Women suffrage, labor rights, and equal rights amendment are related in a few ways. For instance these individuals are denied some type of right in the United States. Women suffrage is about women trying to fight for their right to vote. As it says in the 14 amendment, all citizens of America are granted the right to vote. If this were true women should have the right to vote. Since they are technically considered citizens. Labor rights were about Americans who were under terrible labor laws with even worse working conditions. They did not have the right to take breaks, go to the bathroom often, have days off, or work shorter shifts. These workers were restricted to a lot on the job and were paid next to nothing. The Equal Rights Amendment was the right to give men and women equal rights on everything. It is no secret that men were paid a higher wage for doing the same job women did. Even today men are still paid more than women at certain jobs. ERA wanted everything to be equal. In conclusion these three topics are related in a way that each fought for rights. Whether it be Work environment or sex. Another way they relate is how long it took to be successful with these causes. People were working in bad conditions since The Gilded Age until the deadly accident in 1911, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Women received the right to vote after decades of fighting for this issue in 1920. ERA has not yet been successful in their goals, however they still continue to press the matter. 

Women suffrage is an issue with gender for the simple fact that women are often underpaid than men. Professors, electricians, engineers, etc women’s wages are less than men. This is gender injustice because women are paid less than a man for doing the same job. They could have gone to the same school, obtained the same degree, and had the same qualification but men will still be paid more. These historical issues are still relevant in today’s society. Yes women got the right to vote hundred years ago, but that doesn’t mean the suffrage is over. The equal rights amendment was not ratified, which explains why women are paid less than men are. Feminism is an envoled type of suffrage. All women wanted whether it be 100 years ago or today to be equal to men, yet we still can’t be. I have hope for the near future that the equal rights amendment will become relevant again.

For this week’s writing it is free from all and as I read this announcement I immediately begin to smile. I am extremely tired. I started my new job this past Friday and I have to juggle both school and work. I just wanted a safe space to get that off my chest. Nevertheless, I do want to discuss my thoughts on women’s suffrage. The reading “one hundred years toward suffrage overview” made me realize, women have been fighting for their rights in America for a very long time. They were denied so much and for what? Because they are women? These women both white and black put together numerous organizations, strikes, associations, and even wrote books. As I read the timeline, women kept pushing and pressing the matter. Even during the First World War, they used all what they had learned in the workforce to build a stronger case after the war. Susan B. Athony was arrested for attempting to vote for Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. It takes courage to walk into a ballot room and try to vote for a president as a woman in the 1800’s. Doing something like that was forbidden. The fact that she did that is badass in my opinion. Near the end of the reading timeline women are granted a lot that they were denied many times before. To my understanding this shows if you want something in life, keep on fighting the good fight regardless of who is trying to keep you small. 

In the video, it focuses on black women suffrage. They talk about Ida B. Wells who played a huge part in women rights. A speaker in the video says there was a women’s suffrage march. (I did not like that black women were only allowed in the march if they marched in the back. But we are focused on women rights at the moment.) However, during March Ida B. Wells ran to the first of the march and continued on the march. This is very significant because Black women’s oppression was probably the worst kind. Due to the simple fact that they were black and a woman. There was a lot of activism going on in these years. A lot of things were not right and women tried to change it. I thank the women of yesterday for making the women of today empowered.

I define activism as taking a stand against something or someone to create a positive change. Activism doesn’t have to be expressed through violence. The idea of people saying what they thought or how they felt about a certain situation. Having a voice is probably one of the first  steps of activism. Using that voice to speak when there is an issue is the second step of activism. I think there are steps to being an activist, for that reason being, there are many people who see and disagree with something, but they never actually do anything about it. Others would disagree and speak up to create some type of change. Reading “How to think like an Activist” by Wendy Syfret was a big eye opener for me. In her book the chapter starts off by talking about the French Revolution. During that time craftsmen and store owners stormed the Bastille in 1789. They wanted changes socially, economically, and a whole new government thinking system. This is an example of activism. She goes on to talk about how Mahatma Gandhi  was very influenced by the Parisians. However Gandhi did not engage in violence he held peaceful protests and marches to create a change. I was always aware of activism and how it works. This reading made my understanding a bit more clearer. On this topic the film I watched is “United in Anger”. I thought this was a pretty increasing film to say the least. I am a history nerd and AIDS was a huge part of the 80’s and 90’s. I felt so happy seeing these young gay and lesbian be very active in their community. They held protests and conventions against the American government not providing help to people with AIDS. They had many different groups, one was called “Act up” They were persistent, fierce, and Angry. Act up wanted the government to stop treating them like sinners but as a human being. I think they inspired changed to groups today such as “LGBQT” group. Throughout the film, they participated in sit-ins that were non-violence and sang chants while holding hands. This is what activism looks like. People coming together to change a problem that affects them. One way that I have engaged in activism is at my job. I was overworked, talking for granted, and ignored. So one day my two co-workers and I decided to lock up the store and go home. We were fed up and tried, we felt like nobody cared about us. Long story short, we were fired. However not the company is taking more precautions and putting the employees first, which was what we wanted along. 

 It is important to recognize patriarchy as a system and not an individual person because it is not only a person’s identity but the system. In the text “ patriarchy, system” by Allan G.  Johnson he says, “ blaming everything on ‘the system’ strikes a deep chord in many people but it also touches on a basic misunderstanding of social life.” Johnson explains patriarchy is often blamed on society. Patriarchy is participating in something larger than ourselves. Johnson believes if we choose to see patriarchy as Jasmine patronizing women then we do not see the system of how its wires aren’t mine. My wires are mine I mean social media, TV shows, pornography, movies, video games, books, magazines and more. Seeing violent and superior men against women has become normal to us. In the chapter it states, “ we might ask why a particular man raped, harassed, or be a particular woman. We would not ask, however, what kind of society will promote persistent patterns of such behavior and everyday life.” Making jokes about being a “ Woman beater” or thinking hitting a woman will get a man respect is part of a system controlled society. A lot of the times rape and battery is seen as a sign of anger or a cry for help. This is where patriarchy ships from individual identity to a society perspective. Sometimes society makes excuses for men’s behavior.

There are different levels of patriarchy. Personal patriarchy is believing one is superior to all women. A man who thinks his wife should stay at home and engage in cleaning and cooking duties. While he goes out and “brings Home the bacon”. In other words, the breadwinner of the house. A man who believes that he is head of the household is a personal review of patriarchy. Interpersonalism is similar to individual patriarchy. So that same man who thinks he’s supposed to be the breadwinner of his family also practices his beliefs. He repeatedly tells his wife she is not allowed to work or make her own money. He expects a hot meal each day after a hard day of work. This man does not clean or help maintain anything in the house. He simply does nothing and wants everything to be done by his stay at home wife. Although he has a hand in making his children, after  the wife undergoes numerous changes to her body. She is responsible for taking care of their well-being and making sure they’re fed and clothed. Institutional patriarchy would be a government filled with men making decisions on what a woman’s place in society should be. Certain jobs they prevent women from doing for instance construction worker, plumber, electrician, pilot, etc. Taking away women’s rights to get an abortion is all part of institutional patriarchy. Creating rules against women to bring them down. Cultural/structural patriarchy to me does not qualify as part of patriarchy. For this reason being culture is something that is “ true” or “right”. Nothing about patriarchy is right in my opinion.

I really never consider myself privileged for many reasons. Growing up I lived with my mom in a country where I was not legal. Meaning I have no citizenship or in other words undocumented. By telling you (the class) this you can only imagine the unprivileged life I have experienced. Coming to America opened doors for me, doors I didn’t know were possible. I can honestly agree with white privilege. Privileged to me is being able to work a job without getting paid “ under the books”. Having a proper healthcare support system in case of any medical need. Not worrying about whether or not rent is going to be late this month. Going on family vacations, getting to go to college for a small cost, or having some type of credit score is all a privilege to me because a few years ago I was limited from all the simple things. Privilege to me is as simple as what any human being should have the opportunity of doing. I recently found out what oppression means about a week ago. Through a television show that frequently spoke about black oppression. Nevertheless, I don’t recall experiencing oppression while racist oppression anyway. However, sexist oppression happens to me quite often.  I would be stared at by older men who would try to talk to me. Constantly cat calling me on my way to school or work. I ignored them but it still makes me feel unsafe outside. When I was at work the supervisor only use to let the guys at the job do all the heavy lifting, taking out the garbage and breaking down the boxes. They were saying women can’t do those things because it’s a man’s job. Even though it is not something a person would want to do because it’s kind of gross taking out the garbage. However, why must women be  limited  from doing hard or heavy duty? We should all be treated the same regardless of if you are a man or woman. Reading Peggy Mclntoch’s article was very enlightening to say the least. I realize privilege is an invisible cloak that white people don’t know is there. They are not aware of the rights they have. Ms Mcintosh states, “ I can be pretty sure that if I asked to talk to you “ the person in charge,” I will be facing a person of race.” Privilege is being able to see your people of race in charge. To my understanding, having or being able to do something that others are not able to do is a privilege. The video was very sad to watch because privilege to one is another person’s disadvantage. Privilege is based on your family, their income, culture, race, etc . I noticed the black woman and young man were in the black. Majority of the people in the front were white. I believe white people do have more opportunities than blak people. Simply because I think white people come from a good home and they inherit more than black people do.