Fun fact: The first time I heard of the group NOMAS, I thought it stood for "no more" in Spanish. I liked that. It actually means National Organization of Men Against Sexism.
As bell hooks writes, men can be women's comrade in the fight against sexism and mysogyny. Creating a safe campus and community for everyone- males, females, and trans people alike- is everyone's responsibility. Engaging men in the conversation is an important step to building a healthier community.
UCF's Men Against Rape had a solid beginning about a year or two ago, but most of the founding members graduated. That's not to say that most of the men on campus that are against sexism and rape graduated, though, and we know you male feminists are out there. It's been a special kind of stress to see a friend of mine trying to organize this now one-man organization into something viably addressing the need to talk about sexism, sexual assault, and discrimination on campus.
There has been talk of starting up a NOMAS chapter on campus. While it won't replace what Men Against Rape did, it would allow for a strong pro-feminist group on campus. According to the website, NOMAS is described: "The National Organization for Men Against Sexism is an activist organization of men and women supporting positive changes for men. NOMAS advocates a perspective that is pro-feminist, gay affirmative, anti-racist, dedicated to enhancing men's lives, and committed to justice on a broad range of social issues including class, age, religion, and physical abilities."
With only a four-member minimum, NOMAS can assist us with training materials, publicity, and financial support. That seems like reason alone to make this happen. Think we can find four pro-feminist men in a campus of 55,000+ students?
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tomorrow! Let's have a big presence-
UCF Hosts 'Gay Marriage in America' Debate!
It'll be in HPA 119 TOMORROW at 7:30.
This is coming at an interesting time (most likely not a coincidence): just last week the SGA senate here at UCF passed a movement calling for benefits for domestic partners of UCF's faculty and staff, and Orange County voted on the same thing.
It'll be in HPA 119 TOMORROW at 7:30.
This is coming at an interesting time (most likely not a coincidence): just last week the SGA senate here at UCF passed a movement calling for benefits for domestic partners of UCF's faculty and staff, and Orange County voted on the same thing.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Required reading
Language and the debate thereof is rather overwrought in social justice circles, but like most things we overdiscuss, is important. There are three posts for this week's required reading that I'd like to open up for discussion.
"A list of privilege lists" by Alas! a blog is fairly comprehensive. Lots of lists to look at that could open your eyes to unnoticed privileges. However, as the author links at the bottom, Maia of Capitalism bad; tree pretty has a response. To fully engage with this response, "my problem with -isms" is particularly interesting.
I like to see conversations about language making us more aware of the things we say in everyday conversations, what they mean, and how to change it. I'll be thinking about other examples of common language that could use some examining, if you do the same.
"A list of privilege lists" by Alas! a blog is fairly comprehensive. Lots of lists to look at that could open your eyes to unnoticed privileges. However, as the author links at the bottom, Maia of Capitalism bad; tree pretty has a response. To fully engage with this response, "my problem with -isms" is particularly interesting.
I like to see conversations about language making us more aware of the things we say in everyday conversations, what they mean, and how to change it. I'll be thinking about other examples of common language that could use some examining, if you do the same.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Blogging and feminism
One of the reasons Michael Freeman and I wanted to develop a blog for the Office of Diversity Initiatives is because we know how many students read and write blogs, and how social media is a part of most students' every day life. Nearly anyone can call themselves a writer these days, and it's up for debate whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. The good part is definitely apparent: the amount of ways there are to have your voice heard are becoming innumerable.
Many of our students have something to say, or, some things to say, and we want them all to be heard.
Kevin Alvarez, a UCF alum that left quite the impression on campus, writes El Sueño de Bolivar.
His piece, "Why I am a Latino Feminist," got us all talking in the office. (By 'us all,' I mean Michael and myself, with the occasional appearance of Heather Graves).
It read like a challenge to me. Why am I a feminist? I claim the label, I talk the talks, I do activism. But when was the last time I explained to someone why I do what I do?
(I am a feminist. It's because I (we) am told to smile (my face just looks like that), because I (we) am expected to take it lying down, to expect abuse, to present myself (ourselves) as flawless, happy, aiming to please, codependent, not-quite-successful, silenced, and on and on and on. Since I was a girl, I've had this anger and dissatisfaction in me that came from not being the picture of femininity that was thrust upon me. It was a dissatisfaction only eased by growing up and meeting peers that pushed back against it, that were glorious and impertinent and fat and queer and angry and loud.
I am a feminist because my mother struggled for years with the abuse that was heaped upon her as a child from an angry "father" and a mad mother. I am a feminist because my father's masculinity was never enough, never good strong secure enough and their struggles are mine. I am a feminist because I want to know where and why we learn these definitions of femininity and masculinity and why they are so hurtful when they go unexamined? Because everything that's felt right in my life has been questioned and criticized by the more powerful, the more wealthy, the more more more. Because of the injustices that creep up from every crack in the sidewalk, every polluted river, every florescent light bearing down upon a dirty mirror in a "Ladies" bathroom.
All of this and I still struggle to answer this question every day. Why am I a feminist?)
So. I want to hear you, too. What are your venues, your blogs, tumblrs, where do you speak out? What do you have to say?
Why are you a feminist? (Why are you a womanist? Queer, activist, happy, alive, miserable, angry? why are you not?)
Many of our students have something to say, or, some things to say, and we want them all to be heard.
Kevin Alvarez, a UCF alum that left quite the impression on campus, writes El Sueño de Bolivar.
His piece, "Why I am a Latino Feminist," got us all talking in the office. (By 'us all,' I mean Michael and myself, with the occasional appearance of Heather Graves).
It read like a challenge to me. Why am I a feminist? I claim the label, I talk the talks, I do activism. But when was the last time I explained to someone why I do what I do?
(I am a feminist. It's because I (we) am told to smile (my face just looks like that), because I (we) am expected to take it lying down, to expect abuse, to present myself (ourselves) as flawless, happy, aiming to please, codependent, not-quite-successful, silenced, and on and on and on. Since I was a girl, I've had this anger and dissatisfaction in me that came from not being the picture of femininity that was thrust upon me. It was a dissatisfaction only eased by growing up and meeting peers that pushed back against it, that were glorious and impertinent and fat and queer and angry and loud.
I am a feminist because my mother struggled for years with the abuse that was heaped upon her as a child from an angry "father" and a mad mother. I am a feminist because my father's masculinity was never enough, never good strong secure enough and their struggles are mine. I am a feminist because I want to know where and why we learn these definitions of femininity and masculinity and why they are so hurtful when they go unexamined? Because everything that's felt right in my life has been questioned and criticized by the more powerful, the more wealthy, the more more more. Because of the injustices that creep up from every crack in the sidewalk, every polluted river, every florescent light bearing down upon a dirty mirror in a "Ladies" bathroom.
All of this and I still struggle to answer this question every day. Why am I a feminist?)
So. I want to hear you, too. What are your venues, your blogs, tumblrs, where do you speak out? What do you have to say?
Why are you a feminist? (Why are you a womanist? Queer, activist, happy, alive, miserable, angry? why are you not?)
Monday, March 28, 2011
From Florida Action for Planned Parenthood
Last week was a good week for women at UCF. Take Back the Night was a success - the biggest NOW has seen yet on campus! More coverage and opinions on Take Back the Night will be on the blog later this week. Voices of Planned Parenthood (VOX) also hosted their sixth annual Let's Talk About Sex benefit at Paradise Club in downtown Orlando, with the usual sex toy giveaways and irreverent ring-toss games. (I haven't heard official numbers yet but it was a success in my opinion.)
Not so great for women (and everyone, really) this week, though, are the anti-choice bills that are floating around. From an email from the Florida Action for Planned Parenthood:
Take a minute to sign the petitions against these bills- it's quick and easy. It may be a small action to stop these anti-choice bills that are distracting from bigger problems that need addressing, but every bit helps.
Let's live these moments every day - we should have more than one day a year devoted to talking about violence, proper sex education, and reproductive rights.
Not so great for women (and everyone, really) this week, though, are the anti-choice bills that are floating around. From an email from the Florida Action for Planned Parenthood:
"Today and tomorrow, legislators in the House and Senate will be voting on three egregious anti-choice bills, and we need your help to tell members to OPPOSE these bills!
In the Senate, members of the Health Regulation committee will hear SB 1748, legislation that would create obstacles and burdens for abortion providers and deny women access to a legal health procedure. If passed, this bill will result in the closing of abortion clinics in Florida. Senators will also hear SB 1744, legislation that would force a woman to undergo an ultrasound prior to an abortion even when it is not medically appropriate or is against the professional judgment of her physician.
Tell Senators to Oppose SB 1748 an SB 1744.Members of the House Health and Human Services Quality Subcommittee will hear HB 321 – Nebraska style copy-cat legislation that would ban abortion in Florida after 20 weeks. The decision to obtain an abortion after 20 weeks is often made in rare and extreme circumstances. The proposed legislation would take away the opportunity for women facing medically complex pregnancies to make private, personal medical decisions without government interference.
Tell Representatives to OPPOSE HB 321.
We need your help to tell members in both the House and the Senate to oppose legislation that's dangerous to women's health and does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy. Legislators need to stop their relentless attack on women. Tell members to OPPOSE HB 321 and SB 1744 and SB 1748."
Take a minute to sign the petitions against these bills- it's quick and easy. It may be a small action to stop these anti-choice bills that are distracting from bigger problems that need addressing, but every bit helps.
Let's live these moments every day - we should have more than one day a year devoted to talking about violence, proper sex education, and reproductive rights.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Bullied in the age of the internet
I have found in most of my circles - social work, gender studies classrooms, feminist relationships with friends and partners, family time, and even in casual work relationships - that when we think we're over something or we've talked it to death, we have really only scratched the surface. Because we are asking the wrong questions.
One of the problems- or advantages?- of working with social media and the internet is that it keeps changing and evolving. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. In the last few weeks while thinking about this piece I found myself thinking that cyber bullying perhaps isn't relevant, or anything that I can say would be repetitive. But the problem persists, so the discourse must also persist. When the act of a young person taking his or her own life becomes fodder for jokes under the guise of anonymity and lack of consequences, we must ask ourselves what this bit of "freedom" costs us. And more importantly, where does this anger and hatefulness come from?
A quick Google news search of "cyber bullies" or "internet + suicide" yields a depressing number of shocking results. The incidences of self-harm as a result of internet bullying or intimidating are becoming public knowledge, and in many cases, it only seems to incite the ones bullying more. In the case of Natasha MacBryde's tragic death, many of her peers were still posting offensive remarks onto her memorial page. Other family members have been sent pictures of their deceased's bodies. The tales go on and on. The "why" is hotly debated. Is the internet responsible for the lack of empathy young people are showing, or is it just a symptom of something bigger? Is this anti-empathetic mindset something that has existed for generations but is exposed now that there is a virtually consequence-free venue to make these remarks?
I am inclined to think that the internet didn't magically create these monstrous occurrences. In the case of the white male patriarchy of the United States, our past is a bloody and entitled one. This total lack of connection and empathy between peoples in the same communities isn't a new problem (look at the treatment of any marginalized group, anywhere), and it is my opinion that learning to moderate comments on internet discussions and teaching etiquette isn't going to be any sort of long-lasting answer. Finding a more permanent solution, however, could have far-reaching benefits for everyone.
Instead, let's open the discussion. How do we teach empathy? Is it something teachable at all? Perhaps simply education is the answer.
I had been sitting on this piece for a few days when the White House held a conference about bullying, in which the President and First Lady offer some answers but mostly open up the discussion and start the problem-solving process. If nothing they said was groundbreaking, it was still good to see the White House taking some time for the youth of the country when there are so many other hot-button issues being discussed right now.
Watch here:
Both our President and the First lady speak about engagement with young people, speaking up, and taking action, when it comes to bullying. What pleased me the most, however, was their insistence that adults take responsibility for what is going on. Whether we know why it's happening or we don't, whether it's worse or better than when we were all children, these cases that result in the deaths of young people are not just "kids being kids," and that is a cop out. Good on the our leaders for calling that out. Like they said, we've got a lot of work to do.
One of the problems- or advantages?- of working with social media and the internet is that it keeps changing and evolving. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. In the last few weeks while thinking about this piece I found myself thinking that cyber bullying perhaps isn't relevant, or anything that I can say would be repetitive. But the problem persists, so the discourse must also persist. When the act of a young person taking his or her own life becomes fodder for jokes under the guise of anonymity and lack of consequences, we must ask ourselves what this bit of "freedom" costs us. And more importantly, where does this anger and hatefulness come from?
A quick Google news search of "cyber bullies" or "internet + suicide" yields a depressing number of shocking results. The incidences of self-harm as a result of internet bullying or intimidating are becoming public knowledge, and in many cases, it only seems to incite the ones bullying more. In the case of Natasha MacBryde's tragic death, many of her peers were still posting offensive remarks onto her memorial page. Other family members have been sent pictures of their deceased's bodies. The tales go on and on. The "why" is hotly debated. Is the internet responsible for the lack of empathy young people are showing, or is it just a symptom of something bigger? Is this anti-empathetic mindset something that has existed for generations but is exposed now that there is a virtually consequence-free venue to make these remarks?
I am inclined to think that the internet didn't magically create these monstrous occurrences. In the case of the white male patriarchy of the United States, our past is a bloody and entitled one. This total lack of connection and empathy between peoples in the same communities isn't a new problem (look at the treatment of any marginalized group, anywhere), and it is my opinion that learning to moderate comments on internet discussions and teaching etiquette isn't going to be any sort of long-lasting answer. Finding a more permanent solution, however, could have far-reaching benefits for everyone.
Instead, let's open the discussion. How do we teach empathy? Is it something teachable at all? Perhaps simply education is the answer.
I had been sitting on this piece for a few days when the White House held a conference about bullying, in which the President and First Lady offer some answers but mostly open up the discussion and start the problem-solving process. If nothing they said was groundbreaking, it was still good to see the White House taking some time for the youth of the country when there are so many other hot-button issues being discussed right now.
Watch here:
Both our President and the First lady speak about engagement with young people, speaking up, and taking action, when it comes to bullying. What pleased me the most, however, was their insistence that adults take responsibility for what is going on. Whether we know why it's happening or we don't, whether it's worse or better than when we were all children, these cases that result in the deaths of young people are not just "kids being kids," and that is a cop out. Good on the our leaders for calling that out. Like they said, we've got a lot of work to do.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Required Reading: 2/27
News
Black filmmakers discouraged by lack of Oscar-nominated African-American
Wisconsin protesters are holding strong
Muslim Student Association event meets opposition. February was also Islamic Awareness Month, in case you hadn't heard.
This weekend saw a nationwide protest of the act that has passed the House to strip Planned Parenthood of its funding, called Walk for Choice. You can see pictures of rallies all over the country at the Walk for Choice tumblr.
Good Reads
Womanist Musings: Detonguing the Subaltern – what news coverage and rape culture looks like in India from an ex-Hindu's perspective.
What's love got to do with it? Attacks on Reproductive Justice by the Crunk Feminist Collective
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