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fDaniel has 14 post(s)

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In her piece, “Affective Economies”, Sara Ahmed tries to explain the idea that people who are hateful aren’t truly hateful, they’re perceived or viewed differently because these people wish to protect something they love and cherish deeply. She says hate isn’t an true or primary emotion rather a byproduct when one feels that something they valued is being threaten. I feel like Sara makes a really good and valid point there, people don’t naturally hate on something or someone but do so when they feel like someone or something is going to changed or impact their interest negatively. She brings up the example of how the general view of America on immigrants isn’t that great, nationalists don’t really hate immigrants for who they are but the possibility they are going to take jobs, ruin society, and overall destroy their idea of the perfect nation. While these accusations may or may not be true, its the possibility that causes people to fear and hate theses groups of people coming in. Its fear and love that evokes hate, thinking of such makes me think of the quote, “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself” by FDR. She goes on bringing up another example of a white child seeing a black man shivering and immediately assume that it was an act of aggression, the child now who afraid of the black man goes on while the black man is now contained as he’s afraid of the actions that follow after for scaring the little boy. In this event, the two become divided, in a  way they both fear each other forcing them to walk down different paths. Sara also talks about how people see others and immediately assume that one is a threat without thinking about it even if its irrational. We judge and assess others subconsciously she says, from what we have experienced and been taught we naturally make the thought. One example would be if one got into an accident where he or she fell into the sea, as they grow up they see the sea they would immediately connect that to the accident they had years ago. This is also true when it comes to people, if we had a terrible experience with a group of people we would think about it as soon as we see someone from that group. We’re all guilty of such as it is baked into our minds.

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In her piece, “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others”, Lila Abu-Lughod talks about how the West viewed the people of Islamic, specifically women. She argues how Westerns used the concept that the women there need saving or are enslaved in attempts to changed their ways. Western media has made it seem as if the people there understand what freedom is and needs to spread it to other cultures. She goes on to saying how the U.S. was trying to find a reason to to enter the country and after the attack on September 11th, 2001, the United States went in on the terms that it was a war against terrorism. In her argument, she points out how the troops (U.S.) didn’t really understand the culture of the area. First lady at the time, Laura Bush made the point of how the women there were being oppressed by the Taliban because they were enforcing the women to wear the veil. It was all for the wrong reasons, there were numerous other issues women there faced yet they decided to address the issue of clothing. She also directs how the people of the U.S. were also oppressed not being able to dress the way they want without being looked down upon by the community. If a girl in the U.S. were to wear revealing clothing at night she be immediately deemed as a slut or whore, she isn’t able to dress the way she pleases without a guy catcalling her. She kind of wants to point out that the U.S. shouldn’t be meddling into other people’s problems when they can’t even take car of their own. Overall I feel like people should be able to do what they want so long it doesn’t not impact others negatively; people shouldn’t be oppressed.

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In the reading, “Between Love and Money: Sex, Tourism, and Citizenship in Cuba and the Dominican Republic”, the author Amalia L. Cabeza talks about sex tourism in two countries and how it effects both the country and its citizens. Early on Cuba and the Dominican Republic were somewhat closed off from the rest of the world but in recent years these two countries have shifted their policies and seek to promote the money tourism brings into the country. The geographic region of these locations (beautiful beaches and landscape)  make it a natural location for vacation from people all around the world with a majority of these tourist coming from the Unites States and West Europe. Amalia quickly shifts into sex tourism talking about how the government allows prostitution to occur as it supports the economy, most of these occur in hotels and in wealthier areas of the country. In tourist filled areas people are judged different based on the color of their skin which brings up citizenship and how people are mistreated despite being all citizens. In a way it brings up the question, what does it mean to be a citizen. If you were someone of lighter skin walking around it would be commonplace but if you were someone with a darker skin tone people would immediately assume that you’re a prostitute. They would get arrested more often than those with lighter skin. Also nothing thing that is brought up is how males were treat far better than females even though they’re in the same industry; male sex workers  were viewed as heroes while females ones were seen as anomalous. She also brings up migration of how a worker had the possibility or migrating to another country if relationship between the two was great. It also assists in gaining citizenship status in the tourist’s country.

 

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In the reading, “Global Care Crisis: A Problem of Capital, Care Chains, or Commons?”, the authors goes on to discuss about the increase migration of female workers to other countries in search of work. Parrenas gives the example of a Filipina mother whom left her home country in search of work to support her children. Often times when these workers leave their counties to find work, they’re hired as nannies or caretakers of other people’s children. The author in a way wants us to think of the idea that one leaves their child and home behind to take care of another person’s child in order to support their own child. From the view of many, people naturally assume that these mothers are “bad mothers” or irresponsible; even the kids aren’t very pleased with the absence of their mom during their childhood. Many don’t understand the sacrifice these mothers have made all for the purpose of giving their child a better opportunity. These mothers have to enter a new country working hard to take care of other people’s children instead of their own, not knowing anything with the mindset that in the end her kid will get a better opportunity. The kids more often than not don’t see it as the mothers do, they disregard the remittance and/or gifts the mothers sent to them and over time start to resent them. The kids just want to be with their moms like the other kids around them, growing up they’re unable to see their moms or have a strong parental figure they can go to for support. The authors also bring economy into this talking about the shortage of workers in first world countries or more wealthy ones needing to ship caretakers from less developed countries. In all of this, its really the kids that suffer, they effect deeply psychology that may impact over the years.

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When I think of the word outsider, I think of something that doesn’t belong like a tomato in a fruit basket. Although it looks like a fruit and is shelved in the fruit section deep down its a vegetable, no matter how much the tomato looks or is placed like a fruit its a vegetable, an outsider. Much throughout my life I’ve lived in communities that were predominately made of a single race and it wasn’t mine, more often than not I would feel like I’m different walking through the streets or being in class. I recall one time I was walking home from school and a group of kids that were older than me walked by me saying a word in their language followed by a burst of laughter. I knew what the word meant but didn’t really understand what was really going on. The word they said meant Chinese, I didn’t really think much of it but as it began to occur more and more often with different kids and even by adults at times I began to understand that I wasn’t accepted to some extend for who I was, for being something I had no control in. I felt like I was different no just from the physical differences that stood us apart but on a deeper level, in a way I’m like a tomato in the supermarket being shelved next to all the fruits. In Patricia Hill-Collins’s, “Learning from the outsider within,” she talks about not letting what others think define who you are but rather allow yourself to define who you are, not to be succumbed by stereotypes or racial words. When I look at it today I can say that I will every now and then fall in line or be define by stereotypes, Collins believed that we should be rejecting them and let others judge us by the person we actually are.

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In chapter four, part four of Foucault book, the History of Sex, he goes into an idea he calls, “a technology of sex”. During the 19th century, sex was considered a taboo and was only spoken about in private. Sex was also somewhat connected to the church as those that committed sexual acts had to tell their sins (sexual acts) in explicit detail to a priest to be cleanse of their sins. The study of medicine began increasing as more and more people were interested in one’s sexuality and the activities they’ve engaged in. This increased study  of medicine lead to the development of the idea that sex was hereditary. Many believed the one’s sexual drive was passed down from one generation to another and this idea further the separation between bourgeoisie and the commoners. Being very sexual or having a sex drive was considered somewhat unhealthy and it was best to eradicate these traits and bloodlines. The bourgeoisie wanted to solidified they’re power and place in society by making their people seem like the superior race or group. The higher ups ensure they stayed in power generations forward by making offspring that consisted of other bourgeoisie. Those in the higher class with certain traits that were considered favorable were placed with others like them to produced offspring’s that had all of the traits, this method ensured that the bloodline was going to be preserved and pure, not mixing with others (commoners). They viewed those below them as inferior and without class and needed to clearly show the difference between them and the others. By making sure these babies that were produced were pure they’re able to extended their rule generations forward. Foucault makes the point of how sexuality is used to divided the masses and make a few selective ones on top; it is used as a method to control the people.

 

 

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In Foucault’s History of Sex he talks about how sex was related to pleasure and how it was suppressed throughout history. Foucault makes us look at this from different angles and aspects. He starts off with discussing the Victorian era where sex was considered a taboo, if one wanted to talk said subject it was best to do so away from the public ear. The young were forbidden to come anywhere near anything that was considered sexual both physically and mentally. Sex was contained and in a sense the people’s right to pleasure was also taken away. The only placed where one could truly let out his/her sexual desires or talk about sex was in the slums. The idea of sex wasn’t considered to be the norm despite the fact of it being completely normal (in a biological sense), such ideas weren’t  present in the slums making it the only place where an individual could let out his/her sexual desires.

Foucault then shifts to talking about experiencing pleasure through controlling others and/or exerting your power over another. He talks about the relationship in which both the oppressed and oppressor seek to gain pleasure through their actions. The church promoted the idea of confessing your sins to god, the act of confessing the sexual encounters that had occurred. At the beginning, one would simply state the actions her or she did without going into detail, however as time passed people started to confess providing much details in what had happened. In a sense people were giving a recollection of the event even adding in the thoughts what were form during the time. It was interesting how it was against the law to talk about sex but confessing all your sexual  thoughts and actions was alright. This lead to more and more people committing sexual acts and later confess them to god.

I feel like all the information provide was just for the reader to process it and for us to make our own ideas/prospective on the topic.

 

Q: Do you think the oppression or containment of sex in history was used was a way to control the people?

Q: When you think about sex throughout history, are we stilling following the ideas of the pass or have we really moved on and forward.

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In Bell Hook’s chapter, “Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance”, she talks about “the other”. The other is pretty much everyone that isn’t white, you can be anything from Asian to Hispanic and you would be classified as “the other”. Hook talks about how people had an ethnocentric mindset judging the culture of the others based on what he or she believes is right. From the eyes of the white, the other are inferior yet exotic being able to bring a little spice into their lives. Hook brings up the example of three white boys who intends on having an sexual interaction with as many other girls as possible, thinking that by doing so it would make make their life a little less boring and a little bit better. These boys had the mindset that having sex with a non white girl would be a different experience. They assumed that it was going to be magical and extremely pleasurable as oppose to having sex with a white girl. Hook explains how by interacting with the other, they can also in a way demonstrate and assert their  power over the minorities.

The idea of the other or otherness is in a way considered a good thing by Hooks as she explains that the way the otherness is shown, it sheds light on different cultures making them much more appealing to the whites. People are led by their curiosity to learn more about the other and understand their ways. They also get a sense of pleasure in knowing and understanding the cultures of the other. I think Hook is trying to say that by adding a bit of the other it makes the whole better. Hook brings up white two rappers who understand what the African American community has gone through ans urges them to move forward with understanding and without hate.

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The student’s idea or understanding of gender and sexuality in River High is shaped much around the environment they were in. The kids there were clearly shown how they should act based of their respective genders, certain action and traits were seen as masculine and some were seen as feminine. CJ really highlights how the school played a huge role in influencing the kids when she brings up Mr.Cougar competition; performances were own shown that really display the qualities a male should have. In one performance, a group of boys loses  their girlfriends to another group of guys and they have to change themselves to get back their girlfriends. The boys that lost their girlfriends in the show were the typical nerdy kid, being skinny, weak, and dorky. A man was suppose to strong, courageous, and able to defend the women in their lives. These kids started to transition and gain the qualities of what the school considers to be fitting for a boy. They grew stronger both physically and mentally eventually winning back their girlfriends. In a sense the play can be viewed as propaganda the school was using to promote their ideas and view on gender role and sexuality. The teachers themselves also play a role in defining gender roles and sexuality in River High, when condoms were being handed out by an third party organization promoting safe sex, the teachers naturally assumed that only the boys were getting the condoms and that engaging in sexual intercourse with the other students. This instant assumption of the boys reveals how the administration sees boys  as they are. The students are simply learning about safe sex and the consequences irresponsible sexual actions could lead to; the staff sees the boys being sexually driven and conducting sexual activities in an unsafe manner. All in all both students and the staff play a significant role in shaping and contributing to the meaning of gender and sexuality.

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The topic of motherhood is present in both the works of Davis and Federici, they have similar views on motherhood during the time. Motherhood can be described as the state of being a mother, a experience very few women were able to experience during the time. In Davis’s point of view “motherhood” wasn’t about taking care of your young and raising them rather producing as many offspring as possible and offering them to their masters. Back then African women were view only as machines that were able to produce and provide more labor. They were often forced to have babies to replenish the ones that have die due to various reasons. From the moment a child is able to crawl, he or she is put into work, these extremely young children would rarely spend time with their mothers as they are often placed elsewhere given different tasks to do. These children would spend countless hours working for their master just like the women who gave birth to them; there was no time for motherhood, the very idea of it was nonexistent. More often then not, these children would be sold off to other owners leaving their mothers behind and never seeing them again. They would barely know their own parents much less where they came from, just the fact that they gotta obey their owners for face the consequence of death. In most cases the children would die at a very young age but it doesn’t matter since another one is already born to take its place. Davis wanted to highlight how women didn’t get any time with their children much less knowing them before they passed away. Morgan brings up the traveler and how he saw how the native women would give birth in public and not showing any signs of pain. In western views such was considered as immoral and shameful, it was seen as the if the mother had no feelings towards the newborn. We view a mother as someone who is always standing behind their child supporting them and loving them. All of these weren’t really shown making it seem as if there wasn’t any love making the presence of motherhood absent.