Post #1 - Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Kasey Ann Stevens, and I am a senior Political Science major graduating this December. I have two minors, Sociology and Justice Studies.

My URL handle is easily explained; it is my first and middle name. One thing that is interesting about my full name is that my initials (KAS) are the first three letters of my name! I have begun to use my middle name much more now, so that is why I chose "kaseyann" as my handle. The blog title is simple, and straightforward, a quality I appreciate.

There are a few reasons that I am taking this justice course to count for my minor. One reason is that my boyfriend absolutely loved Professor Romero's "Women and Social Control" course last semester, and I enjoyed listening to my boyfriend talk to me about the content that was covered in the course. I knew I needed 4 Justice courses, saw Romero's name, and the subject, and was sold! What I would really like to gain from this class is a better understanding of the different types of labor women engage in and which forms prove to reinforce sexism and inequality the most, or the least.

When I think of the subject "Women, Work, and Justice" what first comes to mind is equal pay and treatment, although I am quite sure that this course will not focus primarily on that subject.

When I think about the work women perform, I see it as being more than just a woman's profession. There is also household labor, which is unevenly distributed in many households due to gender stereotype that is upheld in relationships.

Not only is there household labor, in many cultures, including American culture, women are seen as primary care givers, and are expected to take time off work to care for infants. Childbearing could also be considered "labor" not only in the fact that the act of giving birth is a physical labor, but we also call it "labor" when contractions start.

What I find interesting is that when the subject of women and work is brought up, a majority of people neglect to recognize all facets of the work women perform or stigmatize women who do not want to live according to the gender stereotypes our society has projected upon them.

For me, equal pay is extremely important, not only because I am a woman, but because I don't look at people and consider their gender, race, or class in assuming whether or not they are worth as much as an employee as the next person in line. I don't think that being a woman should inherently mean that I will earn less than a man performing the same job. If someone is highly qualified for a position, they should receive the same base pay as any other highly qualified individual.

Another thing that hits home for me is female representation in government. As of early 2009, 441 members of Congress were male (83%) and 92 were female (17%). How can women expect their needs and views to be communicated when, as a population, women outnumber men, but they are disproportionately under-represented in government?

When I think of justice related to the topic of this course, I feel as though we will study the many injustices prevalent in our society related to women and the work they perform. I don't think women have received the justice they deserve - to ability to break free of the chains of gender stereotypes and the ability to be treated and regarded at the same level as men.