Sunday, February 21, 2010

Activism Log 2

Katelyn Temple
Professor Nina Perez
WST 3015
February 21, 2010

Activism Log 2

• Activism

This week was a bit challenging for me, personally. School work and actual work seems to be taking over my life. However, this week, I managed to intertwine the two things that have taken over my life for this service learning project. I work at the University of Central Florida arena at school sporting events and concerts, so I decided I would talk to the building manager to obtain permission to flyer in the lobby of the arena before and after basketball games. Basketball games are always packed and there are only two home games left so they are surely going to be busy. Also, Kristen, Seabury and I decided we would get together Monday to search for venues. We have decided to focus on small, privately owned businesses so Monday will be dedicated to accomplishing this goal. Unfortunately, looking into having a bake sale was fruitless. There are too many rules and hoops we would have to jump through.

• Reflection

Chapter six of our text, Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives, violence against women is discussed. Figure 6.1 gives a detailed account of what violence technically is. “Threatening or hurting family/friends/pets” (259) is a major point. The women escaping the domestic violence scene may be afraid for their children and pets, more so then themselves. Obviously, a woman in distress will rescue her child, but sometimes they must leave a pet behind. It is plausible that an angry person may take their aggression out on the pet because it cannot speak or tell anyone what occurred. The angry person may just want to send a message; that they aren’t afraid to do worse. My mind wanders and I do not want to think about all the pets who are left behind. I hope to help animals, which is why I chose this group.

• Reciprocity


I have been discussing Animal Safehouse and the work my group and I are doing with my family and friends. My father is interesting in becoming a foster parent which makes me feel like I actually am helping. I enjoyed talking to the arena building manager because I see him everyday, I know who he is but I have never really talked to him. I am happy I was able to intertwine work and school this week. I feel a little flustered looking for a venue because there are a lot of aspects that must be looked at. But we will get it done.



Work Cited


Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Oh, Bella

Katelyn Temple
Jeannina Perez
February 17, 2010
WST 3015

Oh, Bella

For this assignment, I chose to watch a current movie almost everyone has seen, Twilight. I would like to start by saying, I did not read the books and I do not like this movie. I chose this film because of Bella and her character as a whole. “The single most visible signifier of identity is physical appearance” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 94). This is the approach I took when watching this film. Appearance tells us more about a character then we realize.

Some may call Bella “naturally beautiful” and yes, Kristen Stewart is pretty but the character Bella can be classified as dull in every sense of the meaning. Her clothes are dark and loose on her thin body, her hair is never styled, she drives a very old orange truck, and every other aspect of her life seems to be just as dull. Her body language and speech are frail and awkward. The amazing thing is, from the minute she walks into school, Bella is a magnet. Boys pursue her and she immediately makes friends. “They [girls] are supposed to be passive, swept away, overpowered,” (Kilbourne 237). With Ms. Kilbourne words, one would assume Bella would be passive and overpowered.

From the minute Bella sees Edward she is a little girl experiencing her first crush. Starring, flirting, and most of all, pursuing him with a vengeance. Edward barely gives her the time of day but when he shows her attention, she latches on. Granted, Edward does save her more then once but when he isn’t being her prince, he is talking down to her, confusing her and even tells her they should not be friends.

As far as sexuality goes, this movie is filled. Bella wears dark, loose clothes until the one scene she is laying in her bed in underwear. Edward appears and they have their first kiss. Secondly, Jessica and Bella are friends but from the minute Bella appears Jessica is jealous. Another example is when Carlyle turns Edward into a vampire. The scene depicts Edward in pain. When Carlyle turns Esme, she seems to have an orgasm. Finally, there is the prom. The first time we see Bella in a dress is also the first time we see her with her hair and makeup done.

Bella and her friends are typical. Not too tall and of normal body size. Surprisingly none of her female friends are blonde. The female vampires on the other hand are all beautiful. Even Victoria, a bad vampire. I am told by a friend who read the book that turning into a vampire naturally makes a person beautiful; symbolism here is amazing. The “villains” of the movie, even though we like the Cullen family, are all good looking while the humans look natural. The vampires are sexy while the humans are average.

Bella’s group of friends is diverse in an ethnic way. Some characters are single but by the end of the movie most have found partners. For example, Eric and Mike both asked Bella to prom. Mike ends of with Jessica and Eric ends up with Angela. All of the characters seem to be heterosexual and intelligent. And almost every character seems to be interested in romance.



(536 words)


Works Cited:

Kilbourne, Jean. "The More You Subtract, the More You Add". Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. 5th Ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. 231-238.

Kirk, Gwyn and Okazawa-Rey, Margo. "Identities and Social Locations." Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 91-103.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Activism Log 1

Katelyn Temple
Jeannina Perez
WST 3015
February 15, 2010

Activism Log 1

• Activism

This week was our first week of planning. Andee personally knows our community partner, Arielle, so she has been taking care of communicating with her. I looked into SGA requirements to host a bake sale and to table outside of the student union.

Seabury and I met this week. We made an outline of our goals and lists of possible venues to host the “signing day”. We made lists of locations around campus and in the local community to post flyers and to table. We decided that since our group has been having trouble making arrangements to meet, we would send out an email asking for all communication to be done online.

Andee and I went to the Waterford shopping plaza to meet with a few business owners to discuss tabling or holding the “signing day” event at the location. We were told by most to contact corporate therefore we decided to focus on privately owned businesses. We handed out a few flyers also.

• Reflection

The animals we will be able to assist by participating in this service project keep running through my mind. I hope that we can raise awareness, gather donations, and host a successful “signing day” event in which we can match possible foster parents with Animal Safehouse of Brevard.

The authors of our text, Women’s Lives, Multicultural Perspectives, Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey express the meaning of community in chapter three. The section I am speaking of says, “Community, like home, may be geographical and emotional, or both, and provides a way for people to express group affiliations” (94). Community and home is where the heart is. My heart is settled in my home and my community but this project is making me realize others homes and communities may not be as safe. Especially for animals stuck in abusive homes.

• Reciprocity

Spreading the word about this non-profit organization is fulfilling. It may be selfish but I feel like I am going to enjoy this. I guess no good deed is unselfish. The important thing is that I will be helping raise awareness and hopefully I can assist Animal Safehouse of Brevard in finding volunteers to assist in rescues and taking care of these animals in need. This is a feminist perspective because we are raising awareness for women’s issues.





Work Cited


Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.

Service Learning Proposal

Service Learning Proposal

For Animal Safehouse of Brevard




Janet Audette
Michael Farmer
Andrea Ondina
Krysten Sanders
Seabury Stoneburner
Katelyn Temple






February 2, 2010
Jeannina Perez
WST 3015

Community Partner: Animal Safe House of Brevard

Address: animalsafehouse@gmail.com

Contact: Arielle Schwartz
954-401-4901




Community Partner Profile:
Animal Safehouse of Brevard was formed in summer 2008 as a network of individuals committed to helping both women and pets who are victims of domestic violence. Animal Safehouse recently became a registered Florida non-profit agency which relies heavily on donations and volunteers and is in need of assistance to help as many women and pets possible.


Community Partner Mission Statement:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets that, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations. The mission of Animal Safehouse Campus Action Network is a commitment to encouraging women to escape domestic violence by fostering and providing for their pets while they are in shelters; to raise community awareness about domestic violence and about the links between domestic violence and animal abuse.


Political and/or Social Basis for Organization:
Animal Safehouse of Brevard appeals to the desperate need for a safe place for pets who are subjected to abuse while their owners seek shelter and rehabilitation. Domestic violence can sometimes also involve animal abuse; both of these violate women’s rights and animal rights.


Community Partner Needs:
In order to be productive and to continue helping animals, this organization needs constant help from the community. Transporters, foster parents, volunteers, and vets are needed. Animal Safehouse of Brevard relies heavily on donations to keep our program running. Items needed are unopened food, collars, leashes, bowls, flea treatment, heartworm treatment, veterinary care, crates, pillows, toys, and blankets.




Memorandum

TO: Jeannina Perez

FROM: J. Audette, M. Farmer, A. Ondina, K. Sanders, S. Stoneburner, K. Temple

DATE: February 2, 2010

RE: Proposal to Write a Feasibility Report for a Service Learning Project

This is a proposal for the services needed for the benefit of the Animal Safehouse of Brevard County. We outline the services we plan to provide to the benefit of this community partner in this proposal. We will also include the connection between the goals of the Animal Safehouse and Women’s Studies.


Need for materials, time and volunteers to assist in raising money, awareness and donations to assist Animal Safe House of Brevard
The mission of the Animal Safehouse is to provide foster care to pets of women who need to leave abusive situations. Many women will not leave because they either have children or pets at home that they do not wish to abandon. By providing the foster care, the pets will be taken care of and the women can feel more confident in leaving.


Plan Proposal

We plan to provide services for our partner by partaking in the activities of the Animal Safehouse. It will benefit their cause and also provide them with extra help. We also are aiming to raise awareness. As a group, we will make flyers, table at local businesses and plan a “signing day” where interested persons will be able to sign up to foster an animal in need. We plan to table with a constant schedule with the hopes that we will also be able to collect donations.


Rationale for women’s studies
This project is relevant to women’s studies because it presents the problem with domestic violence toward women and animals.


Action
We plan to get as much information from the Animal Safehouse as possible before planning any action. We will need to record information of known families and pets in need of the Animal Safehouse’s services. Then we will take this information and use it to create flyers and any other means of spreading the word to people. We also plan to organize a “signing party”.


Timeline
Below is a schedule of events, activities and/or deadlines for our project:

1. Research/interviews – through February 13
2. Begin creating materials to use for spreading the word–through February 20
3. Organize “signing party” for Animal Safehouse/Table – through March 6
4. Flyer/Table – through March 13
5. Finalize “signing day” (event will also be around this date) – through March 25
6. Send thank you letters– April 2








Works cited

Animal Safehouse of Brevard. Web. 28 Jan. 2010.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Taking a Second Look ~ Reebok

Katelyn Temple
WST 3015
2/8/2010
Professor Nina Perez


In this Reebok advertisement, Reebok is suggesting that all women should “reetone” their bodies with a pair of EasyTone sneakers. The line to the slogan reads “EasyTone helps you get better legs and a better butt with every single step.” This is a catchy line with an easy to understand tone but the issue comes into play when looking at the picture for the ad.

The barely dressed woman in this ad is obviously on the go. However, I think it is safe to say her legs and butt are already toned. The woman seems to be young, white, and busy. There are clothes busting out of the closet, pictures taped to the wall and oddly enough, an old fashion phone (with a cord!) sitting on the floor; the line of which is wrapped around her right leg several times. I get the impression she is getting back from a run, about to shower; hence the barely dressed issue. Her shoes are untied and she is effortlessly standing in a position ideal for a butt model. Her upper body is not in view but she is wearing a shirt. Because women always walk around in sneakers, panties and a shirt.

This ad bewilders me a bit. I like the idea of shoes that improve my butt and legs but what confuses me is the already very skinny woman in the ad. She is skinner then I am so the point is somewhat lost. I do not believe that if I was truly looking to loose weight and get fit, an image of a very skinny woman would excite me in my challenge. This can be construed as a negative representation of women because not all women look like this. “Feminist scholars have analyzed the oppressive nature of ads and media representations that bombard women and girls with an ideal of beauty defined as thin, lean, tall young, white and heterosexual, with flawless skin and well-groomed hair” (WLMP, 208). This ad portrays a woman We can assume she is young because of her seemingly health body type. She is white, thin and I would assume she is active and busy because of the clothes, lack of time to hang her clock, and her whatever attitude about walking around half naked. This ad stereotypically fits the norm for a commercial that is going to discuss a woman’s buttocks.

Many companies such as Dove or Cotton will use regular, normal, typical women in their ads; maybe Reebok should do the same to better appeal to the American audience. “In response to discrimination and stigma… some feminists have welcomed the notion of “size acceptance”” (WLMP, 210). I am not sure if overweight women would find this ad offensive but I strongly believe Reebok should have planned this out a little better. This ad does not affect my ability to feel good about myself, but I cannot speak for a woman larger than I am. This ad is not realistic.

References:

http://www.reebok.com/microsites/easytone_reebok/

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Discussion Abstract

Katelyn Temple
WST 3015
Jeannina Perez
February 8, 2010

“Women’s Bodies, Women’s Health.” Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. Ed. Gwyn Kirk, Margo Ozakawa- Rey. McGraw-Hill, 1997. 207-238


Women’s Bodies, Women’s Health is a preface to chapter 5. There is no author. This preface discusses body issues and everything concerning body issues. From the macro, micro and meso levels. To begin with, the issue of women’s body image, ideals and health are addressed. A comparison can be drawn between Aristotle’s “discourse on the “normal and the abnormal”” (207) and the theory of A and not-A. Nancy Jay defined A as the isolated pure choice and not-A as impure. Aristotle claims “the generic type” is male (A) and the “monstrosity” is female or disabled (not-A).

An important section is when body images and stereotypes are discussed. The issue of an ablest, ageist, heterosexist, and racist marketing and advertising system is addressed. Although women’s organizations are fighting back against these discriminatory advertisements which appeal to women on a superficial level little is being accomplished. The majority of women do not relate to the women in the commercials because they do not reflect that fact that more women are over weight in this control then not.

A large portion of this section addresses reproductive health and sexual education, or should we say miss-education. Issues such as controlling fertility, teen pregnancy, reproductive justice and how “women with disabilities must also fight for the right to have children” (211) are discussed. The lack of proper sex education is a major issue because it affects every person and every decision they make. Those in dire situations with a lack of income, education, employment and health services are at a major disadvantage. Those who are aging also have a slue of issues to face but once again, education is prevention.

Important emphasis is placed on the ideas of the Western world in comparison to those in the Eastern world. For example, acupuncture. Most think of this as an Eastern therapy treatment but most also do not know acupuncture is practiced Latino, American, Caribbean and African American communities. The Western world is focused on medicine, surgery and big business. There is a strong focus on illness and disease in Western societies.

Women’s health has been a feminist issue for over forty years. A strong emphasis is placed on self-education and prevention care.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Suffragist Movement: fact and fiction

Prior to viewing ‘Iron Jawed Angels’ and ‘Mary Poppins’, I must admit I had preconceived expectations about what I would learn about the suffragist movement by watching these movies. Both film adequately portray women taking a stance in the society in the activist role, although in my opinion, the women in ‘Iron Jawed Angels’ were more political and forth coming with their acts of dissatisfaction.

The way in which the women in these movies pursue goals is very different when compared to one another. The role of ‘activist’ is lost when in one movie the women are being arrested and force fed while in jail and in the other movie the ‘activist’ of the film seems to only be active when outside of the household. I of course am speaking of Mrs. Banks. She seems all too concerned about women, their right to vote and about her rally, but when it comes to her children and husband she is in the dark. Leaving it to others to control her children then listening to her husband scold her over her choice of nannies.

In the film ‘Mary Poppins’, Mary possesses a rough attitude. She speaks her mind, tells Mr. Banks her guidelines and even twists Mr. Banks words around on him so he must spend the day with his children, something he has never done before. Although Mary seems awfully forward and ahead of the suffragist movement, she still plays into the traditional, stereotypical role. All the women, including Mary, wear long skirts, hats, stockings, gloves and surprisingly, a lot of makeup. The film portrays the men as gentlemen.

In the film ‘Iron Jawed Angels’, activism is present in almost every scene. There are protests, arrests, hunger strikes, newspapers, and so on. The women, like the women in ‘Mary Poppins,’ are dressed very conservative, covering every inch of their body. A heart wrenching display of activism comes when the Senators wife is told she will have her children taken and she will obey her husband in response to her donating money to the suffragist cause. The men in this film are portrayed in a less than favorable light. Screaming, taunting, and throwing things at women for having the nerve to stand up for their rights. “Often we underestimate the sacrifices and struggles that women endure for their freedom” (Seely, 40). Megan Seely, along with those portrayed in ‘Iron Jawed Angels’ have successfully opened my eyes to what women had to live through to obtain MY right to vote.

These two films depict situations other than a stereotypical sexist one. We must look at the issue of lookism. There are many scenes in ‘Mary Poppins’ when lookism comes into play. Classism is also an important factor. The Banks family is well off, they live in a big house with maids, nannies and cooks therefore they look down upon those who spend their money frivolously and do not act as they do.

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl: How to be a Fearless Feminist. New York and London: New York University Press, 2007.

(510 words)