SAE Chapter 9: “War on Terror,” “Levels of Resistance” (Reading Response)

“The conduct of the USA in its battle with terrorism has weakened its international support and done little to improve its security.” 

“The USA’s marked disregard of human rights – routinely pursuing acts it would condemn others – has made its proclaimed purpose of spreading the freedom agenda appear hypocritical.”

“It has failed to recognize that the best antidote to terrorism is to uphold human dignity. By revealing its imperial mentality it has lost its moral credibility.”

When September 11, 2001 occurred, Bush and his administration quickly declared war on Afghanistan and Iraq. So many American citizens had lost loved ones, and the rest of America sympathized with them. What if it were their family? Everyone wanted to take action as soon as possible because they were afraid there would be another attack and others wanted to avenge their lost families. The people of America supported Bush, but as time went on people began to lose their pride and started questioning. Other countires also started losing their support.

Has anything improved? So much death has resulted from this war. So many young men and women risking their lives for a war that seems like will never end. The privacy and human rights of American citizens are violated with the Patriot Act.

Innocent Iraqis are forced to live in and endure the war. As families try to escape the war, they face more challenges and struggles. An article I read in Marie Claire, “Survival Sex: Iraqi Refugees” by Danielle Pergament, describes the desperation for educated, successful women to find jobs. Iraqi women result to prostitution because there are no jobs available to them. People are learning more about what really goes on in these war zones. They are realizing how not so glorious war is. Other countries also taken back by what they are witnessing in the war.

Should have Bush thought things through first or was immediate action necessary? There were so many assumptions by Bush and his administration. Did Saddam Hussein have WMDs? Bush labels Iraq, Iran, and North Korea the “Axis of Evil.” Terrorists do not originate from these countries alone, they are everywhere. Target whole countries? That is stereotyping whole peoples from that country as terrorists. 

http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/international/iraqi-refugees-prostitutes-sex?click=main_sr

IVUS Chapter 4: "Social Class and Organizational Power" (Reading Response)

“Corporate executives may express concern about street crime but not about their own illegal behavior.”

“Much of the violence in the United States is linked to the decision of those in the economic and political command posts, with corporations being the most powerful bureaucracies not only in the United States but also in he world.

“’A private government’ making the final decisions in many areas in life without being accountable to those whose lives they have affected.”

“Capitalist culture encourages materialism and looking out for oneself.”

In the news you constantly see street crime, people of high social and financial standing encouraging citizens to be aware of the dangers of those on the streets, but they do not caution them to be aware of political and corporate scandal. Today we are in an economic crisis; the quality and availability of education is diminishing, more and more people are laid off, small businesses are struggling to keep their establishments, college graduates cannot find jobs because training is expensive, and budget cuts everywhere. In this time of crisis, we need to be aware and take action when the “elite” undermine the working people. Corporations are constantly aiming for profit and in times of economic crisis they become desperate.

These “elites” take illegal and/or immoral actions because they are “removed from the rest of the population;” they do not come face to face with the people who are greatly affected by their decisions. The chain of command also allows them to avoid tension with employees, clients, etc.

While reading this chapter I started thinking about the budget cuts here in Washington State University. Do they not realize how much students need to re-evaluate their lives since they cannot receive their degree because their major no longer exist. Students who are 3 years deep are forced to drop their plans and move, 3 years of tuition and they do not receive what they paid for. It is ridiculous! It is frustrating! Whole programs are cut, do they not realize the financial strife of professors and instructors? Do they not realize they are limiting students’ education? They are taking students’ money and paying coaches hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. What about budget cuts in sports? Oh no, of course not the sports. Excuse my sarcasm. No one knows what is going on. No one knows whose education will be thrown away. No one knows whose going to be jobless. Everyone is in a panic, but where are the executives? Sitting comfortably behind desk.  

WL: "Native Hawaiian Historical & Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Justice" (Reading Response)

This article is personal to me because I was born and raised on the island of Maui. I am not a Native Hawaiian, but I support and understand the arguments of Mililani Trask. Native Hawaiians have every right to self-govern, to maintain their nations, pass laws, etc. because they the indigenous peoples of Hawaii and they welcomed America. When the first settlers came to Hawaii, the Natives believed they were gods, but they took advantage of the Hawaiians' aloha and hospitality and used the Hawaiian people and land to satisfy their greed because they are not white. When Hawaii became a state they did not have the same rights as the other states. They were also hesitant to establish Hawaii as a state because whites were the minority. Why did that matter? 

They already had control over the Hawaiians, they already had control over the immigrants they deceived to work on their plantations. That is why my family moved to Hawaii. My grandfather moved from the Philippines and worked on the plantations. These white settlers and businessmen belittled people of color, and this discrimination still goes on today. Toxic wastes are dumped and stored on Hawaiian homesteads, Native American Reservations, and black communities. Why is it the colored once again pushed aside? There is no consideration, no compassion. This continues to happen all throughout history. I do not understand why the U.S. Government cannot see how they are affecting the indigenous peoples of the world, in Okinawa, Japan, North America, South America, Hawaii, Pakistan, Iraq, Africa. People continue to suffer. 

Coming home from my first year of college was very shocking because so much had changed while I was gone. As time goes on Maui, my home, becomes more and more crowded and busy. More land developed for cookie-cutter homes. Wider roads to accommodate traffic. More pollution to destroy the beauty and culture of Hawaii. People who did not grow up in Hawaii and visit or move to the islands do not understand how precious the islands are. They see beaches, luaus, sunsets, and tropical forests, not the richness of culture, not its history. There are more tactics to attract tourists, so much that it seems like these superficial motives are overriding what Hawaii is really about. These people do not care and pollute and ravage the land for buildings/homes, they destroy its spirit; the essence of Hawaii. 

Dream Worlds 2 (Video Response)

This video was horrifyingly strong and effective. It was a little difficult to sit through it but it has opened my eyes so much to the media's perception of women. Before this video I never really paid attention to the implied roles of women in the mainstream, I never thought of how these brief images can influence how a man feels or thinks of a woman. 

It strips away the humanity, intelligence, personality, etc. of women; they are degradingly seen as just body parts, objects of desire. The "one is as good as another" mentality; the idea that women can be thrown away. The imagery also portrays women as reluctant but always wanting, "No means yes." It makes it seem as if women are constantly playing hard to get but really want men to do what they please, so they start to think they can control women, and this mentality often causes violence in relationships and in other interactions with the opposite sex. It also leads to the terms such as slut, whore, etc., it ruins the reputation of all women. 

I am seen as a sexual object in the media and to many people. My reputation as a woman is damaged by this sexual imagery, and can even harm me by portraying women as always sexually available. Thus labeling me as always sexually available. I fear for all women, no one deserves to be harmed by the ignorance of people, people who add and become part of this problem.

To many people I am expected to be submissive, helpless without a man, a body with no emotions, a sex symbol. This perception of women labels myself and other women as inferior. today we fight towards equality between men and women, but with the media constantly increasing sex and violence it will take years, decades, maybe even centuries to accomplish equality, Although circumstances are improving, it is at a very slow rate. 

U.S. Military in Okinawa (Video Response)

This video was very shocking to me because I had no idea the U.S. military ceased Okinawa land, forced the people to obey commands through threats, and are endangering their lives and health at this moment. It is embarrassing to see how much destruction America has inflicted on these innocent people and how careless and heartless they  are towards them. It goes to show how big of a hypocrite the American government can be. America fights the war against terrorist, but the U.S. government also needs to be aware of how they affect other countries; how their use of military dominance can be viewed as oppressive and terroristic. They threatened by burning homes to take their land, they contaminate drinking water with their oil, crash planes in schools and homes, and cause violence such as rape. At this very moment these issues are still present in Okinawa. Did the government take any action to solve these problems? 

After the rape of a schoolgirl by three soldiers in 1995, people realized there needed to be a change; they needed to take action.  The Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) was then established (globalsecurity.org). The Okinawa Prefectural Government created a program in 1996 that will close all military bases by 2015 (globalsecurity.org). The U.S. Military has had control over Okinawa since the end of World War II. Why did it take so long for the bases to change their ways? Didn't they notice what was happening to the people of Okinawa? Why did they allow this terrorism to acquire Okinawa land happen in the first place?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/okinawa.htm

WL: "The Search for Peace & Justice" (Facilitation 2)

Key Words: Military, lesbian, gay, rights, queer, heroes, war, equality, justice

Key Phrases: Peace activists, gendered power structure, male hierarchical institutions

Key Names: Gay Pride March, Women’s Army Corps

Key Ideas/Quotes: Jean Grossholtz grew up around ideas and stories of equality and justice. These ideas helped her overcome the obstacles she has encountered throughout her life as a lesbian and even empowered her to fight for what she believed in despite the consequences in the army.

“I learned I could be somebody. That I could do all the things they asked me, that I could stand against the harshest, most angry of my peers and survive.”

The Army breaks the spirits of soldiers, dehumanizes them, and breaks their identity. It teaches them not to reveal who they are as people because it will show vulnerability. Soldiers covered their true identities because they were afraid, but Jean rebelled.

“I knew that I had to organize my life to destroy the idea that war and dying in war was glorious. This blatant disrespect for life was wrong.”

Along with this idea of heroism, she dealt with the Army’s internal war against homosexuality. The army taught her she could not love her own kind, but she was sick and tired of feeling ashamed and living a lie. The Army demanded her to think less of herself but she couldn’t take it any longer.

“As confidence in my own abilities grew, confidence in who I was emerged.”

She realized that the army was wrong; that there was nothing wrong with her loving a woman. She marches to proclaim the right of gay/lesbians to serve in the military; to make a statement against the Army’s gendered system of power.

“You can no longer deny my existence. Those of us in uniform are not just robots wound up and set out to kill and be killed at the bidding of the world economic order. We have lives that you do not approve of, we have thoughts and values that reject yours.”

The Army is gendered male: a male hierarchical institution. If gay/lesbian people are openly accepted and acknowledged in the Army, that male ideology is broken.

Questions:

Why does the Army feel the need to suppress soldiers’ gender/identity? Since the military is the global force of America; a face of America, is there a reputation that it suppose to uphold?

If homosexuals were acknowledged in the military how would the perceptions of women change in patriarchal societies?

My Response

The Army trains soldiers to become numb to emotions and in a sense make them inhumane. Otherwise they would not be able to be a soldier because they wouldn't be able to pull the trigger, and that is why I am against war. I believe the Army brainwashes soldiers and that is why veterans suffer with psychological problems when they come back home. I know this is not the case for many, and I really do appreciate the soldiers that are in or went to war because I can only imagine how much they have sacrificed. It is the male hierarchal institution that I oppose.

They suppress the identity/gender of soldiers because they are afraid of who their soldiers could be as people, as females, as gays/lesbians. They do not want to show any possible “weaknesses” women and homosexual people have, they try to uphold the tough façade of the Army. The social construction of the strong heterosexual macho man is evident, and it is heart wrenching to read about the struggles gay/lesbian people face in the military.

I admire Jean Grossholtz because I can see how strong of a woman she is. Not only did she deal with the discrimination as a homosexual but she also dealt with the social constructions of women. 

Immigration & Racial/Ethnic Interpersonal Violence (Facilitation 1)

SAE: CH. 4 IMMIGRATION; ECONOMIC MIGRATION
Stephen Burman

Diversity

• Immigrants from 200 countries migrated into USA in 2005
• “Universal society”
• More diverse and multicultural
• Challenges existing social order

Economic Affects

• Creates economic dynamism
• Cheap labor
• Provide skills in demand
• Help American economy grow
• Economic migration helps develop economies and revitalizes rich countries, such as the USA.
• Social patterns challenged

“America is… adopting a suspicious, closed mentality that sees immigrations as a threat. Social tension has increased as many Americans feel that immigrants are taking their jobs, and taking advantage of welfare payments.”

“Migrants not only perform jobs at the bottom of the economic scale – dirty, demeaning, difficult, and dangerous jobs that Americans do not want”

IVUS: CH. 13 RACIAL AND EHTNIC INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE
Barbara Chasin

“Many acts of violence can be interpreted as mechanisms for the maintenance of accustomed hierarchies” and power.

Bias Crimes Hate Crimes Ethnoviolence

• Targets are those who threaten identity, beliefs, values, and possessions
  Peer pressure

“I have a reputation as a tough guy who defends the neighborhood and I want to keep it. People know when you’ve taken care of people who don’t belong in the neighborhood"
Pop Culture feeds the urge to defend one’s self
Popular culture, films, television, and advertising influence people to believe stereotypes that label whole groups

• Economic downturns and tragedy make people fearful and anxious; it causes them to blame others for their unemployment, financial struggles, etc; “Scapegoat”

ANALYSIS

Burman recognizes that immigration creates a more diverse and multicultural society, but that is all he mentions. Since there are people from different countries present in America does that mean America is diverse and multicultural? What does he mean by diverse and multicultural because it also seems like he sees immigrants as inferior, and that is not how multiculturalism should be viewed. Along with this idea of a diverse society, he recognizes the economic benefit and how it revitalizes rich countries like America.

He creates a binary between immigrants and “dirty, demeaning, difficult, and dangerous jobs;” cheap labor. He says America’s conception of itself is a universal society; open and welcoming, and it is to some degree but with his words it seems like America is taking advantage of these immigrants and giving them the jobs Americans do not want. Why does this binary exist?

Although Burman believes immigrants benefit the economy, others believe they are taking away opportunities of economic prosperity, and this is why hate crimes are committed. With these two readings you see the different perceptions of immigration, and racial and ethnic people of America. People feel they need to defend what they believe is rightfully theirs and they blame others for their misfortunes; they blame minority groups, “undesirable human beings,” “despised ethnic groups.”

Chasin mentions a story of a woman who resents the fact that she has lived in Jersey City her whole life but can barely pay rent while Indians come and buy property. Automatically I defend the Indians, they have every right, but as I thought about it more, in a sense, I can relate. When I think of home, of Hawaii, I think of people who did not grow up in Hawaii crowding the island, destroying its natural beauty and developing its land, people who do not have respect for the land, who overlook the culture and only see Hawaii for its scenery and luaus. I started to feel resentment myself because to me Hawaii is so much more, but I stopped and I realized the only people who should have a say in this and whose words really do matter are the Native Hawaiians; and here on the mainland, the Native Americans. Not the locals, not someone who has lived there their whole lives, not me, but the indigenous people of the land. This was a real eye opener for me. Growing up on Maui really made me appreciate everything about Hawaii culture and I have grown attached to it, even protective but that does not mean I can say who can and cannot live on the islands.

Mid-Term Project

Abstract

The tobacco industry is constantly advertising to appeal towards young adults. They seek lifetime consumers and since their products are causing shorter lives they need to replace them. Although people are more knowledgeable about the affects of smoking cigarettes people still fall into the words and imagery of their advertisements. Social constructions such as beauty and power and the issue of sexism are all evident in their advertisements. People may not realize the underlying messages of these ads, and they overlook the severity of these false perceptions, but this is an important issue that should be addressed because everyday someone is convinced these ideals of a man or woman are true and a lot of the time it is unconsciously.

All the women in these ads are ‘fit,’ skinny, the commercial idea of beauty with make-up and styled hair. All the men in these ads have power and control; the respect of the ‘tough guise.’ The positions of woman and man are complete opposites in these young adult dream worlds. While men usually have the upper hand, women sex icons. Tobacco companies play into weaknesses of society and hope to continue the cycle of consumers.

Pictures

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/2464169078_98102ae8a5.jpg

The Tipalet cigarette ad suggests that women are mindless, easily manipulated, and sexually driven. The statement ‘Blow in her face and she’ll follow you anywhere.’ is an illusion of power that men have over women if they buy these products. It expresses how men can belittle women and still have their way. The act of blowing smoke into a woman’s face, or to anyone’s face for that matter is rude, and when someone becomes submissive to that like the woman in the ad, it becomes a symbolism for inferiority and superiority. The phrase also implies that women will need/want a man if he smokes these cigarettes and thus making the consumer want to buy their product for pleasure, for an intimate relationship, for sexually driven women. Sexism is one of the biggest influences in this ad. The woman in the ad is captivated by the man and shows a sense of sex appeal because of her low shirt and engaging posture, while the man watches as he gains this control with his smoke. The man holds the ‘tough guise,’ the macho man, the bad boy smoking the cigarette; the man everyone should respect or fear. The statement in the orange box starts of with ‘Hit her with tangy Tipalet Cherry.’ This once again suggests power, along with violence against women.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/camel1p/sabrina98/Camel%20Ads/camel1p.jpg

The Camel cigarette ad offers the different blends that can satisfy your kind of ‘pleasure,’ and by pleasure they mean attracting the opposite sex. In this imaginary world women use their bodies to seduce men. While the man once again sits back, the woman throws herself at him. Through her body language viewers get the idea that women are lustful, needy. Men may want to buy this product because they want to have a bigger chance of attracting women, maybe to have something in common with the imaginary woman in the ad, the woman that is supposedly somewhere, out there, in the real world.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/adgallery/images/408Thumb.jpg

The Kool cigarette ads (above) target men who want control, power, and the ability to ‘entice’ and ‘enchant’ the women in these ads. The women are advertised as sexual commodities that come along with the purchase of a box of cigarettes, similar to that of the Tipalet ads. In the second grouping of Kool ads (below), this is also evident. Although all the women are already with someone, their attention is quickly drawn to the man smoking Kool cigarettes. This labels women as easily manipulated and promiscuous.

http://www.euro-cig.com/gal_images/20060405143258.gif
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNcJna6cGGl3QAA6mv5x1tSUoJPwwIoRiPzkaMbNq-AKxXB34Kr3PLPGvT1jrdB1K3zQ-rWk_gFusUIGHnYDAaaz7XEgovYQHBxWMTmKnujTuaBy4EwHpWOTWd5JDVRspPR-EWD9gTuA/s400/z5163a.jpg

This brand of cigarettes mainly targets the female consumer. The brand itself is “appealing”. When the word slim comes to mind, women think of “ideal” beauty; models, a skinny waist, fitness, etc. As for the ad concept, the company is giving women a reason to buy their product. They are saying women deserve it, and they are reassuring women and empowering them to believe it is ok to consume them. The images in the background could be implying how hard-working women are and how far they have come to accomplish equality between men and women. The model in the ad suggests what men want. In a sense this aspect of the ad targets men. Women believe this is what men want and fall into the social construction of patriarchy.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIl7b0m33hmRhvILS0sbMewOctzPBs6fKhJhyphenhyphen7iLlw6WIAlp7jCuMYWUja_IeUilKf-eZe1kiCo-D_krfVfshfJFCPO9mda3g8VrUs8Zv1GxxMLOcrfZysyayiAs8iWAdezy2jUHhYDI/s400/quit-smoking-virginia-slims.jpg

I don’t think this is a real ad but the message on it expresses the myth of cigarettes, a hunger suppressor. The social construct of commercial beauty leads women to think they are not good enough; not skinny enough for the male sex. It reveals how women go against other women in this race for “beauty,” confidence, a companion. It is sad to see that some women have this mind set. So many factors are against us as women and instead of attacking each other; instead of creating a division amongst women, we need to be there for each other and learn from each other to rise up and accomplish a more equal society.

What is power? (Group Discussion Response)

There are so many different types kinds of power, and there are so many different ideas of what is power within a group of people. It is difficult to pin point a single statement that everyone agrees on and the fact that there is imbalanced vocalization in the group makes things even more difficult. I know I myself have not spoken out as much as i should but at times I feel like I am lost in these discussions. When people speak it takes awhile for me to fully comprehend what is going on, where the discussion is going, or where it even came from. It is hard for me to think on the spot because so much goes on at a time, but when I write, things just spill onto the paper; my thoughts fill the page. To put it simply...


POWER is...

• Being able to embrace yourself and others.
  


• Knowing when to step up and when to step down.
  


• The ability to admit you're wrong.
  


• The ability to stand up for what is right even though all odds are against you.
  


• Seeing past what a person is and instead seeing them for who they are.
  


• Having compassion towards both friends and foes.

In our discussion there was a debate between whether or not physical strength is a power. Although to some degree physical strength does hold a sense of power through intimidation and fear, I believe it is only an illusion. People may have the muscles but if you do not have a strong sense of self, knowledge, and will, they can be easliy manipulated and used as tools. Sad, but true.

Power is also sometimes gendered male; "man-power." Why are women not seen as powerful? Why are women not paid as much as men are paid? This social construct of inferior women is still present today and it is upsetting because we are constantly defending ourselves against these underestimations.

More About Global Sex Trafficking (Reading Response)

The Root of Modern Day Slavery

Women and children are taken from their homes, away from their families, and shipped to various countries all over the world, as if they are objects; mindless, soulless bodies, commodities of the international sex trade. This is a form of modern day slavery. They are forced into prostitution and become sex slaves.

Poverty stricken countries enter the sex trade as the economy worsens. More and more people end up unemployed and they become desperate for money, thus taking up any opportunity without thinking twice. Women and children are lured into the industry by making them believe they will have better lives if they take up the job offers or if they agree to follow a program overseas. They look at these opportunities as blessings; as a way out, so they do not question it. These fraudulent opportunities target vulnerable economies to acquire the women and children that keep the industry going through prostitution and working at brothels.

Families also take desperate measures and actually sell their own children into the sex trade. Girls are more likely to be sold since boys are more valuable than girls. This sexism is also the reason why women cannot find jobs. They are seen as inferior and uneducated, while men are seen as strong, intelligent, the opposite of women.

Violence is another factor that contributes to the trafficking. In societies of poverty, violence is often present. This gives women and children more incentive to follow these trafficking agents for "security."

Political conflict also increases trafficking. Military bases are linked to the rise, and the vulnerability of the women and children at refugee camps are often taken advantage of.

My Views

Many people do not understand the severity of this problem. On an episode of Viva La Bam, the group of pranksters order a bride for one of their friends. They look at these online sites and find the fact that they can just order a bride amusing, entertaining even. They do not realize why these women are on these online catalogs. This kind of ignorance is what makes people blind to the underlying truth; to the struggle other human beings face. If everyone were more educated about these issues there would be more compassion, more understanding, a more unified humanity between people of every race, gender, religion, etc.

It saddens me to see that women are degraded to "goods" and it empowers me even more to stand for myself and other women because we are strong. Women should not be underestimated because we are constantly rising up in society but the cruelty of mankind has no mercy and those who suffer the greatest are women and children. No one deserves what they face everyday, especially the children that have so much to offer the world; children who hold the future. Their innocence is taken advantage of. These agents are so consumed in money and sex that they do not even think of these people as human beings anymore; they do not think to put themselves in their shoes because they do not care. I try to imagine what these agents and clients think, and it disgusts me. They may believe for instance, that marrying a mail-order bride is okay because she is willing to. Does will make that justified? No it does not. Victims of the sex trade are always led to believe they will find content if they follow these agents, but they later find out otherwise. If a prostitute is willing to sell her body is that justified? No it does not. "Pimps" manipulate them, threaten them, until they are willing. I do not understand why people would go to such drastic measures by enslaving others to make money. What if it was their mother? Their sister? Their son? Any loved one? Themselves? Where has the morality gone?

Info from: globalfundforwomen.org

The Tough Guise (Video Response)

Everyday we encounter stereotypes and labels, and for men this is the "tough guise." The "ideal" man is thought to be strong, respected, powerful, independent, and a leader, and for many this is acquired through violence; enforcing fear on others to gain respect. There should be no ideal man or ideal woman because everyone is different. No one should expect or assume something from someone just because they are a certain sex. It is this type of gendering that puts many people in danger because someone is always trying to out do someone else and a lot of the time the end result is unfortunate.

As a woman my identity is tainted with weakness and inferiority because of this tough guise. Many men put up a front as alpha male, macho man, etc. and many assume they have a preordained right to have power over women. In the video men describe a weak man as "girly." Why is weakness gendered girly? This is the comment that upsets me the most from the video because I am a strong woman and no one has the right to tell me otherwise based on the fact that I am a female. This train of thought also harms the safety of myself and other women. Since we are seen as weak some men have a lower respect for us and may feel they can take advantage of us; we are put into danger.

Since I am a first generation, Asian American woman, the tough guise affects me greatly. White supremacy tries to suppress minorities in order to keep the power they may lose, and in retaliation minorities feel they need to step up. As a minority woman I am caught in this world and a lot of the time women are the victims in these circumstances; violence is taken out on women just to feel that power and respect.

I also fear for my father, grandfather, nephews, uncles, and future sons because they have to deal with the violence between men and boys that arise from the tough guise. Although playing into the tough guise would only add to the problem, sometimes it is essential to protect themselves and their loved ones. It is an issue that no one can avoid; it is a cycle that continues on to the next generation and even though men and boys may resist the tough guise they are pushed and forced into it because of the society's social construct. Knowing that the tough guise will go on like this scares me because you can only do so much with the people around you.

WW: "Domestic Violence" (Reading Response)

When I hear stories about domestic violence I cringe.I ask myself why would these women put themselves through this suffering and why don't they get help. People may disregard the issue of domestic violence because it is not their problem or it is not their buisness, but as a woman, as a human being, I feel I have a duty to reach out, spread awareness, and encourage people to seek help. This past Tuesday, February 3, 2009, my sorority sister and I held a workshop in honor of our sorority's, Chi Delta Sigma's, Founding Week.


Researching the statistics and watching youtube videos on domestic violence were shocking and heart aching. Women everywhere all over the world are victimized simply because they are women; because they are supposedly the "inferior sex;" because they live in a strongly patriarchal society. It saddens me to see how women are treated because it is a cycle of violence that keeps going, and if women do not seek help, a lot of the time they end up losing their lives and leaving the abuser to victimize others, especially if children are left behind.


Children who experience and/or witness domestic violence may often think violence is okay. Domestic violence is then carried onto the next generation and the cycle begins again. They may also have psychological and emotional problems and in some cases become neglected. That is why victims need to reach out for help, because so many others are affected directly and indirectly.

It's this sense of control that drives an abuser. Although both men and women can be victims of domestic violence, majority of the cases are of abused women. There is a great difference between abused men and women because of this sense of patriarchy. Although we are working towards equality, women still struggle to make themselves heard. Some men feel they have a right to take charge in a relationship, even if they aren't married.


Domestic violence goes beyond the household; beyond married couples. It can happen to anyone, no matter what marital status, age, gender, race, religion, etc. It could even happen in college.