Blog 4

Due to our readings this week for class; I have been thinking a lot about my sexual orientation. Our readings have been focusing on homosexuality and the related issue of homophobia. Lesbian, gays and bisexuals have stigmatized because we are often misunderstood. If I ask another woman out for a drink who knows that I am a lesbian; often I am rejected because of homophobia. I constantly remind myself that people cannot help reacting this way because our society has inbreed this fear into them. For the record here I would like to set something straight. Just because I ask you to join me for coffee, I do not want to go to bed with you nor would I act in anyway inappropriate to your own sexual orientation. I would ask of you the same respect in return. I truly believe people are born with a gender, sex and a sexual orientation. Gender is who we feel we are either male or female, not necessarily what our body looks like. Sex is the biological aspect of our body; we either have a penis or a vagina or both. Sexual orientation is the sex or sexes we physically, romantically, and intellectually attracted to. Many of us have grown up going through the stages of confusion, confrontation, denial and hopefully acceptance. Now if we could just be more accepted by society, maybe it would be possible for us to enjoy the same romantic love displayed in so many novels and movies. Because no matter what our gender, sex or orientation; everyone just wants to be loved.

Blog 3

T

his week I am thinking about sexual harassment and date rape drugs. It seems to me that if you are a half way decent looking woman; and sometimes this is not even necessary, you cannot go out to a bar without being harassed by men. Why is this? Even if we dress in our holey old clothes it happens. Las week a close friend of mine went out with her sister to celebrate her upcoming wedding. They had not even been in the bar for five minutes before a group of guys started hitting on my friend.  She made it clear to them that she was not interested but they would not leave her alone. (Okay guys who might read this, no means no, have you forgotten?) After in during this for about fifteen my friend tried to move away from them but they followed her and somehow managed to drug her drink. God only knows where she would be today if her sister had not noticed them trying to get her out the front door. Not understanding what had happened, her sister just put my friend and drove home thinking perhaps she had had too much to drink. The next day however they discussed the incident and my friend had only one beer. So, tell me what did she do to deserve being treated this way?

The only thing she is guilty of is being a good looking woman. This type of harassment needs to stop. Men need to know we are not just out here for them to do with and treat as they please. I wonder what men would do if we started drugging them when they do not act like we want or expect them to act. Please do not misunderstand me; I know not all men are like this and that there are women out there already drugging men, you just do not hear about that as often. I just wish it could be safe and harassment for my friends and me when we go out. Unless more women start standing up and saying “NO” to this type of behavior, it will never happen.

BLOG 2

This week in my women’s issues class we are discussing feminism and the various meanings associated with the word. I would just like to take the time here to let people know that I am not one to get caught up on words. I mean really, words are just words, what they truly mean and how they can help or hinder is the way you interpret them. If you are one who believes the word feminism means you hate men, then you know if you believe that or not and from there you can decide if the word fits you. But this is where you have to be careful because there are usually numerous definitions in your head for every word you have ever spoken. Take my advice here and if you hear a word you have not heard before, do not just Google or Wikipedia it; you must define every word with various sources of information, only in the way can you truly know what a word means to you. I attend a weekly meeting that closes with the words “take what you like and leave the rest”; I try to apply this to my life daily. I realize I have gotten away from the subject of feminism, yet I felt it important for you to know more of me before I gave you my interpretation.

Personally, I have never been called a feminist. Frankly though I would not care because there are elements in the readings that I have been going through that make me realize that I am a feminist in several ways if this is the label you choose to give me. I believe in equal rights for everyone, not just women. I believe in equality for all women, children, men and whatever other labeled genders and species we have roaming our land. I am grateful for all the women in history who have given their life’s work in order for me to be where I am today.