This past year has been an eye opening experience for me when it comes to people with disabilities. Within the year I chose the major communication sciences and disorders because it is a job that works with people that have speech impairments for the most part, but also you come across a broad spectrum of many other disabilities that can can cause the speech impairments, and I felt that it would be a compassionate job that would benefit the quality of life of others. Choosing this major has placed me in several classes that have been specifically about disabilities, how to diagnose them, how to treat them, how to create opportunities to broaden their horizons, and how to not treat them as though having a disability makes them any less of a person. One of my classes was a special education class and it required volunteer hours, I chose to work my hours at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Stanton, VA. It worked out rather perfectly because my roommate had just won the Miss. Greater Franklin County Pageant and her platform for Miss. Virginia was working with people with disabilities and she was also doing volunteer hours at Woodrow Wilson. It was a really special experience for both of us; because they had classes during the day to attend, we were asked to come in the late afternoon and to simply interact with the patients, that were mostly around are age. We had the chance to sit down and play board games, pool, watch movies, do arts and crafts, and go bowling. I had never interacted with people with disabilities on such a personal level, because in my field it is all about educating them and there are goals trying to be attained, so it was refreshing to become friends with so many of them and just to be in a laid back setting where they were all being themselves, not worried about the outside pressures of the world around them. I'll never forget the time I spent there and the impact they made on my outlook on life... enjoy what you have been given because you never know what someone else is going through, and try to be a friend to everyone.

It doesn't matter if you're black or white...or does it?

I think that white privilege definitely exists, and that it's pretty evident. Considering that the white man came over from Europe, claimed his land, fought numerous groups of people over it, and then made some laws to make sure it stayed that way, you'd better believe those laws were biased to whites specifically, and of course, as we've stated, to men in particular. The same laws that have given privilege to men also exist to make sure that it was the white man receiving those privileges, which is the very same reason that pretty much anyone that isn't a white man in America has had a heck of a time trying to be seen as an equal human being. Luckily the white men that wrote the laws left some loop holes that have allowed others to step back and reconsider what "All men are created equal" is supposed to mean and therefore question the American ideal freedom for all. Even though America has come such a long way there is still the underlying greed that has grown from having those privileges that some white men and even women now, do not want to give up, even if it is the fair thing to do. There have been so many lives that have been tormented from racism that time cannot take their pain away, and then it is passed down from generation to generation. It seems that their is so much hatred built up in people that they look only at color and forget that each person is totally different and has feelings that don't deserve to be hurt over something that happened in the past. I think that the younger generations are becoming better at looking past color and I can only hope that it will continue. For the mean time I agree that we should call out those that don't want change only for their own sake, never thinking of others. Always questioning society and aiming for the greater good of human kind, which I believe will lead to the greater good of America is a goal worth fighting for!

a society based on privilege

America prides itself on being the land of the free, yet in the midst of the freedom there lies those who can't break free from the inner workings of privilege and judgment that society has conjured and imprisoned these victims to. Our fast paced money oriented nation is so caught up on spending the money they have and then making sure they stay in power to keep making more money has created a vicious cycle. It is unfathomable for me to think about how much money is handed to actors/actresses, sports stars, Nascar drivers, models, and all the other ridiculously over paid jobs. The entertainment industry is rolling in money and hardly give back for the greater good of America. Not to mention the American companies that move to China or Mexico to so they can rob jobs from their fellow Americans and make more billions for themselves. It just doesn't make sense how so many Americans have taken for granted their freedoms to use people and make more money while others all around are unemployed, homeless, and starving. The essence of the American dream has been somewhat destroyed, and those that are left behind are the underprivileged, uneducated, and poor. Those that initially achieved the American dream were the majority, white men, setting standards that have made it much harder for anyone that is not a white male to do the same. This is where women have come to the frustrations of being stuck in the past and having to live up to expectations that were created by the white man whom want to keep his place of power, and is likely to not want to share this power. Considering the circumstances now days of how privilege plays a major role in our society , I say we as feminists keep on raising awareness of this and promoting solutions and working hard to see people as who they are inside and not based on gender, race, or class. Hopefully others will learn to follow in our footsteps.

ooo-la-la

I was excited for this module and to see what feminist views are out their related to family and marriage. Growing up in my family closely matched the Equal Partners Model. Both of my parents are teachers so their work outside the home was pretty much even. Inside the home both of my parents took turns taking us to school, or practices and picking us up, or making dinner and what not. They both took on roles with the house keeping as well; my mother usually vacuumed, dusted, laundry, etc., while my dad kept up with the outside work of mowing our enormous lawn, getting up leaves, taking out the trash and what not. I think that they did a fair job of splitting the chores, and of course we always had our chores that took a lot of the work load off them. They also took turns staying home with us when we were sick and going on field trips. I would consider them to be great representatives of the Equal Partners Role.

In my own marriage thus far we have also striven for the Equal Partner Model. He currently is working full time, which he decided to do especially so we could get married, goes to school part time, and does the cooking; while I go to school full time, have a part time job, and do most of the other house work. So far it has worked out rather well. I think that I would like to keep with in the same model when I do have children someday. When it comes to power we both have an equal say and like to talk about life decisions and all the many other things that can arise in a marriage. I think that a marriage should work around each others strengths and weaknesses when determining roles and a little give and take here and there when things can't work exactly as planned. For me, I have been motivated to help people and work with children since I was younger, so I am ecstatic about pursuing my career, yet I also want children of my own, finding a balance between the two will certainly be a challenge when the time comes. I think for American women that has been such a major struggle, society moving forward faster than family life has put mothers in a predicament having to keep up with both!

Don't hate, appreciate!

American culture has gotten everyone obsessed with having the perfect body, when the reality is that their is no perfect body, we're all made differently and accepting and enjoying the body you have should be the main goal. It makes me sick that everything can be air brushed and made to look like a barbie doll and then flashed in our faces every way you turn. It is unfair that children grow up now seeing digitalized "perfect" bodies coming from every angle and that is what they assume they should look like also, and when they grow up and don't look like a super model they feel terrible about themselves and end up hating their bodies and taking them for granted. I find myself getting down about my body and thinking of things I would like to change, but then I think how can I be so ungrateful when some people don't have legs to walk with and run and swim with, and some people don't have arms, and of course the list goes on. I don't want to take my body for granted because who knows what could happen to me some day and I want to appreciate and love my body for all it does for me. Physical fitness is definitely important and in our fast paced lives it's hard to find the time, which is something I tend to struggle with and hope to improve on.

Like the lecture implied, it seems that women are mostly the ones unsatisfied with their bodies, and I definitely think that is because in general there is more pressure from the media and from men to look a certain way. I know that for me it is uncomfortable to be sitting down casually watching television with some guys friends or family when a victoria secret commercial or something of the sort comes on and their are all these super models half naked running around in your face or someone talking about your period. There is a time and a place for everything and it seems that the media has ignored that and I as a woman see it as an insult. Where do we as feminists go from here when it seems so impossible to make a change unless your in the media/Hollywood business?

I am woman, hear me roar!

The second feminist wave was so powerful and really is perfectly summed up in " the personal is political " theory. I, the liberal feminist that I consider myself, can definitely see the relation of how political our society is, and this society that we all live in must pretty much follow all the laws of that society, and when those laws are not respected it makes it very personal on those getting the back lash of it all, in our case women. That is why it was so extremely necessary to take these injustices and put them in the light of all that our laws stand for and ask why is it an occurrence that when it comes to women's rights people do not take it seriously? The second feminist wave was totally in the face of the government demanding equality or be made a mockery of. Using the baby steps and respect of the first wave and the roles that women took on after the first world war positioned them to be taken more seriously, that we were worth more than people gave us credit for. I also loved how during the second wave period the "new image" woman arrived and surprised women and men all around, causing the new age woman to be noticed for brilliance. boldness in style, charm, and education. The struggles thus far had proved to be moving women forward so why stop now when the future is what we make of it, seemed to be the inspiring ideal. Taking a stand for rights is something that only men had been known for and which is a big reason why some feminists are looked at as butch or power obsessed, which is ridiculous when you think of all the other minorities that use men over women to campaign. I think the second wave was totally refreshing and used the man created law to check itself and standards, simply a new form of checks and balances.

such a dilemna!

Wow. The Minneapolis pornography case was certainly a struggle for me to choose sides with. I think I came to the conclusion that I would have to be against it, even if I'm for some of the ideas behind it. If we are going by the laws for everything else it seems that we also should in this case, especially since we went through the big deal of making the first amendment equal no matter what the race or gender, same for all. It is such a terrible thing to hear of people sold into prostitution and pornography as kids, but so many people choose to put themselves in those situations so how can you control what is considered a freedom of rights? I totally feel that pornography is derogatory towards women and counter acts what feminism has worked so hard for in the first place, respect! But, I also feel that having the right to do what we want with our own body is a freedom that cannot be challenged. Feminism's best shot at helping those people that get sucked into that particular circumstance is to create reach out programs where they can have an easy and open hearted way out where people can counsel them and not judge them. So many of the pornographers of the world are probably lost souls that don't have much to live for, and showing them hope and all there is in life, love especially, would probably catch their attention more than protesting and trying to get through an impossible battle with government. That is my thoughts at least, some things can be solved through compassion alone.