Blog # 33

There are certain challenges that woman lawyers are faced with. It seem that in order for them to advance in the field they have to be fully committed, which means they basically have to choose between their career or parenthood. If the woman does choose both, then their family is generally put on the back burner and the woman is labeled as a suspect parent. Although women are faced with these decisions, today more than ever we have a higher number of woman lawyers and justices. Women are slowly making advance in the legal world such as becoming partners in more law firms and becoming more powerful justices. For example we now have the first Hispanic woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and the number of women lawyers is climbing. The gap between women and men enrolling in law school is also closing and law school admissions offices are encouraging more women to apply to schools. Additionally, woman bosses are being praised for their skills that are different than men’s. For example, female characteristics that have been associated with being a boss are, teamwork, collaboration, communication skills, focusing on a business objective, innovation, creativity, and getting along with the clients. These skills are also beneficial to a partnership which is why the number of woman partners is increasing.

Regardless of the advances that woman have made in the legal field we are still a long way from being equal to males within the field. At this time women are still faced with the gender wage gaps as well as lacking in opportunities those males have. Additionally, women are faced with the decision of when to become a mother and the impact that it could have on their position within a firm. Women are also faced with the fact that there is less mentorship available for them and they lack more in social networking than their male counterparts. Until women are completely equal within the legal field, woman will always have to work twice as hard to prove themselves.

Blog # 32

Parenting is different for male lawyers and female lawyers. Typically being a father does not impact the job as much as it would for a mother because generally the woman is still responsible for a majority of the childcare. High-powered woman lawyers are viewed as suspect parents because it is thought that successful woman are focused on their careers and not their children. It is explained by one powerful woman that she has never met a woman in her same position who is a nurturing, caring mother. She explains that it is too hard to do both and the expectation that woman should be able to do both is impossible.

It is also explained by Holly English that women lawyers have to down play their positions to other mothers because they are often judged harshly. Mothers feel that the demands of being a lawyer would be too much, so children of lawyers do not receive as much attention and nurturing as they need. For example, one mother went to her child’s school function and other mothers asked what she did and she told them she worked at a law firm, but she did not state that she was a lawyer because of the fear of being judged. Some women are forced to choose either their family or their work which leads to many women leaving their positions as a lawyer to raise their family because they cannot do both. For example, many women believe that they can do part time work while they are pregnant or raising their family, however this is problematic because the work shifts. Many women have reported that once they switched to part time status they were given more paralegal tasks and fewer cases to work. Their workload eventually became very small and they eventually leave the firm due to being unsatisfied with their positions.

Blog # 31

Typically there is more of a struggle for women balancing work and family than there is for men. The problem for women is they are typically the one who does majority of the caring for the children and family. Women generally have to make sure their children get to school every morning and make sure they have arrived safely at home or afterschool arrangements. Many women still do a majority of the house work and cooking so finding the balance between working as a lawyer and being a wife/ mother is difficult for many women. Often times a woman needs to be in two places at once because she will need to be at home making sure her children are getting off to school and at the same time she needs to be at the firm working the traditional hours.

There are common proposed solutions for these mothers such as more flexible work schedules, reduced hours, telecommuting, or job shares. Flexible schedules would be ideal for mothers because then they can make sure their children are off to school first and then they could come into the office after. Additionally telecommuting is ideal because women would be able to work sufficiently from home while also being available for her children. The down side to these solutions is many people feel that these solutions would make these women not be real lawyers. Having a flexible schedule can lead to high turnover rates, clients are receptive to alternative schedules. This can also be problematic because the firm can start giving tasks to other employees so the status of the attorney shrinks, the work eventually fizzles out and the woman is forced to make alternative decisions. Other lawyers may see schedule flexibility as unfair. Lawyers are supposed to work traditional schedules. However alternative schedules can reduce costs and increase productivity of those women attorneys.

Blog # 29

Many minority women do not stay at a law firm because of exclusion, neglect, and overt harassment. Minority women feel that they are held to a different standard than everyone else, for example within the article it is explained that at one firm all the white employees had went to state law schools and all the minority associates had went to the top ten schools in the nation. It is explained that if you are a minority and you are not from one of the top ten schools then you are not in the same playing field as everyone else. Another woman of color stated she was always asked to attend functions and award ceremonies. She was also the first to be asked to speak to other students of color however she was never up for promotions or had any contact with higher attorneys like her male counterparts did. It is explained that often times minority, women lawyers lack opportunities and they are faced with more of a work load.

Like other women attorney’s they are faced with the fact that they are always being watched and criticized. Their attire is criticized because if they appear in outfits that hide their femininity then they are trying to be something they are not, but if they show of their femininity too much then their motives are questioned as well. Additionally, their credibility is not only questioned by clients, but also their employers. These conditions are reasons why these women do not stay at their firms. They lack opportunities to move up and they are faced with the fact that they will always make less money than their male counterparts. Women attorneys also lack mentorship so they have to figure out many things on their own unlike their male counterparts. They also lack in social networking because they are generally not given the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

Blog # 28

According to the article, Sonia Sotomayor was under the harshest criticism than any other possible nominee. Within the article, Sotomayor is portrayed to be temperamental, vain and too stupid to serve on the Supreme Court. This is problematic because the writer of the article that portrayed Sotomayor as these things took peoples comments and turned them around. He took quotes from statements and only used parts of them to prove his opinion on her. Her credibility was also questioned based on her gender, race, and religion. Many thought that she would not be capable of seeing things clearly because her experience as a Hispanic woman. She was also criticized for being raised Catholic. This is problematic because the male nominee’s were not criticized in this manner and their upbringing was not dissected the way her upbringing was.

For example Sonia Sotomayor graduated from two prestigious schools. This was never mentioned within the article that was questioning her credibility. Obviously to make it through law school an individual has to be smart and capable, so the accusation about her being too dumb to sever as a Supreme Court justice was not relevant. Additionally, the other nominees were not questioned about their credibility, it was just understood that if they were nominated then they were obviously qualified to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Their religion or their gender was never an issue it was only for Sonia Sotomayor. I was glad to read that others stepped up and criticized the writer of that article. Others criticized his credibility and his sources which hopefully made him think twice about his false accusations of Sotomayor. However, even after this writer was criticized the questioning of Sotomayors credibility had already begun and people had begun forming their opinions of her based on false accusations. The problem is many people do not like change or they are not comfortable with change and by her being the first Hispanic to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and she is only the third female Justice it brings much change to our justice system.

Blog # 27

The legal profession is still a male dominant profession and women experience hardships within the field. For example, women lawyers are constantly under skepticism from everyone. Only about 30% of lawyers are women which leaves 70% to be males. Women lawyers typically make about 73% of their male counterpart salary and women are less likely to be mentored. Additionally women are faced with the negative perceptions and stereotypes that have been placed on us, as well as they lack access to social networks and they lack opportunities because they are mostly given to men. A woman’s credibility is always being questioned as well. Even if she has graduated from the most prestigious law school and has great references she is questioned. Additionally, a woman is under a constant watch and she is criticized for her appearance. For example, if a woman dresses in clothing that shows off her femininity then her credibility is questioned because it would seem she would need her sexuality to work positively for her because she does not have the skills to do it without her sexual appeal. However, on the other hand, if she wears clothing that conceals her femininity than she is criticized for trying to be to masculine and not being true to herself. It is almost as if the woman needs to be sexy and neat but not too sexy because then she will lack in credibility and she needs to be gentle and nurturing, but she also needs to be assertive and controlling. It is as if women have to work twice as hard to prove themselves than their male counterparts.

There are also gender stereotypes that often have an effect. For example men are known to be assertive and action oriented as to where women are communal, trusting, and nurturing. This is problematic because these stereotypes can be thrown in a woman’s face while in the courtroom by male lawyers. For example, in the past all lawyers have been assertive and dominant because all lawyers in the past were males. This is problematic because many people are more willing to accept what males say over what females say. I mentioned this in a previous post because this could be an issue in the courtroom, because even if the woman has all the evidence to prove her case, a male can state that she is wrong and many people would question her credibility.

Blog # 26

Law is a gendered organization because it is predominately a male dominant field and often women struggle within this field. Women are often questioned or criticized because people think they are not capable of completing tasks the way men would. For example, in the Gender on Trial book there are many examples of “male backing” for female lawyers. In one example, a female lawyer explains that sometimes to get her point across to a client she needs to get a male coworker to tell the client again exactly what she said and often times they will listen to the advice or message when it has come from a male, even if the males status is below hers. This is problematic because the client does not trust this woman for whatever reason and they need male reassurance. In another example, a woman lawyer has to convince her clients that she can do the job as well or maybe better than her partner in the firm before they are even willing to meet with her about the case. Another example that was a little shocking to me was one lawyer had a male assistant and the clients assumed the roles were turned. During their introductions they made all the eye contact with the male assistant and tried to converse mostly with him, however when it was explained that she was the lawyer and he was the assistant the demeanor changed and the clients did not really know how to act. The other thing that I found very interesting is that even as a partner the women lawyers have a wider range of tasks. For example, during some meetings the woman lawyer was expected to order the food for everyone or even at times the women lawyers were expected to do general work such as filing or paralegal work where their male counterparts would never do such tasks.

Blog # 25

There have been arguments on the pros and cons of using sexualized behavior as “a weapon in the arsenal”. For example, when women use sexualized behavior it is often appreciated rather than frowned upon. This image is highly portrayed in media because in many movies women are portrayed as using their sex appeal or even going as far as being physically involved to get what they want. There are so many seductive scenes at the workplace in movies where women are using their sex appeal to get what they want. However on the other hand, men are hardly portrayed this way in media. I cannot recall a movie where a male has been portrayed in this manner. Generally if a man tries to use his sex appeal in the work place it is considered to be sexual harassment and it is frowned upon.
This image that media portrays is also consistent with the corporate world. There are stories on the news all the time of someone sleeping with someone else to achieve a higher position within the company. I also read at one point in a women’s magazine about pointers on how flirting with the boss can get you moved up quicker and the magazine talked about very subtle flirting tips but it still seems to be along these same lines. Additionally, a friend of mine told me that within her job at a restaurant, this type of behavior was occurring. One of the servers who started after my friend got promoted to an assistant manager and there was a rumor that she had slept with the main manager. Then a couple months later my friend told me she was quitting her job because that same girl got promoted to the main manager because she got the other one fired and my friend could not stand the girl. This is an example of how there are more pros for women who use sexualized behavior and there are more cons for men who use sexualized behavior.

Blog # 24

I have a friend named Brittany who is in her first year of law school and she informed me there are definitely gender expectations and stereotypes. She first noticed them during the application process. When she was filling out the applications she noticed that there were a higher number of men applications than women at a majority of the schools she was applying to. Then when she went to do her interviews for admissions she noticed how outnumbered she was. After attending her first week she informed me that there are gender expectations. She said women had a certain standard of how they needed to appear every day. A new friend of hers who had been in her second year informed her of these standards. The girl told her it was very important for Brittany to dress for success everyday if she was going to make it and be noticed as a good student. Brittany says that it is very different from undergrad because she can’t just roll out of bed anymore to go to classes. She how has to make sure her outfits are neat along with the rest of her appearance. She joked and said it was harder getting ready for class than it was getting ready to go to work. She also stated she struggles with some professors because her gender and ethnicity. She feels that some professors feel like she does not belong there and seem to make things a little more difficult for her than her male counterparts. However, she does have some professors who are willing to help her more because they are supportive that she has chosen to go into the legal field which is predominately a male field. I was a little shocked that these stereotypes or expectations for law school students exist. I know based on our class material there are expectations for lawyers and politicians but I did not realize that they started within law school.

I personally think it is unfair that women in politics are being criticized for their fashion sense. For example, First Lady, Michelle Obama always seems to be on blast for her chose outfits even though most of them are very fashionable. These women in politics are generally remembered based on what they wear rather than what they say, as to where many people do not pay attention to what men wear. It is sad that the criticism of Michelle Obama also leads to criticism of Mr. Obama as well.

This is also consistent with what female lawyers face. Often times they have to be careful with what they wear because if they dress in too much color, or clothing that shows their womanly features then their credibility is questioned. On the other hand, if a woman wears something that conceals her feminine features then she is considered to be more masculine which is also not pleasing. It is almost like they have to find a perfect balance.

This is problematic because a woman is already judged based on what she is wearing before she even is given the chance to speak. Regardless of what a woman wears her credibility seems to be at stake. Based on the article it seems that we only focus on what women wear. It seems as that is what we value over what they actually think. This is problematic because in comparison to men, this is highly sexist. No one seems to criticize male politicians or lawyers for what they wear and they are remembered for what they say. Although we have come a long way in equal rights for women, many women in predominately male positions such as law and politics are faced with struggles that society and their male counterparts regulate.

Blog # 22

When Sonia Sotomayor was appointed as a Justice for the US Supreme Court her qualifications were questioned. She was questioned because her gender, race, and religion are factors that weighed into her questioned qualifications. As a Catholic, Puerto Rican, woman, her high status in the Supreme Court caused controversy. She graduated from Princeton University and attended the Yale Law School. In the history of the Supreme Court there have only been three women and she is the first Hispanic to serve. According to a story on CNN, when Sotomayor took her oath it was the first time a ceremony of this nature was televised. This is important to note because she was put in the spot light more than any other appointed judge of the Supreme Court.

She has been criticized for being racist because she embraces her heritage and she understands what women, especially Hispanic women encounter, and she uses her experience to aid her in her position. She has been evaluated on a totally different level than her male counterparts because of her gender and race. I think this evaluation has to do with our governmental changes. Previously our country has been run by white males, and many of our justices have been predominately white males. However, now we have the first president who is not white and he appointed the first Hispanic Justice. Overall, many of the comments made about her seem to have no relevance. Such as she is racist because her experience being different from that of white males, and she is “not smart”, however she graduated from two qualified schools and she would not have been appointed in the first place if those accusations were true. Sonia is just faced with the notion that so far our country has been run by white males and now that a change has come, people feel threatened by it. I personally think that she is qualified for her position and that she could bring a new insight to certain issues and cases because she is a woman. However, the fact that she is a woman and Hispanic should have never become an issue in her qualifications.

Blog # 21

According to NAFCO they are working to be the national voice for female correctional officers. They want to work toward the elimination of harassment and sexual assault of female officers by improving conditions within prisons and using upgraded technology. They state that rape and sexual assault or sexual harassment of female officers is a big issue that needs to be stopped. They are working hard to get an act passed that would help eliminate these types of assaults against female officers. They argue that inmates who are the perpetrators of sexual assault need to be prosecuted and there needs to be strict guidelines for how those types of assaults need to be handled. Having sever punishments for assaulting a female officer will also help eliminate future occurrences.

This is also consistent with Britton’s study. Many women correctional officers have mentioned being scared of certain tasks involved with working within a prison, and many male officers have mentioned fearing for their female counterpart’s safety. Within the study, Britton also found that there are certain positions that are considered to be too dangerous or threatening for women officers, so those tasks are given to men. For example, supervising showers or dormitories are two tasks that are considered to be too dangerous or unsafe jobs for women.
Although this is not formally written in the job description or prison policies, it is just understood. This understanding often would bring a mix of emotions for the female officers because they felt that the other male officers were being sexist toward them or looking down on them because they needed protection. However, it also gave these women a sense of security and they appreciated the chivalrous intentions from their male coworkers. There are also issues of discrimination when it comes to women working in prisons. For example, women are often overlooked for promotions because they do not take part in socializing with the boys. Or they are more likely to turn down promotions that would initial them moving because of their families at home. There have also been some officers in the study who were turned down for a promotion because they would not respond with sexual favors. These issues are issues that women correctional officers should not have to face while doing their jobs, which is why it is important to Britton and NAFCO to have these issues exposed.

Blog # 20

First and foremost, I think the hostage did a good job keeping her alive and keeping the situation under control. She was able to make the inmates identify her as a human and not just an object which helped keep her alive. She was able to identify with the inmates and she was able to get inside their heads by telling them lies about her childhood. I think that this hostage situation does reflect conditions described in Britton’s study. For example, Louis Fraley, was the woman taken hostage but two inmates. This was a result of these two men feeling they could over power a woman and she would not be able to handle the violent encounter as well as a male would be. Also, as mentioned in Britton’s study, the concern for female correctional officers is relevant because they are often more exposed to sexual harassments and assault.
A second notable thing in this situation is how the Arizona Prison System is considered a gendered organization. For example, the director, Dora Schriro, was looked down on in the beginning of this ordeal. Many people criticized her because she was a woman coming in and taking over a man’s job and she was criticized on how she handled the hostage situation. However, as a result of the way she handled the situation everyone made it out alive, which made her the first to accomplish that. Many women in the chosen field are taught in training that emotions can be bad and they could get in the way of decision making in high risk situations, however, both Fraley and Schriro used their emotions to handle the situation with resulted in a positive way and no one was hurt.

This was a good example of Britton’s “keepers” and “turkeys” because when Schriro needed information on the prisons structure, the hostage, and the inmates, the information was not available. This is one of the things that Schriro seeks to change. She does not want inmates to just be kept but she wants them to be able to leave the prison with a trade so they can change their lives and not have to return to prison. She also made an effort to retrain the correctional officers on how to deal with certain situations which would make their overall job experience more beneficial. It is expressed in the article that those who ran the AZ prison system prior to Schriro, ran the prison like those of “keepers” and “turkeys” which basically means the inmates were locked up and forgotten about. This also resulted in less constructive training for the correctional officers.

Prisons are considered total institutions because they are like their own communities that are separate from society. The people who are in the prison, guards and inmates, only socialize with other guards and inmates. I also think the NBC documentary earlier in the unit helps show how prisons are considered total institutions. For example, the documentary was of a women’s prison which explores the bonds inmates have with each other. It also shows how these women are allowed to work within the prison walls to earn a living and also develop a trade that would later aid them once they were released. This is important for the institution itself because it is giving back to society as a whole but is also creating a community for the inmates. This similar situation seems to be what Schriro wants to achieve.

I think media and the on the job training has a lot to do with officered being endangered on the job. The media portrays correctional officers to be big, burly men that are capable of meeting violence with violence. These guards are armed men that are capable of restoring order to meanest and most violent offenders. Also when it comes to training, we still have this stereotypical image of the correctional officer, so training focuses on being able to handle the violent encounters with physical strength. I personally agree that Britton’s recommendations may have been useful in avoiding the situation. I think the media needs to have a different image when it comes to correctional officers so that way people in our society do not get the wrong impressions. Also, different training should be given to female and male guards and this training should also be based on the population they are going to be working with. It is true that men and women have different skill sets and it is important to understand that both men and women correctional officers are important in prisons but their different skills should be utilized and welcomed instead of trying to make them the same. This should also be relevant when dealing with male or female inmates. I think that Schriro is moving the Arizona prison system in the right direction, but like all things, change generally takes a while to grasp.

Blog # 19

Media has a huge influence on the way people view the world. For example, our preconceptions of prisons are mostly based off of movies as well as our stereotypes for correctional officers. As mentioned in other posts, inmates are generally seen as violent and monster like. While correctional officers are generally stereotyped as being mean, masculine, and having the ability to match violence with violence to maintain order. In more recent decades, it has become more common for women to play roles in films that grant them power and allow them to express violence. However, prior to recent decade’s women were always portrayed as good housewives with typical ladylike roles. As Geena Davis explained, when the movie she started in, Thelma and Louis, there was a big controversy because they did not fit the typical women characters.

In the video with Geena Davis, she explains how there are gendered differences in media. She explains how in media the roles of women are based off of males. For example, she uses the example of Winnie the Poo and how out of all the characters there is only one female character. Kanga is the female character who does not even count as a complete character because her whole existence in the series revolves around her son Roo. This type of gendering as children becomes relevant in the positions with co-workers. For example, when children view these types of shows, they subconsciously develop a notion that women are less than men because they are portrayed as such in these shows which causes an imbalance that will affect them into adulthood. This is definitely relevant in the study by Britton. She explains how in the study, all of the top paying positions were all males with the exception of one. This type of media influence also makes us believe that women are incapable of handling violent situations because women are taught to not use violence. Also, the study with Britton explains male views of female co-workers. Many males fear for their female co-workers because they can be more vulnerable in violent situations and there is more of a threat for women when it comes to sexual harassment within the prison walls.

Blog # 17

The NBC documentary was definitely an eye opener for me on how women’s prisons are run and what they are like. I personally have never been to a prison, however I have family members who have worked as correctional officers in men’s prisons and I have heard stories, but I never knew anything about women’s prisons. This made this documentary very interesting, because it is like a little community. The women are all very emotional and needy, which allows them to cling to each other and form tight bonds with other inmates. I was shocked to find that many of the women are pregnant in the NBC documentary and I found it interesting to know that they receive prenatal care as well and their children are delivered in outside hospitals. Also, I found it very interesting that women were allowed to work in different trades and I feel that this is a very good thing because it helps women get experience in a trade that will aid them when they are released from prison. This would allow them to have a different set of skills than they previously had, which would help keep them from returning to prison. However, I was shocked at the flexibility of the prisons for women. They allow them to use dangerous tools such as sheers or objects to make teeth and they also allow them to have make-up and other toiletries that to some would be considered luxury items. Also, the guards seemed very friendly within this prison with the inmates and there was like a teacher-student type of bonds or similarly a motherly bond between the inmates and the guards. A main difference that I found within the movie that the text did not mention was the precautions that male officers had to take while working within a female institution. For example, I was not aware that when escorting a woman to a different location, a male officer had to be accompanied by a female officer. Also, when entering a dormitory building, the male officer had to announce that they were entering into the building.

Both the text by Britton and the documentary explain that dangers can arise when relationships are built with inmates. They explain that forming a bond with the inmates can help the situation, however when those lines are crossed there can be serious consequences. In Britton’s study, the officers have mentioned that women inmates are needy and their emotions are unpredictable which can lead to dangerous consequences. The women play mind games, which could jeopardize the safety of the other inmates, of the guards and also the jobs of the guards.

Within the two documentaries and the text by Britton, there are several assumptions and perceptions of inmates. Many officers assume that all inmates are violent and will treat them in that manner. Generally, the officers will develop one of two preconceptions. The inmates made a mistake but they are still human, or the inmates are too privileged. Many officers can view privileged inmates as a good thing, because when they act up, there is more to take away from them as a punishment. However, many officers that took place in this study explained that they believed that the inmates were completely responsible for their actions. The officers also commented on the fact that women inmates treat male correctional officers different than female correctional officers.

The minority correctional officers explained how they have certain issues while working in prisons. Some minority officers expressed the difficulty of sharing a bond on color and ethnicity with the inmates because minorities make up a large number in the prison population. Some of the officers also expressed a feeling of double consciousness. They express this by the social construct of how inmates are to be treated is similar to racism, so the minority officers feel that they can relate to the treatment that is being inflicted on the inmates. Also, minority officers generally find it more difficult to express humanistic attitudes towards inmates such as objectifying them or to infantilize them, than their white counterparts. The study by Britton also explains that many correctional officers take on the role of being either a motherly figure or a fatherly figure to the inmates instead of objectifying them. It is important to note that even though the inmates are viewed as humans who have made a mistake, it is important for the officers to remember they are not equal.

Blog # 18

In many prisons, there are gender-neural policies that are established, but generally these policies that are supposed to be neutral often become more masculine. For example, in our society, inmates are thought to be violent offenders who are animalistic and have no civilization. They are pretty much portrayed as monsters which that misconception of inmates can cause the guards to act out in an inappropriate manner. It becomes a masculine notion to be mean and violent with inmates even when the treatment is supposed to be gender-neutral. Along with the treatment of inmates, officers often take on a role of being a mother figure or a father figure to the inmates. They see those inmates as human, but treat them like children because they are not to be considered as equals. Another aspect that is supposed to be gender-neutral is on the job training. For example, all the material covered in training is taught to both men and women; however the material and the physical tests are based off of male officers. Also, in the unit involving sexual harassment, this is mostly for women officers.

Men’s and women’s prisons are very different in the type of treatment they receive. For example, in women prisons many inmates have more access to activities such as sewing, crochet supplies, and toiletries. These women are often allowed more time for cleanliness and bonding time than their male counterparts. In both male and female prisons, the guards often find themselves forming bonds with the inmates. Generally, correctional officers develop one of two thought process about inmates. The first is generally, that the inmates have made a mistake or mistakes, but they are still human, or the second form of thoughts about inmates is they are too privileged. This is a main argument in women’s facilities and when officers are asked if they preferred working with male inmates or female inmates, most said they preferred males because women are to emotional. Due to the high unpredictability of women’s emotions it is hard to determine what to expect, many officers in this study confirmed that women play mind games and they are often harder to control than male inmates. A main cause of the difference in treatment is the security of the facility. Women are generally in lower security facilities which allows for more flexibility.

Blog # 16

According to Britton, not many children aspire to become a correctional officer. In fact in a study in 1982, adolescents between the ages of 14 and 22 were asked what type of jobs they wanted and only 0.1% wanted to be prison guards and other that percentage, 95% were males. So from childhood, becoming a correctional officer is already on a gendered path. Britton also explains that many do not choose to go into this profession and it is often a last resort which makes it more difficult to retain officers for long periods of time. In the study, previous work experience plays a role in becoming a correctional officer. For example, of the men officers studied, 44% had military experience as to where only 7% of females had military experience. For women, about 37% of correctional officers came from clerical positions and took the position as a last resort. This separation in prior work experience shows that there is sex segregation in occupations.

According to the study, the prior job experience did not really matter. Many of the women found that being a correctional officer was similar to childcare. Both men and women were attracted to this type of job because the pay and benefits. This type of job pays well and only requires a GED or a high school diploma, which can be very beneficial for single mothers who need job security. I think society enforces a preconception of prisons that often scares people about the job. Prisons are portrayed to be violent and scary, and those involved in the study reported that they actually are not how we think they are. The training for a correctional officer is not gendered at all. Both men and women are required to study the same curriculum and pass the same fitness tests. The training is all on the job training in areas such as handgun usage, self defense, and strategies on how to deal with inmates. However, in training there are specific units on sexual harassment that are typically geared toward women.

Blog # 15

In the United States, prisons have been around for about two hundred years. In the begging there was no separation of women and men. During these times women were often thought of as not women because they did not follow typical gender norms. It was thought that if a woman was raped while she was in prison, it was her own fault. It was also difficult because women were treated either the same as men, or worse by the prison guards. There was a difference in their tasks while being in prison as well. The women were given tasks such as cooking, sewing, or cleaning, while men were not given these tasks. Soon after came the reform movement, where we moved away from corporal punishment and made other changes to prisons. Many women were also moved to halfway homes, which at the time were almost like a wayward home for little girls. Here the women inmates were taught how to be proper women and taught how to be domestic. This also resulted in the separation which stopped rapes, allowed for feminine care, and they were managed by women staff. Also, while women were being taught to cook and clean, men prisoners were generally “leased” to do construction work or working on the railroad. Also, the role of officer’s differed in these institutions well. Women officers were expected to be more motherly, or like mentors while men were expected to be the parliamentary mold. However, now there is a difference in the numbers of inmates that are being held in US prisons. Women inmates are growing much more quickly than male inmates. Also, the role of officer’s differed in these institutions well. Women officers were expected to be more motherly, or like mentors while men were expected to be the parliamentary mold.

In Arizona, the first prison was in Yuma and there was no separation for women. Often times, the Governor of Yuma often pardoned the women inmates and they were released much sooner than men inmates. With the reform also came the separation of males and females, and the separate institutes in Arizona are still around today.

Blog #14

Through this book, Britton seeks to explain how gender in reproduced in all aspects of being involved with a prison. She uses the theory of gendered organizations as the basis to answer her question and she states, “the theory argues that we should see organizations not as neutral organisms infected by the germs of workers’ gender (and sexuality, and race, and class) identities but as sites in which these attributes are present in preexisting assumptions and constructed through ongoing practices” (Britton, 2003, 3).
I think an example of an ongoing organization in which gendering is a process is within schools. From the time we are in kindergarten all the way through adulthood institutions such as schools teach how each gender is supposed to be performed. For example, in my gender com class, we did a unit on how children are taught to communicate gender. All the readings explained how during play time, boys were encouraged to go play outside and explore, or draw, or play with cars, or trucks and they were usually able to play louder, On the other hand, the little girls were usually encouraged to stay inside, play with dolls, or toys that they could play house with. The readings also said the little girls were often asked to be quieter more than the boys. This is still relevant at the college level. For example, if a girl has short hair, does not wear make-up, and wears baggy clothes, she is often thought to be less of a woman or have more masculine traits, which are frowned upon. The same would go for a guy, generally if a guy is sensitive or more feminine, he is thought to be a mama’s boy, a sissy, and he is thought of to be less of a man.
I think that she means it depends on the organization to determine how gender is structured. For example, in prisons women and men are stereotyped, and women make less money than their male counterparts. This is an example of gendering in the organization. This could be a result of the public and private sphere separation. These are gendered concepts because they are created for the man. In the private sphere, the wife and family existed, and the wife stayed at home to do the cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Then the man had his public sphere, where he had his job, his politics, and was able to interact with his friends. This is a gendered set of terms because in history women had their place in the private sphere and the two did not mix. This however changed with WWII when women went to work in factories while their husbands were over seas.

Blog # 13

According to Britton, generally the stereotypical correctional officers that we picture are armed males. They are generally large in size, very masculine, brutal, and are capable of meeting violent encounters with violence. These men are the meanest of men, because they are the protectors of prisons and they have to be able to control criminals. This image is highly popularized in police movies and other prison movies such as ConAir (Britton, 2003). However, this image is not accurate with the statistics of corrections officers. These officers are not armed and women make up about 19% of corrections officers in federal and state prisons, 16% of officers in men’s prisons, and 56% of officers in women’s prisons (Britton, 2003).

When women are said to be corrections officers, they are generally stereotyped as being more masculine than “normal” women, and more violent than normal women. The corrections officers generally are thought to exhibit more male like traits. Women in these positions are also seen as less than their male counterparts. They do not receive the same salaries as males and they are often put up for promotions less than men. It is also thought that women corrections officers cannot handle violent situations the way men can.

Within prisons there are some differences in the images of males in female and male prisons. For example, in a female prison there is the issue of privacy and abuse. In earlier prison times, men officers were allowed to beat women, some were beaten to death and even raped. Although, this should no longer be an issue now, that could still be a concern. In male prisons, the officers are seen as those who enforce the law and there is no issue of privacy or the role the officer plays. There is also a difference in the position women hold in facilities. When a woman is present in a male facility it is possible for them to be given a hard time by inmates and they have to prove they can handle male inmates. However, in female facilities they do not have this same struggle.

BLog # 12

Although we have laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex it still exists because it is something that is socialized. The best way to describe it is that is a part of a bureaucracy that was formed by our founding fathers at the time when women were not part of the work force or any rights. Although women have come a long way, this bureaucracy still is a main factor in the discrimination by sex. We have been socialized that women still belong in the home, or in career’s that require nurturing, such as teachers, nurses, or social workers. On the other hand, men are still thought to be the breadwinner and receive higher salary on average than women, and they go into jobs such as engineering, automotive, and construction. This gender socialization causes the genders to maintain what is expected because there are many negative associations with stepping outside the norm. However, by taking the risk to step outside the norm also has many benefits and rewards. Research has also found that this type of segregations is a main contributor of women being in poverty.
Aside from being socialized that each gender has specific jobs they should do, the institutions also contribute to segregation. For example, during the application process and into the interview process, men and women are first stereotyped by their gender. If the job is something that is primarily done by men, then the position is more likely to go to a man than a woman applicant. Although it is more difficult to step into these types of situations, there are many advantages for women if they are able to break into male dominant occupations. For example, the salary is generally better in male dominant jobs such as engineering, construction, aviation, and other trades. Another advantage of non-traditional jobs is for many women, it would allow them to move out of poverty because it would create more job stability.
In my opinion, I do not feel men will lose by women entering into these types of jobs. It creates better opportunities for women and their families, so men would benefit from this as well. The poverty rates would go down, so men would not be contributing as much to welfare and other government aid programs that assist women in poverty. It creates more competition, which most men are generally a fan of and it allows for different opportunities as well as a different type of co-worker companionship. I personally think that women breaking into male dominated occupations would benefit everyone.

Blog # 11 - Working Poor Women’s Unpaid Labor

I found a few video’s on YouTube that were stories about women in a working poor situation that were very sad. The one video that absolutely broke my heart was a story about a single African America mother, who had six children. The biggest struggle for this family, and the mothers biggest heart ache was keeping her family together under one roof. In this story, the mother had three boys and three girls and they were forced to live separately for durations of time because it was hard to find shelters to take in a family of seven. The mother and the three girls found refuge at a women’s shelter however her three sons were forced to find shelter elsewhere. The oldest son was able to stay in a church, the middle son slept in a vehicle, and the youngest son stayed with his friend during the time that his mother and sisters were in the women’s shelter. This family’s struggle began when the children’s father died and there was continuous downward cycle.

Stories like this one are very common when it comes to working poor mothers and mothers living in poverty. The everyday struggles that these women face include providing food for their families, which in many of these stories, mothers did not eat some meals to ensure their children had enough food to eat. Another major struggle for these women is securing transportation for them to get to and from work as well as taking their children to and from school or childcare. Other concerns are making sure that their work schedules fit to their childcare arrangements or making sure childcare arrangements fit their work schedules. Due to the welfare reform these women have to make sacrifices in taking jobs and taking less pay just to ensure they have a job to receive the benefits they need from the government.

This is the link to the story in my post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAA9-QzRzf8&feature=related

Blog # 10 - Working Poor Women’s Unpaid Labor

The welfare reform was signed by President Clinton in 1996. Another term for the reform is the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. This reform forced those on welfare to work for their welfare checks which resulted in more single mothers returning to work. During the time that the reform was passed it seemed that there were many positive effects. For example, according to NPR news reports, the reform gave women a positive incentive to work hard for their aid which also resulted in them having more income. This also had a positive effect on the children of working mothers, because by them seeing their mothers going to work every day and working to support the family, made the children themselves set higher goals for themselves. This seemed like a quick fix to the problems of mothers on welfare and it seemed to work in the beginning but then everything else set in. These women who are working because of this reform are forced to pay for childcare because they had to now work. These women are also forced to pay for the transportation to get to work and to get their children to their care, as well as paying for the clothing for their jobs. This has resulted in many women working hard for what they have, but at the end of the day, their pay still does not cover the costs, so life for them has not really improved based on this reform. In later years preceding the reform, the number of those enrolled in welfare programs has decreased; however those enrolled in Medicare programs, disability programs, and food stamps programs has increased. This proves that just because many people came off welfare aid does not mean that they came off government aid entirely.


According to Chaudry, after the welfare reform that was passed by Clinton, many working mothers had to adapt survival strategies. Whether these so called “strategies” should be considered strategies, women definitely had to adapt to new situations. Chaudry explains that two major adaption’s that women had to face once the welfare reform was put in play, was either arranging their childcare around their work schedules or arranging their work schedules around their childcare arrangements. An example of this would be the story of Sara and Cristina in Chaurdry’s book, Putting Children First. Sara is a young mother who was very persistent in continuing her education while being a single mother. She had many hardships being that she is from a different country and had to adapt to the social norms of America. She first lived with her mother after coming to America however that arrangement did not work because they did not get along. Sara decided that she did not want to raise her daughter being subjected to the psychological turmoil that the mother would place on them. Her first option of childcare was a neighbor who Sara and Cristina later moved in with; however that went bad after the neighbor asked Sara to give up Cristina. This caused major tension for Sara because during the time of the transition Sara was afraid the neighbor would steal Cristina. Once Sara was out on her own she had to apply for welfare in order to live in a shelter. Many women like Sara were forced to make sacrifices during this time of the reform. Some women were forced to leave their children in unsafe environments because they needed to work to keep their welfare benefits. The welfare reform forced women to make themselves more flexible with job positions and childcare arrangements. Women spend so much extra time trying to locate affordable childcare as well as securing jobs to pay for the childcare.

I agree with Chaudry that America as a whole needs to decide what role we want to play in the lives of children. If we provided more available care options for families with infants, I think that poverty rates would go down. For many families, a new infant is a big expense and during this time is where families are forced to drop to one income as a result of the needed childcare for the infant. A second investment that I feel that Americans should invest in is making educational development for young children. We should have not only the pre-k and head start programs available but more for younger children as well. Also if we improved the access of childcare, it would be easier for mothers to return to work after having children which would result in more income for the family as well. By Americans being more proactive for a better life for all children, I personally think less children would grow up to be criminals and the children would grow up with more opportunities.

Blog # 9 - Working Poor Women’s Unpaid Labor

I personally feel that conditions faced by working poor women and those faced by children in poverty are much the same. I feel this way because many of the working poor women are the mothers of these children in poverty. In both states, there is constant food insecurity, there is a lack of affordable housing, and there is a lack in available insurance. According to NCCP there is nearly 13 million American children living in poverty which amounts to about eighteen percent. This number continues to grow as our economy gets worse and the cycle continues. Children who are born into poverty are often forced to stay in poverty throughout their lives due to lack of opportunities and lack of education. Much like urban poverty, these children grow up with poor education and often barely receive a high school diploma or GED. There is generally no form of higher education due to the fact of them becoming parents or having to help support the family they grew up in.

There are other factors that play a role in the children in poverty. According to NCCP, poverty among children is the most prevalent within African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians. This could be a result of these groups having fewer opportunities than other groups in America. Another influence on child poverty is the generation they are born into. Those children with immigrant parents are more likely to be in a state of poverty than those children whose parents are not immigrants.

Many of the parents of children who are in poverty are working hard but just cannot seem to keep their heads above water. For example, in the news post story from NPR about Annice and Edwin Greene, they are fighting hard to try and make it on their own. These types of situations make it very difficult to accept the stereotype that those who use welfare or those who are poor are lazy. I agree with Chaudry in the recommendations to help with child poverty. I think that there should be increased funding for childcare programs and being that single parent homes are becoming more mainstream, I feel there should be more aid, or even just more of an understanding for those in that position. I feel that the government should create more opportunities for people in these situations to allow them to get back on their feet and out of poverty.

Blog # 8 - Urban Poverty

There is a phenomenon of urban poverty which is different than poverty within the city. Urban poverty is similar to working poor and inner city poverty because those everyday struggles with income, and childcare are still prevalent; however urban poverty has a different list of concerns as well. According to Chaudry in Putting Children First, there are two primary factors that lead to the problems of families in urban areas. These factors are: “the decline in urban labor markets and the out-migration of better-employed residents” (Chaudry, 2004, p.128). Also, according to Chaudry there are many other factors that have an effect on poverty, one main one is being jobless. This occurs due to loss of businesses and basic services that create job opportunities for working families. It has become a trend that male unemployment and incarcerations have increased in urban areas, which leaves many families to be lead by single mothers who are dependent on welfare. Due to these conditions and lack of transportation, these urban areas are becoming more and more excluded from larger cities. This exclusion is a huge concern because jobs are scarce in urban areas and there are poorly functioning public facilities such as school that do not ensure positive learning or hospitals that do not ensure proper healthcare.

The high levels of crime are also a major problem in urban poverty. Single mothers are forced to worry about their safety and the safety of their children because there are high levels of crime and violence. In these areas there is also an increase in drug consumption, drug abuse, and drug trafficking which makes these areas unsafe for families. As cited in Chaudry, Peter Marcuse calls urban poverty areas, “outcast ghetto’s”. He explains that, “people living in the outcast ghetto are removed from the dominant society both physically and economically” (Chaudry, 2004, p.129). These issues alone are very problematic; however single mothers in urban poverty also share the same struggles with childcare as working poor mothers. These children are bounced between childcare arrangements, which negatively affect a child’s development. This type poverty also is repeated in a cycle similar to working poor families. Children are more likely to drop out of school to try and help support their families and more girls will get pregnant younger, which will keep them in the poverty state that they grew up in.

The only way these cycles will change is if more people take initiative to help those in need, however with the economy issues we are having I think everyone is struggling to get by.

Blog # 7 - Working Poor Women's Paid Labor

Many women who have to raise children on their own have many struggles, and finding childcare is one of the major struggles they face. In the text Putting Children First, Julia a single mother of three daughters describes her struggles with childcare after her third daughter, Jacqueline, were born. Her childcare troubles began when her daughter was born. Jacqueline’s father took care of her for a short while during the time Julia was trying to get her GED. Then, when he was incapable of caring for his child she had to find an alternative source of childcare. She needed assistance but because she was not working she was not a priority. The reason that she could not work was because she did not have dependable childcare. When she finally got the assistance she desperately needed, the assistance was inconsistence and gave her more troubles. The childcare that accepted the government assistance facility, where Jacqueline was staying, needed to be paid every week; however the assistance only paid every other week. This caused payment issues and Julia was forced seek childcare elsewhere. This was another burden on Julia, because she again had to compromise her work to ensure she could be home with her daughter when childcare was not available.
The sad part is Julia’s story is similar to many single mothers trying to support their families. For example, in the video with Jessica, she describes how she has been forced to work minimum wage her whole life because of the cycle. She works minimum wage jobs because she is a student trying to make it. She explains how there are some nights she does not eat to ensure that her children have enough food to eat. Minimum wage jobs generally do not have healthcare or childcare benefits. This can be problematic because those are extra expenses that put single mothers farther behind by having to pay out of pocket for those things. Also, minimum wage jobs are hourly pay, so when something comes up where the mother needs to take off work, then she does not get paid for that time off. Jessica describes how everyday is a constant battle, which describes how many mothers in this position feel. In the stories with Erin and Mallory there are also common themes in the struggle of childcare and the cycle of not being able to get ahead.

Blog # 6- Cost of Childcare

According to our text Putting Children First there are several types of child care arrangements that are used by working single mothers. There are several factors that go into deciding these child care arrangements. These decisions are “based on their contextual situations, the particular kinds of care available to them, and the interaction of these options with their work needs” (p. 35). There are four major childcare arrangements that include: home-based individual care, family care in the caregiver’s home, center care, and other settings. Home-based care would include, father care, older sibling care, a paid nanny or sitter in the child’s home, or close family or friends that provide care in the home. Family day care would consist of care in a person’s home who is licensed. Center care generally includes professional care in a community setting such as nursery programs, head start or early head start or pre- k programs. Lastly, other settings would include mothers care while working, specialized care or daycare in shelters, hospitals, or other specialized service institutions.

According to the text, child care arrangements are generally second best, but they are generally not the first option that mothers would choose. For reasons such as cost and availability, plus work schedules are restraints that would make women choose a second rate child care. In one of the videos titled Childcare Struggles, it explains how the family has to wait until the children are in school to have more, due to the high cost of childcare. They as a family were not able to afford to send multiple children to daycare, which meant they had to change their family planning. The constraints on child care concern families because their child’s development can be compromised. When a child is placed in secondary care a child may not develop was well as other children in professional care. A second problem that arises with child care for low income families is when the arrangement is ended. This can also cause a disruption in the child’s development because they do not have a stable arrangement. Situations like this one are explained in chapter 2 of Putting Children First. In the story of Brittany and Bethany, they explain the struggles in their child care arrangements and how Bethany was moved from arrangement to arrangement. This story is not unique, and the sad thing is many single mothers go through the same struggles.

Blog #5 - Identifying the Working Poor

Both the book and the videos discuss how there is a cycle that seems impossible to get out of. This cycle happens because the working poor people are working pay check to pay check to try and get by and when something unexpected happens such as a vehicle breaking down, or a sick child, these things put the working poor families further and further behind. This cycle is where those who are least fortunate are the ones that have to work harder. Many people in poverty and in the working poor class struggle to make ends meet because they work minimum wage jobs and many minimum wage jobs are not full time or offer benefits. Many people in these situations have two or three minimum wage jobs instead of one good job which forces them to work harder than the people who work for big corporations or have high salary jobs. The working poor people work harder because they have to constantly juggle childcare, food, clothing, and just basic necessities in general. During the video, the people generally define the working poor as those who are working minimum wage jobs, who are living pay check to pay check but are still struggling to meet their basic needs.

In the video that defines the poverty lines, it states there is one in eight Americans who is below the poverty line. These people who are considered poverty can receive aid from the government however the aid is never enough to help people out of poverty. The aid that is provided is only enough to keep them in their state of poverty. Also, another video in our course material describes a class between the middle class and working poor. This class is called the near poor which can be considered one of the largest classes in our nation. In this class, the video explains how debt is a big problem because many people in this class are not poor enough to receive government aid, but they do not make enough on their own to get by. This forces people to apply for credit cards or loans, which can get people into more and more debt.

I work for a debt settlement company and this near poor class is where most of our clients are. These clients struggle to meet ends meet, so they apply for a credit card to by gas or food, then they make the minimum payment and with interest and fee’s the balances double. Then because that card is at the max, they are forced to open another card, and the whole thing snowballs. Then when they are out of options, something else goes wrong and they can no longer even make minimum payments. Within this class, debt is not the only problem, but healthcare as well. Many of the people in this class make to much money to qualify for free healthcare, but they do not work good enough jobs that have benefits for them or their families. Insurance can be a huge expense that forces people to go without it in order to afford other necessities such as food, rent, or clothing.

These three classes are definitely a big amount of Americans however there seems to be solution for helping these classes reach a higher status.

Blog # 4 - work and family

When I was younger and my great-grandmother was still alive she would always tell me how a good family life was supposed to be. She was born in the early 1900’s so she had a different view on life than I do now, but always said that the key to a good family life was love. She used to say that a good family life was loving your children and husband and making sure they know you love them; cherishing the family support you receive and respect those who respect you. These simple words from my great-grandmother have greatly influenced my views of a good family life. I think loving and cherishing the family is the most important thing in having a good family life. This is not always easy considering the craziness of our world today. I personally feel that I have a good family life because my mom has always made it known how important my brother and I are to her and I think knowing that I am loved makes a big difference to me in my life choices.

Having a balance between a career and family life can be very difficult. To balance a career with family life means being able to distinguish that the two do not blend and being able to dedicate the same amount of time to the workplace as well as the family. This would mean making certain career choices that would allow for the distinct separation. There are many factors that make it difficult to balance family life and a career. Career’s can be very demanding because there are always deadlines that have to be met, also traveling with careers take away from family time. I know growing up my parents tried to separate work with family life but it was very difficult. Both my parents would get phone calls at home when there was something that went wrong, my dad was always traveling to different locations, so he would be gone during the weeks and come home late in the evenings. Also, many jobs require overtime which cuts into family time. Lastly, there are many single parents who take on second jobs in order to support their families.

Family issues are defiantly more complex now because of traditional gender roles. Our society has changed because now it takes two incomes to get by and support the family in most situations. In the early 1900’s there were two jobs for every family, the breadwinner and the caretaker. The man was the breadwinner and the woman was the caretaker, which made a clear distinction of the roles. The men would go to work and come home and be able to spend time with the family, while the women stayed home and made sure all the house work was done, so there could be family time. Now, roles have changed in the sense that both women and men are in the workforce, but many woman are still expected to do the carework as well. This creates an issue because many careworkers feel they are not giving their family the full attention they need and it causes feelings of guilt and stress. The term “women’s work” still exists, which makes it more difficult for men to accept doing housework as part of their daily tasks as well. Also, many families feel a strain because there are different schedules and family time has decreased in the amount of hours spent together weekly. This alone is an issue because the value of family has gone down as well and many children are not aware that they are loved by their parents and they are not aware that they have family support.

I think in certain aspects many employers can be more sensitive to family needs. There are many jobs out there that are sensitive to family needs, however studies have shown that most of those jobs are lower paying jobs and have less benefits. Those jobs that have higher pay and good benefits require people to put the time in. This means the product is more important than personal needs which put family needs below the companies needs. I think that employers should be more flexible with schedules to accommodate their employee’s. Certain things like start and end times should be left up to the employee, however the employer can choose certain times where the employees are required to be present. This alone would make managing a schedule more easy. Another thing that can be done some work done out of the home. Many would argue that this could further blend the career and family spheres however this would also allow for more flexibility as well as getting the job done. When personal needs are met, many employees are more likely to be satisfied with their positions and would feel better about having deadlines and certain things to accomplish. If there is a give and take relationship it is bound to be beneficial for both the employee and the employer.

I definitely think having support makes it much easier to balance priorities. For example, a support system is more likely to encourage certain things that should be priority and discourage others. Having a support system also makes the day to day things easier. For example, it is less stressful if a mother is going to be working late to be able to call her parents to go pick up the kids from school instead of trying to find a way to get to the kids and back to work to complete the work task. Having the help is always easier than doing everything strictly alone. This was always the case for my mom when my brother and I were young.

Blog # 3- Carework

Carework is something that I have experienced my whole life. I have watched my mom doing it my whole life and now that I am older I have began taking part in carework myself. Growing up my mom stayed home with my brother and I from the time I was 3 to about 5 when I went to school. Then after that point both my parents worked. During my entire life my mom has always done the carework. She took care of all the cooking, cleaning, laundry and child raising. My dad took care of the traditional male stuff such as yard work, keeping our vehicles running properly and making sure we had the best sports equipment available. Through my childhood until I was 15 he was our main source of income. Generally my mom would work a full day and then she would have to come home and do dinner and make sure our homework was all done. I always helped my mom with the carework, but when I was fifteen I realized exactly how difficult things were for my mom. My parents were going through a divorce and my mom moved so she could make more money, then my grandmother got sick and I moved in to take care of her. I would go to school and have to come home and cook, clean, get medication, and just help my grandparents until she recovered. Once I moved with my mom, she worked 12 and 15 hour days to support us, so I began doing the cooking, cleaning, and laundry for the two of us. This carework was on top of my school work during high school. Now that I am in college my mom moved out here to help my brother and I get by, and she is still the one doing the majority of the carework.
I think our society needs to better accommodate the thought of it being okay for men to do housework as well. If there was an equal contribution for the carework in families I think many relationships would have more satisfaction and it would help with stress levels. I think it is a great idea that the UK has sites that provide support for the main careworkers where they can reflect on their experiences and also reflect on policies that should be changed. I think if we implemented something like this in the US it would help with the job segregation, because many women choose jobs that are more flexible to allow for carework. In my opinion the UK seems more willing to assist families and are more open to men helping with the carework. Even though it is primarily a women’s task in the past, the UK seems to be moving in the direction to allow for an equal share of carework, which is very important. If both women and men have an equal understanding of the work load, I believe that there will be more appreciation of those who do the carework.

Blog #2

Gender inequality is how unit A begins. The readings along with the video’s made a clear point that there is still inequality between the genders. I think it is easy to not realize that inequality is still out there unless the information is presented all at once in front of you. In our reading England and McCreary define sex segregation as, “the segregation of jobs by sex” (p. 286). This reading goes into detail about the gender differentiation in pay, the skills involved in those who hold individual positions and the rewards on those positions. The reading explains different factors as to why specific genders take specific positions. I personally think that sex segregation does exist at ASU in employment. Through grade school and high school I mostly had women for teachers. This I know what not area specific because I moved around to different schools, but once I got to the university level that changed. University professors generally get better pay than high school or grade school teachers. Majority of my professors have been men (with the exception of this semester). Also, out of the few women professors I’ve had, only one has been a 10-year professor, the rest of the women were fairly new to the university or they were graduate students. Out of the men professors I’ve had, many were 10-year professors and less were graduate students.
I think part of the sex segregation is highly influenced by us being a patriarchal society and the gender wage gap. The video on patriarchy gives two clear definitions of patriarchy. They state patriarchy, “is a form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe,” or the second definition is, “a society, community, or country based on this social organization.” Our upbringing is highly influenced by our patriarchal society which highly teaches gender roles. As children we are dressed in feminine or masculine colors; we are taught that girls play with dolls, make up, and play quietly, while boys play with trucks, cars, and are more likely to be rough and loud. We are also taught women should be doing domestic work while men should be mr. fix-it and working outside or being the bread winner.
I think the first time women entered into the work force was during the wars when men went to fight and women had to take on those positions. Also, now in today’s time, with the economy being so bad many men and women are losing their positions. However, when women are the bread winners their pay is hardly ever equal to their male counterpart. One example that hits home for me is with my own mother. The position she worked a couple years ago she experienced the wage gap. Her male counterpart made quite a bit more money than her when they had equal training and experience. Now since, he has been let go and she has had to step up and take on some of his responsibilities however she is still not making the amount that he was when he left. The gender wage gap still exists when men are being laid off because women start out at lower wages an even when a raise is granted they are still behind male counterparts.

Intro Blog #1

Hello every one. My name is Natasha Abeyta but I generally go by Tasha for short. I am a human communication major and I am majoring in justice studies. I am in my senior year and will be graduating in May. I will finish with my BA within 3 years and after graduation I am planning on moving to San Diego to attend law school.
The reason I chose my blog handle is because it is a nickname that was given to me when I was 15 and has stuck ever since. I also love dragonflies because I think they are very interesting and beautiful (for an insect).
I wanted to take this class because it highly appealed to my interests. Overall I am interested in law and different aspects of justice. I find criminal law and human rights to be the most interesting to me, which is what I am planning to pursue. This course was appealing because not only does it involve human rights it is directly related to my life. I have done research papers and a speech on the gender wage gap because it directly affects my own mother. I personally have seen her struggle as a woman in a corporate world because she is a woman. I think it is important to be educated on the idea of women work and justice in order to fully understand the underlying issues that come with being a woman in the work force.
When I think about justice I think about right and wrong and human rights. I also think about people in prison who are serving their time for their crimes and courts. Justice is about punishing those who have done wrong or broken a law, however injustice in my opinion is not the same as doing wrong. I personally think that injustice could occur in just situations. To me justice can be considered one of those grey areas that do not fall directly under black or white. It is very complex and complicated so it is hard to just have one thought when I think of justice.