Presentations (Nerd Alert)

This week so far has really been the highlight of the semester in my mind.  While I found all of the information presented throughout the course and the discussion to be very important and relevant and foundational to moving forward, as many of you know, I felt very frustrated by the fact that I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING!!! I am a pretty action oriented individual, and not being busy grates on my nerves.  Listening to the presentations this week was soooo refreshing! I may be a little over enthusiastic, but I just love seeing what groups can conceive when they put their minds and hearts together.

Educational Disparities
The educational disparities group did a great job of comparing Reagan and Bowie and talking about their own experiences in public schools. I loved the personal stories and the statistics on achievement and available services.
Project H
What a moving presentation! It is inspiring that this group took their project to the next level by running a food drive and creating a services pamphlet. I loved it.
Executive Orders
I think what was so great about this presentation, was that it was really a life lesson.  Sometimes you have work really hard looking for answers on making a change, and sometimes it seems impossible to find them. As the group mentioned during the Q and A section, it can be overwhelming, but it is something we will all have to deal with in our careers as social workers.  The beautiful thing is that we have a community to draw from. We are so fortunate to have many resources in each other.  I may not know much about homelessness, but now I know five people who do.  Information is powerful, let's share!
AWA
Thanks to EVERYBODY in this class for being so warm, encouraging and open to our project. I loved the whole enchilada.  Working with Morgan and Kody was amazing! I really can't wait to see where all of these projects go.

One More Chance:
Like AfterWorkActivism on facebook and get involved!  This is gonna be so much fun!

Adultism

Reading Response:

This week, before reading from the Adams text on ageism and adultism, I honestly was not prepared to take them very seriously. I thought "now this is reaching, just a little".  I understood that some people don't have much respect for older adults, but I didn't count myself among them and I certainly doubted that the oppression of people based on age was a reality experienced by many.  

Well, I was wrong. 

I think what I found most striking, was the part about adultism. Because I work with children and have for a long time, I was pretty sure I knew it all.  The authors posed the question: "Would you treat an adult or peer the same way you treat a child?" My response was no, of course not, but that is because children don't really have the developmental capacity to be completely autonomous.  I still think this is true, but to a lesser extent.  The book mentions holding a child's hand when crossing the street being a reasonable safety accommodation, and I agree. Another thing they mentioned though that I had to check myself on was taking objects out of a child's hand.  I realized I do this all the time, and I would not disrespect people of other age groups that way. When I let the boys I watch play games on my phone while we are in the car or doing something boring like waiting at the dentist's office, when their time is up, I realized I have often just taken it out of their hands.  Generally, I thought that I ask first, but when I thought about it more I realized that not only do I just grab it more often than not, but by taking things away from them I was denying them the opportunity to make good choices and grow by just returning my phone when it's time to do the boring stuff; go into the dentist, do homework, or pick out clothes for tomorrow. 

Although I have always considered it to be extremely important to give kids as many choices as possible so that they don't feel overly directed, I realized that there are more areas in which I can incorporate choices with the kids I work with.  They are amazing human beings, and are capable of a lot more than I have given them credit for.  I remember when I was a kid, I thought to myself  "I am never going to forget how it feels to be this age, so that I never treat kids like they are stupid."  Well, I have some adjusting to do if I am going to live up to that.  It is really interesting to look back and remember how I felt I had been wronged as a kid just because of my age. I think that this section of the reading has been really valuable to me and definitely has implications for behavior changes on my part.  I also think I will be more careful in how I interact with older adults.  

Yea Yea!

HUNGER (for education) GAMES

LIST OF CANDIDATES for the State Board of Education
http://www.texastribune.org/election-2012/#tab-sboe


LIST OF INCUMBENTS and information
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3803

Lets get the word out- the elections are a-comin!

Like us on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/AfterWorkActivism

Thoughts?

So this week I happened to read an article (CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE LINK) on the Huffington Post about "Sugar Daddy" arrangements, aka: prostitution. It is a bit long, but definitely a worthwhile read. I know this is a bit off topic, but still pretty social justice related and I felt the urge. Also, I noticed that in the beautiful film we watched in class, Wasteland, the pickers regularly would say things like: "At least I'm doing honest work, at least I'm not a prostitute."

Here are some questions to consider:
1.) Is prostitution dishonest work? Is it dishonest work because it is illegal or because of some inherent quality?
2.) Why is prostitution illegal but pornography is not? In each circumstance, are people not being paid for sex?
3.) The Unites States stance of prostitution is that it is "inherently demeaning" Is it?
4.) Is it possible that sex work might ever be preferable to other forms of labor?

In my opinion, prostitution should be made legal. Prostitution occurs everywhere and has for who really knows how long. This issue has been on my mind a lot recently because we have discussed it pretty extensively in my feminist theory class this semester. In my view, one of the primary problems with the illegality of prostitution, is that it does not eliminate it, but rather drives it underground to a more dangerous place where problems such as violence, exploitation, and trafficking can occur. If prostitution is legalized, taxed and regulated, then the society at large will have a vested interest in ensuring that it is safe for all involved. In Nevada, where prostitution is legal in some localities there are brothels that closely monitor provider-client interactions and require frequent sexual health exams. Sounds smart!
I also think it's interesting to note that most sex workers do so as a result of the societal inequalities they face as oppressed persons. The Huff Post article noted the correlation between the economic recession in 2008, and a boost in college students positive responses when asked in surveys about their willingness to participate in sex work. If prostitution is going to be illegal, we better address the reasons why people get into this industry in the first place, and on top of that, what needs to be done to address these inequalities so that people have the opportunity to pursue so-called "legitimate" forms of employment.

Here is a video from Penn & Teller's "Bullshit" that talks about prostitution. It is a bit racy so please be warned. There is a lot of opinion in this video, but also a lot of really good information and thought provoking interviews with sex workers.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO LINK

Here is another link about a Texas naked-maid cleaning service. Interesting:

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE LINK


What do you all think? I know I am kind of opening a can of worms, but I am very interested in all of your thoughts and opinions.

Entry # I lost track and who cares anyway.

Reading Response:

I always love the section of the Adams book in which privilege is very pointedly examined through the "privilege list." In the heterosexual privilege list, number 30 cut right to my heart: "The parents of heterosexuals do not love them "in spite of" their sexual orientation, and parents do not blame themselves for their children's heterosexuality." That is just one of the saddest things I've ever read. I had never thought of it that way before. That is a stark contrast to the privilege that heterosexuals hold.

Personal Reflection:

This weekend I ran in a 5k with my Dad at an event his church was putting on. Initially I packed my running shorts, shoes and "legalize gay" tank top, which I frequently run in, without even thinking about it. I support GLBT equality on every level, but when I put it on right before leaving for the race I decided to not be controversial at the event and wore something else instead. Now I feel like a coward. I don't really have anything to say about that, I guess.

It's kind of funny, but back when I was a committed christian, my faith actually led me to be a supporter of gay rights. I figured that since God was supposed to be love, then love in whatever form should be acceptable. It's interesting to note that after doing the readings, my observations start to revolve around that subject. I've been seeing a lot of attitudes in the past week or so that I'm not ok with. Unfortunately I think that when religion becomes involved, things get a whole lot more complicated.

Around the net:

Here are some interesting things I've seen in the past few days on this subject:

-This link is about Ben and Jerry's introducing a pro gay marriage ice cream flavor in the UK! Very cool!

-I love this post from the facebook page of star trek's George Takei (Captain Sulu) "It's ok to be takei." Lots of interesting info and funny stuff.