Blog 10

The American Cancer Society is a national health organization run by volunteers. The ACS has over 3,400 offices and has done so much in an effort to find a cure for cancer and to support cancer patients. Cancer research, community service programs, supplying cancer information, and providing financial support for individuals with cancer and their families are just a few of the things that the American Cancer Society does on a daily basis. I like the fact that they give out awards annually like the Lane Adams award, given to individuals who compassionately care for those with cancer. They provide so much support for cancer patients and their friends and family and are dedicating to bettering communities all over the world. I would like to volunteer at one of their events or perhaps donate financially.

Reading Gender Paper

I think that the scene that screamed gender roles the most to me was the "Annunciation" scene towards the beginning of the play. At first I was confused about what was going on here but when I found out Lupita was pregnant, I reread through the scene and it made more sense. This scene solidified my belief in thinking that Castellanos had correctly and creatively described gender roles to the audience. This scene illustrates (and somewhat exaggerates), what every woman in the world is afraid of (and if they are not, should be afraid of): not being in control over her own life. It is clearly stated here that Lupita is merely an incubator for Juan’s child, his object of lust/prize possession, and personal slave. She is being stripped of everything about her that makes her in any way an individual person. No mention of her intelligence or any goals that she might have. To say that she is disrespected is a gross understatement.

The assumptions displayed here are that women are here in this world to get pregnant and then teach their daughters to grow up and do the same thing. It shows that men desperately need a child to make them feel fulfilled as a man. To impregnate their wife is a wonderful thing, not because that means they will have a beautiful child to cherish and love together forever, but because it means that the man’s sperm successfully swam upstream against all the odds and completed its true mission. Gender relations are strictly laid out: women are the meek followers and men are the leaders and decision makers. Castellanos makes it clear however, that just because the man is the leader, does not mean that he is the one with the brains. Both Lupita and her mother trick Juan in this scene (telling him to go and get truffles to prevent his child from being deformed), all the while trying to making him feel in control and in the loop so he wouldn’t get mad. Here, the author incorporates another stereotypical gender role, the clueless but power-hungry male.

Castellanos wants the reader to think for themselves and lay aside what is typically thought about men and women but at the same time she is reinforcing them to some extent. She uses sarcasm to make them seem ridiculous however, which is what I liked about this play. She makes you read between the lines instead of spelling everything out for the reader. The author clearly gives Lupita personality and at the same time tries to hide it. All of the women are very sneaky about being sneaky and each has their own private agenda. She tries to get you to understand each person’s situation, especially Lupita of course. Lupita is getting pressure from her husband and mother and you can tell that she wants desperately for once to just make her own decision about something, anything. This scene directly correlates with so many things we have discussed in class, including reproductive rights and gender roles being assigned.

Blog 9

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom founded in 1915 is the world’s oldest women’s peace organization. Jane Addams was its first president, and today there are chapters in over 40 countries. The WILPF "works to achieve through peaceful means world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, an end to all forms of violence, and to establish those political, social, and psychological conditions which can assure peace, freedom, and justice for all." One of the most impressive things about this organization is just how many things they are a part of. They have a prominent Save The Water campaign (they are trying to stop the commodization of water for private profit), as well as human rights, racial justice, environment, disarmament, and many others. They believe in nonviolent protests and sponsors many protest marches and vigils. I didn't really find any negative reviews about this organization and since it has been around for so long I really think that this would be a worthwhile organization to support, financially or otherwise.

Response to the Readings:

I really felt like I could relate to Chap. 8 in FIFE. Not because I am a mother but because I think that in this chapter I felt like the author brought up an extremely valid point that I feel is a a big reason why I don't really consider myself a feminist: the unwillingness of many 2nd wavers and even some 3rd wavers to combine " "traditional" and "nontraditional" gender roles in ways that work best for each individual woman." Women and especially mothers shouldn't be judged by anyone because of which path they choose for their career and raising children. The fact that motherhood wasn't considered a feminist issue in the recent past is laughable to me. I think that the feminist movement should want what is best for each individual woman and not say "this is what a feminist woman does." I think mothers deserve much more understanding and help when trying to pursue a career. Motherhood deserves so much more respect than it is currently being given.
The Globetrotting Sneakers was an enlightening read (though I had trouble reading it in its entirety on my computer for some reason). It's scary to me that those workers have little to no representation, even from the trade agreements that are supposed to protect them. I think that the government (ours as well as most others) is doing an awful job at protecting some of its most vulnerable citizens.