fDoris has 7 post(s)

The Resolution 1325 was implemented and unanimously passed on October 31, 2000 This took place in Namibia, the Security Council let more then forty speakers talk about women, peace and security. The Resolution 1325 has been used, quoted by constituency of women and peace groups all over the world. The UN system made three aspects for the Resolution 1325. First the ideas and language dating back to other documents, treaties passed through the UN since 1945. The second part was international, popular with historic information and analysis. The third the unity of the Namibian presidency of the Security council, DAW, UNIFEM and NGO all played an important role in helping identify and the experiences from women.

The Women and Armed Conflict Caucus made several recommendations to the Security Council, the requirements for the protection of women and girls in armed conflict, increase women participation of all ages in conflict prevention, appoint someone on gender issues to the Security Council,employ a wider range of non violent conflict prevention, UN will provide on going training in gender and cultural sensitivity, implementing procedures for drawing on the experiences of women.
As of October 31, 2000 the Resolution 1325 was in placed and it’s tasks implemented to ensure that women’s groups receive concrete, practical financial and technical support. Since its passing the UN states it has peacekeeping in several countries of the Middle East and Africa. At times the information has been limited to the Security Council. But the change has come for women to be included in decision making, peace talking and security . After the US went to war with Afghanistan, the meeting with NGO was important because of the limited role women had in this country. The Security Council reenforce the importance of the strong support for women’s role in decision making with conflict and prevention. The Security wanted the number of women to increase and wanted women nominated and fill in as special representatives. The UN mission was to have women and girls in matter of pease and security.

The Resolution 1325 must continue to be used into action. The Un must ensure that women in all levels of pease and security be present. This change is moving forward slowly. Back in 2000, women where able to squeeze into the Security Council and debate for the very first time. Moving forward the Resolution 1325 must continue to make change and stay permanently open for women and girls human rights. Many women continue to fight for the protection of theirs lives.

This reading by Gilmore was very interesting and shocking to read. I was so surprised to the percentage of people who are in prisons. Nearly 2 million people are locked up in prisons in California. Mostly African-American and Latino men make up the majority of persons who are doing prison time.

The “crisis” started with the moral panic over crime. Young people on the street, people of color (black and brown) out of control. During the 70’s and 80’s drug epidemic exploded. Leaving many families without fathers and husbands to provide for their families economically. This became a social crisis. Gilmore argues and explains that crisis and surplus work hand and hand. This means that the society can reproduce itself as it did before in the past. Through crisis comes struggle and people struggle because they have no other choice.
People who are convicted of crime and have done prison time are subject to a lot of restrictions. Prisoners with records are not eligible for benefit and entitlements (i.e. Food stamps, housing and their right to vote) are taken away. Making people with conviction records lives extremely hard and not much hope for a better life. A lot of convicts would go back and commit new crimes becoming a cycle. California in 1982 planned only to replace small prisons. But instead made room for new “mega prisons” which are built and in use now. The State of California used money raised to buy land and built prisons. Also, California make new laws that guarantee convicts to fill their prisons. The majority of revenue comes from the prison system at an enormous levels. In the US almost 95 per cent are either publicly owned. Making prisoners require to work in the public sectors, there work would pay their own cost and make the state a profit on their free labor. Military Keynesianism is an increasingly building of prison. This military Keynesianism was made after the Great Depression (WWII). Nixon in 1968 explained why so many prisons were built because of the social disorder, rise in crime and drug use.  In the US having almost two million people in prisons.
Lastly, Gilmore counter explanation is about racism and profit off the prisoners free labor. The prison system has an underlying “racism” which is behind the prison industrial complex on working men and women.  The laws must be reformed so that people don’t have to do such long prison times. Also, the US must implement programs (work development, free education) and give convicts more opportunity to get out of these criminal activities. The US must enforce unity and freedom to all people.

While I read Chapter 1 of Caliban and the Witch by Siliva Frederici , her argument of the degradation and accumulation of women was so strong. As I read this story, I began to only picture the suffering, humiliation and women’s mental status during this time.  Frederici points out the witch hunts during the 16th and 17th centuries were her main focus on accumulation of women. It was an important way to keep women under the power of men. The out casting of women was a norm to control them and to continue the process in Europe and the New World. Many women suffered a great deal. Frederici explains that the Christian Church to some extent had control on women’s sexual and reproductive rights. The social power during this time was on a global crisis. Many people died during this time due to disease that nearly wipe out the population. This is when women were highly needed for the reproduction of children to continue labor force.
Also, women were out proportion of their rights (sex and reproduction) by the church and the state.   Prostitution and rape was institutionalize and the decriminalization of rape was introduced. In many cities brothels were legalized, making it a greater means for women to survive was by prostitution.  Many outrageous laws were implanted to keep women in control and full of fear. That is where “witch-hunting”, “burning”, “torturing” and severe punishment were used against women.  Women would use contraceptive or abortion were sentences to death.
The power difference between men and women have changed but are still highly noticeable. Capitalism was emplaced as to control any rebellion. It was a way in getting out women who were against the new capitalism during this time.  Made by man a natural inferiority issue. Men continue to maintain their power using capital by devaluing women’s work and instead disciplining women. As I continue in this class and learn about women’s rights. I am very proud of what all women have accomplished over the centuries. Women still struggle every day to have equal rights.  I guess teaching others what I learn and also using my knowledge in my daily life task will help and continue to make a difference.  Change does not happen overnight. It takes time and patience.

In today’s society, people have been taught that heterosexualism is a way of life. For men and women to be identify as a “normal” couple.  Since the beginning of time, “the Bible” has stated this in its writing as first came man and then a woman. This as been taught over and over it has been passed down by generations. The word “heterosexism” means “it can include the presumption that other people are heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only normal and therefore superior”.

Women rights are marginalized in three generations of rights. The first right is civil and political liberties. This is criticized by women and is consider “men’s rights”. The second generation rights , economic, social and cultural rights and to be a limited degree cultural rights. But the second generation rights fail to address, economic, social and cultural issues.(pg. 147). Women are consider “secondary”, what they do is not important or taken serious by men. The third generation of rights, seeks to preserve the integrity of a particular cultural, ethic or indigenous group through the right of self- determination (pg. 151) . This group is emphasized on culture instead of the rights of the identities of the people. The groups rights would be problematic for promoting women’s rights. Women should have the right to reproductive rights, fair job wages, own their property, free education (to learn to read and write).

In some cultures today, women have no rights at all. They are only good to reproduce and take care of the family. That is their only sole purpose. I work as a Caseworker for senior center, some men and women see me and are surprise. I guess since I am a woman of color, minority. A lot of women praise me and some tell me they wish they could of went to school and learn to read and write. In my experience a lot of women because they are women are disproportionately affected with basic life needs ( income, healthcare and shelter). A lot of women in NYC are homeless. As I read this chapter “Are women human?” it is clear that men rights are the human rights under heterosexual social relations. And how rights for women are a problem. This oppression must continue to be eliminated and women must continue to change men views. During this time of 2017, I believe things are changing maybe not as quick but in time we will see good changes for women.

Wendy Brown

As I read Wendy Brown “Human Rights and the Fatalism” I agree when she states “a pure defense of the innocent and the powerless” (pg. 453). Human rights is a justified to every person, race, color, religion and gender. People as a whole have this right without discrimination. The word “human right” is both a right and obligation to all human beings. The human rights movement came after the Second World War. It was implanted in 1948 “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. It was written as an expression of what people believed to be their given “human right”.

     While I continue to read, I learned that “human rights” refuses the mantle political on which Brown continues to express (pg.453). It is more about pain and suffering rather than “political discourse of comprehensive justice” (pg. 453). For all human beings, it falls under what people consider unjust for themselves. We as people must recognize our rights as humans. Brown’s writing is making us aware of what is politically correct of one group can also be politically incorrect for another group. She makes comparison on the War on Iraq. It makes sense that Rumsfeld “liberation” of Afghanistan and Iraq was to help the people from these countries be “free” and uphold “human rights”. But did this really applied for these people? I can honestly say NO. I feel that a lot of rich peoples interest were involved (Oil). Also, the 9-11 terrorist attack showed the world that the US was not as powerful and smart and we thought we were.

Human rights for our generation is they key to help one another. The view on human rights from Brown, ” They simply expand autonomy and choice” (pg. 461). Making people free and having them make their own choices. i.e (voting, free education and free healthcare). These are choices that humans have. I know in some countries where “human rights” are still in some ways suppressed. I believe social media has also played an important role on how “human rights” where they are viewed as positive or neglected. People are more aware of what’s going on around them. Especially in places were their are people fighting to stay alive (Syria). Our human right was given to us by our ancestors who fought long and hard so that “we” (today’s time) can have a free liberal mind and speak our opinions. As time goes by people evolve and this changes. Society is changing as we speak.

The Sexual Contact

While reading “The Sexual Contract” by Carole Pateman, I began to question my own contract that I live in my everyday life. I feel that being a Latina from immigrants parents, I can see how in some ways men in my family have dominate their wives or partners. This hit a nerve for me as I began to compare the original contract with the sexual contract. I know that times have changes especially in the United States. But in some countries, women are very suppressed and have no rights. Women are only used for bearing children and for their husbands sexual relieves.

Women through marriage and after having children are not incorporated into a sphere that “is and is not in civil society”. Women have no part in the being economically independent. Women had no say in their reproductive right during this time. Many women didn’t have a say on who they were going to marry. Men always dominated the whole concept of “family”. While times have change as more women are educated, have jobs, have rights on contraception. We are currently living in a time where if we don’t stand and have our voices heard we can lose those rights again. With only 3 weeks after being elected president of the United States, our President “Trump” has made it clear that he thinks he can make choices on women reproductive rig. As I continued reading “The Sexual Contract” by Pateman, “the original contract creates the modern social whole of the patriarchal civil society” (pg. 12), men go back and forth in the private and public sphere, their sexual rights runs in both. The men are quickly to claim the rights over sexual access to women’s bodies making it a “obligation” for women to fill their husbands or partners sexual desire. For the most part no one mentions the problems that come with excluding women from the original contract but new contracts are in placed. Where men can use women for sexual fantasy as in prostitution. Men will pay women for sex in many cases.

Moreover, women have been working hard to eliminate the indifference between men and women. Making the new term gender neutral a more unique definition. The contracts have in some ways defined what is masculine and feminine in modern times. I shall continue to read and educate myself on the different contracts. Also, I can change or teach my family on how be more gender neutral.

My name is Doris Estevez. I have been at CWE for 3 years. I went back to school in 2014 after almost 11 years without being in school. I am a single mom to 15 year old son. I was a teen-mom and had to work and put my education on hold for a while. I currently work at Grand Street Settlement (non-for-profit organization) under a contract from the DFTA (Department for the Aging) as a caseworker for a senior center (Grand Coalition of Seniors). I enjoy my job very much. It brings me a lot of joy and happiness that I can help people in need. It could be just reading and translating a letter or applying for benefits & entitlements for a senior. I am hoping to one day becoming a social worker. I would be the 1 generation to complete college and obtain my bachelor’s degree. My parents are both immigrants from the Dominican Republic. My mom came to the US when she was 7 years old. She speaks and write English well. My mom only finish high school and my dad has only 5th grade education. Both my parents work very hard to provide me and siblings a good life. They both always pushed and enforce us on getting an education. So, today I strive to finish my education for my parents and son. I want to set an example to them and my family that getting a degree will help you move forward in life.

While reading Lynn Hunt “Introduction” I found that the Declaration of Independence” was written at a time when people were becoming aware of their actions as human beings. Thomas Jefferson “We hold truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” (pg.15), he made a permanent mark on recognizing human rights in today’s society. This spark a worldwide opinion on human rights good and bad. But the Declaration of Independence did not included slaves, free blacks, some religion minorities and women. During this time, men did not consider these groups of people equal. It was only considered for “white men”. The concept of “equal human rights” took some time unfold to what is in present time. America evolve as times were changing. As I start this class, I observe how many young women are in my class. It was amazing to see the change in times. Women during the 18th centuries could not go to school. It took many centuries to see what is in place today. The Declaration of Independence (1776) was implemented but also had a lot of amendments added to it. I agree with Lynn Hunt’s opinion on how new kinds of readings, experiences and empathy all played an important roles in “brain changing individuals”. It took people to think beyond what was going presently. People need to understand the change that was coming.