On Tuesday there was a presentation on Religion. While I thought the presentation was enjoyable it was hard to get a full grasp of everything with the limited amount of time. I would have liked to know why the three religions were chosen and how it was decided what information would be left out from the discussion of each. I think the brief speaking on Orthodoxy was interesting, yet I still feel that there was much more information needed, from an outside perspective, to fully understand the religion, especially the roles women play in it. It was interesting to hear that since that was the way things had always been for them women did not feel oppressed in the religion. I guess I can understand how that would be, but it just seems unusual for the modernity of the world today.
I thought the quiz was interesting, but I didn't agree with many of the answers. Growing up I was raised as a Catholic but quickly realized that the faith did not reflect my own personal beliefs. My results on the quiz showed that I only believed in 6% of what the Catholic faith practices. While I understand it was only an online quiz I felt that some of the religions I did get as a match were more closely to what I actually felt and believed.
Overall, I think religion is a hard topic to talk about. I struggle with trying to see things out of the eyes of others because beliefs are such a core component of ones life. It is hard to see past ones own and accept the views of others while trying to be civil and understanding.
Until Next Time..
12.16.2010
12.12.2010
Gender Identities..
In Thursday's class we had a presentation on Gender Identities and conflict. I thought Hilary and Toria did a good job of presenting the information, though I felt this was something that couldn't be covered in an hour and 20 minutes.. I think the amount of issues relating to this topic and the amount of experiences out there are vast and it is hard to encapsulate them all into a presentation.
However, think it was a great opportunity to have Andie speak to our class and let us hear about her story. I think it helps people to better understand individuals that are transgendered and to learn about someone with a unique life experience. I also appreciate the fact that Andie and Toria are so open and committed in their relationship. I admire those who don't care about being judged, and instead they just love.
While I walked away from the class feeling like I knew more about Andie as a person there were thousands of other questions I felt that I could have asked. The reason I chose to ask more about her personal story and about her family is because I don't feel that it is fair to ask most questions to one person of the transgendered community. I struggle with the issue of having one person from a certain group be a "spokesperson" for that group. Being in the majority I don't have to worry about someone asking me to speak for all heterosexual individuals nor do I feel Andie should have had to speak for transgendered individuals. While, I give her credit for doing it, I think all transgendered experiences are different just as everyone's experiences, and it's not fair to put someone up as a spokesperson for the group as the whole....Okay enough ranting about privilege...I realize people need to be educated somehow..
I think there needs to be ways of spreading awareness and accommodating to the needs of those who are transgendered. I don't understand why there isn't...I mean put yourself in that situation..if you'd want it changed for you, then help change it for them. I especially feel that in a community like Juniata we should be able to deliver.
Until Next Time..
However, think it was a great opportunity to have Andie speak to our class and let us hear about her story. I think it helps people to better understand individuals that are transgendered and to learn about someone with a unique life experience. I also appreciate the fact that Andie and Toria are so open and committed in their relationship. I admire those who don't care about being judged, and instead they just love.
While I walked away from the class feeling like I knew more about Andie as a person there were thousands of other questions I felt that I could have asked. The reason I chose to ask more about her personal story and about her family is because I don't feel that it is fair to ask most questions to one person of the transgendered community. I struggle with the issue of having one person from a certain group be a "spokesperson" for that group. Being in the majority I don't have to worry about someone asking me to speak for all heterosexual individuals nor do I feel Andie should have had to speak for transgendered individuals. While, I give her credit for doing it, I think all transgendered experiences are different just as everyone's experiences, and it's not fair to put someone up as a spokesperson for the group as the whole....Okay enough ranting about privilege...I realize people need to be educated somehow..
I think there needs to be ways of spreading awareness and accommodating to the needs of those who are transgendered. I don't understand why there isn't...I mean put yourself in that situation..if you'd want it changed for you, then help change it for them. I especially feel that in a community like Juniata we should be able to deliver.
Until Next Time..
12.06.2010
Culture/Privilege
The presentation we had in class on Thursday about culture made me think a lot about White privilege. We talked about how there are not a lot of Latinos that fill major roles in movies and television shows and how when there is a minority as a leading role they are often accompanied by someone of a similar racial and ethnic background never with someone different than themselves. I find that I never really thought about this dilemma and I would blame it on being an ignorant White person. I know that sounds bad but there are a lot of privileges I have only because of my race and I am never forced to realize them until I look at something that does not come as a privilege to those in minorities.
One aspect of myself that does not get me in the majority is my gender. Being a female puts me at many disadvantages to the male majority status. Many of these things we have already explored as a class such as differences in wages, the probability that I will ever reach a top CEO position, etc. I know I get angry thinking about how I would feel is someone attributed my driving to my gender, which happens to women all the time; I can't imagine how it would feel to be of several minorities and constantly having every aspect of my life attributed to the different minorities in which I belong. When I realize the privilege I have it makes me more aware of the struggles others are facing and it allows me to understand why they may be unhappy with the things happening to them.
I can honestly say that before this class I wasn't aware of the amount of people from other countries using skin whitening products. It makes sense though because as a country we are constantly trying to tan our skin and feel the need to be darker to be beautiful. It just reaffirms the point that no one is every happy with what they have. We are always constantly trying to change ourselves to fit in and can never just be. It's frustrating.
Until Next Time.
One aspect of myself that does not get me in the majority is my gender. Being a female puts me at many disadvantages to the male majority status. Many of these things we have already explored as a class such as differences in wages, the probability that I will ever reach a top CEO position, etc. I know I get angry thinking about how I would feel is someone attributed my driving to my gender, which happens to women all the time; I can't imagine how it would feel to be of several minorities and constantly having every aspect of my life attributed to the different minorities in which I belong. When I realize the privilege I have it makes me more aware of the struggles others are facing and it allows me to understand why they may be unhappy with the things happening to them.
I can honestly say that before this class I wasn't aware of the amount of people from other countries using skin whitening products. It makes sense though because as a country we are constantly trying to tan our skin and feel the need to be darker to be beautiful. It just reaffirms the point that no one is every happy with what they have. We are always constantly trying to change ourselves to fit in and can never just be. It's frustrating.
Until Next Time.
12.01.2010
Promiscuity...
In one of my classes today we were watching a video and a group of students were talking about the issues of racism, sexism, classicism, etc. I found their discussion on sexism interesting and thought it connected to a few of the points we've touched on in class. The group of individuals consisted of 4 females and 2 males from Duke University. One female talked about how women are expected to be sexy but then get looked down upon when they do so. She expressed how she likes to dress sexy and provocative but feels that while guys like to look at her no one is ever looking at her with intentions of a relationship. This is like what we talked about where guys want the slut-virgin. Someone sexy but someone who is not promiscuous. I think the way in which it is okay for guys to be seen as promiscuous and it's not okay for girls is unfair. One girl talked about how she is a sexual being and doesn't feel that she should have to hide that in order to attract a meaningful partner, but in reality she does. The guys in the group seemed empathetic to the girls dilemma but ultimately they knew that this was a stereotype that was unlikely to change anytime soon.
11.30.2010
Sex Education
I enjoyed the discussion we had about Sex Education. I thought it was interesting to see how different everyone's Sex Ed. experiences were.
I went to a rural western PA high school and the only time I remember talking about Sex Ed. was in Health Class. Our Sex Ed. was taught along with the talk about motherhood and parenting. Our Health teacher emphasized abstinence and then showed us a video of a live birth. It seemed counter-productive, but the video scared the shit out of me, and I think in some instances it made some of us either not want to have sex or definitely use protection so we wouldn't have to go through that. Other than that there was not much talk about contraceptives or any methods of practicing safe sex. I thought this was odd and felt that it should have been incorporated into the curriculum somewhere...but I also understand about funding in schools and they have to teach whatever program they are being funded for.
While learning about female reproduction and anatomy I think it would have been more effective to teach the girls and boys in separate classrooms. I was in a class with a lot of immature boys who laughed constantly at pictures, etc. and were always serving as a distraction. I think this hindered the learning of everyone and discouraged everyone from trying to pay attention.
I think there should be a program geared towards teaching everything..abstinence, contraception, etc. and it should be taught to students at an appropriate age. I think in my case learning about abstinence in Senior Health Class seemed almost pointless because most of the students had/were already sexually active.
I went to a rural western PA high school and the only time I remember talking about Sex Ed. was in Health Class. Our Sex Ed. was taught along with the talk about motherhood and parenting. Our Health teacher emphasized abstinence and then showed us a video of a live birth. It seemed counter-productive, but the video scared the shit out of me, and I think in some instances it made some of us either not want to have sex or definitely use protection so we wouldn't have to go through that. Other than that there was not much talk about contraceptives or any methods of practicing safe sex. I thought this was odd and felt that it should have been incorporated into the curriculum somewhere...but I also understand about funding in schools and they have to teach whatever program they are being funded for.
While learning about female reproduction and anatomy I think it would have been more effective to teach the girls and boys in separate classrooms. I was in a class with a lot of immature boys who laughed constantly at pictures, etc. and were always serving as a distraction. I think this hindered the learning of everyone and discouraged everyone from trying to pay attention.
I think there should be a program geared towards teaching everything..abstinence, contraception, etc. and it should be taught to students at an appropriate age. I think in my case learning about abstinence in Senior Health Class seemed almost pointless because most of the students had/were already sexually active.
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