Anita Hills is a Boy By: Peggy Orenstein
I really enjoyed this reading a lot, it was an easy read and short to the point. It takes place in Ms. Logan's classroom where she is trying not to practice equity but to teach it. Educators around the country are working to develope a gender-fair curricula. They are trying to address issues of the hidden curriculum, offering self-defense classes for girls, introducing aspects of sex ed as early as kindergarden, and develope curricula that explicitly takes on sexual harassment and is not male dominated. In Ms. Logans class, they do a project that s learning from the inside out. They begin to do research on their women, and they learn to connect to their life, and to really become the person. She teaches lessons where the boys in the class would have to act like an historic women. She began to see that girls are opt to take on either male or female roles, while boys just want to take on male roles. Girls in her class are dazzled by the reflection of the women around them, that they are studying. For the first time, it may be that the boys are the ones looking through the window, rather than all the other girls who have been doing that their whole life.
Quotes
1.)"If my class seems anxious at the beginning of a women's unit, I reassure them that women's studies is not about ruling over, its about existing with. Its important to be explicit with these reassurances right away. Feminist teaching is not about allowing a win/lose situation to develope between boys and girls."
I liked this quote a lot. It was pretty straight forward, what she is trying to teach in the classroom. All other classrooms are different from this because they don't really appreciate women as much as Ms. Logan does. They teach the regular stuff, thats all male-dominated, and its good to be different once and a while. Its really not about having the win/lose situation between boys and girls, it's just noticing that women are existing with men. They compare, and they are equal.
2.) "Give her a hand everyone! Ms Logan says, and even though shes is gesturing to a boy- who in this case who in this case would undoubtfully be ashamed to be called 'her' in front of forty peers- no one even flinches. Instead the students bursts into applause. And Nick, who has, if only for a few minutes, lived the expierience of sexually harassed women, takes his seat."
I liked how Ms. Logan did this lesson, where a boy would have to act like the women he is studying, and be put into her shoes. They didnt have to dress up or anything, but i thought it would be a cool lesson to do with a class. Ms. Logan knew he didnt feel comfortable with being a women and acting like one, and he did a very good preformance.
3.)" When boys feel like they're being forced to admire a women they try to pick one that they think behaves sort of like a man. Thats what they can best relate too."
I agree with this. I remember in middle school as well as high school that if we were in groups, the boys could never be any female part. They always have to be the male. I thought it was rediculous, but hey, thats how boys are. They feel like they'd be giving something up because boys percieve equality as a loss, which shouldnt be anymore, because we're all the same.
I found it very interesting that the boys in her classroom thought she was sexist just because she takes feminism seriously. When the girls in the class were telling about how much they liked it, they still felt bad for the boys because they felt that the boys are feeling ignored. This reading was a good one, i enjoyed it very much
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Diversity Paper
February 13, 2009
The Vagina Monologues
This event was very interesting. It also was a little bit weird, since this would be the first time I went to the event, and it was with my mother. I believe the purpose that the author is trying to make, would be to have women stop living in the silence. Johnson would of liked this play, because the women in it just said the words, even if it was about their vaginas. Women live in silence probably because of the male’s dominance in society. Women out of everyone, is a main target in abusive relationships. I also believe this event is intending to raise awareness for domestic abuse. Overall, this event had its sad stories, and also very funny stories, and I enjoyed this performance very much.
My favorite event was when the girl was talking about the all the different orgasms. It was very funny, and amusing. It really made my mother and I laugh really loud as well as the rest of the audience. I thought that this chapter, and the actress who portrayed it, was a good example of Johnson. As funny as that may sound, she just said the words, and said her feelings, making the story clear to the point, and very entertaining. The girl who acted the part was very good at expressing all the different orgasms, in ways that they all were hilarious.
There was a girl, who was a lesbian telling her story. To me, this was a good display of Carlson, because they made a spot in the book for a homophobic. They were not left out in any way, they were just telling the story. It would be a good example of gay people wanting a place in the community as well as well as feeling normalized.
My least favorite was they act about ‘the flood’. It was about an old woman, telling a story when she was younger, and how she flooded her underwear and dress when kissing a very handsome young man. I kind of was getting nauseous, when the girl Sarah was telling the story. Overall it was gross all the details she put into it, how it went through her dress onto the seat of his car. I know I wouldn’t want that on the seat of my car, and it disgusted me. I know because of the story that she couldn’t help it, but still it made me feel a little sick.
Another story that made me feel very sad was the story about how the women did not feel comfortable shaving her vagina, and her husband would mess around with other women. If it made her itchy, puffy, and irritated, her husband should have understood that it was hurting her, and not made her always shave it. If she didn’t shave it, he would mess around with other women because he liked baby skinned vaginas. I felt very bad for the women, since they tried to go to marriage consuling, and it made her think that she had a problem with pleasuring her husband. I believe if Delpit were watching this, she would have been very upset. She believes in the codes of power, but when power is put into the wrong hands, its ruined. Her husband didnt have power over her body, and she could of done anything she wanted with herself. If he truely loved his wife, it would not be about whether she shaves her vagina or not.
I really liked this event; it was a very different event from what I usually go to. I learned that women are starting to speak out about things that are forbidden to ever be said, and Johnson would of enjoyed it. Women should be able to speak out and talk about anything they want, since it is a free country. Some stories also were talking about girls who were abused in their vaginas, and got guns shoved up them by men in the army. Listening to these stories also made me uncomfortable, and hurt that they actually had to go through that kind of pain and horror. There was depressing points in this event, but I’m glad they ended it with a hilarious one, which made me enjoy the event a lot more.
The Vagina Monologues
This event was very interesting. It also was a little bit weird, since this would be the first time I went to the event, and it was with my mother. I believe the purpose that the author is trying to make, would be to have women stop living in the silence. Johnson would of liked this play, because the women in it just said the words, even if it was about their vaginas. Women live in silence probably because of the male’s dominance in society. Women out of everyone, is a main target in abusive relationships. I also believe this event is intending to raise awareness for domestic abuse. Overall, this event had its sad stories, and also very funny stories, and I enjoyed this performance very much.
My favorite event was when the girl was talking about the all the different orgasms. It was very funny, and amusing. It really made my mother and I laugh really loud as well as the rest of the audience. I thought that this chapter, and the actress who portrayed it, was a good example of Johnson. As funny as that may sound, she just said the words, and said her feelings, making the story clear to the point, and very entertaining. The girl who acted the part was very good at expressing all the different orgasms, in ways that they all were hilarious.
There was a girl, who was a lesbian telling her story. To me, this was a good display of Carlson, because they made a spot in the book for a homophobic. They were not left out in any way, they were just telling the story. It would be a good example of gay people wanting a place in the community as well as well as feeling normalized.
My least favorite was they act about ‘the flood’. It was about an old woman, telling a story when she was younger, and how she flooded her underwear and dress when kissing a very handsome young man. I kind of was getting nauseous, when the girl Sarah was telling the story. Overall it was gross all the details she put into it, how it went through her dress onto the seat of his car. I know I wouldn’t want that on the seat of my car, and it disgusted me. I know because of the story that she couldn’t help it, but still it made me feel a little sick.
Another story that made me feel very sad was the story about how the women did not feel comfortable shaving her vagina, and her husband would mess around with other women. If it made her itchy, puffy, and irritated, her husband should have understood that it was hurting her, and not made her always shave it. If she didn’t shave it, he would mess around with other women because he liked baby skinned vaginas. I felt very bad for the women, since they tried to go to marriage consuling, and it made her think that she had a problem with pleasuring her husband. I believe if Delpit were watching this, she would have been very upset. She believes in the codes of power, but when power is put into the wrong hands, its ruined. Her husband didnt have power over her body, and she could of done anything she wanted with herself. If he truely loved his wife, it would not be about whether she shaves her vagina or not.
I really liked this event; it was a very different event from what I usually go to. I learned that women are starting to speak out about things that are forbidden to ever be said, and Johnson would of enjoyed it. Women should be able to speak out and talk about anything they want, since it is a free country. Some stories also were talking about girls who were abused in their vaginas, and got guns shoved up them by men in the army. Listening to these stories also made me uncomfortable, and hurt that they actually had to go through that kind of pain and horror. There was depressing points in this event, but I’m glad they ended it with a hilarious one, which made me enjoy the event a lot more.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Talking Points #6
"One More River to Cross"- Recognizing the Real Injury in Brown: A Prerequiste to Sharping New Remedies. By: Charles Lawrence
This reading way about America's struggle for equality. With the broad focus on the Brown vs. Board of Education case, and how blacks are kept seperate from whites, and being treated as inferior. It effects many black students in trying to get their education, and becoming successful in todays society. The placement of both white and black children in one school, does not remove the imprints of years of segregation in the past. "If you're black, get back."
Quotes
1) "Segregation American-stlye, like South African apartheid, has only one purpose: to create and maintain a permenant lower class or subcaste defined as race."
I liked this quote, because it was like Johnson, and just said it. Its true, the only reason segregation exists is to keep blacks as an inferior. The injury students may have in these schools where its still there is very unfair and against the law of the fourteenth amendment. The equal protection clause was violated in the brown case, and it shouldnt have been.
2) "Once blacks are labeled as inferior, they are denied access to equal societal opportunities. The resulting inadequate educational preparation, poverty of cultural backgrounds, and lack of expierience constitute real limitations on their ability to contribute to society, and the prophecy of their inferiority is fufilled."
This quote reminded me of Mott Haven, where no one would help and there were many blacks and they suffered from poverty. Once they are labeled as inferior, no one helps or even cares anymore. Schools shouldnt be like this. A black student shouldnt feel any different than a white student. There should be no superior or inferior. and if they get raised like that in a school, then their injuries are carried on for the rest of their lives."segregated schools, prepare children for a segregated socitey which regulates them to marginal roles"
3) "The ultimate goal was full political and civil equality for blacks; they knew that this could not be acheived until the entire system of segregation had been destroyed.Equality of education is not enough, there can be no equality under a segregated system. The American negro is not a dominate minority; therefore he must fight for complete elimination of segregation as his ultimate goal."
Everyone needs to work together to fight segregation. it just wouldnt go away on its own. It has to be completely distroyed so blacks dont feel as if they are inferior to whites.
This reading was kind of confusing to me. It was too many different things at once. I think the point that its trying to prove would be that black students get injured being in these segregated schools, that shouldn't be segregated in the first place. But whose to blame? Is it the state for segregating the houseing, so that the blacks all end up together anyways? Seperate from the whites because they are at a different end of town. I don't really know, it wasn't that clear to me.. but it was interesting in some parts.
This reading way about America's struggle for equality. With the broad focus on the Brown vs. Board of Education case, and how blacks are kept seperate from whites, and being treated as inferior. It effects many black students in trying to get their education, and becoming successful in todays society. The placement of both white and black children in one school, does not remove the imprints of years of segregation in the past. "If you're black, get back."
Quotes
1) "Segregation American-stlye, like South African apartheid, has only one purpose: to create and maintain a permenant lower class or subcaste defined as race."
I liked this quote, because it was like Johnson, and just said it. Its true, the only reason segregation exists is to keep blacks as an inferior. The injury students may have in these schools where its still there is very unfair and against the law of the fourteenth amendment. The equal protection clause was violated in the brown case, and it shouldnt have been.
2) "Once blacks are labeled as inferior, they are denied access to equal societal opportunities. The resulting inadequate educational preparation, poverty of cultural backgrounds, and lack of expierience constitute real limitations on their ability to contribute to society, and the prophecy of their inferiority is fufilled."
This quote reminded me of Mott Haven, where no one would help and there were many blacks and they suffered from poverty. Once they are labeled as inferior, no one helps or even cares anymore. Schools shouldnt be like this. A black student shouldnt feel any different than a white student. There should be no superior or inferior. and if they get raised like that in a school, then their injuries are carried on for the rest of their lives."segregated schools, prepare children for a segregated socitey which regulates them to marginal roles"
3) "The ultimate goal was full political and civil equality for blacks; they knew that this could not be acheived until the entire system of segregation had been destroyed.Equality of education is not enough, there can be no equality under a segregated system. The American negro is not a dominate minority; therefore he must fight for complete elimination of segregation as his ultimate goal."
Everyone needs to work together to fight segregation. it just wouldnt go away on its own. It has to be completely distroyed so blacks dont feel as if they are inferior to whites.
This reading was kind of confusing to me. It was too many different things at once. I think the point that its trying to prove would be that black students get injured being in these segregated schools, that shouldn't be segregated in the first place. But whose to blame? Is it the state for segregating the houseing, so that the blacks all end up together anyways? Seperate from the whites because they are at a different end of town. I don't really know, it wasn't that clear to me.. but it was interesting in some parts.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Talking Points #5
In The Service of What? The Politics of Service Learning. by: Kahne and Westheimer
In this reading, the authors talk about how service learning projects are very important in all different ways for kids in learning about something new, and at a different perspective. It also improves the community and invigorate the classroom, providing educational expiereinces for not only the students doing the service learning, but the students in the schools that are participating. i learned that Service Learning aims to respond to the community, while furthering the academic goals of the students which is interesting.
Quotes:
1.) "These service learning projects both stress the importance of compassion for those in need, and they encourage children and young adults to find ways to help."
I liked this quote because i believe that this is true. from my expierience i'm helping a little girl who has trouble counting money such as coins. She had trouble counting and knowing what certain coins are and how much they are. Since i've been helping her, the teacher already noticed progress in her work, which made me feel very good. and It also encourages students to help others in need of help. Being good role models for the younger students is a key in service learning, and it provides all sorts of learning expieriences.
2.)" The approach to service learning taken by Mr. Johnson stresses charity in ways in which participating in service and reflection can develope students sense of altruism."
I liked this approach by Mr. Johnson, he wants charity, no exactly change. he wants his students to act on their civic duty as a citizen to know that people are different and accept it. I also had to look up altruism because i didnt really know what that word ment. It means the principal or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion for the welfare of others. It really cleared my thought when i looked up this deffinition, because in service learning, students do develope a sense of altusim, in order to help them and make the project successful.
3.)"The expierimental and interpersonal components of service learning activities can achieve the first crucial step toward diminishing the sense of "otherness" that often separates students--particularly priviledged students--from those in need."
I believe this statement is true also. I feel i am one of those priviledged students, and this service learning has helped me feel more, i want to say feel comfortable, in my community as well as in the classrooms. The otherness often is shown when in the classroom, but with this class i don't see anything.
This reading was an okay one. Kind of got a little boring towards the end. The others really just broaden the importance of service learning in the community. It ends up helping a lot of people in the longrun. What I found extremely interesting, was that in some states, high schoolers neec 75 hours to graduate. I was very surprised at this, becuase my high school was never like that, and those are a lot of hours. I just thought that was very interesting.
In this reading, the authors talk about how service learning projects are very important in all different ways for kids in learning about something new, and at a different perspective. It also improves the community and invigorate the classroom, providing educational expiereinces for not only the students doing the service learning, but the students in the schools that are participating. i learned that Service Learning aims to respond to the community, while furthering the academic goals of the students which is interesting.
Quotes:
1.) "These service learning projects both stress the importance of compassion for those in need, and they encourage children and young adults to find ways to help."
I liked this quote because i believe that this is true. from my expierience i'm helping a little girl who has trouble counting money such as coins. She had trouble counting and knowing what certain coins are and how much they are. Since i've been helping her, the teacher already noticed progress in her work, which made me feel very good. and It also encourages students to help others in need of help. Being good role models for the younger students is a key in service learning, and it provides all sorts of learning expieriences.
2.)" The approach to service learning taken by Mr. Johnson stresses charity in ways in which participating in service and reflection can develope students sense of altruism."
I liked this approach by Mr. Johnson, he wants charity, no exactly change. he wants his students to act on their civic duty as a citizen to know that people are different and accept it. I also had to look up altruism because i didnt really know what that word ment. It means the principal or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion for the welfare of others. It really cleared my thought when i looked up this deffinition, because in service learning, students do develope a sense of altusim, in order to help them and make the project successful.
3.)"The expierimental and interpersonal components of service learning activities can achieve the first crucial step toward diminishing the sense of "otherness" that often separates students--particularly priviledged students--from those in need."
I believe this statement is true also. I feel i am one of those priviledged students, and this service learning has helped me feel more, i want to say feel comfortable, in my community as well as in the classrooms. The otherness often is shown when in the classroom, but with this class i don't see anything.
This reading was an okay one. Kind of got a little boring towards the end. The others really just broaden the importance of service learning in the community. It ends up helping a lot of people in the longrun. What I found extremely interesting, was that in some states, high schoolers neec 75 hours to graduate. I was very surprised at this, becuase my high school was never like that, and those are a lot of hours. I just thought that was very interesting.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Talking Points #4
Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us by Linda Christensen
Firstly, I really enjoyed this reading better than the last ones. It was very refreshing reading something I was interested in. Children' cartoons, movies, and literature are the most influencial genre for learning the messages through the"secret education" even if they are made just to entertain us. We can discover the tools which manipulates the young society through analizing different types of cartoons and movies. For example in certain cartoons the roles of women, people of color, and poor people are sometimes stereotyped in the wrong ways. Overall I really enjoyed this easy reading, and I could relate it to some movies just by reading this.
1.) "Many students dont want to believe that they have been manipulated by children's media or advertising. No one wants to admit that they've been 'handled' by the media. They assure me they make their own choices and the media had no problem over them."
I found this quote interesting, and very true. People don' realize how mesmerized they can get just by watching a cartoon or movie. Many people who watch cartoons before they start their study on them can no longer enjoy them. but however if we dont dissect them we would still be influenced by them. A student of hers said she now gets depressed in dealing with dissecting things into a reality, and i can see how she would get depressed. Its just to be a form of entertainment but now it has to have stereotypes involved.
2.)"Then the students start to notice patterns, like the absence of female characters in older cartoons. When women do appear, they look like Jessica Rabbit or Playboy centerfolds, even in the new and improved childrens movies."
This is an interesting quote. Many women do portray a beautiful aspect in movies and cartoons, because thats what the culture of society prefers. All these women have no flaws and make it for children something to look up to and become when they're older. The barbie syndrome starts I also noticed that black women play no lead roles in these movies. Ursula the sea witch is kinda dark looking and shes the villian in the movie The Little Mermaid.
3.)" Both of these tales leave young women with two myths: Happiness means getting a man, and transforming from wretched conditions can be acheieved through consumption, in their case, through new clothes and a new hairstyle."
This quote was talking about how Cinderella and Cindy Ellie, have both the same type of story, but in Cindie Ellie, shes a black women and she wants the man running for the mayor. Many students loved this story because it expressed beauty, culture, and language of the African Americans. It also makes it possible for cross-race alliances in social changes. Thats what her students wanted. I liked the story as well, its just a shame that in todays society all the forms of children entertainment have to be the dominant race, and about the secret education of the power of culture messages.
All the good ideas the students had were very enjoyable to read. The students were to do a project which focused on critiquing a cartoon. For example one group graded different cartoons based on their stereotypes. Like Duck Tales recieved a C because of the whole show being based on money. TMNT got a D because of how it teaches children a false sense of violence. and Popeye got an F for portraying ethnic groups as stupid and Americans are the best at everything. This would have been a project i would have enjoyed if i ever had it. The students in the end saw themselves as actors in the world and were fueled by the opportunity to convince parents of long-lasting effects cartoons impose on children. It provided them with the opportunity to make a difference and which i would have grasped if i ever had the opportunity to do something like this. I enjoyed this reading very much, and wouldn't mind doing something like what these students did in their class.
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