Women in Management

This article I found in The New York Times talks about an effort being made to include women in more management positions:

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/new-group-aims-to-increase-number-of-women-in-management/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Of course it would be nice to see more women in management positions, which is what a group of chief executives and corporate leaders of major companies are hoping to accomplish. Having women in higher positions in the workplace would have a great image for women and only strengthen the argument that women and men are equal. It would give young girls the motivation to aspire to be like these successful women.

 I don’t agree with the article, however. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for women in power, but to just be handed this power to meet a quota isn’t right. Women should be promoted to higher positions if, and only if, they deserve it. If they have truly worked hard to get to where they are, and they qualify for the position, then yes, give them a management position.  If they are given management solely for the fact that they are women, then that is only insulting.  

Another blog for the blogosphere about Donald Sterling

The topic of Donald Sterling and his racist rants to his ex-girlfriend are a hot topic right now. This is the big news story of the moment and people can’t get enough. Simply searching “Donald Sterling” brings up pages upon pages of articles discussing his recent insanely racist views and the recorded audio of said rants. The blogosphere is ablaze with opinions and thoughts on Sterling, but I thought I would throw my two cents in as well.

Honestly, I had no idea about this entire scandal until I saw bell hooks speak last night and she briefly discussed it. It may be because I hate the NBA or because I have one week until graduation and a mountain of schoolwork that has yet to be completed, but whatever the reason, this story was not on my radar. Today, with a little research, I learned that Donald Sterling is the 80-year-old owner of the Clippers who apparently is super racist. In recordings, thought to be done by his ex-girlfriend, V. Stiviano, Sterling goes on rants about disliking people of color, especially Black individuals.

Sterling makes some insanely racist comments that are actually horrifying to read or listen to. It’s bizarre that in 2014, there are still people who believe these things. However, bell hooks brought up a great point last night about how these comments were all said in private to someone Sterling believed he could trust. It’s unfortunate that because he is such a public figure that his private thoughts are now out there for the world to see. I don’t agree with anything Sterling said or believes, but as bell hooks said, “Would you want the things you say in private to be broadcast to the world?” I know I wouldn’t.

In reality, Donald Sterling is not the problem. Sure, it’s easy to see him as a racist and blame him completely and then move on with life. But Donald Sterling is not the only person in the U.S who feels this way. He is a public figure and it’s easy to just see him, but the problem is much more widespread than just this one man. At one point in his rant Sterling makes a comment about the players on his team and how he is the one who “gives them food, clothes and housing.” This idea that his Black players owe him something because he is the one who signs their checks is this “plantation mentality” in effect. The fact that people, not just Sterling, still view the races this way is the real problem. We can blame Sterling and then move on, but at the end of the day, our entire society needs to change its thinking because as bell hooks stated, white supremacy is very much still alive today. Donald Sterling’s thinking and beliefs are a problem, but they are not THE problem because that extends much further than just one man’s racist views.

Walk of Shame or Stride of Pride

Last Friday started out like any other day. I woke up and drove with my boyfriend to get coffee and on our way we saw a guy walking down the road, clearly still dressed from the night before with his sport coat draped over his shoulder. It was evident that this guy had been out the night before and probably got too intoxicated to return home. I laughed, looked at my boyfriend and said, "Oh the walk of shame, we've all been there." My boyfriend also laughed and replied, "Walk of shame? When it's a guy it's called the stride of pride." I was completely taken aback. What is that supposed to mean? When girls can't walk home or choose to stay over at someone's house, it's seen as shameful and funny. However, when guys do the same, it's something to be proud of?
This difference in judgement based on gender is appalling. We have been taught that women who stay out all night are slutty and should be ashamed, but guys who do this are awesome and should be celebrated. This perpetuation of gender based judgement on the same activity has to stop. It is the same judgement that is used when a person loses their virginity. Guys are celebrated as heroes while girls are judged as sluts and whores. This slut shaming has to stop and by using phrases like "walk of shame"  we are perpetuating gendered language about sexuality. The solution seems simple, stop using language like this, but someone needs to start the trend. I nominate us.

Report from the Bahamas by June Jordan

June Jordan's article focuses on the exploitation of workers in the poor countries that wealthy Europeans and Americans vacation to. These workers are making not even half of what their visitors make, yet they work just as hard to maintain their job and please greedy customers. It's so sad to see the way people treat hotel and service workers. Every year, my family spends a week in Mexico on vacation. We have had our time shares for over 50 years and know many of the employees because they have been working at the resort for ages. Last year was my first time going in two years, but I was immediately recognized by the manager, who called me by my name and told how beautiful I had grown to be. It makes me truly sad to think that other people talk down to this man because he isn't American, doesn't speak perfect English, and works for a resort where they are guests. "It's his job to do what I ask and what makes me happy because I'm paying for his salary" is just so gross. People let themselves get wrapped up in the luxury of being on vacation and somehow think that excuses disrespectful, rude behavior.
In relation to women and what we learned about woman's labor last week, I think minority groups and women have similar experiences in the work force. They are both discriminated against and expected to do 'lesser' work that white men simply would not do. Most of all, they are both treated like shit. People talk down to them and think that, because they are minorities and women, that they are there to do what the customer pleases.

Report From the Bahamas

Report From the Bahamas is an excellent essay written by June Jordan about racial issues and insensitivity that she observed on vacation. Jordan begins the essay with a description one of the hotel's ads which displays a smiling Black man, fully dressed in a tux, standing in water up to his calves holding a drink tray. This image is disturbing to say the least. It portrays this man as being so eager to serve you and make you comfortable, that he will happily walk into the ocean in a tux just to serve you a frozen cocktail. She goes on to discuss the women in the marketplace who are haggled with by cheap western tourists. This all occurs on an Island where the poorest people leave their families in order to work at vacation resorts to wait on wealthy guests. These guests, who probably make more money in a week than these people will make all month, are the same people who will haggle for a lower price with a local market vendor.

There has obviously become some sort of disconnect between social consciousness in "normal life" and social consciousness on vacation. Most people would probably think nothing of the clearly racist advertisement while on vacation. However if a similar ad was presented here in the U.S, everyone would be fighting against it and bashing the company for lack of respect. The degradation of people based on race and gender is still very much alive. June Jordan's reading prove that realness and we can no longer let ourselves go on vacation from social consciousness.

Consciousness Raising

I liked the fact that the article, Consciousness Raising, addressed the advancement of women studies, and the awareness that women have gained about feminism, sexism, etc. through the years.  It is nice to see that more and more women are learning that the way they are treated and/ or viewed in society is lesser than the image of men. We have come to realize that we do indeed live in a male dominated society and understand that this can no longer continue. Although the consciousness of women has been raised, it seems as though the action is still lacking. It is great that women acknowledge that what is going on is wrong, and that they know what needs to be done, but now it is time to get it done. The study of women has become accepted, but what about women themselves? It is about time that women and men's equality become accepted in society. 

Color Me Non Toxic

Personally, I kind of like the smell of nail salons. I have to admit I would be kind of disappointed if I walked into a salon and didn't get that overwhelming whiff. The chemicals used, however, are dangerous for the patrons, so you can only imagine how dangerous it is for the workers who are exposed to it for hours. If a new method has been developed in which chemicals are not used, then it is something definitely worth trying. The workers use little cloth masks to avoid breathing in the toxins, but that's not doing anything. They are still putting their lives at risk by going to work every day.  Many of these workers are immigrants who are just trying to make enough money to get by and send home to their families. They are just trying to make a living, but that doesn't mean they need to put their lives on the line at a job that probably pays minimum wage. The men and women who work in nail salons definitely deserve better working conditions.