Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Who do you think you are, by Ian Jensen.

I am a tech support person at a law firm who used to do standup comedy. I am also someone who doesn't know what to write to get an A on this assignment. To be honest I've written 3 different posts here totally probably 5-6 hours and now I've made it to the "I don't know who I am anymore" post. I still think this post feels like a personal ad.

Media plays a big part in my life. I can can agree with some media and disagree with others but I use both to define me. It wasn't my plan but I know I wouldn't have an opinion on half of these things without media to expose me to it. I suppose it constantly forces me to have an opinion on everything I see but now defining myself as a person has become a lot more complex.

I think who i am changes day to day. Right now I'm a white male whose in a class about women in media and hopes to get as much out of it as I can. Either way I will probably become someone different. Then this post won't matter and I'll look back on it wondering who I was on this day. So I think who I am can only be defined moment by moment because I've written 3 blog posts answering "Who do I think I am" and it was wildy different each time.

If I could be someone I would be a combination of these people:

Bill Burr

Bill cosby

Bill Hicks

Links to Screenings Online

Movies


Youtube - Advocacy

Street Harassment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4eVjwVd_U
Rape - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=shit+rape+victims&oq=shit+rape+victims&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=youtube.3...28410l29074l0l29156l2l2l0l0l0l0l110l177l1j1l2l0.


Youth made/Independent documentary/Advocacy/Media Literacy

Coming out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prGBfYXe9x8&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prGBfYXe9x8&feature=PlayList&p=A077D7CE3A453ACC&index=17

Queer in the City - Youth made video for the Global Action Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5doVROseluw

Byron Hurt
http://www.bhurt.com/beyondBeatsAndRhymes.php


Byron Hurt-Beyond Beats to Rhymes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyI77Yh1Gg
independent lens w/byron hurt- part 1


Barack and Curtis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5YoS3bqk5g&feature=related


" No Homo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84wHXT2KgWY


http://illdoctrine.com/


Kiri Davis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-DLuZLL1xg


Media ownership/consolidation

Reel Girls Media Consolidation
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=reelgrrls#play/uploads/27/VZ01mj0IdTQ


Citizen Journalism - For Neda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F48SinuEHIk

A Stranger in Her Own City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAkPFZQA6EM

News

http://www.monaeltahawy.com/
Mona at J Street 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U0QRR3ELxw&feature=related

Anchorman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaCSjHfVOFw

Slideshow project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSWuF9Btzk


Why Don't Women Have More Power
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0rbnSTrXwk&feature=relmfu


Rachel Maddow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPJ7Xbmv5Xo&feature=related


Melissa Harris Perry
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/melissa-harris-perry/46419672#46419672

Advertising

Jean Kilbourne
KUS4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTlmho_RovY
KUS3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSTg_6N0G7w&feature=related

reelgirls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXLu1p15Rvw&feature=related

merchants of cool
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/

misogyny media and culture
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=234

clorox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZeQUxSjHwU

Ways of Seeing

Ways of Seeing - Male gaze and Oppositional Gaze
bell hooks
Cultural Criticism and Transformation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUuHFKP-9s&feature=fvsr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ-XVTzBMvQ&feature=related (strong sexual language)

Madonna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3CBUm7GrNI&feature=related

Spike Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEQh-Zpb4XU&feature=related

john berger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u72AIab-Gdc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHsV7ljusCs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1yvciNEuAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNZNB-SfC7w WAYS OF SEEING (episode two - female nude)



________________________________




Final Project examples:
The Princess Effect 

Skin Deep Beauty as Industry
I am Not my Hair
Women and Comic Books 

Eye of the Beholder Zine

Interview with an Educator

Aware Feminist Magazine

Disney Stereotypes

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Who Am I?

Who am I? Sometimes the simpliest question seems to be the hardest to answer and I still stumble in the search of finding my own identity, but lets just start with the basics. My name is DanYang Yu, the characters mean a lily flower sitting in the lake facing the bright sun. My English name is Danielle. My parents gave me that name because it is easier to pronounce and it is quite similiar to my Chinese name. I am currently a care taker, I babysit a 20-months old girl. She is the cutest baby ever and I really adore her. Other than that, I am also a pursuing journalist/reporter and a model/actress. ;)

I have always loved the media industry and technology but I never thought I would be heading in the direction of journalism, mainly because I did not think I was a strong writer. I've kept blogs and diaries and wrote a lot of essays for school assignments but who hasn't. Anyways, last semester I took intro to reporting and I've achieved a lot of goals in that class. At first, it seemed as if the professor hated my work but I was glad I proved him wrong. With that said, I actually published all 3 of my articles on Hunter Word. Boy, was I excited!

Here is a link to one of my articles, I hope you guys will find it interesting...somehow. http://hunterword.com/articles/1507

Being a journalist is hard, and I've been told by my professor since day one of the class, and he was convincing and intimidating. But my true passion is leaning towards reporting, I want to be a on-air correspondent and interview all types of interesting people, whether it is film related or fashion related. Currently I am trying to apply for an independent study at the Tribeca Film Festival as a journalist but I am hoping to put together a team to also conduct live interviews and develop my reporting career. (If any of you are interested, please let me know. It'll be great social networking. ^__^")

Hmms...what else is interesting about me? Oh, I been modeling for about 3 years now. It's going pretty well. I have walked in fashion shows, modeled for clothing stores, and shot editorials for magazines. Unfortunately, I'm about 3 inches short so I can only do print work but I've learn to accept that you can't change the reality, either you live up to it or be depressed about what you lack. Currently I am going into acting.

People always say, find your passion and do the things you love, only then will you really succeed. I feel like I been searching for myself for a very long time and I have come to a conclusion that I really love the camera. Modeling is not just about taking beautiful pictures, it is an expression of oneself through art by penetrating emotions and feelings captured by the camera. You become this fictional character that is given to you by the director or the photographer. It is an awesome feeling, it is hard to describe. Most of the times after the final product or video is put together and you look at your work, you question, is that really me? Everyone has a busy schedule and sometimes being ourselves is just hard, so when you get a chance to portray or act a different character, it is almost as if you are stepping out of your own world for awhile and entering another.

Another great aspect about this industry is I get to meet all these amazing people along the way. I love making new friends and I really appreciate the people around me because one way or another we all help each other achieve our goals and that makes me very happy. ;)

Ah, now I'm just rambling and forgetting this is actually an assignment. Anyways, I may sound very open and outgoing but I do have my shy moments especially when I do not know anyone around me. It definitely takes everyone some time to open up. However, I also learned that being quiet and observant is also rewarding, you can learn a lot about other people that way, too.

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Wow, I spent an hour looking for a photo to post because I have no idea what to use. Then I stumbled on a photo I took this winter break while I was on a family vacation in Miami. We visited the Everglades Safari Park, FL.

I was really excited that there laid an alligator extremely close to the fence. At first the alligator had its eyes closed but I sat on the ground and waited a while, then suddenly it opened its eyes! I also like photography so I tried to capture it as best as I could. Sorry, this is such a random photo.

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Eh, I figure I'll just add a photo of me too.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Life is a performance

In short, I am a performer. I am finally beginning to take myself seriously as an artist and to take pride in stating that I am an aspiring actor who is training his crafts of singing and dancing in order to become more marketable. I work to pay for voice lessons and dance classes and even work at Broadway Dance Center in order to afford heavily discounted classes. I wake up excited because my routine is starting to look how I always imagined. I have dreams…and I intend to reach them.

Being the offspring of a German father and an Ecuadorian mother, I have inherited many complexities which I try to overcome or use to my advantage in my artistic expression. My mother is a born again evangelical Christian woman (not that there is anything wrong with finding a belief that positively changes your life – I have just found mine through success books on positive thinking, believe God and the universe are alike and am content with that) which feeds my inner rebel. I am attracted to controversy and anything that pushes the limits. However, many would not initially know it looking at me because it is usually kept under a low profile. I believe I am an old soul and would probably fit well in a European setting.

In terms of media making I would have to admit that I gravitate towards cameras. I love framing a shot whether it is a still or moving image. I love it because there is really no right or wrong to it, there is just one’s own interpretation and a freedom to explore infinite perspectives that I think is limited in other aspects of everyday life. This class already turned into therapy!

I consume a lot of media via the internet, but I mainly just use it to quickly check facebook, review gmail, and find music on either youtube or itunes. Google as well! I’m a pretty boring media consumer. However, I am greatly bothered by mainstream media and their use of oppressive stereotypes as well as coverage on politics. I am not very informed on campaigns, but I hate the cat and mouse game that is political entertainment. I know people like Mitt Romney have their own agenda and the fact that they still stand a chance at having political power is terrifying. If there were less reality shows maybe the American public would be a bit more informed and be worthy of possessing the right to vote, which goes for me too. 

ALSO, thanks to class discussion, I find Spanish television networks such as Univision and Telemundo to be laughable with their method of portraying women. There is always a young attractive dolled up actress (who cannot act) who is about to be beaten, cheated on, commit murder or an over the hill unattractive woman there for comic relief who maybe discovers the murder. Sabado Gigante also does a great job at objectifying their female guests, dancers, and contestants which are always a plus for “machismos” (gag me).


PS: Below is a clip from my high school performance of a Pajama Game # "Steam Heat" (this was way before i took dance classes consistently so my spotting has much improved haha)

Super Woman?

        Hello all, My name is Madonna Saba. I tend to think I am Super Woman sometimes because I push myself to believe I can handle anything that comes my way... However, that isn't always the case. When my friends or family have issues, they come to me and I try to always keep an open mind to help them out. I guess I  always try to appear a strong person even when things get overwhelming. Then again, thats what libras do.
        I became very interested in the Media major in 2010, I was initially a Psychology major in which I am still undecided about having that as a second major.I strongly believe in education and I think the world of mass communication is fascinating.The fact to be able to communicate at any desired time across the world is amazing.I am mostly interested in Broadcasting. I would love to become a Reporter, but I shall see my destiny.As a shy person,it is a bit ironic that, in front of a camera that feeling goes away. I enojy reading horoscopes for fun and thought maybe you would like to read yours as well, below is the link. Enjoy!http://www.horoscopes.com/

Smiling Faces and the Cat Fight


I think I am a polyglot.   I love meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, visiting new places.  I feel comfortable among strangers, so long as at the end of my encounter one of us has a smile, and I have seen many, many smiles!   It is exciting to visit a place that at first appears strange and unknown, but in time becomes some what comfortable, its never like "home."  But, what place is?   I love traveling, I have back-packed South America and Central America several times and visited most of western Europe (take a hike on the Interior Plateau of Iceland!); I've traveled a little of north Africa and south Asia (I loved Borneo and trekking up Mt. Kinubalu!). 

What is most revealing while traveling in different cultural environments is the relationship between the sexes, be it in cafes, public markets, tourist sites or off the beaten path.  My perception as a NewYorker in regards to the relationship of the sexes is not the same perception held by acquaintances I met in Snæfellsnes, Iceland, Sabah, Malaysia or El Jem, Tunisia.

There is no doubt that media has played an important role in these perceptions, coupled with religion, social order, politics and the like.   Take for example, the "cat fight," and the connotations that come along with it.  How is the "cat fight" conveyed in Spanish Novelas?!  Do Latino media groups (Television , Univision, Telemundo)  portray women in a different light than, say, Arabic or Korean soap operas.  Compare them yourself, do they seemingly convey similar nuances?  How are they different?  Can one say Arabic soap operas portray women less aggressive than Korean or Latino less than American?  Which one has the most "meow"?



I look forward to exploring the historical timeline of modern media, particularly Western media and its impact on social conventions.  But, I also look forward to weighing its present influence in the new century, where expedient, accessible, and fluid media is available from non-western media sources.

The query maybe what impact will this new media have on perceptions of the sexes, on religion and culture, on social order. Will it be different or the same?


Welcome to Women and Media!

Hello all,

It will be a fast-paced semester. I expect great work and dedication from each of you. I will make the material and the classes engaging and awesome - as possible ;) It is up to all of you to do your part, stay on top of the readings and the assignments and make this class awesome too!

I look forward to spending the next semester engaged in great discussions, impressed with your projects and getting to know all of you. Welcome!

Prof. Caçoilo

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Syllabus

Women and Media Spring 2012
MEDIA384.00 Sec:001
Saturdays 2:10 – 5:00pm
Department of Film and Media - Hunter College
Professor Doris Caçoilo :: dcacoilo @ hunter.cuny.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course students will be introduced to key issues and theoretical approaches in the study of women and media. The course will explore representations of women in media as well as researching the work of women in the industry. Students will research and analyze how the media creates and challenges stereotypes, ideas of difference including exclusionary representations of minorities and women. Readings, class discussions and projects will explore how media shapes our attitudes and identities. Long a focus and a concern in feminist scholarship, critique of the media is crucial in the discussion of the representation of women in the media. The course will use a historic context of feminist media studies to interpret and analyze contemporary media examples. Students will read across various fields to interpret and critique images in various media: television, advertising, film and new media to explore women’s role and perception, women as audience and especially the importance of women as media makers.

COURSE OVERVIEW and EXPECTATIONS
This class is intended to help students develop the ability to create thoughtful and engaging projects and writing assignments. In addition to a rigorous reading schedule students are required to write various projects for the class blog and sustain continued research and writing throughout the course in addition to the scheduled projects.

Feedback from your classmates is a valuable resource for the improvement of your writing and your work. Critiques allow us to share our projects with others and express our intentions. The idea is to be able to understand the concept behind each work and to analyze the method of every student to determine whether they achieved their goals. Feedback from others gives us valuable information in order to keep making progress. For this reason, class participation is essential.

Class sessions will be divided into presentations, class discussion of the readings, and group critiques of projects. Presentations will address both theoretical and analytical issues related to women and media. Some class time will be dedicated to work on individual projects but it is the student’s responsibility to finish his/her work and present it on time. Students are responsible to be prepared for class, read all assignments on time and post all writing and projects to the blog, paying attention to technical and aesthetic presentation as well as thoughtful and well-developed content.

READINGS: Various weekly reading assignments will be linked, posted for download or passed out in print in class. The reading schedule will be distributed in class. Readings are due each week.

BLOG: You must consult the class blog daily to check for announcements, readings and to post your assignments. The blog is crucial to the course and your completion of the requirements. You MUST have access to the blog to complete assignments, get readings, post work and comment on students’ posts.


BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE:
Five writing assignments published to the blog as well as a class presentation and a final project will be developed during the semester. You must complete these in a professional manner and ON TIME. No late work will be accepted for a full grade evaluation. The assignments will be related to the issues discussed in class, allowing students to explore new technologies by researching and responding to various class discussions and readings. It is suggested to keep a process notebook to record ideas and phases of a project: research, brainstorming, development of the idea etc.

Critiques are important both for developing your own projects and in helping to form important skills in communication and in forming developed opinions and ideas. Participation in critiques and in class discussions will be very important in forming your grade.

--Attendance and grading policy:
Attendance is required. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class, and will be considered when determining the final course grade.

More than three (3) absences will result in an 'F' (failure) for the class. No exceptions. This is standard policy across digital media courses. Class begins on time, so you must be punctual. Lateness, leaving early or leaving class unexcused for an extended period of time will also be recorded. Two of these instances will count as one absence.
You are required to make up any and all work that is missed if you are absent. Notify the professor if you will be absent or e-mail asap. As work will not be accepted late, please contact the professor to hand in work on time!

--Grade policy:
All assignments must be finished and handed in on time to receive a passing grade for this course.

--Evaluation:
30% 5 blog posts
10% 1 presentation
40% final project
20% participation (Contributions to class, critiques and the blog + attendance + delicious links)

NOTE: BACK-UP your work frequently, even as you are working on the projects. Write and edit your posts locally before uploading them to the web. No excuses!

* If you have a disability which will affect your coursework, please notify the instructor within the first two weeks of class to ensure suitable arrangements and a comfortable working environment.
Contact The Office for Students with Disabilities, Hunter East 1119 Phone (212) 772-4882 or 4891, TTY: (212) 650-3230.

* This is a list of numbers which you can use if there is an emergency or crisis situation on the Hunter campus or if you need assistance at other times.
Security -B125 West - 772 - 4444; During business hours: Medical Office - Room 307 North - 772 - 4800; Office of Student Services - 1119 East - 772 - 4882 4891 (crisis counseling available), The Women's Center - 801 East - 772 - 4931.

Hunter's Reading/Writing center is where students receive tutoring in reading and writing skills, critical reading, and the writing process. Students can apply for a weekly appointment with a tutor and/or use drop-in services during scheduled hours. Students may also attend workshops offered at the Center throughout the academic year. http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/

Statement on Originality of the Work
All work completed for this course must be completed by the student enrolled in the course. All work for this course must be made in this course and not fulfilling the requirements of another prior or current course unless pre-approved by the instructor. Plagiarism is a very serious academic offense which will result in penalties ranging from reduction of class grade to failure in the course. Plagiarism occurs when the ideas, images, and words, published or unpublished, of others are presented as one's own without citing the original source. Plagiarism also occurs when the papers, research, or creative works of another person are presented as one's own work.

+ + +
All students need to be on the listserv FM-L to receive important departmental notices. Just email listserv@hunter.listserv.cuny.edu and leaving the subject line blank, write SUBSCRIBE fm-l (that's an "L" not a 1) in the body of message and you're set!



SCHEDULE
******PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND I WILL INFORM YOU OF SPECIFICS AND CHANGES PERTAINING TO THIS SCHEDULE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you ever have questions or concerns about the schedule, due dates, changes or anything else please e-mail me at dcacoilo @ hunter.cuny.edu
Class meetings are also subject to surprise critique sessions. Students should always be prepared to present work in progress on any class meeting day whether or not it is announced on this schedule.

Students are required to read the appropriate readings for each class, complete all assignments on time and post 2 links to delicious each week.

Week 1: Saturday 1/28 Introduction and discussion.

Week 2: Saturday 2/4 What is Culture? What is Media? Discussion session. Bring in media example for discussion Post 1 Due

Week 3: Saturday 2/11 Ways of viewing--the gaze Discussion and work session. Readings Due.

Week 4: Saturday 2/18 Women as Audience Soap Operas to Advertising. Discussion and work session. Readings Due. Post 2 Due – Group Critique

Week 5: Saturday 2/25 Gender and Advertising Discussion and work session. Readings Due.

Week 6: Saturday 3/3 NO CLASS :)

Week 7: Saturday 3/10 Body Image Discussion and work session. Readings Due. Post 3 Due – Group Critique. Final project topics due.

Week 8: Saturday 3/17 News Media and Ownership Discussion and work session. Readings Due.

Week 9: Saturday 3/24 Alternative Media -- response, identity and roles. Discussion and work session. Readings Due. Final project proposals due.

Week 10: Saturday 3/31 Alternative Media -- response, identity and roles. Readings due. ** NO POST DUE ** change in schedule

***MIDTERM REVIEWS 4/2 aqnd 4/4 in HN515***

Week 11: Saturday 4/7 NO CLASS :) Spring Break

Week 12: Saturday 4/14 NO CLASS :) Spring Break

Week 13: Saturday 4/21 Women and Movies Discussion and work session. Readings Due. (Draft) Bibliography due – update on final projects. Post 4 Due – Group Critique.

Week 14: Saturday 4/28 Independent, Documentary Film, Media Activism Discussion and work session. Post 5 Due – Group Critique

Week 15: Saturday 5/5 Art/New Media Discussion and work session. Readings Due. Final projects: critique of works in progress.

FINAL
Week 16: Saturday 5/12 Presentation of Final Projects + papers due. – Group Critique
Week 17: Saturday 5/19 Presentation of Final Projects + papers due. – Group Critique

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS:
*Weekly presentations:
Present the work of a media artist, activist or leader who has used media to further address women’s issues, the lives of women and/or global awareness of women’s rights. A small group of students will present each week. Presentations should be organized, clear and engaging and should include a visual component in addition to a well prepared verbal presentation. These should be 7-10 minutes. The topics should be relevant to the classwork and should spur discussion within the classroom. Presentations must be posted to the blog. Every student will present once throughout the semester.

*Posts 1-5.
Students must develop well written and researched responses to readings and discussions in class. Each post will be specific to the topics covered in class at that time and will be explained during class. Students are responsible to write and edit these posts as well as illustrate them and successfully post them to the blog for discussion and critique in class.

*Shared links on Delicious
Students are required to bookmark 2 links per week and tag them with the class tag MEDP384. These links will be shared with the class as well as create a resource list for the class. Links must be relevant and add to the readings, projects and discussions in the class.

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS:

*Weekly presentations:
Present the work of a media artist, activist or leader who has used media to further address women’s issues, the lives of women and/or global awareness of women’s rights. A small group of students will present each week. Presentations should be organized, clear and engaging and should include a visual component in addition to a well prepared verbal presentation. These should be 7-10 minutes. The topics should be relevant to the classwork and should spur discussion within the classroom. Presentations must be posted to the blog. Every student will present once throughout the semester.

*Posts 1-5.
Students must develop well written and researched responses to readings and discussions in class. Each post will be specific to the topics covered in class at that time and will be explained during class. Students are responsible to write and edit these posts as well as illustrate them and successfully post them to the blog for discussion and critique in class.

*Shared links on Delicious
Students are required to bookmark 2 links per week and tag them with the class tag MEDP384. These links will be shared with the class as well as create a resource list for the class. Links must be relevant and add to the readings, projects and discussions in the class.

*Final Project
Based on the discussions and projects presented in class and on the blog please create a short piece of media which focuses on a social issue and reframe the issue to specifically address how this affects the lives of women and/or how women can be instrumental in solving or raising awareness about this issue. Choose one of the following formats for your project.

1. Essay with embedded images.
2. Video- music, documentary, performance
3. Researched article or extensive slideshow with captions or narration (think NYTimes)
4. Magazine/Zine
5. Interactive Web Project/Site

The length and requirements for each project will be explained in depth to each student when the project is introduced and discussed in class. The project will be completed in parts:

1. Proposal (1-2 pages) [Due Saturday 3/29]
2. Draft Bibliography [Saturday 4/21]
3. Critique of work in progress [Saturday 5/5]
4. Presentation of final project [Saturday 5/12 or Saturday 5/19]

Important List of Terms

DEFINITIONS


Ally: Any person or institution who understands how doing anti-homophobic work benefits them and their people, and then goes ahead and does that work. Being an ally is more active than being a friend.


Bisexuality: Sexual attraction to and/or behavior with both sexes.


Biological Sex refers to the physiological and anatomical characteristics of maleness and femaleness with which a person is born.


Gender Identity refers to one's psychological sense of oneself as a male or female.


Gender Role refers to the socially constructed and culturally specific behavior and expectations for women (femininity) and men (masculinity).


Coming out: The act of defining oneself as gay or lesbian. There are significant moments and incidents of "coming out" -- to family, religious community, neighbors, colleagues. Coming out also represents the daily, ongoing need to not be made invisible in a heterosexist society.


Dyke: Many lesbians self-identify as dyke. This is not a word all lesbians feel comfortable with. It is still a loaded term that is used in a derogatory way by homophobic people.


Fluid: A term suggesting that sexuality and gender are social constructs and that it is natural to feel a certain "fluidity" in sexual attraction and identity. Fluid refers to accepting the continuum of sexual orientation from gay to straight with every nuance in between.


Gay: Traditionally, the term gay has referred to men. It has come to include lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, transexuals, etc. The word came from the Gay Liberation movement.


Heterosexism: Believing heterosexual lifestyle is superior to other lifestyles; promoting heterosexual lifestyle.


Heterosexuality: Sexual attraction to and/or behavior with the other sex.


Homophobia: The fear, intolerance, mistreatment, and oppression of homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbian women, gay men. It is often used to express the mistreatment and oppression of gay people by individuals and/or institutions.


Homosexuality: Sexual attraction and/or behavior with the same sex. sexuality, lesbian women, gay men. It often used to express the mistreatment and oppression of gay people by individuals and/or institutions.


Lesbian: Gay woman. Most lesbians prefer the term lesbian because it gives gay women an identity independent from men. There is a growing diversity of lesbian lifestyle and culture. Many lesbians self-identify as dykes.


Outed: (As in, "They 'outed' her at the meeting.") When someone tells other people that another person is gay.


Partner: A term used to describe a sweetie, loved one, wife/husband, comrade-in-life, within the gay community. It is also a term straight people consciously use for their lovers/spouses as an act against hetereosexism.


Patriarchy is the root cause of sexist oppression. It is a system of oppression which values the work of men over that of women, which privileges male culture and men oriented roles and tasks over that of women and women oriented tasks. It is a system of oppression that elevates men into positions of power and decision-making while devaluing or diminishing the contribution of or role of women. **Taken from MXGM Definitions**


It is a system of oppression, which assumes and accepts heterosexual relationships as the norm and values those relationships at the expense of others.

Patriarchy, arguably the first system of oppression learned by everyone, intersects with other systems of oppression such as white supremacy, classism and heterosexism to oppress Black women and Black LGBT/Queer people.


Patriarchy is a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terrorism and violence.....Bell Hooks


Privilege: A resource or state of being that is only readily available t some people because of their social group membership.


Queer: A term, loved by some gay people, hated by others, that reflects inclusion of gay, straight, transexual, transgender, bisexual, and questioning people. Outside of the gay/lesbian community, queer is a derogatory term used by homophobic people.


Questioning: Being open to defining one's sexual orientation.


Racism is the belief that there are inherent differences in people's traits and capacities that are entirely due to their race, however defined, and that, as a consequence, racial discrimination (i.e. different treatment of those people, both socially and legally) is justified.


Racism is more than a matter of individual prejudice and scattered episodes of discrimination. There is no black racism because there is no centuries-old system of racialized subordination and discrimination designed by blacks to exclude whites from full participation in rights, privileges, and benefits of this society. Black racism would require not only a widely accepted racist ideology directed at whites but also the power to systematically exclude whites from opportunities and rewards in major economic, cultural, and political institutions. While there are Blacks with anti-white prejudices, and there are instances of Blacks discriminating against whites, these ….are not part of an entrenched structure of institutionalized racism that can be found in every part of this country **Taken from MXGM Definitions**


Right: A resource or state of being that everyone has equal access to, regardless of their social group membership.


Sexism: The cultural, institutional and individual set of beliefs and practices that privilege men, subordinate women, and denigrate values and practices associated with women. Sexism is more than a matter of individual prejudice and scattered episodes of discrimination. There is no female sexism because there is no centuries-old system of sexualized subordination and discrimination designed by women to exclude men from full participation in rights, privileges, and benefits of this society. Female sexism would require not only a widely accepted sexist ideology directed at men but also the power to systematically exclude men from opportunities and rewards in major economic, cultural, and political institutions. While there are women with anti-male prejudices, and there are instances of women discriminating against men, these ….are not part of an entrenched structure of institutionalized sexism that can be found in every part of this country. **Taken from MXGM Definitions**


Sexist oppression is any force or entity that limits the self-determination of women and girls. It is the exercise of male privilege (power and control), by individuals as well as the state and results in violence and abuse of women and girls. Sexist oppression is propagated by the state through policies and practices that adversely affect women. The result of these policies is the creation and expansion of an economic and social underclass of women who struggle to support their families while they are treated as expendable labor. **Taken from MXGM Definitions**


Sexual Orientation: Sexual orientation is the term people use to define what gender they are sexually attracted to. A person who has a sexual attraction to members of the opposite gender is called heterosexual (or straight), while someone who has a sexual attraction to members of the same gender is a homosexual person. Sexual orientation is a continuum, not a set of absolutely different categories. It is not known what determines a person's sexual orientation.


Social Power: Access to resources that enhance one's chances of getting what one needs in order to lead a comfortable, productive and safe life.


Transgender: This has become a catchword for transvestites, transexuals, female and male impersonators, drag queens, those without a specific gender label.


Transsexual: Changing to another gender: surgically, chemically, and/or aesthetically.


Gender non-conforming refers to people whose gender expressions do not match stereotypes of how girls/women or boys/men are "supposed to" look and act. In reality, most people in general don’t meet all gender expectations and stereotypes either; almost nobody is perfectly masculine or perfectly feminine. The reason gender nonconforming people are included in the list of transgender people is that there are some people who identify as transgender but are not transitioning gender, and do not consider themselves cross-dressers, androgynous, or gender queer. Gender non-conforming people have an increased need for safety while in the shelters.


Two-spirit: The definition of a two-spirit person varies across the Native American cultures in which they appear. In general, two-spirit people are born one sex, and end up fulfilling the roles assigned to both sexes, or other roles reserved for two-spirit people. Some people consider two-spirit a term that can refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, while others think it is best used only for transgender people.


Transphobia is the negative valuing, stereotyping and discriminatory treatment of individuals who do not conform in appearance and/or identity, to conventional conceptions of gender. Trans-identified (transgendered) individuals, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and their supporters are typically the targets of transphobia.


Taken from:

http://www.transgenderzone.com/library/hl/fulltext/33.htm

http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senateandtrustees/harassment.html#B

http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/brightideas/vol9/b3gloss.htm)


additional resources for definitions and terms:
http://afeministtheorydictionary.wordpress.com/