed out on an influential time in history. Sara Marcus said that any influence is better than none at all, and that most people do not give themselves enough credit. She also commented on how the internet is not as effective as people portray it to be. People think that they are more involved; however it is actually more isolating. People tend to be more alone on the internet, because there is less engagement. I just thought it was an interesting point she brought up. I had never thought of it that way. Most young people think they are so influential and making such a difference on the internet, when really it is the complete opposite! Get involved in the community of you want to make a difference, get out into the real world, not the web world. Enough about the side note, back to the reading. I was very pleased to get the chance to learn about the Riot Grrls, because I was too young to know about them when they were actually doing all their influencing in the 90’s. I just think it was great that women branched out from the norm, while making a difference. They did not feel like they had to follow standards to get their point across, and that is what makes it so much more interesting and notorious. I also think the name was quite cleaver…The name "Riot Grrrl" is a deliberate manipulation of signs: the word "r l.o t" implies protest and aggression; the word "girl" describes female childhood and is condescending when used to refer to a grown woman; the transformed word ''grrrl" literally includes a growl that turns the sugar-and-spice connotations of "girl" upside-down.

 http://onewarart.org/riot_grrrl_manifesto.htm

http://www.girlstothefront.com/