B5: Finding Ways In; Community-Based Perspectives on Southeast Asian Family Involvement With Schools in a New England State

In reading Collignon, Men, and Tan's article, I found that the article discussed a lot of information that we discussed during class.  I found it especially similar to our discussions on families of Asian families and how they work together.  Also, I found it very similar to what we learned about UTEC in class and  our experiences with the Teen Coalition.   In this article, there was references to how members of Asian families can have some difficulty involving themselves in their children's school community.  In class, we discussed how this can be common for many reasons.  One reason being a possible language barrier.  Most parents of Asian immigrant families may have to rely on their children to communicate throughout the language barrier.

Also, this article made me think of our guest speakers from UTEC and our experience with the Teen Coalition.  The article mentions that community-based organizations help promote parent participation.  It also helps immigrants come together to help each other.  For instance, the article also mentioned how the CBOs worked together to help assist refugees from their countries.  These groups help immigrants and assist with helping them create their lives here in the states.

B3: Masculinity as Homophobia

In reading Kimmel's Masculinity as Homophobia, I was able to read some information that I relatively new already but also read some information that was new to me especially the historical content that was provided by Kimmel.  In reading this article, I mostly picked up on a few major points.  For instance, some reoccurring ideas that were presented in this article were that men are seen as dominant figures, men should not act like women or hold characteristics of women and finally men feel they must prove themselves to other men.

Some historical references Kimmel provided really showed how the dominant male has evolved over the centuries.  This I can understand simply from my history classes I have taken over the years.  There were always cultures that had men running families and women subservient to them.  However, Kimmel's references to of the Genteel Patriarch, Heroic Artisan, and the Marketplace Man were a few references I was unfamiliar with, but found to be a little interesting to what he was discussing.

More familiar information such as men making sure they do not show characteristics that are commonly seen in women and also men trying to prove themselves to other men are areas that I believe are still seen today.  Men are afraid to be labeled as "sissies".  In Kimmel's (1994) article, I was pretty shocked to read that "in one survey, women and men were asked what they were most afraid of.  Women responded that they were most afraid of being raped and murdered.  Men responded that they were most afraid of being laughed at" (Noble, 1992, pp.105-106).  These answers just seem way off from each other.  As for men trying to prove themselves to each other to show their power and accomplishments, I find there to be a lot of double standards when comparing to women.  One double standard that personally bothers me is the fact that men are accepted when they elaborate and brag about their sexual conquests and compare each other by how many women they are with.  However, if women do the exact same thing, she is labeled promiscuous and is looked down upon in society.  This is just one example that came to mind when reading about the topic of men proving themselves to other men.

B4: Lesbian and Gay Adolescents

As I read Anderson's Lesbian and Gay Adolescents: Social and Developmental Considerations, it was very intriguing and felt all too familiar.  My friend from high school is gay and struggled all through high school with his sexuality.   Reading this article, was full of information discussing how gay adolescents deal with their sexuality as well as the extremes they go to sometimes hiding their true identity.  In my opinion, it is quite unfortunate.  I could not imagine how it would be if I hid something so important about myself.  Some of the extremes these adolescents in the article took must have been very difficult for them.  Most taking part of heterosexual dating and pretending to be someone they are not.  What was most shocking to me was the fact that some of these adolescents went as far as getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant.  It shocks me to see how far they will go to hide their true identity, especially if it brings another life into the world.

B2: Reflection

In reading Children of Immigrants, I found it to be pretty eye-opening in terms of what children of immigrants go through in their lives.  I focused on Suarez-Orozsco's first chapter on the varieties of immigrant experience.  To be perfectly honest, I had no idea that there were so many different categories of immigrants.  Surprisingly, these different categories of immigrants come to the United States for various reasons.

When reading this first chapter, I did expect to hear the common information about immigrants such as some are documented and and some undocumented who come to the United States illegally.  I think most people would know some of this basic information because it is an issue almost discussed everyday in politics and, believe it or not, even in my own classroom.  I have students, mostly white American boys who are enrolled in our school's American Government class, that discuss immigration issues and how there are so many problems that need to be solved.  Let's be honest, immigration is not the only problem.

In this chapter of discussing immigrant experience, I could not help but read into the emotional perspective.  When i was reading the chapter, I focused more on the hardships that many immigrants go through rather than the political perspective that so many Americans seem to focus on.  I tried to put myself in the immigrants shoes.  I talk to and see my mother almost every single day.  I could not imagine being away from her and the rest of my family for weeks, months or even years.  It amazes me the sacrifices that these immigrants make for their various reasons.  Some of these immigrants see migrating to another country as a method of survival and others view it as a way to thrive in life.  I can agree that both are justifiable reasons why to immigrate.

B1: Reflection on Reading

After reading McIntosh's "White Privilege:  Unpacking the Invisible Backpack",  I had mixed feelings about the reading.  Part of me could relate to the  so called "privileges" she stated, but at the same time I felt it was disturbing to read.  Because I am a white female in this world, I never really thought about this "white privilege" until reading this.  While reading "McIntosh's daily effects, it honestly made me feel uncomfortable reading those statements.  To be honest, I never thought in terms of what she said, but when reading it, it almost makes me feel bad that there are some people who have to go through those feelings.  Unfortunately, that is today's reality.  If issues like this didn't exist, we would live in a perfect world and clearly the world is not perfect.  

In my classroom, I have an incredible amount of diversity.  There are students who are white, black, Hispanic and Asian.  I do not think I have ever thought about my students race when they were in my classroom.  I see them as all different individuals with unique qualities and I try to bring those out in my classroom.  I would never want to teach the same "cookie-cutter" student.  I think McIntosh's "White Privilege" was an eye-opener.  It definitely has put things in a new perspective for me as much as it was uncomfortable for me to read.

Introduction

My name is Amy Miele and I have been in the graduate program at UMass since last fall.  I plan on completing my practicum this fall.  I have been teaching at Lowell Catholic High School for the past 6 years.  I teach math and I am head of the math department as well.

I look forward to working with all of you through out the summer.  Let me know if you have any questions. =)

Welcome to My Blog

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