Where I stand as a feminist

A few days ago I talked about the different types of feminists and found myself thinking about where I stand as a feminist.

I believe....
that white privilege exists (and should not)
that male privilege exists (and should not)
that education (and not religion) is the way to a greater understanding of life
that people need to communicate and discuss issues that bother them
that it doesn't matter what your sexuality is, you should be able to marry whomever you love
that the institution of marriage may cripple many women (it's not for me)
that the government doesn't always know what's best for me and my family
that I have the right to do whatever I want, to my body because it is mine
that more men need to become feminists
that life is what you make it, overcoming adversity makes one stronger, but adversity should not be condoned by institutions or systems.
that the US military should be about defense and that both men and women kick ass as soldiers
that men and women should be paid the same for the same work
that men and women should be active parents (and should constantly work at it)
that married individuals should implement a more egalitarian (if this is what each individual wants) lifestyle--household chores, bills, duties, etc.
and
that more than it is important for you to believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you.

It's been awhile

I'm sorry it's been awhile since I posted something new, but school has been crazy busy. I've been working on a project that examines gender performance in the classroom and I've been doing a lot of teaching. I have some good news. I got a teaching assisstantship through the gender and women's studies department and my husband and I are buying a house. I also presented a paper in San Antonio, TX. My students' essays have been very informative and for the most part very good. I'm ready for the semester to end though.

Cervical Cancer Vaccine: My Opinion

Even though I am now too old to receive the cervical cancer vaccine also known as Gardasil, I am personally against the vaccine, which might surprise some of you. I am all for other vaccines and am happy that researchers and physicians have started researching cancers that specifically affect over half the population, but I am rather skeptical of a vaccine that could affect reproduction. Several decades ago (and even in just a few decades ago) some birth control pills were known to have negative side effects such as sterilization. This is in part why I am skeptical of the vaccine. I did not want to put my own reproductive health in jeopardy since my husband and I hope in a year or two to have a baby. If I was younger or if the vaccine had been out longer, I probably would've gotten it. I believe many life threatening diseases and viruses can be overcome by being vaccinated and I will most definitely have my children properly vaccinated, but since I was on the cusp of being too old as well as relatively close to having children, I decided against the vaccine. This of course was a decision I discussed with my husband. I think every woman should make an educated decision about how to vaccinate and treat her body. For me, I decided to not get vaccinated. I understand the risks that I'm taking with my body and am fully prepared to live (or die) because of my decision.

Good News!

Hello all,

I have found out that I have received the "Bonnie Cox Award" from my university's gender and women's studies department. I plan on using the funding from this award to start researching how religious fundamentalism affects one's feminist beliefs. I will also be finishing up my graduate certificate in gender and women's studies this semester. This will allow me to teach undergraduate GWS courses, which I am definitely looking forward to. The spring semester here at the University of Kentucky has just started and should be an interesting and busy semester. Some of my goals for this semester include: publishing one book review, attend at least one conference, work on publishing one article, start my research project, do well in all my classes, and become a better teacher, which is something I always strive to do. :)

Cheers,
Jamie

Hello all!

Since this is my first post, I have decided to tell you a little bit about some of my current projects. I am currently taking two graduate classes at the University of Kentucky. One is Weird Films and the other is a Sociology of Education course. Both are really fascinating and have kept me busy this summer. I've written a literature review, which I hope to add to this blog, on how students evaluate instructor's gender performance in higher education. I am also working on a paper on Mulholland Dr. and lesbianism (specifically on the seductress and lesbian pulp fiction), which I hope to present at a conference this fall. I also hope to publish a recent book review I've written on Gender in Higher Ed. I'll keep you posted as to how those projects continue over the next few months.

This summer I have also read several interesting books. I've read Wuthering Heights, Jude the Obscure, Naked Economics, North and South, and Feminist Chauvinist Pigs. Hopefully, the next few posts that I write or add will include a review of this last book mentioned.