Volunteer work with The Whitehouse Project

Today I met with my volunteer organization called The Whitehouse Project. From the two visits I have had with my organization I have learned the importance of networking through the internet. Katie Groke had me open a twitter account and add The Whitehouse Project as a follower. Through this I saw how putting events and information on their page can help spread the word about the goals The Whitehouse Project wishes to meet. One of the expectations I have about my organization is that I want to be one of the helpers that reaches out to the public to get more followers. I am achieving this goal by finding business's around the area that will put on thier events page when The Whitehouse Project has speakers and events for the organization. Some examples of these are Westword and The Denver Post. Another expectation that I have is to learn as much as I can about how to get women in office. These expectations are supported because many of Katie's colleague's and supporters believe in the use of networking through the internet and teaching followers around the world what it takes to get women in office. In class we talked about how men get a certain dominance in language.Such as us saying the mailman instead of the mail women. While working for this organization I have learned how they use this to their advantage because on their twitter account they have a quote from a mail saying "It can't be that men are more indispensable to the workplace- or to the government-than women." -Prime minister Jens Stoltenberg. When I read this quote while catching up on my twitter for the organization it reminding me completely of this class and women striving to get the same equality as men.

Women's and Men's movements

The woman's movement that I most identify with is the lesbian feminism. I am a lesbian and also agree with the feminist goals and outlooks. As explained in the book lesbian feminists are women identified and heterosexual women are male identified. Both strive for the same goals to end discrimination against all women including lesbians. I also identified with this because the commitment is also to getting lesbian couples the same property, insurance, and legal rights granted to heterosexual spouses. This group uses their voices to respond to social criticism about their sexual orientations. Second some lesbian feminists go to rhetorical strategies to assert their value, rights, and integrity. This movement has a huge impact on me because when I get married I would like to have the same rights as heterosexual couples. The movie "If These Walls Could Talk 2" does a very good job of illustrating why it is so important for lesbian couples to get equal marriage rights as heterosexual couples. In the movie their is a devoted lesbian couple that lived together and although not technically through the state or laws eyes were married. One of them passed away and her kids and family got all of her belongings and the house. If this couple was able to have the same laws of heterosexual couples the house would have been both of there's and wouldn't be going up for sale with the family taking it over.
The men's movement that I most identify with is the Mentors in violence Prevention. This group educates men about socialization that ties masculinity to violence and aggression. My sister was a victim of domestic violence, so I have seen violence from men in the ugliest of lights. I believe with this group that some of it can be on what society depicts how men should be.Which is the dominant one and with that dominance some men can take it too far into physically becoming controlling. This program also believes in how peer influence has a big affect on young men who start to date. Studies have shown men are more likely to be violent towards their partners if they are associated with peers who verbally endorse or engage in violence against female partners. I believe both of these movements are very helpful to making society a better and more open environment. From getting support for the LGBT movement to educating men on how to rid themselves of any violence towards women. If that is taught at a young age I believe it can be avoided and if their is enough support and movements for the LGBT community than equal rights through marriage can be achieved.

Gender Language

In class we talked about gender communication. It was refreshing to take a deep look into this because it is amazing how we look past how much our language sees a man as an individual and a wife defined by her relationship to the man. For example when getting married the vows go "I now pronounce you man and wife". keyword the man being before the word wife. Another example of how women get excluded in language is by male generic language. This is where women are included but men only get referred to. In other words a businessman, postman, and spokesman. Spotlighting gets discouraged which would be to put those terms as lady doctor and woman lawyer. This shows how men get put as the standard.

Gender Expectations

a) describe and reflect on one interaction with your parents or guardians the earliest you can remember that communicated expectations for your gender
b) the most recent interaction with someone who communicated expectations for your gender

a) The earliest interaction with my Mom that I can remember that had to do with my gender expectations was when my Mom purchased some ties for my job which is waitressing at the Olive Garden. She got the ties discounted from goodwill and all of the ones she could find were mainly dark colors and male colors. This was an expectation for my gender to have more girly ties with brighter more feminine colors such as pink, yellow or orange.
b) The earliest interaction between someone else I had was with a coworker when I went to go get a refill for a salad at work. Which normally get refilled by the men at work due to them being on the heavier side. the comment was referring to me being strong. This goes in the category of gender expectations because females are expected to be not as strong as men. When in actuality some females can be stronger than most men.