#kp18f15

[feminicole]

Plenary 4: Karla Jackson-Brewer

I have many thoughts on her plenary... As it relates to women in the professional sphere, it reminded me of all the contrasictions that women face in the tricky climate of male-dominated areas. Compassionate isn't women being "too soft;" on the contrary, it takes strength to effectively assess others' experience--however emotional they may be to digest and understand--and then take the most professional and respectful option of taking into account and distancing oneself from it at the same time. Knowing balance requires knowledge and power in order to create it. Otherwise, one cannot realize and employ the power one inherently possess if they aren't knowledgeable about themselves and their own limitations: self-knowledge. Cognizance of my surroundings are only imperative to my growth and that of my sisters. "My evolution is not my own." All in all, a very spiritual experience and essential.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

The Price of Nice Nails by Sarah Maslin Nir

I got my nails done a nail salon for the first time this past June for prom. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to show off my french tips. However, after reading Maslin’s The Price of Nice Nails I felt a twinge of guilt. The experiences that these women endured from their bosses and coworker was unimaginable. The wages they were paid were incredibly low. I had previously never thought that these women, and sometimes men, went through such things. Everyone thinks that once immigrants get a job they are set and everything is fine, but that is not true in many cases such as these workers.  I read and reread this article all the way through. Something about it disturbed me so much. The unfair things they endured after getting to America and also getting a job seemed wrong and showed how cruel life is. I currently face dilemma of whether to get my nails done support them or to boycott nail salons altogether...

[drcknowledgeandpower]

No Problem With NPR

Prior, to this plenary, I had never heard of NPR, National Public Radio. Actually, I thought that nobody listened the radio anymore. However, Pam Fessler really helped break those beliefs during her plenary. I always thought radio was boring and was only for old white men. However, Pam’s plenary introduced me to the interesting side of the news reporting. NPR delivers the news plain and simple and in a way that I thought previously never existed.

Pam Fessler’s work with the homeless in America is truly inspiring. However, the segment she played about the experiences of being 15 and female in different counties around the world really touched me. I was brought to tears during the segment she played. During the plenary, I was hoping that she would play more segments about what they report and talk less about how they report, but overall I have no problem with NPR. Since then I have actually started listening to podcasts.

[feminicole]

The Hunting Ground screening

The idea of watching a feminist production dealing with the salient issue of sexual assault relevant to myself as an undergraduate in a major university with a massive campus and an even larger student body concentrated in just relatively close proximities intrigued me. It would address the issues of victim-blaming, face-saving, extortion, outright misogynistically-motivated cover-ups in the names of securing the institutionmalized assets of revenue-incuring student athletes... But I wasn't prepared to be feel more intimidated by the risks associated of being a female student and having the blame already implied to be in my posession by the school under which any sexually-motivated assault could be driven, more so aggravated if the perpetrator in question is a beloved athelete and publicly-recognized achiever. In a first-account Gasland-esque roadtrip-style investigation, the group of young women traveled cross-country and interviewed members of the victimized community of sexual assaultees on college campuses in order to gather their accounts and form a solified range of experience and attempt to fathom a theory based on the all-too-familiar narative of rape on campus. Not only was I appalled at the extents that administrative officials and supposedly "well-intending" staff with counseling and guidance under ther job descriptions would misdirect them into silence and injustice for biased and unbecoming preservations of reputations, but at the exercise of PR in the most inappropriate contexts.

[muschiekam]

Plenary #4

Karla Jackson Brewer emphasized how important it is to make connections in life. It has been a powerful skill that she has developed and stressed that it can be powerful in our lives also. One way to make connections is to relate your life to stories and myths. Each story or myth has a moral that, once discovered and applied, can help guide us in life’s challenges. Along with this skill, as women we need an education. It may not be easy but it is the right thing to do and will set the path for a successful future. Also building relationships with mentors and learning stories from them can build and evolve character. Ms. Jackson was apart of the woman's spirituality movement where women were reclaiming women's religious image. She explores how spirituality was presented in a feminine form because there were so many masculine forms of religion. She then told two stories about two mythical women. One of them is about having patience, care, wisdom and compassion. The other is about women who show compassion and expression to transform an oppressive man's energy into a protecting energy. Overall her advice was that self-knowledge is key, drawing boundaries is important, and know what you want.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Plenary #3 Pam Flesser

Through her words, I could tell that Ms. Pam Flesser loves journalism. Before journalism she said that her life was boring, and journalism made it fun. She was asked to do many shows and to speak on certain issues which were very relevant. Working with NPR is a pleasure for her and it is one of her greatest achievements. She explains that NPR covers the world in a different way and gets in depth with news from around the world. Along with her synopsis of NPR she also explained the history of women in journalism. Before there were very few women with a position of authority within journalism and women are taught to be nice. Flesser explained that being nice and nit aggressive worked very well for her and it allowed her to be heard. The best part about journalism is that you can tell stories through people and what they have experience.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

I Can’t Wait to Eat.

Wendy Cai-Lee is probably one of the best speakers I have ever heard. Her humor and ability to relate were completely appreciated, yet also unexpected because of her job involving finance. Also, being a minority with strict parents that constantly demand greatness, I connected instantly with her childhood stories. Her charisma, love of greatness, self-improvement, and women empowerment were contagious.

 One piece of advice from Wendy Cai-Lee gave that really stuck with me was “Get to the table first”. Many women want to make a change but sometimes we do not realize that we need to be the change. If woman wants to change how a company operates she needs to be in a position that allows her to make those changes (like Wendy said on the board, CEO, VP, etc). So many of the great women in history were trailblazers in their respective fields and that’s why they were and are so effective. Before this plenary, I was a little bit discouraged about what my place would be in the workforce as a woman and if I would even get into the workforce as a woman. However, now I have renewed faith that I can make a change by being it. By working hard, encouraging others, always striving for greatness, I will be just fine.

I have so much hope for my future now, even as I hope to  enter a male dominated field. I want to be that change and I want to be heard. First, I am going to get to the table and then I am going to eat. 

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Compassion = Strength

At the fourth plenary, Mrs. Brewer, told us about her using story telling for activism. I wish more people can be like her, to advocate in a peaceful way. Strong and smart people have compassion, because they have the wisdom to see the value in others, and they have the strength to lift up others, and help them to get out of shadow of depression. Compassionate people may seem soft, but compassion actually require strength. No one in the world can actually put us in an inferior position, unless we first deny ourselves. Mrs. Brewer also mentioned that nagative self talk can result in low self esteem, and we should always be postive and optimistic. She said, “The world is end when you make a mistake.”