The Commodification of Domestic Labor

When I first read the title of this article, I wasn't quite sure what it would be about. After reading it, it was interesting to find out it was referring to jobs such as maids and nannys. I was not raised with a maid or a nanny. A lot of my friends were however used to having a maid. In the article it discussed that many women nowadays are working 40 hour work weeks and they are either ttoo tired or have more work to do once they get home, and they are unable to cook and clean. The solution to this problem wasto hire a maid. Some households would hire someone to simply help out once a week, once a month or several times a month. Other household who hvae extra rooms and money, hire a live in maid who does daily cleaning and taking of some foods. In other situations, families would look for someone to care for their child in the home and do minimal cleaning and food preparation. That type of job is considered as a nanny or Au Paire. For me, I enjoy cleaning and cooking; however, it would be relaxing to know I didn't have to come home to a dirty house. I know that some people enjoy and are fortunate enough to have money for a maid, but there is also the side of, is this a good job? This type of position is nomally filled by a woman, and usually from another country. The work can be hard and tedious with little pay, but I do know families who pay extremely well for the services they provide.

Why Tourism Matters

This article was very interesting to read because I love traveling and exploring new cultures. One cool statistic that stood out to me was that one in every twelve workers are employed by tourism in some way. It is sad to see how some tourists treat the locals in the country they are visiting. In this particular reading Gmelch addresses Barbados as the country affected. Local students would be mistaken for tourists and treated differently. Tourists give off an heir sometimes when on vacation. It is if they are the prima donnas of the place and everyone owes them something. Don't get me wrong, if I was to pay $3,000 for an island vacation, I would expect great service, but I would not make the local employees feel as if they are less than me. Each person shares the common attribute of being a human and we all deserve the same respect. Life is very precious and we should respect each person for who they are, even if you are different than someone else, that doesn't give you the right to judge, especially when you have your own flaws. Tourism is a very important aspect to have for a country, especially island countries. Tourists though should respect the culture they are becoming a part of on their vacation and engage with local people they meet. People can learn a lot by just carrying on a simple conversation.

“Cell Phones, Sharing, and Social Status in an African Society"

Two very important topics are discussed in this particular article, technology, and globlaization. Without either of these two, our world would not be what it is today. Technology has to do with inventions that surpass ideas and material objects we have up to date. Our world as a whole is an extrememly technologically advanced society. The U.S and China are by two of ther main world leaders in technology. With inventors like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, the U.S has a lot to offer. Globalization as discussed in the reading refers to a worldwide transfer of technology, capital, industry, people and culture. I agree with the reading in that globalization most certainly brings the world together, and bridges the gap of long distances. However, it also damaged the world in the area of social inequality. One of the biggest tecnological advances the world has globalized is the cell phone. Some say that it bridges the gap of commuinication, and allows for easier communication. In this article, cell phones are the enemy to some poeple in Africa. People were told not use or answer their cell phone in fear of death or madness from certain numbers. This is a strange rumor to me, and people believed it. If something like that was rumored here in America, I can see two things that could happen, mad panic, or no one believes it's true.

Heading Home: Women, Work and Identity in America

I thought that this was a very interesting reading. It stood out to me particularly because I am a women. In the reading it says that some anthropologist have concluded that men have a predisposition to dominate women. It was also suggested in the reading that in America we say that we do not embody a class system anymore, but we still do. More and more women in the past probably around 30 years ago started attending accredited four year colleges and moving into the full time work force. Men have always seen a shift of job favor an monetary gain in their favor, while their female counterpart has seen less than them. The main issue in todays reading is concerning what women will do once they want to raise a family. Women who have full time jobs are offered maternity leave, but they face the question; will I continue to work at the same course I did before having kids. I always grew up with the notion that I would go to college, most likely attend law school, and later have a family. I know it will be difficult to be a full time mom and full time attorney but somehow I am hoping to make something work. I want to be with my kids while they are small, so the plan right now is to work for a couple years before I have kids.

Encounters with the Elderly in America

I really enjoyed the reading for today. It was very interesting to hear viewpoints of America and the elderly from a Japanese graduate student. I agree completely with her realization that the elderly in America are almost invisible. It was also very interesting that she did her fieldwork on elderly men and women from Lake District Senior Center, and in conclusion called them the "Elderly Pioneers." It is sad to me that the older generation is becoming less and less involved and included in our society. They are amongst us, but we often forget or choose not recognize them. I believe older people are gems amongst the rough. They have experienced so much more than their younger counterparts. They have knowledge and wisdom like none other. They are the reason why we are who we are today. I believe the elderly should have more of a voice and be respected like they deserve. Tsuji even compared her family to the typical American family. In America we are so spread out with maybe grandparents 2,000 miles away. In Japan, Tsuji grew in what the Japanese call a "stem family," which consists of parents, grandparents and children all living together. I personally was very fortunate to grow up around my grandparents and extended family. The majority of my family members lived within a 5 mile radius, which made growing up very special to me. Family is an integral part of my life, and I owe many many memories and words of wisdom to my loving grandparents who lived next door to me.

In Sickness and in Wealth (Unnatural Causes)

First off wow! This so far has been my favorite film we have watched. It was really eye-opening to see the link between our health and money status. The film definitely showed the flaws of our "non-universal" health care center. It was also amazing to see the link between stress and how much money we have. I was for sure it would have been opposite than what they proved. I always thought that people with more money, meant they had more important jobs that would lead to very stressful jobs. The film proved that people with less money actually have higher amounts of stress due to the never-ending thoughts of losing a job, providing food for a family, and having a place to live. From my personal experience, I have very high amounts of stress. I'm a college student takes 18 hours, has 3 jobs, and I'm married. After watching the film, it really made me think about how I am treating my body with all the stress I have. They say that stress produces cortisol which is good during certain activities but only for a short amount of time. I am definitely going to revaluate some of the things I do and desperately try to cut back on my stress level.

Deadly Inequality in the Health Care "Safety Net"

It was simply shocking to find out that every western industrialized nation has a form of universal health insurance. It was sad to read that those without health insurance are more likely to die at an earlier age and discover they have cancer in later stages. As an insured citizen, I am very thankful that I am able to afford coverage. I know recently, there has been a lot of opinions and ideas for a universal health care system that would cover everyone. In a sense, I am in accordance with that idea, and then part of me disagrees. It would be amazing to see every citizen able to afford insurance and be covered for all of their health needs. The reason why I disagree, is that I know it will take a toll on the medical field in different ways, and then  you have the issue of illegal immigrants. If we think that we have a problem with illegal immigrants, I feel we will undoubtedly have a much larger issue if we were to implement universal health care. This is a very tough subject and can be a deciding line between Republican and Democrat law makers. I am interested to see in the future where we will head and whether it will be good or bad. I'm being optimistic and hoping for the better.

Covered Girls

Covered Girls was a great film, and I am glad to have watched in class. Although, I am a Christian it was very valuable to hear how Muslim men and women feel about their religion and some pratices they do. I could not see myself ever being required to cover my hair or my face on a daily basis, but that's just what I am accustomed to. The women on the film were proud of their coverings. Even after the 9/11 attacks, they still kept their hair covered, and wore it proudly. The main girl even sees her covering as a fashion statement. She has Fendi and Gucci scarves. I found it very interesting when one of the girls said that when one person or partof group does something wrong doesn't mean that as a whole it is wrong or bad. I can relate that to Christianity. There are some people who proclaim to be Christian, but unfortunately practice things unrelated to Biblical standards. It was also amazing to see how dedicated thery are to their religion. As soon as it was a certain time, no matter what they were doing, they would pray. I wish Christians could be as dedicated, and I think we should take from them as an example of people who are completely consumed and dedicated to their beliefs.

Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?

During my freshman year, I took English 102, and throughout the entire semester we analyzed the Middle East and in particular women. I was very excited to see this article since I have a class that was centered around it. In the first paragraph of the reading, the author refers to something called a Burqa. Many people have seen muslim women in the states wearing clothing that covers their entire body. Women in the Middle East are "required" to wear a head covering called a Burqa so that no man can look upon another man's property. One of the main texts we read during my english class was A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. In his novel he depicts a young women and her struggles as a Middle Eastern women. Hosseini portrays the horrors women actually deal with daily, from beating to being raped. It is hard for me to hear as a women at the end of "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving," that the author deems it unnecessary for the US to step in and "save" them. Yes, they are another country and another religion; however, I find it so hard to believe that other people do no find it inhumane the way the women in the Middle East are treated. 

Alex Lambert's The Mark of Cain

The film we watched in class on friday was very interesting to watch. It was great to learn that even though people enduring hard life punishment, they have something that has meaning to them. As a society, which I consider them to be, they can all relate based on the art they put on their bodies. Each tattoo meant something to them, and others could tell something about them based on what the tattoos looked like. It was also very interesting to note a very heavy shift in their feelings toward their tattoos. Once the film interviewed the women at their detention center, the mood shifted from the importance of the tattoos to some regretting them. It was a very interesting shift that I wasn't expecting. From the beginning of the film I was convinced about the importance of their tattoos. Now, I know not everyone regretted every tattoo, but there was definitive change in attitude.