Spirituality and Religion

Once again this week in our course I was conforted with material that I had not previously given much attention to.  I had never really understood the difference between spirtuality and religion and often would use the words interchangeably.  The new working definitions I hold for these words are:

Spirituality: The connectedness and feelings one has towards a higher being, nature, and/or the world

Religion: beliefs, behaviors, feelings, and the connectedness one feels to a higher being, nature, and the world usually done through an institutionalized setting

It is interesting that most people are only thought of as religious if they express their beliefs by going to an institutionalized setting like a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple.  If someone were to have similar beliefs but did not practice them in an institutionalized setting, we'd be more likely to think of it as spirituality. 

I have been thinking a lot about my own beliefs about religion as I have identified as Christian for most of my life.  There are many things about the Christian religion that I do not particularly believe/adhere to, however.  As I develop my own beliefs and opinions on things like sexual orientation within the Christian religion I find myself disagreeing more often than agreeing. I also do not like the focus there is on the past that, in my opinion, is not currently relevant.      

 At this point, I think of myself as more spiritual person rather than religious.  And it seems that I am not alone http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/us/examining-the-growth-of-the-spiritual-but-not-religious.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A17%22%7D

This is a very interesting read examining how many people are now considering themselves "spiritual, but not religious."

Sexuality and Heterosexism

This week in our course we have been discussing the topics of Sexuality and Heterosexism.  Since our class discussion, I have been struggling to wrap my head around everything.  I learned things in class that I had never thought about.  Ex: how I had the privilege of never having to "come out" by sharing my sexual preference with others because I knew it would be accepted.  How can we change our attitudes as a society so that individuals that identify as LGBTQ don't need to "come out" to others?  How do we create a community that embraces ALL of its people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity?   

A very interesting article I read, titled "Should a Student Conceal Her Lesbian Identity in College Application Essays?"  discusses a young woman and her decision to disclose her lesbian identity and the uncertainty that brings with it.  If a woman decides to "come out" in her application essays will  admission councils be less likely to admit her? If they do not admit her because of her identity it is probably not a good fit for her, anyhow.  I think it is very brave and admiring that a young woman is so confident in her identity that she is willing to "come out" in her application essay.  Just the fact the people need to come out at all is still something I'm struggling with. 

The article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/booming/should-a-student-conceal-her-lesbian-identity-in-college-application-essays.html?smid=tw-share

Another article I read that discusses an individual disclosing their sexual identity to others, titled The Coming Out of Apple’s Tim Cook: ‘This Will Resonate’, discusses how a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Apple, came out publicly.  As the first publicly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, this represents a big step for society.  Because Tim Cook is a somewhat influential and powerful individual, this may give courage to others to come out or voice their opinions on their sexuality for the first time.   

This article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/technology/apple-chief-tim-cooks-coming-out-this-will-resonate.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D

I really hope someday I can live in a society where people do not need to come out in the sense that everyone will be accepted for who they are regardless of their sexual orientation, ability, race, ethnicity, religion, etc.  As a future school counselor I will advocate for these traditionally underserved individuals in hope of that!

White Privilege

This week in our multicultural class we discussed the topics of racism and White privilege.  As a white individual, white privilege is not something I had really thought about much until this point, sadly.  The reality is, not many white people think about white privilege.  White people, often do not realize how things in our society are "advantageous" to light skin tone.

My roommate and close friend, Sehar, is Pakistani and has a medium to dark skin tone.  We were discussing the things I learned in class this week (as we do every week) and were discussing how our society is so biased towards light skin tones and it is often unacknowledged.  We started by talking about Band-Aids.  When I get a cut or scrape I can put a Band-Aid on it and it blends in with my flesh color.  For Sehar, that is not the case.  If she were to cut her hand, putting a Band-Aid on it would make it more visible.  They have started making clear Band-Aids, but this is a relatively new phenomena.  

Another example involves the color "nude."  Last year in my sorority we were required to get nude heels for part of recruitment.  We all wore similar outfits and needed nude pumps.  The color "nude" is the color of a white person's flesh tone.  When I went to shopping and told sales associates of that I needed nude heels, they pointed me to the tan colored shoes without a hesitation.  The color of my heels, nude, does not reflect the skin color of Sehar, or anyone with darker skin.  To them, it is not nude like the word implies.  This word should not be used to describe a color.  To someone with darker skin, nude is a darker color.   

Makeup.  I wear foundation and can get my light-toned color just about anywhere, Walgreens, Walmart, you name it.  Sehar cannot.  The availability of colors in the stores are primarily for lighter skin tones.  There are less color choices for those needing darker foundation colors.  White privilege.

Just acknowledging that white privilege exists is not enough.  Taking a social justice attitude and using my own white this privilege to help "spread" this unequal power that has been given to me and not to others is necessary.  I need to advocate when I see racism and use my white privilege in those situations to educate others who may be willing to listen to me because of my race.  This video is an example of how one person uses their white privilege to point out racism and educate other white individuals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTvU7uUgjUI

Using the phrase "Like A Girl" is demeaning

This week in our course we discussed the topic of sexism and it's impact and prevalence in our society. Our society objectifies women and degrades them all the time through media, popular culture, and even our language. 

During a child's education they are bound to get some form of physical education course. I remember taking P.E. courses since elementary school and playing games like dodge ball, volleyball, and badminton.  When a boy performs poorly on a certain task in comparison to other boys, it wouldn't be uncommon to hear something along the lines of "you throw like a girl" or "you run like a girl."  The same goes for girls.  When a girl performs "poorly" they are told they "hit like a girl."  Why have we associated being a girl with being weak and inferior? 

Sexism prevents us from achieving our full potential as human beings.  Using the phrase "like a girl" further empowers the patriarchal society and oppresses women.  Girls should not feel ashamed for running like a girl, throwing like a girl, or fighting like a girl.  GIRLS ARE GIRLS and should not need to be boys!

I encourage you to check out this video that I found very inspiring and further discusses this topic of doing things "Like a Girl:"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs

This particular video is an ad from Always.  They are doing a campaign called #LikeAGirl where they are pushing to change the way women are portrayed in society. 

I grew up with three brothers and was always compared with them.  I have never been a stellar athlete or competitor and would often hear this phrase from my brothers and their friends.  I think it is quite sad that our society sees acting like a girl as a bad thing.  This image needs to be changed so girls can grow up in a society where their skills, abilities, and the way they do things are not viewed as weak.   

Where You Choose To Go Matters. Blog on Disabilities.

Having a disability can impact the way one thinks and the situations one chooses to encounter.  In fact I bet it alters one’s thinking in such a way that common decisions made every day are affected by it, even decisions as simple as buying groceries or going to get coffee.  Why do I think this?
I am a part-time nanny and am lucky to watch a very cute twenty two month old baby.  Often during the day I will take him downtown Iowa City to the pedestrian mall to do various things.  Because children his age tire easily and can’t walk around too much, and I can’t carry him for too long, I often bring the stroller.  My viewpoint may be very limited and this could be a stretch, but I feel like pushing a baby in a stroller and having a physical disability are similar.
Last week I took the baby downtown to the Iowa City Public Library.  I drive his family’s vehicle and park in the parking garage when I take him downtown.  In the parking garage there is a door the needs to be opened before you can access the area where the elevator is.  Even something as simple as opening a door is really hard to do when you are pushing a stroller.  There was no automatic door, so I had to manage but it was not easy.  How does someone in a wheelchair do this?  Why is there not an automatic door available for those who have a difficult time opening a door?
After we left the parking garage, we headed to a coffee shop on the way to the library, Java House to be specific.  Once again I ran into the issue of opening the door and pushing the stroller.  The Java House downtown does not have an automatic door available for those who need it.  Luckily people around me were very friendly and opened the door so I could get through easily, but if they had not been around I once again would have been struggling.
Common everyday activities, like going downtown Iowa City for coffee, can be impacted by a disability.  Obviously pushing a child in a stroller is not the same as having a disability, but I think it served as an eye-opener for me.  I learned that not nearly as many places are as accommodating to those with disabilities as I thought.  This needs to change. 
According to Iowa law it sounds like any newly built building must comply with door entries that are considered appropriate for those with disabilities, the exact requirements specify what is appropriate (i.e. width of doorway).  Any current building that are renovated or rehabilitated must also comply with this as well.
http://search.legis.state.ia.us/nxt/gateway.dll/ar/iac/6610___public%20safety%20department%20__5b661__5d/3020___chapter%20302%20state%20building%20code%E2%80%94accessibility%20of__2e/_c_6610_3020.xml?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0

Social Class Impacts Education

 

This week in my Multiculturalism in the Helping Professions class we discussed the topics of Social Class and Classism.  Social Class directly impacts one through access of education, housing, food, clothing, affordable health care, and in many other ways.  What does this actually look like, though?  Here is an example of how social class can impact a child’s educational experience.   
Some families have the financial means to send their children to private schools, starting at a young age.  The reason parents send their children to private schools vary, but often they want their child to receive the best education possible and they believe the private schools will offer a better educational experience for their child than public schools.
What does the actual cost of sending your child to a private school look like?  Let’s take a look at the prices of a private school in the area, Montessori School of Iowa City.  Montessori School of Iowa City is for children ages 3-12 and charges $8,000.00 of tuition for one academic school year to enroll one child full-time.  This school has a teacher to student ratio of 1:10.  Local public schools in the area have a teacher to student ratio closer to 1:20.  Looking just at the teacher to student ratio, can you see the benefits of attending Montessori compared to a public school?  Students are likely to get a lot more attention from teachers which can help immensely with learning. 
For many families of middle to low socioeconomic class, spending $8,000 to send one child to school for one year is out of the question, the option does not even exist.  Families considered middle to upper class are more easily able to make proactive decisions in their child’s education in the sense that they have more options of where they can send their children based on their income.
I know a family who chooses to send their son to Montessori School of Iowa City because he has a learning disability that is not yet diagnosable.  The teacher to student ratio is very beneficial to their child who may need extra attention and would have a harder time getting it in a public school.  This family has the money available to pay tuition for their son without a problem.  If their family did not have the resources he would likely be attending a public school.  Because of their socioeconomic status they can afford to send him to Montessori. Other families, who have sons or daughters with similar problems but do not have the same financial resources, do not have the option of sending their children to anywhere but public schools where education costs are limited.
Here is a podcast from NPR called “Public vs. Private School Report Spurs Controversy” that I found to be an interesting listen.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5584516