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Gender Violence

An article from The Dallas Morning News was about a victim of domestic abuse and rape by her boyfriend. A 43 year old woman named Maria Escamilla was living with her then boyfriend, Jose Arreola, 34 years of age, in Dallas, Texas where she was beaten, stabbed, mutilated, raped, and sodomized. In 2013, a two-week trial was held against Arreola, who was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his crimes towards Escamilla. Escamilla claimed that she was raped and cut on her face, mouth, hand, leg, breasts, and sexual organs. She suffered extensive facial fractures that were repaired with permanent plates and screws.

It angers me to know that human beings are capable of doing such heinous crimes like this. I am furious that the court only gave him 28 years of imprisonment. He should rot in jail for committing such an unforgivable crime. I am saddened to know that Escamilla had to go through that and suffer in the most horrid way. I could not imagine the pain and misery that she went through during and after the attack. I am sure that she is traumatized. In addition, it hurts me the most knowing that she is scarred for the rest of her life, not just emotionally but physically as well. Those cuts that she received left permanent scars which therefore will remind her of that horrid day. My prayers go to her and I hope she will be able to overcome this obstacle in her life and I wish that she would become a positive figure that will aid in preventing domestic abuse in the future.

An organization that I found that helps end domestic violence, especially towards women, is the United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign “UNiTE” to end violence against women. It launched in 2008 where the campaign aims to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. The global vision of the “UNiTE” campaign is a world free from violence against all women and girls. The campaign calls on all governments, civil society, women’s organizations, men, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing this global pandemic. Through its advocacy initiatives at the global, regional and national levels, the “UNiTE” campaign is working to mobilize individuals and communities. In addition to supporting the longstanding efforts of women’s and civil society organizations, the campaign is actively engaging with men, young people, celebrities, artists, sports personalities, private sector and many more.

 references:

http://endviolence.un.org/about.shtml

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2013/02/06/dallas-jury-sentences-man-to-28-years-in-horrific-domestic-violence-case

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Gender and Work

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, glass ceiling is an intangible barrier within a hierarchy that prevents women or minorities from obtaining upper-level positions.  I have not yet experienced this situation in my life; however, I have seen it in many movies and most especially in politics. Just this past United States presidential race, I have witnessed the very meaning of sexism. I saw how President Trump belittled Hilary Clinton by implying that she is weak and incapable of being the president of the United Sates just because she is a woman. Through his records, I think Donald Trump is more incapable of running a country due to his lack of experience and knowledge. So I think it was such a foolish thing to say for a man, who has no idea how to run a country, to imply that a woman, who has all the experience and knowledge about politics and the country she is going to govern, is weak and incapable to be the president. According to the New York Times “For Women, Glass Ceilings, And Glass Walls Too”, women are often seen as passive, gentle, and congenial, which are not traits of a good leader. I agree with this statement because it is true. Women are always overlooked and many people justify their capabilities without observing their true potential. Going back to the US presidential election, Donald Trump accused Hilary Clinton of “lacking stamina”, which is an implication that she is weak (New York Times). This is a perfect example of how men shallowly look at women as if they are the weaker link of the two genders. This shows how women are degraded and it is very disappointing. Coming from a billionaire business owner, this amplifies how Trump handle his employees. I am sure that glass ceiling happens frequently in his businesses. In the article of guampedia.com “Women of Inspiration in Guam History”, it talked about the struggles of a women to reach the top and achieve her goals through her own hard work and dedication. Lee Angoco Sablan Borja is a business owner who came from nothing and ended up very successful because she persevered. This is an excellent example of women being as strong and powerful as men. Lee overcame her obstacles in life without anybody assisting her, which shows resilience and strength. So regardless of gender, anyone can be strong and powerful. Our gender has nothing to do with our limitations in life.

I think gender and work refers to the work load of each individual within a certain workplace. I think it refers more onto the physical trait of one’s work. For example, a server who is either male of female will definitely work the same effort for the same amount of money. If one does not physically come to such a standard, then they will not get paid as much as the one who did perform within the standard. So basically, equal work, equal pay. On the other hand, gender and career refers to the type of jobs individuals choose. Examples would be doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, etc. I think their main similarity is that both refers to the performance of each individual, where either gender can perform the task in hand. On the contrary, I think their main difference is that certain individuals, depending on their gender, will push them to have specific jobs or careers. As some statistics show, more males are going into the field of engineering and computer software, while more females are pursuing nursing and care takers.

 I think my only concern in my generation is that everyone should see each other as their equal. Regardless of where we came from, what our religion or gender is, we should consider each other’s differences and work together as one. I think we are moving backwards because more and more racism is happening and gender bias is occurring more often than not. I think my generation needs to open their minds and start thinking about the progression of our future.

references:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/opinion/for-women-glass-ceilings-and-glass-walls-too.html

http://www.guampedia.com/perspective-women-of-inspriation-anita-enriquez/

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Gender and Family

To me, family is that special bond we have towards other people. Of course, it is a given that our immediate relatives are what we call family. So that includes our father, mother, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. However, sometimes we form a certain bond with others that measures as much as our bonds with our immediate family. Thus, we consider them as family. This special bond does not necessarily mean it has to be formed by blood. It can manifest from how well somebody can get along with others. Not only our immediate family can come in our rescue and aid us, but also our close friends who we may consider as family. They are always there to guard, guide, and lead us to wherever we may go in life. They can act as our second immediate family.

Over the past 10 years, I have had many friends come and go in my life, however, I can surely say that I have some that never left and are still with me today. I consider them as my family because we have gone through many struggles and success together and we are always there to help each other out for the better of our future. Through those years, I had a better understanding of what family really is. My immediate family are great and they are always there for me, and I am specially blessed knowing that when I step out of the doorstep of my house I know I can rely on some other people with my life. I have the security that whatever happens to me, there are amazing people out there who are willing to watch out for me. Through the years, the value of friendship has gone up and is still going up; and I hope that there more people out there who I can consider family in the future.

I believe that family and household mean very differently. Family is having that special bond with others and knowing that no matter what happens, they will always be there for you through thick and thin. Household on the other hand is just the amount of people one lives with. They can be a friend, acquaintances, or a roommate. They do not have to share any amazing bonds like families do.

After reading the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in the Media site, I am not surprised that women who often serve in family films are “Eye candy”. I truly believe this because shows such as Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, and many more, female actresses are always portrayed to be sexy. Although some shows that they have brains, it is the sex appeal that producers and directors look for. I think they do this because it is what brings in more viewers, thus more money. Women today are always objectified and sexualized due to media standards. So, I was not baffled by the fact that they are eye candies.

reference

http://www.thegeenadavisinstitute.org/downloads/KeyFindings_GenderDisparityFamilyFilms.pdf

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Gender Socialization

         What is gender socialization? According to Chegg study, gender socialization is the process of learning the social expectations and attitudes associated with one's sex. In a nutshell, it is the tendency for boys and girls to be socialized differently. Boys were raised to associate with the male gender role, while girls were raised to associate with the female gender or role. A gender role is the role or behavior learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by the prevailing cultural norms (Oxford dictionaries). Our society today expects different attitudes and behaviors from both boys and girls; and being gender socialized have occurring influences on family/culture, education, and career.

         Just like any culture, each one has different guidelines about being a male and female. Often, family members socialize babies in such gender-ridden ways without even knowing that they are doing so. Since birth, babies are already gender socialized. Baby boys are given toys such as trucks and building tools, which are considered as “masculine” toys, while baby girls are given dolls and make-up equipment which are considered “feminine” toys. In America, blue is considered the color to associate with boys, while pink is for girls. They are socialized according to what is considered appropriate for their sexes. Even parents who try to be less gender-biased unknowingly enforce these guideline.

         When children enter any school system, these same guidelines about being male and female continues. In the past, teachers were focused more on boys, as they challenge them more than girls (”The Role of School on Gender Socialization”). Since boys were believed to be more analytical, instructors assumed they would succeed in math and science, which therefore would encourage them to take on careers such as engineering.

         As for young girls, if cultural expectations say that they are more compassionate and nurturing, they will be lead to fields such as nursing, teachers, or social work. Compared to a boy who shares the same passion in becoming a nuclear engineer, a girl would be less encouraged by parents and teachers than a boy would. 

         We see how being gender socialized can skew a path that one may not even fully like due to influences that others give. Thus, being gender socialized may pre-determine our life. Although it has some fair share of guiding us in life, we should think thoroughly about the path that we need to take to get to wherever we need in our lives.

References:

- https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/gender_role

- http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/gender-socialization-49

- http://ejes.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1.pdf