Service Learning Log Week 3

Jen Ackerman
Nina Perez
3/5/10
Introduction to Women’s Study

Activism: This entire week I have spend much of my time collecting signatures for our petition and cause. On Tuesday I began tabling and trying to get student walking by. I did not do so well this first day, I was extremely nervous and also had a lot of my mind because of classes and midterms. I tabled again on Thursday however it was a much different experience. I arrived to campus early and went straight to work. I wasn't actually sitting the table very long because I got up and basically turned into one of those student union petition stalkers. I asked every student that happened to pass me and before I knew it I had multiple sheets filled out. I tabled for two hours that day and went on to ask two of my professors from my classes that day if I could present my cause to the class. My anthropology teacher was completely supportive and I got close to 80 more signatures in that class. This week has gotten me so much closer to the campaign and after I was actually a little disappointed by the timing of spring break because I want to keep going.

Reflection: This week in class we discussed a lot about violence against women and specifically rape. In the "Violence Against Women" chapter from our text there is a quick sentence about that violence also very much affects women in the gay community and also transgendered women( Kirk, Gwyn 264). The campaign I am working on is trying to combat these exact things. It upsets me so much to think that an entire group of people, people so prone to violence, abuse, and harassment are not included in UCF's non-discrimination policy, but also that we as humans even need a non-discrimination policy. This chapter talks about all the horrible things that women go through and how the violence is being challenged. Just as people are starting and continuing to stand up against violence towards women, we at UCF are standing up to defend a group that cannot stand up alone and need help ( Kirk, Gwyn 271). Just as women need all people to support them, the transgendered community at UCF needs everyone's help.

Reciprocity: This week has been such an amazing few days for me. I went from bring so shy and slow about our entire campaign on Tuesday, to being so inspired and pumped by Friday. This entire project is constantly on my mind and is teaching me more and more what it means to give of yourself. Honestly I am not very connected to any transgendered people, but this does not mean anything to me. As a feminist I feel like I am gaining more and more skills to be a active and productive member in the movement. I do not think myself or the other volunteers in this project are going to really rest until we have this accomplished.

Works Cited
Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. "Violence Against Women." Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 257-300. Print.