Prompt #1: How is one's gender identity as self-defined, a health and human rights issue? Reflect on this in journal submission this week and cite at least one specific sources as evidence.
Gender identity is self-defined, it gives each person an opportunity to choose how they want to identify themselves to the public. While this sounds rather easy for one to go about, unfortunately it is not. Gender-identity has become more socially accepted in the greater Seattle area within the last four years than I have ever seen in my own hometown just on the other side of the state. Since I began going to school at UWB, the topic of gender-identity and the efforts being made to be more gender inclusive, both locally and nationally, is something noteworthy.
Unfortunately, the movement to become more gender inclusive and accepting of others has become a serious and dangerous health and human rights issue. According to Human Rights Watch, an organization committed to fighting the abuse of one’s human rights, stated that “In other countries, vaguely worded and sweeping laws against ‘public scandals’ or ‘indecent behavior’ are used to penalize people whose only crime is looking, dressing, or behaving differently from rigidly enforced social norms” (Human Rights Watch, 2005). People’s rights are being violated solely because of how they identify themselves. Someone who expresses their true self in a manner that isn’t a “norm” in their own society can quickly become a victim of violence, abuse, and without protection from local law enforcement. This MUST change. We must acknowledge that regardless of one’s identity, race, religion, gender, etc., that ALL people should respect one’s basic human rights.
Prompt #2: Consider how you might describe yourself in relation to the term "feminist." Do you consider yourself one? Explain. What experiences have you had that have shaped your views on feminism?
If I had to describe myself in relation to the term “feminist” I would say that I have one foot in and one foot out. I agree and support many of the women’s issues that feminists are trying to solve. I think it is important to have a “global sisterhood” between women around the world, while also leaving room for different beliefs, religions, etc. I wouldn’t consider myself a feminist, but I also wouldn’t say I am not one at all, I think I am in the middle ground.
Going to high school in a small town really opened my eyes to how small minded a community can be. The norm was pretty much “men work on the farm, and women take care of the house and kids”. Once I started attending UWB, and learning about women’s rights (human rights) and this ongoing oppression of women that’s been happening for centuries, it sparked a fire in me that made me want to learn more about feminism and how we can work together to break the stigma that men and women can’t be equal too. My goal is to relay this positive message to community members in my hometown and the surrounding communities. From the readings, Patricia Voloy’s comment from Everyday Feminisms resonated with me, “For my feminism to have an impact, I must fight the countries that put up the borders; otherwise there will never be an end to systemic oppression” (Voloy 2015). I think her message is important, and also something that all feminists are striving to achieve.
References:
Human Rights Watch (March 10, 2005). Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Human Rights Concerns for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved athttps://www.hrw.org/news/2005/03/10/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-human-rights-concerns-61st-session-un#
(Patricia Valoy (Links to an external site.), 2015)
Written By: Allie Boyer
Gender identity is self-defined, it gives each person an opportunity to choose how they want to identify themselves to the public. While this sounds rather easy for one to go about, unfortunately it is not. Gender-identity has become more socially accepted in the greater Seattle area within the last four years than I have ever seen in my own hometown just on the other side of the state. Since I began going to school at UWB, the topic of gender-identity and the efforts being made to be more gender inclusive, both locally and nationally, is something noteworthy.
Unfortunately, the movement to become more gender inclusive and accepting of others has become a serious and dangerous health and human rights issue. According to Human Rights Watch, an organization committed to fighting the abuse of one’s human rights, stated that “In other countries, vaguely worded and sweeping laws against ‘public scandals’ or ‘indecent behavior’ are used to penalize people whose only crime is looking, dressing, or behaving differently from rigidly enforced social norms” (Human Rights Watch, 2005). People’s rights are being violated solely because of how they identify themselves. Someone who expresses their true self in a manner that isn’t a “norm” in their own society can quickly become a victim of violence, abuse, and without protection from local law enforcement. This MUST change. We must acknowledge that regardless of one’s identity, race, religion, gender, etc., that ALL people should respect one’s basic human rights.
Prompt #2: Consider how you might describe yourself in relation to the term "feminist." Do you consider yourself one? Explain. What experiences have you had that have shaped your views on feminism?
If I had to describe myself in relation to the term “feminist” I would say that I have one foot in and one foot out. I agree and support many of the women’s issues that feminists are trying to solve. I think it is important to have a “global sisterhood” between women around the world, while also leaving room for different beliefs, religions, etc. I wouldn’t consider myself a feminist, but I also wouldn’t say I am not one at all, I think I am in the middle ground.
Going to high school in a small town really opened my eyes to how small minded a community can be. The norm was pretty much “men work on the farm, and women take care of the house and kids”. Once I started attending UWB, and learning about women’s rights (human rights) and this ongoing oppression of women that’s been happening for centuries, it sparked a fire in me that made me want to learn more about feminism and how we can work together to break the stigma that men and women can’t be equal too. My goal is to relay this positive message to community members in my hometown and the surrounding communities. From the readings, Patricia Voloy’s comment from Everyday Feminisms resonated with me, “For my feminism to have an impact, I must fight the countries that put up the borders; otherwise there will never be an end to systemic oppression” (Voloy 2015). I think her message is important, and also something that all feminists are striving to achieve.
References:
Human Rights Watch (March 10, 2005). Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Human Rights Concerns for the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved athttps://www.hrw.org/news/2005/03/10/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-human-rights-concerns-61st-session-un#
(Patricia Valoy (Links to an external site.), 2015)
Written By: Allie Boyer
RSS Feed