This J-term has seriously flown by! I can't believe it was just like 3 weeks ago and we were strangers sitting in a cold, unfamiliar classroom, unsure of where we were going, not knowing that we would soon grow together through the common bond of examining our society and challenging ourselves to hear new things and consider new concepts.
I am increasingly more nervous every day for the final project. It's hard wanting to demonstrate my knowledge of the course I sat in day after day.
I wish I had more new things to write about, but it seems my brain is pretty tapped at the moment. In a few hours I'm meeting up with my group for the project and hopefully we will be able to discuss a few things and help get my mind in the mood to wander through social issues.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Lately
I haven't written much lately... I just don't know what to write about anymore. J-term is winding down and I feel like my brain is so full of new ideas and concepts and things to struggle over.
I know a few times recently, not just in class, but outside of class I've gotten frustrated and just wanted to enjoy a movie as it is and not see the underlying messages. I want to laugh at those jokes and not feel pressured to say something and feel guilty when I don't. It's hard.
I just have to take a deep breath and realize that Rome wasn't built in a day, and likewise, I can't expect to change every one of my behaviors or actions immediately. I think that's the trap we are getting stuck in. By no means does that mean we are off the hook though. We still do need to stand up and fight against injustices we see be them in the form of jokes, or blatant disregard for another human being. It is hard, but the age old cliche says that "nothing worth having ever came easy" or something to that effect.
So keep strong friends, we got this, we can do it. Just take time to really think about these issues, internalize them and then act. That's how I feel at least.
I know a few times recently, not just in class, but outside of class I've gotten frustrated and just wanted to enjoy a movie as it is and not see the underlying messages. I want to laugh at those jokes and not feel pressured to say something and feel guilty when I don't. It's hard.
I just have to take a deep breath and realize that Rome wasn't built in a day, and likewise, I can't expect to change every one of my behaviors or actions immediately. I think that's the trap we are getting stuck in. By no means does that mean we are off the hook though. We still do need to stand up and fight against injustices we see be them in the form of jokes, or blatant disregard for another human being. It is hard, but the age old cliche says that "nothing worth having ever came easy" or something to that effect.
So keep strong friends, we got this, we can do it. Just take time to really think about these issues, internalize them and then act. That's how I feel at least.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Being Rich
These readings on classism were really hard for me. They spewed a whole bunch of numbers and facts and me, pointed out the differences between years, men and women, upper 20th percentile and etc etc... but I want to know why?
Why are the rich, "the rich"? I understand that there is a certain amount of people who are entertainers and gain money that way, and that there are people who are born into families who have always had a wealthy name... but what else? What other reasons are there for people being so rich and continuing to be so rich even though we aren't doing so hot as a whole. Look at the economy. People keep telling me that it's not so bad and we don't need to worry, but we do!
Especially us young folks. (Not saying older people don't have to worry, because they do) but if this is the trend right when we are starting to get out on our own and get jobs and start families... it frankly scares me.
Why are the rich, "the rich"? I understand that there is a certain amount of people who are entertainers and gain money that way, and that there are people who are born into families who have always had a wealthy name... but what else? What other reasons are there for people being so rich and continuing to be so rich even though we aren't doing so hot as a whole. Look at the economy. People keep telling me that it's not so bad and we don't need to worry, but we do!
Especially us young folks. (Not saying older people don't have to worry, because they do) but if this is the trend right when we are starting to get out on our own and get jobs and start families... it frankly scares me.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Notes on Black & White: The Idea of Racial Purity
I'm just taking some notes from the radio program Black & White: The Idea of Racial Purity.
The woman said something that stuck out to me. That people just assumed that black people that were slaves could not consent to sex, that they were just at the will of the master, and how she doesn't agree with that.
Just because someone is black, does that mean that they want to marry a black person necessarily? How do we know what people dream or desire? Why is it more acceptable for a white person to marry a black person but we can't really think of black people marrying white people? We see them in our minds as married to their own race.
The woman in the program encouraged people to think about race as people thought about race back then.... but why? That is something that is puzzling me just a bit. I think I'll spend more time thinking about that concept.
A man brought up class a little bit, and talked that people found each other across the racial divide in the interest of romance. He believes that when slavery ended, the white man became obsessed with "race mixing". White men believed that their women felt the same way about black men as the white man felt about the black women and now that they were all free the white man began to feel threatened. That's sort of interesting. He kept saying, "They wanted to police their race" it just seemed so strange. Like a boys club that doesn't want girls in... you police your fort keeping the girls out. But what happens when the day that the girls don't seem so "icky" anymore comes? When the girls start to come in the club. Is it really so bad? I don't know if that makes any sense... but that's how I see it.
My brain is getting pretty full after listening to lots of these radio programs. I'm going to take a break and hopefully not be to mentally exhausted for class.
The woman said something that stuck out to me. That people just assumed that black people that were slaves could not consent to sex, that they were just at the will of the master, and how she doesn't agree with that.
Just because someone is black, does that mean that they want to marry a black person necessarily? How do we know what people dream or desire? Why is it more acceptable for a white person to marry a black person but we can't really think of black people marrying white people? We see them in our minds as married to their own race.
The woman in the program encouraged people to think about race as people thought about race back then.... but why? That is something that is puzzling me just a bit. I think I'll spend more time thinking about that concept.
A man brought up class a little bit, and talked that people found each other across the racial divide in the interest of romance. He believes that when slavery ended, the white man became obsessed with "race mixing". White men believed that their women felt the same way about black men as the white man felt about the black women and now that they were all free the white man began to feel threatened. That's sort of interesting. He kept saying, "They wanted to police their race" it just seemed so strange. Like a boys club that doesn't want girls in... you police your fort keeping the girls out. But what happens when the day that the girls don't seem so "icky" anymore comes? When the girls start to come in the club. Is it really so bad? I don't know if that makes any sense... but that's how I see it.
My brain is getting pretty full after listening to lots of these radio programs. I'm going to take a break and hopefully not be to mentally exhausted for class.
NPR Opened My Eyes
Everyone talks about black children "having a model" now that Barack Obama is President. I'm listening currently to the NPR York Project where people discussed their hopes and fears for having a black man being the new president.
There is a woman who keeps saying, "They are going to feel like its payback time. And I'm not talking about you, and I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about the ones out there on the street" She keeps mentioning that she will be friends with black people still, and she will live under a black president, but that there will be problems.
There was a black man across the room listening to this woman speak. He begins to explain that he can imagine people celebrating, not people shoving people off of sidewalks in anger. Another black school teacher was in the room as well and explains that he is afraid of the white man getting really mad and retaliating. He thinks that either way the vote goes, whether it goes for Obama, or against, the white man would be mad.
The last woman brought up a fear that I do agree is talked about but not really considered serious at times. Obama could be killed because of the hate and the discomfort and confusion that people feel.
I really liked listening to this NPR report because I felt that I got a good tablespoon of reality. That there are so many people out in the United States with so many different opinions. I think it's easy for me to just classify an entire state by how their vote turns (whether they are a red state or a blue state) but I forget that that doesn't mean that everyone in that state feels that way.
I think about some of the things that these folks do, but it was almost eerie to hear them spoken out loud and almost made into fact, so to speak. I think I'll go back and listen to more of these radio show talks and see what else I can find.
There is a woman who keeps saying, "They are going to feel like its payback time. And I'm not talking about you, and I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about the ones out there on the street" She keeps mentioning that she will be friends with black people still, and she will live under a black president, but that there will be problems.
There was a black man across the room listening to this woman speak. He begins to explain that he can imagine people celebrating, not people shoving people off of sidewalks in anger. Another black school teacher was in the room as well and explains that he is afraid of the white man getting really mad and retaliating. He thinks that either way the vote goes, whether it goes for Obama, or against, the white man would be mad.
The last woman brought up a fear that I do agree is talked about but not really considered serious at times. Obama could be killed because of the hate and the discomfort and confusion that people feel.
I really liked listening to this NPR report because I felt that I got a good tablespoon of reality. That there are so many people out in the United States with so many different opinions. I think it's easy for me to just classify an entire state by how their vote turns (whether they are a red state or a blue state) but I forget that that doesn't mean that everyone in that state feels that way.
I think about some of the things that these folks do, but it was almost eerie to hear them spoken out loud and almost made into fact, so to speak. I think I'll go back and listen to more of these radio show talks and see what else I can find.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Obama and Feminism (not linked, just both talked about here)
I was just searching to see if there were any countdown clocks to tell me just how soon Barack Obama would be inaugurated into the office of the President. Now, normally not really a noteworthy thing on it's own, but I ran into something very interesting. I found almost 5 times more of these countdown clocks waiting for when Obama was out of office (if you are curious as I am writing this there are 1462 days, 2 hours, 48 mins and 55...54...53 seconds until Obama leaves office.) On a much better note (at least for me anyway) there is only 1 day, 14 hours, 49 minutes and 9...8...7 seconds until he is inagurated.
I just thought that the fact that there were more clocks for when he will be out was interesting.
Also, just mentioning to my boyfriend and his friends about the conversation on feminism brought up the most interesting conversation. I love hearing what guys have to say about this stuff.
"Women can be feminist, and so can men... but why can't we have 'masculnists'? Why? Because then women would get mad at that... it's not acceptable."
"We can't have a White Power parade and not be looked down upon.
"The world is full of double standards"
"I can't screw my way to the top..."
I just found all this interesting because I don't feel like we get the male perspective enough. Not just in our class, but in my daily life I wish I could hear more about what guys say.
Anyway, any thoughts from anyone?
I just thought that the fact that there were more clocks for when he will be out was interesting.
Also, just mentioning to my boyfriend and his friends about the conversation on feminism brought up the most interesting conversation. I love hearing what guys have to say about this stuff.
"Women can be feminist, and so can men... but why can't we have 'masculnists'? Why? Because then women would get mad at that... it's not acceptable."
"We can't have a White Power parade and not be looked down upon.
"The world is full of double standards"
"I can't screw my way to the top..."
I just found all this interesting because I don't feel like we get the male perspective enough. Not just in our class, but in my daily life I wish I could hear more about what guys say.
Anyway, any thoughts from anyone?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Race is tricky tricky
What an intense subject we barely dipped our toes into yesterday! There is so much controversy, and even just conversation about race. I can honestly say that if it weren't for my sociology classes I wouldn't even know what the word really meant. I think that's true for most people. We usually get "race" and "ethnicity" confused with each other. Which makes sense to me being that they are used interchangeably (and incorrectly) all the time.
Sometimes I wish I could sit down with a person of a different race, or even ethnicity, and ask them all my questions. I am one of the most curious people I know! But if I were to do so (and even mentioning that I have a desire to do so) is taboo. I can't show that I acknowledge that we are different? Like we talked about yesterday, different, but equal. I understand that we are different, but I don't equate that difference automatically with us being unequal. I was brought up one way, with certain expectations, and learned what I was told to learn. Why wouldn't I want to hear someone else's story. You are apart of my society now, so why can't I learn about you, and hear what you have to say? Can't we just have a conversation? I feel like these conversations are needed and necessary for the change we all desire to see. The change we seek out.
The world as we know it isn't going to be flipped on its head because we elected our first non-white President. We are miraculous fixing these problems simply because we voted for change. We have to help. We have a tendency to just sit by and ride the coattails of others when we could be playing an active role in our lives and the change we want to see.
It starts with just one descending voice right? It starts with one person standing up, doesn't it?
I will continue to think about what little, or big, things I can do to help be the change I want to see.
Sometimes I wish I could sit down with a person of a different race, or even ethnicity, and ask them all my questions. I am one of the most curious people I know! But if I were to do so (and even mentioning that I have a desire to do so) is taboo. I can't show that I acknowledge that we are different? Like we talked about yesterday, different, but equal. I understand that we are different, but I don't equate that difference automatically with us being unequal. I was brought up one way, with certain expectations, and learned what I was told to learn. Why wouldn't I want to hear someone else's story. You are apart of my society now, so why can't I learn about you, and hear what you have to say? Can't we just have a conversation? I feel like these conversations are needed and necessary for the change we all desire to see. The change we seek out.
The world as we know it isn't going to be flipped on its head because we elected our first non-white President. We are miraculous fixing these problems simply because we voted for change. We have to help. We have a tendency to just sit by and ride the coattails of others when we could be playing an active role in our lives and the change we want to see.
It starts with just one descending voice right? It starts with one person standing up, doesn't it?
I will continue to think about what little, or big, things I can do to help be the change I want to see.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I Shaved My Head
I was thinking (in a sort of day dreaming sort of way) yesterday about appearance and what it means in our society.
In late September 2007 I decided to shave my head. I can't even begin to tell you what a life changing experience that was. I don't want it to sound cliche, but it really did open my eyes to a lot of different things.
Numerous times I was confused for a boy, I can remember two times specifically at the grocery store where I was with my boyfriend and the clerk said, "You gentlemen have a nice day". It shocked me! Just because I had no hair, the clerk assumed I was a male, even though I have, what I and many others classify as very feminine features.
Another memorable moment during this journey was the first time I went back home and visited my parents. Even though I went home with my boyfriend my mom still asked me, "So what... you're a lesbian now?" and it took several heated conversations that initially started out with me defending my heterosexuality and later turning into me realizing that it was more than that. I began getting offended that in her mind a shaved head automatically meant I was homosexual. It really disturbed me. To this day she still doesn't understand.
I don't know if I really had a point to make in this post, but just had me thinking about all the experiences I had being bald and all the assumptions people made based on that experience.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Normal?
The discussion in class yesterday was really interesting for me. I think I took a lot away from it and at the same time was left with a few lingering thoughts.
I kept thinking about how our actions/behaviors are driven by our desire to fit in. We don't want to stand out for things that we have deemed "bad". I think about this especially when a new class starts. I felt myself holding myself back from answering questions even though I knew the answer because I didn't want the instant label of being a "nerd" or a "know-it-all" or "brown noser". When people label us like that it feels like it hinders our possibility at expanding our social network. If people classify me as being one thing, a lot of the time (but not always) they stick to that idea and won't get over it to see who the person really is. It takes something like 23 more meetings after the initial one to change your first impression of someone. That's so many! And in a class as short as J-term I don't really feel like I have the time to do that.
I was also thinking about how guys are seen as "the man" when they have a lot of sex and girls are "sluts". It seems like this topic has been beaten to death and sometimes for me I get really tired of hearing about it. Someone in the class said that men are "sewing their wild oats". It makes sense if you think about it from an evolutionary perspective. Of course they are trying to get their stuff out there, they want to live on even after they die. And what a way to do it! It's like giving yourself immortality.
My brain is kind of fried for now, but I like the direction the discussion has taken our class. I hope it continues to let us wade through these tougher issues that we usually just brush away.
I kept thinking about how our actions/behaviors are driven by our desire to fit in. We don't want to stand out for things that we have deemed "bad". I think about this especially when a new class starts. I felt myself holding myself back from answering questions even though I knew the answer because I didn't want the instant label of being a "nerd" or a "know-it-all" or "brown noser". When people label us like that it feels like it hinders our possibility at expanding our social network. If people classify me as being one thing, a lot of the time (but not always) they stick to that idea and won't get over it to see who the person really is. It takes something like 23 more meetings after the initial one to change your first impression of someone. That's so many! And in a class as short as J-term I don't really feel like I have the time to do that.
I was also thinking about how guys are seen as "the man" when they have a lot of sex and girls are "sluts". It seems like this topic has been beaten to death and sometimes for me I get really tired of hearing about it. Someone in the class said that men are "sewing their wild oats". It makes sense if you think about it from an evolutionary perspective. Of course they are trying to get their stuff out there, they want to live on even after they die. And what a way to do it! It's like giving yourself immortality.
My brain is kind of fried for now, but I like the direction the discussion has taken our class. I hope it continues to let us wade through these tougher issues that we usually just brush away.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Gender is Socially Constructed
I read "Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender" by Judith Lorber and I keep being struck by how much our gender roles (expectations) are really something that we learn.
I recently had a friend who had a baby boy and she told all her friends and family that she didn't want to have him dress in all blue all the time. She even came to a point where she asked that no one give her any blue clothing, or blankets or anything. She recommended that they instead give her yellow, orange or green things because they were more gender neutral. In the end, many people still ended up giving her things that were blue because there just aren't that many options out there in the gender neutral area for babies.
I think of how daily I feel like I am taught something new about my own role as a woman. What is expected of me in my behaviors. What is okay to say, and what is not. I think of Halloween especially. I personally am a more conservative dresser just by my own nature. I don't feel like I'm classified as "tomboy" or think that I'm not feminine, nor am I ashamed to admit that I like things that are more stereotypically "girl things". On Halloween I, like many of my friends, wanted to go out and have fun. Every one of my girl friends ended up wearing something that was cut really short, really low and had ridiculous high heels to go with it. I had no idea what to wear and they said they were going to help me. I ended up conforming to their ways and wearing something similar to what they were and I got praised all night for it.
It was an interesting experience to say the least. I am finding more and more what is expected of me as I grow older as well. Being a 22 year old, not-married female in my family brings a lot of pressure. It is an expectation of my family that I either be ready to have my career ready to go so I can help a husband and be good at housework as well. I am supposed to be ready to be a wife and not wanting to go out and travel and finish my Bachelors degree and then my Masters degree.
There was a lot of meat in the article and the ones that followed and ones I have read previously that make me think every so often about my opportunities and choices in life and how my upbringing and current environment makes certain things more or less available to me.
I'm sure I'll have more thoughts on this as the days go by.
I recently had a friend who had a baby boy and she told all her friends and family that she didn't want to have him dress in all blue all the time. She even came to a point where she asked that no one give her any blue clothing, or blankets or anything. She recommended that they instead give her yellow, orange or green things because they were more gender neutral. In the end, many people still ended up giving her things that were blue because there just aren't that many options out there in the gender neutral area for babies.
I think of how daily I feel like I am taught something new about my own role as a woman. What is expected of me in my behaviors. What is okay to say, and what is not. I think of Halloween especially. I personally am a more conservative dresser just by my own nature. I don't feel like I'm classified as "tomboy" or think that I'm not feminine, nor am I ashamed to admit that I like things that are more stereotypically "girl things". On Halloween I, like many of my friends, wanted to go out and have fun. Every one of my girl friends ended up wearing something that was cut really short, really low and had ridiculous high heels to go with it. I had no idea what to wear and they said they were going to help me. I ended up conforming to their ways and wearing something similar to what they were and I got praised all night for it.
It was an interesting experience to say the least. I am finding more and more what is expected of me as I grow older as well. Being a 22 year old, not-married female in my family brings a lot of pressure. It is an expectation of my family that I either be ready to have my career ready to go so I can help a husband and be good at housework as well. I am supposed to be ready to be a wife and not wanting to go out and travel and finish my Bachelors degree and then my Masters degree.
There was a lot of meat in the article and the ones that followed and ones I have read previously that make me think every so often about my opportunities and choices in life and how my upbringing and current environment makes certain things more or less available to me.
I'm sure I'll have more thoughts on this as the days go by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
