A Woman's Nation or Not?

Last April Maria Shriver, First Lady of California, introduced her project, which she partnered with The Center for American Progress for, named “A Woman’s Nation”. This multi-year project includes reporting to uncover the accurate portrayal of women’s role in modern day society along with their actual impact on the world today culturally and economically.
Recently in America it has become not out of the ordinary for the woman to be the breadwinner for a household. Women also now, for the first time in history, represent half of the workers in the work force. Although women have overcome many hurdles in the past decades, Shriver wants to go deeper and uncover the next steps we have to take as a country to let the American Woman become more successful.
Throughout this project Shriver will also team up with Time Magazine for research and reporting. They will also be taking the project on the road hosting many round tables for men and women and town- hall meetings to discuss the shift in women’s current day roles. Interviews between many female icons and leaders will also be included in research.
Another thing that was noted was that the last time a government project similar to this was organized was by Shriver’s uncle, John F. Kennedy. In 1961, almost 50 years ago, he appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as a chair to a commission, to report on the status of women. The article describes how much the world has changed since then and how “A Woman’s Nation” would update, that very outdated report. The update will include what needs to be done economically, culturally and socially to make sure women continue to thrive in the present day and in the future.

Woman’s rights and equality throughout genders have raised many discussions throughout the years. What do you think about woman’s status in society today? Do men and women really have equal opportunities and rights? Do you think Maria Shriver’s report will raise awareness of equality? Is America truly “a woman’s nation”?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-shriver/a-womans-nation_b_187244.html

Vaccinations: A Possible Cause of Autism?

We’ve all seen the commercials telling us how much more likely a child is to develop autism than to become a professional athlete or a singer. Today, one in 161 children develops autism, but do we ever wonder how a disease that was once as rare as one in 10,000 became so prevalent in the United States? Some might claim that genetics is the cause, but genetics is rarely a cause of an epidemic such as this. So what caused this huge growth in the number of autistic children in the U.S.?

No one can deny the vaccinations and immunizations have been a great way to protect people from dangerous diseases such as polio or the measles. Because of vaccinations, diseases that were once dreaded by the entire population are now barely ever contracted by anyone, but vaccinations may have a dark side. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, vaccinations were usually only given to upper and upper-middle classes, because they were the only ones who could afford them. Coincidentally, more cases of autism began to appear. These new cases were mainly confined to the upper and upper-middle classes. In the 1970’s and 1980’s the government improved vaccination rates to 97% of the population. Around this time, autism spread to more of the population… another coincidence? Soon after, the United States decided to administer vaccines to children shortly after their birth to better protect them. It was then reported by many parents that their children were developing normally during the first year and a half of their lifetime and then developing autistic symptoms. Studies have shown that a cause of this could be the high mercury content in shots such as Hepatitis B and MMR. The level of mercury in these vaccinations is more than enough to give an adult mercury poisoning, so who knows what effect this amount of mercury will do to and infant? It just so happens that the symptoms for mercury poisoning are almost identical with symptoms for autism. All of these studies begs the question, are vaccines hurting or helping?

http://www.know-vaccines.org/autism.html

It Takes Heart

It is the leading cause of death among youth athletes. It happens once every three or four days. In 80 percent of those cases the athletes show no symptoms or warning that they could die. This leading cause of death is sudden cardiac arrest. When an athlete goes into cardiac arrest they have only minutes until they face a certain death. Even with urgent treatment, such as, Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation or the use of a defibrillator, only 11 percent of athletes who go into cardiac arrest survive. However, given those statistics only 1/200,000 athletes are likely to go into sudden cardiac arrest.

As an athlete sudden cardiac arrest is something that I may not think about often but it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen to me. If I, or someone I know, went into cardiac arrest I would want every resource available to give me a chance to survive. I strongly believe that every middle school, high school and college should be required to have a defibrillator and someone trained to use a defibrillator at every sporting event. Some health care professionals suggest that competitive athletes should be tested for heart disease before being allowed to compete because a majority of the sudden cardiac arrest deaths are due to a genetic disease and could be prevented.

Requiring a defibrillator at sporting events or athletes to be screened for heart disease before competitive play are rather inexpensive and non-invasive measures that could keep more athletes alive. Do you believe that there should be more guidelines set in place to protect athletes and prevent them from possible death?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/earlyshow/health/main2650308.shtml

The Cancer Conspiracy

Is there a cure for cancer? No, of course not. If there was a cure for cancer, more than 500,000 Americans would not die of this deadly disease each year. Well, maybe there is a cure. A study came out of the University of Alberta in Canada showing that a drug called dichloroacetate (DCA) killed most, if not all forms of cancer with little to no side effects. Yet another benefit is that it is extremely cheap, costing as little as two dollars per serving because it is not a patentable drug. Why haven’t we heard about it then? Could it be that drug companies won’t make any money by researching the drug, then selling it because it is so cheap? Is it possible that major drug companies are perfectly content with making over 400 billion dollars per year from cancer treatments (radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, etc.)? Don’t think that this is the first time this has ever happened. Big drug companies have swept many potential cures for cancer (natural cures, oxygen therapy, cleansing, etc.) under the rug simply because they make more money by treating the disease rather than curing it. Does anyone else find it funny that we have made such amazing scientific strides in humanity in the last 50 years (space, the internet, computers, etc.), but we have yet to find a cure for cancer? Drug companies aren’t looking to cure the disease; they want to treat it and make it manageable. That’s the way that they would make the most money. It’s a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless.

http://www.impactlab.com/2007/01/31/cure-for-cancer-found-but-no-one-is-talking/

http://www.whale.to/a/cancer_c.html

If you ever commit a crime, commit it in Nuuk, Greenland...

Law enforcers in the Greenland do things a little different over there. The prison that is located in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk has no wall, fencing or even bars around or within the prison. The prison consists of 60 inmates who have been convicted for murder, rape and burglary. The prisoners are allowed to have jobs that pay about $28,000 a year. $150 of their pay check each week is given to the prison and to pay for room and board. The inmates get to store the rest in their bank accounts and usually some of it is given to their families for support.

The inmates are allowed to leave the prison and visit a local store to buy something, such as a CD or DVD. They can also send emails and play computer games. They can even watch TV in their own room because each room has a television set with cable accessibility. Because of its popularity in Greenland, during the summer the prisoners can even request the use of a gun to go hunting. They can partake in this activity if they are accompanied by an armed guard and also are not drunk…while hunting! Yes, there have been many instances when prisoners have gone to a bar and gotten too drunk to find their way home so they had to call the prison for a ride. When the prison officials are asked why the prisoners don’t flee the premises, they reply that the prisoners don’t want to escape when they have a warm bedroom and a delicious breakfast waiting for them.

After reading this article, I experienced quite the culture shock. Even though, majority of New England states don’t use capital punishment, this prison seems to be a sheer luxury compared to prisons around here. I am all for prisoners having a job in order to pay room and board and support their families, but I do not agree that the prisoners should be able to come and go as they please. They definitely shouldn’t be able to use drugs or guns while being imprisoned, seeing as how that may have been what sentenced them to jail time in the first place.

What do you think? Should the United States adapt to some of these trends that Greenland uses in their prison. Do you think the freedom the prisoners are given actually punishes them and teaches them lessons about the crimes they committed?

Source: Essentials of Sociology: A-Down-to-Earth Approach (Page 158 Cultural Diversity around the World: “What kind of Prison Is This?”)

What is the Modern "White Privilege"?

As a white female being educated in a mainly white community that advertises, yet lacks diversity, what is my privilege? Am I blind to severe racism that exists against people of different backgrounds and skin colors? Is my ignorance bliss? In Peggy McIntosh’s article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, she explains her belief that whites are conditioned to not “recognize white privilege” (McIntosh). This white privilege is described as “unearned assets” that are expected each day and accumulated with the idea that we are “meant” to remain oblivious about them. According to McIntosh, each day I wake up and act, participate, and take part in many things that a colored person could not just wake up and do. These aspects of white privilege have become less common over time, but some circumstances still exist where racism and fear of diversity put whites at an advantage over people of a different skin color. However, now there are some instances where African Americans are at an advantage over Caucasians. Our country has progressed to a time where racism and prejudice is scarce, but the few conditions where it exists are so intense and uncomfortable that we choose to overlook it as to avoid conflict.

McIntosh continues her investigation of this “white privilege” by outlining some of the “daily effects” of white privilege in her life. She lists 50 conditions under which she act on every day without even having to think twice about (McIntosh). These conditions are also freedoms that African Americans could not wake up and unreservedly have access at the time when McIntosh’s article was written. Some of these effects were simple things like being confident that your neighbors would treat you well or at least “neutral” upon moving into a new neighborhood. This is an example of something that is now universal for the most part. In the majority neighborhoods, African Americans can move in peacefully and get along with their neighbors. Of course, there are exceptions to this statement, but there always will be exceptions. In fact, in some neighborhoods, a white family moving into a home can cause controversy with the neighbors. Many of McIntosh’s listed “daily effects” I have deciphered as untrue and in some cases the opposite has become true with progression.

Daily Effect number 32 is listed as “My culture gives me little fear about ignoring the perspectives and powers of people of other races” (McIntosh). As I read this I immediately labeled this as untrue. Thoughts proving this effect wrong flowed through my head. Ignoring opinions and beliefs of people of other races in unacceptable. No one looks at a person skin color to judge their perspectives and powers in situations. As I began to think about it more, I questioned myself. Is it really that far off? Do all people look past skin color and into the true meaning behind the opinion? Does a racist past still affect the way whites treat the perspectives and powers of people of other races?

While I do believe a time of racist sentiments is behind us, after contemplating McIntosh’s list of daily effects, I am questioning just how much we have progressed. Does our history with racism condition us to hold the same beliefs against people of color? Are racist ideas still held but hidden? Do these “daily effects” still exist in a less prominent way? How does one skin color affect the way a person is judged?


McIntosh, Peggy. "White Privilege:Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." Essay. Independent School Winter 1990. Print.

MIT Taking Student Blogs to the Nth Degree

Dozens of colleges are embracing student blogs on their Web sites, seeing them as a powerful admissions tool. Check out: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/education/02blogs.html

The F-Word

No, not the unprintable f-word, but the dreaded one: feminism. What is feminism really? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines feminism as “the movement for the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” Feminism is a lens, a way to witness social injustices happening in our society, and commit oneself to correcting them by working on political solutions. The bottom line, feminism is about gender issues. But, is feminism a movement of the past? Why are women today distancing themselves from feminism?

Although nearly all women agree with most feminist goals and principals, very few would call themselves a feminist. Individuals today, especially the younger generation, have problems with the title. However, few have issues with the fundamental values of feminism. So, why do young adults today not desire to be titled a feminist? Is it because one might be associated with being a lesbian or another social stereotype?

I myself have noticed that several young women nowadays act differently around men than they habitually do. Take my best friend for example, when she is around her boyfriend she acts almost like a feeble toddler. She has him do everything: carry her groceries, hook-up her internet, grab her a glass of water. She then proceeds to appear completely helpless, when in reality I know she is not. However, my friend is not the only female who behaves this way around men. I preformed a little research and discovered that our brain functions differently when we are in love.

http://www.cyberparent.com/love/love-being-in-love-1.htm

However, what I really want to know is where has the revolution gone? The first battle for basic rights of citizenship was discussed in a piece I recently read and discussed in class, “Women’s Right to Vote” by Susan B. Anthony. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many other feminists of the 19th century wrote stimulating pieces of literature focusing on feminism. However, today there is very little written in professional literature on the subject, for our present society is not built on revolution and revolt.

Why are women still being treated unequally? The female payroll is still not equivalent to the male, and I often feel men consider women to be inferior to them. A male friend of mine is constantly making anti-feminist jokes, such as “why are women’s feet shorter than men’s” or “why don’t women wear watches?” Will women ever be held on the same social status as men? Will women ever prove their equality, or will they continue to take this injustice and persist in acting inferior around men like my best friend?

The Black Panthers

The Black Panthers was formed in 1966, soon after the assassination of Malcom X. They fought for black liberation. "The Ten Point Plan was their manifesto for the end to African - American oppression." They wanted the Americans to treat all other people of color equally. The Ten Point Plan was written to reach out to white people and people of color. The Plan pointed out that Caucasians are not giving the African - American enough rights like getting full employment, housing, free healthcare, and more.

I do not approve of their action because nobody should treat others differently because of their race. I believe they were fighting for their rights, but I disagree on how they killed and abused the Americans who were against the African - Americans.

Would you guys agree or disagree with The Black Panthers decision?

College and Alcohol

My R.A put up a new bulletin board this past week with all the facts about college issues concerning alcohol. At first I walked by and thought nothing of it. However, when my roommates and I stopped to read what was written on this bulletin board we were quite shocked. One of the facts written was that in the last year, 2.1 million people between the ages of 18 and 24 have driven drunk. 2.1 million! Was I shocked that people drink and drive? No, but I never thought that this many were. I cannot comprehend that people will go out to drink and then drive. My main concern after reading this was about a girl who died in my city after getting hit by a drunk driver. Many people between the ages of 18 and 24 do not go out to have one drink then go home. Lets be honest that they usually go out to get drunk with friends. It concerns me that this many drivers are out on the road every year. That is almost 6,000 drivers on the road drunk every night. Throughout high school I worked at a Youth Services job where I helped speak about the issues concerning underage drinking and even I was astonished by this number. Another fact on this board said that about 1700 students between the same ages die of accidental excessive drinking every year. Now I’m not saying that people shouldn’t drink. I’m just alarmed by these numbers. I think we should all be a little startled by this. Both of these facts hit home, after my friends sister died of excessive drinking. We can move on and pretend these numbers don’t matter and complain about having to take online alcohol tests, which I agree did stink, but in reality it really does matter in the end. I for one don’t want to see any of my friends die.

*Haley Morris

Plastic Surgery: Too Complicated an Issue to Just Pick A Side

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 10 million plastic surgery procedures were conducted in 2008; women had over 92% of them. “Americans spent almost $11.8 billion on cosmetic procedures,” such as breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, breast reduction and more (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). This information is all very astounding and in some ways sad. However, it is our choice as women how we want to portray ourselves. I feel sorry for people who feel they need to alter their bodies in order to feel womanly and beautiful. Everyone has flaws, but not everyone is willing to go out and spend a few thousand dollars to fix them. I really wish that we could all just learn to feel comfortable in our own skin and appreciate our bodies for what they are, but if someone is willing to work hard and save for these procedures, then good for them. If they feel getting breast implants will better their quality of life and make them more confident, then surgery might be a good decision for them.
I can completely understand why people object to the surgeries: yes, they are dangerous and there are big risks involved…but if that is the way you feel about it then don’t get plastic surgery! What many people don’t realize is that a lot of the time people aren’t getting these breast implants and other surgeries to impress others or for the general population to make commentary on…they are doing it for themselves. People in today’s society love to pass judgment on people who have had work done. They will criticize them and say that they are furthering the issue of “gender roles” and just going along with what the “media” tells us we should look like. However, I am willing to bet that these critics wouldn’t be saying that about the breast cancer patient who has had a mastectomy. If she decides to have her breasts restored to feel womanly again, I bet you would think twice before criticizing her decision to have plastic surgery. This topic is just way too complicated to pick a side and stick firmly to it. Believe me, if one day I have a daughter and she asks to get a breast augmentation or any other work done, I will be the first person to tell her she is crazy for even asking. However, if she saved up her own money and went and had them done, yes I would be concerned, but I would support her decision.
I am not asking if you are for or against plastic surgery, I’m just asking to make some realizations. We can’t let society dictate what we should and should not do. As Faludi says in “Blame It On Feminism”, we can’t allow the public to “push women back into their ‘acceptable’ roles,” as Barbies and love objects (Faludi 45). No one should choose to get implants because that’s what you think society wants you to look like…get them for the right reasons.
We should feel beautiful in our own skin, set an example and stop fitting into this “gender role.” But if we do decide to alter our bodies, it should be because we are women, we have the freedom and right to do it, and we feel it will better our lives in some way.
With that being said, will the decisions we make today about plastic surgery impact the “social norms” of the future? Is plastic surgery going to become so common that all we see are artificial women? Will plastic surgery eventually become obsolete? Where do the notions that plastic surgery is either good/bad come from?



"Media - Statistics The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery." The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: The Mark of Distinction in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery® The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Web. 01 Oct. 2009. http://www.surgery.org/media/statistics.

Faludi, Susan. "Blame It On Feminism." 1991. Backlash. New York: Pearson Custom, 2009. 45. Print.