#s8s16

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Final Plenary

Today, the discussion centered around the importance of being politically correct and ending the use of micro-agressions. As a whole, I think we just need to be aware of the fact that what we say affects people. Even if we don’t place weight on our words, someone else can and probably will. Because of this, we need to be more conscious of our impact on society. This is not to say that we need to censor ourselves, only that we need to recognize that what we are saying could have negative outcomes. However, this impact works both ways. There will be many times in our lives when we are on the receiving end of micro-aggressions, hate speech, or just generally insensitive comments. A good strategy is to remember that it is our actions when faced with these unpleasantries that define us, not the words spoken over us. It is natural to be hurt and upset by these comments, but we cannot use that as an excuse to reciprocate with more harmful language.  It is our job to point out when micro-aggressions and other harmful language are being used, but it is not our job to change the hearts of those around us. In the end, there will always be people who refuse to acknowledge or care about the effect their actions have on others. We can only lead by example and hope that they might one day realize the error of their ways.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

3/2-Plenary #2

Dr. Traci West, Rabbi Esther Reed, and Atiya Aftab all provided great insight on their different religious backgrounds and being women leaders. I thought it was especially interesting how Dr. West was drawn to becoming a minister because of the civil rights movement and her desire to make a change. This showed that religion can play a large role in activism and making actual changes in the world.  Dr. West pointed out that although religion can sometimes be part of the problem, it also empowers and can be an impetus for change. Dr. West’s approach to how she would deal with a woman who was considering an abortion particularly stood out. She demonstrated that her religious approach is not to just tell people what is right or what they should do, but rather to guide them as they figure it out for themselves. Rabbi Reed was demeaned early on in her career by being called “cute” and having a man say he wasn’t sure whether he should kiss the Torah or the rabbi. Atiya Aftab was often the only women in a room full of men. It was inspiring to see how they were able to overcome these challenging experiences and own their positions as religious women leaders.

It is very true how Muslims are often depicted as the “other” in the media. James Morone wrote about morality in American politics and how a “us versus them” rhetoric is very effective in mobilizing people towards a certain cause. People are constantly trying to define themselves and the world around them. They are quick to blame and oppose those who seem to disrupt their lives or don’t confer with their world views. Donald Trump is using such rhetoric against Muslims and immigrants to gain supporters. It is important to be conscious that this is occurring and to combat it.

B��2y��

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Plenary 2/17

Caitlin Kenney gave an insightful and interesting talk. She provided some actionable and relatable messages of encouragement and advice. I enjoyed how she incorporated audio clips from her interviews to demonstrate various points. Despite bumps such as being laid off, Caitlin was still able to overcome and become successful. Imposter syndrome affects women in many different fields. Often times, Caitlin pretended like she knew what she was doing but actually didn’t have any. People are drawn to people who have a plan and women often underestimate what they are capable of doing. A quote by Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, is particularly apt: “Don’t fake it ‘til you make it. Fake it ‘til you become it.”

Her main message was that people have unique, interesting stories and as a journalist you have to ask the right questions to discover their stories. As a future medical school student, working as a physician is very much like the job of a reporter. Physicians have to conduct patient interviews to determine what the patient is suffering from. You have to ask the right questions, develop a relationship with the patient, read facial expression, read body language, and speak in terms that the person can understand.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

I attended the Start Smart Salary Negotiation Workshop on February 10th. We learned about the gender pay gap where women are 79% of what men are paid. This has enormous implications for families and children who depend on the women’s earnings. The gap can contribute to poor living conditions, poor nutrition, and reduce the chances of the children’s success. There is a need for activism, better policies, and an improved workplace environment to combat the wage gap. One step that we can actively take is negotiating our pay when being offered a job. Women are less likely to negotiate because they don’t want to risk being fired, being seen as arrogant, ungrateful, or pushy.

We learned about specific techniques we can incorporate during the negotiating process such as avoiding naming a number for an expected salary, doing research on the median income for the profession in a specific city, creating a budget to determine what you should aim to receive, and negotiating benefits such as healthcare. Preparation and practice is essential for a successful negotiation. During the workshop we had a chance to practice negotiating which was extremely beneficial. We can often be thrown off guard so practicing responding to difficult statements and questions is great preparation. The workshop provided a great foundation for learning how to negotiate as well as a plethora of resources so that we can earn the wages we deserve.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Imitation Syndrome

What struck me most about Caitlin Kenney’s presentation was her description of “Imitation Syndrome.” For most of my life, I have felt that I was just making everything up as I’ve gone along and tricking everyone into thinking that I was better at doing things than I actually was. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve just accepted this feeling as if it were a normal part of life. I haven’t actually had a name for the feeling until now. It was really encouraging to know that I’m not alone in feeling this way. Kennedy’s speech also motivated me to actively try to stop feeling this way whenever I notice that it is happening. 

I think a large part of her message, even though she never explicitly stated it, was that being a woman is an advantage in a lot of fields and qualifies us to do just as many things as males. Feelings of inadequacy when we are put in positions of authority or positions that require expertise are not necessary. Kenney stressed the point that those in authority above us put us in these positions for a reason. We need to have faith in our own capabilities and rise to the challenges we are faced with instead of disqualifying ourselves because we don’t feel qualified enough to succeed.