Activism Log # 4

Jennifer Smith
Nina Perez
WST 3015
3/6/10

Activism:
We finally started tabling this week. On Wednesday I went to the front of the Student Union to join some of Equal’s members and some of my group members on my first official day of petitioning. I was really nervous about talking to strangers, since I’m not the most outgoing person, but I felt a lot more comfortable with my community partner, Rebecca, there. She helped me ease into the role of activist and explained the ins and outs of tabling.

Reflection:
We continued to discuss violence against women in class this week. I was glad some of the readings this week were from the Seely text Fight Like A Girl. I feel like not only is she writing to inform the reader about women’s issues, but also to encourage young feminists to be more active about the issues in their community. In the reading “Fighting Back,” Seely writes that “all people, regardless of sexual or gender identity, should be guaranteed the right to safety” (205). This one statement expresses exactly what my service-learning group is trying to show and teach people. I was happy to see that at the end of the reading, where Seely lists ways of getting out there and making a difference, one of the suggestions happened to be what my group has planned; “host a local forum at your school” (212).

Reciprocity:
Karma bit me in the ass my first week of tabling. I’m someone who usually ignores the students in front of the Student Union, passing out flyers and asking for signatures. I found out just how frustrating it is to get people to give up a moment of their time and listen to what you have to say. Then there are those whose attention I captured. They would ask me multiple questions about what I was petitioning for, just to walk away without signing or even worse, argue about why gender identity shouldn’t be added to the policy. I definitely got a reality check this week and I’ve started to realize just how much work really goes into each political movement. Hopefully I’ll run into more willing people in the next weeks of tabling.


Works Cited:

Seely, Megan. "Fighting Back." Fight like a Girl: How to Be a Fearless Feminist. New York: New York UP, 2007. 185-217. Print.