LDBlog

Coming into college English I did not know what to expect. I have to say I was so relieved that the title of this course was Hero’s. Compared to a few of my other friends who were in art history, it seemed like I had won the English lotto. I was so excited to be learning about heroism, feminism and on top of that being able to watch shows for homework. Learning about what our definition of a hero is has changed my perspective.

“a hero is someone who puts himself in harms way for the benefit of others because its the right thing to do (not for glory). a hero does something to inspire. A hero will not be afraid to walk on the path less traveled and will bring about changes irrespective of the circumstance.”

Before this class I had only thought of a hero as someone who does the right thing but my original thoughts were challenged. 

Coming to feminism my previous thoughts were challenged as well. I had thought that feminism was about equality between men and women. Coming to class the next day the first question was ” equal to who?” women want to be equal to men but we never specify what kind of men. Seeing how there is still a huge gap between all men, it is easy to see how one can get a misunderstood.

Looking back this class has offered many opinion changing and I am so grateful that my mind and point of view have been changed about certain things. 

In this blog post I will be going back to the #Metoo movement and interview a male to see his side. This male is an 19 year old, hispanic, college student from east side San Jose who works part time as assistant animal technician, he also grewup with a single mother. I will be asking him questions based on the #metoo movement and what his point of view is as a straight, minority, male in a relationship.

Do you know what the #Metoo movement is?

• It is a movement back in 2006 to help spread awareness for sexual misconduct. Mainly for younger women to have a voice. The 2017 one was brought up because of Harvey and the only reason support came was because women joined the #metoo on twitter

What is your initial reaction to this movement?

• kind of annoyed, because we have a lot of movements that are similar to each other and its starting to be a think where don’t want to carry on a new movement they instead feel they have to start something new instead. ( I.E. was started in 2006 and more movements have come from that)

Has being in a relationship affected your view on feminism as a whole and part of the #metoo movement?

• no not at all. Reason being I was raised by a single mother so I have always been for women having equal power or more power and equal rights as well. Seeing her hardships as a single minority women has made me for feminism and equality.

How would you approach the issue that feminism and the #Metoo movement seek to address.

• Major thing I would do would be to get men involved. Men aren’t involved and they are hesitant because they feel like they are going to get backlash for either sex for trying to help. So coming together would be more effective. Racism for example, if all minorities come together it would make a greater impact than a single group trying to stand on their own

And below I have an example of anti feminism in place.

Malala a young Pakistani girl and the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize ever. If you have not heard of this girl let me tell you what makes her so special and why is someone important in this day and age.

She is a righteous advocator for females and female education. In an interview she was asked what her life would be if she had no education. In response she said she would have 2 or 3 kids and a husband, and is considered lucky to not be married at the age of 18. Continuing to speak about how education has helped her and others, she humbly acknowledges that the only difference between herself and the other girls at her school is that she was given the ability to speak up where for others it is serious offenses. The Taliban taking over her village forced her to make a decision about school no child should have to make. In making the decision to continue her education she was involved in an attempted assassination, but survived. Her braveness and tenacity juxtapose the harsh environment she was living in. The right for education and female right is not something taken lightly so it has a greater impact than any of us lucky enough to never go through this will ever now. She is an empowering female figure and still continues to fight for women.

We recently watched Jane the Virgin in class and something interesting was pointed out. When hispanic actors are given roles, many people think in moves they would be casted as maids or janitors or low characters. Jane the Virgin takes this idea and spins it on its head. It breaks barriers in several categories: pregnancy, parents, and race. These are three topics that I noticed the most. 

Begingin with pregnancy. Janes mother had a teen pregnancy and when Jane first learns that she is pregnant the people around her look down on her thinking she went down her mothers path. It is amazing how many people she has stayed pure and that the pregnancy was actually a medical accident. Because Jane’s mother had her as a teen everyone assumes the worst of her mother and Jane. This topic is broken because Jane not only keeps the child but continues to stay pure.

Teen pregnancies have high rates of single parents. We often are not surprised to hear that a teen who has become pregnant ends up raising it on their own. When Jane finds her father, she relives he didn’t leave because he did want to raise her, he left because he was never told of the pregnancy. When he does come back into her life he comes back full force with love and devotion to a daughter he was never able to raise. This is uncommon because most stories where a child finds a parent who left rarely turn out well.

The most important thing in this series is the families ethnicity. Being a hispanic family the stereotypes are expected by those who watch the show, yet the producers of this show do a wonderful job of fighting these stereotypes. They have a famous telenovela character played by Janes father and Jane herself is becoming a writer/teacher. Jobs the are seldom held by actors of color.

We recently watched Jane the Virgin in class and something interesting was pointed out. When hispanic actors are given roles, many people think in moves they would be casted as maids or janitors or low characters. Jane the Virgin takes this idea and spins it on its head. It breaks barriers in several categories: pregnancy, parents, and race. These are three topics that I noticed the most. 

Begingin with pregnancy. Janes mother had a teen pregnancy and when Jane first learns that she is pregnant the people around her look down on her thinking she went down her mothers path. It is amazing how many people she has stayed pure and that the pregnancy was actually a medical accident. Because Jane’s mother had her as a teen everyone assumes the worst of her mother and Jane. This topic is broken because Jane not only keeps the child but continues to stay pure.

Teen pregnancies have high rates of single parents. We often are not surprised to hear that a teen who has become pregnant ends up raising it on their own. When Jane finds her father, she relives he didn’t leave because he did want to raise her, he left because he was never told of the pregnancy. When he does come back into her life he comes back full force with love and devotion to a daughter he was never able to raise. This is uncommon because most stories where a child finds a parent who left rarely turn out well.

The most important thing in this series is the families ethnicity. Being a hispanic family the stereotypes are expected by those who watch the show, yet the producers of this show do a wonderful job of fighting these stereotypes. They have a famous telenovela character played by Janes father and Jane herself is becoming a writer/teacher. Jobs the are seldom held by actors of color.

Writing my second essay has been an interesting time. When I first started righting I though I would have a strong female in mind so I this essay could practically write itself. Well I was wrong. Upon further research I came to a more interesting topic. The lama.

Not this llama 

But this Lama. 

“I call myself a feminist. Isn’t that what you call someone who fights for women’s rights?” A direct quote from the lama himself. He is in fact the first feminist lama ever. In a speech given March 2017 he admitted that women were often considered inferior in todays society  and that it was a problem and has acknowledge that Tibetan women deserve the same respect as all others in the society. The Dali Lama specified to have a peaceful future there must be more women in power and that the compassion of a women is something of a gift that would be very beneficial to people around.

After hearing all of these amazing things that he believes for women, especially women in areas where feminism is not as proactive or heavily looked down upon, it is startling to see how quickly people pounce on him for a comment. In an interview he stated that he could see there be female Dali lama but she would have to be attractive or she would be of no use. Upon further examination it is explained that he makes jokes about how unattractive he is and how a someone who is attractive could have more of an impact. He said all this jokingly but of course when English is not your first language and you have to have a translator translate for you, things can get mixed up.

A quote from the transcript

His Holiness: “Some people… my face–

Interviewer: “You’re joking.”

His Holiness: [Confused expression] True.

Such a passionate man with such different ideals that normal should not be berated so harshly. He is trying to take steps towards feminism which is a bigger move than anyone in his position had done previously.

“Yes, the Dalai Lama Is Still A Feminist.” TibetanFeministCollective. N.p., 22 Dec. 2015 Web. 30 Jan. 2018.

In my last blog post I commented about my own feminist views and my up bringing and in this one I decided to change tactics. What do men really think about this topic? I asked a male in my friend group his opinions on feminism and here were the results. A little bit of information on this person, he is in a loving relationship, he plays rugby at SCU, and is caucasian.

Here are the questions

What do you think about feminism?

It is a great idea but miss understood by most people and a lot do not fully understand the concept behind it.

When you hear the word feminism what do you think?

I think of strong women and the issues they have to face I also think about the “crazy” feminist too and how they can be alittle too much

Has having a gf changed your opinion on feminism?

no because I was feminist before having a girlfriend and I continue to be one

Do you have any advice for men who are against feminism and how would you explain it?

The most important thing is treating women as they should be treated and how there is a stigma of women being unequally treated and if they didn’t listen I wouldn’t waste my time .

The interesting thing about this is after I asked these questions it sparked a lively debate among our friends. Questions that came up in class were discussed like “what does it mean to truly be equal to a man” and questions about rape culture. Hearing these unbiased comments from a white straight man is very interesting especially with the stigma that white men do not care about feminism.

Feminist. When you hear this word what comes to mind? Do you role your eyes at the word? Are you someone who can stand besides the many who also call themselves feminist? or you do forgo the term and think its stupid.

When I was thirteen I had my first real lesson about feminism. Sitting out side of the Stanford pool, waiting for the gates to be opened, my coach asked all of us girls a simple question, ” are you a feminist”? We were all confused, even at that age we had all heard many stories and tales of feministic women screaming horrid words and slurs at men, and their quest to dominate every man they met. So when I heard this question my immediate answer was of course not, I am not a crazy women with long armpit hair that screams at men. My coach went on to explain that every young female in front of her should be a feminist. Her reasoning was that being a feminist is not about the man hating and thinking women are the supreme race, it is about equal rights for both genders, man and women, and that no one of those are better than the other. Since that day I have championed the answer that my coach taught us. I implore anyone who is unsure whether they are a feminism to only answer if they believe men and women should be equal. Feminism isn’t about oppresing men and being better its about the equal preservation of all gender rights. Every little girl and boy should be brought up with this simple notion so that the bad background the word feminism is eradicated. It is so important to move forward as a society to come together and realize that we all need to be treated equal. If feminism is the first step in uniting us together than I am ready to take that step. 

My mom is my hero. Many say using a parent as a hero is cliche because it is a commonly over done topic, but I do not agree. A hero is someone who is unconsciously selfless, tries their very hardest to go the extra mile in every circumstance, can be counted on to be there when needed, and mostly important inspires. My mother embodies all of these heroic characteristics and because of everything she does and has done, it is hard to think of anyone more important to write about.

My mom, much like a hero, has more than once saved the day for me. Coming to college I thought I was more than set to go into the world on my own and confidently walking into my dorm, I realized how wrong I was. As I unpacked and tried to piece my new life together, it was very obvious, I in fact was not ready for the “real” world.

 “Taking matters into her own hands, my mother selflessly put aside the projects, proposals, and stress behind her, with deadlines fast approaching for work and arrived in the knick of time in order to help me live like an actual human being”

It may be easy to say that she was simply being a good mother and that her job is to help, but I disagree. She is heroic because she put aside her own work and problems at the time and dropped all she was doing to help me when I really needed it.

Not only is my mother selfless but she takes it a step further and goes the extra mile no matter what. Be it her career, her family, or hobbies, she makes the extra push. Many nights I have seen her staying up way late perfecting the agreement she’s been working on. Adding small details that may not have been asked of her or taking on more work then needed because she knows she can accomplish the assignments in a way that will benefit the company.

“She not only takes the extra step for just work, but in the small parts of life as well.”

These things prove to me that beneath her cape is a women who will not take the easy way out, and one who will show that she is  the worlds greatest hero.

Her last heroic trait is inspiration. Being the only female in a predominately male workplace, my mother has faced a few roadblocks in her career. Building her company from the ground up with the help of a few others, and continuing to makes sure the company strives she has allowed me to see that a female in the workforce can make a name for herself. .

“She has to face misogynistic bosses, work that keeps her up till three a.m, and providing for her family. This has never once stopped her from being a great women to my brother and I”

Seeing her handle these situations, it fills me with a sense of pride. When you look up inspiration in the dictionary, her face is the picture next to the definition.

My super mom has taught me a lot. Her inspiring powers of selflessness, accountability and eagerness to go the extra mile are part of what makes her so super. When she comes home and takes her super(pants) suit off her powers may take a backseat to her motherly instinct, but they are always there. Much like Batman, living a normal civilian life by day, my mom keeps a knowing look, waiting to leap into action at the sight of the bat signal.

I like that Junot Diaz started of with a nostalgic piece about the old television and how he said that the first thing he saw was “America”. Being in a different country, seeing this image of patriotism helps him keep his own dream alive. Spider-Man to him is more than just some super hero. He embodies both the American dream and the dream his father gave to him. When he finally does go to the new world its sad to see that it is not what he expects but he still has his tv which is his saving grace. By watching television Junot gained a false vision of what the new world should be and what his father would be like. The television was his only escape when the world wasn’t going well for him. Hopefully when he searched through the channels they would have the answers he was looking for.