Latino Homosexuality

One of the most interesting topics that we studied in this course was the topic of homosexuality. The articles we read about comparisons between Latino and American homosexuality, and the idea of Latino "Machismo" really intrigued me simply because of how foreign the ideas seemed.
The idea that a man's homosexuality in itself is not a defining character in Latin America is unimaginable here. Instead, Latino males are judged on their power rather than their sexuality. As the readings put it, there is more of an emphasis on object aim (what you want to do with your sexual object of desire) rather than your object choice (what you want to do said acts with). This is extremely different from here, where people don't really care what a homosexual man does with another man; more important is that he bares the title of "homosexual."
Although this seems a little less judgmental than the way we view homosexuals here, in fact it may be just as judgmental or more. The reading talks about how the idea of "machismo" plays a huge role in Latino culture. Rather than ostracizing homosexual men like American culture, Latino culture generally looks down effeminate, or "passive" men.
The roots of these cultural and societal beliefs are very interesting. Even though America shares such geographical proximity to Mexico, their cultural views on homosexuality differ so greatly. Therefore, I would not be surprised to find a migration of people from America to Mexico, or vice versa, to fit into a society whose views they find themselves more comfortable with.

post 4 Disney

Reflection post on Disney
I never realized until we watched that movie in class just how sexist Disney movies are. Shows like Americas next top and others of the sort have always bothered me because of the role they present for women. My girlfriends all follow that show and revere the characters. They love it- like an addiction. Personally I don’t understand how people can watch the crap and I say this all the time. I feel like people should be offended by shows that like that tell girls that people skinny and pretty having a good smile is something worth devoting their life to. Disney movies I feel promote these values from an early age. They tell girls that need to be beautiful and accommodating for people to like them. The girls in Disney films are often powerless, needing to be saved by the hero of the story. Usually they are easily won over and treated somewhat as a prize.

Post 3 (playing with fire)

Reflection post on “playing with fire” specifically the interview with Maria.
I found myself a little confused while reading this interview. I understood that Maria found the need to justify her feelings of attraction towards other women in the context her family, religious and cultural values, but I don’t agree with her perception of the male. In the interview she says she took on the role of the aggressor and told her first girlfriend not to look at other boys. She then goes on to essentially say that she always kept multiple girls on lock. In some ways I can see how this is taking on the role of a male, but in other ways I think this demonstrates a distorted and unfriendly view towards men by Maria. She brags during the interview that most other men would be jealous of her because she’d taken the virginity (vaginal penetration) of 7 girls without having to marry them. This part especially confused because I don’t think this is a natural impulse of men – to take virginity. I was actually a little bothered that someone would have this impulse and I wondered after that comment if Maria justifies all her actions by calling them male. I wish the interviewer had brought up this idea more: the jaux de postion between Maria’s perception of males and typical actions of males.

Final Reflection Post

After reading the articles on sterilization in California, I was shocked. I had no idea that these kinds of procedures were still being forced on people even into the 1970s. I always thought of forced sterilization as a thing of the past. It is also saddening that it took so long for laws to be made that establish fair methods of acquiring consent. The law even had to emphasize that doctors needed to get consent, and cannot do the procedure without it. I found this ridiculous that doctors would abuse their power like that for the sake of their anti-immigrant and racist beliefs. They also would sterilize people in asylums or prisons that they believed had diseases that could be passed on genetically. Thus, society was aiming to create a perfect race, free from foreigners, uneducated people, mentally diseased individuals etc. This is one of numerous examples of the concept of white supremacy that we have encountered in this class.

I feel like this issue specifically approaches the events that happened during the Holocaust. In concentration camps, the Nazis would perform experimental medical procedures on Jewish people. They believed the Jewish race was not worthy of being in their society and thus used them in these experiments. Although sterilization is not as severe as what the Nazis did, it is on its way there if we let it continue. This is also an example of the subtle discrimination that it characteristic of our country. It was found that most of the sterilizations occurred to Latina women that were asked for consent right before or after labor, when they were not thinking clearly. They were also told that they would be cut off from welfare if they did not undergo this procedure. This type of discrimination, if we let it go too far, can evolve into a repetition of history. To me, it is unbelievable that these types of things still exist even though we have seen the consequences.

Reflection #3

It was discussed in discussion whether or not kids should be taught certain "adult" themes via Children's literature such as "Smoky Night" a story about the Los Angeles riots. While books like these may not seem appropriate for kids that aren't directly experiencing things like this, I think it might be beneficial for the child to broaden his knowledge a little bit in terms of knowing more about the world around him and learning to embrace it. None of my family had the luxury of being shielded from violence and danger when they were growing up. So it's very lucky for me to have grown up in a safe atmosphere and have my child do the same, however I don't think its smart to isolate and avoid teaching about the bad things in life just so my child rests easy. Im not saying I want to drop him off in a bad neighborhood and see if he survives for a learning experience, I'm just saying I don't think I'm protecting my child by not letting him read a childrens book about Rioting, rather the opposite.

Reflection of A Day Without a Mexican

This film was very powerful because it brought to light an extreme hypothetical that has undertones of reality throughout the movie. This would never happen (hopefully) however the situation showcases the views and perceptions of many people towards Latinos. A lot of people wont come right out and say what they think about Latinos whether positive or negative from the get-go, but that doesn't mean that these misconceptions are not thought, and advocated. When the Mexicans disappeared people realized that the jobs that they do because they are thought to be stupid or whatever are in actuality jobs that only they can do. A hard work ethic is not easy to come by and Latinos namely Mexican Immigrants put up with sub standard pay and harsh working conditions because they really don't have a choice, they do what they need to do because they have family members that they wish to take care of. Aside from the working class of Latinos the film showed many prosperous Latinos that disappeared and that had major contributions to the society. This film reprimanded any and all people who takes Latinos for granted and seems to think that A Day without a Mexican will be a good one.

reflection #3

I wanted to bring up the movie we watched that brought up the issue of illegal aliens in the United States.  People that want all illegal aliens found, kicked out of the country and want a "fence" put on our borders don't know how much our economy depends on these people.  This film showed us what would happen if all of the "Mexicans" all of a sudden just vanished and were gone.  All of the the small jobs that a lot of people don't think of and a lot of major jobs and domino effects would occur that would hurt the economy greatly.  Mechanics, friends, husbands and also people like border patrol policemen would all be gone and/or lose their jobs.  I think that this video was a very important bit of information to show people the consequences that would follow what would happen if we were to get rid of all the illegal aliens in the United States.  The jobs done by these illegal aliens allow our food to be purchased at the low prices they are sold at and allow large farming companies to hire cheaper labor to sell their products at a lower price.  

Reflection 3: Prof La Fountain-Strokes Lecture

The lecture by La fountain-strokes was a great lecture. I think that many people assume that because I am Latina I should know a lot about my culture, but in all honesty I don’t. The professor said many concepts and terms that were used in by different Latino communities that I had never heard of. What is interesting, is that in Mexico, or in my family, a pato is someone that talks a lot, however, in Puerto Rico, pato is what they call homosexuals. Marica, is a term that we use in Mexico, to call homosexuals, but there is a work that is similar to that, which my mom use to use to refer to me. I was raised with three boys, and all of their friends, so I was somewhat of a tomboy. My mom used to call me a Marimacha, if you break that word up I is Maria and Macho and they make Marimacha. There are many derogatory terms used, but I know that sometimes people don’t always use them as bad terms but sometimes they are said in a joking manner, however, I don’t think the queer community accepts these because they are referring to them.

I have a gay cousin in Mexico and many people in our family, especially those in Mexico constantly tease him behind hid back. I do not want to make a general statement that applies to all Mexicans, but in my family, it is very hard to accept my cousin. I think that is because they are very close-minded and because they don’t know what it feels like to have homogeneous emotions. I think it is even harder for his father to accept him because my uncle is a machista, which is a term that Dr. La Fountain-Strokes mentioned to us as well.

Reflection 2: On Prop 187 film

I want to reflect on this film for two reasons. One of the reasons is because I attended a bilingual school for 9 years. My grammar school started in a Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, it was only a pre-k program for Spanish speaking children. It expanded to third grade in the same facility, which was in a church. After about 7 years, it moved to down town Chicago. Because it moved it expanded all through sixth grade and eventually 8^th grade. My three brothers and I attended this school, but now that my brother is older he constantly tells my mom that sending us to a bilingual school was a terrible decision. I am in Education 118 “Teaching in a Multicultural Society” with Professor Moje, where I am doing my final essay/project on bilingual teaching and learning.

I do think bilingual education is important for those students who need it, but I never needed it, therefore, I want to find if other students like me, were better off not attending a bilingual school.

The lady that did her interview in Spanish, said many things in which she contradicted herself. First of all, she along with her friend, organized the parent programs, in which they supported the needs of Latino parents. Secondly, she said her interview in Spanish, but didn’t support bilingual education. One thing I wondered was, did she not think that if students don’t learn both languages they will end up like her and only be able to speak one language? Also, the white teacher with the glasses, also bothered me. I feel that teachers like her, may be good teachers but also, their personal feelings may not allow them to reach their students at the level that they could be.

I want to be a teacher for the beginning years of my career. I would like to teach at my grammar school, because I think that many schools in urban cities need bilingual teachers to educate bilingual children. I think the Prop 187 video was a great idea, I will be referring to in my essay. I hope that after the essay, I can have a clear stand on this issue.

reflection #2

In discussion last friday, we began to discuss whether or not young kids should be talked to and told about real issues, or if they should be shielded from the "bad" parts of the world, and let them figure them out as they go.  In my opinion, I would have to say that I personally would like to let my kid know about some of the truths about the world and not shield him/her from those issues.  Kids are a lot smarter than people tend to realize, and can comprehend much more than we think.  Talking to a kid about what they might encounter in life is a good idea, it will help them to know more, and maybe be able to prepare themselves, or just have some common knowledge on the subject going into it, rather than just trying to find out as they go, encounter whatever it is that they are going to encounter.