“Remarkable Journeys: Poor, Single Mothers Accessing Higher Education (2004)” Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspective, New York: McGraw Hill, 2007, 383-385.
This entry was remarkable to me. It was filled with great ideas on how to reestablish single, lower income mothers back into the work field and to provide them with useful tools and knowledge that will help them be successful. The idea behind it all is that single women need the support and help to engage them in finding jobs, and they need specific help so that they can provide for their families.
In the article, it discusses that “individuals and communities accrue enormous social, cultural, and financial benefits when low-income, single mothers are supported in post secondary educational endeavors.” This idea makes perfect sense, because higher education means additional knowledge, that always proves useful in the working community. In addition, higher education also leads to more substantial jobs, giving way to higher salaries. By having a greater salary, women have additional income that can be used to provide more resources for their children, to take care of their home, and in turn, help the economy with additional spending. With additional money, this takes them out of the struggles of being a lower income household, and leads to greater security and less stress. It only makes sense that if women are provided with this additional assistance, that they can prove to be more useful to society, and be able to carry out their responsibilities as a parent more successfully.
It is behind this thought and belief that the ACCESS Project was created. “This project is an educational, social service, and career program that assists low-income parents in [their] efforts to move from welfare and low-wage work to meaningful and secure career employment through the pathway of higher education… the program supports students academically as well as helps them overcome substantial obstacles such as lack of adequate childcare and transportation, domestic violence, homelessness, hunger, and low self-esteem.” It is incredible what this program does, and the stories of women involved in it were inspirational and insightful. The program truly changes lives for the better, and helps women get back on their feet. By providing them with the necessary elements to be successful, they have made it happen, and changed their lives around.
Knowing what this program is capable, it’s interesting why more programs such as this one aren’t available. Rather than having people on welfare, and using tax payer’s money, wouldn’t it make sense to make it so that they were capable of maintaining decent jobs, and therefore not having to be on welfare? In addition, wouldn’t it make sense that if they had money, that they could help the economy? It seems worth the financial input to make more programs such as the ACCESS Project so that women could be more financially independent. I believe if this program is analyzed, altered to be even more successful, and provided throughout the nation, that there would be a great increase in the productivity of single women, and tax dollars would not be wasted to as much of an extent as they are now. Welfare, homelessness, and the lack of childcare have been known issues for decades. It is time that these issues are addressed in a way that provides the most desirable outcome.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Unity Statement (1980)
“Unity Statement (1980)” Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspective, New York: McGraw Hill, 2007, 525-527.
In this article, women expressed their concerns for the male dominated government impeding their rights as women, as individuals, and disrespecting their homes and the world they live in. They believe that the government is abusing its power, and therefore hindering their beliefs.
Maternally, the women want their home lives to be respected. They “want enough food, decent housing, communities with clean air and water, [and] good care for our children while we work.” In addition they “want to be free from violence in our streets and in our houses… [and] the right to have or not to have children.” Obviously they are worried about male officials not understanding the needs of women within their homes. They need healthcare that will protect their family, and laws or rules that will diminish the violence that is present in their communities. Which, this is very understandable because motherly instinct includes the protection of their families. No one should feel fear from where they live, and they shouldn’t have to worry about not being able to provide their families with the medical attention that they need. Items such as these should not be refused or not provided for, because the well being of society depends upon it.
The women want to be respected in the work force, and compensated for it. They “want work that is useful to a sensible society… intend to form women’s groups or unions that will demand safe workplaces, free of sexual harassment, and equal pay for work of comparable value… [and they] expect [their] experience [and] skills to be honored and used.” By demanding these aspects, their intelligence, strength, and skills to be used to the best of their abilities, and that they will be helpful to society. Women have value, and are just as capable as men. It is time that this is acknowledged and understood. They can influence the workforce and prove useful if people will just recognize it. Men do not have to be the main form of labor, for women can do anything men can do if their minds are set for it. Over time women have shown this, holding higher ranks in the corporate world, leading in scientific endeavors, and making strides that were never believed to happen. Why shouldn’t women expect respect in the working community? By demanding this respect, women can change the world, and build stronger companies that can help the economy.
Lastly, women believe that they “are right to be afraid,” and that “life on the precipice is intolerable.” They are scared that the male structure in corporations and government will influence their lives to a point where it cannot be overcome. They want their voices to be heard, to not be oppressed for their sexual orientation, and that the world they live in to not be subjected to use by corporations to increase military security. It can be seen that their lives are being reined in by a male dominated society, and that their views are not being addressed. By attempting to make their voices heard, they hope this will alleviate some of the silencing of their beliefs, and that headway will be made. This is the first step in the right direction; towards women’s rights, equality, and power.
In this article, women expressed their concerns for the male dominated government impeding their rights as women, as individuals, and disrespecting their homes and the world they live in. They believe that the government is abusing its power, and therefore hindering their beliefs.
Maternally, the women want their home lives to be respected. They “want enough food, decent housing, communities with clean air and water, [and] good care for our children while we work.” In addition they “want to be free from violence in our streets and in our houses… [and] the right to have or not to have children.” Obviously they are worried about male officials not understanding the needs of women within their homes. They need healthcare that will protect their family, and laws or rules that will diminish the violence that is present in their communities. Which, this is very understandable because motherly instinct includes the protection of their families. No one should feel fear from where they live, and they shouldn’t have to worry about not being able to provide their families with the medical attention that they need. Items such as these should not be refused or not provided for, because the well being of society depends upon it.
The women want to be respected in the work force, and compensated for it. They “want work that is useful to a sensible society… intend to form women’s groups or unions that will demand safe workplaces, free of sexual harassment, and equal pay for work of comparable value… [and they] expect [their] experience [and] skills to be honored and used.” By demanding these aspects, their intelligence, strength, and skills to be used to the best of their abilities, and that they will be helpful to society. Women have value, and are just as capable as men. It is time that this is acknowledged and understood. They can influence the workforce and prove useful if people will just recognize it. Men do not have to be the main form of labor, for women can do anything men can do if their minds are set for it. Over time women have shown this, holding higher ranks in the corporate world, leading in scientific endeavors, and making strides that were never believed to happen. Why shouldn’t women expect respect in the working community? By demanding this respect, women can change the world, and build stronger companies that can help the economy.
Lastly, women believe that they “are right to be afraid,” and that “life on the precipice is intolerable.” They are scared that the male structure in corporations and government will influence their lives to a point where it cannot be overcome. They want their voices to be heard, to not be oppressed for their sexual orientation, and that the world they live in to not be subjected to use by corporations to increase military security. It can be seen that their lives are being reined in by a male dominated society, and that their views are not being addressed. By attempting to make their voices heard, they hope this will alleviate some of the silencing of their beliefs, and that headway will be made. This is the first step in the right direction; towards women’s rights, equality, and power.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Whose Security?
“Whose Security? (2002)” Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspective, New York: McGraw Hill, 2007, 599-602.
This article addressed several issues such as power, gender, and community. Each of these will be explored and analyzed to further understand the reading, and the implications it makes.
Power. 9/11 left many with insecurity, distrust, unbelief, and looking to someone who could fix the problem that had arisen. George Bush, and other government officials took advantage of the situation, and used it to drum up “U.S. foreign policy, which is military and corporate driven.” By doing this, those who already had power, were given even more power. They then used this to impose additional government spending on the war, and to supposedly help those who needed. They believed that everyone was worried about what had happened, and by doing this, they tried to push their foreign policy beliefs on other countries. U.S. government officials believed that they were in the right, and that by doing what they did, they were helping those who were suffering. This was expressed by the quote that, “Bush agenda domestically and internationally, including more unrestrained exercise of U.S. power and disregard for multilateralism. In addition, many thought that this even was a defining moment for all, but the author believed that, “the assumption that it is the defining moment for everyone, to be self-indulgent and shortsighted.” However, the war did increase spending and communication between other governments, supported by the statement that, “other governments have also used the occasion to increase military spending and to erode support for human rights. In that sense, it has become a defining moment because of how it has been used.” I believe that this issue is much more than just that. The fact that issues such as personal rights, the main reason why the war is going on now, has been pushed aside to strengthen military resources and power. If the main reason the war was started was for human rights, then why has it been put on the backburner, and not further addressed? It appears that this main concern was used as a stepping stone to push U.S. ways and government on other countries, and to overall increase the power of the U.S. and its government.
Gender. Another one of the main concerns of the war was women’s rights and their ability to be protected from males in their society. However, this concern has quickly been overpowered by national security and the formation of a government structure within the country. It was actually stated that, “while human security is a promising concept, it is far from being embraced as a replacement for the national security paradigm to which governments remain attached and have made vast commitments.” In addition to this, “the events of 9/11 should have generated attempts to address the very real threats to women’s human rights posed by fundamentalism, terrorism, and armed conflict in many guises.” This is astonishing because these were the main reasons that we invaded Iraq and neighboring countries. We were to provide women with hope, security, and a chance for a decent life. However, it seems that male domination in U.S. foreign policy has overstepped this and silenced the issue all together. Instead, they have focused on creating a democracy, which will more than likely be male driven. How is this suppose to help women if the very people who were abusing them now have even more power?
This article raised many issues about the effects of 9/11 at a personal, national, and nationwide levels. It should be reconsidered how the plan of action for the future will be carried out. Goals, motives, and the completion of the war on terrorism should be reevaluated, and subjected to further discussion before the original mission is lost and all hope is gone.
This article addressed several issues such as power, gender, and community. Each of these will be explored and analyzed to further understand the reading, and the implications it makes.
Power. 9/11 left many with insecurity, distrust, unbelief, and looking to someone who could fix the problem that had arisen. George Bush, and other government officials took advantage of the situation, and used it to drum up “U.S. foreign policy, which is military and corporate driven.” By doing this, those who already had power, were given even more power. They then used this to impose additional government spending on the war, and to supposedly help those who needed. They believed that everyone was worried about what had happened, and by doing this, they tried to push their foreign policy beliefs on other countries. U.S. government officials believed that they were in the right, and that by doing what they did, they were helping those who were suffering. This was expressed by the quote that, “Bush agenda domestically and internationally, including more unrestrained exercise of U.S. power and disregard for multilateralism. In addition, many thought that this even was a defining moment for all, but the author believed that, “the assumption that it is the defining moment for everyone, to be self-indulgent and shortsighted.” However, the war did increase spending and communication between other governments, supported by the statement that, “other governments have also used the occasion to increase military spending and to erode support for human rights. In that sense, it has become a defining moment because of how it has been used.” I believe that this issue is much more than just that. The fact that issues such as personal rights, the main reason why the war is going on now, has been pushed aside to strengthen military resources and power. If the main reason the war was started was for human rights, then why has it been put on the backburner, and not further addressed? It appears that this main concern was used as a stepping stone to push U.S. ways and government on other countries, and to overall increase the power of the U.S. and its government.
Gender. Another one of the main concerns of the war was women’s rights and their ability to be protected from males in their society. However, this concern has quickly been overpowered by national security and the formation of a government structure within the country. It was actually stated that, “while human security is a promising concept, it is far from being embraced as a replacement for the national security paradigm to which governments remain attached and have made vast commitments.” In addition to this, “the events of 9/11 should have generated attempts to address the very real threats to women’s human rights posed by fundamentalism, terrorism, and armed conflict in many guises.” This is astonishing because these were the main reasons that we invaded Iraq and neighboring countries. We were to provide women with hope, security, and a chance for a decent life. However, it seems that male domination in U.S. foreign policy has overstepped this and silenced the issue all together. Instead, they have focused on creating a democracy, which will more than likely be male driven. How is this suppose to help women if the very people who were abusing them now have even more power?
This article raised many issues about the effects of 9/11 at a personal, national, and nationwide levels. It should be reconsidered how the plan of action for the future will be carried out. Goals, motives, and the completion of the war on terrorism should be reevaluated, and subjected to further discussion before the original mission is lost and all hope is gone.
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