Growing up I realized the significance of being female early on, the distinctions were clear. The predilections of behavior socially imposed. My natural inclination being to challenge these impositions. I leant towards what I wanted to do and what I was good at. These things crossed stereotypes and gender roles of what it was to be a girl, or a boy; I enjoyed getting my hands dirty, scraping my knees, running fast along side the boys, arm wrestling at noon, and staying outside discovering. Being labeled a tomboy early on in relation to my aptitudes and general disinterest in girl conditioning, was a term I didn't fully identify with. I quote Keirkegaard in saying that, "Once you label me, you negate me", as having a full experience of myself brought varying interests and aptitudes, across gender lines.
My experience of boys growing up was, for the most part (besides the macho posturing) favorable. Granted, being personable made my social acceptance among my male peers easy and their companionship mutually enjoyable. Boys were more direct and laid back. On the other hand, girls, generally speaking, I found to be more fickle and changeable, less predictable. My acceptance based on whims and insecurities, rather than facts and experiential realities.
Through the process of accumulated experience, education, and integration I've developed more of an understanding, compassion, and desire to make right the influence and impressions of gender roles. Men and women are not in their right place in society, as evidenced by the subjugation of women and the illegitimate power of men, ascribed by the processes of Patriarchy. With the sexes not in their right power, the imbalance teeters precariously to our current forecast of potential extinction.
My contention necessitates authentic dialogue exploring cognitive dissonance, challenging the status quo, dismantling illegitimate power structures in one's life, as both men and women. Taking the initiative in one's life to value integrity over superficiality, as by embracing authentic power by definition, men and women can work to be rid of the insecurities that flimsy gender constructs afford us, suggesting a niche to build a future the children can live in.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Reflection
I have just finished reading Art Spiegelman's Maus. In short, it is a biographical graphic novel depicting his father's account of events and lived experience of Hitler's Europe, and the author's own personal journey coming to terms with his father and history. It is harrowing and impactful. It is to be the second novel read in my household this week on Hitler's Europe; the other book being, Night by Elie Wiesel. I read Night several years ago, and both are highly recommended as essential reading.
I reflect on several years ago while attending class during my Social Work degree at University being shown a film that included personal testimonies of survivors of the holocaust; describing in vivid detail, their personal experience. I will never forget this video, because of the impact it had on me; and still does, to this day.
At one point there is a woman describing her experience and stating with such dignity and strength of soul that, though the Nazi's took everything they had from her (including her family), they could not and did not take away her spirit, her soul. It was in the context of this juxtoposition that the profundity of this lived experience penetrated inside my own soul. And what happened next was a soulful cry that began with a gentle shedding of tears that slid past my cheeks and next, the outpouring. I excused myself and had a moment to abide in my experience. Upon return to the classroom and during the debriefing, what came out of me was the fact that I had been affected by the strength and dignity of this woman who had lost everything and had lived to tell about it, soul intact.
Today, upon completion of this remarkable work, I sat, affected. The research as documented by wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust) states that it is estimated that 6 million Jewish people died under the Third Reich; there were an estimated 9 million Jews residing in Europe prior to the war. Furthermore, scholars estimate the number of deceased to be anywhere between 11-17 million; these numbers would account for and include: The Romani, people with disabilites, soviet prisoners of war, Polish and Soviet citizens, Jehovah's witnesses, homosexuals, and other religious and political opponents.
Words can't capture this silent meditation, and perhaps rightly so. However, from a felt experience to a cognitive construct I will say this; it is a study in the systematic dissemination of propoganda and illegitimate power. It invites us to be affected.
I reflect on several years ago while attending class during my Social Work degree at University being shown a film that included personal testimonies of survivors of the holocaust; describing in vivid detail, their personal experience. I will never forget this video, because of the impact it had on me; and still does, to this day.
At one point there is a woman describing her experience and stating with such dignity and strength of soul that, though the Nazi's took everything they had from her (including her family), they could not and did not take away her spirit, her soul. It was in the context of this juxtoposition that the profundity of this lived experience penetrated inside my own soul. And what happened next was a soulful cry that began with a gentle shedding of tears that slid past my cheeks and next, the outpouring. I excused myself and had a moment to abide in my experience. Upon return to the classroom and during the debriefing, what came out of me was the fact that I had been affected by the strength and dignity of this woman who had lost everything and had lived to tell about it, soul intact.
Today, upon completion of this remarkable work, I sat, affected. The research as documented by wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust) states that it is estimated that 6 million Jewish people died under the Third Reich; there were an estimated 9 million Jews residing in Europe prior to the war. Furthermore, scholars estimate the number of deceased to be anywhere between 11-17 million; these numbers would account for and include: The Romani, people with disabilites, soviet prisoners of war, Polish and Soviet citizens, Jehovah's witnesses, homosexuals, and other religious and political opponents.
Words can't capture this silent meditation, and perhaps rightly so. However, from a felt experience to a cognitive construct I will say this; it is a study in the systematic dissemination of propoganda and illegitimate power. It invites us to be affected.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Bridging the Divide
As stated by Meret Oppenheim, "Freedom is not something you are given - but something you have to take." In this vein, I concur. What most citizens of our society are given are rights issued by decree which are manufactured and reproduced to maintain the status quo of a classist society and pertain to specific class, social, ethnic and cultural groups.
My observations and direct experience in society is of an ongoing struggle and fight for rights specific to these groups. This keeps groups and individuals separated, creating barriers to the effective mobilization of forces; preventing effective utility of force by, for, and with the people (ie. those who are effectively marginalized, controlled, and discriminated against with the rights bestowed to them by the overwhelmingly corrupt power structures that are government and corporate institutions). Ultimately, these rights are distributed by those outside forces to keep the masses divided.
Advocacy in its many forms address these power relations. Social justice advocacy addresses existing unequal power relations, in social, economic, and political environments and seeks to change them through direct action.
I think if real and perceived barriers between social groups and political factions can be trancended into a more comprehensive whole, then sheer force is made available through organized potency and thusly, social and political change. Facilitating advocacy with and for eachother as co-authors scribing with inherent sovereignty as the guiding principle.
In illustration, in the words of Robert Fulghum; "When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together." It's a simple image of a profound concept, when laid upon the current political climate. It's what I learned in kindergarten.
My observations and direct experience in society is of an ongoing struggle and fight for rights specific to these groups. This keeps groups and individuals separated, creating barriers to the effective mobilization of forces; preventing effective utility of force by, for, and with the people (ie. those who are effectively marginalized, controlled, and discriminated against with the rights bestowed to them by the overwhelmingly corrupt power structures that are government and corporate institutions). Ultimately, these rights are distributed by those outside forces to keep the masses divided.
Advocacy in its many forms address these power relations. Social justice advocacy addresses existing unequal power relations, in social, economic, and political environments and seeks to change them through direct action.
I think if real and perceived barriers between social groups and political factions can be trancended into a more comprehensive whole, then sheer force is made available through organized potency and thusly, social and political change. Facilitating advocacy with and for eachother as co-authors scribing with inherent sovereignty as the guiding principle.
In illustration, in the words of Robert Fulghum; "When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together." It's a simple image of a profound concept, when laid upon the current political climate. It's what I learned in kindergarten.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Shark Water?
I have just finished watching 'Sharkwater' for the second time. And I am left with the same feeling and experience of sobering insights and awareness I was left with the first time. It is striking to me that we live in a world that is so deadly in present day. With systems of corruption being found and explored by brave individuals and pockets of mobilized people and organizations in every facet of society.
In this particular film, the exploration and uncovering of a multi-billion dollar industry, that being shark fishing, and the subsequent slicing off of the fins they carry. These fins are then sold for on average $200usd/per pound (namely in particular, Asian countries), presented as a symbol of wealth, and longevity, though allegedly there is no documented evidence of these fins having the healing power they are said to possess.
Upon watching the video, I am struck as sharks are caught using longlines, and then the fin is shaved off of them, and they are kicked and shoved back into the water, to accumulate at the bottom of the sea where they are left for dead and eaten by other fish.
Sharks, eaten by other fish. The top predatory animal. A beautiful animal that has been inhabiting the earth far, far longer than the human race. Sharks have been here for over 450 million years. And they have managed to survive. However, over the last 10 years, with the increase of illegal shark finning, they are dying by the millions in a multi-billion dollar industry. Sickening.
It strikes me that the average person here in the west is seemingly scared of sharks, not surprisingly after watching the myth-making video Jaws, and absorbing, uncritically, sensationalized mass media. This uncritical view often shared as a fact, when, in fact, it is an uneducated opinion. After watching Jaws as a child, I too, was scared of sharks. Sharks eat people was the general conclusion, and not at all based on empirical evidence. Just some dramatic effects and an idea.
An open mind, awareness of media and pop culture indoctrination led me to watching this film to learn more accurately the facts of this beautiful, majestic animal. This animal that is being hunted and destroyed driven by superficial values, economic greed, and economic slavery. It costs little to hunt and kill these animals, compared to the exorbitant profit.
The thing is. This is not something separate that is happening in the natural world with no effect on human beings. As the sharks go, fish (sharks prey) increase and consume plankton in larger quantities. Plankton release oxygen into the air. The very air human beings need to survive life on this planet.
But, you see, I think I shouldn't have to highlight that fact. And use it as a "selling" pitch to cajole attention to enlisting concerned, impassioned humans. The value of "other" species has been so far removed from mainstream consciousness that it has become "someone else's" problem. Well, from what I gather, this massacre illustrates not only how sharks are valued, but also how human beings are valued, as commodities and purchasing potential.
If there ever was a time to get to know our fellow inhabitants, meaning our fellow species (yes, even the sharks), it would be now. We truly are interconnected, and a fragile and formidable whole at our best. And if you want absolute proof, just breathe.
In this particular film, the exploration and uncovering of a multi-billion dollar industry, that being shark fishing, and the subsequent slicing off of the fins they carry. These fins are then sold for on average $200usd/per pound (namely in particular, Asian countries), presented as a symbol of wealth, and longevity, though allegedly there is no documented evidence of these fins having the healing power they are said to possess.
Upon watching the video, I am struck as sharks are caught using longlines, and then the fin is shaved off of them, and they are kicked and shoved back into the water, to accumulate at the bottom of the sea where they are left for dead and eaten by other fish.
Sharks, eaten by other fish. The top predatory animal. A beautiful animal that has been inhabiting the earth far, far longer than the human race. Sharks have been here for over 450 million years. And they have managed to survive. However, over the last 10 years, with the increase of illegal shark finning, they are dying by the millions in a multi-billion dollar industry. Sickening.
It strikes me that the average person here in the west is seemingly scared of sharks, not surprisingly after watching the myth-making video Jaws, and absorbing, uncritically, sensationalized mass media. This uncritical view often shared as a fact, when, in fact, it is an uneducated opinion. After watching Jaws as a child, I too, was scared of sharks. Sharks eat people was the general conclusion, and not at all based on empirical evidence. Just some dramatic effects and an idea.
An open mind, awareness of media and pop culture indoctrination led me to watching this film to learn more accurately the facts of this beautiful, majestic animal. This animal that is being hunted and destroyed driven by superficial values, economic greed, and economic slavery. It costs little to hunt and kill these animals, compared to the exorbitant profit.
The thing is. This is not something separate that is happening in the natural world with no effect on human beings. As the sharks go, fish (sharks prey) increase and consume plankton in larger quantities. Plankton release oxygen into the air. The very air human beings need to survive life on this planet.
But, you see, I think I shouldn't have to highlight that fact. And use it as a "selling" pitch to cajole attention to enlisting concerned, impassioned humans. The value of "other" species has been so far removed from mainstream consciousness that it has become "someone else's" problem. Well, from what I gather, this massacre illustrates not only how sharks are valued, but also how human beings are valued, as commodities and purchasing potential.
If there ever was a time to get to know our fellow inhabitants, meaning our fellow species (yes, even the sharks), it would be now. We truly are interconnected, and a fragile and formidable whole at our best. And if you want absolute proof, just breathe.
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