Final Reflection

I learned a great deal this semester and met some wonderful people during my exploration of gender studies. This class opened my eyes to new ideas and viewpoints I was not aware of before, and created new paths for me to explore intellectually and emotionally on gender inequality and sexism. Having to encounter and overcome my own personal privilege and presuppositions on gender and how society is changed and shaped by it was difficult at first because I did not know how to approach it directly. Similar to the video clip of Jackson Katz's "Tough Guise", it becomes easier to notice objects if you know their names. Having new language to be able to communicate about these problems to others makes it easier to tell when I am causing problems to others as well or not speaking out against discrimination. Volunteering for service learning was a personally enriching experience on multiple levels, because to personally affect change is how I personally affect the patriarchy and try to change it to become less powerful. bell hooks says "the personal is political", so my personal acts of activism are my path to making the difference.

Recap of the Term

I learned a great deal about the process of volunteering and making a difference, and as I'm righting this semester recap, I still have to take part in the Komen run this upcoming weekend. I had a great time working with Sherri, Rachel and Danika as well as working with Jonny over the whole spring term. I only regret not having realized my posting were lost missing or omitted. I did keep backups, because I am paranoid and because things can and do spontaneously fail. I'm glad to have shared the time in this class with some great people moving forward, and hope to continue personally making a difference where I can.

The Screening

Made sure to be there early, and was glad for it since the projector had some color saturation problem. Danika fixed it by swapping the disc to her computer. We had a small crowd at the screening including a student journalist who took pictures for the Arbiter. Introducing the film, we relayed a short history of the legislation in Idaho and why the speakers in the hearing were supporting the Add the Words campaign, all for different reasons including overwhelming public support. Each speaker had a few minutes to discuss a relevant issue: how businesses view the cultural environment for their employees, how local faith leaders feel on the issue and how local policy makers can affect the change going forward. We shared links for outreach into the community and how to continue affecting change locally so that the Add the Words campaign can be successful moving forward.

Organizing

Took part in the meeting to set up for the screening of the video of the Idaho Human Rights hearing. As a group, we came up with a plan of action, put up flyers and made a press release for student radio and student newspaper. We talked to the venue people to set the room up with chairs and finalized the date. The class readings have become more emotional, more personal and more dense. It has taken a bit more involvement personally to make it through and completely understand the impact of what I read.

Phone Bank

I was able to take part in a phone bank calling to Planned Parenthood supporters letting them know about the upcoming Idaho Human Rights Act hearing at the Capitol. I talked to a lot of nice people, people who were excited to make a difference in their communities against selective discrimination and it made me more aware of just how important even the smallest contributions I was making as a volunteer was affecting people in the bigger picture.

Computer Problems

I saved the majority of my posts meant for this blog on my thumb drives and hard drives. I'm lucky since the blogger website had some issue and some of my posts are now lost in the darkness of the internet. I spent spring break reading a book called Odd Girl Out. It was a fascinating read on several levels just because I never spent any time considering how girls treated each other in relationships growing up. I thought back to middle and high school and how different my own experience was without social media like facebook or myspace or even cell phones. The book was a trip into a new world where there is no safe place from cyber bullying and relationship abuse like what the author described. I shared the book with some friends as well, and discussed the book outside of class quite a bit because we all have friends, sisters, daughters or spouses who have been through these experiences.

Week 8

I read an article just a few seconds ago that made be so upset I had to stare into spade for a few minutes to regain my sense of self. Normally, I avoid the cesspool that partisan politics has become in our country. Normally discussion of issues becomes distorted and misused to ends other than original intentions. This particular article involved a Wisconsin GOP lawmaker who was placed down on the record as saying that "some girls rape easy." I'd like you to take a minute to let that sink in before you google the article and read it for yourself. He lost his office as well, so thank the constituency in Wisconsin for that as well, because that man was completely out of touch with the rest of the world.

Week 6

A story I was linked to about the "controversial" nature of having employers cover birth control through insurance (even though it was legal during the Bush administration). There does appear to be a great deal of misinformation intentional keeping people in the dark about what is happening with healthcare in America. Patriarchy, according to bell hooks, is kept strong by the ignorance of the people involved. Gender discrimination in the case of birth control, because it is only a concern for women, seems especially vile. To reinforce the idea that women are somehow subject to status by rules created by men in power for the purpose of subjugation. It's a bit insulting to be a woman and be told that your choices have to be made for you because you don't know whats best for yourself.

Week One

I'm pretty excited to take part in volunteer work with Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest. We met recently for the mandatory training, and I heard about the One Billion Rising rally against domestic violence against women. It's challenging to reconsider things I never noticed or took for granted. There is a lot to be said about the unjust ways that are accepted as normal or casual when it comes to these gender issues. Being honest with myself about these issues for the first time was eye opening. I came to feel that my lack of consideration has made me complicit. I'd say the complicity ended after my first meeting.