Week 3

Claire Cain Miller's article "The 27/7 Work Culture's Toll on Families and Gender Equality" sheds a new light on the issue of gender equality in the workplace. Women facing the glass ceiling in their careers is often discussed and examined, however Miller describes a new study suggesting that gender inequality is the result of the modern work culture of working 24/7 (answering phone calls and emails at home late at night or over the weekend). When women cut back on "work hours" to commit more time to their families, they limit their chances of advancing their careers. Miller explains that family friendly policies, which have been suggested to improve gender equality in the workplace, are not the solution. The culture of overworking needs to shift in order to achieve gender equality. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/upshot/the-24-7-work-cultures-toll-on-families-and-gender-equality.html?_r=0

Facebook pages that support gender equality:

https://www.facebook.com/gswspitt

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Latina-Feminista/227686683918798

https://www.facebook.com/everydayfeminism

https://www.facebook.com/FeministMajorityFoundation

https://www.facebook.com/TheFeministWire

Week 2

I searched gender equality on Twitter and several hashtags came up regarding the issue. #genderequality was the most common hashtag. The hashtag was generally used in tweets supporting women’s rights. It was also used in tweets that had links to articles and inspirational stories to empower women. The hashtag is used by a wide range of twitter accounts, from non-profits, to magazines, to individuals.  

Another hashtag that is frequently used and supports gender equality is #girlsed. This hashtag is relevant to my field because focuses specifically on education and girls. Tweets using this hashtag provide data and statistics about girls’ education, as well as strategies for reaching gender equality through education. Some examples include high school and college graduation rates and girls in STEM. 

A hashtag that also supports gender equality by pointing out current inequalities is #notthereyet. The hashtag is used in a variety of tweets, but one current is focused on gender equality (or inequality). These tweets focus on gender biases, the glass ceiling, and women’s rights. Even though society has been taking big steps forward toward gender equality, #notthereyet highlights the fact that we still have a long way to go.  

Similar to #notthereyet, #noceilings is used different ways, but regarding supporting gender equality, tweets include articles about women in leadership, breaking the glass ceiling, and data about girls’ educational paths. This hashtag highlights women who have broken the glass ceiling, unlike #notthereyet which highlights unfair limitations. Tweets using #noceilings can be very motivational and encourage women and girls to pursue their dreams.  

#feminismisawful is not as horrible as it sounds because it is usually used sarcastically. Most tweets using this hashtag point out how important the feminist movement is, ending it with the sarcastic hashtag. Tweets include anything from stories about women in leadership and STEM to articles about gender inequality. However, there are a few tweets unsupportive of gender equality using the hashtag by angry people who likely do not fully understand feminism.

Overall, I was very happy to read all the tweets in full support of gender equality. I can learn a lot about gender equality just by searching any of the previously mentioned hashtags on twitter and browsing through the numerous articles and videos shared.

Week 1

I teach 11th grade English and Drama at Animo College Prep Academy in Watts. My first year teaching has been a humbling experience--it is more challenging than I would have ever expected. Despite the long hours and often stressful environment, I love my job, my colleagues, and my students. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to introduce theater to the students at ACPA. I have 66 drama students all taking their first ever drama class. In just a few weeks, it has already proven to be a rewarding experience for all involved.

Other facts about me: I live with my husband and 4 pets (2 dogs, 2 cats) in Downey. I love to garden and enjoy cooking all the tasty things that I grow.

After high school, I was a hairstylist for 2 years. I was not fulfilled with my career, so I went to West LA CC, then transferred to UCLA and earned my BA. Next I earned my MA and teaching credential at CSULA. I am now enjoying my experience as an EdD student at CSULA.

I have grown a lot in the short amount of time I have been in the EdD program and have found that my readings and discussions with my cohort have deeply influenced my philosophies on education, as well as the person I am and the person I someday hope to be.