SL Blog #2

          This week we had the presidential election-taking place, and in preparation for it I participated in both phone banking and in helping the VOX group inform voters about Amendment 6 during Election Day. By participating in both events I feel as if we were successful overall in achieving our goal, which was getting majority of the votes for No on 6. Therefore this week overall has been very exciting and rewarding in terms of accomplishing what we set out to do.

  

           The activism done this week relates to the chapter readings in terms of a powerful system and placing women as second-class citizens.  So how do Amendment 6 and Violence Against Women correlate with one another? Our society is constructed on this system of power where it may be seen almost anywhere and everywhere. In terms of Amendment 6 we see how politicians want to have control over women's health, while our health care system is controlled by the government the ultimate decisions should not be made by these politicians. In "Violence Against Women" Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey writes, "Women are still a minority in elected office in the United States, especially at the congressional level. Violence against women is often not taken seriously by policy makers or legislators" (267). Therefore the simple fact that those in office are predominantly male should raise a flag as to why they would be making our decisions. VAW and Amendment 6 tie into one another when it comes to the issue of power. An example of this power would be if a woman is raped by a stranger and gets pregnant she would likely want to get an abortion. By Amendment 6 limiting health funds and politicians making these decisions for us it prohibits women in this scenario to get the care that they need. The quote stated I feel is also proof as to how there is an imbalance in the system of power. By the government having the control over our bodies it enables them to put our safety at risk. Case in point, men who are convicted for crimes such as rape face light repercussions for their actions. The system fails to see how their actions affect us all women and put us at a risk on a day-to-day basis. As our country continues to move forward it is in our hands to make a difference and stand up for what we believe in. Even though our society is built the way it currently is, it does not mean that there isn't room for change.

            Working with VOX and learning new things in this Women's Studies course has helped me look at various issues in different ways. As a young woman in this society there are many issues that have to be tackled in order to achieve that ultimate goal of equality, I feel that it is never too late to start on any project as long as the things being done are handled in a proper manner and we see progressive results. At the end of the day these issues will not be solved immediately and will take time, the important aspect of it is to start soon and get involved. Ways in which to get involved include staying educated about issues and participate in activism.

 

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn , and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. 267. Print.

Campus Engagement 2

On November 6th, 2012 Barack Obama was reelected President of the United States. On that day I helped the VOX group to encourage voters to vote No on 6. Working with VOX in preparation for the 2012 Presidential Election was such an amazing and unforgettable experience. As a first time voter and actually getting involved it made me feel as if I made a huge difference by contributing in numerous ways, one of the most important ways was by actually going out to vote and making it count. Another way was by encouraging some of my friends and roommates to go do early voting with me. The group and I were located at the UCF arena where many voters went out to vote, there we handed out fliers that educated people about amendment 6 and spoke to students that wanted to know more about the amendment. We tried to make this a fun event for everyone, especially for voters waiting in line for hours upon hours by putting on a show thanks to the DJ. While putting on the show we were still promoting Voting No on 6 by holding signs and showing voters that we all care and want to make a difference. As mentioned before this is an unforgettable experience and I also feel that this is only the beginning for me in playing a role as an activist. Working with great people to help educate individuals to create a better place for all of us made me realize that every little bit counts. It also showed me how to be more involved and continue to stay involved as a beginning activist. Ever since I can remember I've always been a shy person, working with VOX on election day helped me break out of my shell a little bit more and made me think that if I believe in something I need to get out and speak out in order to be heard. I will try from here on out to have that attitude so that I do not get run over and speak for what I believe in.  

Activism Blog #1

         This week a few individuals and I from the VOX group met with Alexa Nelen to do planning for the group itself. I am excited to have gone to this meeting and personally talking to Alexa because it has given me a better idea of the group’s goals and what our aim should be. We successfully spoke about the main focus for VOX right now, which is to bring awareness about Amendment 6 and trying to get voters to vote No on 6. With the election right around the corner there are many things to do on behalf of VOX and so little time. With that in mind, we need to stay aware of the time limit that is left and try to get as much done as possible by doing phone-banking, getting voters to sign pledge cards, and simply speaking to other individuals about the amendment to help raise more awareness.

            The activism I've done this week relates to the chapter we are reading, by demonstrating women inequality in numerous ways and by the government, economy, etc. trying to make decisions for a woman regarding her body. Amendment 6 simply wants to allow politicians to make medical decisions regarding a woman's body. By working with VOX and urging voters to vote NO on Amendment 6 we are working together as a community to stop this dominance over women's bodies. If we win the vote on No on Amendment 6 it does not automatically mean that we will attain an egalitarian society immediately but it is a step towards getting there, which will take time to reach. I am having a hard time understanding why is it that individuals other than women themselves are concerned and determined in making decisions for women when we are perfectly capable of doing that ourselves. In the chapter "Making a Home, Making a Living" writers reflect on how choosing to have a family decreases the amount of money a woman will make over a certain time period (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 309).  Case in point as it is described in the text when a woman decides to create a family or in the case of a woman whom is impoverished and doesn't have access to the proper health care when it comes to contraceptives or abortion she is automatically striped from receiving fair pay and is sometimes forced to do extra work. The decision on whether or not a woman should have a family and when she should have a family should not be based on fear of losing a job or diminishing a woman's role within that field. In the article "The Mommy Tax" Ann Crittenden writes, "Increasingly in today's driven workplace, whether she is blue or white-collar, a woman who goes home when she is supposed to is going to endanger her economic well-being." Our economic well-being shouldn't be determined by the workplace. Although we are provided healthcare through our jobs, these workplaces shouldn't tell us women how to handle our reproductive system in terms of delaying motherhood. There is a difference between delaying motherhood on our own because we want to do other things before getting there and the decision already being made for us.

            I am excited for my involvement with VOX, but as the semester is quickly approaching an end I feel as if I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about women inequality and how it plays an important role in our daily lives. With the information I am learning in VOX and the Women's Studies Course I feel that it has helped me be more aware of things going on, but more importantly it has helped me become a better activist. I catch myself most times educating my peers and family about issues I had no clue were a big concern such as Amendment 6. I will continue to deliver activism by doing those simple tasks that Seely writes about in "Fight Like a Girl."

Works Cited

Crittenden, Ann. "The Mommy Tax." Women's Lives. 5th ed. Eds. Kirk Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. New York:McGraw Hill. 2010. 341. Print.

Kirk, Gwyn , and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. 309. Print.

Pueblos Hermanos/Brother Towns

            For my first campus engagement I attended the screening of  "Pueblos Hermanos/Brother Towns" on October 25th. Before attending the event I wasn't sure on what to expect, but I am happy that I attended because the documentary did not sugar coat the actual things that are taking place when it comes to immigration. While growing up in the United States, we as Americans take a lot of things for granted things such as work, education, and family.  This documentary shows the struggles third world countries face and how hard it is to simply get by on a day-to-day basis. The poverty that we have here in the United States is nowhere near the poverty that takes place in these third world countries.

            Since it is hard for families to live a decent life in Guatemala and in other third world countries, many people choose to immigrate to the United States to better their chances of doing something with their lives. The Guatemaltecos that choose to come to this country come with good intentions but the process that they go through to get here and then stay isn't easy or fair for these immigrants. The film demonstrates how in the town of Jupiter, FL there is a place called "El Sol" that helps immigrants find jobs and keep busy. This is where many conflicts arise because not everyone is for immigrants staying here and neither do they want to see the contributions that immigrants are providing us such as doing work that others aren't willing to do. The way the immigrants are treated is unfair because they are here to help and contribute to society in many ways other than just work. This documentary hits close to home for me because as a young Hispanic woman I am discriminated against on a daily basis it may not always be direct discrimination but it is there and it is something I've dealt with since I became more aware of the issue regarding Hispanics and Immigration. With that in mind this film and the Women's Studies class itself has motivated me now more than ever to finish what I came here to do at UCF and that is to graduate with my Bachelors degree in Biomedical Science and pursue the goal of becoming a Doctor. Even though I am one of many we all have to start somewhere and I feel that by setting the example in my family I will make a difference and show others what I am capable of and what the Hispanic community in general is capable of. This isn't something that is going to be solved right away but I am hopeful that we will reach a point where the majority of individuals will realize these issues and make a change for the greater good of the whole.

 Us at the Screening :)