Reflection and Connection

Before this course, I always felt the society I lived in, I always felt it in everything I tried to do, everywhere I went, whenever I watched television, and whenever I spoke to people. I always felt this fixed, rigid, and broken thing, but I could never put a name to it. Now that I've taken this course I can; its called patriarchy. The name to a face. Its much easier to understand the world I live in by understanding that single word alone, and I am different for it. The reading that particularly changed my view on the world was Allan G. Johnson's Patriarchy, the System, and the way he explained that "we are not patriarchy, no more than people who believe in Allah are Islam or Canadians are Canada." We exist in this system like the players Johnson mentioned in Monopoly. We can change the rules if we go against the path of least resistance, and we can end the cycle of socialization. This was the greatest thing that I learned.

Ive also benefited from learning about marginalization. I am a Puerto Rican girl who has grown up around whites my whole life and doesn't know a lick of Spanish. I don't quite fit in completely with white people because I am Spanish, and I don't fit in with Spanish people because I act "white." Finally, a name for what people like me go through.

The way I feel about women's health, reproductive rights, and violence toward women also changed me. It made me mad. I was having a conversation with my boyfriend one night about what us women are forced to endure-rape, physical, emotional, verbal abuse- and I was enraged! Hearing how passionate I was, I suppose he felt that he was personally being attacked, so he said, "Why are you so mad, it's not like YOU'VE ever been raped." I was mortified that he could say something so ignorant. Needless to say, we are no longer together.  This class and all of the women author's voices in my head, is no longer something I can ignore. I'm not ignorant of it anymore, so I have no more excuses for why I let injustices occur right before my eyes.

I admire the multicultural feminist approach to problem solving, and the way it takes into account the intersectionality between not only gender differences, but class, race, and dis/ableist differences as well. I plan to take into account all of these things, when I go to formulate decisions and theories in the future.

This course has shown me that women's issues are real. They continue to be real, even though we have the right to vote. I have experienced the flaws of societal institutions through my service learning when I reached roadblocks trying to set up storefront tabling, and when men continued to ask me out instead of listen to the information I was trying to tell them. These causes are just not important to people, and it is almost like only an enlightened few are even aware that these issues exist.

I am seeing the world more clearly now and the system and institutions from which we all operate within. I can better recognize what is going on around me-the story behind the story. I feel stronger and smarter now that I know the scores of women from history's past to the present who are rooting for me, and know that I can do it.

Synthesis

The relationship between women's present situation and violence is a strong one. There is a pattern of violence in our patriarchal society where domination is key. In "Patriarchy, the System", Allan G. Johnson writes that "Above all, patriarchal culture is about the core value of control and domination in almost every area of human existence," and that to have "power over" is culturally defined as a good thing (Kirk, and Okazawa-Rey p.73). This value is ingrained into us from young through socialization, and is perhaps the root cause of violence against women.

While volunteering with Animal Safehouse, I saw that violence against women is more common than people think. The struggle against domestic violence is just as prevalent today as it ever was, and everyday women are fleeing for their lives. This is made clear to me by the amount of fosters we need, (and our lack thereof), and the never-ending fight Animal Safehouse continues to brave.

It is also significant to mention that most, if not all, of the women Animal Safehouse helps are abused by their intimate partner. This abuse involves physical, mental, and sexual abuse, including marital rape, which was not even recognized as a crime until the 20th century. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, there were 113,123 reported cases of domestic violence and 180 domestic violence related homicides in Florida in 2008" (www.ncadv.org). Animal Safehouse hopes to take more women out of their unsafe environments and away from those partners who promised to love them, by realizing the intersectionality between patriarchy, violence against women, and violence against animals. According to animalsafehousebrevard.org, "50 percent of women do not leave abusive situations for fear her pet will be injured or killed." The same power and force exerted upon women is often the same power exerted upon animals.
Women today stay in domestic violence situations for more reasons than their pets. There are unfortunately multiple barriers that prevent women from fleeing. One of the reasons is lack of resources. "Many women have children to support, yet they are not employed outside the home. Often the car, house, bank accounts and credit cards are in the abuser's name." (HealthyWomen) Another factor is institutional responses. Religious institutions are trained to save the marriage at all costs, police officers often treat victims of domestic abuse as active participants, and restraining orders often do little to help the situation. Many women just don't believe that they will get support if they leave (HealthyWomen). Another barrier is traditional ideology. Women rationalize their partners behavior or hold themselves responsible. The fear of losing their children is also an enormous reason women don't leave (HealthyWomen).

More women than men are victims of violence by strangers, family, friends, and intimate partners. The violence is extremely prevalent and it needs attention. Animal Safehouse is one organization that helps animals, while at the same time saving women from the violence in their lives.

Works Cited
Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives, Multicultural Perspectives. 5th. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. p.73. Print.

"Animal Safehouse Brevard." animalsafehousebrevard.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://www.animalsafehousebrevard.org/>.

"Violence, against women, also known as interpersonal violence, is a crime of power and control." HealthyWomen 01 06 2010. n. pag. Contemporary Women's Issues. Web. 30 Nov 2010. <http://search.rdsinc.com.ezproxy.lib.ucf.edu/texis/rds/suite/+KGZeKVpBwFqzdGcw9s8W_TFqnh1ccewx1qmzwww/showdoc.html?thisTbl=CWI>.

Service Learning Project Summary

For my service learning project I chose to work with Animal Safehouse of Brevard, a non-profit organization that mobilizes fosters for animals whose owners' are fleeing domestic violence. This is such a special organization, in that there are not many like it out there.
  What I planned to accomplish was to be a useful part of the AS team. I wanted to champion the cause and help them get the word out there, raise awareness, raise money, and make a difference in at least one person's life; because I have never known what it is like to do something that is truly important.
I began to make frequent contact with my community partner Arielle Schwartz, and I was able to assist in, what was to me, the most rewarding part of the project, which was an animal transport. I was able to bring a cat from the foster home back to the owner who had recently come out of a shelter. In that moment, it was like I was watching everything come into full circle for her, like she was able to put one more piece of the puzzle back into place. Then is when I understood why AS does what it does, and how rewarding their work truly is. From there I put up fliers, participated in a tabling, and made some jewelry for the organization, and although my attempts to attract volunteers, funds, and fosters were not as significant as I wanted, at least the word got out there, and people that once didn't know we existed now do. The limitations were many, as passer-byes simply did not want to be bothered to donate, or even know who we were. When I tried a number of times to see if any local Publix would allow us to table there, all of the store managers said no. What I learned from that is activism is an upward climb, and "No" just means a need for persistence, but then again, anything worth fighting for is never easy.
My project interacted within the existing institutional frameworks of family, and government. AS has to interact with families, and also help different families, through individuals and families. Inside this and the governmental framework we try to work within and push through to get the mission out.

As far as significance goes, this project was a living breathing testament to the printed words I read throughout the course. I saw the survivors of the domestic violence that remains so prevelant, and I spoke with the women that are fighting to stop it. I worked within the system that would not allow me to set up a table, and I dealt with the men that didnt care about the information I had to give but only about if I had a boyfriend. This project showed me real life examples of patriarchy and what the women's plight was, and still is. My understanding of the texts and issues learned throughout the course was upheld, indeed.
I hope that my audience will learn the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence, and that both are causes crying out for attention. 


 

Weekly Activism

1.This week was a little bit of a slow week. I didn't quite know what to do next and when I e-mailed Leandra she didnt write back so I asked Arielle and she told me to try and set up another tabling. I was put in contact with Christine Sepulveda, who called ikiwi, and got them to allow us to set up a table on December 1st! I will be in charge of passing out flyers for the event and getting all of the Animal Safehouse information and supplies to the event. I was very happy that now Animal Safehouse can add one more event to their monthly calender!

2.I think that this week showed me that activists must be creative. Just because someone tells you "no" is irrelevant.If you care enough about the cause, you will find a way to get the information out there. Just because the calender had no more events on it didnt mean that the activism was over. Create a NEW schedule. The idea is to keep it moving because the fight is never over so persistance is a virtue. In Fight Like A Girl, Seely is always stressing this point. In activism, things are rarely ever going to be handed to you.You have to depend on yourself and your fellow activists, and never give up.

3.I'm proud that we are the first event taking place in the new month, and I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I'm part of a fantastic team that is absolutely dedicated to getting the cause out there to the public.

Case Study Memo

In 1985, the Indian Supreme Court had a very important decision to make regarding women's rights in the case of Mohammad Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum and Others. A 62 year old Muslim woman named Shah Bano was a mother of five from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and was divorced by her husband in 1978. The Muslim "personal law" allows the husband to do this without her agreement and, also exempts him from having to pay her maintenance (alimony) after three months after the divorce. After three months it is the responsibility of the woman's family and community to support her (Jenkins pg.2). She tried to get alimony through the Indian courts for seven years prior to the case reaching the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had to make the decision to go by the Code of Criminal Procedure and not the civil laws which "define and govern the rights and obligations of the parties belonging to particular regions" (Jenkins pg.3). In essence, they had to choose between a common civil code which further advocates national integration or the personal laws of the minority religions. They also had to choose between the rights of women and other people who are destitute and unable to take maintain themselves or, the rights of religious laws (particularly of the minority). Ultimately the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Shah Bano and ordered the husband to give her the entitled maintenance. While a lot of women and Hindus were pleased with the decision, a lot of Muslims and members of other minority religions were outraged. All of this was taking place during a time of political and religious unrest in India. Trying to attract Hindu nationalists Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi's congress let the Muslim sacred place of worship The Babri Mosque to be reopened after Hindu's argued that it had been built on the site of the destroyed Hindu temple honoring the God, Ram. This made Muslims question the Congress Party's loyalties (Jenkins pg.5). Out of these minority religion insecurities and unrest came the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill, which ironically would reinforce Muslim law's denial of ongoing maintenance of women. Rajiv then had to decide if he would uphold to Supreme Court decision to grant maintenance to Shah Bano or reinforce Muslim personal law through the Muslim Women Bill. By overturning the ruling, it would ultimately decide that women had no rights under their religion and by reinforcing the decision it would decide that minority religious law is invalid. My argument is, why is it that if a woman wants her God-given rights, it must always come down to taking rights away from others? There must be a way to appease both sides.

        This case is not unique. When it comes to women and marriage rights, we have been in this fight for hundreds of years. This case not only defines marriage rights but it also defines women's rights for equality and against violence against women in the US and around the world. After reading this case I made the connection that it seems that whenever women ask for rights, it means that we are taking some away from others. For example, under Title 9, discrimination based on gender, marital, or parental status in education is prohibited, particularly in sports. However, "this criterion means that women and girls are often blamed for cuts to men's sports" (Seely, pg.109). Why is it that we can't ask for rights without being considered selfish or putting ourselves before other institutions like patriarchy or religion? Also, taking away women's marriage rights is also conected to violence against women such as the stoning of women accused of adultery in some Middle East regions and marriage rape. In the US, marital rape wasn't considered a crime in all 50 states until 1993 and in 2005, 33 percent of women were murdered by their boyfriends or husbands (Kirk/Okazawa-Rey pg.258). Marriage rights are directly connected to women's rights for equality and violence against women. With this case, it is so much more than alimony that is on the line; its women's lives.

When thinking of a solution to this problem, our group came up with a transnational feminist solution that we believe will appease both sides of the spectrum (women's rights and minority religions rights and personal laws). We didnt want to essentially "rape" Muslim culture by telling them that their personal laws are invalid in favor of a national integration approach. We also knew that it would be impractical to try and press for one uniform civil code when there are so many small religious communities with different laws and ideals. So we proposed the option of enacting the Special Marriages Act of 1954 which offers couples a non-religious alternative to personal laws (Jenkins, pg.8). With this a couple could have three choices. They could choose to get married through the state law under which women in particular would be eligible for benefits such as maintenance under the Special Marriages Act. If a couple chooses to get married through their religious community alone, they must abide by their personal laws. The third option is getting married through the state and through the church, in which upon the dissolvement of the marriage the woman is still protected under state law. We also came up with two exemptions undr this Civil Code, one of them being a grandfather clause and the other called the Coercive Marriage Clause. Under the grandfather clause, women who have gotten married prior to the enacting of this civil code are still eligible to have their marriage recognized by the state and be protected under the Special Marriages Act. The Coercive Marriage Clause is for women who have been coerced to get married through the church alone, under which they would have to show proof that they were coerced before they could be recognized by the state. This Civil Code would protect women's marriage rights without forcing it upon the minority religions and invalidating their personal laws. More importantly it offers women options instead of telling them they're on their own.

word count: 1016
Works Cited:
Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1998. p.258. Print.

Seely, Megan. Fight Like A Girl. 1st. New York, NY: New York University Press, 2007. 109. Print. 

Jenkins, Laura Dudley. "Shah Bano: Muslim Women's Rights Case Study." (2000): p.2-8. Print.

Weekly Activism #6

1. This week I contacted Arielle to ask her what I could do. She suggested that I keep calling Publix to try and set up a tabling but when I called two more they insisted that they were all booked up until January and that all of the Publix’s would be like that. So I decided this week I would make some jewelry to sell at the next festival. The jewelry we had was just not attracting any of the children that were with their parents. I figure the best way to attract people is by presenting things that will catch children’s attention, and they will drag their parents over. With this in mind I bought a jewelry kit and called another volunteer Danielle over and got to work! We made about a dozen bracelets that said things like “girl power”  “paws” and “pets for peace”. They came out great, and I think that we will be able to get some much needed donations for them! Next week I have to call UNOS and get them to let us set up a table to raise some money.

2. It was interesting, but while I was putting together the jewelry, snipping strong, and tying knots, I made a joke to Danielle about how I felt like a little ol’ grandma knitting sweaters or something. When I was younger, I would see my grandma sitting at the dining room table in New York sewing curtains for a little extra money. And there I was, making bracelets for a little bit of money to fundraise. I know the two situations were incredibly different but it reminded me of the whole gendered division of labor and the decline in organized labor in globalization. It makes sense that when women need money to support their families they would turn to work that is not in the public sphere when NOONE else will give them a chance. If I were in serious need of cash, and maybe have a child to support and can’t afford child-care, I might have to be at the table, making jewelry for my life.

3. I felt very accomplished at the end of the night when we laid all of our jewelry out on the table. I felt like I had done something productive in my day and no matter how small the deed, it always feels good when I can help Animal Safehouse in any way. Women helping women that’s what it’s all about, and when I speak as a woman explaining to people why I’m making jewelry, or why I’m at this table, it is an incredibly empowering feeling.

Women and the Workforce

I chose to do an analysis of 19 Kids and Counting. I have always been fascinated by the show, and how a woman could handle all of that hard work. However, according to some modern economists, her work is “unproductive.” Michelle Duggar is a stay-at-home mom who devotes all of her time to running the household and her 19 kids in it. Michelle home schools them, teaching them not only about education, but about life and the real world. She takes care of them, and is raising all of her kids to be productive citizens, yet just because her work is not contributing to the Gross National Product and isn’t “market-oriented” it is considered “unproductive.”(Kirk, and Okazawa-Rey 305) It is amazing to me that all of the work that this woman puts in day after day would be considered unproductive! She is seen as a stay at home mom without a job. If you ask  me, her “non-existent” job is more intense than other “jobs” that are considered productive so it makes no sense. I think  the fact that this kind of intensive work is not considered valuable just because she isn’t working for some company and contributing to the GNP illustrates how little women’s work is valued in this society. It also illustrates the gendered division of labor. Jim Bob is the provider that makes money for the family while Michelle is at home caring for the children. In the gendered division of labor, “there is an emphasis on caring for and serving others in many women’s jobs.” I believe this show illustrates the typical family dynamic where men are the “productive” providers and women’s work is devalued in the gendered division of labor.  This representation of women’s work matches my expectations of women as the care-givers that can do it all but are not completely recognized and appreciated for it.

Works Cited:

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th. New York, New York: McGraw Hill, 305. Print.

Service Learning #4

.

1. This week I contacted my community partner Arielle to ask if I could assist in anything this week. I had attempted to set up a fundraising table in front of Publix but I called three in the local area and they said they could only accept one a month and they were all done until the new year (WHAT?). It was frustrating because I didn’t exactly understand what the problem was. So I decided instead to volunteer for the Suntree Fall Festival on Saturday (tomorrow). Arielle put me in contact with two other girls going and so we will carpool there. While there, we are going to be passing out fliers and giving out information about Animal Safehouse. We have everything we need, except some chairs which I am currently trying to find!

2. I feel that it will be a very good week for Animal Safehouse. The festival will be a success and we are cooperating together to get the message out there. It’s amazing what a few girls can get done! There were frustrating setbacks in the beginning. Not a single Publix would let me put up a table but I later found out that Patricia set up an appointment for next month for a table storefront-after the EIGTH Publix she called. It showed me that it takes some serious perseverance to get the job done sometimes. Despite that, we moved onto another opportunity to raise awareness!  In the chapter we read this week on violence against women, it says that “changing public consciousness about a traumatic issue like violence against women takes a concerted political movement.” (Kirk, and Okazawa-Rey 267) And I think that is what drives my community partners to push forward everyday even against the current of negativity.

3. I love the fact that I am doing something productive with my time that truly makes a difference. I am so excited to go to the festival tomorrow and represent Animal Safehouse. In a way, I am representing Animal Safehouse and all of the women and pets the organization fights for, and I look at that as a great responsibility. It also gives me a deep sense of satisfaction.

Works Cited:   Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill, 267. Print.

Weekly Activism Log 3

1.       This week got me a little down. I didn’t feel like I did enough to help Animal Safehouse, and maybe I should have put more energy into doing so. On Sunday, I contacted Arielle about anything I could do for them this week to which she responded, that they were in need of fosters. So, being new to this whole activism thing, I attempted to reach people the only way I knew how: Facebook! I alerted to the fact that Animal Safehouse was looking for fosters and I put up their website link. I also contacted Arielle for fliers to put up around the school and then proceeded to do so. Unfortunately, no one has presented any interest yet, which is very discouraging for Arielle and I. Next week I know that I have to pursue a slightly more aggressive plan to gain fosters/money to Animal Safehouse. Valerie, who is also in WST with me, and I will be setting up a table to fundraise.

2.       This week allowed me to reflect on what activists must go through sometimes to accomplish their goals, and how it isn’t always easy. There are setbacks, and hopefully next week won’t be a copy of this one. Feminist activism is an uphill battle! Drawing attention to women’s issues is not easy. I was shocked by the amount of people that didn’t understand what Animal Safehouse does, and when I explained it to them so they finally could, they acted towards me as if “Oh, you’re one of those women’s rights girls.” I understand that Arielle has probably gone through the ups and downs of activism for a while now but it doesn’t seem to faze her. I realize that these kinds of people are resilient, and being a part of this makes me feel like it is my duty to develop that trait myself.

3.       From a feminist perspective, what I am getting from these experiences is the inherent strength I never knew I had as a woman. Although I am extremely humbled by the women who have fought the greatest fights, I still feel like a woman fighting for other women in a very small way. And the feeling of being one woman fighting for another is an incredibly powerful feeling and if had to guess, that high is what I imagine “the erotic” to feel like. Audre Lorde argues that it is that joy that makes you except nothing less, and that drives you to fight for a better existence. I think the miniscule work I have done so far for Animal Safehouse is the beginning of me feeling like me, in this tiny little frame of a body CAN in fact, make some kind of an imprint in this world.  

Weekly Activism Blog

1.This week was the week that me and my community partner were waiting for. Last week Arielle Schwartz (the Animal Safehouse coordinator) and I, put together a plan to transport an animal to her owner who has recently gotten out of a shelter for women fleeing domestic violence. The cat was cupcake, and she belonged to a woman named Cynthia who went into the shelter with her son. The cat was given to Melissa, a woman who agreed to be a volunteer foster for Cynthia until she got out. Unfortunately, Cupcake had originally went to the foster Melissa with another cat, but the cat sadly passed away from liver failure. Last week, when I attempted to pick up Cupcake and transport her from Melissa, the foster, to Cynthia the owner, it didn’t work. Cynthia was not responding to the phone calls, therefore we had to postpone it until Cynthia felt ready. This week, we decided to go ahead with the plans to transport Cupcake again, and it really went down to the wire. I drove to Melissa’s house, and was finally introduced to Cupcake. She was the cutest cat, but she had an open-flesh wound on her neck from biting and scratching it so hard. Melissa showed much distress about the situation, and expressed that she didn’t know what else she could do. As she helped me bring Cupcake, her food and collar to my car, I could see her getting quite emotional having to part with her after being her foster for so long. I then drove Cupcake 45 minutes away to meet up with her owner, who still wasn’t responding to the phone calls. When she finally did, she told me she was picking up her son another 45 minutes away, so I agreed to go ahead and drive Cupcake to her halfway, where we met at a gas station, and they were finally united. It was challenging, because the owner was not exactly cooperating with us, but in the end, it was a success because Arielle and I got her cat to her safe and sound. 

2. People don’t realize the correlation between domestic abuse and domestic violence.  My community partner Arielle is opening my eyes to all of the work that needs to be done out there. Seeing Cynthia’s face and the tears that came to her eyes when I gave her Cupcake made all of the time and energy worth it. It felt like I was putting a piece of the puzzle back into her life, and hopefully she will be able to move forward with her life in a more positive direction than the one she came from.

3. I have never done anything like this before, so this was great for me. I saw the work that some women are doing for other women, and that it’s these little things going on behind the scenes that make a huge difference and like Arielle told me, “It takes an army to do what we do.” I felt really good about what we accomplished and I’m excited about continuing with Animal Safehouse. Next week I am planning on setting up a table in front of Publix to inform people and raise some much needed money for Animal Safehouse!     

Women and Health

1. The problem that I chose to address is women and childbirth in our society. Watching The Business of Being Born was an enormous wake-up call for me on the issue. In the film it explains that infant mortality rates are higher for hospital births than they are at home births, due to infection, and surgical complications from C-sections.It is a MAJOR surgery to have, and one of the things I found interesting was the idea that women are looking at it now as almost an extension of plastic surgery. Women are misinformed by the notion that the knowledge of midwives are "old wives tales" and medieval compared to the medicalization of childbirth in hospitals (Kirk/Okazawa-rey, p.215). Also, the issue of infant mortality rates in the U.S. is disturbing, as there is a clear connection between mortality and race where there shouldn't be. "Black infants continue to die at more than twice the rate of white infants,"(Kirk/Okazawa-rey, p.218) and I believe that the shortcomings of women and childbirthnhave everything to with lack of access to information and alternative treatments, and societal inequalities.

2. "In 2005, 30 percent of births in the United States were C-Sections, the highest rate in the world" (Kirk/Okazawa-rey, p.215). I believe this problem is attributed to the medicalization of childbirth, and how the system of patriarchy has found another way to put women's bodies in the hands of people in power. Women are not informed of holistic and alternative approaches to childbirth, because the system wants women to pay more to give birth in the hospitals. Like Harjo's story of childbirths over the course of three generations, the practice of hospital births has become cold and calculating, more impersonal and less caring. It is all about keeping women in the dark about their options, keeping them ignorant, and taking away power over their own bodies. C-sections are now being done to save the doctor's from "malpractice suits" (Kirk/Okazawa-rey, p.215), and it was mentioned in The Business of Being Born that they were performed mostly between 4 and 10pm which indicates that doctors care only about getting home at a decent time. Women are not objects, and childbirth should not be just another routine surgery. It is a pivotal moment in a woman's life and should be treated as such. Black infant mortality rates are linked to "external environmental factors like contamination due to lead, chemical weed-killers, and other hazardous substances" (Kirk/Okazawa-Rey, p.218). Women of color are typically exposed to more stress due to racism, poverty and other factors, that affect their habits while pregnant (i.e drinking, smoking) and affect the life of the child.

3. My “pro-woman” vision would be more adequate health care in areas that are stricken with poverty, and more information to women of all races, about what their options really are. Alternative treatments should be covered by insurance companies. Childbirth needs to be taken out of the hands of people in power, and put back into the hands of women themselves. What it in essence goes back to, is a call for social equality for people of all races, and a crack in the system of patriarchy. Women need to revert back to the days when they had self-knowledge and self education, where they have control, and are held accountable for the life of their baby. Women of all classes and races should be included in the mission for better lifestyles, because a lot of those goals don’t take into account the external environment that some women live within.   

4. As soon as I finished watching The Business of Being Born, I called my mother an told her that I was having a home-birth and that I was going to encourage other women to do. I urge women to know their options, and hold themselves accountable to get out there, ask questions, and SELF-EDUCATE themselves about what their options are. My plan is to let women know what I have now learned, and hopefully open their eyes like mine have been opened. Keeping women out of the dark is the key to reclaiming power over their overall health and well-being.    

Work Cited:
Kirk, Okazawa-rey, and Margo GwGwyn. Women's Lives, A Multicultural Perspective. 5th. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. p.215-218. Print.

Women & Advertising

This ad is shocking. It is an advertisement selling Accurist watches but that is almost irrelevant since you would never even be able to tell what it is trying to get you to notice apart from the naked girl bound up and gagged. I was completely surprised at how easy it was to find advertisements offensive to women. This ad is selling a watch for goodness sake, but for some reason, the woman has to be naked and that is because: SEX SELLS; and it is often at the expense of women. Women are constantly being used, sexualized, portrayed as objects/play-things for male desire. Advertisers know that portraying a woman scantily clad (and in this case naked), is going to catch people’s attention. This ads tone is dangerous, dark and seductive, and has the words “me time” printed on it. This almost implies that when a woman can be alone and have the freedom to be herself she will do things that are sinful and taboo. It goes back to the idea of essentialism, and that all women are inherently sinful seductresses. What Accurist is essentially trying to convey, is that if you buy their watches, you will be a little bit decadent, sinful, and seductive yourself. It is such a ridiculous concept, really. In almost all advertisements portraying women, the women are sexualized and their bodies become tools used to advertise the products and their messages. But what kind of messages are they sending? This advertisement advocates violence against women. It is saying that in our culture, a woman being tied up and gagged is sexy, and maybe even “high fashion.” It just goes back to what the dominant culture has deemed to be “sexy” and acceptable. However, if a man were to go against “the path of least resistance” as Johnson’s “Patriarchy The System” described, he would be ridiculed by other men who believe that he is less of a man if he is not ok with women being depicted like that. Like Johnson explains, it is not men, it is not even the advertisers, it is the system that we live in which believes that women shown in brutalized, and subordinate positions on the floor, and on their back, is actually a “sexy” thing. Never mind the messages the ad is conveying about Patriarchy and female subordination, it is giving young girls an idea of what they should look and act like. They should like being gagged and bound, and they should be of all things: skinny.

This woman depicted in the ad is not what most women look like. They are not all bronzed up, long-limbed and skinny. Real women are healthy, and happy, and strong and this advertisement shows none of those things.   

Works Cited : 

kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York, NY, 2010. p.94. Print.  

Johnson, Allan. "Patriarchy, The System." (1997): Print.

Service Learning Proposal for Animal Safehouse of Brevard

Service Learning Proposal  for Animal Safehouse of Brevard

By: Sophia Graniela

September 21, 2010

Meredith Tweed

WST 3015

Community Partner Profile:

Community Partner: Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard

Contact: Leandra Preston, lpreston@mail.ucf.edu

Goals of Organization: “Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets who, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations.” (Animal Safehouse)

Leandra Preston, a University of Central Florida Women’s Studies professor, has worked closely with the Domestic Violence Task Force of Brevard, the Salvation Army domestic violence program, and Serene Harbor for several years. She created the Animal Safehouse of Brevard in the summer of 2008 in an effort to create a foster network for pets of women seeking shelter at domestic violence shelters in Brevard County. Animal Safehouse recently became a registered Florida non-profit agency, and relies heavily on donations and volunteers and are in need of assistance to help as many women and pets as possible.  She is looking for attracting potential fosters, fundraising for cages, food, medicine, and other general help in order to continue with the mission of the organization.

The Proposal:

Memorandum

TO: Meredith L. Tweed

FROM: Sophia Graniela

DATE: September 21, 2010

RE: Proposal To Volunteer With The American Safehouse Program of Brevard

The following is a proposal to outline the needs, rationale and feasibility for a service learning project to benefit the Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard.  The following proposal contains background on the need for and benefits of volunteering for the Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard, an outline of the work I plan to do, the rationale for its inclusion in WST 3015, and a scheduled timeline. This proposal may need to be revised after beginning the project and must be flexible to meet the needs of both the Service Learning project and the community partner.  

Need for volunteers for the American Safehouse Program of Brevard

50% of women do not leave abusive situations for fear her pet will be injured or killed due to violence or neglect. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ncadv.org), there were 113,123 reported cases of domestic violence and 180 homicides related to domestic violence in Florida in 2008. The Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard recognizes that these situations may have been avoided if women and children didn’t feel like they had to leave their pet(s) behind, and in turn leave them open to possible retaliation, neglect and abuse. “While there is housing for women and children, there are currently no facilities for their pets.” The organization addresses the need for housing of these pets while their owners are in transition. They provide homes for pets of these domestic-abuse survivors until they can be reunited in a safe living environment. The Animal Safehouse provides all of the food, supplies, vet care, and other necessities and even helps women reunite with their animals once they are ready to leave the shelter by assisting with pet deposits and transport (animalsafehousebrevard.org).  

Plan Proposal:

Since, the Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard is a not-for-profit organization it relies very heavily on volunteers and donations. Throughout the remainder of the semester, they have set up a number of  ways to get involved. They will be pulling together a group of volunteers who will provide transport for animals from various domestic violence and/or animal shelters to foster homes and vet visits. They are also in need of fosters to provide temporary housing for the dogs, cats and other animals. Fundraising is also hugely critical to the thriving of the organization.

I will part of the team transporting the animals from the shelters to foster homes  and/or vet visits, and I will also be involved in setting up tables to help advocate and educate people about the cause and organization, and raise money to put towards it as well.

Rationale for Women’s Studies  

There is no doubt that cruelty to animals and domestic violence is inextricably linked. Suffering at the hands of oppressors is not limited to animals that are incapable of defending themselves. Women have been oppressed for centuries at the hands of an oppressed system and its not weak women that are incapable of defending themselves, it is strong beautiful women, that are being suffocated by a patriarchal system in which they are deemed less valuable and are treated much like animals. Much like Allan G. Johnson states in his essay “Patriarchy, the System”, it isn’t men that are the problem it is this corrupt system which they are inherently governed by and we must think of creative ways to go against “the path of least resistance” (Johnson p.71) Thanks to organizations like the Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard, women can take the steps necessary to empower themselves and leave a bad situation. They can do so with full confidence that their beloved pets are in great care, and that’s just one less thing to worry about on the path to self healing.

Apart from that, the project also relates to the activism ideal, which is center to how feminists have accomplished as much as they have over the years. Being a volunteer helps people to get out there, and contribute their time to an organization that is making a difference and after all, making a difference is what feminism is all about.  

Action:

I have already contacted Arielle Schwartz, the Program Coordinator/Lead Advocate/Orlando Volunteer Coordinator and she e-mailed me a list of upcoming activities for the month of October. My duties will involve thinking of creative ways to attract people to tables we will be setting up in front of stores, the university and public areas alike. I will also be responsible for helping to plan and set up the various events they will be coordinating. I will contact either her or Leandra Prestley daily ,regarding my participation in the upcoming events in order to find out what my specific tasks will be for each one. 

Timeline:

I will deliver the completed project on approximately December 1^st, 1010. Please note that this date may fluctuate according to additional activities that become available throughout the semester.

1.       Sat, 10/2: All day, Paws for Peace

2.       Sat, 10/23 10:30am-5pm, Progressive Fest

3.        Sat, 10/30, 9am-2pm, Suntree Fall Festival

Works Cited

Margo Okawaza-Rey.Women’s Lives:Multicultural Perspectives 4^th ed. New York:McGraw Hill, 2007

 Animal Safehouse Program of Bervard. 2008

  

 Word Count:1058