Case Study Memorandum

The case study of Shah Bano is complicated by the issues of religion, government, and, very importantly, gender. The dilemma is whether Shah Bano should be awarded maintenance in the situation of her husband divorcing her, despite the fact that religious laws don’t support maintenance. However, the real problem is not one of maintenance or no maintenance, but it is actually related to gender inequality. Why does Shah Bano even need maintenance? Why is it the husband who would be responsible to pay maintenance in the first place? The true problem is that women are not seen as equals and are therefore not afforded the same opportunities as men, especially in employment. If Shah Bano is unable to get a job because she is seen as inferior due to the fact that she is a woman, then surely her husband would need to pay maintenance. However, if women were given equal opportunity in the workforce then there may be no need to discuss this case, as Shah Bano could easily go out and get a job to support herself. So in addressing this problem we must look to the bigger picture that is unfair treatment of women in regards to employment opportunity.

Unequal employment opportunity is affecting women not only in India but in the United States as well and everywhere for that matter. In India, it is reported that “less than 22% of women were engaged in work as either marginal or main workers” (Dunlop and Velkoff). Studies show the majority of women feel they have to work harder than men to get the same results. They also felt that they needed to work in jobs that men were not very prevalent in to avoid competition. If women are not given the same opportunity to work than how can we expect them to support themselves. The issue of gender inequality in the workforce also applies to women in the United States, although a bit differently. While in some places women may have the same opportunity to get jobs as men, there is still an inconsistency in salary. Women are, on average, paid seventy-seven cents for every dollar a man makes (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 310). There are also the problems of gender division of labor and the discrepancy of pay in these gender dominated fields. It’s obvious there is a problem when child care workers typically earn less than automobile repair persons, and when child care is a generally female dominated field, while automobile repairs is typically dominated by men. Women need to be given equality in all senses but, for the purpose of this argument, in employment, and in order to do head in the direction of equality something will have to change.

Although we are all facing similar problems, as different countries we must approach equality in the workforce through different strategies. Women are treated unfairly everywhere, “In factories worldwide there are mostly female workers who are employed in precarious working condition who experience ‘low wages, stressful quotas and forced overtime’” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 383). With oppression in the workforce we must be able to work together in order to help each other to come up with the best possible solutions. As an American person, one cannot understand the situation of an Indian person completely and vice versa. As feminists fighting for equality we must combine our efforts and unite against the oppression women are facing. One specific way for us to join forces would be to contact and partner up with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), whose main goals is are to “organize women workers for full employment. [Meaning,] employment whereby workers obtain work security, income security, food security and social security (at least health care, child care and shelter” (“About Us” par 2). We would need to set up forms of communication with them. I believe visiting each other’s countries will help us gain a better understanding of the struggles the women in the other country go through, and will better equip us to help each other. Through visiting face to face and using technology to our advantage, through video chat, emails, creating a webpage, etc, I believe we will be able to communicate with each other very efficiently. In both countries, a core issue is how women are viewed. If we can change people’s perception of women and their “role” then we can be seen as equals. We must place importance on women as people and see them as more than mothers or home makers. In the United States, implementing paid maternity leave, creating more family friendly employer policies, and putting a higher emphasis on jobs like childcare and teaching could all be things that would help to change the view of the woman’s role. As an American woman I cannot be sure what would be best to allow more opportunity for women in India, but that is why teaming up with other activists living in India is so important. However, whether you live in India or America, the need to educate people is a vital part of creating equality. Some people may be stubborn in their ways and refuse to change unless forced. This is why the government must be educated and pressured to create laws and put importance on women’s rights.

While we are living in a world Globalization where we are all interconnected and affecting each other, so are the world’s problems connected. In order to achieve global equality than many problems such as poverty, slavery, sexism, racism,  and the list goes on, will have to be solved as well. I don’t think you can tackle one without tackling the other in most cases, but that is surely a lot to tackle. It is possible to make changes, however, without changing everything, and that is what this idea proposes. We cannot change the world overnight, but through combining efforts and making movements together, we can create changes to move us in the right direction.

Works Cited

“About Us.” Self Employment Women's Association. 2009. November 16, 2010. Web.

Dunlop, John E. and Victoria A. Velkoff. “Women and the Economy in India.” International Programs      Center (1999). Web.

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey.  Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives.  New York:       McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.

Weekly Activism Blog #8

Activism

This week I finally had some contact with my service learning partner! On Thursday, I helped out with tabling at an informational fair held at DeVry University. We spoke with teachers and faculty about Harbor House and what they do. We also spoke with many people about volunteer opportunities.

Reflection

It was interesting tabling because a strong appreciation for us being out there was shown. The woman who coordinated the event, Misty, was telling us that she gets people talking with her about domestic violence very frequently and until she heard about Harbor House she didn’t know where to send people or refer them for more information. Other faculty came up to us and told us similar things about how they hear of many cases of domestic violence and what not. It was very interesting because although I realize how prevalent domestic violence is, where “one in four [women] will experience domestic violence” (Seely 187), it was still shocking to hear how often these faculty members come across these cases.

Reciprocity

It is not unknown that tabling is not the most fulfilling thing to do. However, I am glad I was able to do it. I think that awareness of domestic violence is important because so many people don’t realize how serious it actually is. So to be able to have spoken to even a few people and helped them to better understand domestic violence is something that makes me happy and is totally worth my time.

Works Cited

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. Print.

Weekly Activism Blog #7

Activism

This week had its ups and downs. Unfortunately I didn’t do anything with my community partner, again. I did have some contact through email. However, I wasn’t eligible for any of the volunteer opportunities for this week, so I wasn’t able to do them. After more frustration and difficulty getting responses from my partner, and after talking to Professor Tweed, I came to a different conclusion. I am in the process of figuring out the details, but I am thinking I am going to do some sort of food or clothing drive to benefit The Harbor House. I think this will be a great way to not only help the Harbor House while also raising awareness of the issue of domestic violence.

Reflection

There is not really anything to reflect on in the past week. I can only think about what I will do in the future with my community partner. I am hoping I can collect supplies for the Harbor House, but if that doesn’t work I am going to try to table with them this upcoming week.

Reciprocity

I cannot say I really gained anything this week, as nothing has happened these past few weeks. I am simply trying to keep a good attitude about my service learning project and not get discouraged.

Weekly Activism Blog #6

Activism

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to participate in anything with my Service Learning partner this week. I must admit I am a bit bummed, as I was looking forward to really getting started. I have been getting emails on a weekly basis with the volunteer opportunities for that week. However, I haven’t gotten any for the past two weeks. I emailed my community partner to ask about opportunities for volunteering this week, but I never heard back. So it is nobody’s fault really, but it still is disappointing. I really don’t want this same thing to happen next week, so I have looked into the volunteer opportunities more and I emailed my community partner again about volunteering with specific programs, such as their Coaching Girls into Women project or the Project Courage Youth Facilitators. I am most interested in volunteering with their court advocacy program, but I cannot take part in that until I go through my 30 hours of CORE training, which I cannot take until February. Therefore, I will have to wait a good while before volunteering with that project.

Reflection

Since I don’t have direct experience to connect with the text, I will just use the act of domestic violence in general. This week in class we talked about gender and the workforce. One article that was particularly terrifying to me was “The Mommy Tax.” It talked about the ways the workforce basically discriminates against mothers (or the primary caregiver) and how “mothers are the most disadvantaged people in the workplace (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 337). In terms of domestic violence, imagine how much harder this makes things. In many domestic violence situations, the batterer wants control, and one form of exerting this control is by not allowing the woman to work. He may use the reasoning that he just wants her to stay home with the kids. Now imagine the woman eventually is able to get her and her children out of this abusive situation. With it so difficult for a woman to get back into the workforce after she has taken leave to care for her kids, and since “working mothers not only earn less per hour than men, but also less per hour than childless women,” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 340)  then how is this survivor supposed to get back on her feet?

Reciprocity

I haven’t really gotten too much out of it this week since I wasn’t able to volunteer. I am continuing to learn about this terrible issue. I hope once I get some hands on experience I will have more to say about the rewarding experience I’m sure it will turn out to be.

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Women and the Workforce

For my blog I chose the show Friends, specifically, “The One Where They’re Going to Party.” Despite the title this episode actually does focus on women in the workforce. This episode starts off where Phoebe and Monica show off the new van they bought in order to further the catering company they are going to start together. Later in the episode Monica gets offered to write a weekly review in a local newspaper. Then through a series of events, Monica gets offered a head chef position at a restaurant. Also, Rachel gets offered a promotion at her job at a fashion company.

There are many positives and negatives to the way Friends portrays women in the workforce. Unfortunately, the main female roles in this show work in stereotypical fields such as fashion and the food industry. Also, another negative is that Friends only portrays the single, childless, and white female. This leaves out the women who are mothers or of other ethnicities. These characters would fall right into the “ideal worker [who] is ‘unencumbered,’ that is free of all ties other than those to his job” (Gwyn and Okazawa-337). So it is no wonder that these characters are able to achieve high ranking positions with no other obstacles in their way. According to Seely, if we looked to the media for representation of women, we would find that 74% are white and 74% are under age forty (102). Obviously, the show “Friends” plays a part in the media’s misrepresentation of women.

However, this show does create positive views of women. It is very refreshing to see women in leadership positions, and although not a main character, it is interesting to point out that Rachel’s boss is a woman. I think that Friends definitely places value on what the women do. Throughout the show the women have their ups and downs, as Rachel started off working as a waitress. However, what is good about this show is that it has consistency among genders. Meaning they do not only show the women in low positions or struggling. There are points where the male characters are out of work or struggling. So you see they all seem to be portrayed on a level playing field.

In “The Mommy Tax” article it specifically it specifically cites the show friends.” Then it goes on to say that “Many childless women under the age of thirty-five firmly believe that all feminist battles have been won, and as far as they’re concerned, they‘re largely right. But once a woman has a baby, the egalitarian office party is over…” (Gwyn and Okazawa-Rey 338). Despite the lack of representation for mothers and minorities, I do personally believe Friends has a positive portrayal of women. However, one must realize that these are not the only type of women in the world.

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. Print.

Weekly Activism Blog #5

Activism

Not much happened for me this week. I wasn’t able to do any work with my community partner. I need to have the “CORE” training, which is offered in November and February. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be able to do it until February, so it limits my opportunities for volunteering a little bit, but there are still plenty of things I can do. Next week I will probably do some miscellaneous things like tabling or helping out with whatever is lacking in volunteers and basically being open to whatever Harbor House needs me to do. The most activism I have really done this week is simply through choice of clothing. The Dr. Phil show is doing a campaign against domestic violence and I ordered one of the t-shirts and bracelets. The shirts and bracelets say “End the silence on domestic violence.” I finally received my shirt and bracelet this week. I think it’s a really cool way to support the cause and raise awareness at the same time.

**Here is the website for ordering the shirt and bracelet: http://kidsintolivinglife.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/dr-phil-charity-mens-tee

Reflection

This week in class we were talking about how it typically takes a woman nine times of packing up her stuff and deciding to leave before she actually does leave for good. We also talked about the risk of being killed that this puts on the woman. We talked about how “For many women and children, however, home is not a safe place, but one where they experience emotional or physical violence” (Gwyn and Okazawa-Rey 260). This is obviously a very important issue that is very prevalent in our world today, and I am glad I can take part in stopping it.

Reciprocity

Even though it seems like I haven’t been doing much, I have been learning so much, so I am actually getting a lot out of this. I think this is something I will be concerned with for a long time, if not the rest of my life. I have even been considering being a victim advocate for survivors of domestic violence as a possible career in the future. Who knows what the future holds!?

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Weekly Activism Blog #4

Activism

This week was an exciting week for me with my community learning partner. I had my Volunteer Orientation training on Thursday night.  It was really exciting because I got to hear about all of the different ways harbor house helps out with issues of domestic violence and all the areas I have to choose from for my volunteering.

Reflection

I knew that victims were most at risk for homicides when trying to leave, but something interesting I learned this week was that if the woman gets a restraining order and the victim and batter have children, there is no restraining order for the children. So the woman still has to meet with the batterer in order to exchange the children for mandated visitations. I learned that domestic violence homicides happen often during this act of child swapping. The more I learn about Harbor House, the more that I appreciate it. Even though domestic violence is primarily a crime against women, Harbor House also provides support for men, while not directly in their shelter, but in other ways. Also, Harbor House doesn’t turn anyone away, even if they show up with a family of nine. It is truly a beautiful and impactful thing they are doing there. In Seely’s Fight Like a Girl, She focuses on ways to take action, one way she says is through volunteering at a local domestic violence shelter (212). So I feel like I am on the right track to making an impact and helping these women and their families.

Reciprocity

I think that the more I learn about this issue, the more and more serious it becomes to me. The host of the training told us example of women who come into the shelter straight from the hospital with broken bones or jaws wired shut.  I feel like to see that sort of thing is very life changing and really puts into focus what is important in life. I am learning to become more accountable in the issue of domestic violence. Many people who hear or see incidents happening do nothing to stop it. I want to be a person who does something, and doesn’t just stand there and let it happen.

Works Cited

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. Print.

Weekly Activism Blog #3

Activism

This week I wasn’t able to do anything with the Harbor House. I have to do two trainings, at least, before I can begin volunteering officially. I attended my first training last week, and my second training is next week. Although I wasn’t able to work directly with my service learning partner I did learn new things about domestic violence. I work as an RA so I have to make bullentin boards, so for my October bullentin board I made a domestic violence awareness month board. I was really excited about that, and being able to share that with my residents. I also went into a bathroom at TJ Maxx and they had these small cards on the mirror about domestic violence so I was very excited that they were recognizing it. The last thing I did was for my Crime in America class. We have to choose an article and evaluate the crime committed using one of the crime theories. I used the feminist theories and chose an article about domestic violence. The article was about how a man killed his ex-girlfriend, so I argued from feminist perspective using the ideas like biological male agression, socialization factors, and patriarchy.

Reflection

It was an interesting second week of domestic violence awareness month.  I am glad there is a month to raise awareness about this issue. I know my community partner is glad to as they are hosting a variety of events throughout the month in recognition. It is a very important issue, especially considering “Every year, as many as 4 million American women are physically abused by men who promised to love them” (Gwyn  and Okazawa-Rey 260)

Reciprocity

I am learning new things everyday and growing more concerend for the issue of domestic violence as a whole.  I am looking especially forward to next week and my volunteer training and then to get started with some more hands on volunteer projects!

Works Cited:

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Weekly Activism Blog #2

Activism

This week I went to my first training for the Harbor House. The presenter’s name was Carol Wick, who did a fantastic job. I wasn’t sure if I would really learn anything new because I am enrolled in a domestic violence course currently. I was thinking we would just learn some basic stuff that I probably had already heard. I was very surprised with what I learned. Carol Wick used a lot of real life stories as examples and it was quite shocking. She told us a story about a woman who was put in jail for child neglect because her husband or boyfriend had killed her child. The crazy thing was that in her mug shot, you could see the bruises around her neck from getting strangled. The court punished her for not protecting her child when she couldn’t even protect herself.

Reflection

This past week in class we were talking about how our sexuality is regulated. One example given was adoption. We were talking about how adoption is a process for heterosexuals. Something interesting I learned this week was that for GLBTQ partners involved in domestic violence, a tactic of the batterer to gain control is to threaten to out the other person, which could cause them to lose their children if they had adopted. I had never thought about that before. That is just another thing that makes it harder for victims of domestic violence to get help, because of ignorant societal norms.  In Seely’s Fight Like a Girl, she says that “more than one-fourth of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse” (191). I have heard this statistic before and at the training learned that it is increasing. Now, one in three high school girls will experience dating violence, and if you are African American, it is one in two. These statistics are shocking and truly disturbing. This week has shown me the increasing importance of educating people and encouraging them to speak up. The Harbor House is really making an impact in so many different aspects of domestic violence, and my respect for their organization has grown immensely.

Reciprocity

Going to this training about domestic violence and being surrounded by others who are aware and see the importance in this cause has increased my desire to make an impact. My drive to help is growing and my passion for this issue. I learned that so many cases of domestic violence are ending in homicides, and neighbors or strangers who heard the yelling and fighting never called the police. This thought was crazy to me, and I thought to myself, “What would I do?” I want to be the person that will call the police when I hear something suspicious. I want to stand up for people who are in these terrible situations.

Works Cited

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. Print.

Women's Heath and Envisioning a Change

The Problem- Fistulas

·         A fistula is a hole or passageway between an internal organ and the outside world (Fistula Foundation).

o   Obstetric fistulas, which occur to the mother during childbirth.

o   Traumatic Fistulas, which typically occur from violent acts, such as rape.

·         “An obstetric fistula develops when blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder (and/or rectum) is cut off during prolonged obstructed labor. The tissues die and a hole forms” (Fistula Foundation).

o   These fistulas cause women to have no restraint over their bladder and urine or feces will pass uncontrollably.

·         Fistulas can occur in any women, but typically only occur in underdeveloped countries where there is lack of maternal care.

o   Most common in Africa and parts of Asia.

·         It is estimated that over 2 million women are currently living with fistulas (Fistula Foundation).

·         Treatment is available, but most women don’t receive treatment and are instead cast off and shunned from society until they meet their death, through starvation or infection due to the fistula (97 Kristof and WuDunn).

Why this exists

1. Poverty

• In the article “The World’s Deadliest Disease is Poverty,” it is clearly evident that many healthcare issues could be prevented if it weren’t for poverty. (217 Kirk and Okazawana-Rey)

·         Fistulas can be prevented and treated.

·         Due to poverty there is not enough money for:

o   Medical care- general medical care is scarce, so maternal care is even rarer to find in these places.

o   Prevention-Obstetric fistulas could be prevented through cesarean sections

o   Treatment- typically costs about $300 (96 Kristof and WuDunn).

2. Women’s Oppression

• Living in a patriarchal society, maternal care is not believed to be a pressing need.
• The ACJR believes “from the perspective of a Reproductive Justice framework, the key problem for women is lack of power, resources, and control” (245 Kirk and Okazawana-Rey).

·         Educating women isn’t seen as important, so they are in school less, and have babies while they are still young, so their pelvises haven’t fully developed enough to be large enough for childbirth.

·         Women experience marginalization. They are seen as inferior to men and aren’t worth providing treatment for, so most men simply divorce their wives when fistula occurs.

·         Also, traumatic fistulas are occurring because of things like rape.

o   For example, in the Congo, 90% of fistulas are believed to be caused by rape. Due to the fact that rape is used as a weapon of war in the Congo (Fistula Foundation).

Vision

·         Availability of medical care.

·         All women should have access to maternal care.

·          Women would be seen as equals.

o   As the Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice say, “We believe that by challenging patriarchal social relations… we will be able to build te collective social, economic, and political power of all women and girls to make choices that protect and contribute to our reproductive health and overall well being” (245 Kirk and Okazawana-Rey).

·         Poverty would be eradicated.

·         Wars and rebellions would be ended.

·         More emphasis and availability of education for women.

How to change

·         Women need to have more education.

o   More education keeps them in school longer and means they don’t have babies as early

o   More education means they are more qualified for higher paying jobs

·          Training women in maternal care and how to give cesarean sections.

o   This would help prevent fistulas directly, while also giving women more job opportunities, so it would affect poverty as well.

·         The government needs to take a stand for women and against the “rebels,” who are killing men and raping women.

Works Cited

"Fast Facts and FAQs." The Fistula Foundation. N.p., 2010. Web. 3 Oct 2010. <http://www.fistulafoundation.org/aboutfistula/faqs.html>.

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Kristof, Nicholas D., and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky. 1st. New York: Vintage Books, 2010. Print.

Weekly Activism Blog #1

Activism

For my service learning project I am going to be volunteering with the Harbor House of Central Florida. Since this is shelter for victims of domestic violence, there is extensive training that volunteers have to go through before they can begin. Because this is the case, I will begin my service learning project next week, at the first of my required trainings. I will be attending the training called “Recognize, Respond, and Refer- RRR.”

Reflection

Since I have not begun yet, I have little to talk about. However, I am extremely excited about volunteering with the Harbor House. This past week in class we discussed the article by Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice. While this article focused on reproductive rights, it says, “Under conditions of reproductive justice, we will live in homes free from sexual and physical violence…” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 244). This feminist view is saying that as women or people in general, we should not be subjected to physical violence. The Harbor House is helping those who have fallen victim to and helping prevent acts of domestic violence. Obviously, it is easy to see that feminist views and the mission of the Harbor House go hand in hand.

Reciprocity

Again, I have not done anything yet, so it is hard to say what I have gained. I feel as though, through doing this project, I will gain a better understanding and compassion for these people who have been victimized. I am currently taking a domestic violence course and am learning a lot about these issues. However, learning about domestic violence in a class is one thing, but actually meeting people who have been suffering because of it, is a whole other story. It’s hard to know what to expect, but I think it will help me gain a whole new perspective of these types of situations and the people who experience them. I picked this project because it interests me, because I can feel something for these people, and because I want to know more about it and what can be done to prevent it. I hope to gain many different things from doing this project, but I guess I will have to wait and see!

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Women's Bodies and Advertisement

I was given this ad in my mailbox at work. My initial response was, “What am I supposed to do with this?” Although, I realize this is an ad for tanning, and the most socially accepted way to advertise tanning is by showing people in bathing suits, I felt that this ad specifically was more provocative than necessary. The name of the company is “Bronze Beauties,” so it is obvious that they are targeting women rather than men. I suppose they think that spraying color on your body is a feminine thing. This ad is frustrating to me because it assumes that only women want to look tan. It also assumes that to be beautiful you must be tan. So the ad has already implied that women are not beautiful enough unless they are tan, and then it sticks a woman, barely dressed, on the front of the ad. This woman shows society’s unrealistic standards of beauty and makes a girl feel even more insecure. Now, surely this woman is beautiful in her own way and has every right to show off her body, but with such diverse types of women throughout the world, it is insulting to presume that this specific type of physical appearance is the one that embodies “beauty.” And in terms of beauty, why is beauty purely physical? If beauty is more than physical, then this ad says to me: “Women, no one cares about your personality, opinions, mind, or ideas; you are only beautiful if you look this way, the rest is not important.”

I feel as if the media is always trying to “fix” us, as women. You need to do this or you need to do that in order to be acceptable. As our book says, “The aim is to promote insecurity, self-hatred, and distorted perceptions of size, appetite, and attractiveness, so that we will consume the countless products, diet plans, and cosmetic surgeries marketed to remedy our alleged deficiencies” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 208). We have been made to feel so terrible about ourselves and our physical appearance that we are going on and being cut open and having things taken out and things put in. And what for? For beauty? Are a few extra inches around my waist really preventing me from being beautiful? Is the pigmentation of my skin what makes me attractive? NO! Absolutely not. So why are we subjecting ourselves to surgeries and extreme diet plans? What about accepting ourselves the way we were created and appreciating our differences and our own individual forms of beauty. It’s a crazy thought, I know.

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

http://www.bronzebeauties.net/

Harbor House Service Learning Proposal

Contact Information:

Service Learning Proposal for Harbor House of Central Florida

Kelsey Paul

September 21, 2010

WST 3015- 001

Community Partner Profile:

Harbor House of Central Florida

P.O. Box 680748

Orlando, Florida 32868

Contact: Taylor Ulman, tulman@harborhousefl.com  

http://www.harborhousefl.com/

The mission of the Harbor House of Central Florida is “to eliminate domestic violence in Central Florida by providing safety, shelter, empowerment, education and justice.” Their overall goal is “promoting peace in every home” (Harbor House of Central Florida). The Harbor House gives survivors shelter, support, basic necessities, child care, legal advocacy, counseling, and so much more. In order for the Harbor House to continue to do such positive things for survivors they need donations. They don’t only need monetary donations, but donations of time spent volunteering, and donations of basic items (i.e. food, clothing, etc). The political/social basis of this organization is evident in their protection of human rights. People should not have to suffer abuse and the Harbor House is standing up and fighting for that right.

The Proposal:

Women, men, children, and pets are all potential victims of domestic violence. One out of every four homicides in the city of Orlando is caused by domestic violence (Harbor House of Central Florida). The most dangerous time for a victim is when they are trying to leave, so it is important that survivors have a safe place to go, and Harbor House is exactly that. According to the Harbor House of Central Florida’s website, In Orange County alone, there is an estimated 130,000 victims of domestic violence a year. The goal of my service learning project is to help in the fight against domestic violence in any way that I can. The Harbor House of Central Florida helps in many different aspects of domestic violence. They have a 24 hour crisis hotline. They give shelter to survivors, as well as their children and pets. They provide counseling services for survivors and offer childcare. They, also, have many prevention programs through education and advocacy.

In order for me to help the Harbor House in achieving their goal, I plan to dedicate my time to the cause. I cannot be completely sure at the moment of the way that I will be volunteering. I have submitted my application, and once I hear back I will know where they need me to serve. Until then, however, I will have to speak hypothetically. I am hoping to help out in either child care or in their Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program. “Twenty percent of teenage girls and young women have experienced some form of dating violence” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 261) I believe that volunteering by “educating teens on healthy, non-abusive relationships” I will help make a serious impact on domestic violence (Harbor House of Central Florida). If people know what to look for in their partner, and what is a red flag, then they will be able to get out of the situation before it is too late. Of course, helping victims escape their dangerous situations is a vital part of fighting domestic violence, but without prevention domestic violence will only continue. Education is imperative in stopping the cycle from continuing, and what better place to start educating, then with our youth. At the end of my service learning project, I hope to have educated at least one person on domestic violence so that they may avoid becoming a victim of domestic violence or  even a victimizer. Whether I help through prevention education, or through just assisting survivors through child care, I think just knowing that I did something that helped positively impact the issue of domestic violence, is a worthwhile outcome in the end.

Although men can be victims of domestic violence, it is true that the majority of victims are female. So, domestic violence is not only a human rights issue, but also an issue of women’s rights. Feminists believe fighting against “ attitudes and systems of inequality that support male superiority,” and fighting for things like equality in wages and job opportunity will help in the steps to ending domestic violence (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 272). If women were seen as equal partners rather than inferior then maybe the act of domestic violence would not occur so often and commonly against females. The Harbor House provided shelter for 759 women and children in 2009-2010 (Harbor House of Central Florida). The Harbor House is empowering women by helping them get back on their feet and teaching them how to live healthy and independent lifestyles.

My first step to volunteering with the Harbor House of Central Florida was to submit an application. I submitted my application on September 19^th, 2010. I received an email confirmation saying that I should be hearing back in 5 business days. They will have to complete a background check on me, so after all that is cleared I will begin training. I’m sure it depends on which program you are assigned to, but you are told there may be up to 30 hours of training before you can start volunteering. After training I will begin serving regularly in whatever capacity they need me most.

Time Line:

1. Fill out application- Sunday, September 19^th

2. Receive response from volunteer coordinator- Week of Sept 20th

3. Domestic Violence 101 Training- October 5^th

4. Domestic Violence Volunteer Orientation- October 21^st

5. Core Competency Training- November

6. Continue training and volunteering- November- End of Semester

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives 4^th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.

Harbor House of Central Florida. 19 Sept 2010. Web. 2010. <http://www.harborhousefl.com/>.

Word Count: 929

Introductory Letter

Hi everyone! My name is Kelsey Paul. I am from Largo, Fl. I am a sophomore at UCF. I am a Criminal Justice major with a double minor in Sociology and Women’s Studies. As for a career, I basically want to travel the world fighting human trafficking, sex slavery, and the oppression of women overall.  I’m an upbeat and happy person. I’m a Christian and I love Jesus! I’m a big nerd and a goofball. I love to read books; it’s an addiction. My friends and family mean the world to me. I love to eat cereal and watch Disney movies, simultaneously. I always have a crazy busy schedule, but I can’t function any other way.

I am really excited about this Women’s Studies course! Technically I am required to take it because I am a Women’s Studies minor. However, I, actually, thought it sounded very interesting anyways. I don’t consider myself a very traditional person; therefore, I am constantly questioning social norms. My friends get annoyed with me because I frequently go off on long rants about what society has taught us to believe. I also manage to bother my friends with my talk of gender roles and giving people a hard time about their subconsciously sexist views. I have some very strong opinions on society and what it has led us to believe, so taking a class like Women’s Studies seems right up my alley.

When it comes to activism, I am all for it. I am striving to become an activist myself. I am involved in student organizations that, I believe, are a step in the activist direction. I am involved with Knight Allies, which is a great organization that strives to educate people to promote understanding and acceptance of members of the GLBTQ community. I am also the Vice President of the Students Against Slavery. It is an organization that strives to bring awareness to people about modern day slavery and, also, raise money to stop and prevent this slavery from continuing. I feel like these are types of activism. Although, I still feel like to truly consider myself an activist I need to get out there and do much more.

I personally don’t think gender is very important in life, or at least it shouldn’t be. The reason gender becomes important is because we are forced to recognize gender because of the way society treats us based on our gender. So as a woman, I can walk around and choose to ignore gender, but when I am denied an opportunity because of my gender, I am forced to recognize it and realize how important a role it truly does play. When we are looked at funny, judged, or mocked because our actions or decisions don’t fit typical gender roles, we must see these reactions and realize what is important to our society. A woman can wear men’s clothing, cut her hair short, and whatever else she chooses, in order to defy gender roles. Yet, though she has obviously chosen to break these typical gender roles and outwardly defy them, she still cannot pretend they are not important to others.

In conclusion, I am very excited to dive into the world of Women’s Studies, and I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus and the blogging protocols.