Wow.... this term has gone by so fast! It's sad that class is over because we had such great discussions and the episodes were all awesome and the speakers were AMAZING to say the least....
The "monstrous maternal" episode was great, I had of course seen it before (hee-hee) and remember it as being one where I just kept thinking "Where was the intervention!" clearly that woman needed help and people knew that she was "a little off" but no one did anything to help her. That is sort of like what we talked about in class with Andrea Yates (The woman who drowned her kids); people knew she was "off" and her doctor specifically advised her not to have more children but her family did not help her, her husband got her pregnant again, and no one stepped in even "in the name of the kids" and at least helped her watch them during the day... and its like so many people turned their backs on her (and the mom in the episode) which leads to the isolation that these mothers feel/felt
The guest speaker was really interesting and it was cool to hear about what it is really like to be a judge.... i wished she would have had some stories about the crazy vigilante people that shoot the defendants like on law and order but i guess that does not happen that much in real life :(
GOOD LUCK ON FINALS EVERYONE!!!
as of right now... (5:00 on wednesday 6/4) I am done with Oregon State! I am off to start my "real life"
TAKE CARE!!!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
There is never enough chung-chunging
First of all, that Sesame Street video is hilarious! It is making a whole new generation of Law and Order addicts. However, why doesn't the female detective get to bring in her version of an "m"? Is there perhaps some patriarchy here?
Today's class was excellent as per usual. The episode was more somber than most, or at least we were all rather contemplative after watching it. Whereas I would not say that the mother was stable or should have more children, I do not believe that she had the proper amount of aid for her condition. Many people around her noticed her mental difficulties, yet no one did anything. If her husband loved her so much, why couldn't he get her help? Her in-laws and doctors both saw something amiss, yet that didn't seem to compel them to action. Were they blinded by the fact that she was having problems with motherhood, which is something all women are assumed to know how to do? Society so stigmatizes mothers who resent, even for a moment, mothering responsibilities, yet if people were honest I think a large proportion of mothers would admit to these feelings of helplessness and being overwhelmed. Part of fighting the patriarchal norms that restrict women will have to include implementing open conversations about post-pardem depression and providing communities to help new mothers to cope with their new situations. Having kids is wonderful, but it is not all roses and fun, which is normal, not something to lie to oneself about. Part of creating equality in society is embracing honesty, even when it involves something that has been demonized like the "maniacal maternal" we saw in today's episode.
How can Benton County only have had one judge until now? Judge Holcomb was really interesting and a great storyteller. I hope that she gets her purple robes soon and I really admire her work with the adult drug treatment program. However, I am a little sad that the hostile witnesses and maverick lawyers aren't such a reality. They are some of the best parts of the show!
I will so miss our class! This has been my favorite course to date in college and I loved the camaraderie we developed. All the speakers were amazing and I can't believe how much we learned from a TV show. I'm so glad to know that others appreciate L&O as much as I do. We should have a reunion during the next marathon!
Today's class was excellent as per usual. The episode was more somber than most, or at least we were all rather contemplative after watching it. Whereas I would not say that the mother was stable or should have more children, I do not believe that she had the proper amount of aid for her condition. Many people around her noticed her mental difficulties, yet no one did anything. If her husband loved her so much, why couldn't he get her help? Her in-laws and doctors both saw something amiss, yet that didn't seem to compel them to action. Were they blinded by the fact that she was having problems with motherhood, which is something all women are assumed to know how to do? Society so stigmatizes mothers who resent, even for a moment, mothering responsibilities, yet if people were honest I think a large proportion of mothers would admit to these feelings of helplessness and being overwhelmed. Part of fighting the patriarchal norms that restrict women will have to include implementing open conversations about post-pardem depression and providing communities to help new mothers to cope with their new situations. Having kids is wonderful, but it is not all roses and fun, which is normal, not something to lie to oneself about. Part of creating equality in society is embracing honesty, even when it involves something that has been demonized like the "maniacal maternal" we saw in today's episode.
How can Benton County only have had one judge until now? Judge Holcomb was really interesting and a great storyteller. I hope that she gets her purple robes soon and I really admire her work with the adult drug treatment program. However, I am a little sad that the hostile witnesses and maverick lawyers aren't such a reality. They are some of the best parts of the show!
I will so miss our class! This has been my favorite course to date in college and I loved the camaraderie we developed. All the speakers were amazing and I can't believe how much we learned from a TV show. I'm so glad to know that others appreciate L&O as much as I do. We should have a reunion during the next marathon!
Adieu, Auf Weidersehen, Goooooodbyyyyeee!
I am so sad that this class is over with! I really, really enjoyed coming to this class. It was definitely the highlight of my Mondays. I looked forward to hearing our guest speakers. They have been some of the most fascinating women I have ever listened to. It is really inspiring to hear from women involved in the real "Law and Order." I enjoyed listening to their opinions and how the criminal justice system works from the police, to the morgue, to the court room. The whole process is truly fascinating. I wish I had this class all the time!
This "monstrous maternal" episode was interesting and disconcerting at the same time. For example, McCoy was advocating a forced sterilization of the mom. While this is sort of a good idea for the safety of any children she may have without the surgery, if they allowed it, it would set a precedent of sterilization when a mother is unfit. This sort of makes me think about the commercials for permanent birth control. It shows an inner monologue with a woman and a voice is narrating saying "Not ready to have another child?" Essentially, they are putting all responsibility for contraception on the woman. They want women to have a permanent birth control that is irreversible, while the husband could go get a vasectomy (which can be reversible). It is never the man who has to worry about birth control or having another baby. It's always the woman. ACK.
In closing, I have to say, thank you for making this class so fun and stimulating and interesting and just plain fabulous! I wish you all the best of luck on finals!!!! I will definitely miss our weekly Law and Order episodes together! :)
This "monstrous maternal" episode was interesting and disconcerting at the same time. For example, McCoy was advocating a forced sterilization of the mom. While this is sort of a good idea for the safety of any children she may have without the surgery, if they allowed it, it would set a precedent of sterilization when a mother is unfit. This sort of makes me think about the commercials for permanent birth control. It shows an inner monologue with a woman and a voice is narrating saying "Not ready to have another child?" Essentially, they are putting all responsibility for contraception on the woman. They want women to have a permanent birth control that is irreversible, while the husband could go get a vasectomy (which can be reversible). It is never the man who has to worry about birth control or having another baby. It's always the woman. ACK.
In closing, I have to say, thank you for making this class so fun and stimulating and interesting and just plain fabulous! I wish you all the best of luck on finals!!!! I will definitely miss our weekly Law and Order episodes together! :)
Never really thought of it that way...
For some reason I thought I commented on the last class. Maybe I had a dream about it or something! Weird...
Anyways, as I read the assigned reading for today I thought about the issues discussed during our last class in terms of sentencing and the death penalty. I think it is very interesting that usually more men favor the death penalty over women. It definitely seems connected with gendered behaviors and especially the socialization of violence between genders. In regards to women serving as judges, I did not realize the obstacles that they can face. I loved (as in appreciate not actually liking the process) the notion of the "gatekeeping" system that obviously favors men. While reading and discussing themes like this, I frequently ask myself why other people do not see the problem in this? Why is it that we must take a class to formally recognize the oppressive behaviors???? Why is it that men who go to law school do not seek justice for their female counterparts? We have been asking all term "who's justice?" and it is evident at this point that the only people who actually get justice are the rich white men of the world! Damn the white male privilege!
As I continue my studies in sociology and women's studies I often get an overwhelming feeling of frustration and sadness at the close of a term. On one hand it is good because I try to turn my feelings into perseverance to continue in the future, but on the other hand-I'm depressed and exhausted and angry!
Anyways, as I read the assigned reading for today I thought about the issues discussed during our last class in terms of sentencing and the death penalty. I think it is very interesting that usually more men favor the death penalty over women. It definitely seems connected with gendered behaviors and especially the socialization of violence between genders. In regards to women serving as judges, I did not realize the obstacles that they can face. I loved (as in appreciate not actually liking the process) the notion of the "gatekeeping" system that obviously favors men. While reading and discussing themes like this, I frequently ask myself why other people do not see the problem in this? Why is it that we must take a class to formally recognize the oppressive behaviors???? Why is it that men who go to law school do not seek justice for their female counterparts? We have been asking all term "who's justice?" and it is evident at this point that the only people who actually get justice are the rich white men of the world! Damn the white male privilege!
As I continue my studies in sociology and women's studies I often get an overwhelming feeling of frustration and sadness at the close of a term. On one hand it is good because I try to turn my feelings into perseverance to continue in the future, but on the other hand-I'm depressed and exhausted and angry!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
What is it about the Law and Order?
I wonder what it is exactly that draws us to Law and Order? What makes it more addicting than the other crime dramas? I have heard that it is because the show focuses on the cases, not the characters, but I am pretty attached to some of the characters too. Whatever it is, I hope the new cast works out, because I don't know what I would do with my Memorial and Veteran's Days without Law and Order marathons.
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