As I read, “Why artistic activism?” my thoughts on it were that activist art is to describe art that is grounded in the act of doing and addresses political or social issues in today’s society. This activist art can be empowering individuals and communities that are generally situated in the public arena with artists working closely with a community to generate art. it’s mentioned in the reading, “Artistic Activism is a dynamic practice combining the creative power of the arts to move us emotionally with the strategic planning of activism necessary to bring about social change.” as well it mentions, “Artistic Activism is a practice aimed at generating effect: emotionally resonant experiences that lead to measurable shifts in power.” That being said you will come across a work of art that will represent any of the issues in the society that is hoping to change. That can also send out a message on what activism people are trying to change. As it also is something that you would want to address for people to protest for.

My thoughts on abortion are I would say I am in between meaning I am a  supporter and not a supporter of abortion. I do think that abortion is murder because well it’s a blessing for some and maybe for some not. Looking at how many women had miscarriages and some that can’t have babies and wish maybe they were those mothers who were planning to have a baby but ended up not wanting it. What I mean is instead of having to abort a baby, why not just give the baby to a family that is trying to have a baby but can’t because of some difficulties they are going through. Then again I think about it and you know a reason why a female would want to get an abortion is that maybe they were sexually harassed and don’t have any emotions for the baby because they will show some anger towards the baby or something. See what’s happening in today’s society the supreme court is planning to overturn abortion rights. If abortion was taken away from woman’s rights it will be a huge problem and I can imagine there being even bigger groups of protesters fighting to get back the rights that were being taken away. See a woman is more than welcome to do whatever they decide to with their body. Is just something that we have to respect in my opinion.  I don’t know but I just have so many mixed emotions about this topic.  

My thoughts on medical oppression are that there is an overview of discrimination and inequality in health care. Some of it is classism, ageism, racism, non-English speakers, homophobia, sexism, and non-compliant patients. As I was reading the article, 12 reasons it should be illegal for doctors not to treat trans people, I was a bit shocked at the new rule that was proposed by the department of health and human service that could make medical care for transgender people. I mean I feel like no matter how you classify yourself or whatsoever everyone should seek medical attention. people who are non-binary and transgender people should deserve access to healthcare without the fear of discrimination. Once again we are all humans we should deserve the rights that all humans have. Nobody should ever live with this fear. Transgender people are people. A lot of those who are transgender are having a hard time obtaining life-saving care.

During this week’s readings, I kind of get a better understanding of what identity politics is when Garza first had pointed when she says, “identity politics is the radical notion that your worldview is shaped by your experiences and history and that those experiences will vary in relationship to the power a group or an individual has in the economy, society, or democracy.” It made me think of the other author’s experience in Too Latina to be black, too black to be Latina. Where she experienced this crisis she had. I agree with what she says about learning to embrace every aspect of your identity and not let any other people put you in that position where you can’t embrace your identity. There was a part she mentioned how when she got into high school a classmate told her “ You’re the most Mexican black girl I’ve ever met!” and then she thought to herself saying “I could remember thinking “is that a compliment because my family is from Honduras”. I can’t be sure if my own experience is like what she went through because I remember when I was in high school people would ask me where I was from or would ask me what my name and I would tell them and they end up telling me “oh you don’t look Mexican” it’s like what is that suppose to mean. Like yeah, I am Mexican-American but what are tryna say is that I don’t look, Mexican. Like I do embrace my identity and where my family is from that makes me part of them.

My thoughts on this week’s readings and the film. Well about the film I would say that the film shows the intersectionality of race, class, gender expression, and sexuality in a marginalized New York community. See how members of the subculture use positive means of expression rather than violence, yet they are still targets of discriminatory violence. The discrimination against colored and trans people. I think that people in this film are almost portrayed as objects and that the audience might feel as if they have more power, they will feel better about themselves because they have money and status. In the reading, this being that black women have always had a negative relationship with the system of white rule because of their “membership in two oppressed racial and sexual castes,” but shows that both sexual identity and racial identity have combined to make their struggles unique in some way.

My thoughts on this week’s readings, I was a bit shocked when reading “The myth of a Vaginal orgasm” because based on the statements that Freud has said and thought he was a femininst. Now he mentioned and I can’t believe he said that women’s “natural” role was to just have sex t satisfy the sexual needs of men. women aren’t sexual objects to be used only for sex, but actual human beings capable of doing the same things as men do. Another statement he made that I can’t believe he even related to a woman as being “frigid”  to having psychological problems. It’s absurd how to mean would tell a woman to seek psychiatric help just because they don’t make their sex enjoyable. overall this whole article as a whole seems to just emphasize the compliance of male interests during sexual intercourse. The physical superiority of males seems to have to be something women enjoy. Sexual intercourse often goes hand in hand with power. it just shows how men tend to see women as objects during sex making it okay to display acts of violence.

My thoughts on this week’s reading. There is a lot in today’s world that there are issues with females. The fight for suffrage continues for many groups in place around the world. Back in 2018, there were still people fighting for women’s rights. Taking a look at the reading’s title it says, “Virginia just became the 38th state to pass the Amendment of the equal right, …” There is a lot to be done in today’s world because we’re still dealing with how we women are being taken for privileges. At the end of the reading, it says, “I think there’s been more widespread understanding among both women and men that we have not truly established equality in our culture,” she says, “and the laws that we have enacted are not sufficient to protect against sex discrimination in all avenues.“ Here is something that I also see the laws that we have now are not sufficient to protect us against sex discrimination. Like in my opinion there should be more women who should be getting done that have not been resolved yet.

As I read, “The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women And How All Men Can Help” how violence is a men’s issue. My thoughts about the reading were that even in today’s society, domestic abuse is considered to be a one-sided problem only involving females. How the mass media has a huge impact on abuse. How alpha male culture influences male motive to abuse their partner. Now with the media, it’s portraying women as being sex toys and objects to men.  Within the alpha male culture, media portrays men as being “non-feminine”, Rap videos, and hip-hop influences, and showing how men have power. As even today a female is being abused by their partner and doesn’t know what to do and ends up getting killed by their partner is something that in today’s society we have to help those females who are being domestically abused by their partner. As well this is a gender issue in today’s world.

My thoughts on the reading “There are no Hierarchy oppressions”, Audre Lorde describes herself as a black, lesbian, feminist, and mother. I started to see what causes oppression when Audre identifies these groups and exemplifies that opperison comes in many forms. This idea of how power is the basis of social identities and all forms of oppression are linked together. She says, “I have learned that oppression and the intolerance of difference in all shapes and sexes and colors and sexualities and that among those of us who share the goals of liberation and a workable future for our children, there can be no hierarchies of oppression. I have learned that sexism and heterosexism both arise from the same source as racism”. As she said this I really didn’t think that way. I thought there were hierarchies in oppression. As I read on, she mentions how sexism and heterosexism are a source of racism because thousands of lesbians and gay men are black. seeing that the author is lesbian herself she goes on to say she is lesbian in a black community and that any attack that is being said to or brought to black people is either a lesbian or gay issue.

I didn’t think we would talk about Activism but this topic I do see it as a major pillar of gender and women’s studies in that some women’s rights activists have fought for full equality from voting rights to fair treatment in the workplace and the pursuit of reproductive and sexual freedom. Going on with the reading of how to think like an activist, it has mentioned a lot about marches one that stood out the most was the march for our lives and the poor teens where in Florida shooting happened. This call of action is enough, that there should be a stop to gun violence in the United States. That even in today’s society there has been more gun violence going on. Another issue that happened was the Black Lives Matter March for our lives where you had a career activist to change the way we view the world. There are so many issues in today’s world that have not been resolved or might have to say history is repeating itself. It’s best to bring the younger generation to have their voice heard and to hope they can change any of the issues in today’s society. Today we have seen a lot of peaceful protests in New York City hoping for a better chance.