WEEK 10 SOCIAL CHANGE

This class, and Sociology in general has been one of my favorite classes to take at De Anza. With what has been taught in this class, Marc's EWRT1B class, my involvement with TOUCCh, the Day of Action march against the budget cuts, the new Arizona immigration law and several other events and influences from my friends, have all shaped my experience of the beginning of the year 2010, as a growing process for myself. I've become more politically active in aware of our nations issues, and learned if I want to see social change to happen, I have to take it within my own hands with other people instead of just being a bystander and seeing change happen. Race, class, and culture have all been redefined for me and I want to continue opening the eyes of others to understand that the country I live in is home to many races and cultures and is essentially what embodies us. Learning about the bystander effect and the way history has defined each generation and it's own culture has made me realize I want to continue participating in other protests and support the the things I believe in such as same sex marriage, and immigration reform on a bigger impact.
Overall this was a really great class, that I enjoyed coming to. Group discussions were always interesting and Huerta was a great engaging teacher with a great sense of humor. I'm going to miss Patrick and Brenden's antics in class too!

Buena Vista & T.O.U.C.C.H.

A late post on my volunteer work but here it is! I've been regularly attending the Tuesday meetings for the T.O.U.C.C.H. group organized by Scott. Aside from high school I've never participated in any clubs or the like at De Anza let alone engage in any civic service until now. With the combination of learning about the Migrant Farmworking Camps in Watsonville in my EWRT1B clas and Sociology, I've grown a dedication in staying in this group and help it grow. With work I've only been able to help the program from De Anza, attending the meetings and helping out with the website. But I did get the opportunity to attend Buena Vista with Marc Cornado's reality farm worker tour on Sunday. With my familia of classmates we got to interview a family and listen to several other of the farm workers oral histories. This really impacted how important T.O.U.C.C.H. is by providing the adult english classes, and helping the children with tutoring sessions. This Saturday I'm hoping to attend the day camp set up where we just organize several games and play with the kids.
For more info here's the new website and facebook group !
http://tutor-outreach.org/
http://www.facebook.com/toucch

WEEK 8 GENDER

Belonging to the female gender group definitely has its wide array of advantages and disadvantages. Ever since I was young I believe I was equally partial to my assigned gender. In preschool I would for half of lunch time, play in the playhouse and bake sand pies with the other girls, and then rush over to the playground strap myself to a pole and beg a fellow power ranger boy running around to release me from the bad guys and continue shooting imaginary laser beams. To this day I am still partial to being female. I follow the social rules of plucking my eyebrows, and enjoy shopping, make up, and the occasional gossip. But on the other hand I also enjoy the company of males more, burping out loud, wearing jeans and watching sports.

Advantages of being a female is always the chivalry and sympathy we may obtain from the opposite sex. Doors held open for you, getting away with speeding tickets, and overall courtesy. But these may also be disadvantages as females are continually seen as fragile, and weak members of our society. Our opinions may be disregarded and we could be potentially harmed just because of the pre notion that we are weak.
I usually wonder if my life would be easier if I was born of the opposite gender. As a male, my parents would probably give me more independent freedom in my life. My current above average height for a female would turn into an average height for being a male. Males also seem to disregard in the usual female behavior of disdain and judgment for each other. To me there is nothing quite as lovely as a "bromance".
But regardless I am happy with my assigned gender and hope to empower the image of females in one way or the other.