[respectsexwork-blog]

Introduction Post-

The topic I am choosing to research is the negative treatment and stigma around sex work. 

Sex work is not limited to prostitution, although prostitution is a huge part of the sex work community. Other forms of sex work include adult films, pornography, stripping, camming, dominatrix, phone sex operating, and more. 

Historically, illegal and legal sex workers alike have not been treated fairly because of the jobs they do. Especially female and trans sex workers have been treated horribly and abused because of their work. It is seen as a shameful job to have, regardless of it being in high demand. It is common for people to disrespect sex workers, while still demanding their supply.

I’m interested in this topic because it hit’s home for me- and that’s all I will say. 

It’s important that we pay attention to this because sex workers are humans and should be treated as such, regardless of the work they do. 

[gracegracepace920-blog1]

I really liked your presentation in class. I find it funny how men will go seeking sew workers for whatever needs they desire, but when it comes to respect and treating them like they are real people with actual jobs, suddenly the script has been flipped. Those people that look down upon those who do sex work are the same people that pay for it. Sex is a such a taboo topic in America that the very essence of discussing it or mentioning is like the end of the world. 

It reminds of the sex education programs in school that encourage abstinence instead of actually teaching students about sex and how by telling kids to not to do something, just makes them want to do it more. And then those people who are open about their sexual activity or not ashamed of it, are suddenly slut shamed.

[kpsmc3-blog]

I agree with you when you said that sex work should be treated as ‘real work,’ and people should not be shamed into thinking that there is something wrong with it. The image or the stigma in the mass media does always put negative assumption about sex or sex work. It should not be limited to just prostitution something that is done illegally and pornography or adults film and stripping, which  all puts sex worker in bad categories. Also if there is demand for these services then meeting the supply should be done so the worker can benefit legally.   

[workinggirl2016-blog1]

Post 3: Analysis of a Scholarly Source 

https://hbr.org/2013/09/women-in-the-workplace-a-research-roundup 

From this scholarly source, it can be summarized with research information regarding women in the workplace. From Harvard Business Review September 2013 issue, there were about ten research studies brought to light that talk about women in the workplace. The first survey was about assignment choice between men and women. It was shown that when given a project or large task, men are more likely to be given work that if completed properly gives higher possibility of being promoted or higher pay. With budgeting for projects, 30 percent of men were given a budget of more than 10 million dollars where only 22 percent of women were given the same budget.

Another case study was done to see why women really leave the workplace. The group of women analyzed were women from selective colleges that were offered jobs right after graduation. On average, they worked on their careers for 11 years and well after they had their second born child. However, these women didn’t leave their jobs due to their family duties, but 90 percent of them left because of workplace problems. These women were frustrated for the way they were treated and the ridiculous demands asked of them. These were asked to work longer hours for minimal tasks, and still be treated as a subordinate.

Another study was shown women that disagreed with the ethics that other employees followed kept them from climbing the promotional ladder. One experiment revealed that women who are already mothers are discriminated against for job opportunities with the fact that because they have a child, they won’t be as committed to the job as someone without kid would. Yet, the experiment also revealed that fathers aren’t penalized at all even though they have the same credentials at the women as well as being a parent.

When looking at all this information, it can be concluded that women are given this stereotype of being incompetent, not committed, or not trustworthy to be given higher power or responsibility. Looking these cases, I can definitely agree with how women will leave a job due to workplace problems. Women can disagree with management on how things are done, but because they are of lower status in the workplace, their say doesn’t really mean anything unless higher ups see it as insubordinates and proceed to termination which explains why some women won’t speak up; the fear of losing their job.

[eclecticfacejellyfish-blog]

Women get paid less than men for several reasons. For example, they probably get paid less because they are seen as inferior to men. They are most likely offered to jobs that pay less than the men and get penalized for having children. In addition to that, it is also said in this blog post that women get treated worse than the men. They get taken advantage of so they do not get fair treatment. If everyone is not getting treated fairly then they are more likely to leave their job and that will be bad for the economy. 

When I read this article, I was furious at the fact that women get treated this way. The fact that it shows that women leave their workplace most of the time is because of the fact that they get taken advantage of is depressing. How are the children now and the children to come supposed to deal with this kind of discrimination? 

[kpsmc3-blog]

Women don't get equal treatment in many aspects of their life and also in the workplace they get less pay compared to their male colleagues. The stigma of  women being inferior to men is the cost of such discrepancies. Women are looked away when there promotions are given to men, even if they are more suited for the job. This does cause women to deter away from such jobs or careers that treat them with such discrimination. Also I do understand  the fear in this study of women losing their jobs if they ever spoke up against the unequal treatment and stay silent.   

[eatingdisorderandbodyimage]

#2 - Web source

Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-body-image-and-eating-disorders

Media plays a huge role in how people perceive their body. When we see ideal images of celebrities on magazines, TV, social media and etc, we often naturally tend to compare ourselves with these media ideals. This web source describes how the amount of time children and adults spend engaging in media can be very harmful when it comes to having a negative idea of body image and/or body esteem.

This website states that media does contribute to dissatisfaction of body image which can eventually lead to eating disorders among young adults and adults. Kids grow up with the idea that being considered attractive means to be thin for women and muscular for men. Having a false idea of what is attractive can effect kids at a young age because as they grow up they will be self conscious about their body and their eating habits. They will develop self-scrutinizing attitudes, which can also negatively impact their eating habits.

        I agree with this web source that states the major role that society and media plays in developing extreme body image disturbance among people. I also agree that the foundation for the negative body image begins during childhood. When children are exposed to the media images at a young age they will grow up feeling dissatisfied with their bodies and eventually develop eating disorders or other body image disorders.

[eclecticfacejellyfish-blog]

This blog post talks about how society shows regular people out there with regular bodies super stars who have these toned and fit bodies. This causes the viewers to see themselves as being fat and are more likely to go on a diet or have a eating disorder. They do not treat like they should and end up starving themselves because they believe that their body is not good enough for the world. 

My reaction to this is heart breaking for me. Because most of my life and even now I feel like I am too fat and that my body is very ugly. I get very insecure on how I look and I find ways to lose weight and they never work out leaving me not being happy about my body. Even though I know that my body is fine just the way it is and that I am beautiful, I still feel like I have to do something to change my body. 

[kpsmc3-blog]

I agree that media does play a big role on how people see their own bodies. Just looking at the image in this post explains how people are believed to think what beauty or ideal weight of a person should be like. The model looks way too thin and she was chosen to walk in the runway show only points what the fashion industry refers to put out. The youth see these types of images everywhere starts to think what they think is wrong with their bodies. That does lead to eating disorders or other problems, the solutions to such image of body parents should start to teach their children that everyone is different and thats what them “them.” Then perception of body image put by the media can be changed.

[fearlessfeministsladies]

Post 9- Solutions

The main and first solution to help alleviate the issue of discrimination against women in STEM education and professions is for women to get more involved in the STEM curriculum. I think women should continue to fight to be part of the STEM workforce no matter their struggles. I feel like the more women that continue to get involved in STEM and not allow men to discourage them, the more the STEM fields will have to alter to accommodate the women in STEM education and professions. For those women who actually become successful in the STEM professional field, they should return at some point to help educate the STEM women of the next generation. Recall that STEM is a masculine field that doesn’t account for the presence of women very much. Women in STEM education and profession were viewed as minorities because there aren’t many women part of the field. By successful STEM women returning to teach classes, female STEM students may be more encouraged to stick with the STEM degree and follow through with a STEM career because they are becoming more accommodated for.

           In addition to avoiding the response of assimilation to discrimination of women by men, I believe that women should also avoid turning to avoidance. When a women uses avoidance as a tactic to respond to discrimination, that women is helping to silence to the problem of discrimination against women in STEM. By contributing to the silencing of the discrimination, these women are helping to protect the behavior of these men, and allow the discrimination to continue. In order for discrimination in the STEM fields to diminish, women must address the oppression head on and struggle with it. If women give in to the discrimination, continue to give in, the struggle will never be alleviated.

           Another solution that may help alleviate the discrimination against women in STEM is for women to stop choosing to assimilate when being faced with discrimination by men. By assimilation into the masculine culture surrounded by STEM, women are supporting the masculine culture. This masculine structure needs to be altered into a bisexual culture as a means to take into considerations of both sexes rather than just one. In assimilating, women are surrendering their femininity. By choosing to surrender their femininity, they are creating a setback for other women in STEM who don’t want to sacrifice their femininity, but would rather be accepted as a female professional of STEM.

[1011499sd-blog]

The three solutions proposed are: women fighting for their place in STEM fields, women stopping avoiding the discrimination that affects them and women stopping assimilating into the masculinity of STEMS fields. I do agree with this because in class we talked about how feminism is a struggle so, here women pursuing STEM professions must continue to struggle to end their oppression based on gender. Having said that, I would also add to this list of solutions to focus on changing the oppressors and oppressive systems themselves. It is important to change the culture of STEM professions as masculine by first changing the sexist attitudes that exist in these fields. I think it is extremely important to first change the oppressive system and only then, change what the oppressed are doing. 

[kpsmc3-blog]

More women should fight to stay in the STEM programs and not let male domination discourage from entering such occupations. They should open up more about their feminist struggles and not let society oppress them in believing they are not equal to a man. The change should start culturally and socially, so women can break away from the limitations their families or others put on them. This can then lead into professional settings and not let the number of gender disproportionate.   

[cynjay-blog1]

7th Post: GWS Reflection

I wanted to take a class that was out of my element. I wanted something that I was unfamiliar with, but that would interest me at the same time. This class has done that for me, but I can’t really see myself taking another course like this. Not that this class was boring, because it wasn’t. I don’t regret taking this course because it had taught me a lot. It has educated me in many topics that I didn’t even know existed. One major thing that I learned this semester was the basics of feminism. I never really understood what it really was until I took this course. My view of the world has changed a lot. I’ve learned that there are many different ways that people perceive things, but that there’s nothing we can do to change that. We can only make things better and try to fight it as much as we can. Well, that’s my personal opinion.

Now that I contain this new and profound knowledge on feminism, I do plan on continuing to further expand my knowledge on the subject now that I don’t consider myself a feminist. Not that I don’t believe in equal rights among men and woman and all that; I just feel that I am not educated enough on the topic to label myself. I also don’t like labels much, which is another reason I would prefer to not call myself a “feminist”. How will I continue in feminist struggle after this course? I guess I will always have to deal with it for the rest of my life. I feel personally that I have a very strong and opinionated voice that deserves to be heard just like everyone else’s. I am not afraid to speak my mind at most moments. So I feel that it will still be a struggle for me, but it’ll be worth the fight.

[eclecticfacejellyfish-blog]

I totally agree with what you said about this course.Learning something that you are unfamiliar with is tough and may cause you to think more about how you can learn more. I also have been educated with this class. Coming in knowing nothing about this subject made me feel very intimidated and I did not want to speak up in class. Today I speak up sometimes in class but it is still very hard to discuss because there are several people in that room that have gone through things that I barely even understand. I don’t want to say something that would offend anyone. I also do not know if I can identify with being a feminist. It has to do with how feminism does not have a solid definition and it is still segregated. I still want to fight for the good of women but I am still unsure.

[kpsmc3-blog]

I can relate to you when you say you took this class because you wanted to learn concepts that were unfamiliar to you. I did not know a lot about gender issues and words for different movements. Also taking this class I became more aware of different form of oppression in this society, when it deal with feminist thought. Also learning  proper ways to address someone has helped me not to offend others. And yes, everyone should have the right to speak and not just people who are “strong and opinionated.”  

[kasiakoisuic-blog]

7th post: Reflection

This class was my favorite one this year. All of the discussions, the laughter, and the realizations are priceless. I also wanted to take this class to educate others that haven’t received this education like I have, like my friends or boyfriend. I’ve learned that feminism is not just for women, its for everyone. It benefits women especially, but men too. I’ve also learned that not everyone completely benefits from the mainstream definition of feminism: “To make women equal to men.” There are men and women who live in poverty, and those women wouldn’t want to equal to those men.

Another huge concept I’ve learned that I can share is the waves of feminism. The first wave was women’s suffrage by being able to vote. The second wave was women being able to live out of the house, and go get a job like other men. The third wave of feminism is equal pay, slut shaming, and rape culture. I’m also proud to say that I convinced my boyfriend that he is a feminist. He actually said two weeks ago, “I am a first and second wave feminist.”

This class has also helped me realize just how messed up the world is, especially politics, and the legal system. It is set up so that the “failed” can fail even more, and the “superiors” just keep on rising up. For example, with the prison to pipeline system. Black students are getting the short end of the stick by doing the same things other students do, but getting into worse trouble because of it.

I will continue to educate myself after this class is over, educate others after this class by keeping involved in events at UIC or somewhere else, or keeping with everything on social media.

[niceinclass101-blog]

You mentioned that feminism is not just for women, it is for everyone and this is one of the most important lessons I took away from this class. Mostly, people think feminism just means a group of women coming together to speak against men. However, this is not the case at all. Feminism should include both men and women to create a sense of unity. Like you said, it benefits everyone involved. The different waves were also an important topic discussed in class and these waves show the several ways the idea of feminism has evolved over the years.  I completely agree with you on how the legal system works now. The rich keeps getting rich and the poor are getting poorer. Finally, it is important to educate ourselves, like you said and others as well to ensure that we do not fall into the ignorant ideologies of our current society.  

[jasammatina]

I think the different waves of feminism were one of my earliest memories of the class. It was strange for me to think that because different feminists have different beliefs, they are often labeled as more positive or negative than others. However, ironically, that was a very close minded way for me to think. I now understand, that it is not about people’s views being better or worse, it’s about people’s views adapting to the modern world and including all types of people, all over the world. The different waves of feminism are there to remind us that feminism is always evolving. 

[kpsmc3-blog]

I relate to your experience that learning about different waves of feminism brought discussions of new issues women were dealing with over time. Also understanding feminism is not just for women but for everyone gives a better understanding of intersectional social approach. In addition, being respectful to others and becoming educated on issues they might have, has made me I better person. I do also agree with you when say “this world is messed in its politics and legal system,” it is something should not ignored and have open dialogue. 

[kpsmc3-blog]

Post#7

There is a lot that I have learned in GWS 101 class this semester. One of the first things was learning how to address people with the proper pronouns. In doing so there was built of respect for the person self-identity. It is a small thing to do but very large in the sense that hard to remember sometimes. This perception is caused by the social limitations that perceive many of us. Next, understanding the concept of feminism and its different waves really explains the struggles women/people go through. It highlighted the concerns of age, class, gender, and other that face challenges in all aspects of life whether politics or legal system.

   Another very important point that I related to was dealing with self-care, which before this class I was avoiding in everyway possible. But being in a class that felt like a small community, made me look at how to find or get help for my insecurities. Also hearing stories of other’s hardship does help with sharing your own. Lastly, the notion of self-education was good to comprehend, before it something that can continue all your life, so people should take the initiative to teach themselves instead letting others do their work. I myself will tell others all I have acquired and keep up with social issues and do whatever can be done from my part.  

[gracegracepace920-blog1]

Blog Post 4: Course Reading: “Street Harassment: Current and Promising For Avenues For Researchers and Activists” by Dr. Laura Logan 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12784237/GWS%20101%20Spring%202016/Logan%20-%20Street%20Harassment.pdf

Summary: The topic of this reading is street harassment and Dr. Logan goes into detail about the origins of why street harassment happens, what are the effects of street harassment, and what can happen if we let street harassment incidents continue on without taking action. As stated, mainly women, no matter what sexual orientation, age, race, or ethinicity are victims of street harassment. Women from even at a young age can experience street harassment and that can lead to negative responses like fear, distrust, depression, anger, shame and many other effects. Most harassers are men and it was mentioned at men don’t see their actions as harassment, but as  “harmless” or “human nature”. It was even said that men see harassing people and especially women on the street as a way of bonding with their friends. Throughout the article, Dr. Logan touches of each aspect of street harassment to explain more about the subject since there wasn’t much research done on it to begin with by focusing on the victims, the attackers, the responses, and consequences. 

Response: From all the articles we have read in class, I felt the strongest personal connection with this one mainly because I have experience street harassment multiple times. As an adult woman, being harassed on the street by men isn’t surprising and that’s the scary thing. It shouldn’t be expected to get “cat called” on the street every time you go whether it’s to go to the store really fast, or if you’re going out somewhere; but it is. From reading this article, I felt connected because I know what those women go through when they harassed; i have felt that moment of shame or that moment where you are scared for your life because you think some guy on the street is going to follow you home because he kept harassing you. To think that men harass women on the street as a type of “bonding moment” with each other is disgusting and just proves how women are still objectified by men to this day. Men argue that women are treated equally and all women do is want to takeover and dominate. You think getting harassed on the street everyday regardless of where you are and what you’re wearing is considered equal? To not see women as beings, but as a prompt of amusement or connector to bring your buddies together is equal?  What’s worse is that little girls that experience street harassment don’t understand why young boys or men do this to them. It creates a sense of “danger” that no girl should feel at such a young age. I know I felt unsafe as times waiting at the bus stop and a guy would pull his car up to me and look at me expecting me to get in or honk the horn to grab my attention or stare me down until I noticed him. I hope others read this article and realize that inequality between men and women is still very real in this day and age and come to the conclusion that it’s time to stop blaming women for these incidents, actions or crimes, and start teaching men not to act this way. 

[vfavre-gws101]

Street harassment is a masculinity tactic. It has nothing to do with women and everything to do with the man himself. Since women are objectified, one can do whatever they please with an object. The object has no right to say no, or make decisions as to what happens it. Verbal harassing is a non physical way me stay in control of “objects”. Society then tries to tell the objects how they should feel about being used. They don’t even get the right to choose how they feel.

[kpsmc3-blog]

Reading an example from another classmates on the same topic has made me realize that many women go through this type of street harassment. Your experience is close things that i went through many times. It could be very scary when the harasser is very persistent in their action. Dr. Logan does go into great details on mainly women going trough this type aggravations and should not be considered harmless, so it could be prevented.

[sociologyvibes-blog]

“Street Harassment: Current and Promising Avenues for Researchers and Activists.”

For the 4th blog post, I chose Laura Logan’s piece about street harassment. This reading outlined the issue of street harassment. It attempted to define it, give relevant statistics, analyze its effect on women, and overall contribute to a better understanding of the problem.  

I felt that it was relevant because of an experience over the weekend. I was out with a friend, and he began to start yelling “you’re beautiful” at any woman he passed. I told him that it could be construed as street harassment, but he didn’t fully understand why, and thought he was doing something with good intention and helping boost self esteem for people. If anything, it potentially lowers it by making women feel that their worth, and what makes them noticed, is their outward beauty. 

Although it wasn’t the most malicious example of street harassment, I still felt like it wasn’t a good thing to be doing. The women in question probably didn’t find it as flattering as he thought it was, and saying that to random people was ultimately insincere. My hope is to be able to better explain the problem with this should it happen again. 

[lopezfour-blog]

I completely understand your point of view towards your friends’s actions. He might have thought that he was being very nice, but the individuals that received the compliments perhaps did not take the compliments as he hoped that they would. Theres always that risk when random compliments are said. 

I can personally relate to this because it has happened to me before. I was once  in public transportation and some stranger complimented me. It was very random and I found it weird because I had no idea that he had been looking at me. I sound extremely ungrateful for the compliment but I just found it to be creepy. 

[odaval2-blog]

I agree with you. I hate it when men tell me that I am beautiful. Like, that person doesn’t know me. He is just going by appearance and it shouldn’t be that way. If he knew me maybe his opinion will change. Afterwards, he wouldn’t think of me as beautiful as he thought. Maybe he’ll think I’m a horrible person, nobody knows how someone truly is. What makes a person beautiful is their personality, not their appearance.

[gracegracepace920-blog1]

The sad thing about it is that there are guys out there trying to be nice just to be nice. There are some guys who don’t have the intention of “hurting” women, but the majority of the time it isn’t a compliment, or a nice gesture. Because of those guys that want try to get our attention and objectify us, we as women, including myself jump the gun and keep our distance because we think they are trying to bother us for their own entertainment. I was waiting for the bus the other day, and a guy was waiting there with me and said to me “he liked my shoes, where did you get them”. My first response: ignoring him because i thought he had another motive. I have have had enough street harassment experience in my life to know this was going to get uncomfortable. Because i ignored him, he thought I didn’t hear him so he tapped me on the shoulder asking the same question. Of course, I couldn’t ignore him then, so i told him where I got my shoes from and all he said was “Thanks. I’ll remember that”. That was it. Just a simple moment of curiosity and I took it at something way worse. I feel bad for those people out there who are just genuinely nice and don’t mean to harm others on the street. 

[kpsmc3-blog]

I think this example is great to use to explain a type of street harassment that is done by many and they do not even realize the harm that comes out of it.  Many men that I have encountered over the years, while just walking on the street have yelled and made remarks on how I look have caused the anxiety  that I carry everyday. I tired to ignore these types of situations while they are taking place but I think by ignoring it the problem is not being addressed, so maybe letting the men know in our relations can start to make a difference. Letting our brothers, sons, and friends can stop the harassment of this kind. 

[miss-andrist-gws]

I was lucky enough to attend the play Body/Courage written and performed by Danielle Pinnock. It was a one woman show and it was brilliantly performed. The story follows Danielle through her life long struggle of body acceptance. It also shows Danielle interviewing other people to find out what they think of their bodies and the problems they go through. While I was watching the play, I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster ride. It goes through moments that make you feel different types of emotions. One minute I’m laughing at Danielle’s grandmother, and the next minute I’m upset over a man being told his body is worthless. I actually liked that the play made me feel something, though. While I also liked that it was a one woman show, I think I would have liked it more if there were different actors for each character.

I learned and appreciated a lot from the play, but my top three things were hearing other people’s stories, body acceptance, and how the play was presented.

Other People’s Stories

I liked hearing how different people viewed their bodies. Everyone had a different way of saying it, but no matter what everyone went through a period where they didn’t feel good enough. It just goes to show that no matter how different we are, we’re all still the same.

Body Acceptance

This play helped me see that no one is alone on the road to accepting yourself. Also, that it can be a long process and not something that happens overnight.

Presentation

The way the play was presented was amazing. It was shown in a way that made the audience really connect to the performance. I really felt the message that was being portrayed, and the fact that multiple people were interviewed made it even better because it showed that everyone is facing the same problems.

[kpsmc3-blog]

I also appreciate the three things that you have pointed out about this play, hearing stories of so many different backgrounds and their struggles with body image. Yes, these are issues that can not dealt with over night but rather a process, which everyone learns at different stages of one’s life. The performance was very powerful, since one person portrayed so many characters, so seeing one person play was one the best thing in acting.

[eclecticfacejellyfish-blog]

For a summary of the play, Danielle transitioned into several people she interviewed about body courage. In addition, she even portrayed herself from her grade school years to her present self. What she would do would place the other people she interviewed between her own story. It was really sad and enlightening to see how some people actually lived and what their experiences were. 

After the performance, I had a bittersweet feeling about it. At some parts I really liked the way she imitated different cultures and had a certain accent, but for other parts when she did do those accents I felt a little bit offended. Overall, it was an amazing performance and it really opened my eyes on how I should view my body.

What I have learned from this play is that several people view their bodies differently and that what is portrayed in the social media is not the way you should view body. Being skinny is not the only beauty in the world. Having a double chin or rolls when you sit down is not ugly. IT’S NORMAL AND BEAUTIFUL. 

One thing that I really appreciated from this play was that she made that point very clear by giving several examples from her child hood. In several other cultures, being beautiful could be having more fat on them. Being tall and skinny is not and should not be the symbol for beauty. 

Another thing I learned is that several people go through different kinds of things. For example there was a character called the Tan Mom who has been tanning since she was little and now her kids also tan too. Danielle showed us through her acting that while the interview was taking place the mom was abusing drugs. This really opened my eyes on what many people go through. The fact that people are addicted to doing these things is very sad and there needs to be a change.

[kpsmc3-blog]

I understand why you may have had bittersweet feeling because having one person play many types of characters can be different due to their own background or race. However, one can appreciate the talent this one woman had and how she portrayed different people with concerns with their bodies. I do agree with you, when you say how the media defines beauty with being skinny...but many people are getting away from those ideas and defining themselves as they feel comfortable.   

[1011499sd-blog]

6th Post: Trans Health Panel

Transgender and Gender Variant Health Panel

The reason why I decided to go to this event was because I am a Public Health major and Gender and Women’s studies minor so it seemed like a perfect intersection of both my studies. I also helped out Professor Chu by filming the event so I was there a few minutes early to set up my camera. The panel of this event consisted of five diverse professionals in transgender and gender variant health. The questions asked were thought provoking and even created differing opinions amongst the panelists (which is always a good thing.) It was extremely insightful in regards to learning what trans health means and how it works or should work. As a student that in the future wants to be in the medical field, this discussion was helpful in bridging medical knowledge with trans and gender variant knowledge. 

The first and I believe the most important thing I learned is what Trans health is. As many of the panelists concluded, Trans health is everything. Trans health means physical well being, health insurance, mental health, access to medication, access to additional health resources etc. Everything that any human being needs to be healthy is Trans health. As one of the panelists Caprice Carthans said, a trans patient is a full person not a one issue person. The second thing I learned was that one of the major challenges facing trans health in the United States is health insurance policy. Most health insurance companies do not cover crucial hormones trans people need. Medical coding that is sent to insurance companies also needs advancement. The medical code needed by insurance companies to cover hormones is currently classified under “endocrine disorder” which is incorrect as trans people do not have endocrine disorders that cause them to need hormones. The last thing I learned was most helpful to my current situation as a public health student and hospital volunteer. That is, in general how to treat trans patients and make them feel included and comfortable. This could be as simple as using that patient’s correct pronouns to as ”complicated” as hiring trans and LGBTQ+ people from the community. Having printed and digital media that include trans people allows for trans people to feel as though they can relate and are not out of the ordinary and are included. These things are not formally taught to most health professionals so it is important to teach other medical professionals to do the same.

event flyer: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12784237/GWS%20294%20Spring%202016/Trans%20Health%20Panel%20Flyer.pdf

[eclecticfacejellyfish-blog]

I really enjoyed reading your experience at this panel. I like how you related it to your major in college and how you actually learned something from this discussions. Your points were very detailed and organized. I wish I could have gone to this even because I myself do not know much about this topic of Trans Health. I also really liked that you are going to apply this to your daily life and educate people who do not know much about this topic too. 

Was there anything you did not like about this discussion? Were there people there who were very ignorant to this idea of trans health?

[kpsmc3-blog]

It is great that you are going into gender studies, and are probably more aware of the struggles that the LGSTQ+ community are facing in the main-steam, regarding many different issues, one being healthcare. As you took photos of the trans gender panel, the images which can be used to bring more awareness for the trans community. It also opens up discussions, which are not so commonly seen in the media. So having a talk about trans gender health care at  school like UIC is a great start.

[jasammatina]

The Medicine of Tomorrow

How do you define essential healthcare for transgender people? This was the first question asked during the transgender health panel. I didn’t know what this question was supposed to imply at first. I have been taught to understand that women and men come from all different backgrounds, some not always being cis gendered ones. So doesn’t that mean that they deserve the same type of healthcare as other women and men among them? This is true, to an extent. Aren’t all healthcare providers equipped with the knowledge of how to treat all humans, cis or gender variant? This was where I was mistaken. The panel pointed out the biggest factors in providing proper healthcare to the transgender population: surgical intervention, gender affirmative healthcare, individual interaction between patient and provider, and medication and insurance approval. It’s easy to forget that surgery is not all that a gender variant/transgender person is in need of (some may not even want that). All patients need to feel that their provider understands them and understands what their individual needs are. There is an abundance of healthcare providers across the globe, but only a very small handful actually have a basic understanding of the needs of the transgender population. They don’t understand or don’t feel comfortable addressing the individual needs of someone in transition or who has transitioned. Some basic needs in healthcare for transgender people are medicines that insurance companies often fight to provide them with. Gender markers are barriers for many transgender people, as their suffixes (Mr. Ms. Mrs.) often don’t change and stand to prevent a male from getting medications prescribed to females and vice versa. Without easy access to their insurance, transgender people are not able to get the medication they need in order to continue with their transition, and this, in turn, can be detrimental to them. While gender markers provide difficulties on paper for trans people, attention to pronouns cause discomfort for patient and provider in the facility. The proper use of pronouns and the understanding that the patient may not want some body parts addressed, as they don’t feel that they represent them in any way, is very often overlooked. An open mind is important in the interaction between patient and provider, and ignorance is not (providers should practice pronouns and comforting interactions with not just trans patients, but all patients). The panel stresses the importance of everyone being trans-aware and that along with medical fields, law enforcement and many other fields need to be properly trained on the interaction with transgender people so as not to discomfort anyone.

The transgender health panel made me more aware of the individual needs of patients. I am studying to be a nurse, and I have always been told “the nurse is the backbone of the hospital. The nurse is there for one on one support and to comfort.” Comfort is different for everyone, and everyone deserves their own levels of comfort. I learned about the struggle to get medicines approved, something that I’ve always thought that is supposed to be accessible to anyone who needs it. It makes me feel like the medical field is a failure for not trying harder to give transgender patients their well-deserved medications. The health panel also taught me something about pronouns that I have been ignorant about myself- pronouns are not just the standard: he, his, she, her, they, their. One panelist preferred the pronoun “saur” over others and that was when I began to question just how many forms of pronouns there are in the world. Pronouns are an identity, like gender is. And if we can accept gender reassignment, then we can accept the use of identification other than “she” or “he”.

So how do you define essential healthcare for trans people? It not something to take lightly and it is not something you can learn once and understand forever. The world we live in is evolving and adapting to its surroundings. We welcome new people into our society every day. Human interaction is not a math equation; there will always be something new to learn, and what work on one person may not work on another. We need to cater to the individuality of humans. We need to understand that everyone matters I this world. The transgender health panel opened my eyes to a new kind of medicine- complete and undivided attention. The transgender community is often taken advantage of, and the recognition of their needs will provide for a safer health care environment for them and equally accessible resources to that health care. It’s a learning process, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcF0aoZRE-c&feature=youtu.be

[kpsmc3-blog]

Yes, this panel was very informative for a cis people who are not even aware of  struggles of trans persons in the health care system. It is great that you point out the confusion regarding if trans people should get the same health care as cis gender people or not. The answers to this can only be that every person should be able to get medical care, which they individually need as a patient. Also these types of panels should occur more so the rest of the population can cater better to trans gender community.   

[kpsmc3-blog]

Transgender Healthcare Panel

           The panel of Transgender Healthcare at University of Illinois at Chicago discussed issues in current healthcare for gender variant people. It addressed the essentials of gender variant people according to their individual needs. The panel consisted of a physician that provides great help to the trans gender community in Chicago with a clinical, a woman who shared her struggles as a trans with medical care she needs, and with other presenter who help gender variant in the state of New York and Pennsylvania in health care. One of the most common problems trans people have to deal with getting medication covered or care by the insurance companies is due to the gender that is on their identification cards. In addition to so many confusing plans to find the right coverage with lengthy documentations that keeps many tans people from receiving the best medical care. Also, the lack of education to understand the treatment of gender variant people not taught in medical schools or learned by the doctors themselves. However, the physician on the panel does help other doctors in the UIC hospital to be better informed when assisting gender variant people.  

           Next, one of the most shocking facts discussed on the panel was the rate of suicidal attempts by trans gender people, which is about 40% or 6% of the total population in the U. S. Also the high of rates of HIV contraction and abuse compared to the total population. This shows the extreme hardship gender variant have to encounter than a person who defines their gender according to more socially accepted norms. So to cause change in these high rates of grief, there needs to a change in the community language and for others to not assume what a person may or may not need from the health care system while transitioning because “health care should a right and not a privilege.”      

[kpsmc3-blog]

We’re All in the Same Boat

By: Rosario Morales

           This letter by Rosario Morales describes her true feelings in a world that is dominated by the white middle class. Morales says,  “Color and class don’t define people or politics” and does not agree with women movements that do define people in this context. She also calls out her own Latinos women who contribute to the sexist society they live in. Moreover, one the most significant topics Morales highlights, is the ideology of racism. She says that no matter where people come from or what color they are, are capable of being racists. It is a guilt that we all perceive as being oppressors to one another. This is a point that I can relate to because I feel like when my parents are being racist towards other people with different ethnic backgrounds, they do not realize what they are doing. This could be due to applying their experiences of racist attacks and get caught up the oppressive ideology of putting down the working class.

           Another point that I can relate to with Morales would be when she says, “I want to be whole…claim my self to be Puertorican and U. S. American…” but “I am a whole circus by myself…” living in the upper class surrounding and is tired of putting up a show and conforming to what society of whites prefer as ‘normal.’ I may be guilty of this act, when people say, “oh you don’t look Indian” “You have such light skin or eyes” and I let them say it for a while. I was conforming to the idea, which distanced me away from my Indian identity. But as I am becoming over aware of who I am, I am questioning these people and their context of normality.

[kpsmc3-blog]

The Play:

Body/Courage

           Body Courage is a one-woman play that is created by Danielle Pinnock. She plays all the roles of the characters in the play, which are based interviews Pinnock has gathered over sometime. There are many types of people with all different types of body types represented in the interpretation of Pinnock skills of acting. The play included stories of people with an illness, different skin color, eating disorder, age, sex-worker, trans, races, and disability. Also the moments of childhood from Pinnock’s own life were especially interesting, seeing how she played the role of her grandmother and the troubled times she went through to find herself. In this collaboration she explains the pressure of appearances that society looks down upon.    

            The most motivating parts of the play were instants where people had the realizations of the worthy abilities of one’s own body, rather than how it has kept them back in life. An example of which was, of an Indian athlete who did not make into a team as a runner due to his low score but he saved a person’s life on a train because of his quick athletic ability. He understood after what he did that being on a team was not the only way to be a champion, but to use of his body in such a situation was more important. Other aspects of the play which were very note worthy were seeing the human in people who may be living life on their own beat, like the tan mom, who clearly seemed as someone who needed help but the way she puts herself towards the world just gets the judgments. However, Pinnock tired to go deeper and may be see the tan mom in a more humanly way upon a person that had her own issues.

           Lastly, the discussion at the end of the play was very informative, where some female writers, the costume designer, and Pinnock sat down and answered some questions from the audience. The discussion focused on body empowerment through the costumes actors wear and how they can properly represent the needs of characters. Moreover, in this play the action took place on the ground verse elevated stage, which highlighted different items of clothing that let Pinnock transition into the next character. By seeing her put on items like a pair of glasses really helped the audience see how Pinnock’s grandmother may have been, and cap of the young man with a sex worker made him look ‘cool dude’. Overall, the play had true layers that everyone can relate to one way or another.    

[kpsmc3-blog]

Gender Norms 

One of the behaviors that I think can be considered feminine would be cleaning all around the house or home. As girls, females are taught from a young age to be very clean and presentable, which leaks towards household chores cleaning being one of them. Women are made to believe that their place is in the house, where as men’s place is outside the home. Therefore, it’s a women’s job to take care of their domain as men do theirs. Women are punished in order to maintain this gender norm by having to do mostly everything on their own, and by not ever demanding the opposite gender’s involvement.

Like, my mother who always complains how our house is so messy, but she never asks my two brothers to pick up a mop or broom and start cleaning. However, this could have its rewards as well, where women doing the cleaning can have a full say on how they might like to keep everything around the house. They may use certain methods of how a house should be kept to their standards. For example, my mother has two mops, one for the bathrooms and the other for rest the rooms in the house. She thinks by doing this somehow the bacteria of the bathroom does not spread, even though we all use the bathrooms and bring or take bacteria with our feet. But this way she feels in control to what she wants in her own home.

Boys and men are discouraged from doing the cleaning (in my house) because their mothers or wives and even sisters take care of it for them. But more importantly, performing these types of tasks is not suitable to their masculine personalities. Similarly, my father and brothers go to work or school but they divide rest of their time going to the gym or meeting friends, among other activities. They do not think about staying home in the evening and clean or even ask if my mom or I ever need any help. Conversely, if men did clean their homes over than women then their reward could be better skills developed to create their environment cleaner. If that is not the case then, men are always looking on to the females to take over the role of caretaker of a house or the family. Moreover, if my brothers ever decided to move out my parents’ house, I think they will find it difficult to adapt to an environment where their mother is not present does to do everything for them.

On a larger scale the social implications of this behavior puts up boundaries between the genders by labeling who can do what. This makes men and women think what they do is normal and it should not be questioned. This could lead to problems they are not willing understand or do not understand. Household chores, like cleaning may seem like a small task or a thing but it is example that still shows the divide between gender related behaviors.  

The value it places on each gender is that it does not let them see beyond their own capabilities to improve on their choices. People just stay stock to cycles that have been repeated traditionally by their parents or grandparents before them. However, those who do break the social rules add to the ability of humans to step towards the evolution of development in a positive way for each gender. If more and more social rule breakers are seen then, it makes it easier for people not to be afraid of something, which is not considered normal.