Saturday, March 20, 2010

Activism Log 5

Katelyn Temple
Professor Nina Perez
WST 3015
March 21, 2010

Activism Log 5

• Activism

This past Friday, Seabury, Janet and I assisted in the set up of the Animal Safehouse of Brevard tent at a concert on campus. Earlier, while at school, I took advantage of the free printed and I printed about 100 flyers for the event. Janet and I met early to discuss the day’s event. Around two in the afternoon, we met Seabury and waited for our community partner, Babette. Arielle would not be arriving until later. Some more volunteers showed up and we began to assemble the tent, organize the table, and fight the wind to keep everything in place. I had to leave to go to work but I was happy I got to help with the organizing and set up.

• Reflection

Paula Ettelbrick, the author of Since when is marriage a path to liberation?, made me think a lot this week about how some of the people handing over their animals because of an abusive situation, could be men. Homosexual couples “must compare ourselves to married couples” (318). This made me think homosexual couples can be intertwined with abuse, just like the heterosexual persons I assumed we would be helped. I must admit I was a little narrow minded, I do not think I thought this on purpose but I am glad I realized this so I can expand my goal.

• Reciprocity

While at the event, I spoke with Babette about the people they were helping. She showed me bracelets, each was in a baggie with a sticker. The sticker had the name and date of death of someone who died in a domestic violence situation in the Orlando area. Most of the names were male. This really made me think.



Work Cited

Ettelbrick, Paula. "Since When Is Marriage a Path to Liberation?" Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 5 (2010): 317-320. Print.

Activism Log 4

Katelyn Temple
Professor Nina Perez
WST 3015
March 18, 2010

Activism Log 4

• Activism

This week was focused on locating places around campus to hang flyer's, printing flyer's, and spreading the word. I have talked to a lot of people in my classes and in my community and it looks like we are going to be getting some donations. I am worried we won’t be able to get foster parents to sign up but it won’t happen without a lot of trying on my part. At the very least I am excited to collect donations. We are hanging a flyer in the window of Louie and Maria’s to let their frequent customers know about our project. Also, handing out flyer's at the local dog parks is high priority.

• Reflection

As author Megan Seely states in her book Fight like a Girl, “Throughout the world, in many cultures, there is an expectation that women are to be the keepers of the faith in their families and that they carry the responsibility to pass on these traditions to their children” (105). I know I keep saying this, but my mind wonders when I think about the women and their families. My group and I were discussing the possibility that some of these women may never come back for the pet they gave up. The foster parent, who I am sure is fully aware this could be a possibility when they signed up, is now forced to keep the pet or hand it over yet again. I can now understand that we may not get a lot of sign ups but I am staying positive and I know we are going to get a lot of donations in the form of pet food, collars, carriers, and toys.

• Reciprocity

I am getting a good feed back in every aspect of this service learning project. My family members have been going out with my to hand out flyer's. My dad and I walk his dog and speak to neighbors. Everyone I have talked to about the event has seemed to care. They ask questions, and it feels good providing a service. It is just too bad no good deed is unselfish.



Work Cited

Seely, Megan. Fight like a Girl: How to Be a Fearless Feminist. New York: New York UP, 2007. Print

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Hey... At least he’s a family guy

Katelyn Temple
WST 3015
Professor Nina Perez
March 17, 2010

Hey... At least he’s a family guy

Family Guy is an animated show about a dysfunctional family in small town Rhode Island. The Griffin family is a non-traditional. The leader of the Griffin family, of course, is dad; Peter. Peter is an interesting character, to say the least. He can be offensive, towards people of all walks of life; crude, stereotypical, seemingly unfit as a parent and rude. The series follows the Griffin’s through ridiculous, whimsical, scenarios that parody American humor and culture.

Lois is the matriarch of the family. Lois and Peter get along greatly. The show depicts them as being a very sexual couple. Lois is usually the more sexually aggressive of the two. It is common these days to view television shows in which the traditional and stereotypical couples are not the norm. A larger, seemingly adolescent at times, man with a thinner woman. Recent years has developed the traditional television “dad” has all-American, tall, intelligent, and good looking. Peter breaks all traditions. At times he can be sexist and ageist. Displays of these behaviors are usually aimed at Lois. Examples of this are found within this episode, ‘Go Stewie Go’.

Peter points out grey hairs in Lois’s hair, tells a room full of people Lois is not what she use to be, and even calls her ugly and old. In Seely's Fight Like A Girl she discusses how women are often shown in a limited light, often obsessing about "trivial issues" such as their appearance (103). Peter’s statements make Lois panic and question her beauty.

Stereotypical aspects of the show are present. Peter works at a brewery, therefore he drinks beer. A lot of beer. Usually on the couch while watching television. Meanwhile Lois can be seen cooking, cleaning, or waiting for Peter’s next big mess. Lois is critical of her family and children, in a sarcastic way. Peter tells Lois she is ugly and old because he is scared he is getting too ugly for her, so he brings down her spirits so she will not run off with another guy. Peter is so adolescent in his marriage that Lois has to walk him through every step. Telling him to talk to her about his feelings instead of calling her old and ugly. What a marriage!

Traditional family roles are not displayed here. As Paula Ettelbrick states in her article, Since When Is Marriage a Path to Liberation?, people must deal with the world “…by diminishing the constraints of gender roles which have for so long kept woman and gay people oppressed and invisible” (318). I do not know if Peter Griffin is what Ms. Ettelbrick has in mind but Family Guy definitely challenges traditional gender roles.

The show does not challenge stereotypical gender roles, in fact most of the laughs are gained from stereotypically racist, sexist, ageist, ablest, or biased situations. Peter is not a typical male. He is a family guy, loves them without a doubt but his main purpose is to entertain. He does so in a crude way with laughs at the expense of others. He is not a “good TV husband” who listens to his wife nag. Peter is a drinking, belching, insulting man who says whatever to his wife. Lucky for Lois, she seems to stand her own against Peter.


(544 words)


Works Cited:

Ettelbrick, Paula. "Since When Is Marriage a Path to Liberation?" Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th Ed. Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 318. Print.

Janetti, Gary. Family Guy: Go Stewie Go. FOX. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. .

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

Monday, March 15, 2010

Activism Log 3

Katelyn Temple
Professor Nina Perez
WST 3015
March 7, 2010

Activism Log 3

• Activism

Everything has come together. Recently, I was able to locate a venue to host our signing day. It is a small Italian Restaurant in the UCF area. This restaurant has a real family feel to it. Everybody has better much gone off their separate ways working on different things. We are all depending on each other a lot but at the same time I believe we can come together.
Arielle, our community partner with Animal Safehouse sends us frequent emails about printing flyers and about upcoming events and possible volunteer opportunities. I responded and I will be helping to set up for an event on campus at the end of this week. Also, printing flyers is the least I can do to help the cause. My tuition pays for it anyways.

• Reflection

The restaurant we are having our event at is called Louie and Maria’s. The homelike atmosphere invites patrons in, including my own family, for a great meal. This homelike atmosphere made me realize it was the place for the event. I do not know why I did not think of it before.
As Aurora Levins Morales points out, “Victim-hood absolves us from having to decide to have good lives. It allows us to stay small and wounded instead of spacious, powerful and whole.” (284). Women is domestic violence situations may be frequenting Louie and Maria’s, and who knows, maybe she’ll see our flyer hanging in their window. The point is, these women need help and we are already collecting donations. It is coming together greatly.

• Reciprocity

Speaking with Arielle and arranging to helping with the set up for an on campus event is fun. It is good to obtain hours by actually working with Arielle because I have yet to meet her at this point. I am sad I cannot stay for the event, but I have to work. My building manager at work has yet to respond to my request for permission to hand out flyers at baseball games. I hope to hear from him shortly. Also, I am excited because I know Andee is speaking to the manager of Sweets in Waterford.



Work Cited


Levins Morales, Aurora. "Radical Pleasure." Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 5 (2010): 283-84. Print.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Behind the Music

Katelyn Temple
WST 3015
Professor Nina Perez
March 7, 2010

While listening to Date Rape by Sublime, many things come to mind. First and foremost, I have heard this song numerous times, too many too count. I am a major fan of Sublime and I am excited to report that reading the lyrics to this song only furthered my love for the band. Rock defined a generation in the 1990's. Rock music was depicted in film, television, fashion and the American culture. Sublime has played a major role in entertainment for well over fifteen years. Date Rape appeared on their debut album. For many listeners, like myself many years ago, this is the first time the words date rape were heard and described.

Date Rape is a violent song. The woman is sitting alone at the bar, catches the eye of a man, drinks, leaves with him and is raped. This is not a date so the name Date Rape displays a dilemma. If anything, this is a casual liaison; or at least it was meant to be. The man in the song is light skinned, light eyed and had a great smile. Stereotypically, a person who seems trustworthy. While she is sitting alone at a bar. We do not get an impression as to who she is, other than someone who enjoys drinking and meeting men in bars.
This song is not meant to say date rape is acceptable by any means. In fact, I would say the message is the opposite. The song gives an impression of woman empowerment to me. The song goes on to describe how the woman pressed charges and the man accuses her of being a "slut". The man eventually gets what he deserves toward the end of the song. The song goes on:
The next day she went to her drawer, looked up her local attorney at law, went to the phone and filed the police report and then she took the guy's ass to court.
Well, the day he stood in front of the judge he screamed, " She lies that little slut!"
The judge knew that he was full of shit and he gave him 25 years.
And now his heart is filled with tears.
(Sublime)
This song is very popular. However, I was unsuccessful in a search to see if the song appeared in any television shows or movies. Although it is brutally descriptive and honest, the song does purpose a few other dilemmas. The man blaming it on the alcohol and his horniess is merely an excuse. Maybe he has a drinking issue, maybe he has a sexual addiction, or maybe he just needs a reason to justify rape. According to the text "rape evolved historically as a form of male reproductive behavior," (Kirk, and Okazawa-Rey 264). The man should simply say he did it because he wanted too and he could.
As Megan Seely bravely states in her book Fight Like a Girl: How to be a Fearless Feminist, "Rape will not end when women stop wearing short skirts; it will end when men stop overpowering and violating women" (Seely 201).
Works Cited:
Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl:How to Be a Fearless Feminist. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. 201. Print.
Sublime, . "Sublime - Date Rape Lyrics." Lyrics007. 37 MAY 2008. Web. 6 Mar 2010. .
Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. Fifth Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2010. Print.