Service learning "let's Talk about sex"

. Activism: 
  Let's talk about sexwas an event to educate people about safe sex and then to  raise money  for VOX. It was really fun, and I even brought my boyfriend to the event who had a lot of fun helping out. I thought it was fun to check IDs when people came into the door since I've never been a bouncer before =3



We handed out raffle tickets, and raised a lot of money for VOX that way.
People seemed a little less interested in taking our literature about safe sex, but I made sure to hand out a lot of them anyway.

The free condoms were great so that in itself might have brought people in.

2. Reflection: 

On the macro level, it reminds me of what we read in class about the Men Acting for Change. There were so many men there that it made me happy to see they want to be/are educatedabout safe sex like girls.

 

 How have the week’s events influenced way you view feminist activism and women’s issues?  

This week makes me realize how much fun feminist activism can be

 

 

What do you believe is your community partner’s view of these issues? This is your opportunity to reflect on the impact yor activism is making—on you and on the community.

 

I think they are happy about all the publicity and money we've raised them for their great cause.

 

 Connect what is happening to your growing academic knowledge in this course by incorporating the evidence from the text using MLA citation style.

 

MAC has stated that through their work "we take control of our future and 

 generate the skills and perspectives we need to make it a better and safer place for both men and women" (John Stoltenberg, 285).

 

 

3. Reciprocity: Remember that Service Learning is not a one way street.You are not simply giving something to the community partner. Think about what you personally are getting in return. How might this be defined from a feminist perspective?

During this event, I felt like I was being educated about safe sex as well as the other people who didn't help plan the event. So that is something I got in return.

*Make Sure to include a works cited!

Campus engagement Tuesday 4/16

Today we talked about bullying in middle schools. It's a problem that happens to a lot of kids, which affects their self esteem, resulting in the possibility of children internalizing these problems for the rest of their lives. This has recently become an epidemic that needs to be stopped, or at least addressed a lot more than it is.

We talked about a few specific cases in which students were bullied in school, and the kids (both boys and girls, but the focus seemed to be more on girls) who were brave enough to speak out about it were ridiculed by their peers

Then we talked about possible solutions to this problem that seems to be growing, especially with cyberbullying through interfaces like facebook or twitter, or even myspace, AIM, tumblr, reddit, etc.

campus engagement Thursday 4/12

The panel about inequal  pay for women was really eye opening and upsetting. There was a panel of women who all had experiences with being paid less than their male counterparts in their lifetimes. However, Nicole's mom's story really touched me the most when she was talking about raising Nicole and her brother and at some point got divorced. I just thought to myself that if that woman was being paid less than men at her job, that's so ridiculously unfair and sad.

It made me think about my mother and how she raised both my sister and I as a single mother, and that perhaps she could have been getting paid unfairly, which makes me sick, because we grew up pretty much in poverty.

I don't have a solution to this problem except that people must speak about it and educate each other about how women get paid less and work just as hard...It's just not fair, and it's a very sad situation.

service learning first week of March

1. Activism:

 This week for VOX I helped table, and then two days later I helped with holding signs promoting womens' rights to their choice for getting abortions, which was fun. Like every week I table with them, I talked with new people who stopped by the table outside the student union. It's interesting to talk to people with different viewpoints, even if they disagree with the mission of VOX. It just seems like a good thing to get the information out there, whether people are going to agree or disagree with it. Some people just stopped by for free condoms and then you always have the others who laughed and just kind of walked really quickly past. So that was interesting.

2. Reflection: How does the activism you’ve done this week relate to the chapter we are reading this week; to women's lives on macro level?  

 The week's events just encouraged me more to be an activist for feminist causes. Even though some people might get mad or hate those people who oppose "choice", I find them motivating. Yes, they are  annoying, but the more stupid they are, the better it is for people who work for women's issues.

 What do you believe is your community partner’s view of these issues? This is your opportunity to reflect on the impact your activism is making—on you and on the community. 

I think my community partner's view on women's issues is that women's choices should always be kept very personal to each individual woman. So holding signs that say things like "My body, My choice" - that isn't just an act of holding a sign; that's making sure that the 'other side' is put out there. Maybe there are people who see the anti-choicers and they've never put thought into the issue before, and then they see me with a sign that's saying anti-choicers are full of crap, and that person thinks to themselves that next time they will vote for women to keep their right to get an abortion. I love when people on the fence about it want to talk to me and I can get them on my side, too. That feels like the whole act is worth it.

Connect what is happening to your growing academic knowledge in this course by incorporating the evidence from the text using MLA citation style.
* This is the part where you do service learning-- as opposed to volunteer work or philanthropy. To do so, you must use at least our course texts and possibly outside research you are doing. Remember critical reflection + service!

3. Reciprocity: Remember that Service Learning is not a one way street.You are not simply giving something to the community partner. Think about what you personally are getting in return. How might this be defined from a feminist perspective?

 I get a lot out of tabeling and sign making/holding. I get to talk with like-minded people (not just people in the same vox club- some people stop by and chat) , who teach me things I didn't know, so that I can pass on that information to others. I personally get satisfaction from feeling the support of knowing a community of progressive people actually exists.