Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Educating the community regarding LGBT
The Center is not only an organization the is welcome to the LGBT community but also to the straight community of Denver. They allow heterosexual volunteers participate in many events and or learning sessions that take place daily at the Center. For example: On February 21st, which was presidents day, The Center held an event that was open for the entire community that was to educate the LGBT community of Denver on the legal issues this community has to face and what are some of the recent changes that will take place in office. This was appealing to me as a heterosexual because I became educated on the discrimination that the LGBT faces from our politics. I believe the main issue that members of the LGBT community face is acceptance from society and the heterosexual community. This event was called "Lobby Day" and it educated me on the laws that affect the LGBT community and ways in which I can vote to stop discrimination against this community. I find it interesting and important that The Center not only helps out the issues that face the LGBT community but the fact that they reach out to the straight community to inform them of what they can do to help the LGBT community so that they are treated equally in all areas of life and in the public.
Monday, February 28, 2011
A day at The Center
Today I volunteered at The Center for four hours and this was my first experience volunteering and I cant say enough about it! I was working at the front desk doing some adminstrative work and I got the chance to work with another volunteer that is not a student from Metro. It was really neat working at the front desk because I got to see everyone who comes in the front doors of the Center. Every single person had a gleaming smile and introduced themselves to me and shook my hand; I was so suprised with how friendly everyone is at The Center and the LGBT community that comes into The Center. I find it rare to see people smiling from ear to ear and eager to introduce themselves to you. I must have met 15 different people today and all of them put a smile on my face!
I noticed how everyone i met today used similar Kinesics, majority were smiling, happy, wide awake and generally seemed happy to be at The Center. Everyone that introduced themselves to me used the same Haptics(touch), they all shook hands with me and made eye contact. I was very suprised by this because I have never volunteered at an organization that has been so friendly and interested and knowing who i am and why i am volunteering. Today I felt special and I felt like if i see those same people again they will know my name and shake hands with me. I had a wonderful day and I was sad to leave The center at the end of today because it is such a positive and exciting place with wonderful people.
I noticed how everyone i met today used similar Kinesics, majority were smiling, happy, wide awake and generally seemed happy to be at The Center. Everyone that introduced themselves to me used the same Haptics(touch), they all shook hands with me and made eye contact. I was very suprised by this because I have never volunteered at an organization that has been so friendly and interested and knowing who i am and why i am volunteering. Today I felt special and I felt like if i see those same people again they will know my name and shake hands with me. I had a wonderful day and I was sad to leave The center at the end of today because it is such a positive and exciting place with wonderful people.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Gender in the Classroom
I am a speech communications major here at Metro and I am minoring in Marketing. Majority of my professors that I have had at Metro are all female in the communications department. In my marketing classes I have majority male professors. This semester, I am taking 6 classes, 5 on campus and 1 online course; all of the classes are for my communications major. All of my professors this semester are females and 95% of the students in the classes are females too. In my gender and pop culture class, we have two males in the class, my teacher interacts with the males in the class the same way she intereacts with the females in the class. After observing my class and how my professors intereact with the different genders in the class I can strongly see that my teachers treat all students equally, whether male or female.
Last semester in my business communication class, my professor was a male and the class had half females and half males. I noticed my teacher would call on the males in the class more often than the females, he would give the males more compliments on assignments than the females, and I sometimes felt he didnt "see" the females in the class. I remember sending this professor an e-mail and I waited two weeks for a reply; I felt like this professor had a sexist attitude towards females and all of us females in the class noticed this. I remember the males in our class got better grades on assignments/tests than the females in the class.
After reading chapter 8 of woods, I noticed that I am one of those students that learns better when I have a professor that is the same sex as me. I think I achieve better academically if I could go to a single sex college. I do better in a class room where the teacher treats all students equally and isn't sexist.
Last semester in my business communication class, my professor was a male and the class had half females and half males. I noticed my teacher would call on the males in the class more often than the females, he would give the males more compliments on assignments than the females, and I sometimes felt he didnt "see" the females in the class. I remember sending this professor an e-mail and I waited two weeks for a reply; I felt like this professor had a sexist attitude towards females and all of us females in the class noticed this. I remember the males in our class got better grades on assignments/tests than the females in the class.
After reading chapter 8 of woods, I noticed that I am one of those students that learns better when I have a professor that is the same sex as me. I think I achieve better academically if I could go to a single sex college. I do better in a class room where the teacher treats all students equally and isn't sexist.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Prompt #4
The organization I'm working with is the center. The main reason i wanted to work with The Center is because my best friend is gay and I feel that in order to be a better friend and member of society I need become educated in the LGBT community. I am a straight heterosexual female and I honestly do not know much about the LGBT community and i think it is important to broaden my knowledge in this field. Along with becoming educated in this field, I would like to add to my community service.
I would like to participate in some events at The Center because I think by engaging in LGBT events I will get a complete experience. One event I will be working is called the Jokers, Jewels and Justice event on March 10th at the Magnolia Hotel in denver. I really wanted to do this event because we will be putting on our own "casino night" for the LGBT community as well as a silent auction; the benefits from the auction will go to The Centers Legal and Advocacy program. I volunteered for this event because not only will I get the chance to be a poker dealer for the night, I will get the chance to interact and entertain the members of the LGBT community of denver.
Along with doing events at The Center and becoming educated on the LGBT community, I highly expect to make friends during this experience. I want to walk away with three new friends, whether its other volunteers or a friend I made at the Jokers, Jewels and Justice event, I want to meet new people that are different from me and I want to keep in touch with them.
So far my expectations are being met, I have met other students from Metro that are volunteering and I have been able to engage in many conversations with my gay friend and his friends regarding issues that we see within the community. I feel I am already looking at life in a more "open" lense because I am learning more about the LGBT community.
I would like to participate in some events at The Center because I think by engaging in LGBT events I will get a complete experience. One event I will be working is called the Jokers, Jewels and Justice event on March 10th at the Magnolia Hotel in denver. I really wanted to do this event because we will be putting on our own "casino night" for the LGBT community as well as a silent auction; the benefits from the auction will go to The Centers Legal and Advocacy program. I volunteered for this event because not only will I get the chance to be a poker dealer for the night, I will get the chance to interact and entertain the members of the LGBT community of denver.
Along with doing events at The Center and becoming educated on the LGBT community, I highly expect to make friends during this experience. I want to walk away with three new friends, whether its other volunteers or a friend I made at the Jokers, Jewels and Justice event, I want to meet new people that are different from me and I want to keep in touch with them.
So far my expectations are being met, I have met other students from Metro that are volunteering and I have been able to engage in many conversations with my gay friend and his friends regarding issues that we see within the community. I feel I am already looking at life in a more "open" lense because I am learning more about the LGBT community.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Prompt #3 2/16/11
The womens rights movement is one of the various important movements that i most identify with as a woman in the American society.This movement gained womens rights to vote and this was the very first initial step that began to produce more rights for women and the views towards women gradually changed from here on out. Woods describes the Women's Rights Movement as the first wave of womens movements in the United States.
I was not alive when this movement happened in U.S. but i feel very strongly about womens rights in our political office. I beleive women deserve to be president just as much as men do. I remember when i was in elementary school and George Bush Senior was president and i remember asking my mom why we didnt have a women president. At this moment, my mom described the Women's Rights Movement. I remember being in shock, i couldnt believe women were treated differently from men, it made me feel like women were labeled as dumb.
The Women's Rights Movement has made a huge impact on how i view gender in America's political office. I constantly research the amount of women in the house, who is the newest woman running for senator etc. I have become more invloved in the American Politics because of this moment i had when i was in elementary school watching George Bush Senior speak on national Television. I will continue to fight for my rights as a woman and other womans rights by voting for them, I hope i live to see a women President and Vice president.
The White Ribbon Campaign would for one of the men's movements that i most self identity with.
In chapter 4 of Gendered Lives, Woods describes this movement as a group of international men who worked to end mens violence against women. The White Ribbon Campaign was the largest men's antivolence group in the world (Woods, p. 101). This movement is so important to me because i was once a victim of domestic violence.
I remember seeing a clip of the Movement on TV as a young child and once again i was shocked that men were getting away with beating and killing women. Once again i never understood why men were treating women differently, i was always raised that women should be praised and never harmed. I never understood why it was so frowned upon to be a woman in America, why were we not given automative rights to vote? Why were men getting away with killing us?
In highschool i was in a violent relationship, i was a victim of domestic violence. I had to go through numerous therapy sessions because i was basically an emotional diaster and afraid of men. At my therapy sessions i was introduced to classes i could take about violence against women and how i could help other women out that were in my same situation. This was the worst and best thing that ever happened to me. I was at my lowest point but had such amazing support from others in my same shoes that didnt judge me for what i had been through. At therapy sessions we talked about several men's movements regarding violence against women. This has impacted my life and made me a stronger person, because what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger and i can argue that!
I was not alive when this movement happened in U.S. but i feel very strongly about womens rights in our political office. I beleive women deserve to be president just as much as men do. I remember when i was in elementary school and George Bush Senior was president and i remember asking my mom why we didnt have a women president. At this moment, my mom described the Women's Rights Movement. I remember being in shock, i couldnt believe women were treated differently from men, it made me feel like women were labeled as dumb.
The Women's Rights Movement has made a huge impact on how i view gender in America's political office. I constantly research the amount of women in the house, who is the newest woman running for senator etc. I have become more invloved in the American Politics because of this moment i had when i was in elementary school watching George Bush Senior speak on national Television. I will continue to fight for my rights as a woman and other womans rights by voting for them, I hope i live to see a women President and Vice president.
The White Ribbon Campaign would for one of the men's movements that i most self identity with.
In chapter 4 of Gendered Lives, Woods describes this movement as a group of international men who worked to end mens violence against women. The White Ribbon Campaign was the largest men's antivolence group in the world (Woods, p. 101). This movement is so important to me because i was once a victim of domestic violence.
I remember seeing a clip of the Movement on TV as a young child and once again i was shocked that men were getting away with beating and killing women. Once again i never understood why men were treating women differently, i was always raised that women should be praised and never harmed. I never understood why it was so frowned upon to be a woman in America, why were we not given automative rights to vote? Why were men getting away with killing us?
In highschool i was in a violent relationship, i was a victim of domestic violence. I had to go through numerous therapy sessions because i was basically an emotional diaster and afraid of men. At my therapy sessions i was introduced to classes i could take about violence against women and how i could help other women out that were in my same situation. This was the worst and best thing that ever happened to me. I was at my lowest point but had such amazing support from others in my same shoes that didnt judge me for what i had been through. At therapy sessions we talked about several men's movements regarding violence against women. This has impacted my life and made me a stronger person, because what doesnt kill you only makes you stronger and i can argue that!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Forms of non verbal communication
In class we have been talking about the six different forms of non-verbal communication: Artifacts, Proxemics, Haptics, Kinesics, Paralanguage and Physical Appearance. I could connect with the physical appearamce form the most because of various experiences i have faced. I would also like to tie "sterotypes" in with Physical Appearance because i feel these two terms go hand in hand because the general definition is making an assumption about a person based on a persons outside image. Growing up as a dancer has caused made me very aware of my physical appearance; there are several sterotypes about dancers, for examply we dont eat, were all beautiful but fake, were competitive and out to win.
I recently faced a new sterotype about my physical appearance; I was recently hired as a dance teacher at an inner city dance studio. The students in my classes were very diverse, there were asians, hispanics, blacks and whites. This was a new experience for me because i use to teach in cherry creek at a studio where kids were being dropped off in Range Rovers. The first day of classes i was teaching hip hop, i was very nervous i wasnt sure how the kids would adjust to having a new teacher. Their faces were priceless at i opened the studio door and welcomed the class in, many of them were whispering to each other non-stop and gave me alot of attitude. At the end of class after i turned off the music a group of three black girls came up to me and said "we are sorry for giving you attitude, we didnt expect a white girl with blonde hair to be so good at dancing". I smiled and said thats why you shouldnt sterotype girls!
I experienced what it felt like to be judge on your physically appearance. I know how it feels to be labeled a name or a thought based on how you look, this is also known as sterotyping. I am so thankfully for the ability i have to work with inner city kids that grew up differently than me. I have learned an enormous amount about how to gain respect from others you judge you on your physical appearance because you dont look like them. I have influenced the lives of many young dancers to pursue their dreams of dancing and they appreciate all the advice i give them. Therefore give a person a chance, dont assume they are are who your mind labels them to be in your file cabinets up there(Dr. McCarver).
I recently faced a new sterotype about my physical appearance; I was recently hired as a dance teacher at an inner city dance studio. The students in my classes were very diverse, there were asians, hispanics, blacks and whites. This was a new experience for me because i use to teach in cherry creek at a studio where kids were being dropped off in Range Rovers. The first day of classes i was teaching hip hop, i was very nervous i wasnt sure how the kids would adjust to having a new teacher. Their faces were priceless at i opened the studio door and welcomed the class in, many of them were whispering to each other non-stop and gave me alot of attitude. At the end of class after i turned off the music a group of three black girls came up to me and said "we are sorry for giving you attitude, we didnt expect a white girl with blonde hair to be so good at dancing". I smiled and said thats why you shouldnt sterotype girls!
I experienced what it felt like to be judge on your physically appearance. I know how it feels to be labeled a name or a thought based on how you look, this is also known as sterotyping. I am so thankfully for the ability i have to work with inner city kids that grew up differently than me. I have learned an enormous amount about how to gain respect from others you judge you on your physical appearance because you dont look like them. I have influenced the lives of many young dancers to pursue their dreams of dancing and they appreciate all the advice i give them. Therefore give a person a chance, dont assume they are are who your mind labels them to be in your file cabinets up there(Dr. McCarver).
Monday, February 7, 2011
THE CENTER
Post #2. 2/7/11
Hello all! I just had my orientation/tour of The Center and i am so excited to learn more and work first hand with the LGBT community! I met with Juli and she is the head cordinator over at The Center! The facilties at the center are so nice, they have a cyber center, a library and have weekly FREE STD and HIV testing, this is so awesome. My first event i will be participating in is regarding the legal issues the LGBT community faces, there will be legal politicians coming in to speak and reach out to the LGBT community. We will also particpate in a tour of the Capital building, which is actually right down the street from The Center. I am really interested in finding out the types of issues the LGBT community faces because i have no idea.
There were various reasons why i really wanted to work at The Center and one of the reasons being is my best friend is gay and i really want to learn more about the gay community and the everday stuggles that come with choosing this sexuality. I have helped my best friend "come out", i was there when he told his parents that he was gay and i have been by his side when he has been called names because of his sexuality.
I hope by volunteering at The Center for the next two months will educate me in various areas regarding the LGBT community. I am so eager to learn more and engage in activities with others who arent like me. I need to broaden my horizon and learn about others who may not be heterosexual like me; America is a HUGE melting pot that is populated with diferent cultures, ethnicites and people, i wish i could learn and experience what every type of person goes through in a given day, to see the other side of things. I expect to gain alot of knowlegde about how i can help the LGBT community and show that i care about this community. At the end of the day we are all human and we all face challenges, priveleges and differences that make us who we are.
Hello all! I just had my orientation/tour of The Center and i am so excited to learn more and work first hand with the LGBT community! I met with Juli and she is the head cordinator over at The Center! The facilties at the center are so nice, they have a cyber center, a library and have weekly FREE STD and HIV testing, this is so awesome. My first event i will be participating in is regarding the legal issues the LGBT community faces, there will be legal politicians coming in to speak and reach out to the LGBT community. We will also particpate in a tour of the Capital building, which is actually right down the street from The Center. I am really interested in finding out the types of issues the LGBT community faces because i have no idea.
There were various reasons why i really wanted to work at The Center and one of the reasons being is my best friend is gay and i really want to learn more about the gay community and the everday stuggles that come with choosing this sexuality. I have helped my best friend "come out", i was there when he told his parents that he was gay and i have been by his side when he has been called names because of his sexuality.
I hope by volunteering at The Center for the next two months will educate me in various areas regarding the LGBT community. I am so eager to learn more and engage in activities with others who arent like me. I need to broaden my horizon and learn about others who may not be heterosexual like me; America is a HUGE melting pot that is populated with diferent cultures, ethnicites and people, i wish i could learn and experience what every type of person goes through in a given day, to see the other side of things. I expect to gain alot of knowlegde about how i can help the LGBT community and show that i care about this community. At the end of the day we are all human and we all face challenges, priveleges and differences that make us who we are.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Hello Class! Blog post 1
Hello Class!!
Gender roles have strastically changed within the past 50 years, because today many of the gender roles that were mainly focused towards women are now pressured among men. I grew up with my dad working seven days a week and my mom being a typical American house wife. She took care of the kids, cooked, cleaned, did the grocery shopping and even yard work. When my father got home from work my mother made sure his plate was warm and his glass of skim milk was chilled and waiting for him at the dinner table. As he walked into the door he said "Hi Honey" and she replied with "how was work, Honey". This is how i learned gender roles as i grew up.
One specific experience from my childhood stands out, when my parents made sure i knew my roles as a female and sister. When i was 4 years old i remember playing in the living room with my older brother and he was playing with his G.I. Joe soldiers and i was playing house with my barbies. I remember thinking how i would like to get my hands on some of my brothers toys because they looked fun and different from my barbies that i loved. I grabbed my brothers G.I. Joe doll and put it in my barbie house, and when my mom saw this she took it away and said little girls dont play with soldiers, those are "boy" toys. This experienced shaped what i thought boys were allowed to play with, and what activities they could engage in, and what activities as a girl i was allowed to play. I was told and taught at a young age how to play house because i was a girl.
As a female today, playing house can involve men too. The recent economic crisis has caused both parents in a household and even the husband to stay home and "play house". I tink the roles should be split personally but I recently had a comment made to me by my boyfriend that related to gender roles and the expectations of myself as a woman. We were having a conversation about cooking and he insulted my cooking skills and said you better learn how to cook, because when your married and you become a mother you will be doing all the cooking. This comment offended me, just because im a woman doesnt mean ill spend the rest of my life cooking, especially if i become a wife and mom. Therefore some gender norms have changed and some are still set in stone.
Gender roles have strastically changed within the past 50 years, because today many of the gender roles that were mainly focused towards women are now pressured among men. I grew up with my dad working seven days a week and my mom being a typical American house wife. She took care of the kids, cooked, cleaned, did the grocery shopping and even yard work. When my father got home from work my mother made sure his plate was warm and his glass of skim milk was chilled and waiting for him at the dinner table. As he walked into the door he said "Hi Honey" and she replied with "how was work, Honey". This is how i learned gender roles as i grew up.
One specific experience from my childhood stands out, when my parents made sure i knew my roles as a female and sister. When i was 4 years old i remember playing in the living room with my older brother and he was playing with his G.I. Joe soldiers and i was playing house with my barbies. I remember thinking how i would like to get my hands on some of my brothers toys because they looked fun and different from my barbies that i loved. I grabbed my brothers G.I. Joe doll and put it in my barbie house, and when my mom saw this she took it away and said little girls dont play with soldiers, those are "boy" toys. This experienced shaped what i thought boys were allowed to play with, and what activities they could engage in, and what activities as a girl i was allowed to play. I was told and taught at a young age how to play house because i was a girl.
As a female today, playing house can involve men too. The recent economic crisis has caused both parents in a household and even the husband to stay home and "play house". I tink the roles should be split personally but I recently had a comment made to me by my boyfriend that related to gender roles and the expectations of myself as a woman. We were having a conversation about cooking and he insulted my cooking skills and said you better learn how to cook, because when your married and you become a mother you will be doing all the cooking. This comment offended me, just because im a woman doesnt mean ill spend the rest of my life cooking, especially if i become a wife and mom. Therefore some gender norms have changed and some are still set in stone.
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