Prior to this class I was aware that violence against women was an issue, but I had no idea how severe of an issue it actually is. Through the group project I was able to take a closer look at the Violence Against Women Act that was passed in 1994. The statistics and numbers of women who have been abused or violated are truly astonishing and definitely eye opening. Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted. 9 seconds! That is shocking to the point that it is almost unbelievable and that is where the problem arises.
When it comes to violence against women, we have come a long way, but it is still not enough. It is obvious that this is not a public issue, and you have to wonder why this is the case? If everyone was aware of what is happening you would think that more action would be taken. Why did it take until 1994 to pass legislature to protect women and their children from abuse? It seems to me that when issues like this arise everyone turns their head or closes their eyes.
Yes, the Violence Against Women Act continues to grow and protect more and more with each reauthorization, and it can only be assumed that this trend will continue, especially with Obama and Biden in office. After all, Biden was the creator of the Act and knows the issue more than most anyone. I believe that the future for this issue is bright and this brightness will continue to open eyes instead of closing them.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
So many choices, so little time
I was very surprised by today’s welfare simulation. I never once thought that being on welfare was easy, yet I never thought it would be so hard. This is in part because I am not yet aware of how much child support costs or what is takes to buy a car and a house. Those costs all add up very quickly and those are not even half of what a women needs to pay; not to mention if she has children. These women all have different situations and all need different types of help.
That is where their choices come into play. The numbers of choices are one thing that is definitely not lacking when it comes to the welfare system. Generally speaking it is a good thing to have choices, most often a great thing, but this often turns into a problem when welfare is concerned. Women and their families are offered so many choices that it is hard for them to know which choice is best for their individual families. These choices often overlap, thus making it tough to make a decision.
Another problem with these choices is that they most often take time. TANF for example, takes two weeks before any cash assistance is seen and sometimes that is two weeks too long. When something goes wrong (whether it be the loss of a job or a sick child) actions needs to be taken immediately and many of the choices to not recognize the point of time.
If women were better informed about their choices and they understood what each choice met then they would be more knowledgeable and would be able to do what is best for themselves and their families.
That is where their choices come into play. The numbers of choices are one thing that is definitely not lacking when it comes to the welfare system. Generally speaking it is a good thing to have choices, most often a great thing, but this often turns into a problem when welfare is concerned. Women and their families are offered so many choices that it is hard for them to know which choice is best for their individual families. These choices often overlap, thus making it tough to make a decision.
Another problem with these choices is that they most often take time. TANF for example, takes two weeks before any cash assistance is seen and sometimes that is two weeks too long. When something goes wrong (whether it be the loss of a job or a sick child) actions needs to be taken immediately and many of the choices to not recognize the point of time.
If women were better informed about their choices and they understood what each choice met then they would be more knowledgeable and would be able to do what is best for themselves and their families.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Superwoman
This past week I have been examining volunteerism for a paper I am writing for another class. In particular, I have been examining who volunteers based on gender, race, age, location, etc.
After reading what feels like every scholarly article ever written, I have a pretty good handle on the topic. Who volunteers, you ask? Well, first it came as no surprise that women volunteer more often than men. This could be credited to many different reasons, all explained by men, of course. The way I see it however, is simple. Women are better at multitasking. Study after study examines women in the volunteer force, taking all aspects into affect… occupation, children, location, blah, blah blah. The result is constantly still the same. At the end of the day, women are better at scheduling their time and as a result, are able to accomplish more, and thus have time to volunteer. Of course, this is never straight out said because it would offend men, and we could neeeever do that!
Chapter 8 briefly touched upon this idea when talking about household labor. When it comes to such work, women seem to be better at multitasking. I’m just going to go out on a limb here, but I do not think women are so good at multitasking because they want to be. I think women are good at multitasking because they have had years and years of practice.
Whether it is in the home, at the office, or out volunteering in the community, women can truly do it all! On one hand I think this is something to be proud of, but at the same time I have to wonder if it is bad that women have perfected multitasking. Once you get good at something it is usually hard to stop.
After reading what feels like every scholarly article ever written, I have a pretty good handle on the topic. Who volunteers, you ask? Well, first it came as no surprise that women volunteer more often than men. This could be credited to many different reasons, all explained by men, of course. The way I see it however, is simple. Women are better at multitasking. Study after study examines women in the volunteer force, taking all aspects into affect… occupation, children, location, blah, blah blah. The result is constantly still the same. At the end of the day, women are better at scheduling their time and as a result, are able to accomplish more, and thus have time to volunteer. Of course, this is never straight out said because it would offend men, and we could neeeever do that!
Chapter 8 briefly touched upon this idea when talking about household labor. When it comes to such work, women seem to be better at multitasking. I’m just going to go out on a limb here, but I do not think women are so good at multitasking because they want to be. I think women are good at multitasking because they have had years and years of practice.
Whether it is in the home, at the office, or out volunteering in the community, women can truly do it all! On one hand I think this is something to be proud of, but at the same time I have to wonder if it is bad that women have perfected multitasking. Once you get good at something it is usually hard to stop.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Faith
After viewing the Madison Diversity Panel yesterday I have been thinking a lot about gender deviance. One of the girls, Faith, on the panel used herself as an example to explain deviance. Faith said that she is a lesbian with short hair who wears boy’s clothes and as a result if often viewed as “butch” or a “dike”. However, Faith said that is she was a lesbian with long, flowing hair who always wore girly pink dresses she would be viewed simply as a lesbian and everyone would love her for it.
This makes me think back to the beginning of the semester when we learned about gender socialization. We are taught and learn the appropriate thinking and behaviors associated with being a girl. Since Faith does not fit the traditional girl description and image she is seen as a tomboy and a “manly lesbian”.
Faith also went on to explain that when she first meets people they almost automatically assume that she is a lesbian based on the way that she looks. People assume this because of the way society has defined certain types of lesbians and because it is going against the gender norms that which everyone is so familiar. This is not only unfair to her, but everyone with a similar situation. Issues like this, along with many others, are what make it so challenging for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals to come out and reveal who they really are.
This makes me think back to the beginning of the semester when we learned about gender socialization. We are taught and learn the appropriate thinking and behaviors associated with being a girl. Since Faith does not fit the traditional girl description and image she is seen as a tomboy and a “manly lesbian”.
Faith also went on to explain that when she first meets people they almost automatically assume that she is a lesbian based on the way that she looks. People assume this because of the way society has defined certain types of lesbians and because it is going against the gender norms that which everyone is so familiar. This is not only unfair to her, but everyone with a similar situation. Issues like this, along with many others, are what make it so challenging for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals to come out and reveal who they really are.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Privilege & Disabilities
In the beginning of Chapter 2 ableism, the discrimination against the mentally and physically disabled, is briefly discussed. It is said that ableism is a direct result of social factors that actively create standards of normality against which ability or disability is constructed.
This past week I spent my spring break in Charlotte, North Carolina working with Lifespan, which is a nonprofit organization that works with adults and children with developmental disabilities. It was easily the best week of my life. The main thing I learned from the trip is that the disability does not define the person.
Naturally, I have been thinking about this topic a lot and I am now thinking of this in terms of the privilege wheel. On the wheel it shows able-bodied people as privileged and on the reverse side it shows people with disabilities as being the oppressed. This is unfortunately sad, but true. As I saw first hand this past week, people with disabilities are less likely to have the skills and credentials that those without disabilities. In turn, this affects their likeliness to have jobs; however, this trend is slowly beginning to change. Organizations like Lifespan are working to train and help find jobs for the disabled, and recently this has been working. Now more than ever individuals with disabilities are working towards becoming active members of society. This is exciting and new and could very well change the trend that individuals have been experiencing for decades. Although it will take time before people with disabilities are completely integrated into society and thus change the privilege wheel, it is nice to see that progress is being made.
This past week I spent my spring break in Charlotte, North Carolina working with Lifespan, which is a nonprofit organization that works with adults and children with developmental disabilities. It was easily the best week of my life. The main thing I learned from the trip is that the disability does not define the person.
Naturally, I have been thinking about this topic a lot and I am now thinking of this in terms of the privilege wheel. On the wheel it shows able-bodied people as privileged and on the reverse side it shows people with disabilities as being the oppressed. This is unfortunately sad, but true. As I saw first hand this past week, people with disabilities are less likely to have the skills and credentials that those without disabilities. In turn, this affects their likeliness to have jobs; however, this trend is slowly beginning to change. Organizations like Lifespan are working to train and help find jobs for the disabled, and recently this has been working. Now more than ever individuals with disabilities are working towards becoming active members of society. This is exciting and new and could very well change the trend that individuals have been experiencing for decades. Although it will take time before people with disabilities are completely integrated into society and thus change the privilege wheel, it is nice to see that progress is being made.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Closeness Guaranteed
This morning I was watching television when a commercial came on for the Gillette Venus Women’s Razor. Since the product first came out their tag line was always “reveal the goddess in you”. Their new commercials, however, reveal a new line in addition to the old one. The new line encourages you to “embrace the closeness” and it even goes on to say that if you do not get your desired closeness you will get your money back.
To the average viewer this closeness is only referring to shaving and nothing else. Although, the closeness implied in the commercial is referring to more and what is that more? The closeness is referring to the closeness with a man. Use this razor to shave and it will get you closer to the man of your dreams.
This idea may have been lost on me before this semester, but after 8 weeks of women’s studies I know the underlying message. The Gillette Venus commercials are portraying one of the common themes of normalization; that technologies and correction are available. Many things fall into this category besides plastic surgery: wearing makeup, dying your hair, and yes, even using razors to shave. Because of course, what man will ever want you if your legs are not silky smooth? This is the message that commercials such as these portray and it is commercials such as these that lead women and young girls to think that they need to change or alter themselves in some way to seem attractive to a man. Yes, in today’s world it is often frowned upon if women do not shave or wear makeup, but this should not be the case. If a women wants to shave or wear makeup she should do it because she wants to, not because a man wants her to.
Wow, alright so maybe I do have a little feminist in me after all :)
To the average viewer this closeness is only referring to shaving and nothing else. Although, the closeness implied in the commercial is referring to more and what is that more? The closeness is referring to the closeness with a man. Use this razor to shave and it will get you closer to the man of your dreams.
This idea may have been lost on me before this semester, but after 8 weeks of women’s studies I know the underlying message. The Gillette Venus commercials are portraying one of the common themes of normalization; that technologies and correction are available. Many things fall into this category besides plastic surgery: wearing makeup, dying your hair, and yes, even using razors to shave. Because of course, what man will ever want you if your legs are not silky smooth? This is the message that commercials such as these portray and it is commercials such as these that lead women and young girls to think that they need to change or alter themselves in some way to seem attractive to a man. Yes, in today’s world it is often frowned upon if women do not shave or wear makeup, but this should not be the case. If a women wants to shave or wear makeup she should do it because she wants to, not because a man wants her to.
Wow, alright so maybe I do have a little feminist in me after all :)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Killing Us Softly? Definitely!
I really enjoyed the video of Jean Kilbourne. However, I found “Killing Us Softly” to be alarmingly true. I completely agree with everything she had to say. Advertisements have been degrading women for years; regardless of what is trying to be sold. From clothes to alcohol and everything in between these is a negative association with women.
The one I found the most disturbing was definitely the advertisement for the watch. This particular add showed an extremely skinny, decrepit, white woman wearing minimal, transparent clothing and a watch up around her upper arm; meaning that this woman’s upper arm is the same size as a normal woman’s wrist! What is the most ironic part? That without Ms. Kilbourne explaining that the advertisement was for a watch I never would have known. Without an explanation I thought the message was that women should stop eating, but no, the message was that women should buy this watch.
Thankfully, advertisements like this are no longer as common as they once were. Today there are advertisements that show women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ethnicity. As mentioned in class today CoverGirl makeup now has Queen Latifa and Ellen DeGeneres as there spokeswomen; an African American women and a lesbian. I think this is an ideal example of the strides women are making in the world of advertising and marketing, and I’m sure that in the years to come this beautiful trend will continue.
The one I found the most disturbing was definitely the advertisement for the watch. This particular add showed an extremely skinny, decrepit, white woman wearing minimal, transparent clothing and a watch up around her upper arm; meaning that this woman’s upper arm is the same size as a normal woman’s wrist! What is the most ironic part? That without Ms. Kilbourne explaining that the advertisement was for a watch I never would have known. Without an explanation I thought the message was that women should stop eating, but no, the message was that women should buy this watch.
Thankfully, advertisements like this are no longer as common as they once were. Today there are advertisements that show women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ethnicity. As mentioned in class today CoverGirl makeup now has Queen Latifa and Ellen DeGeneres as there spokeswomen; an African American women and a lesbian. I think this is an ideal example of the strides women are making in the world of advertising and marketing, and I’m sure that in the years to come this beautiful trend will continue.
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