Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Week 2 Foundation #5: Social Justice

This reading talks about the basic challenges we are facing today. Gender inequality talks about the discrimination and violence that many women are facing. Racism talks about the racial and ethnic minorities being segregated from most of the population. Heterosexism talks about the struggles gay and lesbian men and women have overcome and are still facing every day. Inadequate health care states that there are billions of people in the world that go without basic health care needs. Last but not least our prisons are holding many today that don't need to be held.

One of the things that surprised me the most was that there is still a big difference between gender inequalities. Worldwide women earn 25% less than men and are twice as likely to be illiterate. Page 41 says that even though women have entered the workforce by millions they still do more household work and childcare than the men do.

On campus you see more racism and heterosexism. It’s hard to see the other issues in a big place like on campus or in Ames. You could maybe sense them in someplace like your neighborhood. You might see two girls or two guys holding hands get special looks or talked about, but that about the extent you will see on campus.

Ways to promote this better world would be to join the groups that are out there. There are so many on our campus I’m sure you could find one that is promoting something you could get into. Get involved with them as well. Even if you join you should hand out flyers go to events and explore what the group has to offer. Teachers could require that you go so a speaker. They’re always on campus talking about one of these issues.

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