Class and Race Disparity

Article

Collected on: 5/5/09 (in the wee hours)

Can be found at: http://www.classmatters.org/identity/women.php
(the bottom one - by Attieno Davis)

This article talks about class differences and how they relate to the feminist movement. It talks about how white middle class women dominated the feminist movement so the issues of black working class women were mostly ignored. Thus it is related to race also because white women dominated and black women were mostly ignored and put on the back burner. The combined difference of class and race divided these two groups of women and the one group got mostly left out. This article relates to women's studies because it talks about those differences in the women's movement between class and race. The only way working class black women got what they wanted was in terms of child care, and rape protection because white middle class women wanted these same things. the working class black women didn't care about "taking off their bras or getting a job" they could already do both, and they had to work, according to the article. Their needs were getting a better education and fighting infant mortality and they were not addressed.

Related issues are class and race. Class and race both relate because the article talks about disparity and different experiences between women of different classes and races. The disparity was because the different classes and races had different needs and only the needs of one group was being addressed, hence the relation.

This article reflects a step back for women because it shows division among feminist movements. Division makes the movements weaker than they would be if they allied for the greater good of all.

Free the Slaves

International organization

Collected on: 5/5/09 (in the early am)

Can be found at: http://www.freetheslaves.net/Page.aspx?pid=287

This article is a description of "Free the Slaves" and their sister organization "Anti-Slavery International". These are two international organizations with a common goal, ending human trafficking and slavery worldwide. This relates to women's studies because a major part of slavery and human trafficking is sex trafficking and forced prostitution, female forced servitude, etc. These are all gender studies issues and this article relates because it talks about how to solve these issues and end sex trafficking and all forms of slavery.

Related topics include sex trafficking, globalization, and international feminist movements. This relates to international feminist movements because it is about two international movements for human rights. Any organization for the rights of all humans is inherently a feminist movement because you can't fight for the rights of all humans without fighting for the rights of women and feminist principals about how women should be treated. In turn, any feminist movement against slavery would have to be against all slavery not just that of women, or its morals would be flawed. Thus there are no strictly feminist movements against slavery only movements against slavery in general, but these qualify as feminist because they advance feminist goals. Sex trafficking is related because both movements are fighting sex trafficking as part of their mission. Globalization is related because these are global organizations fighting a global issue.

These organizations existence reflect a setback for women and men because as long as they exists that means slavery exists and sex trafficking exists. They reflect a step forward however, because they are fighting to end slavery and sex trafficking.

Active Elderly Women

Photographs with Interviews

Collected on: 5/4/09

Can be found at: http://www.msmagazine.com/mar03/chornesky.asp

This is a short article about a photographer who is trying to change the perception of elder women in our society. Elders are perceived as being parasitic to society, contributing little or nothing as they waste away. Jessica Chornesky is the photographer who aims to change this perception with photos and interviews of productive women over the age of 70. Some of her photos and interviews are included and they are very convincing. This relates to women's studies because it deals with age discrimination and perception of women based on their age. It accompanies women's studies by trying to combat this false perception and discrimination based on age.

A related topic is age. It is related to age because the topic is age. It focus on changing perception of women based on no factor other than age. The common factor between all the women interviewed is their age which is a reason it relates to age. It is showing that elderly women can and do make contributions to society, many do so more than young men and women.

This reflects a step forward for women because it is fighting discrimination and false preconceptions. It is a step forward because it is effectively discrediting any notion that elderly women are worth any less than anyone else. Its message is a good one and it can be summed up in one quote, "Elders are not a separate species" this is proven beyond doubt by looking at Jessica's work and that is why it is a step forward.

Worries of Working Women

Article

Can Be Found at: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3640/

Collected on: 5/4/09

This relates to women's studies because it talks about women in the work force and the challenges and speed bumps they face toward having a career and raising a family. With the system today they are forced to choose, it says, between raising their children and having a career. The closest thing to a compromise is expensive childcare which many can't afford and forces the women to take a back-burner role in the raising of their child. It talks about how bosses renege on offers once women have children, and gives examples. These are the reasons it relates to women in work and women's studies.

a relates reading is "Reality Check" in Listen Up because they both talk about the struggles of women in the world of work. "Reality Check" talks about the struggles of a college student with finding a job and this article talks about the struggles of a mother. However they both face a tough world that is not setup for them to succeed and this is why the readings relate. They face many of the same and similar challenges and both readings talk about those challenges.

This is definitely a setback for women because nothing about the working world is helpful or friendly to them. It is setup in such a way that it is very hard for women to succeed in it at least in the US.

Positive Masculinity

Forum Thread

Collected on: 5/4/09

Can Be Viewed at: http://community.feministing.com/2008/08/the-male-identity-in-a-feminiz.html

This is related to women's studies because it talks all about positive masculinity today. It is a forum thread where people are posting what they think it means to exhibit positive masculinity in today's world. It gives many different ideas of masculinity and aspects of positive masculine image. It talks about the good qualities of traditional masculinity and what should be dropped from masculinity and what should be added. For example it talks about how bullying shows weakness and aggressiveness should be dropped. It says being a good man shouldn't be any different from being a good person. Another part of being a good man is of course being a family man and a good father

The most related topic is masculinity. It is related because it is the subject of the forum. The forum talks all about and only about masculinity and how it should change to fit today's world. It relates because it gives different opinions and ideas about masculinity.

This represents a step up for men, because it talks all about positive masculinity and how men who exhibit positive masculinity act. It is a step up because it reflects that masculinity can be a positive thing and is becoming positive.

Feminist Campus

Website

Feminist Campus

Can Be Found At: http://www.feministcampus.org/default.asp

This website is related to women's studies because it is an information and organization center for college feminists. It is basically a one stop shop for a young feminist today, it has information on everything under the topic of women's studies. It has links to zines and articles about causes and how to get involved. It has a search guide to help you find a women's studies program anywhere in the world. It is a site dedicated to feminism and women's studies and that is how it relates to this class.

It relates to women's studies and the the third wave movement because it is helping bring young women today into the third wave movement. Young people get most of their information from the internet so the best way to connect with young women is a website. This is a good website to do so, it has all the information that young women need to realize that we do not live in a post feminist era and that feminism is still useful and necessary.

Related topics are age and class. Age and class are related to this website for the same reason. That reason is, this website targets college students which are an age group and a class. Their age is generally 18-24 and their class is generally middle class and above, because very few poor girls go to college. Most of the poor especially outside the US don't have access to the internet, since this is a website, the poor don't even have access to this information, that is how it relates to class. Age relates even more because there is nothing specifically for older feminists on this website, women who were a part of the second or third wave don't have any information specifically for them on here. This website could be helpful to them also, but its target is clearly college women, hence the name "feminist campus". That name itself relates it to class and age because of the word campus, as discussed above.

This website is definitely a step forward for women, because it is a great resource for them. It provides clear, easy to access information on all topics women's studies. It even has links to help find jobs. It has news reports about issues pertaining to women's studies, Ms. magazine has a very visible link on there. Basically it is a good enough resource that anyone who wanted to learn more about feminism could find about all the answers they seek on this site. That is why it is a step forward for women.

Army Strong Women

Advertisement

Collected on: (5/2/09)

Can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/04/04/business/20080404_RECRUIT_Slideshow_10.html

This is a recruitment ad for the marines. It relates to women's studies because of the fact that it targets women, and the interesting strategies it uses to do so. It relates to women in the military and gender socialization, which relates it to women's studies. It depicts a very masculine woman, she is in command and in a powerful pose. She looks fierce and strong and exhibits very masculine traits. It gives an example of a woman who is masculine yet not manly. This relates it to gender socialization because it gives a very different message about how women should be. It gives women an example of how to be strong, seeing what a strong woman looks like will help women to be strong themselves. It also sends the message that it is ok and desirable to be a strong woman today. It gives an example of a strong woman that other women can look up to. It also relates to gender socialization because it shows a powerful aggressive woman in a positive light which is rare and deviant from the norm; it is refreshing.

The ad relates to women in the military because it is a tool to recruit women to the military. It also relates because it shows a woman in a combat and command position in the military. It shows a woman doing the exact same thing men do in the military which relates to women in the military because it is a common misconception that women in the military aren't allowed on the front lines or in active combat.

This ad reflects a step forward for women because they are being recognized as able to be strong and do a "man's job". It is a step forward because women have a strong woman to look at and they can use this as a role model, positive gender socialization. It is a step forward because it shows a woman leading men in the military which previously was thought of as outlandish. Finally, it is a step forward because it shows a woman in a combat position where as women in the military were traditionally nurses and other non combat jobs. All of these are reasons this ad relates to women's studies as well as steps forward.