Earlier today...

...there was a dispute between the young couple that lives above my apartment. I couldn’t hear exactly what was being said but I heard them running around, several things being thrown or knocked to the floor and the girlfriend screaming her head off. There was a lot of commotion and it just didn’t sound like a “normal” fight. I opened the door from our apartment to listen closer and could hear the girl wailing as though she had been hurt. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this couple fight and today it sounded physical. I felt that the best thing I could do was call the police.

I called the general complaints line and the woman who answered the phone was helpful. I told her what I knew and said that I was worried something really bad was going on up there and that someone should come and check it out. She said she would send a car over immediately.

It came about twenty minutes later and two police officers went to the couple’s door. Their door is very close to mine so I could hear from my couch most of what was being said.

The girlfriend answered the door crying and they asked her, “How’s everything going up there?” She said, “Not good. We’re having a pretty big fight.” One of the police officers said, “Who is up there with you?” She replied, “My boyfriend.” The police officer then asked, “Would you like us to come up and check everything out?” She replied meekly, “No that’s okay.” The other police officers said, “Oh we had a noise complaint from your neighbours about a fight.”

I couldn’t hear what she said in reply but they asked if they could talk to the guy. He came down the stairs a few minutes later and casually said, “Hello.” They repeated most of the same questions, and then said something like, if you guys are fighting, try to keep it down so as not to disturb your neighbours and then left.

I am so aggravated at how this situation was handled. First of all, I wasn’t making a noise complaint. I didn’t call so that they couple would “keep it down,” I called because it sounded as though the girl was being hurt and because she was screaming her head off and crying loudly.

And second of all, is that all that can be done in this situation? I don’t know much about what they can legally do but I felt their questions weren’t exactly the right ones; that other questions would have made her tell what had really happened. But the police didn’t press her and took her answers as they were. The whole question period lasted only a few minutes.

Now I don’t know for sure what was happening up there but between hearing things crashing down and her screaming frantically, I would guess that it was a violent fight; one that should have been looked into more seriously. Isn’t it true that a woman who is being abused is unlikely to admit that she is?

I consider this a very serious matter and the fact that it could be so easily “taken care of” really upsets me. In response to the police officer’s questions, I half-expected the boyfriend to say, “Ok, next time I beat her up, I’ll keep it down so that I don‘t disturb my neighbours.”

I believe that there should be certain questions that police officers should ask to encourage a victim to tell what is really happening to them. Or perhaps a social worker could be present to question the victim. I’m not settled with the fact that the girlfriend today said that everything was okay and the policeman took that as truth.

Can’t something else be done?

Martha

Do you have a cyber identity?

So, after Monday's 412 class I have been continuously thinking about whether something on the Internet has the same degree of effectiveness as something that happens in 'real' life, or face to face does.
It is interesting to see the ways that people present themselves online. People have the freedom to be any character and identity that they choose and they can behave in ways that they would not in real life.
I have a really interesting like to an article. The article tells the story of a couple who met on the Internet, were then married, on the Internet and in real life, and were then divorced after finding a partner cheating on them electronically. Wow, check it out and make sure to look at the accompanying link for further info on the subject.

http://kotaku.com/5088488/second-life-marriage-ends-the-way-many-real-ones-do

Peace,
Kerrilynn

ps. I am going to create a second life account myself and keep everyone posted on the things that happen.

another movie suggestion...

Today I watched Real Women Have Curves and suggest that everyone check it out!

The main character Ana (played by America Ferrara also in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies and my personal favorite Ugly Betty) is going through a lot of changes in her life and is constantly being held back by her traditional and sometimes overbearing mother.

Instead of it being a "journey-type" movie where the main character discovers her beauty, Ana already knows she is beautiful so the journey she takes is one to subtly teach others this same self-love.

The movie addresses many female issues surrounding body image and the fact that though they are all women(and are constantly clumped into that category), each issue is still quite different from the other. Ana reassures herself that no matter what others say, it is her own voice that is the most important. A great message.

Although I enjoyed the movie, I did have a bit of an issue with the title. For such powerful and interesting content, the title is weak. It is strong in saying that real women are beautiful despite not having what the media portrays as the perfect body shape, but it is also weak because it fails to include all women. The title says nothing about women who don't have curves and are still challenged by those media images for one reason or another. Yes, the title rejects the media's selectiveness but it also finds itself just as exclusive. Are curveless women to be left out of both groups because they don't have the perfect body or the body of a real woman?

I suggest the title be changed to, All Women have Issues with Body-Image and That's Okay!
Rolls off the tongue nicely, doesn't it? :)

What do you guys think of the title? Inclusive, exclusive or neither?

Martha

Hilarious Comic from my Aunt

Not really sure what this has to do with WS...but it's Women centric, and really funny, so I wanted to post it anyway!!! Enjoy :)

Erica

Film #3 - A Long Kiss Goodnight

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to let you know about our upcoming event this Friday, November 14th!!! We will be showing Film #3 of our Babes Beyond Borders Film Series.

Presenting: A Long Kiss Goodnight

Date: Friday November 14th, 2008
Time: 4-6 pm
Place: Dawson Lounge, Main 420
Bring: Yourself, your friends, snacks to share

Note - The Women's Studies Society will be having a brief meeting before the film (starting around 3pm), so please come if you would like to contribute/help out at our upcoming events!
Thanks, See you Friday!

Erica

Pictures of the Day

Here are some pictures from our Rockey Horror afternoon.

Peace,
Kerrilynn

Friday's Rant posted on a Saturday

This may not completely pertain to what I normally rant about on the blog...

The 'J' word, yes, J-Walking (I am still unsure of the correct definition). It is something that everyone on the planet has done at some point during their life. I was really 'ranted-off' by the article in the cadre that discusses the new fence put in place to end j-walking. I think that the money invested in the fence could have been used in many different ways to keep students safe. Anyway, here is my take on it (please not I just scuffled up some stairs and I am out of breathe):




and here is another students take...



Peace,
Kerrilynn

What's new at the DO

I attended a meeting at the Diversity Office on Friday regarding an amazing photo contest that will soon be under way. My job is to tell three other people to submit photos of diversity on campus, but I decided to not only tell three people about the contest, but to post it on the blog in hopes of getting some more participants.

The title of the contest is 'What does diversity mean to you?', and you can find out more information about it on the DO's website: http://upei.ca/studentservices/diversity-office/




Peace,
Kerrilynn

First ever 'field research'

I decided to do my first ever 'field research' for my rave this week, so I went about asking people 'what is feminism?'







Just to include, both students gave me permission to publish these video's on the blog.

Peace,
Kerrilynn

Movie Suggestion

Hey everybody!

Thought I'd make a quick post to recommend a film I watched last night called Finn's Girl.

Finn, the main character, is definitely a "babe beyond borders" as she is the head doctor of an abortion clinic. Throughout the movie she receives several threats and a few near death-experiences because of her profession. The movie accurately portrays the challenges surrounding abortion and has a nice twist at the end of it.

I won't tell too much about the plot but I definitely recommend checking out this film! Click on the links if you'd like more information about it!

Oh and PS It's Canadian!!

Martha

thinking about definitions and identities

So in the past week (less than actually - 4 days), i've had a number of different conversations with various students who've articulated some version of the following about different crosslisted courses they've taken: 'well it was a good course and all, but it's not a Women's Studies course' or 'it was a good X discipline course about women, but it wasn't a Women's Studies course' or 'i know it's a course about gender and sexuality and all, but it's not a Women's Studies course.' (Of course, i also hear the opposite p.o.v. too -- that 'such and such a course is a great WS course' :)). And i'm fascinated by this - especially since so many have also said at various times that it's hard to explain to people what Women's Studies is... So I'm interested... and wondering if we can have a discussion about this here in posts and comments? (or over beer at the Wave... both good :))

What makes something for you all 'a Women's Studies course?' What does it do that fills some criteria for you all?

Random half-formed thoughts as welcome as well-conceptualized and brilliant responses :)

Ann

Pictures of the Day

I came across these pictures in an email and just had to post them. I think they are so cute.

Peace,
Kerrilynn

Delay

I know I haven't been posting my vlogs for two weeks now but do not worry this week might be filled with fun. I have been having some computer problems so my videos are not uploading correctly. Sorry ladies.


Peace,
Kerrilynn