Saturday, January 13, 2007
Week 1 Blog Topic
Welcome to POL 446! All students must post at least one comment by Sunday, January 21st, at midnight. Please share with the group why you are taking POL 446, The Politics of Sex. The primary purpose of this post is to make sure everyone knows how to use the blog before the graded assignments begin next week.
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39 comments:
Be sure to sign your first and last name to your post!
Here's my first blog post... since internet on campus works again...
See you in class.
Just leaving my required blog post.... See ya thursday!
I like being a boy because: I got frustrated attempting to leave my blog post. Not really though!
Aw shiz! A new semester of debates and all that fun stuff! Well, let's see, I'm taking politics of sex because it deals with gender and sex issues and how they affect policy and politics in the US. That's fascinating to me. I am psyched about the class because from our first session today, it seems like there will be lots of fun perspectives to be brought to the table, which makes things REALLY interesting.
:D
I look forward to discussing/hashing out all this business with you guys this semester! (I still say if the Justices of the Supreme Court can kick back with popcorn for a good 'ol fashioned movie day, we should be able to, too...)
Joking. Or am I...
;D
Rebecca Jones
I'm taking POL 446 in order to fulfill a free elective for my Women's Studies minor. I'm looking forward to the class!
Jenny Holly
well...I play baseball for EKU and like a lot of student athletes, we are spoiled and we don't have to make our own schedules...we just pick out of a few classes we might be interested in that the athletic advisors offer us. I was fortunate to see this class offered. Hang ten...
Anything having to do with social justice and equality can usually grab my attention.
Plus my daytrip in the Politics of Religion class led me to believe that this class might just rock my socks off.
Becca is eating salt and vinegar chips, practically in my hair, and they smell really bad. eeew.
Sarah Cooper
Hey Everyone!
So, I am taking this class because, as a woman, I am interested in how women may be affected in the realm of politics. I think it's important to be aware of such issues. And there is my obligatory blog comment.
-Ashley Farmer
I am taking this course mainly because it fulfills my POL requirements... but I also chose this class because it seemed very interesting. I know people who have had this class previously and they really enjoyed and encouraged me to take it.
See you in class ;-)
This class was recommended by a friend of mine, and, as a non-major in the discipline, I hope that it will be a nice change of pace from the rest of my class load.
I am taking this class because I am interested in women in politics. This is especially the case with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House now and so many women (I believe the most ever) being elected to the House and the Senate. There has been a lot said about women in politics. Mostly negative, but I have read some recent articles that supported women in politics. It is believed that there would not be as many "scandals" in government if there were more women. Not saying that is true, just stating what I have read. I am also very interested to find out if women support and introduce the same legislation as men...very interested. I believe the country has been run by the majority (men)for too long and I think it is time for a change!!! I am very excited to take the class and really enjoyed the Politics and Religion class last semester.
In response to Becca's comment...We could make movie day political. I am sure someone has a video of a politician somewhere. Possibly one already viewed by the Supreme Court and deemed appropriate :) Bill Clinton anyone???
Janice Clayton
Lets see, I'm in this class, for one reason, because it helps fulfill some of my Political Science major requirements.
But, I'm also really interested in the subject matter. Also, my mother works in the public sphere and in my hometown's government, and I've seen a lot of discrimination towards her and other women by males in the city. I think it will be interesting to see how my personal experience holds up to the things that this course covers.
Plus, it looks really interesting!
I am taking this course because it applies to my social inequality minor...I think. See ya thursday. Oh, and I support movie day.
I am taking this class because it seems like it will be full of fun and interesting debate concerning women in politics. As a woman I think it is very important that I understand the current role of women in our government and how that role has changed over the course of our nation's history.
Kristeena Winkler
I think this class will be fun and getting everyone's different perspectives on issues will keep it that way.
I forgot to sign my earlier comment. -Amber Morris
Yes, please be sure to sign first and last name after your comment unless FIRST AND LAST name appear prior to your comment (e.g., carla gibbs said...). Thanks.
I took Politics of Sex because I could take it as a gen ed that went well with my Child and Family Studies major. It also sounded really interesting to take.
yay this was fun!
:)
I'm here because I know this class would be a heck of a lot more interesting than the other gen eds I couldv'e signed up for. It'll be my first senior level class, so I know I'm in for a challenge.
As far as movie day, I"M ALL in for that! I'm a movie geek/freak so I could pull up tons of possibilities for a political showing. Heck, we could debate Moore's documentaries, "Inherit the Wind", the film "Roe vs. Wade" inspired, "All the King's Men", all sorts...^.^ I'm in the Comm. Department and know most of the Cinema professors, so just let me know if you need a flick :D
Can't wait for the discussions...just need to find the books, LOL...See you all this afternoon!
Sorry about the technical difficulties with the video. I'll look into the sound problem on the computer. What did you think of the documentary? Did it change/support/shatter any of the male/female stereotypes we have discussed thus far? Other thoughts?
Please note that the picture accompanying Jill Wagner's post has been removed. No nude photos allowed by the blog supreme beings - even ones that have artistic merit... sorry Jill.
Because of the show today in class I can't stop looking at people's fingers. It is a bit odd. Yet, I am pretty sure that this will not be the only day I will feel a bit odd after this class. As I am optimistic that it will provide ampty not only for the reasons I am taking the course. (Which are for its'upper level appeal to my CARES report and its' necessity for my Women's Studies minor.) But that it will also serve as an obsure means of entertainment this semester.
I'm taking the politics of sex for my major. Additionally it sounded very interesting and will enhance my women's studies experience.
I always listen to this radio show, "This American Life" and after the video today, I remembered an episode called "Testosterone." It's basically about the effects of testosterone on a person. There's a lot of interesting stuff in it. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.thislife.org/pages/descriptions/02/220.html.
There's a really great story on there about a woman who decides to begin taking testosterone and discusses the changes that he saw in his views toward women, sex, and even science. There's also a story about a man that, due to medical reasons, stops producing testosterone.
Also, if you listen to the episode, make sure you listen to the last half of the episode. They test the entire staff plus some of the frequent contributors for testosterone levels.
It is seriously one of my favorite segments.
After watching the video I am still a little skeptical. I guess I would have to see the sample size from the research (was it just those on the video or were there many more we did not see). The video was very compelling, but I am still not sure I believe in only a testosterone approach to explain the behaviors of men and women. Something I think was interesting in the video was that in the beginning all fetuses are considered to be female. It is only after eight weeks that males begin to develop. This is interesting because many of the theories are that females are created from males and we are just males with a defect or inadequate males. It seems it is the other way around. Males are formed from females. Go figure! I also like the finger test. Very interesting! Too bad we can't do our own experiment based on that.
By the way...the link to my blog is http://thisisadreamerslife.blogspot.com
If any of you are interested on how to acquire a blog skin like I have on my blog site, just let me know. It is very easy to get!
Hope you like it :)
Janice Clayton
I thought the video was very conclusive in its findings and verified opinions I have always had. Men and women are different. Testosterone, as the video noted, is a very powerful horomone that does not just affect behavior but literally molds the way a brain is wired. It is the fundamental difference.
Additionally, I liked how the video made note of the fact that while men and women are indisputably and inevitably different that you cannot and should not paint with too broad a stroke when trying to define the way an individual is wired. When the data is compressed, however, men and women are biologically different. That does not mean that crazy competition man cannot connect with a child, it simply means that women are x and men are y and x does not equal y.
Lastly, I have never heard of the theories that say that women are men with a defect or inferior males. I also wouldn't deduce that because that is not true, the opposite is. I don't believe it is "the other way around." I believe that at eight weeks males start being exposed to testosterone which forever alters them and makes them male. It is what makes us partially deaf and completely devoid of emotion. :)
Over half a million people filled out the survey. They were using the individuals in the documentary to illustrate the findings. Remember, the point is that ON AVERAGE men... and ON AVERAGE women... Recall the strong emphasis in the documentary about our brains being a mosaic (i.e., for most of us not 100% "female brain" or 100% "male brain").
Sorry, I forgot to put my name at the bottom of my last post so I deleted it. Here it is...
I was speaking about philosophical theories. I actually wrote a paper on it a couple of semesters ago. The following is from my paper.
Aristotle’s view is further evidence of the inferiority of women in Ancient Greece. Aristotle believed that women were inherently unequal to men. He went as far as to describe females as deformed males. He explains that, “the male is by nature superior, and the female inferior; and the one rules and the other is ruled. The reason is that the female is, as it were, a deformed male; and the menstrual discharge is semen, though in an impure condition; it lacks one constituent, and one only, the principle of the soul”.
From personal experience as a female I can honestly say that many males (at least the ones I have had contact with for my 33 years of life) believe that females are inferior or created from man. Take the Bible story for example where Eve was created using a rib from Adam. This has been exploited over and over again by those trying to "prove" that women are inferior to men or are "made" from men.
Janice Clayton
I guess I'll start my first post with why I am taking this class...
It just makes sense..politics are cool and women are cool, so a class about women and politics has got to be pretty sweet.
-CG
I guess I should have left a comment as to why I am taking the class. My great friend Molly thought it would be a great class to take and I only needed 5 300 level and above classes to graduate so I thought what the heck! So far it seems like an awesome class!
Well, this is officially my very first blogging experience. I wanted to take politics of sex this semester because I had a very good time in politics and religion last semester. I'm looking forward to class discussion, as it seems we have a class composition that spans the entire political and ideological spectrum. Also, you shouldn't believe what you read about Dr. Patton on Rate Your Professor.com. She does sip the occassional "latte", but she will also take sides with the conservative bloc in class also. Just joking..... See you all Tuesday.
Justin Rogers
Well, I am taking this class because I'm interested to find out in dept, what role women have in politics.
Marketta Ray
According to my fingers, I received a lot of testosterone in the womb. I'm interested to see in what other ways testosterone levels in utero affect development and behavior at later stages.
My particular favorite part of the film was the illustration that with effort we can overcome our biological predispositions. I believe that fully, and it was nice to see it reflected in the film.
Rebecca Jones
I believe the main reason I decided to take this class is because the subject of women in politics is becoming ever more pertinent as time goes by. We now have our first female speaker of the house in Nancy Pelosi and for the first time ever there is a woman that could run for president and win in Hillary Clinton. I feel that the introduction of women into powerful offices is very exciting and I think that this class will have a lot of new information to look at as the House of Representatives get into the flow of things and when the presidential picture for 08 because a little clearer. It is the perfect time to take this course.
ps. Sorry for my late post, but we just got the internet turned on in my apartment for this semester.
This is a test to see whether non-students can post messages.
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