In response to the readings for September 24, Lynn Paltrow’s presentation, and reading several other responses, I feel that I have quickly learned a lot about Amendment 48. Just like the general voting population, up until this point I honestly knew relatively little about it. In an ideal society everyone would be more knowledgeable about what is going on and actually do their homework in order to make a more educated decision. However this is far from reality. I think Sarah raised a valid point in saying that, “…on the surface trying to protect babies seems like an amazing thing to do,” but then again, I agree that this does not consider the potential repercussions of such an act and how it would impact American culture and society as a whole. Furthermore, as I continued reading, I decided to check out the comment posted on Raishel’s blog and followed the link left by Diana Hsieh, Founder, Coalition for Secular Government. Although I got a little side tracked, out of curiosity I decided to print it out and read it. (Way to go Raishel, bonus points for getting someone outside the class to comment on your blog!)
Now, in an effort to expand on this, the article, Amendment 48 Is Anti-Life: Why It Matters That a Fertilized Egg Is Not a Person, by Ari Armstrong and Diana Hsieh, raises some more issues to consider. (Once again, the link for it if anyone else is interested is, http://www.SecularGovernment.us/docs/a48.pdf .) For instance, it would impact Section 31: Person defined, along with Section 3: Inalienable rights, Section 6: Equality of justice, and Section 25: Due process of law. In conjunction with this, Chelsea’s question about how it will affect women who choose to undergo an abortion mentions the reality that a pregnant lady faces the potential of being convicted of murder and going to jail. As if that is not crazy enough, then what would happen to a woman who miscarries or possibly gives birth to a still born regardless whether it be intentionally inflicted or a twist of bad fate and simply of natural causes? In this instance then under Amendment 48 would it seriously be possible to prosecute and criminally charge her? Furthermore, in an even more drastic way of fully upholding Amendment 48’s commitment to protecting the lives of the unborn, then could the government really go after pregnant women who clean house, drink coffee, and exercise simply based on the fact that all these everyday activities may pose a potential harm to the unborn baby “according to law.” Amendment 48, if passed would by far extend past protecting babies but infringe on the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, terminating the rights of those who may be pro-choice, outlaw many commonly practiced forms of birth control, threaten the operation of reproductive clinics and ban medical research such as stem cell research. In conclusion, this would all be at the expense of overstepping liberty and aborting the rights of an expectant mother’s life and body to ultimately place a value on pregnant women as a whole to simply serving as the vessel for “the law” to protect in the best interest of the newly developing, speechless, unaware “person.”
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
48
Like many other people who have posted on here, I found last week’s lecture very exciting and very engaging. I was aware of amendment 48 but I had no idea just how far it was trying to go. It worries me that people are very ignorant on it or just don’t know anything about it and what the consequences of that will be at election time. If people were well educated on this subject, there is no way that it would pass but that might not necessarily be the case. It’s scary to think that something with such catastrophic potential could be passed because people just have a general idea of what it means.
I was very happy and surprised to learn just how many pro-life or religious women/couples were against 48. That is exactly the type of crowd that amendment 48 is trying to target and it would be very easy for those groups of people to be tricked/persuaded into this because it appears to be the first steps in ending abortion. However, amendment 48 is not really about abortion but women's rights. For many years, I was oblivious to the privilege I had as a straight white male and the issue of privilege struck me while listening to the lecture. In no way whatsoever would anything remotely like this ever happen to a heterosexual male in America. By that, I mean where self-rights and freedom are being taken away based off other person’s opinions or values. This goes against everything that the United States stands for, yet people seem to ignore the fact that it violates women’s constitutional rights. Regardless of what people believe in, it frustrates people that our political system is being dominated by personal beliefs and values. There is no strong scientific evidence backing this claim and Americans have the right to freedom, yet both of those topics seemed to be ignored in amendment 48. I have a question and if anyone knows the answer, let me know in class. Even if this passes, could/would the Supreme Court declare it unconstitutional?
I was very happy and surprised to learn just how many pro-life or religious women/couples were against 48. That is exactly the type of crowd that amendment 48 is trying to target and it would be very easy for those groups of people to be tricked/persuaded into this because it appears to be the first steps in ending abortion. However, amendment 48 is not really about abortion but women's rights. For many years, I was oblivious to the privilege I had as a straight white male and the issue of privilege struck me while listening to the lecture. In no way whatsoever would anything remotely like this ever happen to a heterosexual male in America. By that, I mean where self-rights and freedom are being taken away based off other person’s opinions or values. This goes against everything that the United States stands for, yet people seem to ignore the fact that it violates women’s constitutional rights. Regardless of what people believe in, it frustrates people that our political system is being dominated by personal beliefs and values. There is no strong scientific evidence backing this claim and Americans have the right to freedom, yet both of those topics seemed to be ignored in amendment 48. I have a question and if anyone knows the answer, let me know in class. Even if this passes, could/would the Supreme Court declare it unconstitutional?
Pregnancy Warfare
Walking home after Lynn Paltrow’s presentation, I realized how angry and agitated I had become while she was speaking. I was just so angry that society feels they have some sort of right to take away individual’s power. I thought her presentation was amazing. I especially loved that she had so many stories about real women. It just showed how amendment 48 really does affect real people in very harmful ways. I was so angry because I couldn’t believe that there is possibly going to be a law that takes away a woman’s right and ownership of her body.
I really liked Sarah’s comment on how a woman should not have to live in fear of pregnancy. My older sister is pregnant with her first baby and she is due this Sunday. I am so excited for my first little nephew and I cannot wait to see the little guy. Miranda, my sister, was telling me that there are so many books out there telling pregnant women that each ache and pain and change in their body could be a signal that something is horribly wrong with her or the baby. I know they want women to be cautious, but being pregnant should not be about living in fear of your body. I am so stunned that there are people out there that want to make women not only afraid of their bodies, but afraid of what the law can to do to their bodies. In one of my other GWST classes, we discussed how women are forced to live in the realm of the body, constantly being told that we are our bodies. I think that women are SO much more than just their bodies, but it’s disgusting that people are trying to make women so powerless that they don’t even have control of their bodies.
My sister luckily lives in Santa Cruz, California which has a very natural and open view of pregnancy. She would like to have a natural childbirth and has found a doctor that supports that and a midwife who will back her up on her decision. It just saddens me that something as beautiful and natural as pregnancy has become a war for ownership of women.
I really liked Sarah’s comment on how a woman should not have to live in fear of pregnancy. My older sister is pregnant with her first baby and she is due this Sunday. I am so excited for my first little nephew and I cannot wait to see the little guy. Miranda, my sister, was telling me that there are so many books out there telling pregnant women that each ache and pain and change in their body could be a signal that something is horribly wrong with her or the baby. I know they want women to be cautious, but being pregnant should not be about living in fear of your body. I am so stunned that there are people out there that want to make women not only afraid of their bodies, but afraid of what the law can to do to their bodies. In one of my other GWST classes, we discussed how women are forced to live in the realm of the body, constantly being told that we are our bodies. I think that women are SO much more than just their bodies, but it’s disgusting that people are trying to make women so powerless that they don’t even have control of their bodies.
My sister luckily lives in Santa Cruz, California which has a very natural and open view of pregnancy. She would like to have a natural childbirth and has found a doctor that supports that and a midwife who will back her up on her decision. It just saddens me that something as beautiful and natural as pregnancy has become a war for ownership of women.
Part One of my Civic Engagement Project
For the first part of my Civic Engagement Project I decided to help out with the After Hours Event at the Molly Brown House. I started out my project by putting together a poster for the event, which I sent out to the History Department and other various departments around DU. And then I attended the event. It was the last night of their “No Pink Tea” exhibit which was very interesting! It was great to wander around the house and talk with the docents about the history of Molly Brown and the House.
During the event it inspired me to become a docent. Yes part of the inspiration was that I could actually wear a big old hat as I give the tour, but I also thought it would be fun to teach people about Denver’s history. I truly got inspired to get involved. Unfortunately it looks like that my being a docent will not be happening until January, but I am still very excited and interested to get involved. While at the event I was able to read and talk to people about women’s suffrage.
Obviously this event had a lot to do with class. Since we not only had the Museum come and talked to our class about women’s suffrage but we also read quite a few articles about the same issues. I am very glad that I got involved in this. Without this class I would not have known about this event, and would never have been able to get involved in not only Denver’s History but Denver’s Women’s Suffrage history.
What is America Coming to?
Oh wow where to begin! I want to first start off by saying that I agree with what Chelsea said about the fear of people not really understanding what the Amendment really means. I have never been passionate about a cause before now, the idea that Amendment 48 could actually pass in Colorado scares me to death! It is funny because when it comes down to brass tacks I am not able to vote in CO and so this will not even effect me, but it truly bothers me that if this Amendment does pass that it will take away the rights of not only pregnant mothers but mothers who don’t want to be mothers yet. (if that makes any sense at all).
It was great to have Lynn Paltrow come in and talk to us. She really brought up some points that had never really crossed my mind. Honestly I had never thought about the idea of a fetus having a lawyer! There is seriously something wrong with a country who gives better lawyers to a mother’s stomach then to the mother herself. I was shocked to hear about the case of Angela Carter. It is scary that the government gives precedence to an unborn child then a mother who is living and breathing. The worst part of the whole case was the fact that they both ended up not surviving the surgery.
Overall I want to say that Ashley hit the nail on the head when she said that Amendment 48 is absolutely ridiculous and that the consequences will be barbaric. It is frightening to believe that the loop holes in this Amendment could outlaw birth control (for everyone whether they are using birth control as a contraceptive or for medical reasons), make abortion illegal, outlaw the death penalty and those are just a few of the effects it could have on Colorado Residence.
48
I agree with Chelsea about the point that our jails are already overcrowded. I believe Lynn said something about how laws are manipulated to convict 'problem' people and put them in jail beacause we don't want to deal with them and it's easier than solving the actual problem. This law among many others will most likely be used to put poor, uneducated, single, minority women in jail. I think this is a problem too, it's like we make laws with invisible loopholes in them to convict people instead of doing something proactive like creating more sex education programs or trying to alleviate poverty. The government's solution is just to make law after law that incriminates the ignorant. If amendment 48 gets passed I will worry for all women but mostly minority and poor women.
Another point someone made that worries me is that some people believe exactly what they see on the surface. On the surface trying to protect babies seems like an amazing thing to do, but if the population doesn't hear the startling stories and the truth about what 48 will be used for they will vote in favor of it. I have seen ads on TV for a few other amendments but none for 48 which makes me think people don't know it's potential harm.
Another point someone made that worries me is that some people believe exactly what they see on the surface. On the surface trying to protect babies seems like an amazing thing to do, but if the population doesn't hear the startling stories and the truth about what 48 will be used for they will vote in favor of it. I have seen ads on TV for a few other amendments but none for 48 which makes me think people don't know it's potential harm.
Amendement 48
I agree that this has been the most interesting conversation that we have had as a class so far. It just seems so crazy that one girl can write an amendment and go to Colorado Springs and get Focus on the Family to sponser it and get enough votes. My biggest fear is that not enough people are going to see what this amendment really means. The amendement is worded beautifully and some people might not see the harm in it. I really loved this lecture because it made me think about things relating to the amendment that I did not realize were going to happen. I knew the rights of pregnant women would be violated, but not to the extent that I found out about last Wednesday. I personally would never have an abortion, but I do not believe that it the the governments' right to take my option away from me. It made me question what is going to happen to all the women that choose to have an abortion. Since they will be convicted of murder they will go to jail. Our jails are overcrowded as it is. There is no way that the state of Colorado can fit all those women in the jail system. Another thing that really upsets me about this amendment is that the fetus gets the rights of a normal person such as legal counsel. The fetus is completely dependent on the mother and it should be up to the mother as to what to do with the fetus. Another question that I was going to ask, but forgot to, was that the fact that Roe V Wade is still in tact in the federal government. Federal government always beats out state government so if it does go through, what is the chance that the amendment will be appealed? I talked to some people in my other classes about this amendment and it is pretty interesting about what they say. Some say that you are a bad christian if you do not vote for this amendment and that this is what God wants. I have to say that I am Roman Catholic and I believe that God does not want this kind of amendment going through from my standpoint. Motherhood is something that is respected in the bible and it should be respected in the world today. If people are truly christian, they would understand that pregnant women's rights are just as important as the fetus.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Amendment 48 (ERRR!)
Wow! This has been my favorite discussion so far! Lynn Paltrow (I really hope I spelled that right) really opened my mind to a lot of horrific ideas I think a lot of people are unable to handle, and I really appreciate her coming to speak with us. This particular conversation really hit home for me because my delivery was not a smooth one, and my right shoulder was dislocated in the process. The sweet, kind, gentle, and caring doctor who delivered me failed to tell my mom what had happened (he was late for another appointment and apparently really ambitious about being on time) and by the time someone fessed up, the damage to my nerves was permanent. I cannot raise my arm above my head, nor can I straighten it out, and it hangs at a strange angle when it's at my side.
By now, I fully understand if you're saying to yourself, thank you, Ashley, for that insignificant trip down memory lane. But here's where the important part comes in: a year and a few months after giving birth to me, my mom was going to have my brother, and wanted a natural birth. Doctors wouldn't comply, and she ended up having a C-section. There's no way of telling if Arden (my brother) was actually at risk or not of having similar injuries. Then, in 2005, my sister was arranging the birth of my niece and she was told the chances were too great that her baby would be injured in deli every, and she ended up having a C-section.
Though my story (and my brother's and niece's stories) is not as tragic and outrageous as some of the other stories Lynn told us, I still feel extremely passionate about these issues. Let it be known that I am completely pro-choice. I agree with Sarah in that I do not believe any one should tell a woman what to do with her body. It's her life that is being affected, and I don't believe a doctor or lawyer should have any say. Amendment 48 seems completely bogus to me. I thought our laws were supposed to protect our rights as Americans, not infringe upon them. This amendment would establish ideas in our justice system that are not just! The idea of a lawyer representing a fetus at an emergency trial - wow. How can you represent something - excuse me, someone - that cannot even speak for itself? Heck, how do you know that fetus would choose to be delivered by C-section? Perhaps that fetus, which we all know is very knowledgeable and understands these issues that are taking place while it's in its mommy's tummy, sees the value in a natural birth and would (assuming it could talk) commend its mother for going through with a natural birth. Sound a bit far-fetched? Perhaps. But having a lawyer represent a fetus? That's no where near absurd. And emergency, bed-side trials used to trap women while they're in labor? To me, that's playing dirty. What can she do, except suck up the pain and run away, while she is in active labor to prevent her rights from being violated? Furthermore, I don't see anyone rushing to set up emergency bed-side trials for living, sick people (that's not to say that a fetus isn't alive - that's open to interpretation - but by living person I mean someone who is not residing in someone else's body). Where's the justice in that?
I don't mean to be offensive. I apologize if I come off as rude. But Amendment 48, in my eyes, is absolutely ridiculous, and the consequences are completely barbaric. And banning birth control? From our conversation Wednesday, I understand the arguments behind it.... but I still see no logic to it. I still say you cannot protect something that is nothing.
By now, I fully understand if you're saying to yourself, thank you, Ashley, for that insignificant trip down memory lane. But here's where the important part comes in: a year and a few months after giving birth to me, my mom was going to have my brother, and wanted a natural birth. Doctors wouldn't comply, and she ended up having a C-section. There's no way of telling if Arden (my brother) was actually at risk or not of having similar injuries. Then, in 2005, my sister was arranging the birth of my niece and she was told the chances were too great that her baby would be injured in deli every, and she ended up having a C-section.
Though my story (and my brother's and niece's stories) is not as tragic and outrageous as some of the other stories Lynn told us, I still feel extremely passionate about these issues. Let it be known that I am completely pro-choice. I agree with Sarah in that I do not believe any one should tell a woman what to do with her body. It's her life that is being affected, and I don't believe a doctor or lawyer should have any say. Amendment 48 seems completely bogus to me. I thought our laws were supposed to protect our rights as Americans, not infringe upon them. This amendment would establish ideas in our justice system that are not just! The idea of a lawyer representing a fetus at an emergency trial - wow. How can you represent something - excuse me, someone - that cannot even speak for itself? Heck, how do you know that fetus would choose to be delivered by C-section? Perhaps that fetus, which we all know is very knowledgeable and understands these issues that are taking place while it's in its mommy's tummy, sees the value in a natural birth and would (assuming it could talk) commend its mother for going through with a natural birth. Sound a bit far-fetched? Perhaps. But having a lawyer represent a fetus? That's no where near absurd. And emergency, bed-side trials used to trap women while they're in labor? To me, that's playing dirty. What can she do, except suck up the pain and run away, while she is in active labor to prevent her rights from being violated? Furthermore, I don't see anyone rushing to set up emergency bed-side trials for living, sick people (that's not to say that a fetus isn't alive - that's open to interpretation - but by living person I mean someone who is not residing in someone else's body). Where's the justice in that?
I don't mean to be offensive. I apologize if I come off as rude. But Amendment 48, in my eyes, is absolutely ridiculous, and the consequences are completely barbaric. And banning birth control? From our conversation Wednesday, I understand the arguments behind it.... but I still see no logic to it. I still say you cannot protect something that is nothing.
amendment 48
I thought the talk on Wed. about the dangers of passing amendment 48 was horrifying. I am pro-choice under any circumstances. I've always thought it is ludicrous that politicians who are mostly male even care if a woman has a child or not. The decision a woman makes to get an abortion does not affect them in any way so I simply can't wrap my head around why they're concerned. I always figured amendments like this one would harm people closer to my own demographic. Unmarried women who aren't ready for a baby yet or have things they want to accomplish in life before they begin having children or anyone who doesn't feel they can handle a baby financially or emotionally or whatever the case may be.
But what Lynn spoke of really opened my eyes. I never thought this amendment would be used against pregnant women. During her talk I again found myself completely confused about why anyone besides the mother and father and their friends and family would care about the fate of their child. Why do doctors and lawyers feel so strongly about the infants chance at life that they strip the mother of her rights as a human being just to make sure the child makes it? After soaking in Lynn's talk and the articles we read it seemed like the moment a woman becomes pregnant she becomes a criminal or at least a suspect, who everyone assumes is not looking out for the best interest of her child. If this amendment gets passed, or even if it doesn't, whenever it becomes time for me to start having children I think I will be afraid that I won't be able to make my own decisions and will be forced to have a C-section or put in jail because I had one glass of wine during my pregnancy or something equally ridiculous. I think all the ideologies surrounding this amendment are completely out of whack and just plain wrong and women who become pregnant shouldn't have to live in fear of doing something wrong or worry that they won't get to make important decisions regarding their own body.
But what Lynn spoke of really opened my eyes. I never thought this amendment would be used against pregnant women. During her talk I again found myself completely confused about why anyone besides the mother and father and their friends and family would care about the fate of their child. Why do doctors and lawyers feel so strongly about the infants chance at life that they strip the mother of her rights as a human being just to make sure the child makes it? After soaking in Lynn's talk and the articles we read it seemed like the moment a woman becomes pregnant she becomes a criminal or at least a suspect, who everyone assumes is not looking out for the best interest of her child. If this amendment gets passed, or even if it doesn't, whenever it becomes time for me to start having children I think I will be afraid that I won't be able to make my own decisions and will be forced to have a C-section or put in jail because I had one glass of wine during my pregnancy or something equally ridiculous. I think all the ideologies surrounding this amendment are completely out of whack and just plain wrong and women who become pregnant shouldn't have to live in fear of doing something wrong or worry that they won't get to make important decisions regarding their own body.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
So Much Food For Thought...
As I wrestle with the implications of Amendment 48, so too do I wrestle with my views on abortion in general.
I had always considered myself pro-choice, but felt that I could well understand where the other side was coming from. My biggest struggle was, and perhaps still is, with late term abortions. Should the state be able to force a woman to go to term after viability, especially if she discovers that the child will be severely disabled, or even die?
My first thought was that this was a form of eugenics, and was morally, and perhaps should even be legally, wrong. But then the thought of a mother having to carry a baby to term, knowing that she would lose that child within the year, was heart-breaking, and I felt that no one should, against their will, be forced to undergo that stress and trauma. Then, of course, I found myself facing my questions all over again while talking to a friend of mine who, when born, had many physical problems that were supposed to, but didn't, manifest themselves in a permanent disability. And I think from this that the chord that anti-abortion activists always try to hit us is a reasonable one--we wouldn't be here if we were aborted.
But then, we also wouldn't be here if we happened to have been miscarried, stillborn, etc, or any number of other factors. Can we really force people to carry a pregnancy to term on what might be?
Lynn Paltrow's talk made me see the subject in a whole new light. It seems so wrong that any woman would have to legally give up her own autonomy and personhood for the sake of someone else's. And perhaps her best point was the fact that fetal life does have value--moral, emotional, etc.--to many people, but that giving it legal value can have devastating effects. For women to be locked away for fetal death and still births, for women to be denied the right to control their own bodies and healthcare, is a travesty. And yet, because there can be so much value that we, as individuals or a society, see in the potential life of a fetus, especially as it grows nearer to term, it is difficult not to wrestle with this issue.
I believe that Amendment 48 is a nightmare waiting to happen--and hopefully it won't. But are there any circumstances in which it is okay to ban abortion, or limit it to preserving the life and health of the mother? When it comes to late term abortions, I'm not always sure. Every time I think I have an answer, I realize that I don't. And maybe that really is the reason it should be left up to the individual. If I cannot answer even for myself, what gives me the right to answer for someone else?
I had always considered myself pro-choice, but felt that I could well understand where the other side was coming from. My biggest struggle was, and perhaps still is, with late term abortions. Should the state be able to force a woman to go to term after viability, especially if she discovers that the child will be severely disabled, or even die?
My first thought was that this was a form of eugenics, and was morally, and perhaps should even be legally, wrong. But then the thought of a mother having to carry a baby to term, knowing that she would lose that child within the year, was heart-breaking, and I felt that no one should, against their will, be forced to undergo that stress and trauma. Then, of course, I found myself facing my questions all over again while talking to a friend of mine who, when born, had many physical problems that were supposed to, but didn't, manifest themselves in a permanent disability. And I think from this that the chord that anti-abortion activists always try to hit us is a reasonable one--we wouldn't be here if we were aborted.
But then, we also wouldn't be here if we happened to have been miscarried, stillborn, etc, or any number of other factors. Can we really force people to carry a pregnancy to term on what might be?
Lynn Paltrow's talk made me see the subject in a whole new light. It seems so wrong that any woman would have to legally give up her own autonomy and personhood for the sake of someone else's. And perhaps her best point was the fact that fetal life does have value--moral, emotional, etc.--to many people, but that giving it legal value can have devastating effects. For women to be locked away for fetal death and still births, for women to be denied the right to control their own bodies and healthcare, is a travesty. And yet, because there can be so much value that we, as individuals or a society, see in the potential life of a fetus, especially as it grows nearer to term, it is difficult not to wrestle with this issue.
I believe that Amendment 48 is a nightmare waiting to happen--and hopefully it won't. But are there any circumstances in which it is okay to ban abortion, or limit it to preserving the life and health of the mother? When it comes to late term abortions, I'm not always sure. Every time I think I have an answer, I realize that I don't. And maybe that really is the reason it should be left up to the individual. If I cannot answer even for myself, what gives me the right to answer for someone else?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
"Introduction" and "Molly Brown and Women in Politics"
Introduction
My name is Tracy Ann Nelson, but right now I’m in the process of changing my name to Zoey Wyn Nelson. Long story short I’ve never liked my name because it’s too plain for someone as crazy as me. I grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado for the most part, but I prefer to think of Chicago as my hometown (where I was born, and lived until the age of 8). I’m an English major, and minoring in Urban Studies and American History. Hopefully I’ll be starting my Master’s in Education program next fall and then onward to be the best inner city English teacher ever…or something like that.
Throughout my education at DU I’ve seeked out opportunities to take classes about the “other”. Old, rich, dead, white guys have never been my thing. I also think that because I hope to teach a very diverse population it’s my prerogative to know much more about the non old, rich, dead, white guy. When I was registering for classes last spring I realized I wasn’t well versed in the gender other of women. I had taken for that for granted. It’s easy to forget sometime in our progressive world that women are still not treated equally if you aren’t reminded on a regular basis about your identity. Since I’ve always liked GWST colloquiums I figured it was time to start my formal education on my forgotten other.
Molly Brown and Women in Politics
I almost feel embarrassed that I only knew Margaret Brown as “the unsinkable”; thankfully I know I’m not alone on that note. One of the most paradoxical and as result most striking aspects of Molly Brown’s life, and those women she associated with during that time period was the fact that women could run for office, but could not vote. It kind of seems along the line of the colonist’s objection “no taxation, without representation” but backwards. Women could be represented in a way, but couldn’t vote for them.
Until last Wednesday I didn’t know that women could run for office, and I wonder why that isn’t more emphasized in American History. Of course, there wasn’t very many (I assume) and they probably very rarely won, it seems strange that it was never once mentioned in my mandatory history classes in high school (and if it was underplayed).
While Molly wasn’t elected, her friend was. What do you think accounted for that: personal characteristics, contingency, or simply a bad alternative? I’m interested in learning what other people think. Does this strike anyone else as particularly interesting? My guess is that Molly Brown was probably a bit more ascorbic then her contemporary. She could also have been running against a very qualified candidate that was clearly better suited for the job. It could have also been the fact that the people voting were not willing to have a woman in office.
My name is Tracy Ann Nelson, but right now I’m in the process of changing my name to Zoey Wyn Nelson. Long story short I’ve never liked my name because it’s too plain for someone as crazy as me. I grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado for the most part, but I prefer to think of Chicago as my hometown (where I was born, and lived until the age of 8). I’m an English major, and minoring in Urban Studies and American History. Hopefully I’ll be starting my Master’s in Education program next fall and then onward to be the best inner city English teacher ever…or something like that.
Throughout my education at DU I’ve seeked out opportunities to take classes about the “other”. Old, rich, dead, white guys have never been my thing. I also think that because I hope to teach a very diverse population it’s my prerogative to know much more about the non old, rich, dead, white guy. When I was registering for classes last spring I realized I wasn’t well versed in the gender other of women. I had taken for that for granted. It’s easy to forget sometime in our progressive world that women are still not treated equally if you aren’t reminded on a regular basis about your identity. Since I’ve always liked GWST colloquiums I figured it was time to start my formal education on my forgotten other.
Molly Brown and Women in Politics
I almost feel embarrassed that I only knew Margaret Brown as “the unsinkable”; thankfully I know I’m not alone on that note. One of the most paradoxical and as result most striking aspects of Molly Brown’s life, and those women she associated with during that time period was the fact that women could run for office, but could not vote. It kind of seems along the line of the colonist’s objection “no taxation, without representation” but backwards. Women could be represented in a way, but couldn’t vote for them.
Until last Wednesday I didn’t know that women could run for office, and I wonder why that isn’t more emphasized in American History. Of course, there wasn’t very many (I assume) and they probably very rarely won, it seems strange that it was never once mentioned in my mandatory history classes in high school (and if it was underplayed).
While Molly wasn’t elected, her friend was. What do you think accounted for that: personal characteristics, contingency, or simply a bad alternative? I’m interested in learning what other people think. Does this strike anyone else as particularly interesting? My guess is that Molly Brown was probably a bit more ascorbic then her contemporary. She could also have been running against a very qualified candidate that was clearly better suited for the job. It could have also been the fact that the people voting were not willing to have a woman in office.
For me Molly Brown was not a name that I knew very well. I kept hearing about these stories of the titanic and how she was on it. But after the presentation and going to the Molly Brown house I have grown a new appreciation for this amazing woman. I can now look at her in full perspective and argue yes she was amazing but was she all that she could have been? After the readings and doing a little bit more research on the suffrage movement I feel like Margaret Brown gets all this attention for being very main stream. I look at her life and I see that she really strived to become empowered in the system that she lived in and really wanted to empower other privileged women around her but never the people who don’t have any power in the society. I know the suffrage movement was a big deal to the white women who lived on the higher end of society, but did it really help women of color and the working class women? They were not fighting for jobs, they had to work every day alongside their husbands, and they did not need the right to work. I feel like the suffrage movement was a really good thing for white men because it allowed them to keep the people of color in check, using their wives as a second vote they could out vote lower class groups. So for me I feel like Molly Brown was out spoken for what she cared for but she only did it in the confines of her class and race privilege, if she was alive today I would ask her are you really about making the world a better place for all or are you worried about making the world a better place for you and only people like you?
So we are told to introduce ourselves in 300-500 words, and to me that feels like the greatest challenge of my life. Is it even possible to explain to anyone who we are in such a short amount of space, I don’t think so but here is my best attempt. Hi, my name is Christopher Turner, I am a queer, biological male, who is gender queer, multiracial, and able bodied among many other things. I went to High School in Colorado Springs right next to New Life Church with all the ‘intense’ Christians. I am a firm believer in social justice and feel that if I only do one thing in the world then that is I did my best to make it a more socially just place! So that’s a little about me!
The things that draw me to gender and women studies is the fact that most of these classes cause me to rethink the way that I think about myself and the world. They really open up my eyes to the many different possibilities that exist out there. Also what interests me about gender and politics is the great disconnect of the American public and the double standards that we have in this country. I really do not see how it is possible for people to see the mounds of racism and sexism that plague this country on a daily bases. I also would like to gain a different perspective on how women view the political world because I feel like that perspective can help me become a better ally to all women. And in the end for me I have come to learn that the personal is political and that no matter what that we have to fight for our rights over our bodies, our minds, and our rights to equal treatment!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Men vs. Women
I liked that quote a lot that Graham used about women not having the chance to make the same mistakes as men. I've never really thought about it that way before. I think as a society we definitely blame the men in power for things such as war, the economy and basically everything wrong with America and every other country on the planet. However, what we don't think about is that if women had been given the same opportunity to lead as men have been given they would still have to make those hard decisions and would be blamed for their bad choices. I think we put women politicians up on a pedestal and think that they operate by a different set of ideals and rules but in reality that isn't true. What would have been very interesting is having Hilary Clinton as president to see how the media reacted to her making tough decisions that we have only had the opportunity to see men make. Would a woman's decisions on topics like war and combat have a different public response than if a man made the same decision. I believe that it would and that she would never escape her gender. Anytime she would do something, it would always be perceived as a result of her gender while men's decisions are always separate from their gender.
Society’s Corset of Feminism Unbearable
During the week of September 17th, the course curriculum inside and outside of the classroom seemed to focus thematically on the intersection of feminism and social movements in history. In preparation for class, both readings, by Ellen Carol DuBois and Christine Stansell analyzed slightly more than the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the mid 1800s but went further in depth to critique one of the women behind it all, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Then, during Wednesday’s class, Anne Robb Levinsky, Director, and Kelly Rasmussen, Curator of Collections from the Molly Brown House gave a very interesting presentation entitled, “No Pink Tea”: Margaret Brown, Women’s Suffrage, and the 1908 Denver Convention. Picking up on the title, it covered a little bit of Margaret Brown’s life and served to depict the roles of feminism in social movements and politics at the time.
However in reflection of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Margaret Brown a lot of interesting points can be compared and contrasted when considering the roles of a proper lady and the constraints of politics in social movements. Beginning with some of the similarities, although the prime of Stanton’s lifetime is slightly before Tobin Brown’s, during the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s respectively, the role of a woman in society has silently been governed by social etiquette tighter than a Victorian corset. Just as suffocating, women were expected to be the epitome of feminine, by this I mean docile and delicate and very little more. Then again, both of these two women refused to sit back and be content sipping tea, instead they worked hard to become an instrument for change in the issues that mattered to them. So even in a time when women could not vote, openly express their opinions in public forum, or testify in court it did not stop Stanton or Tobin Brown from working to fight such a gender constricting system.
Now, in an effort to straighten out some of the stark differences between Stanton and Tobin Brown I would like to draw up on some of the information I learned this week through the readings, lecture, and visiting the Molly Brown House and Museum. Attempting to consider Stanton’s involvement with abolitionist movements, the readings perceived her as simply using the rhetoric of black oppression to later be stretched to rally pro-feminism, a personal agenda she worked on all her life. Whether she was actually racist or not is still to question. In contrast Tobin Brown assailed multiple causes relentlessly and worked for the good of others while not forgetting where she came from. In conclusion, whether it be fighting for women’s rights, organizing philanthropic work in an effort to better the community and lives of others, or attempting make a stand against the traditional male dominated opposition and run in a public office, I feel this demonstrates how far we have and have not come in terms of the roles and expectations of feminism in politics and social movements.
However in reflection of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Margaret Brown a lot of interesting points can be compared and contrasted when considering the roles of a proper lady and the constraints of politics in social movements. Beginning with some of the similarities, although the prime of Stanton’s lifetime is slightly before Tobin Brown’s, during the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s respectively, the role of a woman in society has silently been governed by social etiquette tighter than a Victorian corset. Just as suffocating, women were expected to be the epitome of feminine, by this I mean docile and delicate and very little more. Then again, both of these two women refused to sit back and be content sipping tea, instead they worked hard to become an instrument for change in the issues that mattered to them. So even in a time when women could not vote, openly express their opinions in public forum, or testify in court it did not stop Stanton or Tobin Brown from working to fight such a gender constricting system.
Now, in an effort to straighten out some of the stark differences between Stanton and Tobin Brown I would like to draw up on some of the information I learned this week through the readings, lecture, and visiting the Molly Brown House and Museum. Attempting to consider Stanton’s involvement with abolitionist movements, the readings perceived her as simply using the rhetoric of black oppression to later be stretched to rally pro-feminism, a personal agenda she worked on all her life. Whether she was actually racist or not is still to question. In contrast Tobin Brown assailed multiple causes relentlessly and worked for the good of others while not forgetting where she came from. In conclusion, whether it be fighting for women’s rights, organizing philanthropic work in an effort to better the community and lives of others, or attempting make a stand against the traditional male dominated opposition and run in a public office, I feel this demonstrates how far we have and have not come in terms of the roles and expectations of feminism in politics and social movements.
Like some others who have already posted, prior to the lecture my only knowledge of Margaret Brown was limited to "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," which always conjured an image of Kathy Bates saying, "Those are your men out there!" I had never even see a picture of Margaret Brown before the lecture. I must say though, the casting director for Titanic did a great job in casting Ms. Bates in terms of her and Margaret's resemblance.
One thing that surprised me in the lecture was learning about Margaret running for Colorado state senate in 1915. I suppose I assumed, with women given the right to vote only 22 years before, any attempt for a woman to obtain political office of some kind would be more locally based, that is minor office within the city or county, rather than a state representative. It seems as though even being in the running for state senate would be a difficult spot for a woman to procure during that period of time considering women's political role was more or less expected to be in the background, such as the expectation to take on a hospitality role (as Sarah pointed out) during the 1908 DNC. The lecturers spoke about Margaret's campaign photo being very feminine, which seems strange to me. I would think she would attempt to have an image more inline with the men she would be campaigning against, something that would serve to make her seem just as powerful and not a "fragile woman," especially after stating she would run "a regular man's campaign." But perhaps doing so would have created ill effects for her campaign.
I thought the headline "Visitor will find woman voter as modest and wise as wife or daughter" after women were given suffrage in Colorado was a little hilarious. That somehow a woman with the right to vote would be different than a woman without; as if the voting woman were a different breed - unruly and lacking necessary wisdom. I guess this same viewpoint plays into Margaret trying display her femininity in her campaign photo, just "as modest and wise as wife or daughter," sigh. The campaign game hasn't changed much.
I had an unfortunate, though familiar, round with my alarm clock Saturday morning and missed the scheduled tour of the Margaret Brown House, whann-whannn. This was very disappointing because I was really looking forward to getting a better idea of this celebrated woman. There's something about being exposed to someone's "Psychic Anchor," as Hunter S. Thompson referred to his home in Woody Creek, that can reveal more than facts and biographies can. Hopefully, I'll be able to visit the museum in the near future.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Molly or Margaret Brown: Independent Woman
Like Rashiel, I only really knew about Molly Brown from Titanic. I always seem to end up getting a large amount of my information from movies, television and other not so factual places. I need to really be wary of that, especially surrounding the election and really being able to decide for myself what is true and what is made up about a candidate. For instance, a lot of the campaign ads are pretty overblown and absurd, but I see them all the time and there is no way that they cannot be permeating my consciousness and making me form all sorts of opinions. Anyway, on the Margaret Brown front, I really enjoyed the presentation on Molly Brown. First of all, the fact that both the director and curator were SO protective and in awe of Molly Brown made the presentation really interesting. It was almost as if they were talking about one of their close friends from the past. I guess the fact that I am calling her Molly Brown, instead of Margaret, just goes to show how much the media really is affecting my beliefs on her. I forgot to ask why she was called Molly in the play and the movies when it seemed like no one in her life actually called her by that name. I must have a different idea of what the early 20th century really was like because I found it fascinating that it was acceptable for Margaret Brown to travel without her husband and live on her own. I really appreciated hearing from Professor Bateman about how it was acceptable for women to not marry in that time and live together because it was seen as almost innocent and pure. Today, women absolutely still deal with those kinds of stereotypes and pressures from society. It is seen as acceptable to get married, but not too early and not too late. If you never marry, people assume there is something wrong with you. If you’re not allowed to marry, people really believe there is a valid reason for that. Personally, I would like to get married in the future. Right now there is no one I have met that I would marry, but I believe that marriage is for some and not for others. It’s a partnership, not a becoming of one. I really like that Margaret Brown was confident enough in herself and her abilities to run for office and be on her own in the world.
Stereotypical Women in Politics
I was hoping the talk on Molly Brown would focus more on women in politics as a whole during that time, rather than just Molly Brown's participation but I still found it very interesting. What struck me most after absorbing the presentation and articles is how stereotypically feminine women's roles in politics were. Based on the time period, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised but I still was to some extent. For instance, the women involved in politics would host and attend teas. That was one way to discuss the issues and get their point of view out there. However, it doesn't seem like a very aggressive tactic. Hosting a tea is a very feminine past time, it focuses on domesticity and passivity which were the traits women at this time were expected to have. The women presenting even pointed out that at this time the women's role in politics were as a host and in charge of hospitality.On a different note I did find it interesting that Molly Brown was quoted saying something along the lines that her campaign would be a straight man's campaign. This sheds light on the fact that she knew women were seen as not capable of holding an office and that the qualifications for that were to be more masculine in their campaigning. I assume she would have felt a pull between needing to maintain her femininity to a certain degree as to not make people uncomfortable when she didn't assume her role as a woman in the 1900's but also to not fit into the feminine stereotypes of being overly emotional and irrational which would highlight an inability to hold an office. Women operating in politics today still face that same struggle. There is a fine line they must tread on the border of masculinity and femininity and if they sway to far to either side it is a hay day for the media and every critical person watching. They must venture away from the female stereotypes while maintaining a feminine image and demeanor. After realizing this I think what I was most surprised to learn is that things aren't that different between 1900 and 2000 as far as women's roles in politics go.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Real Molly Brown...And Amendment 48
Who is the real Molly Brown?
I always pictured her as Kathy Bates in Titanic, and what struck me the most was not the fact that she was uncouth, but her 'to hell with what people think' attitude. After Wednesday's lecture, I am still left with that impression, although I am certain I still do not know the true Molly Brown.
Last month, I attended a play which included the character of Molly Brown at, of all things, the 1908 Democratic National Convention. In it, she was obsessed with 'polite Denver society'. Even if she fit into high society, as I was surprised to learn given the thrust of Titanic's portrayal of her, I still find it hard to believe that a woman as eccentric and politically progressive as Molly Brown would care so much about putting on airs. I look forward to attending the museum tour in order to get a more nuanced view of this fascinating woman, about whom so many contradictory myths abound.
On another note, I started my foray into community engagement. First, I spent a couple of hours phone banking for Hank Eng, who is trying to take Tom Tancredo's abandoned seat. Phone banking, especially to people who were not all registered Democrats, seemed more like telemarketing than ever; I don't think I enjoy it the way I used to. But it was LGBT night, so I got to hear some interesting coming out stories in addition to insights about the election.
I also attended a meeting of NARAL Pro-Choice DU for an hour. I do hope to get involved in their fight against Amendment 48. It is amazing to what extent that amendment could potentially impact women's reproductive freedom and health. If people knew that banning birth control products could affect women's abilities to prevent ovarian cysts and treat endometriosis, would they still deny us this right on the basis that it could prevent a fertilized egg from attaching? And how many people are against birth control in general? It is sad that a group would manipulate some people's discomfort with abortion to destroy numerous other reproductive freedoms and healthcare necessities as well. I look forward to getting more insight into this amendment, however, during the lecture next week.
Introducing Eliza
Since Eliza was having difficulties posting this last week, she sent it to me to post. Here's her introduction:
My name is Eliza Smith. I am a senior at DU with a major in French and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. I love reading and oatmeal cookies. I am from Orinda, a small town near San Francisco in California. I am the middle of five children and have always been the quiet, “sensitive” one. I am very close with my family, but love being in Denver because I get to see what I can do and what I can be on my own. I have always been interested in body image, eating disorders and the role gender plays in society. Up until recently, I struggled with very poor body image and an eating disorder. With the help of a program, my family and my friends, I am doing a lot better and feeling really powerful and positive about being a woman. I have very little experience with politics. The issue of gender and politics is the forefront of our minds lately due to the presidential race. Politics have been almost a scary subject for me because I always fear that I am misinformed or just plain wrong. In terms of politics, I usually avoid the subject mostly because I feel like everyone around me knows more than I do. I wish I did not feel so self conscious about discussing politics and that is in some ways why I chose to take this course. Luckily for me, it is one of the taboo subjects in American society, so I could avoid it pretty well. When I came to college, there was a lot more discussion about politics and even more when I went to France last year to study abroad. In French society, politics are discussed anywhere and everywhere. Frequently at the gym there, the aerobics instructor would discuss politics during the class. It was refreshing but scary too. I wanted to know more before I opened my mouth. The issue of gender in politics is very important and very interesting in terms of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and recently, Sarah Pailin. Sarah Pailin and Hillary Clinton bring a lot to the table in regards to teen pregnancy, motherhood and femininity. When I think of “political”, I usually think government. I know politics cover a very wide scope of issues and I am looking forward to learning about those issues. I hope to learn more about how gender really comes into play in politics throughout history and now. I am also excited to hear from the different speakers and find out how the issues changed from time period to time period. Today, we are dealing with very different issues than the women during the eighteenth century, but at the base are we not all rooting for the same cause?
My name is Eliza Smith. I am a senior at DU with a major in French and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. I love reading and oatmeal cookies. I am from Orinda, a small town near San Francisco in California. I am the middle of five children and have always been the quiet, “sensitive” one. I am very close with my family, but love being in Denver because I get to see what I can do and what I can be on my own. I have always been interested in body image, eating disorders and the role gender plays in society. Up until recently, I struggled with very poor body image and an eating disorder. With the help of a program, my family and my friends, I am doing a lot better and feeling really powerful and positive about being a woman. I have very little experience with politics. The issue of gender and politics is the forefront of our minds lately due to the presidential race. Politics have been almost a scary subject for me because I always fear that I am misinformed or just plain wrong. In terms of politics, I usually avoid the subject mostly because I feel like everyone around me knows more than I do. I wish I did not feel so self conscious about discussing politics and that is in some ways why I chose to take this course. Luckily for me, it is one of the taboo subjects in American society, so I could avoid it pretty well. When I came to college, there was a lot more discussion about politics and even more when I went to France last year to study abroad. In French society, politics are discussed anywhere and everywhere. Frequently at the gym there, the aerobics instructor would discuss politics during the class. It was refreshing but scary too. I wanted to know more before I opened my mouth. The issue of gender in politics is very important and very interesting in terms of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and recently, Sarah Pailin. Sarah Pailin and Hillary Clinton bring a lot to the table in regards to teen pregnancy, motherhood and femininity. When I think of “political”, I usually think government. I know politics cover a very wide scope of issues and I am looking forward to learning about those issues. I hope to learn more about how gender really comes into play in politics throughout history and now. I am also excited to hear from the different speakers and find out how the issues changed from time period to time period. Today, we are dealing with very different issues than the women during the eighteenth century, but at the base are we not all rooting for the same cause?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
No Pink Tea
Okay, I think I'm slowly getting the hang of this blogging thing...
So, I would first like to say that I agree with Ayres (I apologize if i misspelled your name!) - I never really knew Molly Brown was so involved! My immediate thought when I heard the presentation was on her was "Oh! Titanic!" and that was it. I've never even heard of the movie on her - which I guess kind of works in my favor because of all the myths and rumors that were started by the movie. But, all the same, I really enjoyed the presentation. I feel that, as a young woman about to vote for the first time, it's important to learn the history behind women's suffrage.
On a different but related topic, I've been thinking about our discussion on femininity vs power when it comes to women in politics. I really feel that one of us (I can't remember who said it exactly) said it right when they said that Hillary is a woman's woman and Sarah is a Man's woman... and it kinda erks me that men who said they would never vote for Hillary have now pulled a 180 to support Sarah! I was talking to a friend about it, and he was telling me how he knows people who were strictly against Hillary and now absolutely adore Sarah. It's truly frustrating. I hate that about politics - we change our views to fit our needs when the time is right. It is impossibly difficult to comprehend how a woman in politics supposed to fight like a man, but do so in a lady-like manner. Every aspect of this election is so complicated - but I feel it makes it that much more interesting!
Lastly, I'd like to share with you all my first experience with civic engagement (at least, my first experience for this class). Last Friday, I volunteered to help register voters at the second year meeting that was held in Driscoll. I gotta admit, this experience was very interesting. Let us be honest - by now, we are all probably sick of people hounding us, asking if we've registered to vote and whether or not we signed up to receive the mail-in ballot. Well, for two hours, I became one of those annoying vultures. It's not like I followed people around or demanded that they register - but it's amazing to watch how people try to avoid catching your eye, or how quickly people will pass by a table when they know what they're about to be asked! I had more people ask if they could have a piece of candy than ask if they could register. In fact, I only had one person fill out a form. But do not let this discourage you, I feel that one registered voter is more than none! This really was an interesting experience, and I did enjoy watching people react to my table. I plan on working with Dr. Cobham again (she's the person I signed up with to volunteer) and I would encourage others to do the same!
See you all Saturday!
So, I would first like to say that I agree with Ayres (I apologize if i misspelled your name!) - I never really knew Molly Brown was so involved! My immediate thought when I heard the presentation was on her was "Oh! Titanic!" and that was it. I've never even heard of the movie on her - which I guess kind of works in my favor because of all the myths and rumors that were started by the movie. But, all the same, I really enjoyed the presentation. I feel that, as a young woman about to vote for the first time, it's important to learn the history behind women's suffrage.
On a different but related topic, I've been thinking about our discussion on femininity vs power when it comes to women in politics. I really feel that one of us (I can't remember who said it exactly) said it right when they said that Hillary is a woman's woman and Sarah is a Man's woman... and it kinda erks me that men who said they would never vote for Hillary have now pulled a 180 to support Sarah! I was talking to a friend about it, and he was telling me how he knows people who were strictly against Hillary and now absolutely adore Sarah. It's truly frustrating. I hate that about politics - we change our views to fit our needs when the time is right. It is impossibly difficult to comprehend how a woman in politics supposed to fight like a man, but do so in a lady-like manner. Every aspect of this election is so complicated - but I feel it makes it that much more interesting!
Lastly, I'd like to share with you all my first experience with civic engagement (at least, my first experience for this class). Last Friday, I volunteered to help register voters at the second year meeting that was held in Driscoll. I gotta admit, this experience was very interesting. Let us be honest - by now, we are all probably sick of people hounding us, asking if we've registered to vote and whether or not we signed up to receive the mail-in ballot. Well, for two hours, I became one of those annoying vultures. It's not like I followed people around or demanded that they register - but it's amazing to watch how people try to avoid catching your eye, or how quickly people will pass by a table when they know what they're about to be asked! I had more people ask if they could have a piece of candy than ask if they could register. In fact, I only had one person fill out a form. But do not let this discourage you, I feel that one registered voter is more than none! This really was an interesting experience, and I did enjoy watching people react to my table. I plan on working with Dr. Cobham again (she's the person I signed up with to volunteer) and I would encourage others to do the same!
See you all Saturday!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
No Pink Tea Talk
Well, I guess I will start off the blog for our first lecture....
Before the lecture and readings I knew nothing about Margaret (Molly) Brown other then what I had learned when I was 15 and saw the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" and what I had seen in the Titanic Exhibit at the Denver Natural History Museum last year. So for me it came as quite a shock that Margaret was so active in the Women's Suffrage Movement. I have become very interested in the past few days about learning about Margaret Brown, not only because of her work in the Suffrage Movement but also her effect on history as a whole.
It was very interesting to learn that Margaret, though extremely involved in the Suffrage Movement before WWI, had nothing to do with politics when the was was over. One would expect that if someone is passionate about an issue, they would stay passionate about it for their whole life. That was just something that sparked my interest, going from her total political emersion to none at all.
Another fact that I found interesting but not very surprising was how true news paper facts actually are? I know that in todays day and age the papers do not always tell the whole truth. It is interesting that, that is not a new phenomenon, when in fact the papers were saying very different stories, as in what office Margaret was actually running for; some papers said the Senate and others said the House of Reps. A very interesting fact to remember when we as students are doing research.
Overall I loved the presentation from the Molly Brown house. I look forward to the event tomorrow night and visiting the house on Saturday.
Intro
Hello Everyone!
So I'm new to blogging, and I'm sure that I'm going to struggle for a bit, but here goes...My name is Ashley Dennis, I just declared English as my major with a concentration in textual studies - even though no one really understands what that means. Textual studies is supposed to be a concentration that's really flexible, so that I will be able to minor in something without stressing myself out. I'm considering legal studies as my minor - Everyone tells me that I should be a lawyer because I like to argue and I'm good at it... In any case, I figure writing is my passion, but law will pay the bills :) I was born and raised right here in Colorado... about 20 mins away from campus in Aurora. I chose to participate in this course after speaking with Professor Reich, who is my FYS professor and first year advisor. We were going through my schedule and discussing my interests when she started telling me about this class. It sounded like just the sort of thing I'd be into, so I signed up!
My mom is the chairperson of the ATU Black Caucus here in Colorado, so I'm not new to politics. She works with the AFL-CIO, and is always getting invited to different political events around the country. When I'm lucky, I get to tag along. After watching my mom and other positive female role models in my life, I began to consider the qualities that makes for a strong woman - which is another reason I was interested in a Gender and Women's study course. I'm especially interested now that we've seen history being made in the race for the white house this year! Hate them or love them, Hillary and Sarah have carved out their place in history in this election. I find gender and politics a fascinating subject, especially since my mother is so involved.At this time, I'm not exactly sure how I would define politics. I understand my beliefs and where I stand, but politics, for me, have no concrete definition or boundaries yet. I feel that everything we do, everything we say, everything we believe is in some way sculpted by politics. I hope that after this course, I will be able to strengthen my understanding and be able to provide more solid ideas of what politics include.
So I'm new to blogging, and I'm sure that I'm going to struggle for a bit, but here goes...My name is Ashley Dennis, I just declared English as my major with a concentration in textual studies - even though no one really understands what that means. Textual studies is supposed to be a concentration that's really flexible, so that I will be able to minor in something without stressing myself out. I'm considering legal studies as my minor - Everyone tells me that I should be a lawyer because I like to argue and I'm good at it... In any case, I figure writing is my passion, but law will pay the bills :) I was born and raised right here in Colorado... about 20 mins away from campus in Aurora. I chose to participate in this course after speaking with Professor Reich, who is my FYS professor and first year advisor. We were going through my schedule and discussing my interests when she started telling me about this class. It sounded like just the sort of thing I'd be into, so I signed up!
My mom is the chairperson of the ATU Black Caucus here in Colorado, so I'm not new to politics. She works with the AFL-CIO, and is always getting invited to different political events around the country. When I'm lucky, I get to tag along. After watching my mom and other positive female role models in my life, I began to consider the qualities that makes for a strong woman - which is another reason I was interested in a Gender and Women's study course. I'm especially interested now that we've seen history being made in the race for the white house this year! Hate them or love them, Hillary and Sarah have carved out their place in history in this election. I find gender and politics a fascinating subject, especially since my mother is so involved.At this time, I'm not exactly sure how I would define politics. I understand my beliefs and where I stand, but politics, for me, have no concrete definition or boundaries yet. I feel that everything we do, everything we say, everything we believe is in some way sculpted by politics. I hope that after this course, I will be able to strengthen my understanding and be able to provide more solid ideas of what politics include.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
INTRO
Hi, my name is Graham Hirsh. I am from Needham, MA and I am a criminology major. I was actually thinking of adding a fifth class but I wasn't sure about the workload and what class to pick. When I received this email, it was an ideal situation because it fit my schedule, it was only two credits, and it was an interesting and relevant subject matter.
My interest in politics has rapidly risen the last two years and will only continue to rise. I say that because I have found the more educated I become, the more interested in politics I become also. Knowing the significance of this election and being a senior with a strong interest in politics, I am excited about being in a discussion-based that focuses on politics but that also goes much deeper.
In high school, I attended an all-boys for two years and, needless to say, it was a different experience than what I was used to in public school. The rampant homophobia (yet strong homoeroticism) and the misogynistic belief system didn't really mesh with me. I always thought college was the time to take classes you never could take in high school and Gender, Politics, and Power was definitely not on my school's curriculum Last year, I took a class called Gender & Communication that really opened my eyes on power and privilege and how it affects and runs society. It was humbling to take a class on a subject matter I thought I knew a lot about and then learn not only did I not know much, I was completely oblivious to so much more. Since I went to an all-boys school, I also find it very interesting to have discussions on gender with people actually of the opposite sex. I feel as though this class combines subject matter that I am both interested in but also still naïve on and that is exactly what I want in a class.
My interest in politics has rapidly risen the last two years and will only continue to rise. I say that because I have found the more educated I become, the more interested in politics I become also. Knowing the significance of this election and being a senior with a strong interest in politics, I am excited about being in a discussion-based that focuses on politics but that also goes much deeper.
In high school, I attended an all-boys for two years and, needless to say, it was a different experience than what I was used to in public school. The rampant homophobia (yet strong homoeroticism) and the misogynistic belief system didn't really mesh with me. I always thought college was the time to take classes you never could take in high school and Gender, Politics, and Power was definitely not on my school's curriculum Last year, I took a class called Gender & Communication that really opened my eyes on power and privilege and how it affects and runs society. It was humbling to take a class on a subject matter I thought I knew a lot about and then learn not only did I not know much, I was completely oblivious to so much more. Since I went to an all-boys school, I also find it very interesting to have discussions on gender with people actually of the opposite sex. I feel as though this class combines subject matter that I am both interested in but also still naïve on and that is exactly what I want in a class.
Since this is my first time blogging, taking a Gender and Women’s Studies Course, and voluntarily registering for a Gender and Politics class I decided to try something a little different. I did not exactly plan on taking another class but after opening my email last Wednesday afternoon, and reading the course description I decided to check out Gender, Politics and Power. Although I am not a very “political” person in terms of being a die hard Democrat or traditional Republican by good old fashion American standards, something about the course sparked my attention. I would like to learn more about the women’s suffrage movement and see how much has and has not changed since then in terms of women in politics. This is especially intriguing when comparing and contrasting the media’s spin and public reactions to Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin. In addition to this, given it is an election year I feel that there has been a lot of interesting twists, cards played out, and more controversy than any other election yet, I look forward to learning more about the role of gender, power, and politics.
Now, with that being said, I would like to introduce myself…
Once upon a time, Thursday, November 27, 1986 a star was born. This star was special, it was a beautiful baby girl with dark eyes, a small nose, and belonged to a lady by the name of Debbie Garcia. Debbie raised this little star, an only child with the help of her parents, Eva and Phillip Garcia of Springer in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Over time, the star as my grandma would call it, grew and developed into an intelligent young lady with a caring face, long dark hair, and those same dark eyes as her mother.
She is a small town girl at heart from Las Vegas, New Mexico, which is located between Santa Fe and Taos. Her family is first to her. She loves life, learning, and misses her dog, SugarBear at home. She has always loved going new places, reading, drawing, baking, going out with friends, and dancing. She is very creative and loves a challenge.
Today, this same star is 21 years old. She is a fourth year student at the University of Denver, where she is majoring in Criminology and working on a minor in Psychology. Everyday is an adventure for her. When she is not in class or studying she loves being with her fiancé, family, or friends. She is a passionate member of LSA (Latino Student Alliance) and former three year member of Greek life on campus.
The star’s name is Stephanie Desiree Faith Garcia Baca.
Now, with that being said, I would like to introduce myself…
Once upon a time, Thursday, November 27, 1986 a star was born. This star was special, it was a beautiful baby girl with dark eyes, a small nose, and belonged to a lady by the name of Debbie Garcia. Debbie raised this little star, an only child with the help of her parents, Eva and Phillip Garcia of Springer in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Over time, the star as my grandma would call it, grew and developed into an intelligent young lady with a caring face, long dark hair, and those same dark eyes as her mother.
She is a small town girl at heart from Las Vegas, New Mexico, which is located between Santa Fe and Taos. Her family is first to her. She loves life, learning, and misses her dog, SugarBear at home. She has always loved going new places, reading, drawing, baking, going out with friends, and dancing. She is very creative and loves a challenge.
Today, this same star is 21 years old. She is a fourth year student at the University of Denver, where she is majoring in Criminology and working on a minor in Psychology. Everyday is an adventure for her. When she is not in class or studying she loves being with her fiancé, family, or friends. She is a passionate member of LSA (Latino Student Alliance) and former three year member of Greek life on campus.
The star’s name is Stephanie Desiree Faith Garcia Baca.
Hello, my name is Liz. I was born and raised in Seattle. With the exception of my early stint as an Art major, this is my fifth year (or extended senior session, if you will) as a dedicated student of Psychology.
I enrolled in this Gender and Women's Studies course in somewhat of a careless manner: simply to fulfill some substitution credit requirements while keeping my course load manageable. A two-credit class at four in the afternoon on an interesting subject fit my specifications perfectly. Actually, this is my first Gender and Women's Studies class, which I just realized in typing that. However, I have taken a few Communications classes including lengthy discussions devoted to the topic of gender, which I always found quite interesting. I suppose what interests me about gender is, simply stated, the social construction of it.
Politics to me has always seemed to be very serious, which it is, but I have recently begun understanding the sport of it: the fun and heartbreak that any football (et cetera) fanatic can relate to. Don't get me wrong - the fun is brutal and not especially easy (the heartbreak is even more so). But, gosh-darn-it, fun always has a way of gaining my interest. My interest in politics really began when I started working separately for two women (one a lawyer, the other a writer) who are both fun political junkies (among many other things). With all the many political discussions that took place within my work realm, I learned a great deal about politics - the serious business and the sport - but I still consider myself fairly politically naive and often fail to keep up-to-date with all the "action." I volunteer every so often to help out SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), particularly when Colorado voters were considering Amendment 44 and Initiative 100, but that is, other than actually voting, the extent of my active political involvement.
I would say anywhere people are interacting and there are decisions to be made one will find a political environment. Obviously this includes the government yadda-yadda but my first memory of any "political" experience is probably on my school playground. There were rules instated by the teacher or playground supervisor, yes, but beyond the control and/or knowledge of these "supreme powers" there were rules created amongst the children and a certain hierarchy existed with a very complex and ever-changing authoritative system. As haphazard as it was, I would consider it to be political nonetheless.
From this course I hope to gain more political awareness as well as a better understanding of the interactions, for lack of a better word, of gender and politics.
Ps. Did anyone see Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton (respectively) on SNL? Well, I didn't but luckily a friend sent me this clip...I thought I'd pass it along...
Hello!
Hello! My name is Chelsea Hardy and I am 19 years old and I am from Aurora, Colorado. I am a business management major with minors in history, political science, and legal studies. I have one horse named Sunny. I went to Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, and decided to stay in state for college. I like to snowboard, horseback ride and read. What drew me to a Gender and Women's Studies course is that I can earn 2 credits for a course that I am interested in. I am sure that everyone knows that we pay the same for 12 credits and 18 credits so I always take 18 credits a quarter. I am excited because I finally found a 2-credit course that I am interested in. I have been intereste in gender and politics for a long time now. I would like to go to law school after law school and quite frankly, I know what I am up against. I still get comments on campus and outside of campus that state that I should not go to law school because I am a woman. I hope in this course, I do get a better sense about why gender and power are connected. I do have to dmit that I love politics. I can remember writing to Governor Owens and protesting the CSAPS at 12. I really got interested in politics when I started working in high school and saw where my taxes were going. I then started paying more attention to the tax platforms that candidates have. This campaign is very interesting because this is the first time that I can vote. I watched the elections in 2000 and 2004, but I feel more connected to the 2008 election because I feel like I can actually change something in Washington this year. I think pretty much everything in life classifies as politics. Applying to college has some political things going on. Getting a job is involved with politics. I hope to learn more about the bond between women and power, and why it is so intimidating to people in America. I also hope to learn a little bit more about you guys and get some more perspectives on issues that I care about. See you Wednesday.
Cheers,
Chelsea
Monday, September 15, 2008
Intro
Hi I'm Sarah Hyde. I'm a senior creative writing major and Gender and Women studies minor. I'm from Oshkosh, Wisconsin but went to an all girls boarding school in Troy, New York for the last two years of high school. I love dogs and just got a puppy this summer. I also love anything pertaining to music: writing, singing, listening etc.
I first became aware of Gender studies in my freshman year seminar. It was popular culture centered and I found it fascinating to study something as common as a magazine ad and pull out so many hidden ideologies of how our society views men and women and their role in society. Classes like that are what usually peaks my interest in the subject.
As for politics, I'll admit I'm pretty unaware. This election has gotten me more involved in politics than I have been in the past. The Clinton vs. Obama race first caught my attention as far as gender and politics and now Palin makes the conversation even more interesting. I hope to learn from this class a little more about the candidates and hear what the media is saying about each candidate because I usually tune myself out to discussions like that.
I first became aware of Gender studies in my freshman year seminar. It was popular culture centered and I found it fascinating to study something as common as a magazine ad and pull out so many hidden ideologies of how our society views men and women and their role in society. Classes like that are what usually peaks my interest in the subject.
As for politics, I'll admit I'm pretty unaware. This election has gotten me more involved in politics than I have been in the past. The Clinton vs. Obama race first caught my attention as far as gender and politics and now Palin makes the conversation even more interesting. I hope to learn from this class a little more about the candidates and hear what the media is saying about each candidate because I usually tune myself out to discussions like that.
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Hello...
Hi Everyone,
I am Ayres Mitchell. I am a senior History Major/English Minor. I am from Santa Barbara California. I can honestly tell you that the reason I found this class is because it is the only 2 credit class that is being offered that I am able to take. But I am excited to learn and have a very open mine.
I have had ties to Politics since I was in Junior High. But my most recent experience was taking the Road to the White House class at the Cable Center taught by Steve Scully a big wig of CSPAN. It was very interesting because we were able to talk to people like Dorris Kerns Goodwin. In California there are not that many political campaign adds because we all know which way California goes (blue). So this will be my first election where I get to hear campaign adds...needless to say not so much a fan of the adds every 5 minutes! But I will say that it is nice to see both sides and not just one.
I do not know a whole lot about Gender Politics. I am very interested to learn and know I will get a lot out of this class. As a student who is very interested in history, I know that there is no doubt that history will be made during this election, whether it go Republican or Democrat. I look forward to learning more and more about Gender and Politics and be able to make informed decisions during this time of new frontiers.
I am Ayres Mitchell. I am a senior History Major/English Minor. I am from Santa Barbara California. I can honestly tell you that the reason I found this class is because it is the only 2 credit class that is being offered that I am able to take. But I am excited to learn and have a very open mine.
I have had ties to Politics since I was in Junior High. But my most recent experience was taking the Road to the White House class at the Cable Center taught by Steve Scully a big wig of CSPAN. It was very interesting because we were able to talk to people like Dorris Kerns Goodwin. In California there are not that many political campaign adds because we all know which way California goes (blue). So this will be my first election where I get to hear campaign adds...needless to say not so much a fan of the adds every 5 minutes! But I will say that it is nice to see both sides and not just one.
I do not know a whole lot about Gender Politics. I am very interested to learn and know I will get a lot out of this class. As a student who is very interested in history, I know that there is no doubt that history will be made during this election, whether it go Republican or Democrat. I look forward to learning more and more about Gender and Politics and be able to make informed decisions during this time of new frontiers.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Introduction...And More On Sarah Palin
Hello there. :)
I'm Raishel, a senior, and a religious studies major. Which is kind of strange in a way, because I'm also a (Jewish) atheist, but religion seems so fundamental to understanding our society that I wanted to learn more. I've long been interested in gender and sexuality, though my insatiable thirst for understanding it didn't completely form until I took my first sociology class sophomore year. Since then, I've been obsessed with it.
I have a love-hate relationship with politics. It makes me crazy sometimes, but I also care deeply about its results. I often forget that this will be the first presidential election I can actually vote in, since I campaigned for Gore in 2000 at the age of 13, and then again for Kerry in 2004. I suppose everything is political in a way, as activists and our government keep trying to legislate basic and personal parts of daily life in addition to things that are more often seen as institutional. I'd like to get a better grasp on the gendered aspect of politics and how political institutions manipulate, view, and oppress people based on gender and sexual orientation.
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So...before I sign off, I have to let you all know about some websites I found today that relate to what we were talking about in class today--the depiction of Sarah Palin as 'that hot chick.'
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/10/cnn-reports-palin-bikini-photo-but-fails-to-tell-viewers-its-a-fake/
And, even better is http://www.vpilfvote.com, which lets you vote whether you'd "rather bang" Sarah Palin or any previous VP (all men, of course). I doubt we'll see a webpage devoted to having sex with Joe Biden...
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