Unit 14 LGBTQ

Heteronormativity is the idea that heterosexuality is the only form of acceptable sexuality and along with that idea comes traditional and even strict gender roles. I could not disagree with this concept anymore. I am in a heterosexual marriage and still believe that there are no such thing as "gender roles". I look at my relationship and we both feel that we are an equal partnership; we both work, cook, clean, balance the check book, be active, and make decisions together. The idea of traditional gender roles drives me crazy because it creates unrealistic expectations and confusion for individuals, no matter what sexual orientation they are. Heteronormativity creates feelings of uncertainty and dislike for oneself for individuals who may be questioning their own sexuality because the expectation is unrealistic and even unreachable. Truth be told many of the same-sex couples I know are no different then their heterosexual counterparts. Like blended and step-families my hope is that the LQBTQ will one day be widely accepted and respected. You don not have to agree with someones choices to respect them. 

Unit 13 Intersectionality

The theory of intersectionality reminds a lot of the movie the Butler starring Forest Whitaker as an African American butler in the White House. He worked with many American Presidents during the civil rights movement. As a young man he lived on a plantation with his family in the South where she witnessed his father being killed by the plantation owner who was raping his mother and his mother becoming mute. He eventually leaves the plantation and gets training from a master server eventually landing a job at the White House. While there he was witness to many presidential decisions regarding race in America, such as the first integrated school and the Voting Rights Act.

It was interesting watching this film and the perspective of a black man working for a white man who was in such a position of power. Eventually color was blind in the White House and even the president's would go to him for advice. This movie was a perfect example of what living during the civil rights movement was like, only instead of the typical of from the view of an activist or slave, it was from a black man who held a prestigious position. Despite his position in the White House he was still dealing with being black in a time where being black was not acceptable. I most enjoyed watching his internal struggle between respecting the decisions of the President's and the freedom of his people.

Unit 12 Conflict Theory

Conflict is unfortunately a necessary evil in our relationships with others. The picture above is a collage of words in regards to conflict. I know for me personally these words come into my mind when I am dealing with conflict with others as well as myself. With conflict brings positive and negative outcomes within our relationships, but one thing is for sure, with conflict relationships will change as a result of conflict. 

Conflict resolution is important to teach in order to help individuals become more successful in their relationships. I liked this picture because the collage of words are the words that need to be used to help overcome conflict in a positive manner. 

mom

Unit 11 Feminism Family Theory

In my blog today I would like to compare feminism in our society to feminism in other countries. Like mentioned in our readings, cultural differences can change the role of feminism in a society. Although feminism in Japan is attributed to a huge influx of Western influence in Japanese culture, it also differs from Western feminism by focusing less on the individual. Prior to the nineteenth century women were taught to obey any man they came into contact with. There were women being sold and forced into staying in unhappy and/or violent relationships. when the feudal system was abolished women could no longer be sold, women were allowed to request a divorce, and both boys and girls received an elementary education. Then like their Western counterparts women gained the right to vote and the sexes became more equal. Where they differed was Japanese women wanted equality for both sexes from the oppression of society, not equality with men.

In India feminist are like many of there Western counterparts. They to want equality amongst the genders. Indian women want equal pay, political rights, and equal access to education and healthcare. Unlike Westerners, Indian feminists face a unique sense of discrimination due to India's patriarchal society. Sex-selective abortion is a major issue that has been plaguing feminists in india for two decades, but unfortunately as it stands a man has right to terminate a pregnancy if the sex of the baby is undesired. 

In Egypt women were once considered o be equal. Many of Egypt's literature and artwork depict women having equal if not more power then men. When Europe began to invade Egypt those views quickly shifted, and women in Egypt are fighting for equality. Some of the unique issues feminists face in Egypt are on the issues of marriage. Feminists have fought unsuccessfully to raise the age to legally get married as well as the abolition of polygamy. 

It is clear to me that women all across the world are facing issues of social inequalities. Cultural differences play a role in what social issues feminists will be fighting to make equal and/or abolish. Women have come a long way in many retrospects but still have a long way to becoming equal with our male counterparts. 

Unit 10: Social Exchange Theory

As we continue working through this class I find myself amazed at how all these moments in my life fall into "theories", but non has as hit more close to home as the social exchange theory. I truly believe that people choose and stay in relationships based on the rewards they are receiving from the relationship. the opposite is true as well, you leave relationships that are becoming to costly for the individual. I also believe that individuals will stay or leave a relationship based on their self-esteem or perception of themselves as an ideal partner. There is a particular movie that comes to mind when I think of this theory and that is Hitch with Will Smith. He is a self-proclaimed dating expert and helps men find their ideal partner with the use of high-risk initiation strategies. That article we read about the study done on individuals who viewed themselves as ideal partners said resulted in high risk for a higher reward. That is what Will Smith's character believed as well. He took men who did not consider themselves ideal partners and guided them into becoming ideal partners for he type of ideal partner they wanted. Ironically he could not ultimately guide his own love life. 

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk...In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risk." -Mark Zuckerberg

Unit 9: Ecological Systems Analysis

First off let me begin by saying that I really enjoyed reading about this system. I have always believed that individuals are a product of both their biological and external influences. I get to see that first hand in my classroom everyday teaching student's with mental illness. In my blog I want to give an example of one particular student who I have had for 4 years and describe their external and biological influences using the systems from this unit.

My student, let's call him Jim, is a 10 year old boy with bipolar disorder, ADHD, severe depression, and PTSD. His microsystem consisted of a mom on drugs, a dad in and out of jail, a grandmother who was trying her best but struggled with her own mental illness, an older brother who was taken by DCF, peers who are equally troubled, and a teacher who was willing to look beyond that. Jim's exosystem was his neighborhood which is covered in trash, and riddled with gang members and violence. The media Jim is exposed was local news showing the negativity of the neighborhood he lives in and the people he considers "family" were constantly being shown on the news as having committed a crime. His mesosystem was parent who never came to scheduled parent/teacher meetings, who spoke badly about the teacher that Jim actually adored and felt loved by, and school that was so frustrated with his mother leaving him at school that they began calling the cops at 2:30 to take him home because mom was not showing up. His macrosystem was very damaged. His family were not law abiding citizens and neither were their friends. The only values instilled in Jim were that no one is going to look out for you so do what you need to no matter the consequences. Lastly, his chronosystem was filled with events such as death, arrest of loved ones, contact with drugs, and a teacher who for four years never gave up. Jim had all the cards stacked against him at only 10 years old, and there were plenty of times I felt like giving up on him. I saw Jim make some good progress and even worse upsets. I wish I could say that my influence was enough to help Jim but the truth is it was not. His external and biological influences were against him, no matter how hard he tried at times. Jim is now in middle school with an arrest record and several baker-acts. 

Unit 7 Family Systems Theory

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."-Henry Ford

I really enjoy this quote by Henry Ford and have actually used it for several years in my classroom. In my blog I want to address the movie we saw I don't Know How She Does It. This movie brought a very real experience in my life that I am currently going through. I am 28 years old and have always been successful at most things I have attempted to do. I also have this fun habit of taking on to much and not wanting to say no to anybody or anything I care about. Currently I work full-time, nanny everyday after work, have a home to take care of, two dogs, training for a marathon (which surprisingly takes up a lot of time), do patrols at my school and hospitality, and am taking three classes. Did I mention I just found out that all of this was overwhelming prior to me finding out my husband is being deployed October 17th! I kept telling myself that I could handle this and it was no big deal, I mean what's one more responsibility. But before I knew I was at home crying telling my husband I was quitting everything!!! He helped talk me through it and we created a plan for when he leaves on how I will complete all these tasks. Many times we like to think we can do it all but the truth is we take on to much and don't stop until we are no longer in balance. Equilibrium is important in a family and takes all members in the family to help achieve that. Like in my case my husband and mom helped me during my time of crisis and unbalance within my family.