What unites women?

I feel like this is kind of a hard thing for me to talk about, because I can honestly say I have no idea what unites women. From my perspective I believe women can be united in a way that we all face hard times. They may not all be the same hard times or the same struggles, but we all have them. Different women from around the world will face completely opposite problems, but I think in the end women will come together and always support the other. Even if women are very ethnocentrism and they only believe there way is right, I think in the end women will help one another.

9to5 and the media

9to5 is all about helping working women and how they are paid and treated in the work environment. I think you can see this quite a bit with media saturation, because it is everywhere; women not being treated right. I feel like on most t.v. shows its always women that get treated poorly and that get paid less. You can also notice the womens outfits in t.v.s shows are a lot more provocative such as women in the corporate environment. Women are hit on and treated like they aren't as smart, but in real life I feel like now there are almost more women in the work environment making just as much if not more money then the men. For media literacy, I believe we need to instill it into young girls that women can go far in the work environment and not to believe that women shouldn't get paid as much as men.

Non- Profit Organization

I am working with 9to5 National women's working association and I am really excited about it, because we are planning an event for the community. I am really excited, because my major is event planning and this will be great experience, but also the event I am planning is going to be great for educating the community. 9to5 is requesting donations to be used as auction items at the organizations 15th anniversary celebration event on August 26th. 9to5 Colorado works to strengthen the ability of low-wage women to win economic justice. They have worked with low-income Colorado women since 1996. With all the donations they recieve, they will be able to strengthen the organization and better carry out their mission. Part of what I am doing on planning this event is going all over and contacting all different businesses trying to get donations for the silent auction. This event is going to help inform the community that 9to5 is out there and they are working hard for women. As for adopting gendered education, I believe you could say they are in some ways; considering this is the national womens association. This truly is only for women in the work place therefore is is kind of like gendered education only in the work place.

P.S. If anyone is willing to donate somethat would be awesome!!
I am looking for- gift baskets (Stuff to make gift baskets or put in them)
                        - Sports memorabilia
                        - Art (Paintings, framed art, pictures)
                        - Gift certificates
Anything helps!

Childrens book

On Monday we were suppose to bring in a childrens book to discuss growing up feminine/masculine in the U.S. When I was told about this, I thought oh crap I have to go buy a book for one time use. Then I remembered my niese was turning one in April and I could buy her one. So i went to the store to check out the books, as I was looking there were some that were pretty obvious that they were for a boy or girl just by the colors on them and the pictures. I went ahead and bought one for a little girl teaching her to potty. The outside of the book was pink with a little girl on it. This book was of course just for girls, every picture had pink on it. I would definitely recommend this book to a little kid (of course, I bought it for one), but I say this because not only does it teach the little girl to use the potty on her own. But it encourages the little girl to be independent and that she can do something if she keeps trying. I think this book is great for a little girl, even though it is just for girls i think it is fine considering it is talking about going potty.

9to5

Yesterday was my first day I visited with 9to5 which is an organization that helps women in the wok environment. I chose this one, because i heard we got to plan an event and that is actually what I am going to school for. I thought it would be a perfect fit for me. When i went in I discussed how I could make a contribution and talk about what the event was exactly for. It looks like we are planning an aniversary celebration for 200 people, which is pretty exciting. What i expect to learn from this is how many women out there are actually having troubles in their work place and what is going on? I also really would like to take from this  learning experience of planning an event. I am going to be trying to get sponors for their fundraiser so it will be fun to go out and talk to different companies about 9to5's mission and what this celebration is all about. Giving that I have only been in one day so far, I see my expectations and i do hope that they will be fullfilled, we will see!

What women's movement do you identify most with?

Before reading about all the different women's and men's movements, I was very familiar with any and how many there actually were. When i was done I decided that I most identify with the third wave of women's movements. The third-wave feminism includes women of different ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, classes, appearances, and sexual orientations. The one part of the third wave feminists that stood out to me was individualism. This stood out, because I am definitely an individual and I like it that way. Individualism focus' on individual goals, strategies, and identities. The impact that this has on me is that it actually allows me to be myself and makes me aware that I don't neccesarily need to fit into what is the norm according to the media. Because of the third wave feminists I will continue to be myself and encourgare other women to continue to be individuals.

Language allows self reflection

I feel like the term 'language allows self-reflection' can be interpreted in so many different ways, just depends on how you actually look at it. You can literally take it for the exact words or you can go into a lot of thought about it. When i was reading and thinking about it I kind of came to the conclusion that by our ever evolving language we look at ourselves in a different way, whether it be good or bad. Certain words can show how we feel about ourselves or about one another. When i was discussing this with other classmates we came to the conclusion that we label ourselves by what we consider important culturally. For example we look at magazines or hear on t.v. the words skiiny/fat, pretty/ugly, single/together.  When you look at these words theres not really an inbetween therefore society is almost forcing people to decide which category they fit in to. When you are forced to decide which category you fit into , you are accepting into cultural expecations "norms" and that is going to affect your self esteem. Why give into what other people label you as and think they are right. People need to figure out who they are on their own and allow growth by what they think of themselves and no one else.

Gender Recently

I have always been one of the guys, from when i could really talk to now. I am twenty years old now and I still love all the same stuff. I work with a few guys and they kind of react to me different sometimes just because Im not the type of girl that really gets dressed up just to go out or go to work. I prefer to be comfy, don't take it the wrong way I don't go looking like a slob, but mostly jeans and a t-shirt. The other day I had to go to the opera for one of my classes, requiring me to dress up. Therefore, I took the time to dress up which i don't hate i just don't prefer. Before heading to the opera I had to stop by work for my check, as I am walking in my manager starts talking to me like a regular customer then realizes it is me. He caught himself then said, " Woah, you look like a girl." I just laughed and nodded. He pointed out that I was wearing heals and I thought to myself, "Do all girls wear heals or what cause I can't really walk in them." I just thought that it was funny that he would say that, because it goes to show that women are expected to dress up and wear heals most days.

Gender

I grew up with two older brothers, so gender was always a big deal with me being the only girl. My brothers had everything blue and they had their little toy guns, but what did i get? I got little doll houses and pink stuffed animals. My mom and I are the only girls in our family and growing up with two older brothers i must say i kind of acted like a boy. To get to the point though, the earliest interaction with my parents i can remember is when i really started to enjoy sports. My mom was never the sports type, so when i started to watch them with my dad and brothers and started to go outside to play basketball, my mom always wondered why i didn't want to go shopping with her. Don't get me wrong my mom and I are the best of friends now and she was the best mom i could ask for. I remember though that it kind of took her by suprise that a girl could truly love sports that much, she then decided that maybe she should start to try and like sports. From then on when my brothers and I had games we always had at least one parent there. Whether it be my mom or dad, we always had the support we could ask for.