SL BLOG #2

SL Blog #2 Week of Nov. 16^th, 2011

Activism:

This week I was out tabling with VOX and we were working on calling the White House to keep birth control free and reduced. Each one of the members that was tabling along with any other that we could get made the calls. Most of us were able to get in contact with the White House and tell them how we felt about it. However, as for myself I wasn’t able to get in contact with them because every time I tried something came up. Unfortunately, this was the issue for some. The other negative side to this was that we were only given two days to call in and express our opinions about it. I think that in the event that we have another chance doing this, we should keep trying to get as many people as we can. And, also to try to find a way so that we have more time because, the lines can get busy with so many callers. I think that we all tried our best and hopefully the hard work should pay off.

Reflection:

When I came that Wednesday I had an idea of what the Obama Administration was talking about because, I had heard from some of my classmates. But, it wasn’t until I got there that I was able to read about it. Its main purpose is to charge for birth control instead of keeping it free or at least less than what they want to make it. This reminded me of the Women’s bodies, Women’s health chapter from the Women’s Lives Multicultural Perspectives text. In this chapter it explained how women should have the right to control their own reproductive health. As the text says “…we need sex education that is accurate and culturally appropriate; affordable and reliable birth control” (p. 211). Without having the accessibility of affordable birth control many women are going to feel with very little options as to what to do. Having a part in this really made me feel better because I felt like I was making a difference.   My view of feminism now is that they are women and men united joined together fighting for the same cause. At least it was what I saw that day when everyone pitched in to make the calls to the White House. And, I believe that my community partner has the same opinion I do because, it is in the action that they do. As I get more involved and learn more by working with my community partner I realize two things. One that feminism is not what people may believe that it is. And, secondly I get to encounter people that don’t agree with our views.

Reciprocity:

Working with VOX has taught me many things. I’ve learned how to work better with others and even how to talk to those that may not have the same opinion I do. Each time I meet with them I learn something new. In a feminist perspective I think that this means that slowly I’m being educated and stronger as a woman. With the knowledge I gain it gives me more support, and ability to fight for my rights.

Works Cited:

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women’s Lives Multicultural Perspectives 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.