This blog post is in response to a reading by Gilbert Caluya for my Gender & Sexuality course at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia by lecturer Margaret Mayhew.
Source: Caperchione, C et al. 2011, ‘Physical activity behaviours of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women living in Australia: A qualitative study of socio-cultural influences’, BMC Public Health 2011, 11:26
This research article by Caperchione, Kolt, Tennent, and Mummery discusses the study conducted to examine the socio-cultural influences on the physical activity behaviors of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women living in Australia. They do this by identifying the barriers, constraints, and possible enablers to physical activity participate for this population of women.
The discourses that I identified in this reading were both social and cultural acquired data. I considered the data socially discoursed because the data from the study was taken from a range of women from various racial/ethnic groups such as: Bosnian, Arabic speaking, Filipino, and Sudanese. I also took the information on the areas in Australia for which the information was taken was New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland as a part of the social discourse.
I considered the discourse to be cultural because the female participants in the study were encouraged to speak on their opinions, perceptions and beliefs in regard to the social and cultural differences on the physical activities.
Based off of this information, the study was able to demonstrate that the understanding of health and physical activities of women of these ethnic groups in these aforementioned areas, are subjectively complex and are heavily intertwined with socio-cultural influence. In further conclusion the information gathered from the study was suggested to be used to market/ promote health initiatives to women of similar cultures/ethnic groups. In addition the information gathered from this study also can be used for more research for scientists/ sociologist who wish to look further into women's health and physical activity.
As a woman of color in the United States who is quite physically active, I find it more common for non-minority women to be more physically active in comparison. Why is this? My educated guess is because of the social and cultural differences between different races. For example, women of color are usually of the working class and may not have time to work out, whereas caucasian women are usually do not have to work as often and therefore have time for leisure workouts--or physical activity.
Since this week's readings focused on sports and the disparities in race and gender in physical activity, here's a link to a youtube video on the history of women in sport in Australia and New Zealand.
Click the link below and tell me what you think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptK2F_Jx2z8
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Saturday, 12 April 2014
Gay, Asian, and Australian
This blog post is in response to a reading by Gilbert Caluya for my Gender & Sexuality course at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia with lecturer Margaret Mayhew.
Source: Caluya, G, 2006,’The (Gay) scene of racism:face, shame and gay Asian males’ ACRAWSA e-journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2006
In this essay by Caluya, he uses auto ethnographic research to focus on the actual lived experience of anti-Asian racism within the gay community. He also explores examples of gay Asian male experiences of racism on the gay scene in Australia and how these experiences somehow develop and promote their racial and sexual subjectivity.
In this post I will responding using some of the critical thinking skills taught in my gender studies class to further analyze the readings. This essay discusses the racial and social discrimination of gay Asian-Australians in Australia. It talks about how gay Australian guys are not prominently pursued by gay white Australians, unless the Australian gay men are specially interested in dating Asian men. These men are wittingly referred to as "Rice Queens." The essay also discusses how gay Asians are considered "invisible" and ignored in the gay communities, like for example, at a bar by bartenders. It further discusses how Asian men are less sexually desired etc.
In this reading I identified socialized forms of domination and oppression of gay Asians in Australia by Anglo Australian males. There is a type of "privilege" given to gay white Australian men of acceptance and sexual desirability there isn't given to gay Australian males. I believe this is due to the intersection of race (Asian-Australian) and class (not being a white Australian). Because gay Asian men are of a different social class, one that isn't as acknowledged and respected in the gay communities, they aren discriminated against.
In conclusion I find it interesting that even within a social group that experiences heavy discrimination and subjectivity (the gay community) there is more judgment and prejudices against different racial/ethnic groups within that specific social group.
Below is a youtube video by a gay Asian male discussing his personal experience and persecutive of not experiencing discrimination within the homosexual community. Take a look at it and leave your thoughts below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auloNw8tx2Y
Source: Caluya, G, 2006,’The (Gay) scene of racism:face, shame and gay Asian males’ ACRAWSA e-journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2006
In this essay by Caluya, he uses auto ethnographic research to focus on the actual lived experience of anti-Asian racism within the gay community. He also explores examples of gay Asian male experiences of racism on the gay scene in Australia and how these experiences somehow develop and promote their racial and sexual subjectivity.
In this post I will responding using some of the critical thinking skills taught in my gender studies class to further analyze the readings. This essay discusses the racial and social discrimination of gay Asian-Australians in Australia. It talks about how gay Australian guys are not prominently pursued by gay white Australians, unless the Australian gay men are specially interested in dating Asian men. These men are wittingly referred to as "Rice Queens." The essay also discusses how gay Asians are considered "invisible" and ignored in the gay communities, like for example, at a bar by bartenders. It further discusses how Asian men are less sexually desired etc.
In this reading I identified socialized forms of domination and oppression of gay Asians in Australia by Anglo Australian males. There is a type of "privilege" given to gay white Australian men of acceptance and sexual desirability there isn't given to gay Australian males. I believe this is due to the intersection of race (Asian-Australian) and class (not being a white Australian). Because gay Asian men are of a different social class, one that isn't as acknowledged and respected in the gay communities, they aren discriminated against.
In conclusion I find it interesting that even within a social group that experiences heavy discrimination and subjectivity (the gay community) there is more judgment and prejudices against different racial/ethnic groups within that specific social group.
Below is a youtube video by a gay Asian male discussing his personal experience and persecutive of not experiencing discrimination within the homosexual community. Take a look at it and leave your thoughts below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auloNw8tx2Y
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Black and Female in the Workforce
This blog post is in response to a reading by Joan Martin and Patricia Yancey, for my Gender & Sexuality course at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia with lecturer Margaret Mayhew.
Source: Joan Martin, Patricia Yancey 2003,"Said and Done" Versus "Saying and Doing": Gendering Practices, Practicing Gender at Work’ Gender & Society, 17: 342-366
This week's chapter readings took a look at gender in the workplace. The authors compared the wages of women and men in the labor work force. They also discussed some of the explanations for those differences and the kinds of changes that have been recommended for addressing inequalities.
I can't say that after reading this chapter I was surprised to discover that men get a higher wage than women. This is a common fact known throughout the United States that white men, usually get paid a higher wage than any other gender or racial/ethnic group. Though it's not fair, minorities are taking steps to, slowly but surely, fight the inequality in the workplace.
However, it was disturbing for me to read that not only are there differences in pay grades for men to women, but there is also a substantial difference in pay within the racial/ethnic groups. According to this reading, "Women and minorities seem to only go so far in their jobs because some invisible force is holding them back." The authors refer to this invisible force as the glass ceiling.
As a black female who is currently in college so I can get a diploma to get into the workforce, I already feel like I am at a disadvantage to fully succeed within my desire career. I have an interest in doing scientific research in a lab working for a government agency or non-profit organization. Though the statistics are against my favor of becoming one of the leaders of my field, I am deciding to use this information as motivation to make it to the top. I will continue my education to graduate school to get my Ph.D. and become just as qualified as any man or woman in my discipline.
It may seem easier to just give up, given the likelihood of me beating the odds and receiving the same wages as my potential male counterparts in the workforce, but I have faith in the progression of women's and minorities work rights.
Plus, I'm already in my 3rd year of college. Way too deep in, to not keep pushing forward.
Below is a link to a video that I found on youtube from the Australian Government: Gender Equality Agency. The video discusses how it is important that women get the same work rights as men, though I couldn't help but notice that their were only white women who were shown in the video. Does this give you the impression that the Australian government will stand for equal work rights for just white men and women, or do they intend to include women of other races? Am I just being too critical? Take a look and you be the judge.
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