User talk:SarahMiller

This is one topic that I was startlingly unaware of, especially the fact that “1 out of 10 abortions [are] self induced,” I was blown away by this 2018 statistic, but the more I think back to our module on abortion, the more melancholic I become when thinking about the sheer volume of women that feel so backed into a corner, so to speak, that they would risk such intervention. Yet, it would be wrong to judge women for this consequence as it remains such a contested issue in society that it actually becomes less surprising that women still seek risky alternatives. Reading this, I felt transported back to pre-1972, when women often risked their lives seeking an abortion to avoid severe social stigma for what can only be deemed a natural act. Today, the responsibility still falls on women to “take care of the situation,” and those women who as you said “are mostly minorities or of low income” most likely see no other alternative than self-mutilation. It is sad when a society’s prejudices impact women’s choices so extensively. I think adding more appropriate links and media will augment the page significantly. For example, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyFJjrrAhT0 which focuses on how states with stricter abortion laws (hence, higher stigma) have a higher rate of self-induced abortions. There are also some testimonials online by women who have carried out their own abortions, here is one example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esT4WGbt9h8. You could also contrast that with testimonial from women who self-induced abortion before the 1972 Roe vs. Wade, and example of which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSP2zh1CnnE, which shows how there is still so much work to be done as things have not changed as drastically as I would have hoped by 2018.

Great choice in a very timely topic, I think this discussion is really important today in combating normative ideas on what a family should be, and also combating the idea that if you are gay you will not be able to have a family (a permeating idea within society even today among heterosexual people, making it difficult for LGBT families to avoid prejudice). It is so important that people understand their options today and that these options be available to all kinds of couples, not just heterosexual couples. It was interesting to read about how children raised by same-sex couples will “develop in less gender-stereotypical ways’’ leading them to be more open and accepting, this makes a lot of sense to me, yet, I wonder if this point can actually claim to be universal? The point remains that, until we combat stereotypical thinking and normalize non-traditional ways of making a family, oppression will continue unhinged. I would love to see some more media on your page, perhaps some testimonials by LGBT families explaining their journey, trials and tribulations, etc. This video in particular, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-aQnaM5-ZI, highlights the importance of seeking equality for LGBT families through “advocacy, education, and support.” I could not agree more with this message, and the importance of us, as a society, having these conversations. I would also love to see your argument anchored in some more intersectional analysis, for example, are there “assumed levels” of access to adoption, In Vitro Fertilization, and surrogacy, that require a modicum of wealth/ middle class status? Does racism or sexism impact one’s access to these services or the acceptance they will receive from their communities at large? Perhaps including another subhead that focuses primarily on intersectionality, and how access to family planning services, acceptance from community, etc, can be determined by various social locations, might augment the page significantly.

Great topic! I found this to be a really appropriate topic for this course, and I truly believe that Hollywood is one frontier that continually, along with other forms of media: commercials, music videos, etc, perpetuate not only violence, but a certain form of masculinity that could be potentially damaging to young males who may not fall under the categories, or even social locations, set up within films/media that often portray men as “white, heterosexual, perfectly sculpted, heroic, stoic, [and] hyper-masculine,” as you say. I would love to see some media examples that will help augment you argument/summary. This TedTalk might be perfect for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueOqYebVhtc. Youtube is also awash with videos that take on this topic, a couple in particular focus on “action movies” and the ways in which male characters are transformed into hyper-masculine “superheroes,” which I though might be a good inclusion to bring your point home about how certain films “perpetuate violence,” or at the very least, I would say, causes many young men to become desensitized to violence, which can obviously be very problematic. It could also be interesting to include a subheading about non-white male actors and the ways in which films portray, for example, Asian, Indian, Black men, etc, and analyze this through an intersectional lens.

I enjoyed reading through your wiki about “Violence against Jewish Women during the Third Reich” especially your analysis concerning the ways in which social locations interacted causing Jewish women, unlucky enough to be present during the Third Reich, to face, as you said, “double oppression.” While the page reads well as a whole, might I suggest adding some media, such as appropriate photographs/videos. One idea for a video may be some testimonials by Jewish women who lived during the genocide that was Holocaust, many of which can be found with a quick youtube search, however might I suggest caution in your choosing of said media. I would ensure that I watch the whole video to make sure it is appropriate. I actually wrote a paper in a similar vein a couple years ago, I found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vO8GW8_RGI, quite powerful as they discuss the suppression of the sexual violation and violence toward women. It would also be good to enclude some external links to helpful pages that people may look at to glean more information if interested in your topic.