my heart breaks when i hear you. i'm sitting here with a sinking feeling in my chest just wanting to hold you and have our lives be better. i can only imagine how you must be feeling.
one person can change our entire life. one person can ruin so many potentially wonderful experiences for us. one person can make us feel like we've lost touch with what we are most passionate about, one person can make us feel embarrassed and guilty and hypocritical for falling into the system in which we hate most, and one person can make us feel utterly defeated and empty. how can people think that they have the right to come in and out of our lives as they please? she's a god damned hurricane. she shows up before we know it and we're caught off guard. and she storms through our lives leaving a path of destruction, devastation, and trauma. we're left to pick up the pieces, if we can even do that. but we shouldn't be alone. nobody deserves to be violated and left to face this kind of devastation.
i can feel the energy that surrounds you and i only wish there was something i could do to lessen the hurt. but there is nothing. you are strong. you will survive. and i will be here.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Man Caught Viewing Child Pornography at UNH Library (mini research project & my reaction)
Over the summer, a man from Exeter, NH was caught watching child pornography in the Dimond library at my university. Since then, there has been debating of the idea of a policy limiting or restricting the consumption of pornography in public libraries. As a class activity for my Cyberbodies course, on Tuesday September 14th, David, Ben and I interviewed six people on campus about this summer's incident and the idea of a policy in public libraries. We asked their opinion on a policy, what they would do if they found someone viewing pornography in the library, and if they had been previously informed of this summer's incident. This is what we found from the six people:
1. Female, second year Grad student in Education: She had not previously heard about the occurrence from this summer. She believes that there should be restrictions- just as in public schools people should have to log on to the computer to be held accountable for their actions because viewing pornography is not appropriate to do in public. She said if she witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library that she would approach them and let it known that it is not appropriate and then inform a librarian.
2. Male, Senior in Forestry: He had not previously heard of the occurrence from this summer. He does not believe there should be any limits in censoring the consumption of pornography, except in the case of child pornography. He said if he witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library he would find it amusing and just laugh it off.
3. Male, Professor of Philosophy: He had not heard of the occurrence from this summer. He believes in free speech and would frown upon policies that would restrict the consumption of pornography, stating that restrictions don't work well and it would be overprotection. He said if he witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library he wasn't sure what he would do. He may report it to a librarian if it is child pornography but says it is hard to tell what is pornography unless it is very offensive.
4. Female, State Senator (re-running): She had previous knowledge of the event from this summer. She stated that the creation of a policy restricting or limiting the consumption of pornography in public libraries is a slippery slope and doesn't believe in it, but maybe a policy for child pornography.
5. Female, Sophomore in Women's Studies & Social Work: She did not know about the occurrence from this summer. She believes there should be a policy restricting all forms of pornography in any public space. She said if she witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library she would inform a librarian and secretly unplug their computer if she could.
6. Male, 5th year Senior in Mathematics & Philosophy: He did not know of the occurrence from this summer. He does not believe there should be any restrictions or limitations on the consumption of pornography in public libraries, even adult magazines, except in the case of child pornography. He said he would not do anything if he witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library, unless it was child pornography, then he would report it to a librarian.
To sum up this mini-research project, only one person had heard of the event that happened this summer, two people believe there should be restrictions on viewing all pornography in public libraries, five people mentioned some kind of policy restricting consumption of child pornography, one person said they would approach a person seen viewing pornography in the library, two people said they would inform a librarian if they witnessed someone viewing any kind of pornography, four people said they would inform a librarian if they witnessed someone viewing child pornography, and one person said they would do nothing at all if they witnessed someone viewing any kind of pornography in the library.
My reaction to this-- Just the fact that only one person out of six people (including a grad student and a professor!) had heard about what happened this summer is disheartening, although not hard to believe. I know the student personally who witnessed the man viewing the child pornography and she informed me that everyone involved in the situation--including any students, faculty, and staff--were asked not to talk about the incident to reporters of any kind--including TNH, our university's own newspaper! Now all I can ask is why this should be kept a secret? I think our campus has the right to know that viewing child pornography in the library (or anywhere really) is not okay and you will be arrested. University administration is way too concerned about their appearance and public opinion of the university. Shouldn't the well-being of the students be one of the administration's top priorities? Well, you would only think so.
Four of those people do not believe there should be a policy restricting the consumption of pornography in our public library and four people said they would not inform a librarian if they witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library, except in cases of child pornography. What if a person walked into the children's section on the fourth floor, opened a laptop and started watching adult pornography with children present in the room? Would someone care then? What if it was your children who were there trying to read? Or your younger brother or sister? People need to start asking questions and reflect on why certain acts or behaviors are considered okay in our society. So many people just give into the patriarchal way of living without ever thinking twice about it because nobody asks questions. The patriarchy tells us that it is okay for women to feel they have no choice but to participate in the production of pornography in order to guarantee they will get a pay check at the end of the day. The patriarchy tells us that it is okay for pornography to normalize violence against women and make women of color look like animals and inform us that all women are objects--sex objects--conveniently here for the sole purpose of pleasuring men. Lastly, the patriarchy tells us that is okay for people (as long as you're over 18...) to consume these messages--even in the comfort of your university's public library!
And I just wanted to add that another man was in the library and had seen the man viewing the child pornography. He seemed to have felt uncomfortable so he got up and moved to the other side of the table so he could no longer see the man's computer screen. Then, when questioned by the police whether or not he had seen a man viewing child pornography he denied it! I was taken aback when I heard this because it didn't make any sense to me. The man clearly did not support the consumption of child pornography as it made him uncomfortable enough to move, yet he was reluctant to tell police that he had witnessed the man watching it. I mean, really? Maybe he thought he was going to get in trouble for witnessing it and not doing anything about it, but what about that man he is now trying to let go free? He was doing more harm than good in lying to the police. It turned out that the man from Exeter had a previous charge on him and is a registered sex offender. Maybe if he wasn't caught he'd spend tomorrow on a bench at the public playground watching your children play together in the sand.
1. Female, second year Grad student in Education: She had not previously heard about the occurrence from this summer. She believes that there should be restrictions- just as in public schools people should have to log on to the computer to be held accountable for their actions because viewing pornography is not appropriate to do in public. She said if she witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library that she would approach them and let it known that it is not appropriate and then inform a librarian.
2. Male, Senior in Forestry: He had not previously heard of the occurrence from this summer. He does not believe there should be any limits in censoring the consumption of pornography, except in the case of child pornography. He said if he witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library he would find it amusing and just laugh it off.
3. Male, Professor of Philosophy: He had not heard of the occurrence from this summer. He believes in free speech and would frown upon policies that would restrict the consumption of pornography, stating that restrictions don't work well and it would be overprotection. He said if he witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library he wasn't sure what he would do. He may report it to a librarian if it is child pornography but says it is hard to tell what is pornography unless it is very offensive.
4. Female, State Senator (re-running): She had previous knowledge of the event from this summer. She stated that the creation of a policy restricting or limiting the consumption of pornography in public libraries is a slippery slope and doesn't believe in it, but maybe a policy for child pornography.
5. Female, Sophomore in Women's Studies & Social Work: She did not know about the occurrence from this summer. She believes there should be a policy restricting all forms of pornography in any public space. She said if she witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library she would inform a librarian and secretly unplug their computer if she could.
6. Male, 5th year Senior in Mathematics & Philosophy: He did not know of the occurrence from this summer. He does not believe there should be any restrictions or limitations on the consumption of pornography in public libraries, even adult magazines, except in the case of child pornography. He said he would not do anything if he witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library, unless it was child pornography, then he would report it to a librarian.
To sum up this mini-research project, only one person had heard of the event that happened this summer, two people believe there should be restrictions on viewing all pornography in public libraries, five people mentioned some kind of policy restricting consumption of child pornography, one person said they would approach a person seen viewing pornography in the library, two people said they would inform a librarian if they witnessed someone viewing any kind of pornography, four people said they would inform a librarian if they witnessed someone viewing child pornography, and one person said they would do nothing at all if they witnessed someone viewing any kind of pornography in the library.
My reaction to this-- Just the fact that only one person out of six people (including a grad student and a professor!) had heard about what happened this summer is disheartening, although not hard to believe. I know the student personally who witnessed the man viewing the child pornography and she informed me that everyone involved in the situation--including any students, faculty, and staff--were asked not to talk about the incident to reporters of any kind--including TNH, our university's own newspaper! Now all I can ask is why this should be kept a secret? I think our campus has the right to know that viewing child pornography in the library (or anywhere really) is not okay and you will be arrested. University administration is way too concerned about their appearance and public opinion of the university. Shouldn't the well-being of the students be one of the administration's top priorities? Well, you would only think so.
Four of those people do not believe there should be a policy restricting the consumption of pornography in our public library and four people said they would not inform a librarian if they witnessed someone viewing pornography in the library, except in cases of child pornography. What if a person walked into the children's section on the fourth floor, opened a laptop and started watching adult pornography with children present in the room? Would someone care then? What if it was your children who were there trying to read? Or your younger brother or sister? People need to start asking questions and reflect on why certain acts or behaviors are considered okay in our society. So many people just give into the patriarchal way of living without ever thinking twice about it because nobody asks questions. The patriarchy tells us that it is okay for women to feel they have no choice but to participate in the production of pornography in order to guarantee they will get a pay check at the end of the day. The patriarchy tells us that it is okay for pornography to normalize violence against women and make women of color look like animals and inform us that all women are objects--sex objects--conveniently here for the sole purpose of pleasuring men. Lastly, the patriarchy tells us that is okay for people (as long as you're over 18...) to consume these messages--even in the comfort of your university's public library!
And I just wanted to add that another man was in the library and had seen the man viewing the child pornography. He seemed to have felt uncomfortable so he got up and moved to the other side of the table so he could no longer see the man's computer screen. Then, when questioned by the police whether or not he had seen a man viewing child pornography he denied it! I was taken aback when I heard this because it didn't make any sense to me. The man clearly did not support the consumption of child pornography as it made him uncomfortable enough to move, yet he was reluctant to tell police that he had witnessed the man watching it. I mean, really? Maybe he thought he was going to get in trouble for witnessing it and not doing anything about it, but what about that man he is now trying to let go free? He was doing more harm than good in lying to the police. It turned out that the man from Exeter had a previous charge on him and is a registered sex offender. Maybe if he wasn't caught he'd spend tomorrow on a bench at the public playground watching your children play together in the sand.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Harriet Martineau on contradictions between democratic ideals of equality and women's inequality in America
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| Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) |
"The progression or emancipation of any class usually, if not always, takes place through the efforts of individuals of that class: and so it must be here. All women should inform themselves of the condition of their sex and of their own position. It must necessarily follow that the noblest of them will, sooner or later, put forth a moral power which shall [expose hypocrisy], and burst asunder the bonds (silken to some, but cold iron to others,) of feudal prejudices and usages. In the meantime, is it to be understood that the principles of the Declaration of Independence bear no relation to half of the human race? ... how is the restricted and dependent state of women to be reconciled with the proclamation that "all are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" (Society in America, Harriet Martineau, 1837)
I hate the patriarchy.
Literally. Fuck the patriarchy.
I'm writing in this blog as an addition to my other two blogs because sometimes (a lot of times) I get pissed off about things and my ranting would not be appropriate for either of my other blogs. This is my space to think what I want, say what I want, and do what I want! Because as Elinor Gadon said yesterday, we must all act on our own agency! Meaning we must do things for ourselves, because we want them, not for someone else or because we think it is what we should do.
So anything I want to say will go here. Here is a short bio as an intro to this blog:
I'm writing in this blog as an addition to my other two blogs because sometimes (a lot of times) I get pissed off about things and my ranting would not be appropriate for either of my other blogs. This is my space to think what I want, say what I want, and do what I want! Because as Elinor Gadon said yesterday, we must all act on our own agency! Meaning we must do things for ourselves, because we want them, not for someone else or because we think it is what we should do.
So anything I want to say will go here. Here is a short bio as an intro to this blog:
- My name is Dani.
- I am a (super!)senior dual major in Sociology and Women's Studies at the University of New Hampshire.
- I have the most amazing partner (Ben) I could ever ask for and we have a 5 month old dapple daschund (Chip).
- I am in a sorority--Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority Inc--and they are the most incredible, accepting group of women I could have ever become a part of.
- I'm a big fan of photography and I want to soon learn to take my own pictures and buy a DSLR--probs the Nikon 5000.
- I really enjoy traveling and want to someday visit Peru, India, Thailand, England, Japan, and many others.
- I am most obviously a feminist.
- I hate this oppressive, patriarchal, misogynistic, hierarchical, racist, homophobic, sexist, porn culture that we live in.
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