I am so glad to have presented already, it took A LOT of weight off my shoulders! but..
I just want to express the experience I had presenting and doing the project as well.
1. When this project on the homeless population began I was nervous to work with new classmates that I had never really spoken to. I was very shy at the beginning of the course but as the project ideas for our topic began to unfold I felt much better about speaking my ideas and it greatly helped that the girls I worked were so Awesome! The interviews happened and being part of the interviews with these homeless individuals really touched me and they really scarred me too because I felt really hurt that there are millions of people out there that have no where to sleep, food to eat, or family to support them sometimes. It just makes me realize how fortunate I am to have all the things I do. I try to complain less now and help more!
2. When we gathered all of our data I wanted to created millions of interventions! No lie ask Irene, Symone, and Adrienne they were in the same room as I (I was loaded on coffee too so that helped ha!) I decided to help created the two videos that we presented to the class and with hard work and great team members and participants they turned out great! When it was time to present I was a bit nervous but that is all because I never really speak in front of 20 people, but it all turned out great!
Thoughts..
I feel very dedicated to the community I belong in now. I belong to the UT/Austin community and I want to do more to get involved with causes like Women Reproductive Rights, Homeless populations, Education, Immigration and their rights, Recycling keeping the world Green, Public Health, LGBTQ and many more! I will do this firstly by joining After Work Activism baby! (I'm logging into Facebook right now to find this group). All joke aside, I feel that I was brought to this world for a purpose and I am glad to know many people who feel the same way. If not us then who will begin to bring change to the world? The key is to get everyone to know that there is a better life if everyone just accepts the realities that people need help and people are different.
PEACE!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Conversation with my little brother about Mothers day
Me: So Fredy what are you getting mom for Mothers Day? I think she deserves some flowers.
Fredy: I don't know...ehh yea flowers are pretty
Me: how many would you get mom?
Fredy: I think 100
Me: Do you know how to count to 100 yet?
Fredy: No but Megan does.. =]
I just love these conversations with my little brother. He so sweet and goofy!
*Megan is my niece who is 6, Fredy is 5 years old
Fredy: I don't know...ehh yea flowers are pretty
Me: how many would you get mom?
Fredy: I think 100
Me: Do you know how to count to 100 yet?
Fredy: No but Megan does.. =]
I just love these conversations with my little brother. He so sweet and goofy!
*Megan is my niece who is 6, Fredy is 5 years old
Friday, April 20, 2012
Ageism and Melancholia
I love you forever
I like you for always
As long as I am living
My baby you will be...
I feel like crying every time I see this book and I remember that part of the book above.
I used to read this book to my niece when she was a toddler. She is 6 now. Now that I remember because we have been talking in class about Ageism, my niece would always ask WHY; why did she have to go to sleep at a certain time, why did she have to eat her veggies, or watch a certain TV show that my sister and I wanted her to watch. I used to live with my sister when my niece was growing up and I feel like her parent almost. I remember thinking she was a rebel but she was just confused why she had to follow certain rules when we didn't even follow those rules sometimes. She was always sure to say "well you did that wrong too!"
I love that kid, I miss her.
I liked the readings this week that talked about how according to your age you are treated a certain way. I found it that I am not quite the adult that society sees me as because I still depend a lot on my parents but in class my group members saw it a totally different. They pointed out that because they were a certain age they were not able to get an internship or taken serious because they were classified as still too young. I can totally understand that side too.
I felt really bad about my actions with my niece when classmates pointed out about kids not having a voice. I remember that my niece had something important to say when we ate dinner and I would make her hush-up. I feel like we were really hard on her now that I look back. I can say that she is very well behaved but I just feel that maybe we were too strict with her. In addition, since we were so strict she would later take those strict habits and impose them on her younger sibling. When I first saw her scream at my little brother, who is a year younger than her, I felt like WOW, that is exactly how I speak to her or scream at her. I felt really bad. I just don't know, I guess I was frustrated, but I am not saying that I am not guilty.
I try to be very loving to my niece and support her in her reading and other great abilities because I know she is a special kid. I advice my sister to not make fun of my niece so much because my sister is pretty tough with her sometimes and my niece just wants to be understood and loved. Not having a father really hits her in the tummy sometimes because she sees other kids with two parents and often wonders "why can't I have that too?"
It's truly a dilemma but reading these articles really made me see that children are very important and need attention and understanding more than anything. I want to further my education working with kids with Communities in Schools because I want these kids to have a voice when they are often taped in their mouths to not speak. It's really inhumane what adults sometimes do to control their children. I understand it's for love parents think they are acting protective for but it can get out of control.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
NOW THAT THE SEMESTER IS COMING TO AN END....
Here is a beautiful song that gives us inspiration to finish up strong =]
Let's Finish Up guys, we can do it =D
Let's Finish Up guys, we can do it =D
Friday, April 13, 2012
Ableism and Wasteland
This week was very thoughtful and emotionally touching for me. Reading the Ableism papers and watching Wasteland was just really inspiring to do something for someone other than myself.
Ableism
When I was reading these essays I was pretty shocked about the various services we lack to help people with disabilities. In my observations I wrote about a time when a client with a disability tried to open the super-heavy door we have at the hair salon and we really should provide an easier way for them to open the door. We have clients with disabilities come in the salon all the time and we need to provide a more accessible way for them to enter the salon. A few points that I found very interesting from the readings was that 72% of people with disabilities are unemployed and they also have an income less than half the national average. I thought this was ridiculous! I also read that many of the employers at stores or agencies ect don't want to hire people with disabilities because they feel they would cost the company money or they would not be able to perform the job's duties effectively. However it has been reviewed that workers with disabilities work more efficiently and are most likely to not get hurt in the job unlike an "able" worker would. I also found out that disability is caused by physical structure and social organization of society. Poor architectural planning creates physical obstacles for people on wheelchairs or people who can walk but can’t get up stairs because it has been created in the young adult white male paradigm in mind. I really understood this when I looked back at the example of the client that was having trouble entering the salon. "Physical imperfection if thought to spoil..." (Adams, 481) I was raged by this comment and the example the author gave about how a disabled woman married a able man and a father of her friend went and told the groom he felt sorry that she had placed a burden on his life now that they married, I mean really!? That's just outrageous, she should not been seen as a burden just because she has a physical or mental disability or the latter! (Excuse me I get upset very easily). One more interesting thing was how disability compared to race is marginalized. The author of this essay wrote about how in an article a man was a victim of a hate crime because of his race however, the article mentioned very little about his being disabled also. I thought it was awful how something that is more talked about like race can undermine something just as important like a disability. AND one more thing. Sports. So I am a Bulls fan and I was thinking about that today and I thought, wait there are leagues of disabled basketball players but I never see them on TV or hear them on the radio or anything like that. I never hear that there will be a local tournament for disabled persons. It's really sad that players with the ability to run and shoot the basket are more seen than others who may as well shoot the basket or be better than famous NFL players.
I understand that just like racism and all other types of "isms" ableism is something that able people take advantage of because they feel like it's something they should not worry about, but I would like to start looking at the other side and consider advocating for those who need this type of help. My next step is to talk to my supervisor about installing an automatic door for the salon I work in. It may not work but I will keep advocating for it and I may start a petition to get this important cause going. I want to make people feel like they can enter the salon safely and easily; not only able people should have the ability to enter the salon.
I just want to say that this film was very inspiring. I not only liked how much community involvement the workers in the film had but the noble cause that Vik gave back to his roots. I would like to one day give back to the country I grew up in and that helped shape my simple and noble feelings about things. Because I grew up poor and with barely anything ever to eat or sleep in sometimes, I see material things as not necessary. I literally would give all of my things away if I wanted to because they don't make me happy, I feel that my family, friends, and the blue sky makes me much happier. Anyways, I really appreciated the community involvement the workers had and how they all received a portrait of themselves because they are beautiful. I loved how much money they first portrait at the auction won! I almost began to cry because of that! And finally I loved how the workers began a learning center with the money they were given. It's great to see these kinds of things happen even in very poor areas in the world, just goes to show that income does not separate us much at all. We are all dreaming of a better future no matter where we are, we are trying to find happiness and peace.
Ableism
When I was reading these essays I was pretty shocked about the various services we lack to help people with disabilities. In my observations I wrote about a time when a client with a disability tried to open the super-heavy door we have at the hair salon and we really should provide an easier way for them to open the door. We have clients with disabilities come in the salon all the time and we need to provide a more accessible way for them to enter the salon. A few points that I found very interesting from the readings was that 72% of people with disabilities are unemployed and they also have an income less than half the national average. I thought this was ridiculous! I also read that many of the employers at stores or agencies ect don't want to hire people with disabilities because they feel they would cost the company money or they would not be able to perform the job's duties effectively. However it has been reviewed that workers with disabilities work more efficiently and are most likely to not get hurt in the job unlike an "able" worker would. I also found out that disability is caused by physical structure and social organization of society. Poor architectural planning creates physical obstacles for people on wheelchairs or people who can walk but can’t get up stairs because it has been created in the young adult white male paradigm in mind. I really understood this when I looked back at the example of the client that was having trouble entering the salon. "Physical imperfection if thought to spoil..." (Adams, 481) I was raged by this comment and the example the author gave about how a disabled woman married a able man and a father of her friend went and told the groom he felt sorry that she had placed a burden on his life now that they married, I mean really!? That's just outrageous, she should not been seen as a burden just because she has a physical or mental disability or the latter! (Excuse me I get upset very easily). One more interesting thing was how disability compared to race is marginalized. The author of this essay wrote about how in an article a man was a victim of a hate crime because of his race however, the article mentioned very little about his being disabled also. I thought it was awful how something that is more talked about like race can undermine something just as important like a disability. AND one more thing. Sports. So I am a Bulls fan and I was thinking about that today and I thought, wait there are leagues of disabled basketball players but I never see them on TV or hear them on the radio or anything like that. I never hear that there will be a local tournament for disabled persons. It's really sad that players with the ability to run and shoot the basket are more seen than others who may as well shoot the basket or be better than famous NFL players.
I understand that just like racism and all other types of "isms" ableism is something that able people take advantage of because they feel like it's something they should not worry about, but I would like to start looking at the other side and consider advocating for those who need this type of help. My next step is to talk to my supervisor about installing an automatic door for the salon I work in. It may not work but I will keep advocating for it and I may start a petition to get this important cause going. I want to make people feel like they can enter the salon safely and easily; not only able people should have the ability to enter the salon.
I just want to say that this film was very inspiring. I not only liked how much community involvement the workers in the film had but the noble cause that Vik gave back to his roots. I would like to one day give back to the country I grew up in and that helped shape my simple and noble feelings about things. Because I grew up poor and with barely anything ever to eat or sleep in sometimes, I see material things as not necessary. I literally would give all of my things away if I wanted to because they don't make me happy, I feel that my family, friends, and the blue sky makes me much happier. Anyways, I really appreciated the community involvement the workers had and how they all received a portrait of themselves because they are beautiful. I loved how much money they first portrait at the auction won! I almost began to cry because of that! And finally I loved how the workers began a learning center with the money they were given. It's great to see these kinds of things happen even in very poor areas in the world, just goes to show that income does not separate us much at all. We are all dreaming of a better future no matter where we are, we are trying to find happiness and peace.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Joel Burns
I want to have this video in my blog because I truly appreciated what Joel had to say about his experience and the experiences of the kids that have ended their lives due to the punishments of society. I do believe it gets better too.
HOMO-BI-HETER0...Sexuality
WOW Again!! I learned so much from the readings this week and a few of them caught my main attention. I am going to sound really angry and that is because I am but hang on, this all are things we should all be acting upon:
I want to start on a great point that chapter 78 made about how society sees sexuality: "love for sameness (homosexuality) makes people different but love for different (heterosexuality) is seen as right and accepted". That really doesn't make sense and, individual sexual preference should not matter, it's non of society's business!
Then came the discussion on institutional homophobia and I thought about what May had said in class this week about the school that would not allow the elementary school kid to dress in feminine clothes. I think that people, children, and everyone else should be able to dress in what ever way they prefer, institutions, especially school which is almost a second home for kids, should not be putting those type of rules because they are impeding kids from expressing their unique personalities.
Oh the medical model! I was so upset when Prof G read to us that homosexuality is seen as a mental disorder, So why do heterosexuals not have a disorder for that same reason too? I don't think its fair to say that someone has a mental disorder because they have certain feelings for someone of their own sex. I think that the medical model is hurting all individuals everywhere because individuals who are homosexual, transgender, bisexual and all other that exist go through adversaries in consequence. The video that Prof G showed us was pretty tough for me to watch and listen because I would not want any of my friends, family members or anyone else in this world to ever have to end their lives because they don't feel accepted by society. It's cruel and humans are not all the same so people need to learn more about homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender, and all the other sexes. The binary should not blind everyone thinking that it is only right to have two sexes like there is black and white colors. NOW that I notice we have black and white colors, we also have hundreds of colors that mix and make new colors thus, that is sexuality; it is not a fixed black and white one person can be a rainbow while one is a green and pink.
My personal thought is that sexuality and all of the realities that go on in the world need to be taught at an early age because frankly right now I am fairly traumatized of the horrific things that are happening and no one ever told me. I like how Dr. Aguilar said he was going to explain to his son about the cartoon that was posted in The Daily Texan even though he is young. I think it is better to prepare children instead of protecting them because when real life comes there will be no one else but them to protect themselves.
"Everyone is heterosexual until proven guilty" (Adams, pg.379). How wrong is this having to hide who you are for the acceptance of society!! It's wrong and unacceptable for someone to have to conform to society this way. Again I stress that sexuality should be talked about more because all we ever hear is that it is a taboo. Being homosexual or sexually active is a taboo. If anything sexuality is one of the most natural things we still have and it's beautiful too but all of the taboo behind it takes the beauty away and gives it a negative connotation. I decided that I will be more alert when I see these kinds of injustices happen and I would like to join an organization helping to talk more about sexuality and advocating for homosexuals, bisexuals, transgender and all other that exist. We should all be treated fairly an be feel free to love who ever or how many ever individuals we want. It's a precious freedom that should be elaborated in the Constitution of the United States!!!
Extra but still part of the talk:
The Public Health Carnival was great if anyone made it, it was this Thursday. I saw so many people coming together to have fun playing games, eating sweet food, and winning prizes. But the best part was that I saw many homosexual individuals and others coming together for the same cause. I was so happy to be helping out. Public Health is important for individuals that are sexually active because protection should always be a must! I liked how everyone came together and everyone felt accepted there. Of course Public Health organizations and agencies came by to talk about the importance of staying safe and healthy and I liked how inclusive everyone felt. I like this from UT and I wish there were more of these organizations celebrating something we all have in common. GO PUBLIC HEALTH!!! =]
I want to start on a great point that chapter 78 made about how society sees sexuality: "love for sameness (homosexuality) makes people different but love for different (heterosexuality) is seen as right and accepted". That really doesn't make sense and, individual sexual preference should not matter, it's non of society's business!
Then came the discussion on institutional homophobia and I thought about what May had said in class this week about the school that would not allow the elementary school kid to dress in feminine clothes. I think that people, children, and everyone else should be able to dress in what ever way they prefer, institutions, especially school which is almost a second home for kids, should not be putting those type of rules because they are impeding kids from expressing their unique personalities.
Oh the medical model! I was so upset when Prof G read to us that homosexuality is seen as a mental disorder, So why do heterosexuals not have a disorder for that same reason too? I don't think its fair to say that someone has a mental disorder because they have certain feelings for someone of their own sex. I think that the medical model is hurting all individuals everywhere because individuals who are homosexual, transgender, bisexual and all other that exist go through adversaries in consequence. The video that Prof G showed us was pretty tough for me to watch and listen because I would not want any of my friends, family members or anyone else in this world to ever have to end their lives because they don't feel accepted by society. It's cruel and humans are not all the same so people need to learn more about homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender, and all the other sexes. The binary should not blind everyone thinking that it is only right to have two sexes like there is black and white colors. NOW that I notice we have black and white colors, we also have hundreds of colors that mix and make new colors thus, that is sexuality; it is not a fixed black and white one person can be a rainbow while one is a green and pink.
My personal thought is that sexuality and all of the realities that go on in the world need to be taught at an early age because frankly right now I am fairly traumatized of the horrific things that are happening and no one ever told me. I like how Dr. Aguilar said he was going to explain to his son about the cartoon that was posted in The Daily Texan even though he is young. I think it is better to prepare children instead of protecting them because when real life comes there will be no one else but them to protect themselves.
"Everyone is heterosexual until proven guilty" (Adams, pg.379). How wrong is this having to hide who you are for the acceptance of society!! It's wrong and unacceptable for someone to have to conform to society this way. Again I stress that sexuality should be talked about more because all we ever hear is that it is a taboo. Being homosexual or sexually active is a taboo. If anything sexuality is one of the most natural things we still have and it's beautiful too but all of the taboo behind it takes the beauty away and gives it a negative connotation. I decided that I will be more alert when I see these kinds of injustices happen and I would like to join an organization helping to talk more about sexuality and advocating for homosexuals, bisexuals, transgender and all other that exist. We should all be treated fairly an be feel free to love who ever or how many ever individuals we want. It's a precious freedom that should be elaborated in the Constitution of the United States!!!
Extra but still part of the talk:
The Public Health Carnival was great if anyone made it, it was this Thursday. I saw so many people coming together to have fun playing games, eating sweet food, and winning prizes. But the best part was that I saw many homosexual individuals and others coming together for the same cause. I was so happy to be helping out. Public Health is important for individuals that are sexually active because protection should always be a must! I liked how everyone came together and everyone felt accepted there. Of course Public Health organizations and agencies came by to talk about the importance of staying safe and healthy and I liked how inclusive everyone felt. I like this from UT and I wish there were more of these organizations celebrating something we all have in common. GO PUBLIC HEALTH!!! =]
Wearing Make up?! YES OR NO?
http://www.squidoo.com/make-up-yes-or-no
I thought this quick article says a lot about the idea that make up makes women feel better about themselves. In my opinion women won't be judged as much if they wear make up and that is why they possibly "feel better". I mean if I was constantly pressured to do something and after I begin to do it suddenly and I feel better, well, that only meant I feel better because I no longer get that extra pressure. I think women and men are beautiful without make-up but society has made us all believe that make up is better for women to look beautiful, I don't agree with that; people should be allowed to do what they want, wear what they want and look the way they want and not have to feel bad for wanting to be that way.
I thought this quick article says a lot about the idea that make up makes women feel better about themselves. In my opinion women won't be judged as much if they wear make up and that is why they possibly "feel better". I mean if I was constantly pressured to do something and after I begin to do it suddenly and I feel better, well, that only meant I feel better because I no longer get that extra pressure. I think women and men are beautiful without make-up but society has made us all believe that make up is better for women to look beautiful, I don't agree with that; people should be allowed to do what they want, wear what they want and look the way they want and not have to feel bad for wanting to be that way.
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