Portfolio IV: Investigating Oppression

         1920, 1963, 1997, 1782, 1917, and 2016.  What do these years have in common?  These are just a few of the significant years in the continuous fight for the equality of women.  Women were given the right to vote in 1920 (Pinsker).  The very first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 (Sharp).  The first WNBA game was played on June 21, 1997 ("History").  The first woman to serve in the army was Deborah Gannett in 1782 (Purpose).  But, she was only allowed to be in the army because she enlisted under the name of her deceased brother .  Women weren't officially allowed to serve in the army until 1917 (Purpose).  And last, but certainly not least on our list is the year 2016.  The year Hilary Clinton was the first woman who was a major party's candidate for president (Green).
          What makes these dates important is the length of time it took to reach those landmarks.  Men were given the right to vote in 1868, fifty-two years before women ("Timeline of Voting Rights...").  Men were launched into space in 1961, 2 years before women ("First man in space").  The first NBA game was in 1946, 51 years before the first WNBA game (Goldaper).  The U.S. Army was established in 1775, and it wasn't until 142 years after it was established that women were allowed to enlist ("The Army's Birthday).  And the first election in the United States was held in 1788, it wasn't until 228 years later that a woman was a major party's candidate for presidency ("First U.S. Presidential Election"). The macro-factor of these situations is that they are all women, and because of that they were immediately put at disadvantage.  They have no control over what gender they are, yet they are discriminated for it.
          These years are striking to me, as I realize how far we've come for women's rights across the globe.  But the farther we come, the more we realize how much work we still need to do.  Women continue to be oppressed and be treated unequally in work environments and various other social engagements.  Women continually have strong culture identity, and take pride in being a woman.  It is becoming more and more common for women to come together as a culture to support each other as they continue to be treated unfairly by others.  Take a look at the video below of Quarterback for the Panthers, Cam Newton who made an extremely sexist comment a few weeks ago to a female reporter after a game.

                        

             For some reason Cam Newton found it hilarious that a woman could talk about routes during a football game.  Cam Newton had the idea that sports were only for men to talk about, and that women weren't quite fit to talk about sports in that much detail.  This is just one small example of the sexism that faces women to this day.
            One issue that has been discussed greatly in the past few years is equal pay for men and women in the workplace.  Pay is not equal between men and women, even if they're accomplishing the same job.  Society often refers to this as the wage gap.  There is no reason for a woman to be paid less than a man with her same job title, yet it is happening throughout the nation.  Equality means everybody gets the same exact thing.  Why is it that women can't have equality and get the exact same pay as men who are doing the exact same job that they are and are getting paid more?  This is one of the biggest issues regarding gender in today's society.
            Traditionally, women have been treated like objectified goddesses.  Movies, shows, plays and music all glorify women and in particular, their bodies.  This results in many women feeling ashamed of their bodies as they get cat-called and groped, or it can make them feel ashamed if they don't look identical to the glorified woman on their screen with the tiny, photoshopped bodies.  There are stereotypes that go along with being a woman.  Many stereotypes that include being dumb, being required to do whatever our male superiors want, being good in the kitchen, being girly, being bad at sports and I could go on and on.  These issues regarding the objectification and stereotypes of women are real, and they are dangerous to the mental health and sexual development of teenage girls world wide.  By objectifying women through social media, society is sending messages to young girls that they need to look perfect in order to be good enough for a man.  And then, movies and shows suggest that once you look perfect, you are then expected to give you bodies freely to the men around you.  Although this may be a slight dramatization, this is a concerning issue in society that is often not talked about.  Women are viewed as objects by many, which is why it is so difficult for women like the reporter talking to Cam Newton to try and be anything but an object.  Women are objectified on magazine covers, fashion shows and much more.

           As this discussion of equal rights for women and the oppression women face, women across the globe are standing up for each other and supporting one another.  Women are coming together as one force to make their voices be heard, and to bring realization to the many issues women face because of societal standards.  A few years ago, the USA Women's soccer team came together to spread awareness of the fact that they got paid less than the USA Men's soccer team.  Why?  Because they were women.  This started a very important conversation, and made the nation aware of the realness and severity of the oppression of women.  They were not given equal rights or equal pay, and stood up for themselves to get equality for women globally.  By coming together as a community and culture of women, we are able to support each other and make our voices and opinions even louder.  Together, women can accomplish amazing things and can change the world.  We can make it a world of true equality and equity, where women are given the same opportunities and pay as men and where society freely accepts and welcomes women into any position of power she may desire.
        As a teacher, I think it is so important to promote equality in the classroom.  Children are often quick to recognize and judge based on gender.  However, I think it is necessary for teachers to show the students that both genders can contribute to the classroom in whatever subject it may be.  It is all too common for our culture here in the United States, and globally, to place a deficit theory on women and girls throughout their lives.  Many treat girls differently, as if they were less capable of success than their male peers.  It is so important that we do not treat girls as if they are able to accomplish less just because they are female.  It's important to teach that girls can be just as interested in an athletic activity as boys, and boys can be just as interested in a cooking activity as girls.  Sexism should find no place in a classroom, and teachers should work hard to not stereotype students based on gender.

Works Cited

“The Army's Birthday.” June 14th: The Birthday of the U.S. Army - U.S. Army Center of Military History -, history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html.

“First Man in Space.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-man-in-space.

“First U.S. Presidential Election.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-u-s-presidential-election.

Goldaper, Sam. “The First Game.” NBA.com: The First Game, www.nba.com/history/firstgame_feature.html.

Green, Emma. “'We Are Preparing to Shatter the Highest Glass Ceiling in Our Country'.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 26 July 2016, www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/hillary-clinton-first-female-presidential-nominee/493163/.

“History.” WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA, www.wnba.com/history/.

Pinsker, Matthew. “19th Amendment.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2010, www.history.com/topics/womens-history/19th-amendment.

Purpose, Task &. “TIMELINE: A History Of Women In The US Military.” Task & Purpose, 8 Mar. 2017, taskandpurpose.com/timeline-history-women-us-military/.

Sharp, Tim. “Valentina Tereshkova: First Woman in Space.” Space.com, www.space.com/21571-valentina-tereshkova.html.

Sharp, Tim. “Valentina Tereshkova: First Woman in Space.” Space.com, www.space.com/21571-valentina-tereshkova.html.

“Timeline of Voting Rights in the United States.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Oct. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_voting_rights_in_the_United_States.

Being the "Other"

I was having a hard time deciding what to do for this portfolio assignment.  I was talking with my roommate about all of the ideas I had and then she asked me, well have you been to another religious gathering before?  At first I thought to myself, "of course I have, most of my friends growing up were different religions than I am".  But I suddenly realized I have never once been to another religious service.  I had been to lutheran churches for my piano recitals, and have gone to youth group fun activities with friends but I had never actually attended another religious service before.  So, I searched for a meeting that worked with my schedule, and found myself preparing to attend a Catholic Mass in Orem.

I was actually really excited at first, I was interested to see how different groups worship in their own churches.  I was excited to participate and get to know another religion and a new type of gathering.  The nerves didn't hit me until I pulled into the parking lot.  I was suddenly very aware that I was alone, I didn't have anyone to walk in with and look lost alongside of.  I had to look awkwardly confused and lost all by myself, which is something I don't often have to do.  I sat in my car for a minute, watching people walk into the building.  I wanted to know which door to walk in through to avoid going through the wrong entrance.  I glanced up the walking path towards what looked like the main doors, pictured below, and took a deep breath as my heart started to beat faster and faster.

I walked into the building and was in an immediate panic.  There was at least three different ways I could've turned.  I didn't want to seem lost or that I didn't belong, that way I would draw as little attention to myself as I could.  Because, I was there alone and I didn't know what I was doing and wanted as little attention on me as possible.  I turned right, following a small crowd and saw what looked to be the chapel.  So i walked through the doors, pictured below, and immediately started scouting out a seat. It was a new culture I had never experienced, a new group of people with whom I hadn't had much experience interacting with.  And because I was going to experience a new culture, I was nervous about what I was going to experience!

My first instinct was to go to the very back of the church, which is what I initially did.  I wanted to be there and experience it, but again I didn't want attention on me.  So i snapped a few pictures, below, before the service began.  I wasn't sure if i was allowed to take pictures while the service was happening so I took these before we started.  Right as I finished getting a few pictures, a man around the age of 25 came up to me.  "Are you visiting today?", he asked.  How did he know??  I immediately felt self conscious and was questioning how he knew I was a visitor, what had I done out of the ordinary that pointed me out of the crowd?  He was super friendly, handed me the pamphlets pictured below and walked me through what the service would be like.  This could be viewed as a form of comprehensible input since he used the pamphlet to help make the content understandable to me as a new learner.  After he left, I was super impressed by his kindness and helpful attitude.  So I thought for a second, and stood up to find a new spot where I could participate more than just sitting in the back and people watching.

I sat next to a couple, Erica and Jim who were so kind!  We briefly exchanged greetings and I explained how I was visiting.  I could tell that the congregation was split into two groups, white conservatives and latino families.  I couldn't help but think that this was some sort of institutional racism within the church, or at least a separation of cultures.  While sitting there reverently with them waiting for the service to begin, more people began to walk in and make a few stops before they sat down.  In the picture above, you can sort of make out a white symbolic baptism font in the middle of the picture.  Everybody touched this on the way in, and some holy water by the door and did the sign of the cross before proceeding to their seat.  I then realized how the man knew I was visiting, I had walked straight past the holy water and the font and did not perform the sign of the cross.  

As the meeting began, I shyly followed along the pamphlet the man had given me and watched those around me sneakily to figure out what I needed to be doing.  There was a lot of standing, then sitting, then standing again and singing a song or reciting a phrase after the priest did a reading.  It was super confusing to me, even when following the pamphlet and trying to do whatever people around me did.  I felt so uncomfortable.  I didn't want to do anything wrong and offend anyone, but I also didn't know what signs and phrases I wanted to repeat and mimic.  Was doing the sign of the cross wrong for me to do as a Mormon?  I had no idea, and decided that I should participate in everything they did as to complete this assignment to the best of my ability.  I've never felt so self conscious in a church before!  Anytime I messed up-singing the wrong part of the song, saying phrases faster than everyone else, didn't stand or kneel at the right time- I felt so embarrassed.  I was trying my best to keep up with everything, but it was all so unfamiliar to me that I did not follow the schedule perfectly.  

When it came time for communion, I read in the pamphlet that if i was not a member I was invited to join with the congregation in going to the priest.  However, I was not allowed to partake of their sacrament.  I was supposed to hold my arms in an 'X' across my chest as to symbolize that I was not a baptized member of the church.  According to the pamphlet, this would tell the priest that I wasn't a member and he would bestow a blessing upon me rather than give me a piece of the sacrament.  So I walked up in line with the rest of the congregation, assuming that someone else would be just like me and wasn't a member but still wanted a blessing from the priest.  But, nope!  I was the only one that wasn't a member that had gone up and wanted a blessing from the priest.  It was so nerve racking, because I had no one to mimic.  No one had done it before me, so I hurried up and crossed my arms over my chest.  The priest smiled at me, touched my head and said "blessings be upon you".  And I nervously said "thank you", and hurried to my seat.  I probably said the wrong thing or didn't do it exactly right, but the priest was kind and knew I was new so I felt okay with everything!  I realize that this could be viewed as an experience they made equitable for me.  I didn't get the exact same treatment as everyone else did, but I got a personalized blessing that fit my needs and my situation.  This is important in church groups, so that each person feels supported and welcomed as an individual in the church that has different needs than those around them.

As the meeting concluded, I realized that had I stayed in the back of the room I would've had a more difficult time following the schedule if I hadn't sat by the nice couple.  I probably wouldn't have had the courage to get a blessing from the priest, so I am glad I changed spots before the service started!  This also would've been a very different experience had the man not come up to me with pamphlets, and had the people not been so kind.  It was confusing to me to follow new rituals and schedules but it was refreshing once it was over and I looked back on my experience.  Had the people not been so kind, I probably would've felt way more uncomfortable and self-aware of my every move.

After reflecting back on my experience, I recognize that as a teacher I need to put my students in sometimes uncomfortable positions to teach them important lessons.  I definitely feel more courageous after experiencing this, and actually have a strong desire to go out and experience even more religious gatherings.  I think it's important for people to be put in uncomfortable, new situations every once and a while.  It really makes you figure out what you're like when you challenge yourself, and puts you into positions you wouldn't have experienced otherwise.  I hope to implement this in my future classroom by making my students try new things, and sometimes put the spotlight on them even if they don't like it.  This will help them grow as individuals and as students working to better themselves and further their education.  Calling on children who are shy and feel uncomfortable talking in front of others could potentially help them feel more and more comfortable talking in class.  Experiences like that are ones I hope to bring to my future classroom in order to build students to be courageous, outgoing and willing to be put into vulnerable positions