This week we read an article as well as watched two short videos was very devastating to watch. To continue the discussion of women’s suffrage, this week we were educated on the labor conditions women faced in the 1900s. After a terrible tragedy women joined together and began the Labor Organizing and the ERA in the 20th century. In the first video, “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” we saw a tragedy that happened in 1911. I’ve heard about this event before in history classes, it is famous and well known. It is one of the best examples to use when discussing labor abuse. The video begins by telling us the Immense of hours young women were working at this factory. Day in and day out these young immigrant women would work making shirtwaists. One evening a fire broke out at the factory and the narrator lists everything that went wrong that led to the deaths of 146 women. The fire couldn’t be put out because the hose was rusted! Just hearing that shocks me every time, and makes me think how terrible the working conditions must have been if a safety hose was rusted! Workers couldn’t escape because only one elevator was in service that broke down during the fire, they also couldn’t take the stairs because the door was locked. Hearing this event always makes me upset, the factory owners did nothing to protect their workers. These women were treated like their lives were worth nothing, the factory owners only cared about making money. What makes this even more unjust is after the community gathered and protested the two factory workers, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were acquitted of their crime. The only good outcome of this tragedy is the reform created to protect labor workers. Starting with the ILGWU and laws being passed. One of these laws called the Sullivan-Hoey fire prevention law that requires sprinklers at factories.

  In the second video, “Triangle Returns” the director (Charles Kernaghan) of the institute for global labor and human rights narrates explaining in depth of the shirtwaist factory fire. He describes the deaths the young women faced. They had two choices to die by fire or by jumping out of the burning building. It was a graphic video to watch, seeing bodies on the floor. Charles Kernaghan argues that little has changed in the global sweatshop economy. He proves his argument by explaining another tragic fire that happened in Bangladesh on December 14, 2010. A fire broke out at a factory that was eleven stories high. Again just like the Shirtwaist Factory Fire the workers could not get out because the stairs exit were locked. The video continues by showing the workers jumping out of the eleven-story building. Again labor workers have to choose between burning to death or having a recognizable body to give their families. It’s terrible. Nobody should have to make that choice. Kernaghan continues by expressing his frustration with the labor workers’ pay. Working hours and hours for cents a day. When big companies refuse to give their workers a raise. In addition, my classmates’ snapshot, Heatherlee. shows a picture that appears to be an old photo of labor workers with a photo of today’s labor workers. Although both are taken years apart there are still labor workers who look unhappy. 

Lastly, we read the article, “Virginia Just Became the 38th State to Pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Here’s What to Know About the History of the ERA.” It is a powerful and educational article that explains the timeline process the ERA went through. This article first begins by telling us Virginia became the 38th state to vote to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. As a result, fulfilling the requirement that three-quarters of the states must approve an Amendment in order to add it to the U.S. Constitution. However, the article explains there is a long road ahead before that happens. What stood out to me in the article was when it says, “Advocates say that the amendment is held back by the sense among some people that it’s not necessary, but proponents argue that it could strengthen the legal basis for combating violence against women, pay inequality and maternity leave.” What surprised me was that we still are fighting for women’s equality on all sides. Some argue the ERA is not “necessary,” how is it not necessary? To have laws that protect women? While others argue the usual argument, that it would give us the equality we deserve but the higher power does not want to give us. It reminds me of the reading we read before, “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks. When she argues the feminist movement can not be achieved if women will fight with each other. I think the article and the two videos we watched this week goes to show the struggle women face. We are caged, in the 1900s women were caged in working environments and today we are caged in stereotypes and inequality.

This week we began with the topic of historical perspectives. This topic was introduced with one timeline and a short video. This week’s timeline reading is called “100 Years toward Suffrage: An Overview” by E. Susan Barber and watching the short Youtube video “Untold Stories of Black Women in the Suffrage Movement.” The timeline provided new information about the changes women faced throughout the years starting from 1776. The video also provided information on women I did not know before. Both provided powerful messages that have happened in the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

The timeline reading “100 Years toward Suffrage: An Overview” by E. Susan Barber is a timeline from so early as 1776 and ends in the year 1923. I actually really liked this timeline, it was to the point and simple to understand. The reading begins by talking about Abigail Adams. My first reaction was “who? I continue reading it says, “Abigail Adams writes to her husband, John, who is attending the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, asking that he and the other men–who were at work on the Declaration of Independence–“Remember the Ladies.” John responds with humor. The Declaration’s wording specifies that “all men are created equal.” I was still a bit confused so I googled her name and the first thing I saw was, “Abigail Adams was the wife and closest advisor of John Adams.” It was then when I understood what the timeline was saying. Abigail told one of the most influential people to write the declaration of independence to include everyone. And today everyone knows the famous phrase “All men are created equal.” The phrase was used to unite the colonies together, but only united the men of the colonies. It was very shocking that her wife just disregards Abigail and thought little of women. I’m assuming because of this Abigail became known as one of the first advocates for women’s equality. I think it’s great that our advocacy started so high up one of the first ladies. As the years go on we slowly see more women bringing attention to women’s equality. They spoke through poetry, sermons, and created education reform. Another thing that stood out to me was the year 1876 to 1879 it says, “Lawyer Belva Ann Lockwood is denied permission to practice before the Supreme Court. She spends three years pushing through legislation that enables women to practice before the Court and becomes the first woman to do so in 1879.” Again I did not recognize the name but what she did is inspiring. She created a huge change. She fought for a position that people would say is a “male job,” She made people recognize women are able to do the same jobs as men AND perform the duties the same or even better.

I watched the Youtube video “Untold Stories of Black Women in the Suffrage Movement” and it was very educational to see the women empowerment with black women while also fighting their discrimination for their race. What I noticed is the timeline we read about facts and changes that happened over time, while in the video we felt more of the emotion. We heard what these women went through, their suffering, and how the inequality impacted the community. As women, we do face inequality but to be a black woman I can’t imagine how women must have felt in the 1800s and 1900s. You have everyone against you as a black woman. I think it’s empowering that the women joined together and created safe spaces. These organizations are, “Headquarters for colored women voters,” “NACW” and the “Alpha Chapter.” In addition, in my classmates’ snapshot, Isabella Celentano shows a picture that says, “girls just wanna have fun-damental human rights.” I liked the message, “girls” are more than delicate, housewives, and like to party. Women are passionate, smart, and driven and deserve all basic human rights as men.

Entering this week with the topic of activism will be very interesting. The topic we were discussing before was Gender/Sex/Sexuality & Feminism where we read a lot of interesting and inspiring readings. Most of the readings were from individuals who experienced oppression whether it be gender discrimination, oppression of females, sexism, race discrimination, etc. These people who expressed their oppression are angry/frustrated and want change. This week with the reading “How To Think Like An Activist” by Wendy Syfret and watching the film “Knock down the house” both provided powerful messages and it really talks about the change that needs to happen. 

The reading “How To Think Like An Activist” by Wendy Syfret is pretty much a “how-to” book on becoming an activist. I actually really liked this reading, it was to the point and simple to understand. The reading begins by describing famous events in history that produced change. These changes are movements that we can look back to, and create movements of our own in the future. The reading continues by talking about the recent movements we know, such as Black lives matter, Take back the night, and March for our lives. Each movement is very well known and we can learn from these movements moving forward. This is where the reading begins its “how-to” where do we even start? Well according to Wendy Syfret change starts at home. She explains that bringing up topics we are passionate about and bringing awareness into our own homes is important. I happen to agree, I’ve done this myself. Older generations are not as open-minded as this generation is, so when I hear older generations talk about topics in a close-minded way I speak up and bring awareness. And I am glad that because I have spoken up the older generations’ language in my household has changed. The reading speaks a lot about the accessibility we have today. For example, mass media is a huge platform. It is true, we use hashtags, tagging, Facebook pages, Instagram stories, and most recently tic tok. Every time I open my Instagram I see many people being proactive on Instagram stories posting what they are passionate about. For example, abortion rights, feminism, cases of innocent African Americans getting killed, native American women going missing, ICE, etc. I really liked that every two or three pages there is a page of tips on how to take “action” or an “explainer.” In a movement, there are multiple individuals coming together to create change. Everyone has a role within the movement. It was interesting Syfret giving tips to individuals who want to pursue a role in “action” and others who are “explainers” of their movement. 

I watched the film “Knock down the house” and it was very educational to see these individuals running for congress. These women all have their own stories and identities but are all striving for the same movement. These powerful women are challenging the system that is not providing for the people of their district. I really loved the civil rights veteran speaking to the group of candidates at the beginning of the film, he was pushing them to keep working to challenge the system and people in power. Coming from a person who has a bunch of experience and is still working on change, his advice was blunt but true. You can see in his facial expression that it will be a challenge. People in power will try to stop us from achieving our movements. What I saw from the film is these women are everyday working people, Amy Vilela is fighting after losing her daughter, Paula Jean is a coal miner’s daughter, AOC was a bartender from the Bronx, and Cori Bush is a working nurse. Hearing these women’s stories is so moving and when they explain why they are in this movement it’s empowering. Seeing the process is very educational. We see a whole team on their computers, walking through communities, knocking on doors, making signs, passing flyers, speaking to the people, public debates. As I said before there are many job responsibilities in a movement and we see this in the film. Throughout the film, we also saw the challenges these women faced, judgment from higher-ups, money shortage, the people sticking to the people they already know (Joe Crowley). By the end of the film, we saw out of the four women-only Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez won in the primary election. It was devastating to see, the teams crying, hugging each other; however, I am so glad they put in the film one of the team members in the campaign speaking to everyone about not giving up. She said, “The primary ended, but the injustice did not.” I was applauding at her words, she is absolutely right, movements need to keep going even if they hit a bump in the road. Seeing AOC finding out she won made me happy, I LOVE Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez and everything she fights for. I think she is a great representation of the change our government/system needs. I think so many hate her because she challenges the OLD way of thinking. In my classmates’ snapshot, Sadira Mohammad shows a picture of the one and only AOC at the met gala. She is wearing a white dress with the words “Tax the rich” in red. I think it was bold and to the point of the message. She constantly speaks for the working class and the struggle we are facing. It made me think of Joy Villa who was known to wearing dresses with messages across her dress. AOC made a come-back with her dress, fighting fire with fire. We see the team cheering and happy crying along with AOC when she wins. I think this film shows us we won’t always get a win, but we have to keep fighting. We will get special moments of wins, just like this young bartender from the Bronx helping us change our system.

I found this week’s readings to be captivating and powerful. As a person who belongs to multiple groups, I found myself nodding my head in agreement throughout the reading of “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions” by Audre Lorde. In the reading “Patriarchy, the System” by Allan Johnson he uses more of an educational approach instead of past readings where authors gave off “this is the problem and these people are to blame for this problem” type of message. While both approaches get the message across to readers, I agree with Johnson’s approach. 

In the first reading “Patriarchy, the System” by Allan Johnson, the author discusses how the word “Patriarchy” is seen as an insult towards men because women seem to support this statement that men hold the power. I happen to agree that part of the reason change is slow, is because we like to blame others. When we shouldn’t be fighting each other we should be fighting the real issue which is what johnson explains. Johnson explains to achieve change we need to clear up and understand the confusion of patriarchy as a society and those who participate in it. Throughout the reading, he explains where society’s thinking affects us all. There is much to consider, our thought process, society, questioning society/patriarchy, etc.  I found “Patriarchy, the System” to be quite educational where it makes the reader stop and think about their own lives. Making us wonder what we have done to change this patriarchal system. Or if we are just living by in this system that we are accustomed to. As Johnson says, “the path of least resistance.” In Fawzina Jack’s snapshot she shows a picture where there’s a picture of a woman and a man and a dice with an equal or unequal sign. The picture is showing the person(the people) with power is rolling the dice. There can be gender equality but it takes work. Essentially Allan Johnson is educating us and showing us what we need to do to achieve gender equality. And the answer is to fight the patriarchy. 

In the second reading “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions” Audre Lorde, started off by identifying the groups/communities she is in and explaining she hopes to have a livable future with the groups she identifies with. I completely applaud her bluntness, there have been too many targeted attacks on groups (Black community/POC, LGBTQ community) and nobody addresses the fear we have to live in. Most of the time it is anger or frustration. Lorde continues by explaining how each group she identifies with works together in her life. She points out that each group she identifies with struggles. She can’t win within each group she is in. She says, “Within the lesbian community I am Black, and within the Black community I am a lesbian.” By the end, Lorde’s message is that each group/community is linked and a person can not live a life where they are not oppressed as one group but are oppressed by the other. I found her reading extremely powerful and emotional. I identify as Hispanic, so when I am outside, let’s say driving I don’t feel the fear/oppression of possibly dying if I were to get pulled over. However, I also identify as an interracial couple (like Lorde) and I do feel the fear/oppression of my significant other’s life always on the line, and that takes a toll on me. I completely see the message Lorde is trying to get across and I agree.