#she25

Other groups brought up really good ideas. What I liked most was the smart watch idea. It would have built in features like an uber app, GPS, breathalyzer, emergency contact number, and other health features. That idea would really help protect so many people from drunk driving accidents, rape or even kidnaping. Ideas like this help create an environment that is safer for all people regardless of gender, race or any other subgrouping. So long as the product is reasonable prices, it will not discriminate against any group of people. And that is what feminist technology should look like.

Other groups brought up really good ideas. What I liked most was the smart watch idea. It would have built in features like an uber app, GPS, breathalyzer, emergency contact number, and other health features. That idea would really help protect so many people from drunk driving accidents, rape or even kidnaping. Ideas like this help create an environment that is safer for all people regardless of gender, race or any other subgrouping. So long as the product is reasonable prices, it will not discriminate against any group of people. And that is what feminist technology should look like. 

You never realize how oblivious you are to the world around you until someone else points it out to you. I was never one to assume that any obstacles or struggles i faced could ever be attributed to being a female, muslim or arab. I don’t think the world is trying to work against me just because I don’t happen to be a white wealthy male. I look at this world from my own personal lens and give excuse to those around me. My friends and family always assume that people are being racist, sexist or islamiphobic when in reality those people may just be rude and ignorant. Not until recently did I begin to experience any form of racism or sexism. I was driving home from my grandparents house at night. Everything was normal until I reached a red light a made eye contact with the guy in the car next to me. Once the light turned green he waited until I drove off and pulled right behind me. He was so close to my car that if I abruptly stopped he could have hit into my car. He then started high beaming me, so my first instinct was maybe there was something wrong with my car and he was just concerned and trying to warn me. So i pull into the right lane, and began to slow down to stop and check what it might be. The next thing i see is his middle finger pointed up at me as he drives right passed me. I don’t know what I did to deserve that. I certainly did not drive in any way that might have brought about road rage. Hating to admit it, my mind started to blame racism and islamiphobia for his actions. It pained me that I had to deal with something like that just because a visibly display my faith by choosing to wear the headscarf. There is so much ignorance and hate that plagues this world we live in and it will only get worse if people chose to accept lies rather than learn the truth about others. 

Premilla Nadaseen spoke about the changes within the domestic workforce and the struggles workers overcame in order to attain their rights. She read letters that were submitted by women wanting to nominate their maids for maid of the year. The language these women used to talk about their maids was almost as if these maids were robots that were programed to love, care and serve them. Nadaseen, stressed the importance of care in the job description of most maids, but also noted that these maids did not necessarily always care. It did not matter how the maids felt so long as they played their part. They were described as a part of the family, when in actuality they were never treated that way. What stuck with me most was a quote from one of the letters she read out from an African American house maid that something along the lines of “we were expected to sell our souls.” They could no longer be themselves if they wanted to get paid. The best maids were the maids that showed they loved and cared for family whether or not they got paid. But, in the end this was just a job that deserved a paycheck. It was not about emotions. There is a difference between loving your career and loving every person that you deal with in that career. There has to be a level of respect maintained for all workers despite their career choice.

I myself was debating on whether to share this post with the class or not. I deiced to go ahead and share this story because it really resonated with me. I hate being told that my feelings are dramatic or that beliefs are outdated. It bothers people when people look at me and say wow she's making such a big deal about something so small, when to me it really is big deal. My beliefs, opinions and preferences don’t need the validation of others in order to be considered “real” but they deserve everyone’s respect. 

Understanding the impact of religion relative to how one defines identity is very important. I come from a religious family, were my beliefs are a the focal point of my everyday life. They impact how I dress, speak, act and even eat. But, I do not think that any of these can singlehandedly speak on how faithful I am. That faith is measured by what is in my heart and my own conviction to these beliefs. I spoke with Atiya Aftab, the Muslim speaker, on her beliefs of hijab. She pointed out how religious dress is falsely seen as an indicator of piety, religiosity and modesty within most Muslim communities. Women who wear hijab are seen in a whole different light, than women who do not. To different communities the hijab comes to define the person wearing it. There are all these preconceived notions of hijab that are associated with the person wearing it.  It is wrong to judge a person based on how they look, how much they cover or how little they cover, or how they choose to express themselves. There are many different ways people can abide by their religious beliefs. Measuring religiosity or the morality of others is not the job of society. You cannot tell someone how to live their life and abide by their religion, and then judge them based on their beliefs. Religion is on a spectrum so that people can each find their place within their own beliefs. Each of the speakers outlined various differences in religious beliefs based on the people who practice it. It is not a one size fits all concept. There is a place for everyone in a religious community. It is about that person’s connection with God, rather than proving their faithfulness to a community. 

Understanding different cultural norms, lifestyles, rights and freedoms can greatly change the way in which we send help to different countries. We need to hold back on this “American Savior” complex before entering these countries. This need to change the way people live to help them isn't really the best mechanism to do so. There are various different lifestyles, norms and ways to do things that are acceptable. We have to keep on open mindset that allows for people to live the way they want to live. That is truly the best way we can help people coming from differing cultural backgrounds than our own.