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[swimmershark-4-life-blog]

Extra Credit Post 2: Building a Practice of Self-Care for Feminists. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6jtPrq1g4

In this video, marina shut up is talking about different steps for self care, and how to de-stress and unwind. She talks about how this is a very stressful time in her life since she is her last year of college. She also explained how since she is so stresses, she gets panic attacks. She then proposes some tips to relax and take care of yourself, such as allowing yourself a break, actually doing your work instead of wallowing in your misery, and simply loving yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VamqK8P3WfI

In this second video by meowitslucy, she also discusses different ways to self care, such as taking breaks when you’re stressed out. She also discusses that it is important to drink water, eat fruit, talk to a friend, as well as treat yourself, or make yourself happy. She also talked about how excercise can be a good way to de-stress, since it releases endorphins. There is also an app that records how much you run, and gives you discounts on healthy stuff to eat.

Those who advocate feminism can build a practice of self care and still remain active in their feminist struggles, by simply allowing themselves at least one day of the week to relax and have fun. A person can’t be fighting every day of their lives, they need some time to relax. Drinking water, eating healthy, remembering you’re human instead of a machines is something everybody needs to do now and then. Feminists can still practice feminism, while making sure they’re treating themselves with love and care.

[niceinclass101-blog]

The first video you talked about how individuals could take a break and this was one of the main points discussed in my article as well. The author in my article suggested the sixty second break which would help others free their mind of the stress they have been put through. You also pointed out that exercising is also a good way to release stress because it releases endorphins. I agree with you that advocates for feminism could take a time out to have fun and relax as a way to free their mind. This would enable them to remain active while caring for themselves and their bodies.    

[marquish09]

The first video on Self-care that I watched was called “Why We All Need to Practice Emotional First Aid.” It was a Tedtalk presentation created by a psychologist named Guy Winch. He began talking about the way that people prioritize their physical health and make sure that they do everything necessary to keep their bodies healthy. He then made the point that while people are physically healthy, they may be emotionally unhealthy. This includes low self-esteem, anxiety, loneliness, fear of failure, etc. He stated that when it comes to these types of things, people either ignore the symptoms, or do not know how to handle them. He explained that in order to improve emotional health, people should train their thoughts in a way that uplifts themselves. He said that instead of letting negative thoughts or failures get you down, treat yourself the way you would want a good friend to treat you if you were discouraged or upset. This is a useful way to motivate yourself, and a way to avoid being hard on yourself, as you would usually be. It also helps you to face your feelings instead of suppressing them, which would then harm your body psychically if not tended to.

I enjoyed the entire video. It was interesting and helpful. It shows just how important emotional health truly is. Emotions affect the way that you look at yourself, as well as the way that you treat yourself. It also affects the way that other people treat you because if it shows that you mistreat yourself, it gives others the impression that they can mistreat you. It is also important because your emotions affect the way that you do things. If you feel good about yourself internally, then that will translate to the way you carry yourself externally. It will also translate to the way that you do your job or any type of work or activity, because your confidence in your ability will help you to be successful. Lastly, it will translate in the way that you interact with others, because if you are not emotionally healthy, relationships become unhealthy due to the fact that you treat yourself negatively, as well as the other person.

The second video that I watched was called “Self-Care 101: What It Is and How to Start.” It was a Youtube video created by Melissa A. Fabello. She began by defining self-care and explaining the importance of everyone practicing it. She defined it as anything that has to do with the emotional, psychical and spiritual aspects of yourself. She then gave suggestions on activities that could help the process. She said that not only can you practice self-care alone, but that you can practice it among others as well. She explained that when you are alone you could do things such as yoga, cook or crafts, whichever are things that you enjoy the most. Various things are fine, as long as the things make you feel good and relax you. She said that with others, you feel good by simply being around people who are positive or supporting. The group of friends of your choosing can go out dancing or do other things that are enjoyable. She emphasized that whatever you do, or whoever you do with with, should be positive and non-toxic.

The video was entertaining and thoughtful. She gave many useful tips that will help individuals practice self-care. The type of activities she described are simple and consist of things that appeal to a person’s interest, so that makes it that much easier to do. Also the advice is for you to take care of yourself, so that is motivation within itself. I like that she mentioned that everyone deserves self-care. Some people may find it unnecessary or may feel that they are not worth being cared for, but this video helps people to appreciate themselves and partake in things that show that appreciation. Not only that, but it provides a break from hectic lives that put stress on the mind and the body.

Individuals who advocate for feminism can build a practice of self-care by setting examples of what it means to practice self-care. This includes the way in which they portray themselves and take action, as well as the way in which that they motivate others to portray themselves and take action. Whichever direction they decide to go in, whether it’s starting movements, displaying this practice through their work, through service or simply a hobby, it should send the message of what it means to be self-accepting and accepting to others. This includes taking pride in who you are, where you come from, and fighting for your rights, as well showing the same courtesy to those around you. If you are displaying this, others will be inspired to reflect this behavior, and in turn inspire those who look up to them. This course of action will then continue on, setting the stage for further advocates and activism.   

https://www.ted.com/playlists/299/the_importance_of_self_care

http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/02/self-care-101/

[swimmershark-4-life-blog]

In this post, marquish09 summarizes a Ted Talk on self care. The Ted talk explaines how some people prioritized their physical health over their emotional and mental health. In the second video, she described how self care can be cooking or cleaning, or anything that relaxes you mentally.

I agree with the ways that you set up self care for feminists. It is important ot be accepting and nice towards others, and it is important to spread the message of self care.

[niceinclass101-blog]

I like your summary of the videos you watched. You also mentioned that one of the videos talked about emotions which I think is very relevant when it comes to self-care. One of the articles I read emphasized how self-care could help one become emotionally and mentally stable. I completely agree with you that what you feel on the inside displays on the outside. This will also affect the affect around you. I also like the fact that you pointed out that your videos discussed how one could engage in activities like yoga, cooking, or craft making to encourage self-care. This relates to one of my articles that talked about trying something new. The more we expose ourselves to new things, the better it would make us feel about ourselves and bodies as well.

[niceinclass101-blog]

Self Care

Links:http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/01/11/dont-forget-yourself-the-importance-of-self-care/ http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/12-powerful-self-care-tools-that-you-cant-live-without.html

The first article I found about self-care was written by a woman named Laura Tirello. It was posted on a website called Psych Central titled: Don’t Forget yourself: The Importance of self-care. The article discusses that we are aware of what self-care is but we do not do enough. And this is because “we don’t know how” (Tirello). According to the author, “self-care is letting yourself do whatever you want to do”. She further explains that many people try to include self-care as part of a forced routine they have to stick to. As a result of this, they get worn out easily and this undermines the whole point of caring for one’s self. During the process of self care, everything is a lot easier. The mind is able to focus on relaxation and Tirello emphasizes that the body feels good at this point. The author also discusses how she practices self care. Whenever, she finds herself in an overwhelming situation, she takes a sixty second break to either look at pictures or read blogs and books about the people she admired. She encourages this sixty second break because “it is a great way to keep your body in a natural flow” (Tirello). Exploring new things is also one of the benefits that come with self-care according to this author. The more breaks we take to take care of our bodies, the more sense of freedom we receive which in turn helps in exploring new things as well.

I completely agree with Laura Tirello because there is so much going on in the world that everyone is busy here or there and no one has time to sit back and ask how they are feeling or to even check if a part of the body is being weakened. It is therefore necessary to take breaks to ensure that we are giving our bodies and selves the attention they need. Not only are we making our bodies feel good, we would also be psychologically stable which means less stress for the mind and body.

The second article I found was posted on Life Hack by Anne Sophie Rein Hardt. The author began by asking two questions: “How much do you love yourself? And how much do you show it?” She further explains that people have a habit of taking care of others around them rather than considering their own desires. According to Anne, “self-care is one of the most important practices you will ever learn in your life” (Anne).  As a result, she listed twelve self-care tools that will help those who have started the process of caring for themselves. Three tools that I found interesting were: “Learn to say no, Start something new, and Feed your mind with positivity”. I learned from this article that saying yes all the time means putting yourself last. I never really thought about it in this way. Anne also points out that saying no sometimes could also improve self-love as you are honoring yourself and seeing to it that you get what you want. Starting something new is also another way of engaging your mind and becoming free with the person you intend to be. The author reaffirms that feeding your mind with positivity brings about self-empowerment. And this is the most important because you are completely at ease with yourself and who you want to become.

I completely agree with Anne’s article because she emphasizes the main points that most people dismiss today. Waking up each and every day with a positive mind is also an important step in loving and caring for oneself.  

Those who advocate for feminism can begin to take time among themselves to explore what they love besides what they are fighting for. By taking the time out to discover what they love, they could found out more about themselves and their environment. Hence, contributing more ides to the feminist movement. This way, they could remain active in the feminist struggle. Just like Anne had pointed point, finding one’s mind with positive thoughts is important. Advocates for feminism could practice being positive minded if not all but majority of the time. By having a positive mindset about certain things, they could ignore the negative comments others say about the movement they indulge in. Positive thoughts ensure that we do not take in what the opponent says. Thus, advocates for feminism can ignore what the opponents say and remain active in the feminist struggle. Finally, advocates could exhibit an art of creativity by including more of visual representations (art, poetry, film making etc.) in their movements to ensure that majority of them remain in the feminist struggle.    

[workinggirl2016-blog1]

Post 7: Intersectional Issue

This topic falls under the idea of being intersectional because it relates to discrimination, domination, and oppression. With women passed up for job promotions just for the reason of being a woman relates to the idea that women are forever going to subordinate to men. This allows men to see women as inferior and they are the dominate one. No matter the credentials, if you are a women, don’t bother looking for a promising future. With this idea of domination, this leads to the ideas of respect. If issue isn’t taken seriously like it should be, women will continuously lose the respect of others regardless of being in the workplace or not. Any women that seeks to have a position of authority or higher power can kiss it goodbye because no matter how hard they work to make it to the top, they are never going to make it just because they are women. With that ideology, imagine what will be taught to young girls growing up. These issues will teach young women that their self worth will never as valued as a man’s. They will always be taught that they are second best, no matter what. These are not the kind of lessons that should be taught to the youth of the world or to adult women today.

[niceinclass101-blog]

I find your topic to be very interesting and it definitely affects the youth. Society believes that women are naturally caretakers and as a result they are incapable of doing certain jobs that men do. Men, however, are viewed as leaders whom women will serve for the rest of their lives. I like the fact that you mentioned discrimination, domination, and oppression as it relates to your topic.  These three factors also play an important role in why women face other issues like sexual assault and street harassment. Some men feel the need to oppress, discriminate, and dominate women because society has embedded the idea that they have control of women and therefore feel the need to make them feel inferior. This can also be seen in the area of politics where politicians like Hillary Clinton face constant discrimination from the media. The media fails to focus on the real policies she presents but rather on her character traits as a woman. Like you said, issues like this will teach the young generation that they were born to serve men. I certainly agree that this is not a lesson that should be taught to the next generation. This is also an inequality problem and should be addressed accordingly.    

[streetharassmentgws-blog]

Summary

Street harassment is no joke. Women are exposed to this type of harassment at any time as they walk to school, work, park, or any place public. Research has shown that women of color are more exposed to street harassment, which is why something must be done for them so they are not receiving these comments. Raising awareness of how crucial and important it is for street harassment to be stopped should help women. Another thing that is going to help, is like Cynthia says in her article: there must be laws that prohibits street harassment. Yes, street harassment is prohibited in some states in the United States but it should not only be in only a few states but in all the states and all over the world. This is a universal problem that should be stopped.

Feminists can and should include street harassment in their movements. According to Hooks, “feminism is the struggle to end sexist oppression.” Women are being oppressed by men who believe they have power over them. Men think they are entitled to whistle and “compliment” a woman. Really, they do not. As Laura Logan mentions in one of her articles, words have power. We can all share how important it is to let people know that these harassers do not power over women. No human being does. If we let people know about this problem, we can change society’s views of how to treat a woman and how whistling, making comments or looking at a woman walking on the streets is wrong.

-YO

[niceinclass101-blog]

Street harassment was a word that I never came across until I enrolled in this class. I like the fact that you pointed out that street harassment is not a joke. Women face this type of harassment in public locations like bars, schools, parks, beaches, and even on the side walk. You focused your research on women of color which I also did on my topic about sexual assault. Like you mentioned women of color are more subjected to street harassment and my research also revealed that they are more likely to be sexually assaulted. I certainly agree with you and Cynthia that there should be laws that prohibit sexual harassment. Furthermore, this would help reduce the amount of harassment women of color face. I also agree that feminists should include this issue as part of their movements. This would further motivate the pubic into knowing how relevant and problematic street harassment is. Yes, you are right. We can change society’s views about how to treat women by making the issue known to everyone out there.

[neveengws101-blog]

Maternity Leave Discrimination

According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, more than 54,000 women are forced out of their work after having a baby each year. This article discusses anonymous stories of victims of pregnancy discrimination, posted by a committee called the “Pregnant Then Screwed” campaign. This campaign allows women to fearlessly share their stories, and the cases below are all women with pseudonyms.

A woman named Rachel posted her pregnancy discrimination story to the “Pregnant Then Screwed” campaign. Rachel worked for a company for 11 years, and upon becoming pregnant, reduced her hours to part time and then proceeded to take maternity leave with no trouble. During Rachel’s maternity leave for her second child, however, Rachel’s employers claimed that her position was being revised, and they discouraged her from applying for the revised role even though it was basically the same job she had been doing for years. Although she felt wronged by her employers, Rachel could not fight harder for her job because she claims that it would be a “long, drawn-out process” and she couldn’t handle it along with taking care of her new baby.

Unlike Rachel, a woman named Aisha was working twice as hard while pregnant. Aisha’s story begins with her employers taking away her bonus (which was a huge portion of her pay) and the claim that her performance levels were too low. Due to stress, Aisha experienced a miscarriage and lost her baby. 

Rachel and Aisha are both cases of “concealed” discrimination. Claire, another anonymous woman who participated in the “Pregnant Then Screwed” campaign, told her boss about her pregnancy during her second month. Not only was she pressured to have an abortion, and put under stress to quit, Claire was interrogated about alleged misconducts in hot rooms with no water. She was also humiliated in meetings and insulted of her physical appearance by her boss. Claire was forced to sign a compromise agreement, which in simpler terms means she cannot publicly reveal this story. 

The trauma these women faced because of the pregnancy discrimination from their employers cannot ever be fixed. Many of these women ended up stressed, unemployed, and financially unable to provide for their child. Others did not even have the chance to be with their child. 

[niceinclass101-blog]

The examples you used really depicted what these women go through. Aisha’s story made me realize how some women go through a lot to survive even in the presence of stress. One would say Aisha could have stopped working to save her stress. However, what if that was the only source of income she received? What if she had other kids as well who needed to be taken care of? Like you mentioned these women’s stories are acts of “concealed discrimination”. And this is a situation where the employers know exactly what they doing. Their aim is to kick these women out of their work field and as a result tend to use excuses for what they do. This could also relate to gender oppression and I certainly agree with you that the trauma these women face cannot be undone. Especially in the case of Aisha, when she looks back to why she lost her baby, she will always remember that somehow, her boss had a role to play in her miscarriage.  

[gws101collegerape-blog]

Intersectionality

http://www.aacrao.org/resources/resources-detail-view/another-challenge-on-campus-sexual-assault–getting-minority-students-to-report-it

In many ways, campus rape is an intersectional issue. 

One thing many people tend to forget is that it’s not just women who can get raped, but men too. And it’s not just cisgendered females and males. In the post addressing a web source, Kingdade stated that people who identified as LGBT+ reported sexual assault in higher rates than their heterosexual peers. Most studies only cover rape done on cis women, but fail to address cis males who are also raped, and people who do not identify as either. 

Race also plays a huge role in the victims. The amount of studies about race is very scarce, but according to a 2014 study released by the White House, 22% of black women have reported assault, compared to the 19% reported by white women (AACRAO). Native American and Alaskan Native women have reported a bigger number: more than a quarter of women have reported assault. But in terms of reporting to officials about the case, white women report 10 times as much, according to Brett Sokolow, president and chief executive officer of the Ncherm Group, a consulting and law firm formerly known as the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (AACRAO). An activist and board member of the advocacy group SurvJustice named Wagatwe Wanjuki says that the biggest bias was the fact many school officials do not believe the claims of minority women. Validating women of color and LGBT+ people’s experiences of rape on college campuses should be a big concern for intersectional feminists, and will definitely move the feminist movement in the right direction.

[niceinclass101-blog]

While doing my research on sexual assault against women of color, I came across the idea that women are not the only victims of rape and I like the fact that you brought up this point. You mentioned the LGBT community who also face sexual assault. I find it very interesting point because I never really heard or saw statistics about this issue, and like you said, most studies cover rape done on cis women and not on cis men. This also the inequality within the LGBT community. I agree with you that race plays an important role when it comes to assaults like rape. While conducting my research as well, I noticed that the statistics for women of color was much higher than white women and one of my solutions to provide the necessary support services for women of color. I certainly agree that feminists should get involved as this will move the movement in the right direction.

[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.  

[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.

[niceinclass101-blog]

I like the fact that you mentioned the word feminism and how this class has increased your knowledge of what the word means. I agree with you on the idea that people think about things differently. However, if their line of thought is wrong, there is a way to educate them and raise awareness about the negative views society tries to make us believe. Just like you, I also feel as though I have not educated myself enough to go out there and begin any feminist movement. I agree with that expanding one’s knowledge on the topics we learned in class will be beneficial. It is time to speak and stand up for what we believe in.

[niceinclass101-blog]

7th Post: Course Reflection

As I was going through the general education requirements for Understanding the U.S society, I came across GWS 101 (Gender in everyday life) and the course overview seemed interesting so I added it to the list of my classes for spring 2016. Being in this class has been a great and new experience. Since this was my first gender related class, I was unsure of what to expect. However, as the weeks passed by, I realized I had not heard about some of the topics discussed. Words like intersectionality, queer, street harassment, and hyper masculinity were very new to me but as the weeks passed by, I understood the terms better. I have learned from this class that we live in a society that caters to the needs of the heterosexual community and anyone not of that sexuality is of less importance. It is for this reason that some individuals who identify differently from the heterosexual group find it difficult to reveal their true identities as gay, lesbian, etc. There were also discussions about race and class. The most interesting theme, I found was the idea of allyship. Before I came to class, I only knew allyship as being friends with someone. However, this class has taught me that allyship is much more than friendship. It is also about acknowledgement and listening to what others have to say. Educating oneself is also important. I have learned from this that it takes more than sharing things to be friends. One has to take action in solidarity with other groups without expecting to be rewarded.

My view of the world has changed significantly after enrolling in this class. Society tries to make us live according to what it believe is right and wrong. All the laws enforced are meant to ensure that all individuals are protected. However, society has its own way of excluding certain groups and the rest of us become oblivious to the situation going on. I have learned to become cautious and aware of my surroundings. After this course is over, I intend to take another GWS class and even further encourage my friends to do the same as well. In continuing the feminist struggle, I will partake in more gender related activities at UIC and take courses so as to help broaden my knowledge about the next steps involved. GWS 101 has been an interesting yet challenging class and I am glad to have learned a lot from this class.   

[marquish09]

     This is a photo that I took at the Exhibition of women living with HIV. It shows important statistics about HIV that people may or may not be aware of.  The Exhibition was very informational and I had the chance to hear and read about the experiences of those who have HIV. There were photos of the people, oral stories, documents from hospitals where people found out they were infected, information on some of the people who were tested or treated for HIV in the Chicago area, and big writing boards with motivational messages from various supporters. There were also a list of symbols that were displayed in order to distinguish one woman’s story from another and also to maintain anonymity. I enjoyed this because it gave each women their own voice and a chance for their story to be their story instead of being categorized as someone who just has the disease. This along with the oral stories and photos made it personal. I also enjoyed that the exhibition provided paper and a board that allowed people to write down something that they struggle with and keep from others due to fear of isolation or judgement. This allowed individuals to connect with the women’s struggle, as well as let something off of their chests, making them a step closer to healing. The overall setup of the Exhibition as well as the design made it an interesting and memorable experience.

     One thing that I learned at the Exhibition was that some people with HIV are aware that they have the disease, but they not only keep it a secret but they knowingly spread the disease onto others. One woman’s story at the event was about her longtime boyfriend who passed the infection on to her. She basically said that he took a large portion of her life a way. I feel that that was unfair and deceitful. I’m pretty sure he’s aware what HIV can do to the physical and mental state of a person. To put that burden onto someone else is beyond careless. This shows the importance of speaking up about HIV to protect those you care for and controlling the spread. Another thing that I learned was that everyone was not always able to get treated for HIV. Due to racism and classism, even though someone could be suffering, their race or class prevented them from getting the care that they needed. That’s sad because a life could’ve been saved if prejudice did not exist. One thing that I enjoyed was the openness and honesty of the women. This allows people to become more aware, to take precautions and makes it easier for those who struggle with any trauma or disease to speak on it and get the help and support that they need.

Exhibition inspired by Chicago women’s HIV stories

[niceinclass101-blog]

Your post has helped me understand that each woman’s experience with HIV is distinct and unique. The fact that there were a list of symbols to distinguish each woman’s experience was interesting as well. Most of the times, we think of those with HIV as people who had unprotected sex and therefore ended up with the disease. However, there is much more to each woman’s story. You also mentioned that some women do not get treated as a result of racism and classism and I agree with you. Due to the many stereotypes about people of color, they are being denied the opportunity to become whole again. It is necessary to give others a chance to speak up and be open about their experiences.

[marquish09]

Her Story is a 6-part series that displays the lives of transgender women and the struggles that they face on a daily basis, specifically when dating. It was also shown how the people who they date behave and handle their lifestyle. I enjoyed the screening because it allowed me to learn about something that I was curious about and get a clearer understanding. Not only was it informing, but it was interesting and entertaining. The creators and actors did a great job and it was well put together. I’m a fan of series and this was nothing like I had ever seen before. The story line was different and isn’t done often or depicted correctly. I enjoyed the fact that the creators were actually actors in the movie. This allowed them to portray the characters even greater and speak from experience. The creators were open and honest, using their personal stories to make people aware of issues that transgender women go through. Seeing the women speak showed how difficult it is to be a transgender woman and how passionate they are about educating people and making things easier for other transgender women. It was evident that they were close and supported one another, which is important when facing these difficult issues.

It was interesting to learn that some heterosexual men are aware of women being transgender but still date them anyway. I usually hear stories about men getting violent with them once they figure out the truth. Although the men who are aware of the truth, and choose to continue the relationship, still want to keep a secret. That is hurtful to the relationship. Not only are they ashamed of who they are dating and making them feel bad about themselves, but they are not facing their own reality. They are hurting both themselves and the transgender woman. I was unaware they many transgender women become escorts. They do it so that they can feel wanted and attractive, but ultimately it does not help any because the feelings are not genuine. Those who they are with are doing it for themselves and the transgender woman could be anybody. To avoid this it important to find a relationship with acceptance and honesty. Another thing that was interesting was that some transgender women tell whoever they are dating the truth while others keep it to themselves. It was mentioned how telling someone scares them off even though they may have actually liked them. I can see why that would be a hard decision for them to make because they might not feel comfortable telling a stranger their business right away, but on the other hand, not telling them could be dangerous and come off as deceitful. This just shows that being transgender is difficult and judgement and mistreatment does not make it easier.

[niceinclass101-blog]

Like you mentioned, Her Story explored the challenges transgender women face. The film showed every aspect of their lives and I think this is very important for the audience to witness who these women really are and also recognize that they are just as talented as everyone else. I like the fact you pointed out that some heterosexual men are aware that there are transwomen out there and still go out with them anyway. In the film, we see an example where Paige’s boyfriend reacted calmly after finding out about her sexuality. I was expecting a different reaction but this film showed us that there are other heterosexual men who are tolerant. In some cases, like you said, some men get violent. And those who go along with it feel they have to keep a secret which becomes stressful both the man and transgender woman. Her Story was definitely inspiring and a must watch.      

[gracegracepace920-blog1]

Post #5: UIC related event: “Police Brutality Against Disabled People Of Color”

For my UIC related event, I chose to go to a presentation that talked about police brutality against people with disabilities. It wasn’t a massive auditorium filled with people, but more of an intimate discussion among peers. Now initially, I thought this presentation was just going to be about police brutality in general—I didn’t read the complete title of the program—  but when they started, Timotheus Gordon Jr., a boy who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, created a slideshow presentation titled “Police Violence Towards People with Disabilities in Chicago”. Gordon discussed through his presentation about how PWD (People with Disabilities) are 4-10 times more likely to become victims of violent or other major crimes than non-disabled people. He even mentioned how 70% of all police shootings involved PWD. I was completely shocked. I didn’t realize this was a thing with the Chicago Police Department or an issue in general. Gordon mention that most of the time, disable people are misunderstood by the police and they don’t realize PWD have disabilities at all and mistake the disability for criminal activity. This can have the department at faulting seeing how officers aren’t really trained to know the difference between someone who has a disability and who doesn’t and how to handle the situation. Gordon continued saying how that there is a systemic issue of lack of disability awareness, and these victims have their stories lost and no one can really know what’s going on. After Gordon spoke, the next speaker, Leroy Franklin Moore, began to talk about his life growing up and how he didn’t understand why he couldn’t find any people of color with disabilities anywhere. As a child, he wrote letters to famous black leaders at the time asking that very question and no one gave him an answer.  

It was alarming the information I was hearing from this discussion. I didn’t know special education programs to help PWD in schools were being cut back or that six mental health clinics had closed in the recent year under the Rahm Emanuel Administration. Even from the LaQuan McDonald shooting, I didn’t know that McDonald was suffering from mental health disorders before he was shot in 2014. Before I even walked in this presentation, I assumed I was going to gain more information regarding police brutality, but I feel that my whole perception has just been altered. Not once have I ever heard about PWD being harassed by police, or shootings, or arrests involving PWD, and now, I can’t stop thinking about it. How many instances have there been when police are handling a person with disabilities and they don’t know they have disabilities and just assume the worst? This presentation just proves the point of how the system is flawed even more than before. 

https://drc.uic.edu/police-brutality-against-disabled-people-of-color-reading-of-black-kripple-delivers-poetry-lyrics-april-7th-and-april-8th/ 

Here is a link to the event that I attended as well as more information from the disability resource center at UIC. 

[niceinclass101-blog]

After reading your post, I learned that people with disabilities are at a higher risk of being the target of the law enforcement. Like you said, it is very shocking to realize that people with disabilities would have to go through such treatment. This mostly occurs because these officers are not trained on how to handle such individuals. Therefore, it is easier for them to assume PWD are criminals while neglecting that there could be something more that led them to act that way. Like you said, there is no awareness about these people and as a result, no one would want to hear their story. Furthermore, the fact that these special education programs are being underfunded and cut just proves how these individuals are mistreated. I also find it surprising that six mental clinics have been closed. By doing this, the government fails to address the needs of individuals with disabilities. This also shows how the law enforcement has its own flaws and these flaws need to change before it is too late.

[niceinclass101-blog]

HER STORY Event

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB9MQ7irjqw

The event that screened and discussed the film, “Her Story” was organized by the Women’s Leadership and Resource Center as well as the Gender and Sexuality Center. The series focused on transwomen and what they go through as they try to reclaim their identity and love. Jen Richards, one of the main characters also depicted as “Vai” in the series found herself in an abusive relationship with a guy she “did not love”. Her best friend, Angelica Ross, also Paige was an attorney who was struggling to with her identity as a transwoman and therefore sought to dating guys. She also mentions in the series that anytime the guy she dated found out she was Trans, they would end the relationship. And this is just an example of what transwomen and other women in queer communities encounter. Alley, a writer who came along and wrote the story of Vai ended up falling in love with Vai herself while also helping to get her out of the abusive relationship she found herself.

In the panel and discussion section, Jen mentioned that relationships and friendships were important to her and this relates back to the film where we see the bond these women share with each other. Regardless of how they felt, these women knew they had each other to lean on. According to the filmmakers, this series was originally written for Chicago and Laura Zac was the co-writer. This was made to raise awareness about the lack of representation of transwomen in the media. The events of Her Story were real stories and experiences that these women faced. Jen had written the stories with the help of Angelica who was her roommate at that time. The most fascinating discussion was about the cast and crew of this series. The filmmakers mentioned that almost 80% of the individuals involved in making the series were sis, Trans or from queer communities. There were also straight individuals involved. And this shows how the series was meant to be inclusive. It included everyone else and reflected the idea of womanhood and sisterhood at all levels. Moreover, that was what “Her Story” was tailored towards: showing that we can all work together if given authentic representation and also calling for a “radical, necessary cultural action” for these Trans women who have been underrepresented in the media.

While at the event, I was very pleased as to how many people showed up and the happy looks on everyone’s faces as we got ready to watch the series. Just by watching the series,  I learned that society and the media has always depicted Trans individuals as loud and less influential people and this series broadened my mind and taught me to be careful as to what I see and hear in the media. There are wonderful talents everywhere and as Angelica stated, “The only way you are not going to find it is if you are intentionally not looking for it”. (Angelica Ross).  

The second thing I learned was that being around people who make you feel better is just as important as saying yes. Fawzia, one of the filmmakers had mentioned that she went into shock the first day of casting and the director had told her to take as much time as she needed. Everyone around her made her feel safe and welcomed. And she was very appreciative. We live in a society where some people think too highly of themselves and therefore tend not to offer any help to others. I learned that we are all equal and just a simple hi or sorry could mean saving someone else’s life. Thus, there is no need to feel superior and regard others as inferior.

The final message I received by attending this event was that I should not be reluctant to speak up and appreciate who I am. Angelica had mentioned that “Don’t complain, fill the gap”.  This message taught me to recognize my problems and fix them so as to avoid putting the blame on others. Just like these women who took action and made their experiences and stories heard as well as seen, I could stand up for myself and take action as well.

[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

[niceinclass101-blog]

After reading your post, I now have a better understanding of what Transhealth means. Like you mentioned, anything that a human being needs to be healthy is Transhealth. As we get older, our body develops and changes as well and this raises the question of whether we have access to whatever we need to keep us healthy. Health insurance plays an important role here like you stated. Most of the health insurance companies are only limited to one specific way of treating others and thus fail to provide elements like hormones that trans patients need. Iiagree with you on the idea that calling a patient by their correct pronoun could even help in making them feel welcomed. Also you mentioned that including trans people in the media could also help make them comfortable and I completely agree with you. There are several ways to make a person feel safe and these ways should be taught to even professionals to see to it that no one is left out.  

[niceinclass101-blog]

Alicia Garza of #BlackLivesMatter:The Political Movement (Event Post)

The event I attended was organized by the Department of African American Studies and Alicia Garza was introduced as the speaker and cofounder of the Black Lives Matter Movement. A few minutes before the event began, the room was filled with graduate students, professors, and undergraduate students who seemed eager to hear from the founder of a movement that has been in the news ever since its onset. To begin her speech, Ms. Garza emphasized the importance of giving thanks to those who made it possible for the event to take place as well as people of “indigenous nations”. She started off with a question she is constantly asked: “how did you turn a hashtag into a movement?” Her response: “hashtags do not start movements, people do”. Further explaining her answer, she talks about the revolution that occurred in Egypt as a result of a twitter post. The post did not actually start the revolution but people who had responded to these posts started the revolution. And this relates to how the movement began. According to Ms. Garza, it began as a love letter to others on Facebook. Why did she write this? In the year 2013, a young boy named Trevor Martin decided to walk to the corner store to grab a few snacks, however, little did his parents know that their son would never return home

 Further adding to this tragedy, his killer George Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges two months after the incident. Ms. Garza described her reaction after hearing about the judge’s verdict on this issue. She was shocked and could not believe such an issue would occur in 2013. “It was not the 1960s”, she recalled. But there was something more that angered Ms. Garza. The responses from the public on Facebook. She refers to these people as “Social Justice Cynics”. These are people who think they are too good for their own good. The social justice cynics pointed out that if black people were be more educated or if they stopped wearing hoodies, situations like this could be avoided. In response to these statements, Ms. Garza wrote a post as a love letter to address the fact that all black lives matter and it was her sister who had initially hash tagged “Black lives matter”. Hence, the movement #BlackLivesMatter. This movement is fundamentally committed to all black lives and aims to restore dignity to all black lives. The idea of “All lives matter” was also mentioned. This ideology was once developed decades ago in the United States when land was being stolen from “indigenous people”. This ideology is also seen in parts of the constitution that talks about freedom speech, religion, etc. However, Ms. Garza reminds the audience that the idea of all lives matter deprived people of color from enjoying the benefits that came along with it. As shown in the media, Black Lives Matter supporters are regarded as protestors who are up to no good and Ms. Garza reaffirms that this movement is not about protest nor is it about being anti-police. Black Lives Matter focuses on pro-humanity as well as creating and solving issues for all Black lives. The notion of “Make America Great Again” means less access, less wealth and less power for people of color. As a result, Ms. Garza states that the notion should be changed to “make our society great again”. There should also be safety beyond policing. To conclude her speech, she poses a question to the audience: “If you believe freedom is possible, what would you do? are you doing it, and would it mean something?”

After attending this event, I have a better understanding of how the movement began and its purpose. Mostly, all I see on social media is the negative depiction of people supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement. I learned from this event that the movement is not all about protestors carrying signs and hoping to gain attention from the media and police. It is a movement that aims at providing equality for black lives and seeing to it that what happened decades ago would certainly not repeat itself. I was also made aware by this event that whatever we do affects the next generation and would be spoken about decades later when we are no more. Also, this is historic and some of us can live to tell our children what we witnessed and our involvement in making lives better for the next generation.

I also learned that regardless of what the constitution says, there is still inequality and discrimination against people of color. This can be seen in the mass incarceration of 1 million people across the country. Most of whom are persons of color. The earlier we realize these problems, the better it would be to act and ensure that we do not encounter bigger problems in the future. Organizations like black lives matter and others yet to arise would be a first stepping stone to help society realize we are all equal. Ms. Garza’s speech made me realize that change is possible if we believe.

The final message I received was that one does not have to be a philanthropist to create a change in the world. Just like Ms. Garza whose single Facebook post had enabled such a movement to take place, there is nothing too small or too big. Ms. Garza had mentioned that people are watching what goes on in the U.S. and they are hoping whatever change we create becomes successful. I have learned from this that if I want to make a difference, I should get involved and dismiss whatever I see or hear on social media. I should also broaden my knowledge by reading and carefully paying attention to what occurs in my surroundings. Like Ms. Garza said, “It is time to make our society great again”.

Link:http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Black+Lives+Matter+Alicia+Garza&&view=detail&mid=AC0ACAA956375A99CD7DAC0ACAA956375A99CD7D&FORM=VRDGAR

[ruithenoisyboy-blog]

When I Was Growing Up

In this poem, Nellie Wong wrote about how when she was growing up, she was reflecting on how growing up as an Asian American, and how she always felt pressured to fit in as white. It was in the media, at her school, everywhere she went. She was ashamed of her skin color, her food, her clothes, everything. She felt dirty, and that white people were “clean”. She longed to be white in every way possible.

This hit me hard. Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, the media always showing white people, and being the only Asian in my class in elementary school, it was really hard. I was always the odd one out. I was just “the yellow girl” in my class. I was made fun of whenever I bought Filipino food for lunch, I was made fun of my brown skin and my black hair, almost everything that made me Asian. It didn’t help when I fit under many stereotypes that alienated me from the rest of the community. I was so tired of it, and one day, I remember thinking, I wish I was born white. I remember thinking about it so much, how much different life would be, how much I wouldn’t be teased about my culture. 

This makes me think of gender because I know a lot of other Asians feel that way, and to finally have this Asian American female author talk about this experience means so much. Even if this woman of color was silenced over and over again, finding this and reading it made me feel very comfortable, since I can relate to it so much.

[niceinclass101-blog]

Nellie Wong’s article was very interesting in that it touched on the idea of oppression. As an Asian American woman, she felt the need to fit in in order to feel accepted and welcomed in her white community. I like the fact that you mentioned the places or factors that caused her to feel this way. This include: the media, school, even public places. I like the fact that you added your personal connection to Wong’s story. It is very depressing when others decide to generalize their impression based on the color or culture associated with an individual. In my case, people would assume I am mixed because of my skin color and if I try to tell them otherwise they have shocked looks on their faces. Furthermore, they would insist I am mixed because I don’t look or act “black enough”. Even though I cannot completely relate to your experience, I agree with you that Wong’s article made me think more about gender and by reading other people’s experiences, we know and feel we are not alone.