#kp05

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The reading that really captured my attention was Lopez's Social Construction of Race. What I got out of this reading was the fact that It is society's fault that we have this distorted perception of what race is. It got me thinking, is race really a thing, or something that society made up, because we are so fixed in our ways of needing to classify things? If you look at the biological standpoint, race is not real, because people cannot be classified based on skin tone appearance, because a white person could have more of a similar DNA to a black person, than a black person to another black person. Because of this reading, I have realized that we need to stop classifying people, because as you can see with the issue of race, it is detrimental.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Women and the Labyrinth of Leadership: by Alice Eagly, Linda L. Carli

For our class readings last week, we spent a lot of time immersing ourselves in articles about women’s leadership and the challenges that they face every day. This article stuck out the most to me because of a particular topic that was written about. My interviewee for my final paper also spoke of this, and I am currently writing my research paper on this topic as well. 

The topic is the vocal pitches/tones of voices in men and women, and how this correlates with leadership. In Women and the Labyrinth of Leadership, the authors quote Kim Campbell, who served as the prime minister of Canada for a period of time in 1993. Her quote is as follows: 

“I don’t have a traditionally female way of speaking….I’m quite assertive. If I didn’t speak the way I do, I wouldn’t have been seen as a leader. But my way of speaking may have grated on people who were not used to hearing it from a woman. It was the right way for a leader to speak, but it wasn’t the right way for a woman to speak. It goes against type.” 

I’ve been doing research, and it is so interesting to see that there have been many studies done on this phenomenon. In all of the studies, female candidates with a lower voice are the preferred choice. 

But of course, don’t speak too assertively... because then we’re just being bitchy, right? 

This topic of vocal pitch is just one of the many reasons for resistance to women in leadership. But really, vocal pitch? How can such an irrelevant biological characteristic factor into how “right” someone is for a leadership role?  

[drcknowledgeandpower]

The Complexity of Identity: “Who am I”; Beverly Daniel Tatum

The idea of identity is not something that anyone can pinpoint and strictly define. It comes with a spectrum of notions and things that need to be considered. What exactly makes up a person’s identity? Is it their upbringing, socioeconomic standing or their sexuality? Quite often it is a combination of that and then some. What I have noticed though is that identity is partially made of what others believe is “okay”, mainly media. In a society where we are constantly being bombarded with images of the perfect size or the perfect hair type and everything in between, identity becomes an external meaning. The “dominant” group, which often times than not seem to be white men, are in control of what viewers see and the messages that are being conveyed. When the dominant group only accounts for a small majority the idea of how an individual should be becomes skewed. Young girls are being imprinted with provocative images and  young boys are thought to value these images as the norm. Growing up from that age on trying to understand your identity and distinguishing it from the that of media and total societal grasps becomes difficult. Hopefully we can do well enough to find our true selves in the mist of the craziness. 

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While watching this video, I couldn’t help but laugh at what was happening and at our reality. How does it make sense to pay women less (only 78%) of what men make, when both are doing the same job?! It doesn’t...It shocks me and frustrates me that in the United States, a country that stands for justice and equality, women get paid less just because of their genetic makeup.  Not only in the work place, but in general, it is so difficult for women to have a say and/or power. We haven’t even had a single female president, whereas third world countries that are said to oppress women’s right have had several women prime ministers/leaders. 

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“Sounds of Sustainability” Concert

This past Wednesday on April 8th, I attended an event held by ONE, a club organization here at Rutgers that works to fight poverty. The concert they held was to promote and raise awareness for the Electrify Africa Act, which helps give African countries electricity to over 50 million people. This act and others are introduced and are goals being developed by the UN. These goals are called the Sustainable Development Goals, which are greatly focused on helping women and girls. At the event, it was mentioned that the lack of electricity in countries is largely damaging to women and girls because they are discouraged from attending school and educating themselves, because it is so difficult doing so. Providing energy to anyone is beneficial to make people’s lives easier. 

The event was a great time! Upon entering, we were informed about the Electrify Africa Act and were encouraged to either write a letter to the senator or tweet the senator about why we felt this Act was important. Before the concert began, we were given a short presentation about the causes that ONE has been involved with. Then, the concert began and there was a lineup of five music groups. They all presented songs and reminded us about the cause. I took a look at the ONE Facebook page and I saw that it is an organization that is greatly focused on women’s rights and stories. They posted many inspiring songs and informational articles during International Women’s Week and National Women’s Month. They are an organization that finds women very important to the world. 

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Apple Releases iOS 8.3 To The Public, It Has New Emojis

On April 8th Apple released a new iOs software update and they finally listened to the demands of their customers. The new update features emoji’s of different skin complexions and flags for many nations! For five years my peers and I have been saying that Apple needed new emoji’s, well we finally got them! I think that haven emojis of color and having flags that represent the many Latino nations is a step in the positive direction for representation. We all know that people of color are not represented in mass media very often and if they are it usually shows the women as super-hypersexualized and then men as criminals. It amazes me that something so simple as emotion characters on the phone can be so damaging to the self image of people of color. When a person of color wants to express an emotion they have to do so through a white face, this is the same as when a person of color turns on the tv and they don't see people who look like them, or when they go to college and don't see people who look like them. Having emotion characters with many complexions allows iPhone users of color to represent themselves when they are expressing emotion. I think everybody should get the newest update, delete some apps or photos and make space for the update. If you dont, Apple will think that nobody cares if there are only white emoji’s and other companies will continue to under- represent people of color. Good job Apple! Keep it going! 

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I AM

By: Becky Adu

 Iam more than just a number, I am more than just my body, I am more than whatthese hips and thighs that you have confined me I am not trying to fit your mold, just look into my eyes and realize that I am more I am more than just a color, I am more than just what you see, I am more than those prejudice words and thoughts that society tries to use to bind me I'll stand tall and I'll be bold, just look into my eyes and realize that I am more I am more than just my social class, I am way much more than what I make, I am more than this low middle high class system that society tries to make I'll open my heart and not be cold, just look into my eyes and realize that I am more I am way much more than my grades, I am more than my gpa, I am WAY, WAY much more than whatever Rutgers University has to say I'll try my best, just like I was told, just look into my eyes and realize that I am more I am more than the average young romance:                                                                              you see Disney’s playing mind games on me, telling me how love is “supposed to be” But you know what, I need a reality, I don’t need a glass slipper coming off my feet I am more than temporary young love, I am more than a random drunk hook up, making excuses and blaming it on what was in my cup But I do believe in love, only if it comes from the Man above, just look into my eyes and realize that I am more You see I am not the average pastor's kid, the partying and drinking is what I did Trying to be seen, and fit into what wasn’t me, not knowing God sees the true me

  So who exactly am I?

I am a child of the most high, and yes, yes sometimes I may cry

Because you know what I am not perfect, but I do know I am worth it

Worth the wait.

 I am worth more than the prejudice, racist, discrimination

That Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King fought for the blacks, Africans, and the Haitians

I am worth more than my nappy hair, that I try to hide and straighten, just so I don’t get those stares

 I am worth having, worth sharing, and yes, worth fearing…

I’m strong, black, and beautiful

Young, vibrant, and truthful

 I’m intelligent and caring

And yes at times I may be daring

 I am independent and timid

And not too concerned about my image

 I am above and beyond

And describing me could really go on and on

So at the end of the day,                                                                                                                 I could care less what you have to say

Just look into my eyes and realize that I AM MORE

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Rena Miller Talk

Rena Millers talk was definitely one of the most moving plenary’s we have had thus far. While it may have been a difficult topic to discuss, she was very open and passionate about her struggles and her transition into a transsexual woman. Throughout her talk, Rena gave us an in depth explanation of how she overcame her struggle as a young male who knew that he wanted to be a female. After all the physical and verbal abuse that she endured at a young age, she still managed to take a stance for what she believed in. Judging by the physical abuse that she suffered, it is a pleasure to still have her here today. I find it absolutely amazing that throughout all of her struggles due to her sexuality she is still fighting for gender and sexual equality. As an individual who is not too familiar with the LGBTQI community, talks such as this one truly opens my mind and eliminates a lot of my ignorance. Therefore, I applaud Rena and everyone in the transgender community who educate people such as my self and fight for their rights on a daily basis.