Activism Log 7

Michael Farmer

Nina Perez

WST 3015

4 April 2010

Activism Log 7

Activism:

This week I'm very excited because our event for Animal Safe House is swiftly approaching. I traveled home to Apopka for the Easter holidays and shared with the family the work I've been doing. I got several commitments from family members to make cash donations for Animal Safe House. I also continued compiling data for our info board.

Reflection:

My work with Animal Safe House of Brevard is especially important to me having grown up close to someone who was the victim of domestic violence. Aside from spreading the word about the fabulous service that Animal Safe House of Brevard Provides the simple act of drawing attention to an epedemic of violence that often goes unoticed makes me feel good about my work. According to Kirk violence between intimate partners is very under reported, “Although violence between intimate partners is illegal in this country, it is seriously under-reported” (Kirk 263). My hope is that our work with the Animal safe house will help embolden women and mend to "come out" as surviviors and help others with similar experiances.

Reciprocity:

Having grown up in a home where I saw somone close to me become the victim of emotional and verbal harrassment, I know the high price children and spouses pay for this atrocity. I can't even begin to comprehend the pain that comes from the addition of physical violence for people. Many times domestic violence is a learned habit, and is passed on to children. I know our work will help to end this viscious cylcle and realease children of abusers from being damed to repeat their father/mothers awful mistakes.

Kirk, Gwyn and Okazawa-Rey, Margo. "Violence Against Women." Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 257-273.

"U.S. Election 2004 From the Eyes on an Iraqi Woman"

Michael Farmer

Nina Perez

WST 3015

5 April 2010

For many people in the United States 2004 was a critical year for domestic politics in our country. Many people felt outrage that our country seemed to be on an very swiftly moving downward spiral and Democrats were poised to take control of the White House and the reigns. A huge focus of election 2004 was the war in Iraq, the terms for which we had occupied that country and the thinking behind our extended stay there. All wrapped up in our own fury and self importance we never seem to remember that there were actually thinking, breathing people in the country we were occupying who literally had a life or death interest in our election of a new President and administration.

Luckily for me and for others with an open mind, a woman in Iraq kept a blog that helps serve as a voice for what Iraqi's were feeling in 2004 in the midst of the American elections. Her blog is incredibly powerful because it came at a time when the American media and even people in our own government tried with the utmost eagerness to paint Iraqi people with one broad-brush stroke. Her blog is so powerful that with one fowl swoop her words crush any of the myths perpetuated by the simple minds of the American media and governments. She talks about how even it was true post occupation that most Iraqi's did not pay close attention to American elections that myth was no longer true now that they had become occupied and it was even true in 2000 when Iraqi's feared what a Bush administration would mean for them.

"Many, many people have asked me about the elections and what we think of them. Before, I would have said that I really don’t think much about it. Up until four years ago, I always thought the American elections were a pretty straightforward process: two white males up for the same position (face it people- it really is only two- Nader doesn’t count), people voting and the person with more votes wins. After the debacle of four years ago, where Bush Jr. was *assigned* president, things are looking more complicated and a little bit more sordid (Enloe)."

Another thing I think is striking from this quote is the inherent "feminist" language it contains. Such broad swatches of Americans think that Iraqi women are an oppressed, uneducated group who are kept away from society and politics. Her asserting this intellectual well formed opinion about the American election is such a powerful myth buster about the nature of women in Iraq and the existence of a woman's movement there.

In my opinion her blogs primary function is one of education. Although, this particular entry and many of Riverbends other entries are also inherently political. Even though Riverbend and her fellow Iraqi's cannot themselves participate in American elections, (which to me seems an atrocity given they are essentially a conquered territory) her blog and her voice can definitely have a powerful effect on her American readers. It's clear she knows this when she passionately implores Americans to live up to the best of what we are and vote for John Kerry. "I guess what I’m trying to say is this: Americans, the name of your country which once stood for ‘freedom and justice’ is tarnished worldwide. Your latest president has proved that the great American image of democracy is just that- an image. You can protest, you can demonstrate, you can vote- but it ends there. The reigns were out of your hands the moment Bush stepped into the White House. You were deceived repetitively and duped into two wars. Your sons and daughters are dying, and killing, in foreign lands. Your embassies are in danger all over the world. ‘America’ has become synonymous with ‘empire’, ‘hegemony’, and ‘warfare’. And why? All because you needed to be diverted away from the fact that you’re current president is a failure (Enloe)."

When I received this assignment I immediately navigated to Riverbend's blog entries from 2004. I hoped that she had made entries based on the American election. What a fascinating record of Iraqi thought during that time. 2004 was an especially disappointing election for me and for many Americans, but none of us can know the depth of despair people occupied can feel when they literally "lose" and lose big. The result of occupation is summed up well in chapter ten of our text, Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspective, women in the military is discussed. “Perhaps one of the most far-reaching effects of war is the normalization of violence in everyday life…” (504). This normalization is perhaps the most awful result of the 2004 elections that is forgotten, and the biggest burden left behind.

Enloe, Riverbend. "American Election 2004." Web log post. Baghdad Burning. 25 Oct. 2004. Web. 5 Apr. 2010.

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women and the Military, War, and Peace, Women's Studies. Women's Lives Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. 493-510.

Activism Log 3

Michael Farmer

Nina Perez

WST 3015

1 April 2010

Activism Log 3

Activism:

This week my group and I brainstormed possible venue locations for our event via the web. We all bounced around a couple idea's, I mentioned the First Unitarian Church of Orlando and the Orlando Gay and Lesbian Center. Finally, we settled on choosing a restaurant. A couple of my group members agreed to go check out the venues to ensure that they worked for our purposes. In addition to helping out with the venue, I've continued work on data for our information poster boards and flyers. I've also chosen to register as a puppy foster parent with Animal Safe House of Brevard, which I'm very excited about.

Reflection:

This week I'm super excited at the prospect of us having chosen venues for our events, and possibly event having two locations. I hope that the locations are in areas accessible enough for the maximum number of people to attend, education around this issue is so very important. I'm a little bit worried about the prospect of fostering a dog in my home, but also excited to help and for a new challenge.

Reciprocity:

Up till now I feel like we've gotten the bulk of the core parts of this projected ironed out. Excited to see what happens next and to do some good solid education about Animal Safe House Of Brevard. Feeling a little nervous about the possibility of fostering a dog and what that means for the contents of my home. But, I know I'll be helping some inspiring women and learning alot myself.

Work Cited:

Activism Log 2

Michael Farmer

Nina Perez

WST 3015

1 April 2010

Activism Log # 2

Activism:

My group and I are on a good track with our project, we communicate regularly via the web and bounce ideas off of one another. This week I've been working on the research for a poster board full of information about Animal Safe House Of Brevard, the work they do and why it's so important. I'm also planning to take the same data and create flyers that can be distributed about our event and the organization. I'll place these flyers around my apartment building, my neighborhood downtown and at the gay and lesbian center.

Reflection:

This week was again a week of planning and reorganzing as things developed. Always in my mind was the “Twelve Step Method”, from Fight Like A Girl (Seely 19), it's helped me to organize our work in my head.

Reciprocity:

Working with Animal Safe House of Brevard has been a very eye opening experiance for me. I've long been invloved in praxis, working in the LGBTQ rights movment and I've always though of myself as a feminist. But, I've never really seen te physical effects of what happens to women when they are abused by their spouses. It's so important that their animals, sometimes the only happiness they have in their world have a safe place to stay so that their moms can become free. I'm glad to have gone "outside the box" on this one and strayed from my normal praxis.

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl: How to be a Fearless Feminist. New York and London: New York UP, 2007. Print.

Give us a fighting chance, an image we can be proud of

Michael Farmer
Jeannina Perez
WST 3015 (Introduction to Women’s Studies)
17 February 2010

The Film Hairspray though based on civil rights and social justice is full of false generalizations and stereotypes. I’ll focus on the false generalizations and stereotypes made about women’s sexuality in the film and the idea’s about plus sized women.
Plus sized women in the film are constantly shown as outcast individuals with little or low self-esteem, they’re portrayed as matronly and un attractive. The contrast becomes very clear when Tracy Turnblad tries out to be on the Corny Collins show and is denied, among other things because of her size. The message is thin is normal, thin is good, thin is beauty. Look at Tracy’s mother, she stays shut in the house, buries her poor self esteem in housework and boring matronly clothes. Tracy’s mother is not portrayed as pretty or sexual, she’s fat, old, sad and asexual in the film. She’s also portrayed as weak, she takes the path of least resistance, she has a hard time making declarative statements. “We ignore the societal and institutional reasons that contribute to obesity; instead we perpetuate cultural sizeism by pointing fingers at those who overweight reinforcing the idea that thinner is better.” (Seely 131)
Somewhat conversely women who are portrayed as sexual are portrayed as evil, calculating, slutty, diseased ect. “Sexuality can be restriction and vulnerability for women Especially for those who repudiate societal norms.” (Kirk, and Okazawa-Rey 149) We see this in the character of Velma Von Tussel. One of Velma’s spotlight moments it’s a song entitled “Ms. Baltimore Crabs”, she sings about how she slept with entire panel of judges to in order to be crowned a beauty queen. It’s implied that because of her sexual freedom, she’s contracted crabs. Later in the film she tried to seduce Mrs. Turnblad husband to turn them against each other with the promise of sex.
Even though the film Hairspray was mostly mocking these stereotypes and bringing their falsehoods into the sunshine it does shed light on the way many of the people we see everyday actually feel. The reality is that big women are beautiful, sexual, strong willed and any other personality type they want to take on. But, when we tell them from a young age as a collective society they cannot be these things, they must be less than, we set them up for failure. The same goes for women who are blossoming sexually. Women should be empowered to explore sex and be armed with the sense of seld and knowledge needed to be safe. If we send them into the sexual world with one hand tied behind their back because of stereotypes in films, We all lose.

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Womens Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. 5th. New York, NY: Mcgraw Hill, 2010. 149. Print.
Seely, Megan. Fight Like A Girl. New York, NY: NYU Press, 2007. 131. Print.

Activist Log

This week was spent largely getting the wheels turning. Our group previously spent time polishing our proposal. My tasks this week have been to research venues for a possible fundraiser for the Animal Safe House, locations for donation drops offs and also ways we might be able to spread the word about our work. I also signed up to be a foster parent.

Project Proposal

February 2, 2010

Jeannina Perez

WST 3015

Community Partner: Animal Safe House of Brevard

Address: animalsafehouse@gmail.com

Contact: Arielle Schwartz

954-401-4901

Community Partner Profile:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard was formed in summer 2008 as a network of individuals committed to helping both women and pets who are victims of domestic violence. Animal Safehouse recently became a registered Florida non-profit agency which relies heavily on donations and volunteers and is in need of assistance to help as many women and pets possible.

Community Partner Mission Statement:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets that, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations. The mission of Animal Safehouse Campus Action Network is a commitment to encouraging women to escape domestic violence by fostering and providing for their pets while they are in shelters; to raise community awareness about domestic violence and about the links between domestic violence and animal abuse.

Political and/or Social Basis for Organization:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard appeals to the desperate need for a safe place for pets who are subjected to abuse while their owners seek shelter and rehabilitation. Domestic violence can sometimes also involve animal abuse; both of these violate women’s rights and animal rights.

Community Partner Needs:

In order to be productive and to continue helping animals, this organization needs constant help from the community. Transporters, foster parents, volunteers, and vets are needed. Animal Safehouse of Brevard relies heavily on donations to keep our program running. Items needed are unopened food, collars, leashes, bowls, flea treatment, heartworm treatment, veterinary care, crates, pillows, toys, and blankets.

Memorandum

TO: Jeannina Perez

FROM:J. Audette, M. Farmer, A. Ondina, K. Sanders, S. Stoneburner, K. Temple

DATE: February 2, 2010

RE: Proposal to Write a Feasibility Report for a Service Learning Project

This is a proposal for the services needed for the benefit of the Animal Safehouse of Brevard County. We outline the services we plan to provide to the benefit of this community partner in this proposal. We will also include the connection between the goals of the Animal Safehouse and Women’s Studies.

Need for materials, time and volunteers to assist in raising money, awareness and donations to assist Animal Safe House of Brevard

The mission of the Animal Safehouse is to provide foster care to pets of women who need to leave abusive situations. Many women will not leave because they either have children or pets at home that they do not wish to abandon. By providing the foster care, the pets will be taken care of and the women can feel more confident in leaving.

Plan Proposal

We plan to provide services for our partner by partaking in the activities of the Animal Safehouse. It will benefit their cause and also provide them with extra help. We also are aiming to raise awareness. As a group, we will make flyers, table at local businesses and plan a “signing day” where interested persons will be able to sign up to foster an animal in need. We plan to table with a constant schedule with the hopes that we will also be able to collect donations.

Rationale for women’s studies

This project is relevant to women’s studies because it presents the problem with domestic violence toward women and animals.

Action

We plan to get as much information from the Animal Safehouse as possible before planning any action. We will need to record information of known families and pets in need of the Animal Safehouse’s services. Then we will take this information and use it to create flyers and any other means of spreading the word to people. We also plan to organize a “signing party”.

Timeline

Below is a schedule of events, activities and/or deadlines for our project:

1. Research/interviews – through February 13

2. Begin creating materials to use for spreading the word–through February 20

3. Organize “signing party” for Animal Safehouse – through March 6

4. Flyer – through March 13

5. Finalize “signing day” (event will also be around this date) – through March 25

6. Send thank you letters– April 2