12th Blog Part 2: "Thank You For an Amazing Class"

12th Blog Assignment

Part II

Dear Dr. Heather Peerboom,

I have learned so much in Women’s Studies 301. Maybe no one noticed but I know I never spoke up during class, I wish I had, but I’m very shy and pretty socially awkward. I’m genuinely working on it though. I write, that’s how I best express myself. Despite my reserved behavior in class, taking Women’s Studies 301, especially from Dr. Heather Peerboom, was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m not kissing up, I genuinely feel that Dr. Peerboom’s WS 301 class has changed my life for the better. 

I’ve always considered myself a feminist. Even when I didn’t quite understand the issues, I always knew that I was someone who stood up against injustice. It doesn’t matter if you’re white or black, it’s obvious that it’s wrong to treat people badly because of race. It’s the same with women’s rights, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female or whatever you consider yourself, it’s obvious that it’s wrong to treat people badly because of gender and/or sex. I’ve always known that, and I’ve always known that I was the type of person who would fight for justice for everyone. So feminist is what I’ve always known I was. 

What Dr. Peerboom’s WS 301 class taught me was to think deeper than what’s on the surface of things, to dig deep, see past the bullshit, to test boundaries, to ignore social pressures. Her class taught me to never stop asking why, what, how, who, etc. Her class taught me to not be suspicious of myself for my feelings and such but to be suspicious of “social graces and manners.” To be suspicious of what is being shown to me as “normal” and “weird.” To go with my gut when I know something is not right instead of second guessing myself.

The readings and class discussions in Women’s Studies 301 have taught me a lifetime of things I might have never known. I’ve always known there were “issues” but this class has shown me the issues, this class has put me face to face with the ugly truth of the issues women and men face today. This class, it’s readings, and class discussions have shown me that it’s not just women’s issues, it’s everyones issues and that even though these issues might not be the ones on the news (like they should be) but that does not mean that they are not there. There are many dark shadows in the women’s movement today and we must work to shed light where there is darkness because if there is no awareness, then there is no recognition or problem solving, and thus there is no solution. 

Like I said, I’ve been a human rights activist, a feminist, since before I can remember. What Dr. Heather Peerboom’s Women’s Studies 301 class has given me is a clear purpose in life that I was afraid to acknowledge before. I now know that the human’s rights movement, more specifically the feminist movement, is where I belong. My life isn’t complete without feminism, it’s not complete if I don’t fight the good fight for justice and equality. I’ve realized my purpose in life is to fight in the feminist movement. My purpose in life is to shine light where there is darkness; to fight for justice and equality for everyone; women, men, girls, and boys. 

The only thing I can think to say now is: Thank you, Dr. Peerboom, thank you for teaching my Women’s Studies 301 class.  

From Lacey McKenna Carr,

aspiring to be the next Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and Heather Peerboom

12th Blog Part 1: "From Yours to Mine"

12th Blog Assignment

Part I

http://alexlucasroyals13.blogspot.com/

My response to Alex Royal’s blog, “Assignment 2”:

I like your take on this assignment. I'm glad to hear your ideas about and awareness of feminism has been enlightened and changed. The problem is that people think the fight is over, that we did it, we won the right of equality. The truth is that the women's movement has won many battles for their cause but the war is far from over. The problem now is that the battles are less organized, the enemy is harder to pin point. The feminist waves of the past were driven by one huge issue that the people fighting for gender equality could all come together and fight for. Now, it's not so simple. The solution is making people aware of the problems equality is facing today and giving them ways to help in the cause. 

http://anthonyhenderson23.blogspot.com/

My response to Anthony Henderson’s blog, “Should Love be Painful??”:

This is an excellent post and I enjoy reading it. I too have never been a victim of physical violence/abuse but one of my dear friends did. She stayed with him even though he beat her, lying to her friends and family, until he almost killed her the night of our senior prom. No one even knew was abusing her until that night. The only reason she survived is because she accidentally pressed on her cellphone while he was beating her and it called her parents who could hear their daughter begging for her life and the voice of her then boyfriend yelling at her and beating her. They called the cops and sped to his house which was right next to mine. They got there and saved her within minutes of the call. If the cellphone hadn't miraculously called her parents she probably would have died that night. Everyone was supportive of her after that but we were all confused as to why she would stay with someone like him until literally the law had to separate them. She was a beautiful girl, made good grades, etc. etc. It's just that even when girls in those situations deserve more they have such low self-esteem or they have been beaten into submission that they think they can't do better or deserve what's being done to them. It's so sad. Family members and friends can help by paying close attention to the signs and not hesitating to ask.