Amaris U. : Homelessness
Anything Helps
By Amaris U.
Hidden in corners,
Covered by the dark,
Residents of the streets.
A splintered, sidewalk bench,
The rigid, brick ground,
Cold floors of unkempt sand,
These beds and dwellings for
Our neighbors of destitution.
Our neighbors
Insolvent, disabled, vagrants
Outcasts from the rest,
Who are left to roam alleys
Fill sidewalks
And wander the streets,
no place to belong to.
Our neighbors
belong to us.
The world that passes them by
Leaves them invisible in the shadows,
Forgets that we are really not so different
in the end.
In the pursuit of hope and happiness,
We all will stand alike.
We share the light that gives us life,
Superiority is just pretend.
So for the homeless, broke and hungry,
The crushed in spirit,
Those crying for aid,
We share a smile, show respect,
And give what little we may have
To help another neighbor.
Because really
In the end
Anything Helps.
By Amaris U.
Hidden in corners,
Covered by the dark,
Residents of the streets.
A splintered, sidewalk bench,
The rigid, brick ground,
Cold floors of unkempt sand,
These beds and dwellings for
Our neighbors of destitution.
Our neighbors
Insolvent, disabled, vagrants
Outcasts from the rest,
Who are left to roam alleys
Fill sidewalks
And wander the streets,
no place to belong to.
Our neighbors
belong to us.
The world that passes them by
Leaves them invisible in the shadows,
Forgets that we are really not so different
in the end.
In the pursuit of hope and happiness,
We all will stand alike.
We share the light that gives us life,
Superiority is just pretend.
So for the homeless, broke and hungry,
The crushed in spirit,
Those crying for aid,
We share a smile, show respect,
And give what little we may have
To help another neighbor.
Because really
In the end
Anything Helps.
Brandon B. and Kurtis R. : Depression
Depression: The Invisible and Unheard Cries for Help
“Living life as someone experiencing depression is like scuba diving with a bunch of friends, only to find out mid-dive that your equipment doesn't work-- sure, your friends are having the time of their lives exploring the reef and marveling at the pretty fishes, but in the meantime you're there, choking to death, frantically clawing at your oxygen tank and mask praying to any dear sweet deity that you don't pass out and die right there at the bottom of the ocean. Now, imagine those friends becoming frustrated and bored with your "antics" and insisting you "lighten up", enjoy the dive and the pretty coral and "stop being such a buzzkill." It's not very fun.”[1]
“Imagine your head is like a whirlpool in a hurricane - thoughts are just whirling around (and around and around) in there. Positive thoughts float, and they just sit there on the surface until they are blown away, but negative thoughts get sucked into the whirlpool and spin around, repeating themselves over and over, and worse and worse, until you have arrived at the worst-case believable scenario, at which point they sink down the spout and you internalise them as truth. Worse, the whirlpool is mesmerising - it's a natural disaster, a tidal wave, a train wreck, and you just can't look away...If I killed myself, people might stop making their glib remarks that I should cheer up and go out partying - that would be nice - how awesome would it be to shut all of those bastards up, to make them feel what I feel for just one day?
At this point, the only thing stopping me was what it would do to the people I didn't want to feel bad - my family. I couldn't put them through that, even for revenge against everyone that didn't care. (Remember, I'm talking from the perspective of my sick mind here). Don't get me wrong, it was CLOSE. I was going through ways I could kill myself that I would be comfortable with. I explored my fear of dying in minute detail to find a scenario in which I would be able to kill myself. If my depression had gotten even a little worse, that would have been the end of me.
Do you know what helped to bring me back from the brink many times - helped to control the seething desire to do something drastic? Cutting myself.”[2]
These are real accounts of real people who have suffered through depression. Depression isn’t something that one can just “get over” or “ignore” because to these people, the only escape from this torment is death. Depression is more than a disease that can be cured through time, but instead it is a deadly mental state that can only be helped if it is recognized and acted upon by a network of friends, family, and medical professionals.
1 in every 10 Americans, at some point in their lives, will suffer from depression, and this is only those who report it. 80% of depression cases go nearly ignored, untreated, unchecked. An estimated 121 million people in the world currently suffer from depressions, and at this very moment many of these millions of people are considering suicide to escape the unrelenting urge to end it all. Why do they want to end it all do you ask? It’s because they feel alone in their own cruel, unrelenting prison of the mind. They turn to whoever they can, receiving only slight sympathy from their peers, only for that sympathy to quickly become frustration and annoyance, saying things like “just get over it” and accusing the victim of simply “seeking attention.” In the mind of one who is depressed, there is no point in asking for help only to be chastised in their pleas, seeming to leave only one escape: death.
We not only call for the world to recognize depression for what it is, but also to act on it. Using wishuponastarfish’s analogy, while you’re exploring a reef, and you see your friend, family member, or even a complete stranger drowning, know that they’re not being a “buzzkill” and know that they want to “lighten up” but for them to do so, you need to open up to them. You need to help them be able to breathe, and realize that the second that you go away, they will once again be drowning. In other words, if you recognize anyone, whether or not you know them, showing signs of depression, open up to them. Be a listening ear for them to talk to Be someone they can lean on. Be that person that anchors them against the forces of depression. Be that person, when they’re seconds away from ending it all, who makes them realize that life is, in fact, worth living.
[1] Reddit user wishuponastarfish - to see more of this user’s personal account of depression, follow the link:
[1]http://www.reddit.com/r/depression/comments/18ozz6/i_want_to_die_but_i_dont_want_to_kill_myself/c8gwtls
[2] Reddit user keepasecret - to see more of this user’s personal account of depression, click the following link:
[2]http://www.reddit.com/r/depression/comments/18ozz6/i_want_to_die_but_i_dont_want_to_kill_myself/c8h6emo
“Living life as someone experiencing depression is like scuba diving with a bunch of friends, only to find out mid-dive that your equipment doesn't work-- sure, your friends are having the time of their lives exploring the reef and marveling at the pretty fishes, but in the meantime you're there, choking to death, frantically clawing at your oxygen tank and mask praying to any dear sweet deity that you don't pass out and die right there at the bottom of the ocean. Now, imagine those friends becoming frustrated and bored with your "antics" and insisting you "lighten up", enjoy the dive and the pretty coral and "stop being such a buzzkill." It's not very fun.”[1]
“Imagine your head is like a whirlpool in a hurricane - thoughts are just whirling around (and around and around) in there. Positive thoughts float, and they just sit there on the surface until they are blown away, but negative thoughts get sucked into the whirlpool and spin around, repeating themselves over and over, and worse and worse, until you have arrived at the worst-case believable scenario, at which point they sink down the spout and you internalise them as truth. Worse, the whirlpool is mesmerising - it's a natural disaster, a tidal wave, a train wreck, and you just can't look away...If I killed myself, people might stop making their glib remarks that I should cheer up and go out partying - that would be nice - how awesome would it be to shut all of those bastards up, to make them feel what I feel for just one day?
At this point, the only thing stopping me was what it would do to the people I didn't want to feel bad - my family. I couldn't put them through that, even for revenge against everyone that didn't care. (Remember, I'm talking from the perspective of my sick mind here). Don't get me wrong, it was CLOSE. I was going through ways I could kill myself that I would be comfortable with. I explored my fear of dying in minute detail to find a scenario in which I would be able to kill myself. If my depression had gotten even a little worse, that would have been the end of me.
Do you know what helped to bring me back from the brink many times - helped to control the seething desire to do something drastic? Cutting myself.”[2]
These are real accounts of real people who have suffered through depression. Depression isn’t something that one can just “get over” or “ignore” because to these people, the only escape from this torment is death. Depression is more than a disease that can be cured through time, but instead it is a deadly mental state that can only be helped if it is recognized and acted upon by a network of friends, family, and medical professionals.
1 in every 10 Americans, at some point in their lives, will suffer from depression, and this is only those who report it. 80% of depression cases go nearly ignored, untreated, unchecked. An estimated 121 million people in the world currently suffer from depressions, and at this very moment many of these millions of people are considering suicide to escape the unrelenting urge to end it all. Why do they want to end it all do you ask? It’s because they feel alone in their own cruel, unrelenting prison of the mind. They turn to whoever they can, receiving only slight sympathy from their peers, only for that sympathy to quickly become frustration and annoyance, saying things like “just get over it” and accusing the victim of simply “seeking attention.” In the mind of one who is depressed, there is no point in asking for help only to be chastised in their pleas, seeming to leave only one escape: death.
We not only call for the world to recognize depression for what it is, but also to act on it. Using wishuponastarfish’s analogy, while you’re exploring a reef, and you see your friend, family member, or even a complete stranger drowning, know that they’re not being a “buzzkill” and know that they want to “lighten up” but for them to do so, you need to open up to them. You need to help them be able to breathe, and realize that the second that you go away, they will once again be drowning. In other words, if you recognize anyone, whether or not you know them, showing signs of depression, open up to them. Be a listening ear for them to talk to Be someone they can lean on. Be that person that anchors them against the forces of depression. Be that person, when they’re seconds away from ending it all, who makes them realize that life is, in fact, worth living.
[1] Reddit user wishuponastarfish - to see more of this user’s personal account of depression, follow the link:
[1]http://www.reddit.com/r/depression/comments/18ozz6/i_want_to_die_but_i_dont_want_to_kill_myself/c8gwtls
[2] Reddit user keepasecret - to see more of this user’s personal account of depression, click the following link:
[2]http://www.reddit.com/r/depression/comments/18ozz6/i_want_to_die_but_i_dont_want_to_kill_myself/c8h6emo
Shelby H. : Images of the Homeless
Invisibility of the Homeless
Imagine not having a bed to lie on before falling asleep. Imagine not having walls to protect your privacy or belongings. Imagine not having a roof above your head in a rainstorm. Now, believe that for 3.5 million people in the United States, this homelessness is the opposite of imagination – it’s a harsh reality. Across the country, countless people find themselves without a place to call home, left being stranded in streets and parks in towns and cities doing whatever they can to earn enough money for their next meal. It is easy for one to witness these homeless people, but most just walk right by – as if the man, woman, or child without a home is simply invisible. The following staggering statistics, offered by the National Student Campaign to End Hunger and Homelessness, reveal how devastating and real the problem of homelessness is: “35% of the homeless population are families with children, 23% are U.S. military veterans, and 25% are children under the age of 18 years.” It’s heartbreaking to realize how large portions of the homeless population are innocent, young, or have even helped serve our country. A gross generalization often made is that all homeless people are drunks or drug addicts, but this is clearly not a valid assumption. Due to economic factors, many just cannot afford housing or food. Others with special needs or mental illnesses struggle to stay housed and fed as well. Domestic violence, being orphaned, and drug abuse can be other factors. In this day and age, it t can be very difficult to make ends meet – those of us fortunate enough to do well in society need to come together to help those in need.
The first step to the solution is to bring visibility to the homeless. As a society, we need to bring awareness to the sad problem. On the small scale, one can give food coupons or even food itself to those with empty stomachs on the streets. In Santa Barbara, one could volunteer on the Common Ground Santa Barbara County website to work with organizations fighting to end homelessness such as 100k Homes Campaign and Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness. Moreover, one could volunteer for or donate to the Santa Barbara Casa Esperanza Homeless Shelter. On a larger scale, factors that could help decrease the homeless population could be to provide more affordable housing; provide more permanent supportive housing, which helps those with disabilities; and maintain or strengthen federal assistance and investments. Homelessness stares society in the face daily, yet society barely seems to notice – it’s time to change that.
Gloria L. Homeless and Invisible
There are two parts to my collection of photographs. In the first collage, I took pictures of homeless people and blocked out their eyes in order to portray the loss of identity and humanity they experience on the streets and sidewalks. I edited the photos from having some color to high contrast black and white to illustrate how people tend to see things black and white regarding homeless people. Homeless people are often times stereotyped as criminals, drug addicts, and mentally ill. These misconceptions label and cause them to feel ignored and invisible by society. In reality, many homeless people do not have control over their situation, and need a push to get back on their feet.
The second part of my collage consists of the eyes that I initially blocked out in the first college. Eyes are windows to our souls; they tell our story. One can see by looking at the pictures of their eyes, that all of them have experienced suffering and have unique stories to tell. Often times, people are blind to homeless people and do not give a glance to those that live on the sides of streets that we drive and walk by. Because of their invisibility, homeless people have a difficult time in obtaining a job, finding a home, and gaining access to food. By observing and looking directly at their eyes, we realize that homeless people are indeed humans, and we, as part of the human race, should help one another so that no one will be deprived of basic needs.
The second part of my collage consists of the eyes that I initially blocked out in the first college. Eyes are windows to our souls; they tell our story. One can see by looking at the pictures of their eyes, that all of them have experienced suffering and have unique stories to tell. Often times, people are blind to homeless people and do not give a glance to those that live on the sides of streets that we drive and walk by. Because of their invisibility, homeless people have a difficult time in obtaining a job, finding a home, and gaining access to food. By observing and looking directly at their eyes, we realize that homeless people are indeed humans, and we, as part of the human race, should help one another so that no one will be deprived of basic needs.
Phillip D. and Madeline M. : Local Farmers
Invisibility
In recent years the locally sourced avenues for food have been uprooted by big corporations. As a society, we forgo the benefits of sustainable and healthy living for the one thing that preoccupies our mind: money. Of course, in the recent years, the economic downturn has pushed more of our neighbors to the local Vons or Albertsons in lieu of the Saturday morning farmers market, but it is important to remember those in our community who propagate their lives in the fields. The following collection of images depicts just a few of the people who dedicate their lives to local and organic food.
In talking to some of these vendors at the weekend market, it became immediately apparent that appearances can be deceiving. Take, for example, the wrinkled old Chinese man selling fava beans in the corner of the market. He and his wife stood silently surveying the crowd, but when approached, he launched into his narrative, filled with sarcastically witty remarks and tidbits of advice. “My farming neighbor doesn’t take me seriously,” he lamented, a smile encroaching on the edge of his face. “I cultivate my weeds. This way the pests eat the weeds rather than my real crops.” He continued, with a growing mischievous smile on his face, “What my neighbor doesn’t know, is that I was a professor of engineering and I’ve owned two engineering firms. But he doesn’t take the time to understand me, he just judges me because I don’t wear as nice of clothes.”
Or maybe, take the eccentric dread-locked girl who exclaimed, “that is so freaking rad!” when she learned about this project to shine a light on our local and organic food. She would not blend into the crowd with her bright clothes and self-proclaimed “tree-huggin, dirt worshiper” appearance, and yet, in some ways she is invisible. Our society is moving towards the cosmopolitan modernization of food - new ways in which food is mass manufactured to feed a nation that is not enticed by the story but by the accessibility. This dread-locked quasi-hippie, along-side the stooped Chinese man and fellow farmers, are fading into the background as big industry takes the credit, the customer, and the crop. As you take the time to look through these images, reconsider the source of your sustenance and reflect upon the invisibility of the men and women who established the roots of food production.
In recent years the locally sourced avenues for food have been uprooted by big corporations. As a society, we forgo the benefits of sustainable and healthy living for the one thing that preoccupies our mind: money. Of course, in the recent years, the economic downturn has pushed more of our neighbors to the local Vons or Albertsons in lieu of the Saturday morning farmers market, but it is important to remember those in our community who propagate their lives in the fields. The following collection of images depicts just a few of the people who dedicate their lives to local and organic food.
In talking to some of these vendors at the weekend market, it became immediately apparent that appearances can be deceiving. Take, for example, the wrinkled old Chinese man selling fava beans in the corner of the market. He and his wife stood silently surveying the crowd, but when approached, he launched into his narrative, filled with sarcastically witty remarks and tidbits of advice. “My farming neighbor doesn’t take me seriously,” he lamented, a smile encroaching on the edge of his face. “I cultivate my weeds. This way the pests eat the weeds rather than my real crops.” He continued, with a growing mischievous smile on his face, “What my neighbor doesn’t know, is that I was a professor of engineering and I’ve owned two engineering firms. But he doesn’t take the time to understand me, he just judges me because I don’t wear as nice of clothes.”
Or maybe, take the eccentric dread-locked girl who exclaimed, “that is so freaking rad!” when she learned about this project to shine a light on our local and organic food. She would not blend into the crowd with her bright clothes and self-proclaimed “tree-huggin, dirt worshiper” appearance, and yet, in some ways she is invisible. Our society is moving towards the cosmopolitan modernization of food - new ways in which food is mass manufactured to feed a nation that is not enticed by the story but by the accessibility. This dread-locked quasi-hippie, along-side the stooped Chinese man and fellow farmers, are fading into the background as big industry takes the credit, the customer, and the crop. As you take the time to look through these images, reconsider the source of your sustenance and reflect upon the invisibility of the men and women who established the roots of food production.
Kyra T.: Mothers: The Unsung Heroes
Unless you are a mother yourself, it is hard to wrap your mind around the unprecedented amount of effort that they put in to making their families have the best lives imaginable. The strong foundation that every family has in a mother often is taken for granted. From day one, a mother literally gives her child everything that he or she needs in order to thrive. However, because mothers often humbly give themselves to their children and husbands, their work can be easily overlooked. This is why I consider mothers to be an invisible group. They are the strong individuals who work behind the scenes, putting their families before themselves to make sure that everything is running smoothly in order to give their families the fullest and most enriching lives that they are able to provide for them. They endlessly cook, work, clean, comfort, volunteer, love, and care for their family. They are the backbone to each family and they are selfless.
It is important for us as daughters, sons, and husbands to recognize the amount of energy that mothers invest into us. They are the ones who care for us even when there is no one to care for them. It is crucial that we acknowledge them on a daily basis by thanking them for their selflessness and letting them know that they are not invisible. After all, most of us owe everything we are to these strong and courageous women who took on the daunting task of raising us. A special thanks to Elizabeth Forsland, Angie Toyama, Susie Stone, Denise Irwin, Debbie Dulawan-Boe, Amy Fletcher, Judy Akiyoshi, Annette Taylor, Jeney McCoy, Sophie Spier, Sherry Moore, and Susan Ilcyn for being such wonderful mothers! I look up to each of you more than you could ever know and I hope to some day be just like each of you.
It is important for us as daughters, sons, and husbands to recognize the amount of energy that mothers invest into us. They are the ones who care for us even when there is no one to care for them. It is crucial that we acknowledge them on a daily basis by thanking them for their selflessness and letting them know that they are not invisible. After all, most of us owe everything we are to these strong and courageous women who took on the daunting task of raising us. A special thanks to Elizabeth Forsland, Angie Toyama, Susie Stone, Denise Irwin, Debbie Dulawan-Boe, Amy Fletcher, Judy Akiyoshi, Annette Taylor, Jeney McCoy, Sophie Spier, Sherry Moore, and Susan Ilcyn for being such wonderful mothers! I look up to each of you more than you could ever know and I hope to some day be just like each of you.
Ashley A. : Child Abuse (Pictures not included to protect the children)
Children through out the world are being abused everyday. Of course, the more visible form of abuse comes from bruising and violent marks, but child abuse goes beyond that. Child abuse can stem from neglect, emotional trauma, and many other ways that are invisible to the public. These children that are being abused suffer in silence, in fear of further pain waiting for them back at home if they speak up. Children have endured so much, and have been scarred so deeply, that they are too intimidated to use there voice. We as a community have to keep a sharp look out for children who are going through this pain. We need to become there voice that they never had and put an end to their pain. I hope that when you see these images, you recognize that all children deserve the right to have joy and happiness, and have the feeling of safety within their own home. Put an end to child abuse and speak up for the innocent today.
Estrella P. : Our Generation
This generation's group of children, teen, and adults are considered invisible every day. They are considered invisible because they feel excluded from a group of friends they hang out who they are not comfortable with and they shut themselves out. Also they are judged by their appearance, however old a person is, someone is always being judged every single day just because they look to fat or to skinny or they are not pretty etc. People expect others to be the same as they are or even perfect to fit in the crowd which is impossible because no human being is perfect, we are all unique and weird in our own way. This generation has become invisible to society being excluded by the people that call themselves wealthy, popular, or better than others. The social reason to their invisibility is because they are not mentally good at socializing or physically good enough in the community. The group of generations avoid this by staying home or hiding and sitting away from the crowd because they feel insecure of themselves. Also other social groups don’t notice the people that are alone creating them to become more invisible. This group lacks expression and figure of speech in the outside world. They also fall to the difficulties of depression and loneliness because they get pushed away from people. From the lack of friendship, they also don’t receive support, making them more invisible than usual, not knowing they exist. I want people to know about this group is that they are equal as any other person, we live and breathe on the same earth, we should be a friend to everyone. Everyone should see a friendship in the invisible person because you might find an interest that you both will have in common or even become good friends. This community needs to stop judging others by their appearance, color, and race because we all have the same interest somewhere in this world and we just want to be a friend. Invisible people strive looking for friends but they are just not sure how to do it, so instead of making the invisible group come to us, we should go up to them sit down and get to know them. Everyone in this community needs a friend. I know everyone has hit the breaking point when they feel alone and invisible to society, everyone goes through it. We should not be left alone, there is a reason why there are people on this planet, to befriend everyone and become a strong community. One has to put themselves in the invisible group shoes, knowing how lonely one can feel; we need to stop judging and start caring for others. One would be sick of always being alone everyday creating this solitude in their heart, we need to stop leaving people behind and bring them to the top with us and introduce them to new people.
Summer G. : Women and Invisibility
This piece is titled Woman and Invisibility. Its style was inspired by David Hockney’s photography style. He takes 18 photos total, 9 horizontally and 9 vertically. Then he assembles them in a mismatched sort of way that creates amazing pieces that sometimes have a deeper meaning. In my picture, I used Estrella as my model. She is cut into many pieces. This shows how women are seen in pieces and not as a whole individual.
I consider women to be an invisible social group. I feel this to be true because although great strides have been made for equality between the sexes, women still lag behind in a few key areas. Some of these include the workplace, sports and even school.
My sister is a civil engineering major. Her school is 70% men and 30% women. The percentage of women is climbing, but slowly. The school is a technical school with the majority of majors concentrated in various areas of engineering. When she told people which school she had chosen and the fact that it was mostly male, most of her friends thought this was a great opportunity for her—to meet men. They did not congratulate her for getting into an excellent
school or for being able to get a great education, they were happy for her because she would be in a great position to meet a lot of boys. These were smart, high achieving girls who should have been able to see past the fact that there were dating opportunities and instead see that she would have great educational and career opportunities.
She has also been interning for the last two summers in an engineering firm. She has discovered that the field she has chosen is dominated by men. She knew that most civil engineers are male, but what she wasn’t prepared for was the fact that she was inferior to them. She has observed that even though she is qualified to do the work assigned, the men have trouble trusting her to complete the task. She has proven herself many times, but still has yet to get the respect she has earned. Unfortunately for her, there is only one other woman working in this office and she encounters the same situation concerning the men’s trust. Even with this knowledge, she is determined to continue with her plans for a master’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in city planning. She feels that by women infiltrating civil engineering she will see a change in the career she has chosen and loves.
I feel sports is another area women have remained invisible. There are no professional women’s football, basketball, baseball or hockey teams that have regularly televised games. Most of the women involved in these sports are unknown compared to their male counterparts. There have always been difficulties facing women because of inequality. Less pay, decreased benefits, less opportunities for advancement, and less expectations for them to achieve personal and professional goals. Women have given up some of their power to
become mothers. The fact that they can bring a new life into the world should make them more powerful and special, not diminish their power in any way.
I believe the action that should be taken is for women to learn at a young age to value themselves. Women should be taught to see themselves as unique and to seek out their individual talents and nurture them. They should learn to value intelligence, artistic abilities and individuality. Mothers and fathers should teach their daughters to reach for their goals, that anything is possible if you work at it and believe in yourself. In order for women to become a visible social group it needs to start with women. Education at a young age is the key to women gaining their power and becoming the strong, visible group they should be.
I consider women to be an invisible social group. I feel this to be true because although great strides have been made for equality between the sexes, women still lag behind in a few key areas. Some of these include the workplace, sports and even school.
My sister is a civil engineering major. Her school is 70% men and 30% women. The percentage of women is climbing, but slowly. The school is a technical school with the majority of majors concentrated in various areas of engineering. When she told people which school she had chosen and the fact that it was mostly male, most of her friends thought this was a great opportunity for her—to meet men. They did not congratulate her for getting into an excellent
school or for being able to get a great education, they were happy for her because she would be in a great position to meet a lot of boys. These were smart, high achieving girls who should have been able to see past the fact that there were dating opportunities and instead see that she would have great educational and career opportunities.
She has also been interning for the last two summers in an engineering firm. She has discovered that the field she has chosen is dominated by men. She knew that most civil engineers are male, but what she wasn’t prepared for was the fact that she was inferior to them. She has observed that even though she is qualified to do the work assigned, the men have trouble trusting her to complete the task. She has proven herself many times, but still has yet to get the respect she has earned. Unfortunately for her, there is only one other woman working in this office and she encounters the same situation concerning the men’s trust. Even with this knowledge, she is determined to continue with her plans for a master’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in city planning. She feels that by women infiltrating civil engineering she will see a change in the career she has chosen and loves.
I feel sports is another area women have remained invisible. There are no professional women’s football, basketball, baseball or hockey teams that have regularly televised games. Most of the women involved in these sports are unknown compared to their male counterparts. There have always been difficulties facing women because of inequality. Less pay, decreased benefits, less opportunities for advancement, and less expectations for them to achieve personal and professional goals. Women have given up some of their power to
become mothers. The fact that they can bring a new life into the world should make them more powerful and special, not diminish their power in any way.
I believe the action that should be taken is for women to learn at a young age to value themselves. Women should be taught to see themselves as unique and to seek out their individual talents and nurture them. They should learn to value intelligence, artistic abilities and individuality. Mothers and fathers should teach their daughters to reach for their goals, that anything is possible if you work at it and believe in yourself. In order for women to become a visible social group it needs to start with women. Education at a young age is the key to women gaining their power and becoming the strong, visible group they should be.
Tina J. : Iranian, Egyptian, Nigerian, Pakistani, and Turkish Women
Introduction:
All over the world, but specifically the middle east and African countries there’s a group that have been classified as invisible. Invisibility can be expressed in all groups of people. However, the group focused on this site are specifically women. There are hundreds even thousands of occurrences where women have been treated unfairly. A few modern stories will be presented as well as some broad statistics.
All over the world, but specifically the middle east and African countries there’s a group that have been classified as invisible. Invisibility can be expressed in all groups of people. However, the group focused on this site are specifically women. There are hundreds even thousands of occurrences where women have been treated unfairly. A few modern stories will be presented as well as some broad statistics.
Iranian:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/city-council-candidate-too-attractive-for-iranian-politics-8761630.html
A twenty-seven year old Iranian women, Nina Siahkali Moradi, ran for a position in Qazvin’s council. Although she received a 100,000 votes and ranked 14th out of 153 candidates she was disqualified because “she is too beautiful”. A Qazvin senior official commented that, “We don’t want a catwalk model on the council.” Ms. Moradi is a graduate student for architecture and the International campaign of human rights tried to cover up the fact that she was facing harsh forms of sexism by stating that she was disqualified because of Non-observance of islamic codes. Iran is run by a political system known as The Islamic Republic, which is an extremely male dominant influence. There have been several ways that the government tries to eliminate female power and growth. One example being university acceptances, by limiting the amount of females accepted. The males are afraid of the growth and power of women and try to implement discreet ways so they will not strive. They have been invisible, known to be the housewife, covered from head to toe, but the modern generation will no longer tolerate it. A moment where many women had a chance to stand up for themselves was in the 2009 revolution against the Islamic Republic. However it was a start there’s much more than can be done. These unfortunate happenings will continue if we don’t make a political change and create awareness of the levels of human right violations.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/city-council-candidate-too-attractive-for-iranian-politics-8761630.html
A twenty-seven year old Iranian women, Nina Siahkali Moradi, ran for a position in Qazvin’s council. Although she received a 100,000 votes and ranked 14th out of 153 candidates she was disqualified because “she is too beautiful”. A Qazvin senior official commented that, “We don’t want a catwalk model on the council.” Ms. Moradi is a graduate student for architecture and the International campaign of human rights tried to cover up the fact that she was facing harsh forms of sexism by stating that she was disqualified because of Non-observance of islamic codes. Iran is run by a political system known as The Islamic Republic, which is an extremely male dominant influence. There have been several ways that the government tries to eliminate female power and growth. One example being university acceptances, by limiting the amount of females accepted. The males are afraid of the growth and power of women and try to implement discreet ways so they will not strive. They have been invisible, known to be the housewife, covered from head to toe, but the modern generation will no longer tolerate it. A moment where many women had a chance to stand up for themselves was in the 2009 revolution against the Islamic Republic. However it was a start there’s much more than can be done. These unfortunate happenings will continue if we don’t make a political change and create awareness of the levels of human right violations.
Egyptian:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/femen-mosque-sweden-protest-485276
http://www.dailydot.com/news/aliaa-elmahdy-egypt-nude-photo-revolutionary/
Aliaa Elmahdy or also known as the “ Naked Blogger” is an activist exiled from Egypt. She posted several nude photos as a statement towards the inequality of shariah law. Elmahdy stated that, “the yellow rectangles on my eyes, mouth an sex organ resmebles the censoring of our knowledge, expression, and sexuality.” Her actions exposed the invisibility that the women feel and experience in Egypt. In the photo above, three women enter an islamic building in burkas and once removed showed their nude chests. This act was bold and full of risk but opened eyes and created awareness around the world. These acts of human right violations will not stop if everyone doesn’t act upon them. There needs to be more events where it gets publicized worldwide. These activist movements are a start but won’t fix the problem. There not only needs to be movements in every region but in every country in every state and in every city.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/femen-mosque-sweden-protest-485276
http://www.dailydot.com/news/aliaa-elmahdy-egypt-nude-photo-revolutionary/
Aliaa Elmahdy or also known as the “ Naked Blogger” is an activist exiled from Egypt. She posted several nude photos as a statement towards the inequality of shariah law. Elmahdy stated that, “the yellow rectangles on my eyes, mouth an sex organ resmebles the censoring of our knowledge, expression, and sexuality.” Her actions exposed the invisibility that the women feel and experience in Egypt. In the photo above, three women enter an islamic building in burkas and once removed showed their nude chests. This act was bold and full of risk but opened eyes and created awareness around the world. These acts of human right violations will not stop if everyone doesn’t act upon them. There needs to be more events where it gets publicized worldwide. These activist movements are a start but won’t fix the problem. There not only needs to be movements in every region but in every country in every state and in every city.
Nigerian
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/09/us-nigeria-girls-idUSBREA480EC20140509
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/muslim-girls-react-nigeria-kidnapping
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27373287
I Islamic extremists kidnapped about 200 girls from northern Nigeria. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau stated that the girls would be held in custody. Until all imprisoned militants are freed. In the third link there is an informative video of the leader giving a speech about the girls they kidnapped. After Minister Abba Moro rejected the deal the extremist threatened to sell the girls. There are several protests that are taking place in Nigeria however little is being done in order to rescue these girls. People holding signs in the protests saying “ Bring back our girls” and “What if this happened in America?” It is quite sad to see such a tragedy being handled so lightly by the government officials. In the second link there are several muslim girls all around world responding to the the kidnapping. Many of them express and clarify the misunderstandings that these terrorists are portraying as their god. This idea that islam is bad needs to be erased from people’s mindsets and the idea of human right violations and terrorism be put in place. These comments and media exposure is a start to eliminating the idea that women are items that can manipulated and sold. There have been several posts on Facebook, Tumblr, and much more. Several famous and well known male figures hold up signs stating “ Real Men don’t buy girls” in order to bring awareness to Nigeria. Seeing male role models represent and express these ideas and thoughts is a powerful way to make a point.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/09/us-nigeria-girls-idUSBREA480EC20140509
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/08/muslim-girls-react-nigeria-kidnapping
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27373287
I Islamic extremists kidnapped about 200 girls from northern Nigeria. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau stated that the girls would be held in custody. Until all imprisoned militants are freed. In the third link there is an informative video of the leader giving a speech about the girls they kidnapped. After Minister Abba Moro rejected the deal the extremist threatened to sell the girls. There are several protests that are taking place in Nigeria however little is being done in order to rescue these girls. People holding signs in the protests saying “ Bring back our girls” and “What if this happened in America?” It is quite sad to see such a tragedy being handled so lightly by the government officials. In the second link there are several muslim girls all around world responding to the the kidnapping. Many of them express and clarify the misunderstandings that these terrorists are portraying as their god. This idea that islam is bad needs to be erased from people’s mindsets and the idea of human right violations and terrorism be put in place. These comments and media exposure is a start to eliminating the idea that women are items that can manipulated and sold. There have been several posts on Facebook, Tumblr, and much more. Several famous and well known male figures hold up signs stating “ Real Men don’t buy girls” in order to bring awareness to Nigeria. Seeing male role models represent and express these ideas and thoughts is a powerful way to make a point.
Pakistani:
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/19/17373473-malala-yousafzai-pakistani-teen-shot-by-taliban-back-at-school-in-uk?lite
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/10/world/asia/pakistan-malala-one-month/
Pakistani school girl, Malala Yousufzai, was shot by the Taliban for fighting for girls to be educated. Malala was left to die in critical condition. She was grabbed by her uncle and the doctors fought to save her life, although her condition declined they operated to remove the bullet from her neck. After the surgery, she was unresponsive for three days and thankfully experienced no brain damage and is now fully recovered and back in school. Less than three months from being shot, she left the hospital to continue her rehabilitation in her family’s home in where her father was employed at the Pakistani Consulate in Great Britain. Even a bullet couldn't stop this young women from accomplishing what she dreamed of, an education, something that comes as a need in many societies. There needs to be more representation and influence from women and even men that do have the opportunity to educate themselves unlike those in Pakistan. These harsh and unrealistic stereotypes and mindsets need to vanish all over the world. Malala’s brave actions is just a start to much work that needs to be done. Educational women all over the world need to stand up and show what have they accomplished and bring awareness that so many others could join if they were just given the opportunity. The invisibility that women face expands in so many directions and there needs to be more action taking place.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/19/17373473-malala-yousafzai-pakistani-teen-shot-by-taliban-back-at-school-in-uk?lite
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/10/world/asia/pakistan-malala-one-month/
Pakistani school girl, Malala Yousufzai, was shot by the Taliban for fighting for girls to be educated. Malala was left to die in critical condition. She was grabbed by her uncle and the doctors fought to save her life, although her condition declined they operated to remove the bullet from her neck. After the surgery, she was unresponsive for three days and thankfully experienced no brain damage and is now fully recovered and back in school. Less than three months from being shot, she left the hospital to continue her rehabilitation in her family’s home in where her father was employed at the Pakistani Consulate in Great Britain. Even a bullet couldn't stop this young women from accomplishing what she dreamed of, an education, something that comes as a need in many societies. There needs to be more representation and influence from women and even men that do have the opportunity to educate themselves unlike those in Pakistan. These harsh and unrealistic stereotypes and mindsets need to vanish all over the world. Malala’s brave actions is just a start to much work that needs to be done. Educational women all over the world need to stand up and show what have they accomplished and bring awareness that so many others could join if they were just given the opportunity. The invisibility that women face expands in so many directions and there needs to be more action taking place.
Turkish:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/turkey-womens-rights_n_5153013.html
In Turkey, they as well have suffered with women rights. Unfortunately Turkey has taken a step backward in equality as a more aggressive religious approach was implemented in the political system. This as well is seen in Iran, with the Islamic Republic. When the idea of church and state combines there are many rights being taken away, specifically human rights. A prominent activist, Pinar Ilkkaracan, has battled the sexism for the past three decades. In 2013, Turkey was ranked 120 out of 136 countries in terms of gender gaps in education, health, politics, and economics. Its rates of violence against women is one of the worsts in all of Europe. Many activists say that women’s rights will only continue to fall under Erdogan, who preaches islamic values at a religious conservative class. Another approach of trying to change the invisibility these women feel is by completely eliminating the form of ruling. Starting and acting towards a revolution. Many of the greatest groups that faced invisibility went through suffering and hardships. A revolution doesn’t have to be in the country, there can be virtual revolution. Starting and expanding globally.
Conclusion:
This is a start towards a greater and bigger change. As a society we need to become aware of our surroundings. There are so many people that are just unaware who are willing to do something. Help us spread the word by sending family and friends links to this website. Thank you.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/turkey-womens-rights_n_5153013.html
In Turkey, they as well have suffered with women rights. Unfortunately Turkey has taken a step backward in equality as a more aggressive religious approach was implemented in the political system. This as well is seen in Iran, with the Islamic Republic. When the idea of church and state combines there are many rights being taken away, specifically human rights. A prominent activist, Pinar Ilkkaracan, has battled the sexism for the past three decades. In 2013, Turkey was ranked 120 out of 136 countries in terms of gender gaps in education, health, politics, and economics. Its rates of violence against women is one of the worsts in all of Europe. Many activists say that women’s rights will only continue to fall under Erdogan, who preaches islamic values at a religious conservative class. Another approach of trying to change the invisibility these women feel is by completely eliminating the form of ruling. Starting and acting towards a revolution. Many of the greatest groups that faced invisibility went through suffering and hardships. A revolution doesn’t have to be in the country, there can be virtual revolution. Starting and expanding globally.
Conclusion:
This is a start towards a greater and bigger change. As a society we need to become aware of our surroundings. There are so many people that are just unaware who are willing to do something. Help us spread the word by sending family and friends links to this website. Thank you.
Emily E. : Vietnam War Veterans
Vietnam War Veterans
Invisibility: the state of an object that cannot be seen; not visible. Those who served in the Vietnam War can be interpreted as invisible for how they’re often overlooked by society and how they were manipulated and stripped of any opportunities throughout their lifetime. At a young age, men were forcefully drafted into a war that was often looked down upon by U.S. citizens. Throughout the war, many were killed and injured. By the end of the war the number of severely disabled reached, “75,000, of which 23,214 were classified 100% disabled.” As those who served came back to the United States, many were unfit to cope and coexist within our society. Many of those were uneducated as they were drafted out of high school, which disallowed veterans to get back into the workforce. Some of those were deemed mentally unstable, struggling with PTSD and a variety of other traumatic war related illnesses, which ultimately kept these young soldiers from having a normal life. Not only did they have to cope with these illnesses but come home to a country that disapproved and questioned what they were doing in Vietnam. Many became homeless, leaving them to live out on the streets. These men fought for our country and received no recognition for all they did. They are not given the honor and respect deserved. As a country we have neglected the veterans roll that they have played in our countries fight for peace among the rest world. They have stood strong for our country, so we need to stand strong for them.
Bibliography
“Vietnam War Statistics”. Web. May 13, 2014. http://www.mrfa.org/vnstats.htm
Invisibility: the state of an object that cannot be seen; not visible. Those who served in the Vietnam War can be interpreted as invisible for how they’re often overlooked by society and how they were manipulated and stripped of any opportunities throughout their lifetime. At a young age, men were forcefully drafted into a war that was often looked down upon by U.S. citizens. Throughout the war, many were killed and injured. By the end of the war the number of severely disabled reached, “75,000, of which 23,214 were classified 100% disabled.” As those who served came back to the United States, many were unfit to cope and coexist within our society. Many of those were uneducated as they were drafted out of high school, which disallowed veterans to get back into the workforce. Some of those were deemed mentally unstable, struggling with PTSD and a variety of other traumatic war related illnesses, which ultimately kept these young soldiers from having a normal life. Not only did they have to cope with these illnesses but come home to a country that disapproved and questioned what they were doing in Vietnam. Many became homeless, leaving them to live out on the streets. These men fought for our country and received no recognition for all they did. They are not given the honor and respect deserved. As a country we have neglected the veterans roll that they have played in our countries fight for peace among the rest world. They have stood strong for our country, so we need to stand strong for them.
Bibliography
“Vietnam War Statistics”. Web. May 13, 2014. http://www.mrfa.org/vnstats.htm
Emma E. : Japanese Americans in WWII
The objective of this project was to bring awareness to a group of people that has suffered from invisibility. The generation of Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII is “invisible” because they are hardly recognized. Five years of my grandparent’s lives were taken from them just because of their race. They lost all their belongings and property and had to start over with just the items they kept throughout camp in addition to two young children. Yet they worked their way back up. My grandfather and his brothers rented 500 acres of farmland in Watsonville, California where they raised their children. My grandparents had five children, all of which pursued higher degrees of education after high school. The US Government stripped them of their dignity and they rose above the prejudice and racism to care for four daughters and one son.
The information in my mother’s essay and meaning behind my family’s photos is barely covered in today’s US History classes. As my mother puts it, “the history we are taught is cleansed.” She is exactly right in that we are taught to mainly focus on America’s accomplishments and moments of glory. In today’s society, everyone knows about the Holocaust, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, D-Day, bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Civil Rights Movement, and 911. However, Japanese internment camps are apparently not substantial enough to be remembered anymore. Is it because the US Government was mainly at fault? How many other government mistakes are glazed over in history curriculum? What have other minorities faced in American society?
The fact that my generation only knows white and black history needs to change. I believe that my children should be taught about the history of all minorities in America no matter what.
Ellen H.
While visiting South Africa there are groups of people living in small villages that are
unseen by the majority of the population of the world. These people live in tiny broken down
houses or traditional homemade huts. The only way to view the traumatic situation that these people live in is to turn down a random dusty road and suddenly you emerge in a world that you may have seen on the news somewhere but never truly thought was possible. Therefore, although poverty in Africa is talked about daily, the majority of the regular people are not seen. Major difficulties arise when these people are invisible. Due to the poverty and lack of natural resources where they live many people cannot improve their living situation without aid from others. By being invisible they cannot gain help and become stuck living in crumbing buildings. It is heartbreaking how bad of living situations many of these people live in and the determination they hold to improve their life.
When visiting these small villages one thing I noticed and want people to know is that all
the people were very nice and happy regardless of their situation. The roads were filled with
neighbors walking and mingling with each other. The people are truly remarkable in how they interact and keep a positive attitude even when they face the darkest of futures.
Although, this social group is far away and to make a huge impact requires a lot of time
and often money, any person can do a little bit to help the people living in these situations. For example you can donate a small amount of money or time or even spread the word of these
people to enable people to see this social group.