Service Learning Reflection

Activism

This week we went to a Domestic Violence class under the Criminal Justice department to promote our donation drives with handbills.  On Halloween we helped set up and put on a Halloween party and Haunted House for the children of Harbor House at the community center. We were successful in promoting our even and the class seemed very interested. A Few students asked additional question and expect some additional donations. The Halloween part was also a success because the children had a fun and safe Halloween. One pitfall we had is that not all the volunteers showed up for the Halloween party so we were required to pick up some of the slack and this prevented us from interacting continuously with the children.  Next week we plan to do more outreach for our drive and speak to additional classes.

Reflection

This week’s events tie in strongly with this chapter. A woman’s economic status shares a strong macro level relationship domestic violence. In 2006, “women who worked full time earned 77 cents for every dollar that men earned” (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey). This wage gap is a macro level problem as is domestic violence. One of the most necessary things needed to leave a violent relationship is money and resources. Many women in violent relationship are not allowed to work of have their funds seized by their controlling partner. If an abused woman is lucky enough to make and keep her own money, making three-quarters what a man earns only makes leaving her relationship more challenging,

This week’s events really showed me how important politicizing my life is in order to act against mainstream gender roles and also views towards women’s both productive and non0prodiuctive labor. It is important to change these views to support the economic and independent advancement of women so that they more able and educated need they leave a violent relationship.  Our community partner feels similarly on these issues and that is why they assist survivors of violence with finding jobs. In fact some survivors begin working for Harbor House. They also shuttle children at the shelter to school to ensure they receive an education.

Reciprocity 

For this Service Learning project, so far, I have gained a lot. It has given me opportunities to meet volunteers and talk about life at the shelter. We can also listen to but not advise survivors and even just being around them is a constant reminder that digestive violence is not a distant 3^rd world problem. It is something that happens all over our community and you rarely hear about it. This being so, we must politicize our lives and work to stop the little things people do that perpetuate violence against women such as jokes and attitudes about treating women.. Working with such a large organization has also aught me a lot about activism in general. We have done a large amount of tabling and people are always willing to listen and read information, for most people are unaware of the problem or that they might be in an at risk relationship. Using Harbor Houses Volunteer system “Volgistics” has also taught me about the various tools out there used to organize and delegate tasts to large groups of people to better accomplish activism events,

Works Cited

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. "Making a Home, Making a Living." Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 300. Print.