Take action project - 1

So far, for the 'Dreams Do Come True' dress drive I have spent some time on making posters to hang up around campus, to let people know the dates that we will be sitting at tables collecting dresses, etc.
Also, last Monday my group and I did our first tabling session from 5:00-7:30 but did not receive any dresses. We had some people come up and ask what we were doing, and they took a flyer but we are looking for a much better turn out this Monday, Dec. 2nd from 2-4 p.m.! (I am donating 2 dresses and a pair of shoes, so that may help.)

so far in my take action project

So far for my Take Action projected I am volunteering at the YWCA in flint. It is a long process in order to be able to start volunteering there. This is very understandable because what they do there. The start of it is you have to have two interviews. I did my first interview and it went very well. Adrianne told me about herself, and about her job. I will be using that for my questions because she told me a lot about it and how much she loved it. I then had to tell her about myself, what I do for a living, what I am going to school for, and my hobbies. We got along very well. After that interview I had to go to DHS and get a Registry to make sure I was not a sex offender. After that was all taken care of I called her for my second interview. During this interview I had to sign papers about the rules of the building and just standard rules. That interview was really quick. I am now waiting for my back ground check. I called today to see if it came through, but I got her answer machine. I left Adrianne a message, but she is very good at returning calls back. I am hoping to be able to go and do my four hours of volunteer work next Wednesday. I think I am doing a good job and right on schedule for my volunteer work

Grassroots vs. Treetops

In this chapter of Half the Sky, you all read about an organization called Tostan, run by an American named Molly who lives in Senegal. Originally set out to educate others about the dangerous practice of FGM (female genital mutilation), her organization ran into a few barriers until she finally took a "grassroots" approach to educating others about this practice. Tostan made strides in involving the community to educate each other about the dangers of FGM without outright banning the practice. Although criticized for this approach at times, Molly found it to be more effective than laws banning FGM or awareness campaigns that came from other outside agencies. Molly's work would be considered "grassroots," coming from the bottom up.  What is the difference between grassroots and treetops aid? Why does the author say grassroots is better?

In your comment, I would like you to choose an issue from a Regional Issues Paper and a solution that you found from your research. Just think of one issue, one solution. Then, I want you to examine the solution and determine whether you think it is a "grassroots" solution or a "treetops" solution and briefly explain why you think it is one or the other.

If you found it is a mostly "treetops" solution, how could it be tweaked to be more "grassroots?" How could it be more inclusive of the culture from which it comes?

In the "Gender Equality..." article, which of those solutions are more grassroots? Could any of these suggestions work to address the solution in your Regional Issues Paper?

If you want, also comment about any ways you can START a grassroots movement to address any of these issues locally. How can you be like Molly in Senegal?

Chapter 12

As I was reading chapter 12 and as I was amazed by the "Women for Women" organization. I am blown away at how a random person can start up an organization on their own and make a truly large impact, creating awareness, and helping the women financially. Also I was amazed by the paper recycling company that Zhang Yin made, to come from so little and make your self so successful has to be an amazing feeling. If you were to look at both of the situations abstractly, if would be hard to predict that the organizations/company would take off so rapidly and become successful. It makes me feel like I could and others could make a bigger difference then we think.

I found it to be very interesting to read about how Zainab had grown up with Saddam as an "Uncle." That had to be terrifying experience, but at the same time glamorous experience with the new cars every year.  It is very sad to know that her mother was trying to protect her from Saddam, to only have Zainab end up being put into a horrible situation for her supposed better life. It must have been so scary to come to a new country to marry a man that you do not even know, then to find out he is an abusive man, and having to deal with the terror of rape. I understand that arranged marriage is apart of some cultures, but I wonder how mothers and fathers can be so willing to have their child move  away so far without know much about their new lives? What do you think?

Chapter 12

After reading chapter 12 in Half the Sky, it still surprises me how women are treated in China. I just cannot believe they would kill their daughters just because they are not boys. It breaks my heart reading about that stuff because I could not imagine killing my daughter. Women are very strong and do amazing things. I know there is gender issues all over, including the United States. I just wish it would all stop because women are just as powerful as men are. Yes we cannot do everything a man can do, but it goes both ways men cannot do everything a women can do.

Claudine story was extremely sad. I could not imagine being kiddnaped, raped,  watch my sister be murdered, and being pregnant. I was happy to see that she went back for her baby because even for being raped most mothers have an instant love for their children. When I read that her uncle allowed her to live there, but she had to have sex with him for rent. I wanted to scream, why would an uncle do that then kick her out when she is pregnant with your baby. All I have to say about her she is a very strong woman keeping both babies putting them in school when she only makes a dollar. She is an amazing mother.

gender equality

People think that there is a problem with gender equality. I believe that there is a problem but it is getting better as time goes on. The reading was talking about in China the different treatment that takes place if you female than if you are male. People would have abortions if they knew the gender of the fetus would be a female. At this time they could only have one child and many people wanted a healthy boy. This would help carry on their family name. I found it disturbing that in the twenties when women would cut their hair to be like men street thugs would either rip the rest of their hair out or cut off their breast. And when they did this they would say “if you want to look like a man this will do it” (page 207). I find this as a low point for women. But now women’s right are increasing. Women can work. Factories actually want women to work for them instead of men. This is a turnaround for women. I find this important to look at the positives here and see that women are gaining more rights. What do you think about the gender equality in China?

KIVA

This week, I found out a lot about micro financing. I really didn't know what it was before, but once I read about it, I learned how amazing it really is. Micro financing allows women to become the providers for their families, which gives them more worth and makes them less disposable. Saima is a prime example of this. She was poor, beaten by her husband, and undervalued for what she contributed to the family. Her mother in law even thought that her son should take on a second wife to give him a son, since Saima hadn't done it yet. But thanks to micro financing, Saima now brings the sole income to the home. Her mother in law wouldn't dare even think about suggesting a second wife now. I think that this is amazing. Many of these women are capable of so much more than they are given credit for, and if they had a little bit of opportunity and funding, they could take their ideas so far.

                This is why I think that the KIVA project is such a good idea. All it takes is a little bit of funding to empower these women to be able to make a name for themselves. I plan on giving some money to this organization, because it makes me feel more than other organizations that I have seen. Just like the Half the Sky book, individual stories impact me more than just statistics. Reading the stories on their website really makes me want to help lend to them and see what an impact I can make.

Microfinance

So for this week the topic was micro-finance.  I was surprised by almost the entire chapter in Half the Sky.  First off, as a male, I was actually getting a little angry with the book, and the bad light it had been appearing to cast males in.  But as it cast statistic after statistic at me about how men spent a much higher percentage of money on instant gratification and consumption than on more important things, I grew much more accepting of the stories and willing to listen.  And I couldn't believe the stories.  How these women were able to build businesses out of such small loans.  These loans were way less than I make in a day of work.  And yet, they have accomplished so much more than I have.
One of the most surprising things about these success stories is about the husbands of these successful women.  These people who used to beat them, control them, make their lives utterly miserable are still accepted by these women.  And not only that, they are treated well by them.  If this type of thing were to happen in America, I feel like the women would kick the men out of the house once they become successful and no longer have to rely on them.  Like in the story of Samia, she paid off the debt of her husband, and then has her husband working under her.  Why did she not get rid of him when she had the chance?  He treated her terribly and squandered the money.  Or in the story of Goretti, where she was often beat by heer husband and even mentioned that her life was miserable.  Yet she still lives with her husband, and even occasionally gives him spending cash out of the money she makes.
What do you think of the male versus female portrayal in this chapter?  Do you think it is justified?  Why do you think these women kept their husbands around, and do you think they were right to do so?