Author: Danny Washington

Essay #3 Danny Washington

Anything feminine in America and westernized civilizations is deemed weak. Especially if you do not fit the criteria to be feminine, despite women showing their strength throughout history Women experience massive amounts of oppression and sexism in society. The oppression is as far as financial oppression. White women make about 85 cents to the man’s dollar. Women of color experience even more disparities being as they make less to every dollar of a white woman. These sexist and racial disparities are all too common in American society and the lack of representation is nothing new. 

The gender wage gap isn’t a new subject made this century. It is a topic spoken about for decades. Countless women have fought for equality and equity within the workforce. Each one faced their own difficulties and contributed to what we have today. However, there is still work to be done. The gender wage gap is now seen as a taboo topic but there are subjects with the movement itself that aren’t spoken about or highlighted. Within America, there are many racial and ethic groups. Each one may differ culturally, linguistically and with the amount of representation. Equal representation is a persistent problem in America. This problem can be reflected within the Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. AAPI women face the same problem as any other woman of color between the racial and sexist oppression of the wage gap. They experience erasure. AAPI women face the stereotypical Asain minority myth with the assumption that all AAPI women have reached financial and economic success. This stereotype leaves AAPI women who face poverty and other economic or societal struggles out the conversations. AAPI women are also more likely to work in service, sales or office jobs compared to their male counterparts. This as well isn’t properly represented and is an important topic. These workers are typically faced with low wages, little to no benefits, no job security and a lack of compassion from the general public as well as employers. 

Another problem that women face in the gender wage gap is equity. The fact that women do not receive the same pay as their male counterparts isn’t a new topic. Some may say the gender wage problem is only prevalent without education. However, even when women obtain their highschool diploma, bachelors or masters degrees they continue to face wage disparities. Black women with their bachelors degree earn about 65.14% of each dollar earned by their male counterparts. Latina women 62.73%, Native American women 52.7% and white women do not face these issues. These women strive for economic advancement and are met with so many obstacles along the way. 

The gender wage gap isn’t an issue that is solely about women not getting paid equal to men. There are many issues that haven’t been addressed publicly or haven’t been equally represented. The disparities women of color face is a movement itself. The movement will progress as each woman is equally represented and when the workforce is equitable to each woman despite their occupation. 

DB 10 Danny Washington

In this week’s assignment I watch the film Anita. The film featured Professor Anita Hill who experience sexual harassment by Judge Clarence Thomas. The film shows documented footage of Professor Anita Hill giving her testimony to an all white male senate judiciary board. The senate judiciary did not treat the issue with delicacy or professionalism, instead they made a show of Anita’s testimony and seemed to interrogate her. They questioned her character, moral, motive and even went as far as to question her sexual history. The trail, as it seemed, was not fair and easy to watch. Anita explained the emotional trauma she had to endure from giving her testimony and due to the publicly she was receiving. Though things were tough in the courtroom, Anita did have public and media support. The topic of sexual harassment in the workplace at the time was common. However, it was not as common to publicly speak against it. Although Anita did not intend to receive public attention, in fact her story was leaked to the media, it was important she did. Sexaul harassment within the workforce was pervalant and Anita speaking about her experience was perfect for many women, and men, across America. 

Anita’s story is an important topic because of the intersectionality of her experience. Initially, Anita experience sexual harassment from Judge Thomas, however I do not believe the harassment stopped there. When Anita was giving her testimony to the all white male senate board they made a show of her situation. Giving repetitive and inappropriate questions. Despite friends and family giving testimony about Anita’s good character and heart. Countless people who have encountered professor Hill speak about the impressions she leaves them with. The judge’s body language seemed uncomfortable as well as their facial expressions. Anita faced racial discrimination and well as the sexist attitudes of many of the judges on the senate board. On the other hand, Judge Thomas’ experience was the complete opposite. The judges seemed remorseful and Thomas denied all of Anita’s claims upon the start of the testimony. 

Despite Anita facing all the adversity with the senate judiciary board and sexual harassment in the workplace she continued to remain a public figure. She became a voice for the voiceless, she sacrificed herself for the good of women around America. Anita continued to speak about her experience across America as well as releasing a book along the way. Anita Hill became a necessary public figure that was appreciated by many people. 

Essay #2 Danny Washington

The feminist movent durning the 1960s to 1980s was a complicated period. It was a transitional period as well. It went from the traditional understanding of feminism from a predominantly traditional sexism perspective to understanding the complexities of the Black woman experience, other women of color and women who did not fit typical societal norms. In this essay I will analyze the shift in the movement and the importance of that shift. 

In the early 1970s there was an article written entitled, “I Want A Wife” by Judy Brady. The article talks from a first person perspective about the desire to want a wife after a conversation with a male friend. The author does a fantastic way of placing imagery in our minds about the difficulties of being a wife as well as a woman. The expectations of wives and women are similar to a servant. In the article Brady says, “ I want a wife who takes care of the needs of my guests so that they feel comfortable, who makes sure that they have an ashtray, that they are passed the hors d’oeuvres, that they are offered a second helping of the food, that their wine glasses are replenished when necessary, that their coffee is served to them as they like it.” This quote seems like a dramatized vision of the responsibilities of a wife but I believe it isn’t. I believe the author’s purpose was to emphasize a reality for some women. In the beginning of the piece she talks about simple tasks that women generally endure. As the article progresses the imagery seems subservient and less humane. The article forces me as a man to think about my own projections or expectations I have for women. 

Black women were always involved in the feminist movement. However, they weren’t always equally represented in the complex ways in which they experience both racism and sexism simultaneously. It seemed to be too complicated of a subject for white women and black men to understand during the time period. Granted it was not all black men and white women. Similar to Black women, women who have not fit societal norms, such as queer women, were also always involved in the feminist movement. In the article, “How Do We Get Free” introduced by Keeanga- Yamahtta Taylor, they speak of the Black women’s complexities of the Black Woman experience in America, and gaining political consciousness. In the article they state, “ Black women’s extremely negative relationship to the American political system (a system of white male rule) has always been determined by our membership in two oppressed racial and sexual castes.” This quote does an excellent job at simply and directly stating the relationship between Black women and America. Similar to Black men, black women experience racism and similar to white women they experience sexism. However, Black men have privilege in being men and white women have white privilege. Neither group of people experience this intersection of oppression. An issue I believed should be spoken about more, which is the reason I resonated with this article. As a black man, personally experiencing moments in which the intersection of oppression displayed itself onto my mother. I can understand the importance of this topic. Black women have a relationship with America that can only be articulated by Black women but they need the support of the black community as well. The author also speak about the dependance the black feminist movement has with the black community. I believe this to be another important topic to discuss.  Understanding the shift in the feminist movement an the necessity of the shift is important. It helps me to understand my own male privilege. As well as, ways I can assist or support women in my life. Understanding their oppression helps to create a more equal world.

Final Project Draft

Introduction

  • History of Foster Care in the US (English Poor Laws)
  • Brief history about “Orphan Trains”
  • System built on the neglect of youth 

Caring for a child that is not your own is’t something new. In some societies people care for children collectively. The United States has a history with fostering children that isn’t the best. In the 19th century the United States adopted England’s Poor Laws. 

BODY 1

  • Childhood experience with foster care 
  • Survival, Conforming, Servitude (power imbalance)

For most of my childhood I have experienced the Foster Care system in New York. Starting in 2013, that was the day I was introduced to the system. Woken up on a hot day in July, I was told to put my clothes on and get ready. Not knowing that life had something waiting for me, the experience of a lifetime. My introduction to foster care was not the best but I doubt anyone’s introduction is. I was a scared and confused child, and the supervisors thought it would be best not to explain the situation because I was a child. I was scared because I had knowledge of foster care based on my cousin’s experience. She compared being in foster care to being a slave and I did not want that faith. Worker tried to reassure me that it would be alright once we were in the group home but I was only worried about staying with my siblings. (continue)

One foster home that I’ve experienced was horrible but I felt as though I had to endure the abuse or we’d be sent to another home where things would get worse or stay in a group home until I age out. There was the additional stress of protecting my younger siblings, I often portrayed a parental role for them. In the home my guardian was being physically abused by her then husband. Initially, it was shocking to experience but as time progressed it became easier to respond and come to her aid. It felt like we, my brother and I, were her line of defense from the demonic man and we did not bat an eye because we knew our situation. Eventually, the abuse started to shift, he would focus his attention onto me and often direct his frustration at me. He often called me slurs, followed me around the house and even went as far as locking me out the house on numerous occasions. It continued with financial abuse, he would take the money my guardian gets for caring for us and splur it on himself. For months I lived like this, with the idea it was my responsibility to care for my siblings and do what is necessary so they don’t have to experience this. 

How does this tie into the Orphan Trains ? (create good transition)

  • Orphan Trains in the 1800’s states with big  cities would advertise homeless children and ask people to take them into their homes 
  • Many children were sent to farms and different places in the south 
  • Places neglected children and used them as indentured servants (US actually has history with creating laws specifically making children indentured servants find it)

Similar to the experience of the children, a part of the 1800’s “Orphan Trains” I felt since I am in a home it is my duty to have myself at service for my guardian. Whether that meant doing a simple chore such as cleaning the bathroom or defending her from an abusive man, the task should get done, it’s the right thing to do since I live with her. No task was too big and with each one I endured more trauma. Eventually, it felt like I was unable to say no or express how I truly felt, I had spent so long suppressing myself I had forgotten how to be myself. Then it hit me this is what my cousin meant by being in foster care is like being a slave. This was survival, this was my introduction to the cycle of surviving the system of foster care. (Continue)

The United States has a history of assimilating people in their society. First, with the start of the first nations people, or indigonous people. It was either assimilated or were saluted and the United States started to become clever with the ways in which they erased these people. One way the United States enacted terror on Native people was the Trail of Tears in the 1800’s. (continue)

Some may compare foster care to displacement. Being stripped from your community and bounced around the state until they can find a “suitable home” enduring trauma along the way and expected to be thankful.

Danny Washington: DB 8

This weeks readings were about the gender wage. Before the reading I had basic knowledge about the wage gap. Truly, some of the statistics were difficult to understand but after further reading and research I understand. It’s insane to think that we are still dealing with this problem but understandable when thinking of the history of the United States.

One thing that was intriguing to learn was the “motherhood penalty” because I believe it to be true. In fact, it is something I have witness. I have a friend who is a mother, she was a supervisor for a fast food chain. Recently she was laid off because her infant had an emergency and she had to get her from the sitter. She took the proper steps in contacting her supervisor, he understood because he was a parent but ultimately is was not his decision to make. Before returning to work the next day she was informed she was terminated due to closing the store early. In my opinion, it was bullshit and they were just waiting for a reason to fire her.

The “motherhood penalty” is not anything new. I’ve heard countless stories from my grandmother, aunts and cousins about how poorly they are treated at certain jobs, especially when you children. Things have changed drastically, but we must continue to do work so that things are equal and equitable.

I do have a question, why were the AAPI statistics broke into sub categories? Why isn’t the same thing done for the umbrella term Black?

Danny Washington: DB 7

The theme of this weeks videos and articles revolved around the right of transgender people. Things that we as cis gendered people may not think twice about: sports, the bathroom and our perception. However, these are things that the trans community must think of through their daily lives. The perception of gender has long fascinated me and while reading the articles I had to step outside of myself to try and understand the trans community and the adversities they have to overcome.

Conformality has it roots in the cooperation of the United States of America. From the way we socially conform: men are expected to exhibit masculine traits and the same could be said for women in their own context; to the way some may conform to gender norm expectations. However, throughout history we see that their are people who live outside of these roles of gender norm expectations. Trans people, non binary people and gender non conforming people have long live outside the box of what is socially acceptable. People who identify as such are often dehumanized, demonized or simply not treated with any compassion. We can see this with the case of two transgender high school sophomores Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood. These two young ladies were allowed to join a track team that allied with the gender they identify as due to the progressive Connecticut laws in favor of the non conforming community. The two young ladies won both first and second in their respective races, naturally there were parents who were upset. These parents even went as far as making a petition for Connecticut for reverse their policies that align with the right of trans people. The harassment continued further when the young ladies posted their wins on Twitter, they were virtually attacked, bullied and even threatened. On Twitter user shared this according to ABC News article, “These girls worked hard only to be cheated because science deniers allowed two boys to steal what they worked so hard for,” this is extremely disheartening for multiple reasons. One, there is no science that says all trans women are physically strong than cis gender women . Two, they do not refer to her with the proper pronouns she would wish to be addressed as. Lastly, any form of harassment is horrible. Eventually, the two young ladies quit their teams due the harassment and public outrage which is absolutely unfortunate.

Trans, or non binary, harassment is not a newly found concept. It has existed for as long as the community has. There will always be ignorance within a society, whether macro or micro. What happens when that ignorance comes from your own community?

As we seen in the article, “It’s Time to End the Long History of Feminism Failing Transgender Women” by Tina Vasquez she analyses the ways in which women spaces are not inclusive towards trans women and the ignorance the trans community has to face from people who may consider themselves radical feminist. The radical feminist, or trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERFs) as referred to by Vasquez, almost align themselves with bigots. Saying things like, “doctors can make a feminine creature but can not make a woman” or Brennen a openly TERF posting transwomen addresses, phone number or even going as far as to call their jobs. This out the trans community at a huge risk for different reasons. Financially, they may lose their job, and safety reasons. The behavior that Brennen, and other TERFs, display is unacceptable especially because it a marginalized group of women attacking a different marginalized group of women. How can we contribute to the growth and safety of the trans community? Simple, education. Educating ourselves, our family, friends and community. As well as aligning ourselves with trans people, or communities, showing as much representation as possible because they’re human first and deserve to live as much as a cis gender binary person.

Danny Washington: Essay #1

Gender expectations is a concept that has roots in the western patriarchal, eurocentric world. This concept is the belief that you must correspond with the gender you are born into with the expectations of that gender. To simply put it, men should act and dress like men and women should act and dress like women. However, there are many problems with this belief of gender expectation, or gender norms, because it isolates entire groups of people, communities, culture or subculture of people.

Since I’ve been a child gender expectations were throw at me. From the conversation between my mother and her friends, “He’s going to be a strong boy” “He is too cute the girls are gonna love him”, to the color of my room being blue, or way I choose to dance. These are all forms of gender expression and since a young age I’ve experienced a form of gender expression oppression. One memory that I have of gender expression oppression is when I was scouted by a ballet teacher for a school. During middle school, my school had an intensive where a outside school would come and scout for local talent for their school. At the end of the audition they would usually offer the parents of the child a scholarship to attend the school. I went through with the first rounds of auditions and was called back for the second round. My mother was ecstatic, she seemed to be more excited than I was at the time, my father however could not have looked more disappointed. I remember him purposely taking me to the auditions without my mother in an attempt to convince me not to take the scholarship. The entire was there he talked about how, “Boys don’t dance ballet” or “you want to wear tights like a girl”. These are things I remember because my young mind was extremely impressionable, especially since I was about ten or eleven. Nevertheless when I got to the auditions nevertheless I was excited, excited to display my talents, skills and to show them the choreography I was able to absorb. The auditions went well and I was offered to come to the school with a scholarship, this dreamed was shot down. When we left the place my father tried to convince me into not joining. It was the perception of me dancing ballet that bothered him. He equated ballet with queerness and queerness with weakness. My father’s expectation for me was to be a strong man, and “strong” meant the physical attributes; big muscles, football player, boxer, strong man. I started to notice after this incident my father becoming noticeably distant as I matured and became more expressive of myself.

As I matured, I myself noticed things that were seemingly odd. In the area I was raised, to be kind in nature was to be weak. Fighting became something that was common, this was a way to tell people, “I’m not soft, I’m not weak”. Fighting became the norm for young boys in the area. This is where I noticed the perception of black men start to grow for myself. We were seen as criminals, thugs and gangsters this is what surrounded us daily. How could little black boys escape this fate? I began to question myself and what I actually want from life. While I saw many interalize one perception of a black man, I also saw many people create for themselves a different image of a black man. Dennis Rodman, Prince, Jaden Smith and Sisqo and just a few examples of black men living outside the scope of gender expectation. All these men challenge in one way or another the norms for gender expressions and do not show obedience to the patriarchal masses. Jaden with his flamboyant attitude in the fashion scene choosing to wear a dress and model for a womens catalog. Dennis with his gender expression choosing to paint his nails and dye his hair various colors. While also exploring the scope of gender fluidity by wearing women’s clothing. It is not until we break from the binds of gender expectation that we can all be free and live in a world that is not more tolerable, rather than peaceful and acceptable.

Danny Washington: DB 6

Hello everyone, hope all of you had a good weekend. The weather was amazing. One thing I’d like to talk about is Moonlight the movie. Since watching the movie it has lived rent free in my mind. Moonlight displays and deals with the complexity toxic masculinity, vulnerability, the perception of black men by the black community and “outsiders” , as well as drug addiction.

The movie starts with Chiron running from a group of children, or at least this is the first part of the movie I remember. The children are chasing him because he’s “soft”. They feel as though what they’re doing is the right thing to do. We later see the same child, Chiron, playing with a group of young boys. They’re playing football and from Chiron’s body language we see that he isn’t much like the other boys. They start to pick on him for this until Kevin steps in. Kevin shows everyone that Chiron isn’t soft by fighting with him to display their masculinity. Later on we’re introduced to Juan. Juan is a drug dealer in the area and happens to find Chiron in an abandoned house running from the children from earlier in the movie. Juan basically becomes a father figure to Chiron, showing him kindness, love, vulnerability, he’s well mannered, caring and somehow still maintains a hard exterior when needed.

One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Juan holds Chiron in the water. Juan helps Chiron to float, trying to teach him to swim, but this wasn’t before letting him know that his sexuality does not define him. He says to Chiron, “you could be gay but don’t let nobody call you a faggot”, Chiron first introduction into being a man. He later tells Chiron to be whatever he wants to be, and that he has to make that decision himself.

We later see Chiron as a teenager in high school. He is still getting bullied because he isn’t up to the masculine display of what a man should be. His bully continues to antagonize him until Chiron relaiates. After Chiron relaiates he gets to the respect of some of his classmate but at the cost of his image and safety.

Later on in the movie when Chiron is an adult we see him completely distant from the person he once was. He isn’t quite, timid or shy. He is seemingly confident and prosperous, he followed in the footsteps of Juan and is thriving. However, something doesn’t seem right. He is still having nightmares about the treatment from his mother or the trauma he has endure. It isn’t until he meets up with Kevin, his childhood friend, that we see some vulnerability from him. They talk and we are even given a flashback as Kevin and Chiron look at eachother. THe flashback is of Chiron as a child. I believe this is a representation of their relationship and how Kevin views Chiron. Despite the grills, chain and hard exterior Kevin can see past the facade into who Chiron truly is.

There was so much more that happened in the movie that I did not share. However, that isn’t important. This movie shines an important light on many issue the black community face. As a child I was not allowed to do basic things such a enjoy myself if enjoying myself was dancing ballet or singing. These things, in the eyes of my father, weren’t “manly” or “too girly”. My parents would often convince me out of doing something because they were worried of the perception people would have of me. This greatly affected my childhood, to the extent I would be over concerned about how I dress and how I look, or the perception people would have of me. It has affect my relationship with people and my relationship with myself. At a point in time I felt deserving of misfortune because of my sexuality and self expression. I am finally breaking from what people perceive me to be, whatever that may be, to living and ENJOYING my life. I can truly say these past few have been the most challenging and necessary years of my life. Thank y’all for coming to my ted talk.

Danny Washington: DB 5

Throughout the second wave of feminism many different political and social stances were taken. Their was also a divergence in the Women’s Rights Movement. There were white women feminist who felt at the time, enough has been done and women made there mark on the patriarchal sexist society. Then there were women who knew there was still work to be done, most of the time it was the disadvantaged women of color whom saw this need for change. There was a clear division in the Women’s Right Movement.

While watching the movie, “Born in Flames” there were a few themes attributed with the movie. One of them being the lack of understanding of the Women’s Army and their objective. As well as, the division of women. During my analysis of the movie I noticed one thing in particular and that was the perception of the Women’s Army. In one scene of the movie there were two black women speaking in regards to the Women’s Army. One women talked about how The Women’s Army came to the aid of a rape victim on bicycles while blowing whistles. Her perception of the Women’s Army was that they were childish, or shouldn’t be taken seriously, she then said they “weren’t mature enough” for her. While the other woman wanted to educate her friend about the Women’s Army and their attempts to unify women, help the community and help raise jobs. Both of these perceptions of the Women’s Army are valid because they both come from the individuals perspective of the Army. However, this exemplifies the clear division between women, some thought the women’s movement still had some internal work to do with the organization. Other believed if women were to unify they would be an unstoppable force, but how can women unify when their goals are drastically different.

Another theme I came across while watching the movie and reading the articles was the goal of the Women’s Rights Movement. Initially, I believed the goals of white women to be different of that than black women however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There were many white and black women fighting the same battles, for women to be more present within society and the liberation of women. It is seen in the movie that women were laid off from their jobs based on sexist ideologies that women were taking jobs from men or did not belong in the workforce. Then there were political steps taken to disadvantage women, mostly minority women. Cut backs in daycare, ending free abortions, forced sterilization of minority women and firing single women who were head of household. It seemed to be a political war against the liberation of women.

Finally, a theme that held significance while reading, ” How we get free” was that black women were forgotten about when being liberated or valueless. One quote that stood out to me was, ” but it is apparent that no other ostensibly
progressive movement has ever considered our specific oppression as a priority or worked seriously for the ending of that oppression. Merely naming the pejorative stereotypes attributed to Black women (e.g., mammy, matriarch, Sapphire, whore, bulldagger), let alone cataloguing the cruel, often murderous, treatment we receive, indicates how little value has been placed upon our lives
during four centuries of bondage in the Western Hemisphere.” The author felt as though during the first and second wave of feminism, and during the Civil Right Movement, black women were forgotten about. No one consistently put the effort into liberating black women who contributed to many different movements at the time. I believe the message she was trying to convey was if we don’t step into ourselves there will be no justice for us. Another difference in women at the time can be seen in, “Born in Flames” when a woman talks about her mothers experience raising children. Her mother had to work a job to provide for her 8 children, but there weren’t any daycare services for single mothers at the time, especially in low income areas. Her mother also did not have an option for an abortion similarly to what many of the women during that time have faced.

Danny Washington: DB4

In this weeks text there were a few common themes in each text. While analyzing the text I came across two themes which are: the conditioning of women and the liberation of women. The main problem I see in this time period (mid 1960s to early 1970) is that women were conditioned to be a certain type of way in order to be deemed acceptable and weren’t allowed to live outside the world of women without being seen as threat to the dominated patriarchal oppression placed on them. The main concern is collectively liberating women from the shackles of a sexist society while raising women awareness to the systematic and politic oppression they face. It isn’t only a women’s rights violation, it’s a human rights violation.

The the article, “I Want a Wife” the author, Judy Brandy, speaks of wanting a wife after having a conversation with a friend. The author then processed to list social roles, or expectations set for people occupying a given or born role in society. Women are expected to perform certain task due to their status in society and the belief of western society. Judy does a good job at listing these role in a theoretical life scenario. She expects her wife to cook, clean, take care of the kids, take care of home, listen to conversation and basically be a therapist in one shape or form. She exemplified what is expected of a “good wife”. Then there was, “Women Liberation: Aims to free men too” by Gloria Steinem. In this article the author begin with a brief explanation of the women’s liberation movement and ways in which men can ally themselves with women. She also speaks of her own ignorance of the women liberation movement, comparing it to that of home economics. Next, the author get into some necessary but short conversation. Exposing the parallels of the struggles of the Women’s Liberation Movement and that of the Civil Rights Movement. Steinem speaks on the mistreatment of women and Afro Americans within the United States society. One line that stood out to me was, “The truth is that a woman with a college degree working full time makes less than a black man with a high school degree working full time. And black women make least of all.” The is a clear disparity in all of this. In my opinion, especially during these times black women had it worst than any group whether in the women liberation movement or the civil rights movement. In both groups they were essentially pushed to the back and barely got, if any, recognition. Many black women, before the women’s liberation movement, spoke against the disparities they face simply trying to be human. One women in particular named Fannie Lou Hamer gave a speech at Washington D.C, on Mississippi and Civil Right on June 8th 1964. During this speech she addressed that she was a sharecropper and was being evicted from her home of several years because she went down to the court to register to become a first class citizen in order to vote. All this women wanted to do was vote, a simple human right, and they tried denying her of that right by giving an ultimatum; either withdraw your voting registration or leave the premisses (plantation). While reading Gloria Steinem’s article it reminded me of the extra pain black women had to endure due to the intersectionality that they faced. We must all evaluate the privilege we may have in this society so that we can identify the best way to serve women and be their allies.