OHMYCHEESECAKE I've written two papers worth about 55% of my total grade in five days.
Kayla > term papers.
I still need to rewrite/edit the hell out of them, but I'm saving that for tomorrow. Other than that, I'm going to finish packing (only three boxes so far, woohoo!) in between watching Samurai Girl on DVR and reading. Yes, reading. I haven't done much of that aside from feminist books lately. I'd reeeeally like a break from thinking in terms of sex/gender systems, pretty please, except LA training starts Wednesday so there goes that. Whee.
I leave in 30something hours.
FINALLY.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
 |
|
I'm taking a break (read: procrastinating) from writing my women's studies papers to write a short explanation. (Yes, I realize the irony here.) I've spent my summer waist-deep in feminist literature on various fronts, and so the impulse to list every single problem women and other minorities face today is overwhelming. However, the goal here is to provide a simple, succinct definition to a word that is anything but simple or succinct.
Feminism.
The image that is drawn on any time the term 'feminism' comes into a conversation is the fanatic men-hating, bra-burning, lesbian cat-lady. I'd like to take this moment to note that this image and its variations represent only a small portion of feminists not even large enough to be called a minority. If it seems like it represents the majority, well, the media enjoys its sensationalism even more than it does its coffee.
Further, the most oft-described definition I've heard tends to be a short-hand slogan of its true form. "Feminism is the movement for women's equality with men." Good for a drive-by explanation, but so easily countered by those who don't fully understand its intentions.
Feminism is the movement to end the institutional and systematic sexism embedded at the roots of a culture's society, which is also known as patriarchy.
This is but one definition. I choose to use it because it seems to be the simplest way to connect feminism with the average human being. It emphasizes that sexism and patriarchy--essentially discrimination based on sex--are socially constructed. In other words, we create and perpetuate them.
Common questions:
WHAT IS SEXISM?
-The discrimination against a person or group of people due to their sex/gender, resulting in one sex/gender receiving an advantage at the expense of the other.
WHAT IS PATRIARCHY?
-In this instance, the social system created by and for men to their advantage at the expense of women. It is, essentially, the foundation for institutional sexism.
WHY ISN'T FEMINISM JUST CALLED 'HUMANISM' or 'HUMANITARIANISM'?
-Because 'the betterment of conditions for humans' does not address the fact that sexism is ingrained in most societies and has been one of the longest-running, historically, sources of discrimination for centuries.
CAN MEN BE FEMINISTS?
-Yes. Anyone can be a supporter of equal rights for women. However, feminism does require that men acknowledge and give up their unearned advantage based on their sex/gender. This does not mean the goal of feminism is to belittle men or spark a matriarchy; the idea is to create an even playing field for both women and men in all aspects of their lives: economically, socially, psychologically.
I chose to try to create and spread this definition because I've found that while a large amount of people take the Psych of Sex/Gender class at Western, are in the women's studies program, or participate in social activist groups across the country, they represent only a small portion of the population. Uninformed, others tote around that far too simplistic definition from earlier: "Feminism is the movement for women's equality with men." And yet, feminism is so easily dismissed in modern times because, hey, as long as we've got the right to vote, we're equal, right?
It's more than that. There exist certain people praising Bristol Palin's "choice" to keep her baby up and down the countryside while at the same time lambasting anyone who makes the "choice" to have an abortion, suddenly converting the concept of "choice" into a double-standard. There exist mothers with one or more children who are denied welfare check on the grounds of apparent laziness or incapability after barely escaping an abusive relationship. There exist women acoss the nation who fear to leave the house once the sun sets because they might get attacked, who have to watch their drinks at a party because they might get drugged, who can't wear too short of skirts because they might get raped and then get blamed for it.
Does a 1-in-4 rape statistic for women speak of equality?
Is equality limited only to those who are priviledged enough to afford it?
As as long as the leaders of this nation are overly White, Christian, heterosexual, and male; as long as religion continues to overstep its bounds into democracy; as long as the stereotypes of masculinity and feminity continue to dictate the thoughts, attitudes, and actions of groups as well as individuals; as long as the system is programmed against us, we are not equal.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
|
There's just something amazing about the feeling of new jeans.
I was reminded today how awesome Snow Patrol is. They're not really summer-music, so I haven't listened to them much since Winter Quarter.
I've been working on the first of my two term papers for the women's studies class. It's annoying the hell out of me, and giving me that I-can't-wait-until-I-never-have-to-see-this-crap-again feeling so associated with writing in general these days. So desperate to complete something, so unable to really get anywhere.
I think I'm ready for the new college year. (Wanting to be there and being ready to be there are two completely different things.)
I am now the proud owner of a Winter Jacket. It's double-lined and with a fuzzy hood. I'm quite proud of myself. Usually, I'm the one running around in a light jacket over a tank top regardless of the season. Cheers for not fearing the cold this winter.
If all goes well, my schedule for Fall Quarter will be three classes MWF and a lab on either Tuesday or Thursday at the time of my choice. No more 8 AM classes, and at least one entire day off during the week. Going into my sophmore year with 65+ credits rocks. <3
I also realized that, if I really wanted, I could graduate Fall or even Summer of 2010, instead of 2011. Not that I particularly want to graduate early, but it's cool to have the option.
The leaves haven't started changing color yet. I'm waiting.
I leave for Western in 6 days.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
 |
| 2008-08-25 20:13 |
| take me away to better days |
| Public |
| seattle, summer |
|
There was a wicked storm yesterday evening, which is unusual for this area. Seattle/Washington's stereotype is that it's always raining, but it's usually not. It's just typically overcast, maybe a little drizzly. And when it rains, it doesn't last very long. (Unlike in Maryland/DC, where it can rain all day without stopping.)
I've been re-watching Grey's Anatomy: Season 2 on DVD. Ahhh Grey's. <3
Exactly 2 weeks until WESTERN!
The air smells less of summer and more of fall now.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
 |
|
I loooooove fall shopping. Granted, it's not fall yet, but it will be soon. And that means new clothes! I bought some jeans and a couple tops. I'm still going shopping at Southcenter sometime before I head back to Western, though. I still need a winter jacket type thing (I've been eyeing some at Delia's, which happens to be the only one of its kind on the West Coast) and some yummy knee-high boots, if I can. I call it Operation Let's Not Freeze This Winter, also known as Operation Let's Not Freeze Because I'm Stupid Enough to Actually Go North This Winter.
Why the hell did I choose a college that's even farther north than Seattle?
It was those freaking trees, I swear it. They sway their evergreen leaves at you and look gorgeous covered in snow and are EVERYWHERE...
Hmph. As much as I want to live in a warmer climate, I don't know if I could leave such a beautiful area. (It's not fair.)
Women's studies = 60% done. I still have two term papers to write, and one of 'em's based on an interview that I haven't conducted yet. Wheeee.
Western in 2 weeks and 4 days.
I keep dreaming. I never dream. And it's making me sleep badly, especially when various people keep making really, really loud sounds right outside my window at various odd hours of the morning.
I'm really going to enjoy living on the 8th floor. Bayside.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
I bought a (faux) leather jacket the other day. It's so badass. :O
I've been experimenting with blue/green/purple eyeshadow. It's pretty cool.
Going back to Western in.... 3 weeks and 2 days. I keep thinking it's still the beginning of August, but apparently it's not. Which is good, because that means I'm closer to getting outta here. Which is bad, because I still need to finish my women's studies course, and I've been lazy the past couple days about it.
The summer heat is going to fade this week. Nooooo. My only consolation is that thunderstorms will be afoot.
Currently re-reading The Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine. I looked at the two latest books and completely blanked on what had happened in the books prior. Oops.
I'm sleepy, and I really shouldn't be.
2 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
| 2008-08-15 17:57 |
| I heard this life is overrated, but I hope it gets better as we go |
| Public |
| books, coffee, friends, summer |
|
Our Canadian gamer friends, a husband and wife with their eight month old, came down to visit us for the week. We've known them since I was 14; they've traveled from game to game with us. We visited the Snoqualmie Falls, and took them to the new Southcenter. The Borders there is decent, but I could tell from the sheer number of books turned face-out that they weren't very well stocked. I did find several good books, though.
-Thin Air by Rachel Caine (I thought I had this when I ordered the book after it, Gale Force; apparently not)
-Twilight Fall by Lynn Viehl
-The Wild Road by Marjori M. Liu
-Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
All good authors. They should get me through the next few but long weeks. I hung out with Kristin for the last time today; she leaves tomorrow. We went to Starbucks (yay for iced white chocolate mochas! I usually stick to lattes these days...) and watched the Olympics and played Thirteen. Good times. I'm gonna miss her.
Cry Wolf is very good.
...OMG. My mother just told me to go finish cleaning the dishes because we're "going out somewhere." My mother wants to leave the house! This is a miracle. It might be an apocalypse.
2 Comments | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
1 MONTH TIL WESTERNNN.
Less than that, actually. I don't know the exact date (the 8th? 9th?) that I'll be leaving though, I just know that training starts at 8:30 AM on the 10th. So 1ish month it is.
My women's studies prof was very impressed with my last lesson I sent. I squeed over that for quite a while.
I finished Breaking Dawn a few days ago, but still later than I thought I would. It made me grumpy.
Currently rereading Anne Bishop's Tir Alainn trilogy.
I picked up some peach blossom and blueberry something or other [I think it's 'bliss'] from the new Teavana shop at South Center. Yay, loose leaf teas. I combined them, brewed them extra strong, and made peach-blueberry iced tea. With a little sweetner, it tastes amazing.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
| 2008-08-06 22:59 |
| news from the Twilight Saga bunker |
| Public |
| books, summer |
|
Hold the phones. JUSTINE LARBALESTIER AGREES WITH ME.
Well, she doesn't know that she does, but she still does. It almost makes me wish this were a public LJ.
I may be banging my head against Breaking Dawn for its craptastic plot device right now, but I would never assume that Stephenie Meyer owes me a different book just because it's not what I want it to be.
That, and I'm holding out for a worthwhile ending.
In other news, I am now 19. There's really nothing spectacular about this by itself, other than that I wish I could be turned into a vampire (unlike SOMEONE who is taking their SWEET fricking TIME about it) and stay this age forever. Alas. I'll just have to make do with dancing in Vancouver instead.
...Eventually.
edit: ...made public... for now.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
|
I'm so sleepy... gotta stay awake, gotta stay awake.
Got home last Saturday. Hung out with Kristin on Monday, then proceeded to get sick on Tuesday, and have been sick ever since. I count this as the first time I've been sick since last summer. That's right folks, while everyone else around me hacked up their lungs, I didn't get sick at all my freshmen year of college. (Headaches don't count.)
Kayla's Immune System: 1
Sickness and Disease: 0
Until now, anyway.
Finally checked my grades yesterday. They're not so amazing. B- in Bio, C in Logic, and a C+ in Neuro. They're about what I expected, though I had hoped for higher. My cumulative GPA is a 2.99. I don't think my GPA ever went below a 3.0 even in high school.
It's not that I didn't try hard. Believe me, I did. I worked my ass off. But the combination of classes (plus my LA class, which was pass/fail) was intense. None of them are my particular strengths.
I'm trying to remind myself that once I get into my major, I'll be scoring straight A's again. Even Fall Quarter won't be this bad. (I'm thinking Bio 102 to finish off my science GURs, the SPSS class to prep for Stats 301, and a psych class, preferably Abnormal. Bio would theoretically be the most difficult class, and unlike this quarter, next quarter I should have more time to deal with it. Maybe.)
And so summer starts. I leave for Texas on Wednesday (the 25th) and won't be back until July 12th.
I need to go book-shopping...
1 Comment | Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
I have this wicked urge to go dancing. I hope the carpool for Century on Friday pulls through, or otherwise I'm going to be going through an even worse withdrawal than anticipated over the next four months. Gah. No dancing for FOUR MONTHS. That's so depressing.
Alex and I have been watching a ridiculous amount of Dexter lately. It's probably unhealthy.
I went to Creative Dancewear on Monday to get my dance shoes fixed; the suede on the bottom had been worn bald. Thankfully it turned out I didn't need to get them resueded, just brushed, so I didn't have to spend nearly as much money as I'd anticipated. I did buy an ahhhmaaaazing red latin skirt. As previously stated, the need to dance is high.
3 til weeks 'til Texas! My ticket has been changed and everything. I'll be returning on July 12th.
Bubble tea = another unhealthy addiction.
Wooooo I still can't believe I got Resident of the Year. Life's crazy like that.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
On Tuesday, because no one else ran against me, I was pretty much declared the VP of Mathes Hall for 08-09. Chris became President. (No one ran against him, either.)
Yesterday I recieved my topic group assignment for next year: WEAVE, which was my first choice. I am officially a WEAVEr!
Yesterday night at the Mathes barbeque and award ceremony, I was voted Resident of the Year. When I told my mother, she asked, "How did you manage THAT?" I laughed. Good question. I've done a lot for Mathes this year, but I know a good number of people who have done more. *shrug*
I'm honored, and flattered, and very excited for next year.
Post A Comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend | Link
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}