Activism Log 10

Sarah Jackson

Professor Nina Perez

WST 3015

May 1, 2010

Activism Log 10

Reflection

Continuing this activism is important to me. To continue my work as a feminist activist, I plan to continue to encourage the empowerment of young women and girls across America. I will be beginning my work with my sorority's national headquarters this summer. In my job application I mentioned that I wish to bring the knowledge I have gathered from my Women's Studies minor to my sorority sisters across the country. I would love to make sure that every chapter of our organization is educated in the latest women's issues. I also plan on continuing my education to be able to work as an elementary school guidance counselor in the hopes of being able to educate young girls and boys about gender issues and equality.

Reciprocity

Seely makes a good point when she says that "[n]o act is too small; you may never know the full extent of your impact. Activism is contagious. While you may be one person, your voice and actions can touch others, whose voices and actions can touch still others, and so forth until we experience change," (Seely 16). I believe this fact since I feel like I have already used my knowledge of current feminist theories to influence my friends and family. By discussing topics we discuss in class, I have been involved in some very interesting discussions with those close to me. I believe these discussions and facts have affected the ways they think about feminism today. I am very excited to say that I will be working with my sorority's national headquarters for the next year. During the application process I had mentioned my interest in spreading my newly found knowledge of feminist issues with my sorority sisters around the country and during my phone interview my new boss actually mentioned that she was very intrigued by that part of my application and was excited to see what I could bring to the national team. I am excited to see what the future holds for me in the way of feminist activism.

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl: How to be a Fearless Feminist. New York: New York University Press, 2007. Print.

Activism Log 9

Sarah Jackson

Professor Nina Perez

WST 3015

May 1, 2010

Activism Log 9

Reflection

According to the University of Central Florida, service learning is defined as "a teaching method that uses community involvement to apply theories or skills being taught in a course." The program seeks to further the learning experience beyond that received in a basic academic setting. It focuses on community needs and "require students to reflect on their activity in order to gain an appreciation for the relationship between civics and academics." It is also shown to be a "reciprocal process" which involves students, the community, and faculty. Service learning projects are beneficial for all because they promote engaging academics, civic responsibility, and community connections.

Reciprocity

This whole process has been a memorable and important learning process for me. Actively working to increase feminist values in the youth of America while working with the Girl Scouts was a very good choice for this service learning project for me. In our readings it mentions in the first chapter that "[w]omen's studies seeks new ways of understanding - more comprehensive than those offered by traditional academic disciplines. The discipline started as a critique of scholarship that ignored women's lives or treated women in stereotypical wasy. Women's studies sought to provide missing information, new theoretical perspectives, and new ways of teaching," (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey 3). By utilizing the UCF Service Learning system, I believe our class was able to find a new and exciting way to learn about feminist studies. It has been an interesting journey for me since I decided to add Women's Studies as a minor. I constantly talk about class and issues and lessons and readings around my friends and family now. I am officially referred to as a feminist and for the first time I really don't understand the negative connotation that some tag onto that title. When my room mate and sister actually said that to me I made the point to respond back: "So are you! You just don't know it."

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. Fifth Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2010. Print.