What it means to be feminine and masculine

Gender roles is a huge aspect of our society. It shapes our thoughts, emotions, opinions, and perspectives. With that said, heteronormality is the 'norm' of our society and any opposition to this appears to influence judgement in regards to Americans thoughts, emotions, opinions, and perspectives of other individuals and their sense of worth. Our generation, however, is the most known for gender identity being more flexible and implementing action to promote this idea, such as allowing homosexuals into the army with the 'don't ask to don't tell' policy. Yet, despite our country transitioning into a more acceptable society, the GLBT community still faces discrimination and injustice. I found a blog written by a homosexual online that is a perfect example of the discrimination the GLBT is still facing from a personal point of view. This blog is directed at a newsweek writer, Ramin Setoodeh, who wrote a homophobic article targeting gay actors saying they are inadequate to play heterosexual roles and will not be taken seriously in that role, influencing the success of the movie. This article targeted actor, Sean Hayes as a primary example. Setoodeh's main point in his article was that gay people couldn't play a straight role, because they have no idea what it’s like to be straight, so how could they possibly act they way? This article really got under the skin of this homosexual blogger known as Calhoun. His response to this judgemental article is that homosexuality is not indentifiable. Calhoun says, "It’s not on my skin or in my voice. It’s part of me, but not the only part." Agreeing with Calhoun, and admiring his classy response to an article targeting his sexuality negatively, I believe that sexuality is only one aspect of an individual, not consuming them as a whole, which people commonly mistake. We have the freedom to express ourselves in whichever custom, culture, religion we are passionate about and have realized describes/makes us as an individual. Heterosexuality being the normality of our country is racist towards the homosexual population influencing many actions being prohibited by the gays such as the institution of marriage. I, being a christian, have realized many bias' I have towards this issue of allowing homosexual marriages to be legal nationwide. However, as I have gotten older and become more knowledgeable of this issue I have come to realize that the GLBT community does not begrudge us of our sexuality, so why should we prevent them from expressing their own sexuality and preventing them of obtaining equal rights? This topic is very controversal and gets under a lot of peoples skin, but we need to look at it from other's perspectives and the inequalities this community recieves. I feel that this issue is the most common modern day form of racism. Sexuality is positioned hierarchically, heterosexuality being the superior and homosexuality being inferior, I am not sure if this is an issue that will ever fully be changed nationwide, yet there is hope for the GLBT community in which slowly, yet hopefully, states are changing their laws and allowing gay marriages. This one aspect shows the transition of our societies system of sexism and the ways in which transgender oppression is being changed.

Here is the blogging site, which also gives the website links to Setoodeh's article.

http://selfproclaimedmegalomaniac.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/heteronormality/

Is there religious freedom?

Discussing this topic in class made me aware of some bias' I have towards this issue, as a social worker, that could potentially influence me to struggle with handeling this situation with my clients or in a organization/community. The idea of integration of religion in schools and the public (such as jobs from the video clips) is an idea I favor indefinitely. Being able to practice your religious beliefs publicly is apart of our rights as citizens. The idea that praying has been banned in schools, or controversys about saying "one nation under God" in our pledge of allegiance hits a personal spot for me. Sure, I respect people's opinions about this issue and whether they have spiritual beliefs or specific relgious beliefs, which as we discussed appear to be interchangeable but are not. However, all individuals beliefs should be respected, whether you have religious beliefs or not. With that said, I believe politics and religion can be symmetrical. Running a nation includes your beliefs and morals towards certain issues, and your religious beliefs (if any) will influence your beliefs and opinions. I think we made a good point as a class saying that there is a difference between rural and urban areas religious beliefs. Small communities, for example where my Mom's family is from in East Texas, all attend the same church, same religious beliefs in their community; a Baptist Church. Being in such a small community, it is more adament to exhibit your religious beliefs publicly and portraying them within school rights of passage, such as prayer at graduation, Christmas shows representing the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet, in a 5a school district I grew up in where our graduating class was close to 600, these religious portrayals are not exhibited in school anymore. When my brother graduated in 2000, I remember attending his Christmas shows and prayer at football games. But when I attended high school, there was public debate about our pledge of allegiance, prayer was not allowed during athletic programs or extra-curricular activities such as the traditional Christmas programs. The only program that had anything to do with the school district was Younglife, and that was not a school sponsored extra-curricular activity. It is a program led by volunteers and includes all schools within the district, not just one in specific.
With that said, seeing these changes being implemented offends me. I do not feel that schools are favoring only christianity. Individuals should be able to portray their beliefs whether it regards certain articles of clothing, tattoos, etc. As well as in the job force. I too have never witnessed a waitress or waitor wearing religious articles of clothing, head bands, or scarfs. So that brings up the question, is Article 7 of the constituion really being forced? Or are citizens, who are well qualified for specific jobs, afraid to apply for them because their religious beliefs will be discriminated against, questioned, or percieved as a threat? Equal Employment Opportunity is a value we as Americans are proud of to be represented in our constitution, but is there really equality?

What's in a name?

This article is very interesting to me because I have came across places such as these with race-based names, passing them and seeing their names on street signs. I always thought to myself, how is that acceptable or appropriate? It is not. This article gives evidence that there has been changes implemented on these historic sites regarding their names, so in my opinion, I feel like places like Rick Perry's land, or Negro Creek should have the option of changing their name as well. I don't agree that these places names shouldn't be changed because they are being viewed "as apart of history". Sure, as Americans, we are all familiar with our ancestors and their views/beliefs towards racism, being involved in slavery and discrimintion. However, yes my child will be knowledgeable of these past issues, but promoting these historic past times is not something I want my child to witness "as part of history". Seeing a historic site's name in reference to that societies racist beliefs doesn't make it historic, it just shows that our society still sees these racist issues to be prominent and still existing.

contradictory beliefs about the USA

"Everyone in the USA has a chance to succeed." This statement can be viewed optimistcally or pessimistically. Yes, I do believe that our country has more advantages for individuals to be successful in their adult life in order to meet their basic needs, whether they are classified as lower class or upper class in comparison to countries such as Afghanistan who need an admirable government system, such as ours, to influence their decision making. However at the same time, people's past experiences, mistakes, and situations have a huge impact on their future success. For example, individuals who have a legal background may not be able to get a job because of their background history. Or other situations may involve the lack of resources available to an individual, for instance one who has grown up in poverty would be discouraged or just have no way for further education, which is a necessity for success. Educational expenses are rising and students not being able to attend college because they can not afford it will have a hard time finding a successfull job when competing with students obtaining a degree. Also financial aid and loans will rise as well, initially creating debt for a student to pay off after graduation leaving them with financial oligations. This also could influence a young adult's decision to attend college by discouraging them to not be able to get out of debt and become successful. Some individuals also just do not obtain the adequate skills necessary for a successful job because of their background as well and not having the right resources growing up, for example computers and being knowledgeable of microsoft programs for desk jobs (outlook, excel, etc). Sure people have contradictory beliefs about everyone having an equal chance to be successful and prevent themselves from living on the streets because they for instance could go apply at McDonalds or Wal-Mart, but even those jobs require skills that must be learned through experience which not everyone has. So in my opinion, not "everyone" can be successful in the USA. Factors contribute to a person's success, such as money, resources, education, connections, and background checks and without the right access to these factors, one may not have the opportunity to become successful.

injustice within the criminal-justice system

Hey guys,

After writing my op-ed paper and having a continual interest in the Casey Anthony trial, I came across this OpEd article I thought would be of interest to you all. Just to refresh your memories, in October 2008, Casey Anthony was indicted for the murder of her still missing little girl as the false testimony and reports of body decomposition were found in the trunk of her car gave prosecutors enough for a criminal case against this young mother. In December 2008, Caylee's remains were found in a trashbag tossed in a field. Though conclusive evidence as the actual cause of the death could not be substantiated, the facts clearly supported the position that someone did indeed murder her. The shocking verdict of this case is what shocked America and had us standing on our tip toes. Casey Anthony was found "not guilty". Our generation has moved from a circumstantial evidence based era to a fact based era. The speculations and false testimonies alone represented by Casey was not enough to prove her guilty, which is what exhibits the injustice within our criminal system. We have the highest incarceration rate within our prison system, yet an individual who clearly portrayed to be guilty whom self was even shocked by the verdict, was set free.

Do you feel like she has the right to walk the streets again, freely, nightlife partying, living an ideal young adult she wanted, but had to make arrangements to accomodate this lifestyle... getting rid of her daughter. I sure don't. I began to talk about the comparison with the OJ Simpson case as well, because similarily with enough circumstantial evidence to prove him guilty, the lack of DNA or blood trails left on the criminal scene was what set him free. We pride our country on being "in the lead" in comparison to other countries around the world. But how prideful can we be when we allow circumstances like this, ones media are highly attracted too allowing the whole country to become involved in, be dismissed so easily. Where is the justice in that?

Here is the link to the article if you have an interest in reading it :)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Hypocrisy-of-the-Casey-by-Steven-Forrest-110708-511.html

Japanese Concentration Camps

The video we watched today in class was a bit of an eye opener to me. As Americans, we feel like we have been the supremacy country for generations, and people should model our ideas, morals, values, beliefs etc. To most Americans, the only issue we feel strongly about, regarding racism, was the Civil War and slaving African Americans. In return, those unresolved feelings of hatred and judgement still continues towards African Americans, but for the most part the African American community, overtime, has gained equal rights that the "dominate" ethnicity, caucasians, obtain. Watching this video made me realize that us Americans do not take accountability for the other racist acts we have performed, such as the Japanese concentration camps. I myself was not knowledgeable of our behavior during this time and the mistreatment this group of people recieved. Being in this class, and being a social work student, I learn more and more each day of the hatred, criticism, stereotypes populations are being attacked with besides just the African American community that we feel is the only community, as I said, we have "unresolved feelings with." Times have changed, equality is inevitable in our society, but are individuals truly recieving the equality and respect they deserve? Or is injustice a trait Americans among the european descendent ancestory will never fully get passed?

Labor Day NY Times article

To celebrate our great country or not? That is the question.

I found this NY Times article today to ber very interesting regarding the fact that our country wants to admire it's accomplishments and success, yet economically we are suffering financially and with foreign matters. How can people have expectations to climb up the social ladder when they are not able to recieve the resources to do so. With the high number of unemployed Americans continuously growing and the external factors limiting the ability to live out of poverty, will the financial economic crisis ever end? Will American ever fully get out of debt? External factors explained in this article, such as corrupt neighborhoods influencing drop out rates or taxing the poor, are playing such an important role in our economy going in the opposite direction desired, down the social ladder. And what conclusion has been made to stop this direction our society is heading? None. Like Ms. Wilk said, “It’s all talk. There’s never any action.” ( Pollack, 2011). In conclusion the subtle question remains, do we celebrate Labor Day admiring our 'great countries' efforts to help impoverished communities, or do we accept the fact that our federal system has done no such action to help eliminate this problem and will they ever? Some may say yes, however, allowing more Americans to be put on Welfare has not influenced social justice. Ending the article, Pollack set up an interesting argument with his quote,"Its members can tell people to their faces whether America will really help them, and what kind of country we really are." (Pollack, 2011). So what kind of country do you think we are? Encouraging the need for social justice, or ignoring the agony and pain our fellow Americans are experiencing and only giving them so many resources to help them 'get by' with the minimal amount of help needed.