Social Justice Events And Reflection - The Gloria Gemma Fashion Show

 
September
     This Saturday, September 15, 2012, would be a day that I never thought I would spend doing what I did. The Gloria Gemma Foundation and additional sponsors set up this fashion show. The fashion show took place in the Warwick Mall in RI.  It is 11:15 already and I am running late already, so typical of me. I think I am going to be late to my own wedding, Haha. Got into the mall running to the center where the event is taking place.  It is hair and makeup time, all this glitz and glamor.  I am not late.  Getting my hair and makeup done the way I like it to be done.  Then it is time to decide what outfit to wear from Victoria Secret from the Pink line, thank you Victoria Secret for letting us model your pink line.  Hair, makeup, and dress up a little girls fashion dream.  As all of us from the 2013 Young Women's Calendar for Gloria Gemma (coming out on October 6,2012 be sure to support us) got together for one mutual cause.  To get the message, "That breast cancer is not just your grandmother's disease" and make women aware.  As all of us gather together we shared and listened to each others stories.  Stories of treatment, care, and things that these women have experienced with life and the obstacles that present themselves in our lives.  This was the start to a sisterhood that, that I could not be more proud of. We also modeled clothes from one of Macy's line called INC and then furs from Macy's.  I don't believe in killing animals for fashion accessories but this fur coat was warm and I was totally in love with it.  The fur coat was a whooping $3500.00, that is a lot of money. Anyways during the fashion I met another survivor that was not part of our group, she is actually Mrs. Connecticut and such a lovely person with a great heart.  Mrs. Connecticut went through breast like we did, is doing beauty competitions and charity events she is an example of heroism. 

As of September 16, 2012,  I completed a year of being diagnosed with breast cancer.  I don't believe that it has been already a year. My judgement is cloudy and my growth hindered.  I was trying to stay in good faith around others but how do you do such a thing when everyone has abandon me in my time of need?  I have to admit it has been a struggle to walk around like everything is perfect, when there are days that I feel completely horrible and struggle to make myself be better.  Can these ladies even relate to what I feel or even know what I am even referring to, only time will tell. As time went on and so did school only a several days until October, the Breast Cancer Month.

October
    The month is finally here now down for the really business of breast cancer celebration, and the celebration that I am almost done or at least I thought.  My doctor goes to tell me that I will be doing weekly treatments until May ( not so excited), it is what it maybe be.  We started the month by going to the IMAX theater on October 1, 2012 see ourselves on screen and speaking about our illness and what our experience was, there was not one dry eye left in the theater that night.  More mingling with the ladies, their families, and whoever accompany them to show support.  I have to admit hearing everyone's story on when they got diagnosed and what was going on in their life at the  time.  Everyone was at different points in life but one thing for sure no one said that this came at a convenient time in life or that they were not doing anything.  Busy lives, busy schedules, and cancer.  As time went on I had to get ready for the up coming events which consisted of a full weekend of fun filled activist and us the calendar girls as honorees.
      The first day of the activities on Friday, October 5, 2012 was the calendar signing for the calendar girls of 2013 calendar for the Gloria Gemma Foundation.  It started with Barbara Morse Silva from the news speaking about the history of the calendar, and what we were all celebrating in that room.  Then had different speakers like Olivia Culpo, and Teresa Giudice.  Teresa Giudice thank us for our bravery in fighting this illness and setting the example for young women to start screening themselves now, she also celebrity bartender at the hotel bar, and gave us a trinket that was a token of her appreciation. The night progressed with the calendar women of 2012 resigning their reign and handing it over to us.  They showcased our photos that we took back in June and July and we were not able to see what any of the pictures looked like until that night.  So new pictures were showcased month by month, each pair of cancer survivors going up to represent their months all being announced by Barbara and Olivia.  Round of applause and tears flowed from family, friends, and supporters, what an over welling response.  After we finished that we sat with our sash, pens, a rose in a long table ready to sign the calendar for all those that came to support the event. We signed so many calendars that our hands almost fell off.
     The second day was long and one that I will never forget on Saturday, October 6, 2012, I actually started the at 12 pm signing calendars in Waterplace park.  I sat under a tent signing away for an hour and meeting new people that admired my courage, but seeing people that I already knew but they didn't know what I went through.  The day progressed with me going to check out all the other tents and see all the different venues that were there.  I had lunch with the photographers, and dinner with Mrs. Connecticut.  I venture to the pink bus that had one of the ladies that was going through her cancer treatments.  She had been going through cancer for awhile she was diagnosed with triple negative cancer, and had been through so many treatments but had no success with any of them put she was optimist that there would be one.  She thanked me for signing her calendar and was greatly appreciative for the bravery that we went through as survivors, but we had to be the ones to thank her.  She was a wonderful lady, optimistic, a great view on survivorship and what it stands for, Laurie C. I thank you and wish that we would have had more time to get to know each other.  Even though Laurie lost her battle to breast cancer, she has won a special place in my heart, and will never be forgotten.  As the day continued there was hugs and support from everyone that I would encounter.  As the night hit we had a torch ceremony, that started off late because of passing thunderstorms.  The night cleared up and the festivities continued, the torch ceremony was an honor, no wait an absolute privilege to go through such an experience.  An experience on were I realized that I really made it, and I survived. I shared  a platform in Waterplace with the survivors and a lady that had just started treatment.  She hated life to the fullest, and every component of it.  I told her to look around her that we have all experienced it and survived, she told be that I don't understand because I am too young to get it.  Oh, boy am I really that young to get it, no I get it because I actual got the illness and am here to talk about it.  We got a rose that night and I told her to take the rose and throw it over to the river, but before she does it to release all the angry, frustration, and animosity with the rose.
    The third day on Sunday, October 7, 2012 I seemed to catch a cold because of the damp, wet conditions and felt a little under the weather.  I wore layers of clothes, and headed out early in the morning for the Gloria Gemma 5k.  I jog, and walked the 5k with my best friend and her mother that came to support me in 46:10, I am so proud. So many people there getting ready to support family, friends, or whoever just to know that people have been affected by this some way or another.
    I attended Tickle Pink by Women & Infants that was put together by Jen my friend and one of my supporters.  I had a blast the sit down dinner, comedy show, and give aways were all great and the experience to share and know to be proud to be a survivor, oh and more people to find out that I was ill.  Thank you Jen, you did a wonderful job, and I am glad that you gave me tickets to attend.  American Cancer society walk that I opted not to jog but walked with my family.  There was a cool car that had breast cancer symbols all over it. I was also on the Jim Vincent show and in many publications promoting the events, my story and awareness.  I not only have done that I was in the school paper "The Anchor", and the school radio station promoting breast health awareness to all women young and old.
     I also had a charity event at The Apartment in Providence.  A special thank you to Reggie, Adrian, Fanta, and Chip Tillman.  For the support, collaboration, effort, and time to coordinate the whole things.  A special thanks to the artist that shared their stories, and to all that came to support me.  Through all these experiences it has taught me to be grateful for everything, to be positive, and welcome these people into my life as dear friends.  I have been through struggles, death knocking on my door and I got up and fought for my life.
    My motto is "when a crisis or challenge or change presents itself in your life, you have a choice either you lay down and you let the challenge consume you or you get up and fight like you life depended on it".  Positivity, health, success, and love is what needs to be surround my new life and my new start.  Thank you to all my supporters also much love, Gloria Gemma for letting me be part of their calendar, the calendar girls for the advice, support, friends, family, and most of all my dog you will always live in heart. Thank you again to the calendar girls you ladies know how to cheer me up, what to say when I am nervous, and how to support me when I am down. You are not only my friends but you are my sisters.

 

Talking Point #11 Crouteau, "Media and Ideology"

Extended Comments
      I am going to use Michael Woloski blog to elaborate on.  I do agree that we hear music, see things on television, play games, and etc.  Sometimes we don't pay particular attention to what is being said, act upon, played, or even talked about.  Even though Mike and I except it as okay, doesn't mean that teenagers or those that are easily influenced follow the message.  I believe that all those things that are displayed in the media as ideas are some how being excepted as okay by others, and excepted as a way of living for the small percentage.  This may be the reason that there is no respect for women or that sex is viewed in a negative light.  When you look at all the songs out there, an example for me is Taylor Swift that sings about all her break ups.  How ever the break up happened, there is another song for Taylor Swift, and then what is funny is hearing females saying that they can relate to the experience that she is such a good role model.  I believe that she is confused and looking for love in all the wrong places, that and the fact that she travels in concert so often leads to many issues with having stable and great relationships.  She is young and all the guys she has dated whether young or older have not been the greatest guys.  Anyways this is an example of how young girls idealize her and the things that make her heroic.  What happens with women still called sluts, hoes, cunts the media emphasizes it and makes it okay for women to be categorized as those things because every rap song you hear "she is a hoe"! Then there are songs of females being strong and voicing their opinion to these derogatory terms that are referring to females. Females showing other women that change needs to happen that they are strong , and that no man will hold them down.

                        

My fear is for women to think it is okay to be called those things and that these are the signs of what the future holds.  We need to see the media as a form of expression not as something that you would form your life's goals and missions around.  So I disagree with Mike that there is no influence on society by the media, because we have a rise in domestic violence, and the disrespect in women continues to happen. We need to listen but not let it influence.

Talking Point #9 Rachel Rabbit White, "8 Ways To Be Positive You're Sex Positive"

Reflection
      Reading about sex positive was interesting I have to admit when I first read the article I got stuck on jargon or terminology that I have seen when referring to humans. I have heard of the term asexual when it refers to organisms or animals. What could it possibly mean when it is referring to humans , and what the hell is gray-sexual? Anyways as I read on this aeticle talks about sex and being sex positive many thoughts came into my head like when was the last time I had sex, either chemobrain is kicking in or it was just so bad to even remember.   I have heard of the "Slut Walk" started by a woman that was stopped by a state trooper and called a slut.  This is a walk for women to dress as slut running in heels.  Even though minority women felt threaten by it , I think it was changing something of oppression to something of power.
     I don't want to have sex unless I feel that I am going to be with the person, in a relationship that is loving and giving.  I don't care what other guys think for it will be as it will be.  Anyone can engage in sex, but this is the reason that sex has lost the true reason for it besides the reason of procreation. Sex has long been identified with many negative things and not so positive.  In the US we believe that you should cover up, and we have nude beaches but really in Europe they go topless in the beach with their own family and don't think anything different of it.  Is the message that is conveyed, that dirty equals human body, and  that we need to cover up so much?  Is the US placing a bad label on sex to start off with and then it is characterized as a negative topic.
    When you look at today society I see in the dating world that I need to compete with women that leave nothing to the imagination and women that easily sleep with a guy.  I am not calling these women any names you do what you need to do for yourself, but at the same time every guy that has gotten use to such a thing expects it from every female they encounter.  For a female like myself I don't just want to hit and split, I have had my time of doing those things, and it doesn't really leave you anywhere but someone being hurt by the actions. Don't get me wrong I love to be intimate but when it comes to the right person and situation!  I love passion, and all things associated with sex and with someone that you love. Some might see this as me being a prude, but it is what it is.  I believe that everyone has the right to consent to sex, even if they are married or with a partner.  I should not feel that I need to engage in sex every time I am with my significant other, I feel that we both should be wanting to be intimate and that makes sex all the much better.  There are time that your significant other expects you to engage in sex with them I feel it is along the lines of rape.  There are females that are more dominant, open minded, and liberal when it comes to sex, don't get me wrong it is not like I am not but I have more of an old fashion sense.  Here are women being open and liberal in asking men to sleep with them in another language that is more romantic but the nature of the beast is the same way anyway you slice it.




 Sex is nothing to be ashamed of some people have it everyday, every few hours others, and some maybe once or twice a month.  Whatever it maybe from having sex, and being smart, to fetishes, to kinky things, to role playing, toys, and etc.. all I can say if that all parties can agree then by all means have fun, enjoy, and be sex positive. I know I am comfortable about talking about sex and being sex positive, I hope everyone else is.

Miscellaneous post #2

In reference to the topic of Sex as Feminist Practice discussed in class it reminded me of watching Dr. Ruth on a television show in Florida.  So for those of you that don't know about Dr. Ruth here is a video of this little old lady and her discussing the various topics on sex. So here is another video of Dr. Ruth discussing masturbation.

 

Talking Point #12 Ayvazian, "Interrupting the Cycle of Oppression;" Blanchard, "Combatting International Bigotry and Inadvertently Racist Acts"

Reflection, Connections and Arguments:

      As I read both articles, a few things entered my mind and I sat to think how I was going to compose the piece but then thought I have used all my options, so incorporating a few different options for this pieces will help me tie it together.   Especially since on article is in reference to allies, why the other is clearly about how to battle racism and bigotry. So here goes nothing.
    I as I read the first article by Ayvazian as the author addressed the ways to interrupt the cycle of oppression being using a few of the masters' and their tools to dismantle the wall that they helped build. By this the author means that if we can find the people that fit the SCWAAMP profile to help the people that are opposite of them.  I understand that these people are helping others understand the oppression that they are placing on people that are opposite of what they are. My one question becomes do they truly understand the pain and anguish that comes from the social injustice?  Or how these people have to pick up the broken pieces on the floor and act like nothing is wrong and continue doing what they were doing unfathomed by anything.  As a female and someone that endure a terrible illness, the only ones that get that pain and anguish are those that have experienced the pain that is associated with the action that was placed on them.  Everyone else can try to sympathize or give you piety but you don't want that either. You want them to relate but they cant even imagine themselves in that predicament or even in your shoes.
    I once was told a story by a man that stood up for what he believed was correct.  One day walking to his car he came upon a couple arguing about something, so he payed no mind to the couple and continued to walk to his car.  Got into the car and watched the couple continue to bicker.  Then from one moment to another the couple got into a physical altercation, he thought about getting involved and decided that it would be a bad idea.  So the guy continued to mind his own business, we he saw the male continuously beat on the female.  So the guy got out of the car and told the other guy that if he wanted to pick on someone his own size that he would take him on.  So then the two guys began fighting eventual someone called the police and the police arrived at the scene to break up the fight and arrest the two guys.  He was standing up for her because his mother taught him that a woman is something you treasure and not abuse.  A fight is not a fair one between a man and a woman, so that is why he intervened.  As the story goes on he tells me that not only did he get arrested for sticking up for the female, but he had to go to court because they were both pressing charges on him for assault.  Do you believe that, he was doing a honorable thing only for the female to accuse him of beating on her boyfriend for no apparent reason.  As he told me the story he told me never again will he get involved in a domestic dispute, and he will walk away and pretend it never happened due to all the legal fees that he acquired for that one act of bravery. Here is two different scenarios with different races involved, and what local patrons did for each woman.

     Then you have the article on Blanchard argues that we can combat bigotry and racist acts through education and diversity of the schools.  I agree to disagree.  I agree that education on other races, will give you an understanding but not a complete understanding on the pain and discrimination that the person or race endures on an everyday basis.  It can cause an awakening for the individual to see their faults.  This awaken can lead to many great things but at the same time can cause their own families to disown them, because of their racial preference.  I disagree because your learning comes from your environment and upbringing.  If in your household you are taught to be racist to a certain race for no reason, but you have to go to school with that race you may tolerate that fact that you guys go to school together but that may be the extend of it.  As for your prejudice and racism comments you may have, it has been instilled in your brain since childhood the reason that you have for not liking the race can be as simple as you don't know but your parents feel that way so you will feel that way.  It is hard to educate a person that the very thought process that was given to them by their parents has been ignorant and wrong on all levels. So as I continued to read this article it reminded me of the article that we read on race as a feminist issue.  On how these authors spoke to us about how even though they may have a great education, they are not only being singled out because they are females but because of there racial background so they have a hard time finding their place in society.
     As a Spanish female I can tell you I have dealt with prejudice and racism on many extremes. I will tell you a personal story that involved my education and racism.  When I was going to high school my own guidance councilor discouraged me from applying for admittance at an Ivy League School because her belief was because my parents did not attend college and my racial statistics that I would automatically be a failure.  I had the grades and the entrance exam to apply to one if I wanted ( I later found that out because my mother gave my transcripts to someone at Brown University in admission that I would have been able to attend.) and I had several garbage bags filled with college letters seeking to enroll me. Due to the lack of guidance I developed a fear of failure, in not being able to get the grades I need and in being able to believe that I will not achieve success in graduate school.  This has taken me time and several illness to believe and fight the fact that I am intelligent and able to accomplish anything that I set my mind to. Even those that are educated enough still have prejudice and racism that enters their mind, they may never say anything but there actions speak louder then words. So I am ready to graduate and conquer my fears to the fullest, despite what people believe about my ethnic background, or even challenges that have been set forth for me to tackle.  I am ready to achieve what I was meant to achieve regardless of whoever or whatever decides to stand in my way. 

How my thought process has changed due to class

Miscellaneous post 1:
I found this on Facebook and thought that this is so great to reflect on! Before this class I would have looked at this and said that is cool and posted a like status to it. Now with the knowledge of this class to analyze this posting everything  is in blue, heterosexuality is assumed as top priority, that female and female is listed last, and how people believe that not caring or minding their own business will help wipe out homophobia from any social media.  That is plain ignorance!

Election Day Talking Point #10

Election Day

      I can't say that I am sad that this day is finally over, so I don't have to listen to the foul campaign ads that were playing on television over and over again.  I have to admit that I didn't get to vote today, due to my own fault of being busy looking at different treatment regiments and brushing up on my medical knowledge. At first I couldn't decide where to go and watch the election because where would they show it?  Then I drove up and down the street of Federal Hill to see all the bars have their high definition televisions glued to the electoral returns.  So I decided that by myself I would go into Siena Restaurant to visit my friend the bartender that was working, and see the electoral returns all the while enjoying a salmon salad with a nice glass of wine.
     As I got cozy at the bar and tried to get a up front seat, which was not hard to get considering the fact that I am good friends with the bartender and know the owner very well. So I started a conversation at the bar with a gentlemen named Mike and the owner of the restaurant.  I spoke about how much I hate the brutal campaign ads that were out there, then owner tells me, "that in the past the topic of politics was a lot worse then it is now, they were very brutal, and that today their actions are considered civil."  He goes on to tell me how they even got physical when it came to altercations with each other over the supremacy of politics. The gentleman Mike goes on to tell me, "that the East Coast for as far long as he can remember has held the Democratic vote, so has the belt states that is why they are called the blue belt, and the central states has been over taken by the Republican Party since the Regan administration."  As Mike continues to talk my ear on politics and what people's views were.  He stated that," even though Obama will get into office again and that the business owners and the rich have to pay a little more in taxes, so what at least he felt that the country was in good hands."                      
     As I sat on the edge of my seat to watch the election because for a great while they were neck and neck with each other.  Even the numbers that came in from each state were so close to one another, that for awhile it made the candidacy hard to predict.  They said that the first candidate to reach 270 first is most likely the president of the United States.  As the number inched away and I became more interested in the outcome.  Romney at one point was beating Obama by 20 to 30 electoral votes, and then a sudden change occurred were Obama numbers sky rocket beyond those of Romney.  It was 201 Romney, and 274 Obama, and Obama has been reelected president for the second term.  My interest were to see the returns for the state of Colorado because of my project and their belief on the Legalization of Medicinal Marijuana, and Obama took the electoral votes for Colorado. In Colorado the Legalization was approved by a vote of 53% for yes on the topic, and then it was also a sad day for another state that being Oregon in which the voted no on the issue with 55%.  Check out this article on the returns and the states that placed the Legalization of Medical Marijuana on their election ballots.As I last saw the only states that were left to tally their votes were Alaska, and Florida but the score was 303 Obama, and 203 Romney.  Obama wins the reelection into office, please make America proud and prove all those that doubted you that you deserve this chance to clean up the deficit. Here is Obama's Victory Speech:

Talking Point #8 Orenstein, "Cinderella Ate My Daughter"

Reflection:
      As I read "Cinderella Ate My Daughter", I couldn't help think about the toys that I played with at a young age.  I started with baby dolls, even dressed like strawberry shortcake on Halloween, then finally played with barbies and pink with purple logos until the age of ten, then it was computer science games, technology, and even the love of boy bands like the New Kids On The Block.  My mom recalls that one day I just stopped playing with barbies and it was the sudden age of boy bands, technology, and even things that pertained to science.   It was as if a sudden switch went off in my head that it was time to grow up, even though by that age I already had two siblings the ages were seven my sister, and four my brother.  As I watched both of my siblings grow and to see what their toys were and what they are now as I shop for toys for my nephew and cousin's kids. I realize what the author is referring to when she says that the separation of boys and girls in clearly displayed in the toys store.  You go to the boys section and it has so many colors, and then as you enter the fairytale land of pink cotton candy color in the girl's section. I remember my favorite color when I was a little girl to be aqua, and it still is.  I don't remember pink being the center focus of colors when I was young. Is it really the concept of keeping the girls, girls for a lot longer then my generation or the generation after?
     As I think of the Disney movies and the fairy tales all the plots are all the same where a prince tends to save the princess from ruin, destruction, or even death.  I look at my cousin that is going to be five years old, that has the princess birthday parties, and has all the princess' dresses in her wardrobe.  Yeah it is cute and fun, but her own father calls her a princess.  She goes around thinking she is a princess and sets the rules on the games that you may play with her.  If you don't follow her rules then she says, "that she doesn't want to play with you because you don't get the rules and that she is the only princess". 
     The symbolism of the villain in the story is the obstacles that you are to encounter in life, but there is so much jealousy that the villains' have against the princesses.  So if that is the only obstacle that people have to go through in life, that is easy compared with the true issues that people deal with like death, disease, financial struggle, children, and other dilemmas that arise in daily life. So when does reality set in or does it ever?  Those stories don't prepare you for the reality of career decisions, independent thought, and thriving to be a strong woman all the while living life.  The true disillusion of these stories prepares the children of the future for failure, knowing that things are just not handed to them and that they have to work to get what they want out of life. It is such a disappointment to learn that the fairytale, play land and princesses is an economic ploy to boost revenue and use children to get it there.
      So as the prince in the fairytale saves you from death, or whatever he may save you from is the metaphor attributed to the oppression of females. We as females need to learn to love ourselves and treasure our friendships.  The friendships and bonds we make as adults will hopefully last a lifetime, if we learn to appreciate the true people around us.  When these princesses can't even be friends with one another, what great role models. In the magical world of life there is no real prince or even prince charming to save you, you need to save yourself.  Learn to live your life and love yourself before your love others.  So my one question for the class is there such a thing as a magical prince or is that another point of oppression for women?

Talking Point # 7 Kimmel, "What Are Little Boys Made Of?"

Hyperlinks:
      Reading the article, I had to go back and reread it I felt lost but confused at the same time.  For the second time reading the article I noticed that the article was written in account to several authors' thoughts about the male youth, and then growing into male hood.  Then it was followed by the explanation of each author and their thought in regard to the subject.  One author accounts that males in these eras are doing worse then before because the focus was taking off them and instead females became the center focus.  The male hormone testosterone and biology one author felt was the blame for the violent actions of boys.  This happens because of biology and its male hormone counterpart testosterone, that males feel the need to fight each other, and criminal activity.  Studies have revealed that this was inconclusive, because in order to obtain the levels of testosterone, all the males will have to endure a severe testing.  As you can read in this link, it discusses the correlation between young violence and crime to that of alcohol and other things not testerone.
    Another author's view is that the young males have pressure that is placed on them with the passing of youth to men.  The author goes to explain that this is seen in the ritual of "bar mitzvah", if that is the case then females go through the same stress to enter womanhood with bat mitzvah, sweet sixteen, and the quinceanera just to name a few.  Does that mean that we have to reexamine the pressures that we place on our youth to grow up quickly, but in any culture, and any society you see the passing ritual, but in those cultures those males don't go commit crimes or even start fights.  So why is that the American society has these issues?  The author also argues that is seen in the military training to fraternity hazing.  Fraternity hazing doesn't just happen to men but sorority hazing is in the same ranking in accordance to this article, but the reasoning for the deaths is the result of alcohol.  So then the component seems to point to alcohol and the reason for male aggression to be displayed.  So the author argues to "responsibly spank" your child, but if your child was bullying another child at school, spanking is not conveying the correct message, but you are displaying the same action on your child.
     Whether to go through self-esteem or even be bullied by others is not just a male issue.  That happens to females everyday in the school system,too.  As a matter of fact there was a girl that committed suicide due to the bullying that happened to her.  The article discusses the pain of self-esteem in males when in some countries males are preferred over females, for whatever the reason maybe.  As the article refers that more males are depressed then females, I read a article that contradicts that and the information is available in the National Institute of Mental Health.  The NIMH say that young boys and girls under the age of 14 have an equal chance of developing depression, but at the age of 14 yrs.old the girls incidence doubles.  They have different ways of dealing with the depression and the signs might not be similar, that is all found in the article.  There was a study done in the US, that if you were only allowed one child what would the sex be?  The study showed that most couples would prefer a male baby, and if you ask the men they would say the same.  As I started to search the web for articles pertaining to gender, adoptions, abortions, genetic testing, and other things it lead me to a web site with equal statistics on the gender. Would you prefer a boy or a girl, if you could have only one? 
       Boys learn through society's media that deems violence in so many aspects as soon as you turn on the television, to even the news.  The learned behavior from male influence around them to their own peers what ever group they associate themselves with that usually characterizes their outcome.  As I read this and saw that this is conveying that our men suppress their feelings, because other men tell them that it is not right to cry.  I can not say that men are responsible only for telling young men that crying is for girls, because their own mother's will say the same message.  So does our society deem crying is a sign of weakness, or not being manly? It might be conditioned in that society has put into place that if you fall for a young boy it is not okay for them to show emotion.  We need feminist to fight that men can be allowed to show there emotions, that will lead to more sensitive, caring, and understanding men. Watch this YouTube video below on what society believes and what are the men rules for crying if it is allowed?

Talking Point #6 Lorde, "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House"

Connections:
      Feminist everywhere do you believe that there is justice and equality amongst all women regardless of race,sex orientation,and/or social class?    The author Lorde does not believe that women have even began to be equal to each other, never mind men.  She states that there are so many difference amongst us, how do we expect men to stop oppressing us when we are divided into categories and are not united?  Reading Audre Lorde's essay reminds me of how feminist are divided amongst one another.  She talk's about class, race, and sexual orientation is what brings the divided to keep the rift between the privilege people vs. the poor people.  Allan Johnson agreed with Lorde, when he wrote his essay to speak about the lady that he wanted to work with.  Allan Johnson said, "we all know that a great deal of trouble relating to gender and race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, social class".  Both authors see that there is a problem with these things and it keeps people into specific categories.  These categories are established by society and placed into ranks, and the lower rank being things that society has shunned. Both author's agree that when a woman is in the lower part of all the categories, that they are at a greater disadvantage then the others. We as women are too quick to dismiss each other because of the difference that we might have for what ever the reason maybe, but at the sametime we complain that we are still oppressed. It is crazy that when you go get a job or any public place that they need to meet a quota of different races.  Even research study involving the community needs to have a certain amount of each race represented in order for it to be counted.  Lorde and Rich agree that being a lesbian is hard, and not social accepted.  Rich states," the lesbian, unless disguised, faces discrimination in hiring and harassment and violence in the street. Even within feminist-inspired institutions such as battered-women's shelter and Women's study programs, open lesbian are fired and others warned to stay in the closet."  Here Rich says that even amongst women the lesbians are still separated from other women, and Lorde says see the segregation that is the divide, and existent is the struggle of oppression. Here is an example of a mother being fired because of her sexual orientation.  Lorde is tired of the differences, and she feels that these things need to be addressed, before women can fight equally for the rights of women. It is like black vs. whites, rich vs. poor, lesbain vs. heterosexual.
       The reason for the title: " Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House" is various.  Never use the master's tools or the oppressors tools, because they were designed to believe that you concord the master, but instead you have become even more oppressed individual.  Using the tools will only keep the oppressed, even more oppressed, and are only meant to help those in the higher rank of society.  Which is complete idiocy and only meant to keep the oppressed even more oppressed.  So you believe that some women are more oppressed than others? A house that is against and divided can not stand, but a house that is united will stand as a strong force, and can't be torn down.

Youtube video that relates to Class Discussion on LGBT Justice

In class we discussed LGBT justice and I thought of this show on NBC.  Watch on how this couple wants the same things that heterosexual couples want, and considered there life to be the new normal in today's society.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Events

To all my friends, this week is very important week considering that it is the start of breast cancer awareness month. I invite you and your families to help me celebrate survival. Please join me on upcoming events which are open to the public. On Friday, October 5,at 6:00pm in downtown Marriott on 1 Orms St., it will be the calendar reveal for 2013 and I am Miss September. Saturday, October 6,  at 12:00 pm festivities begin and then at 6:30 pm starts the torch that will be carried from the State House to the waterfires.  Then from the torch ceremony starts the night festivities. I will be signing calendars from 12pm until 1:30pm that day. Sunday, October 7, at 11:00 am begins the race to the finish 5k. If you have not signed up please do, even though the registration on line is closed you can still sign up on the day of from 8:00am until 10:00 am. I hope to see you all in helping me celebrate life. Thank you for your support.  These are just a few and you can use them for your social justice event assignment. <3 Sue

"Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" by Adrienne Rich

     The author speaks about a lot of psychoanalytical analysis that was placed on the topic of lesbian existence, and compulsory heterosexuality but seems she doesn't clearly define what the terms are.  She dances around the topic by writing about a lot of books written as examples to illustrate the oppression that have been placed on women in general.  This reading was hard to distinguish what was meant by the terminology that she chose her writing to pertain to.  How many women still oppress each other by placing the a divide on heterosexuality vs. lesbianism?
     Compulsory heterosexuality by the reading that was given after trying to find the actual meaning.  Compulsory heterosexuality was put into place by an institution.  The institution was started by men, Catholic Church, and society as a learned behavior.  Compulsory heterosexuality is mandatory or even required that women should be with men.   Society has adapted this learned behavior, and to step out of the learned behavior is not socially exceptable.  This institution has requirements or guidelines that set the common grounds for society to follow. It is normal and excepted with no question, or ever being looked down upon by society.
     Lesbian existence for the author definition is the history of lesbianism through the "lesbian continuum".  To see the hatred, and the resistance of lesbianism was a notion that was encouraged.  Lesbianism has been hated and diminished by the pure fact of "male supremacy".  Going back through history where the Catholic Church concept is to procreate, and the male influence is to have sexual intimacy with women. This socialital view of homophobia has been put into place as a tolerable behavior.
     The author goes to equate many things like heterosexuality and rape is considered one.  So then that caused a confusion in my head.  So when a man and a woman engage in a heterosexual intimacy then she is being raped and oppressed? So this raise many questions and concerns with this article.  Here I decided to look up the topic and I found a summary of article and related articles.
   
     

Talking Point #4 Economic Justice as a Feminist Issue

The pbs site was interactive and had games, stories, life experiences, demographic generalization, and many other things.  The other site cwcs talked about the employers taking advantage of their in employees especially in a time like the economy that we have today.  That is a crying shame!  Just like the rest of the class on the pbs site I also played with the interactive games to notice that my category was nouveau riche.  I had others play the game like my sister, a customer, and even her boss to see what the differences may be.  My sister's score was all over the map, she scored in several categories, and the end summary even told her that she doesnt know which class she belongs to.  My sister's customer a female then played the game on designing your living room showed that her decisions were all middle-middle class.  Then my sister's boss a successful male that has owned several companies and donates to several foundations decided to take the living game on for size.  His score was middle-middle class.  It was fun doing the games and reading the stories was interesting.  How women of different backgrounds, ended up living their lives and the decisions that they made. The economic inequity on feminist issues that came to mind while exploring was how men, and especially women like to people watch or should I say judge others.  What I mean by that statement is when another woman or women walk into a room we will scan her up and down, from the shoes she wears, to the accessories that she decides to wear. We decide from the handbag that she carries, the shoes, and clothes that she wears how she is perceived by the rest of the people around us. Does that female fit in better or is she held at a different regard because of the trends or name brands she rocks? Regardless of what it is she is instantly placed in a economic class, and thus is treated that way.  I have a few examples that come to mind, but I will state one.  One day a friend and I were out shopping for a gown for a formal attire event, we walked into cache and to her surprise she was treated rudely, and I was treated with respect.  She was wearing ribbed jeans, with a sweatshirt, while I was dressed with dressy pants, and a nice blouse. I as soon as I walked into the store the ladies where attentive to what I wanted and if they can further help me look for something to wear, all the while ignoring my friend. Should it matter in that circumstance what she is wearing? Come on I know there are females that are able to relate to this story in one form or another.  It is so sad that the economy can tell that it is turning around when women start to shop for shoes,makeup, and accessories. This story elaborates on the economy and female fashion.
     The cwcs site talked about rights that the employees have when it comes to employment.  It discussed issues like over time, younger employees, regulation on compensation, wage theft, and issues associated with employees compensation for work hours.  Employers are to follow those rules specifically those that apply to the state they own a business in, because getting reported would result in penalties, and imprisonment.  As I continued to navigate through this page I discovered that the site was for a university and it listed different curriculum courses that are available when addressing gender, race, and other things in relations to the current economy and even history that help support what the existence is today.  This site showed that the economic inequity for women exist in not knowing the rules and regulations in the workforce and how this is a doggy dog world that employers will back stab their own employees to save a buck or two.  Women, men, minorities, immigrants, students, elderly, and many others do not know what the rules are.  Employers taking advantage of those that are not informed to save themselves money.  Those that become informed are in jeopardy of losing their job, and since Rhode Island is a hire and fire at will state.

Romney Not Legalizing Medical Marijuana

In accordance to the article written that there is a difference on how the two presidential candidates are running their campaigns' and their view on different topics. Romney is running his campaign in accordance to what he believes the general population wants to hear. Romney's stance on the legalization of medical marijuana, he said "That if I get elected president that I will fight against the legalization of medical marijuana tooth and nail.."   Here is the video on Romney's view on medical marijuana.
He believes that if he legalizes medical marijuana it would be the gateway to legalizes all drugs eventually.  That would lead the younger generations to use all kinds of drugs and that is not okay in Romney's opinion.  Legalizing would be catastrophic for society, and would lead to a corrupt society.   He believes that the marijuana for medicinal purpose would be the gateway to a younger generation getting into all kinds of drugs, not just marijuana.  After his speech he got a standing applause from all that attended because they too believe that marijuana being legalized medicinal is a bad idea and is the gateway to recreational drugs being used.  Romney said, that if you are against his view then you can vote for his opponent that is for the legalization of medical marijuana.  He then steers the audience to believe that his opponent Obama is for the legalization, and that people that are for that such notion should vote for him instead. Even though both parties have supports for the legalization of medical marijuana, though the numbers are so minimal. Even Obama ridicules his opponent's attack by saying that even though he is against the legalization of marijuana here is another tact from his opponent to win electoral votes. The article closes with the conclusion that, "the difference is that Romney is candid about his anti-cannabis, while Obama pretends to be more enlightened and compassionate." (Jacob Sullum, "Romney Vows to Fight Marijuana Legalization 'Tooth and Nail'-Unlike His Opponent?")

The person that wrote the article is against the thoughts and the way that Romney is running his campaign in regards to not legalizing medicinal marijuana.  The person that wrote the article agrees that few people in the democratic party are for the legalization, but so is the republican side as well.  The author discusses the views of the public on the issue, and more are in favor of Romney's view. That Romney is stricter when it comes to this issue, while Obama is more laid back about his stance. It is funny because I had to read another article in response to the question of legalizing marijuana but they asked Paul Ryan the person that Romney had chosen to run with him in this presidential campaign.  Paul Ryan stance for the legalization of marijuana is that, "it should depend on the state and if the state wants to legalize it or not."  Oh, boy we have someone who stance is strong but his co-person says that the individual state should decide. If Romney is elected president, I have a feeling that the issues that may arise during the presidency will have one person for one side, and the other for the decision of the people. This makes my agrument strong for there are two sides to every issue, and no one person agrees to one thing.  Here is a Link, which is a video and article in regards to Paul Ryan's stance.

Legalizing medical marijuana is the question. Either you are for or against the legalization of medical marijuana?  Those that are against, ask yourself if you have ever had a chronic illness or disease that consumed your body?  If the answer is no, then continue to read my take on this issue. Here is a list of people that are medical qualified that have the following conditions: cancer, ms, glaucoma, and etc.  I am only speaking about this because I can.  I won the lottery when it came to an illness that is not just your grandmother's disease anymore.  When I got diagnosed in September 16, 2011, I never would have thought that I would experience the pain that I have.  Pain that at times it is debilitating and still going on today.  So being young am I suppose to drop everything and let the pain consume my life?  The answer is no, is there other alternatives to this, the answer is yes.  There are Morphine, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet, and the list is endless to stop the pain that people with chronic illness have.  Those drugs that I listed above are just as addicting as any drugs.  If we discuss the topic of addiction we have not banned alcohol, cigarettes, and etc that are know to be addicting, but wait a minute the government is making big tax dollars when it comes to those things. They have not banned those things. Have you thought about the side effects of these synthetic drugs, here are examples of such: nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, fainting, seizures, and abdominal pain just to name a few minor ones. So Romney believes that synthetic marijuana is the answer to that, even though I and many patients say no.  Here is an example of Romney and a patient with a chronic disease discussing medical marijuana vs. it synthetic. Do believe what just happened in that video? Do you understand the poison that courses my veins and continues to week after week, is enough toxin in my system.  There can be government regulation on the growth of medical marijuana, because if there isn't then it becomes laced with other drugs or toxins.  The substance marijuana is grown in natures own garden, and when grown correct is in its purest form.  Doctors began to discuss that they don't want their patients smoking it but instead mixing it in the food is best for patients. So I ask you again should legalization of  medical marijuana be done or do these patients have to find alternatives that is even more dangerous then any drug itself?

Fashion Show at 12:00 in the middle of the Warwick Mall

Come check me at in the Warwick Mall in the center at noon for the Gloria Gemma Fashion Show.  You can use this as part of your assignment for class to write about an event.

Allan G. Johnson, "Privilege, Power, and Difference"

Quotes:
     "We can't survive on our own when we're young, and it doesn't get a whole lot easier later.  We need to feel that we belong to something bigger than ourselves, whether its family or a team or a society." (A.G. Johnson "Privilege, Power, and Difference)  The author discussed how he was a sociologist.  How he studied people in different societies and their interactions.  He spoke about how mankind can not survive without the interaction of other human beings.  This what makes us grow as humans, and that our intelligence is far from anything that exist. So many studies are done in the field of sociology on human interaction.  That no matter the privilege, power, and difference we are all the same when it comes to affection, interaction, confront, and emotions.  We need others to give us the fundamental growth in order to be able to form communications and connections.  Friendships help build the bridges and foundation of life.  That is why there are so many social clubs, organization, religions, families, societies, and memberships. Regardless of the gathering it helps bring together all these people under one roof for the common goal of nourishing their souls.  Click here to see a video regarding human affection and development.

     "No,her misfortune is connected to my fortune; the reality of her having to deal with racism and sexism every day is connected to the reality that I don't."(A.G. Johnson "Privilege, Power, and Difference)  In this statement the author refers to the fact that he is discussing collaborating a project with a woman that is African American.  He is a white Anglo Saxon male, middle-class, heterosexual, father, and it goes on to show how the lady that he wanted to collaborate with would be at a great disadvantage.  She was a woman for starters, that was not her only disadvantage but she was African American.  This piece of literature was written in 2001, that was not that long ago, but we still continue to struggle for equality in the minds of men.  No matter what are race is the fact that we are women places us in such a disadvantage when facing the issues of the world.  Come on now, did we not develop equalities when you look at the different feminist waves and the impact that women obtained for the right to vote.  We as women are still not able to get that high position in the workplace or even receive the same salary as a man in the same position. Is it the fact that the workplace feels threaten by the simple fact that we can have children and that will ruin the concentration when it comes to the position versus the family's need. Is it also the fact that she is considered a minority and that her rights are suede by the simple fact of her color.  

     "We may not realize how routinely we form such impressions until we run into someone who doesn't fit neatly into one of our categories, especially gender or sexual orientation." ( A.G. Johnson "Privilege, Power, and Difference)  In this quote the author was referring to passing by some one and not being able to know if that person is male or female.  He referred to the fact that society set a norm being that the only gender that is available is either male or female and there is nothing in between.  These are the sexual characteristics that are seen when the child is born and that is what society feels you are stuck with.  So he is referring that sexual reassignment and homosexuality are not considered normal in today's society.  This is in reference to society and what is considered to be normal and what is out of the norm. If a person wants sexual reassignment, or is a cross dresser, or anything under the umbrella of queer society then society deems that as not being normal.  That there is something wrong with the way that person was raised or something along those lines.  That person is perfectly fine and just wants to express truly how they feel or who they truly want to be in society and be excepted by society as such, and not out of the norm.

     In reference to your intelligence "We are similar to horses, and pigs, but the only difference is that we have a brain.  A brain that can have the power to create, invent, persuade, and run the world.  Use your brain to imagine all the positive possibilities and the universe will give you what you ask for." (unknown)  We are intelligent creatures but do we always use our brains, and if we do, is it used effectively?  If you leave an animal or plant in solitary confinement for awhile, that plant and animal will not survive because it soul is not being fed by affection.  Whether you are a woman, a person of a different sexual orientation, of majority race, and anything that society values as not normal.  Always fight for what you believe in and continue to fight just as long as their is no infliction to any person's self esteem, or you do not harm anyone in the process.  This brings a valuable question to mind what is normal in today's society?  A friend once told me that when you look at your life, and you evaluate your life.  If you get things that are wonderful, if you have met people that are significant and equally as wonderful, or even if any of your experiences were wonderful.  Consider all those things as valuable as a pearl.  Use those pearls to build the necklace of life.  When you stop to look at the necklace at in age that you can reflect on your life.  One question that you can ask yourself was that necklace filled with beautiful pearls?  That symbolic necklace and those beautiful pearls are the true meaning of life.

Rowe-Finkbeiner, "A Tsunami in History" from The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy; Hogeland, "Fear of Feminism"

Argument 1 taking from "A Tsunami in History":
This author argues that women have gone through history to fight for the rights to vote, equality, working conditions, professionalism, other rights, contraception, education, and all that the two waves have implemented to make the lives of women today an easier journey.  She starts by explaining that as simple as a momentum that was passed through generations, there was the added right to stand up for the rights of women and fight like her ancestors did.  Then she goes to explain that the first wave of the women's movement was our ancestors of this nation breaking down the door for the right for women to vote, health issues related to women, the independence of women from the umbrella of their husband's, and etc.. Their fight was one that paved the way for women of the second wave to get the right to vote.  These women of the second wave fought for the right to go to other work places that were not designated as a women's job.  In those jobs to have the equality of the men that do the same job, and the working conditions to be better. They also fought for women's health issues to be addressed.  They fought for the housewives to have the opportunity to work outside of the home, because it was rarely seen or even done. To break the chains that were set for them and be able to freely decide if they want to work or cater to their husband's.
Then we enter the third wave the author discuss the fact that women are enjoying the freedom set for them by the generation before because those women faced the issues together, but at the same time apart (race, color, and sexually preference). "The sad fact is that many modern women face the challenges of gender inequality alone, as individuals", was predominately viewed by the author as an injustice.(A Tsunami in History)  Instead of the women fighting in union  with one another the challenges that they faced from the 1960's on became more of a personal burden to face. The women of the third wave live in an age were we are free to decide what we want to do, wear, work, educate ourselves, fight for issues, support our children by ourselves if we have to, and even the right to have an abortion which is still a political debate. There are still things that are slowly in progress like the equality in the work place in an example of one. We continue to fight but not like our ancestors did, because time has changed.

Argument 2 taking from "Fear of Feminism":
This author argues that we women of the third wave have lost our fight for the rights and equality of women due to fear. This was due to politics, fear, different types of genera, to even being characterized of different sexual preference, and to the threat that the world has implied on actions of that nature to occur. She goes on to discuss that women have been given all these rights by the fight of previous women, and that we simply enjoy the rights and don't think where they came from or even how they were obtained.  She goes to describe that women have a fear that pertains to the word feminism where she states, "Fear of feminism, then is not a fear of gender, but rather a fear of politics. Fear of politics can be understood as a fear of living in consequences, a fear of reprisals."(Fear of Feminism)  Then she goes to discuss domestic violence issues that also place fear in women to stand up for their given rights.  To be of a homosexual preference was equivalent to being a feminist and that placed a fear in women to be classified as such.  Our youth is corrupt because of the fear to stand for feminism and the rights of women today. The author goes on to describe the power/ fear that men place on women, but these women don't speak out about it, because they are afraid of the consequences. In the eyes of the author to be of intellect and skill is one that stands for feminism.  This brings a great question to mind are we the students of Gender in Society with intellect afraid of what feminism stands for?  Have we been swayed by the political parties to fear the right to be feminist?
Press here to see an article pertaining to contraception and politics vs. feminism


 

Nice to Meet Everyone!

Hi my name is Sue-Ellen, but I prefer to be called Sue. I am a junior/senior at RIC.  I am going to RIC for my degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry.  As you can tell on my page I am a big advocate for women's breast cancer, because as a young woman you never know.  I thought that there was no way that I can get breast cancer because I am too young and it is an old woman's disease! Doing a self breast exam but who needs one at our age, wrong thought I was diagnosed on September 16th of last year.  Do a self breast exam, ladies! What a change my life did in the matter of a year. Even though it has been a rough journey, I have been able to change certain things for the best. I am still fighting the fight while helping to make young women aware. I am taking this class because I believe it would help me find out about the struggles that our ancestors had to endure for the freedom of women today!  When I am not in my classes, I am either doing research or you can find me doing some activity for the Gloria Gemma Foundation and/or just enjoying the company of friends.  You will also find a link to Gloria Gemma by pressing on the pink ribbon on my blog, and see what they have going on especially that Breast Cancer month is in October. Well, see you in class and hope to meet you all!