Showing posts with label civil rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label civil rights. Show all posts
July 22, 2009
July 16, 2009
July 12, 2009
Discovery
The Lasers Manifesto
I'm really down for this kind of thing.
To Every Man, Woman & Child....
1. We Want An End To The Glamorization Of Negativity In The Media.
2. We Want An End To Status Symbols Dictating Our Worth As Individuals.
3. We Want A Meaningful And Universal Education System.
... here for the rest
I'm really down for this kind of thing.
To Every Man, Woman & Child....
1. We Want An End To The Glamorization Of Negativity In The Media.
2. We Want An End To Status Symbols Dictating Our Worth As Individuals.
3. We Want A Meaningful And Universal Education System.
... here for the rest
June 19, 2009
"I don't steal nothing but a b****'s mind"
My sister got Netflix recently, and I've been watching a lot of the online documentaries, and today I watched American Pimp. I had my ideas of what a pimp was, most of which I thought was a stereotype, but, I soon found out that those stereotypes were true. After a while I was laughing. Laughing, because these men have made this lifestyle a reality. They are not fictional characters from 1970s movies, but they are fulfilled stereotypes. They are men who control women and use them for money.Some quotes...
- [In reference to how much money their prostitutes make]"0% percentage...life ain't fair...you know what I'm sayin'"
"B asked me if she could take Mother's Day off...I said for what...yeah, she got a baby...so what...she got a pimp to pay too"
According to a prostitute: "It doesn't matter how special you think you are to them, because you're not."
"Anybody who exploits women for profit could be called a pimp"
"A pimp is somebody who lives off the earnings of what a woman does"
The documentary seemed almost like a glorification of the lifestyle. There was not a lot of questioning of the pimp's beliefs, more of a you tell us how it is. The biggest stereotype that I think most of these pimps met, were the clothing. The alligator suits, shoes, jewelry, gold teeth, hats, etc., and each each had catchy phrases and lines they used.
The pimps spoke highly of the mentor/mentee relationships they had built over time with older pimps. Since women are they product, they don't believe in unnecessary abuse, but just enough to keep the prostitutes in line. There were a wide array of pimps from all areas of the US. Since there was a variety of pimps, as a viewer, I became informed on how prostitutes have to learn to be most productive in different areas. For example, in Hawaii, a prostitute must be proactive because she cannot stand on a corner, she must walk constantly and not be a [and I quote] lazy bitch. Whereas in Las Vegas it would be simpler for her to get a trick by standing on the street corning.
It's almost surreal to me that I spent about an hour and a half of my life watching this documentary, and almost surreal to me that this is their truth.
June 13, 2009
The Deadly Toll of Abortion by Amateurs
I was reading this article from the New York Times, and it caught my eye. I think because of the recent murder of Dr. Tiller, who I knew nothing about until his murder. The article pertains to abortions in African, Tanzania, specifically. It basically covers how unprofessional abortions are dangerous.
In Tanzania, abortion is illegal, nonetheless, women still seek the procedure. The article quotes a Dr. Bdoe frequently who is over a clinic in a city called Berega. Women come to his clinic to fix issues that have been caused due to botched abortions. He states that "the steady stream of cases reflects widespread ignorance about contraception. Young people in the region do not seem to know much or care much about birth control or safe sex."
The article continues to say that "in most countries the rates of abortion, whether legal or illegal — and abortion-related deaths — tend to decrease when the use of birth control increases."
Although the article highlighed abortion in developing countries, I find that in and out of context, the quotes can be applied to the United States. In South Carolina public schools are only allowed to teach abstinence, which obviously does not work. Instead of adapting with the times, sex education does not advance with the idea that young people are actively, and often times ignorantly having sex. When I say ignorantly, I mean young people are having sex without recognizing the consequences or how to prevent unwanted consequences that do not suite the lifestyle they are hoping/wanting to lead. I honestly believe that by providing accuarate information, choice (I prefer option), and education (because that can never be taken from an individual) unwanted pregnancy, specifically with teenagers, can be decreased. Barak Obama said in his commencement at Notre Dame that we need to "work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term." To meet that goal, contraception and education would be a good start.
In South Carolina, as of September 2006, there were 25,860 pregnancies in girls under the age of 20, and out of those pregnancies, 6000 ended in abortion.
U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics
National and State Trends and
Trends by Race and Ethnicity
Guttmacher Institute
I was reading this article from the New York Times, and it caught my eye. I think because of the recent murder of Dr. Tiller, who I knew nothing about until his murder. The article pertains to abortions in African, Tanzania, specifically. It basically covers how unprofessional abortions are dangerous.
In Tanzania, abortion is illegal, nonetheless, women still seek the procedure. The article quotes a Dr. Bdoe frequently who is over a clinic in a city called Berega. Women come to his clinic to fix issues that have been caused due to botched abortions. He states that "the steady stream of cases reflects widespread ignorance about contraception. Young people in the region do not seem to know much or care much about birth control or safe sex."
The article continues to say that "in most countries the rates of abortion, whether legal or illegal — and abortion-related deaths — tend to decrease when the use of birth control increases."
Although the article highlighed abortion in developing countries, I find that in and out of context, the quotes can be applied to the United States. In South Carolina public schools are only allowed to teach abstinence, which obviously does not work. Instead of adapting with the times, sex education does not advance with the idea that young people are actively, and often times ignorantly having sex. When I say ignorantly, I mean young people are having sex without recognizing the consequences or how to prevent unwanted consequences that do not suite the lifestyle they are hoping/wanting to lead. I honestly believe that by providing accuarate information, choice (I prefer option), and education (because that can never be taken from an individual) unwanted pregnancy, specifically with teenagers, can be decreased. Barak Obama said in his commencement at Notre Dame that we need to "work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term." To meet that goal, contraception and education would be a good start.
In South Carolina, as of September 2006, there were 25,860 pregnancies in girls under the age of 20, and out of those pregnancies, 6000 ended in abortion.
U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics
National and State Trends and
Trends by Race and Ethnicity
Guttmacher Institute
June 7, 2009
April 7, 2009
Van crashes in Midtown; kills pregnant woman driver allegedly attempted to flirt with
Unnecessary catcalling gone wrong.
March 11, 2009
Respectability
I just got back from a speech on women and the role they play in this whole Iraq situation, etc.
I'm not sure that I was paying attention to all of it, I got the general idea of what she was trying to say, but...this is what I did catch and hold on to.
Women in all societies strive to have and keep respectability. In actuality respectability is in the eye of the beholder. As a woman, you can fill social norms and expectations so that you can be respectable, but in actuality, you have no control over it. Women are concerned with the decisions they make that may jeopardize their respectability with others in their society.
So what I take from that...
There can be a plethora of things I want to do/be/enjoy, but because society (i.e. THE MAN...he he) may view me as disrespectful (or enter any other negative word that may refer to women) I cannot do it. In order to stay in a positive light, I must please those around me, even if that means sacrificing some of myself or what I believe in to do so.
I feel as if I can think of how this idea impacts women's lives negatively, and can limit freedoms.
1.sexuality
2.career
3.relationships/marriage
4.children (or the lack there of)
5.religion
I'm not sure that I was paying attention to all of it, I got the general idea of what she was trying to say, but...this is what I did catch and hold on to.
Women in all societies strive to have and keep respectability. In actuality respectability is in the eye of the beholder. As a woman, you can fill social norms and expectations so that you can be respectable, but in actuality, you have no control over it. Women are concerned with the decisions they make that may jeopardize their respectability with others in their society.
So what I take from that...
There can be a plethora of things I want to do/be/enjoy, but because society (i.e. THE MAN...he he) may view me as disrespectful (or enter any other negative word that may refer to women) I cannot do it. In order to stay in a positive light, I must please those around me, even if that means sacrificing some of myself or what I believe in to do so.
I feel as if I can think of how this idea impacts women's lives negatively, and can limit freedoms.
1.sexuality
2.career
3.relationships/marriage
4.children (or the lack there of)
5.religion
June 27, 2008
18 holes and relentless sexism
I attempt to read an article off of nytimes.com once a day. I'll browse the page, and what catches my eye, is what I'll read first. Today it was "Women Battle for Rights at Phoenix Country Club." I was interested because, I will admit, I have a slight tendency to make presumptions about the "type" of people that are members of country clubs. My presumptions usually lead to prejudices. Not something I am proud of, but its the truth.
Basically, what I am saying is, I'm not remotely surprised that the women in a country club don't have equal rights to men within the country club.
At the country club there are two grill rooms. The one for the men is opened all the time with a bar. The grill room for women isn't opened all the time, therefore women cannot eat when they please, and there is no bar. Men who have sense, and decided to bring their wives into the the men's grill room have been harassed, and their property defaced.
"As teenage boys saunter into the sumptuously appointed men’s grill room, their mothers are relegated to the ladies’ grill, down the hall with a hot plate, some card tables and no bar. The club also has a formal dining room, where men and women are welcome, but it is closed between meals and is not a spot to get a drink."
Due to pressure the country club is making renovations to the dining room (where the women are able to eat with the men...did I mention THIS IS RIDICULOUS) and the two grill rooms. The grill rooms will remain separate, but will have the same accommodations. *cough* This sounds a little something like "separate but equal," and we all know IT DOES NOT WORK.
This has to be one of the most archaic institutions that I thought did not exist anymore. I mean we all know they are out there, but to think people are so avid about keeping men and women separate, while men obviously have the upper hand.
"Charges of sexism against private golf clubs are not uncommon; the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, where the Masters is held each year, does not permit women to be members."
McCain has ties to the county club. *insert unsurprised face* Although he is not a member, his son Andrew McCain is one.
You can read the article by using the below link.
Cozy Spot to Eat After Golf, but Women Are Barred
Basically, what I am saying is, I'm not remotely surprised that the women in a country club don't have equal rights to men within the country club.
At the country club there are two grill rooms. The one for the men is opened all the time with a bar. The grill room for women isn't opened all the time, therefore women cannot eat when they please, and there is no bar. Men who have sense, and decided to bring their wives into the the men's grill room have been harassed, and their property defaced.
"As teenage boys saunter into the sumptuously appointed men’s grill room, their mothers are relegated to the ladies’ grill, down the hall with a hot plate, some card tables and no bar. The club also has a formal dining room, where men and women are welcome, but it is closed between meals and is not a spot to get a drink."
Due to pressure the country club is making renovations to the dining room (where the women are able to eat with the men...did I mention THIS IS RIDICULOUS) and the two grill rooms. The grill rooms will remain separate, but will have the same accommodations. *cough* This sounds a little something like "separate but equal," and we all know IT DOES NOT WORK.
This has to be one of the most archaic institutions that I thought did not exist anymore. I mean we all know they are out there, but to think people are so avid about keeping men and women separate, while men obviously have the upper hand.
"Charges of sexism against private golf clubs are not uncommon; the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, where the Masters is held each year, does not permit women to be members."
McCain has ties to the county club. *insert unsurprised face* Although he is not a member, his son Andrew McCain is one.
You can read the article by using the below link.
Cozy Spot to Eat After Golf, but Women Are Barred
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