What's the point?

As I may have shared before, this blog is the product of the Cyberfeminism course I'm taking. As part of this assignment we are required to start a class blog. I'm hoping to continue the blog even after the class ends, so I've decided to post what I've written for the class here as well. Continue reading for the first post...

I'm not sure for how long I have been interested in human rights issues, but I do know this interest plays a large role in why I became a social worker. For nearly as long as I have been interested in human rights I have been interested in women. While I can't really say that I have always had a great connection with other women, for some reason growing up most of my friends were guys, I can say that the place I come from, the place in which I am most rooted, has surrounded me with strong, independent, capable women: my family. My mom, my paternal grandma, and especially my maternal grandma all played large roles in shaping the woman I am today, and for this I am grateful.

This gratitude is not a gratitude turned in on itself, however, as it has challenged me to not only think of others who do not have access to the same opportunities and situations as I do, but to ask the question "Why?" Why do women get abused, physically, emotionally, and verbally by their partners, the person who is supposed to care fot them the most? Why does society allow for women with equal education, skills, and abilities to do the same work as men without the same pay? Why are women not allowed to be priests in my Catholic tradition? Why are women forced into prostitution to pay to food on the table for their young families? Why do some people still believe a woman's place is "barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?" Why do so many women around the world not have access to education? Why are women and children such a large number of today's poor?

Although it is sometimes tempting to avoid the question of "Why?" and just give money to a cause, I have never been able to shake the intrinsic pull I have towards helping others. So, even though when I was asked as a youngster "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I answered veterinarian, marine biologist, teacher, and doctor, I became a social worker. That said, if I were to write a blog (I think after this class I may actually continue the blog I've started) I would write it about international human rights issues. My rootedness in women would likely mean that more often than not I would include posts, links, and stories about women. More specifically, and for the purpose of this sort of introductory blog, I would focus on the feminization of poverty.

I am 23 years old. I come from an educated, upper middle class Catholic Hispanic family. I played clarinet in the band and took honors classes. Neither my brother nor I ever had to go to daycare, we were always with some family member or another. I have never experienced any sort of major trauma, either natural or man made, unless you count the abhorrent man made concoction of the fried Twinkie. I will be the first to acknowledge that I have had a privileged life. As such, I am also the first to admit that I have a lot to learn. While in some cases I am able to reframe it as a "fresh approach," in other cases my naiveté is just absurd. The more I work in the field as a social worker the more this is glaringly obvious. The temptation to be frightened, overwhelmed, and utterly devastated by the social injustices of the world has been alluring, however, what would be accomplished if I were to give in to this temptation? Who would I help? Who's life, if not made better, would at least be made more tolerable for knowing that someone cares and is walking with them in the midst of their plight?

So instead of focusing on the negative, obsessing on what I can't do, and fixating on how horrible the world is, my blog would surely have to look for the good. Of course it would have to be rooted in truth, and while sometimes the truth is ugly, I have to believe that more often it is beautifully inspiring. And surely, this sort of beauty is magnified by sharing it with others? Starting a conversation in which we embrace community, not only as a means to support and consolation but as a means to organizational power and influence. Not only would I attempt to spotlight the amazing work and lives of women around the world and those advocating for them, I would do my best to try to offer my readers (if I had any!) to become advocates themselves by posting action alerts, links to local community organizations, media coverage of events.

All that said (written), the goal of my blog would be to 1) inform readers about human rights issues, particularly the feminization of poverty, 2) inspire readers with stories of people like themselves who care enough to not only read about but work for social justice, and 3) empower readers to take action, even if only in small ways.