Feminism

How did the extraordinary process get launched in the 19^th century?

v     European Enlightenment challenged many ancient traditions

v     French reveloution raised the possibility of re-creating human societies on new foundations

v     Women participated in these events suggesting that revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality must include women

v     Declaration of women’s rights”…discover your rights”

v     Taking part in temperance movements, charities, abolitionism, missionary work, socialist and pacifist organizations, active trade unionists

v     Started to view women as individuals with rights equal to men

v     Refused to take husbands’ surname and wore trousers under skirts

v     Womens’ movements in the West focused on suffrage

v     National American Woman suffrage Association claimed 2 billion members

v     British women’s social and political organized a campaign of violence that included blowing up railroad stations, slashing works of art, and smashing department store windows

v     Beginning of the 20^th century the movement became a mass movement

v     1900-woman gained entrance to universities, literacy rates were growing steadily

v     manage and control their own property and wages

v     divorce laws were liberalized                               

v     medicine opened to a few and teaching as well

v     Jane Addams invented social work

v     New Zealand became the first country to give the vote to all adult women, everywhere else it was not achieved until after world war 1

v     Slower progress in politics

v     Writers, journalists addressed taboo sexual topics---homosexuality and birth control

Cons of woman having equal rights:

v     Serious reproductive damage

v     Depopulate the nation

v     Seen as selfish

v     Willing to sacrifice family to pursue individual goals

Chapter 17

It was interesting to read that the ideas of the enlightenment contributed to the Atlantic revolutions because it originally derived from the enlightenment. It was shared across the ocean in newspapers, books, and pamphlets. The idea of human political and social arrangements could be engineered and improved by human action. The new ideas of liberty, equality, free trade, religious tolerance, republicanism, and human morality. It was a new start in the construction of human communities.

It was fascinating to read about how different the two revolutions were. The American revolution was perceived as preserving existing liberties of the colonies rather than creating new ones. The conditions in the American revolution was also made for less poverty and more economic opportunity and fewer social differences. It was not so revolutionary because it established democratic tendencies of colonial societies. 

It was also appealing to read how that the French revolution differed from the American Revolution in many ways. The French insurrection was driven by sharp conflicts within society. The different classes in the French society were affected as well. The members of the titled nobility reserved and resisted the monarchy's efforts to subject new taxes. The middle class was offended by the remaining privileges of the aristocracy which excluded them, and the urban residents were hit hard as well. The French were more violent reaching a radical character. In contrast, the Americans revolution was to restore and rebuild upon earlier freedoms. French people also saw themselves as starting from scratch when comparing themselves to the Americans.

Chapter 18

It was interesting to read that the roots of the industrial revelation was not recognized at first because of all the apparent global roots. For example, the Islamic world was upcoming in ship building and India was known for the cotton textile production. China was also known for the upcoming technological inventions. Also, the European States were fairly new indicating that the revolution perhaps can not occur in such an area.

Addittionally, it was intriguing to read why Britain faced an industrial revolution breakthrough. They had products for crop rotation,  and new  mining and manufacturing enterprises. They also, interestingly enough welcomed people based on skill level and did not factor people out based on religion. Britain fostered a freer technological innovation and the geography and history of Britain also helped the revolution breakthrough.

The British revelotuon transformed the British Society in several ways, but landed aristricrats had to make way for the upcoming business men, manufactures, and bankers.

It was not surprising to read that the middle class was affected the most during the 19th century. Middle class workers were able to contain extremely wealthy factories. They were also able to become mine owners, bankers and merchants. The roles of the woman in the middle class rose as well. In twenty years the jobs of secretaries rose from 7,000 to 90,000.

Lastly, the thoughts of Karl Marx played a fascinating role during the time of the industrial revolution. He believed that class struggle was the central dynamic of industrial capitalist societies. He wanted to see a communist future, but his wish was no granted. Society stayed as a capitalist society, but made adjustments.

Somaly Mam Ch. 7-11

It was disappointing to read that after Pierre stood up for Somaly by kicking men out of the resturaunt that brought in young girls he later hits her in the store in front of the customer. It was also disappointing to read that she stay with him after he humiliated her in front of everyone.

It was funny to read that Somaly though the salty water in the lake may have been used to cook food, not knowing that that is how the water is.

It was interesting to read that Somaly marries Pierre especially since she did not want to get married. Additionally, it was also interesting to read that she packed a knife in her bag to protect herself in case Pierre sold her when they arrived in France. She clearly does not trust Pierre, yet she married him and left to go with him to another country.

Furthermore, Somaly is very surprised with all the new experiences. She does not know how to react to the airplane ride, and can not believe there are buildings taller than trees in France. She was especially amused by the functions of an ATM. She simply thought that people were inserting paper and receiving money. 

I enjoyed reading how Somaly took the disadvantages of her relationship and turned it into positive things. She did not completely love her relationship with Pierre but she did say that he taught her to not be mute and taught her how to depend on herself. Her time in France allowed her to learn how to work and earn money on her own as well as better her French.

I was relieved when I read how Somaly moved back to Cambodia and started to help other young women in prostitution. She did not help them all escape but she passed out condoms and helped them take care of themselves at the clinic. She built up a lot of courage since she came back from France and started sticking up for herself.

It was uplifting to read how Somaly continued to help woman find their way out of prostitution. I really enjoyed reading about how people finally were able to help her fund her cause.

Somaly Mam Ch. 4-7

The book continues catch my interest. I can not imagine how Somaly Mam felt first stop being sold to her aunt, and then having to work at the brothel's at night. She feels the need to fight back, yet it doesn't get her anymore. She even tries to run away, but eventually this lifestyle of hers seems to have her going around in circles. I can not imagine having to live a lifestyle where you would have to accept abuse as an everyday lifestyle because there is nothing else that can be done.

It was also interesting to read how broad the clientele in the brothels is. There were men with all different occupations, cops, taxi drivers, guards, men who had wives, even her aunt's husband raped the girls multiple times.

It was disturbing to read how the girls in the brothels were punished. Somaly Mam was burned with electrodes and she states that isn't half as bad as what girls in brothels go through.  It was extremely disturbing to read that young children, girls that are the age of five or six are being sold because of the false assumption that having sex with a virgin will give a man power, strengthen him, give him a longer life span or even lighten his skin. The girls being sewn together after a week in order to "re-live" being a virgin is absolutely sickening.

It was surprising to read that she met foreigner's who did not treat her as bad as the men in Cambodia did.

Religion and Science

I thought it was interesting that reformation transformation provoked catholic counter reformation. It also corrected abuses and corruptions in the church that were occurring prior to the reformation.

It was intruiguing to read how new England Puritans brought a Protestant version of Christianity and emphasized on education, moral purity, personal conversion, and many more aspects of the world.

It was fasinating to read how the 19th century development in sciences challenged the faith of the enlightment. For example, Charles Darwin suggested that life was a flux. Karl Marx suggested that human history emphasized change and struggle.

Chapter 15

I thought it was interesting that the Europeans wanted to be involved in Asian commerce because of their desire for tropical spices, pepper, condiments, and preservatives. They were also interested in silk, Indian cotton, rhubarb, emeralds, rubies, sapphires.

I thought it was interesting that the Portuguese could outgun and out number the competing naval forces. Furthermore, it was fascinating to read how the Spanish went into the Philippine's but they had their own society established each person was able to do their own and as he pleased. The Spanish was encouraged to control the islands. 

The Dutch was a lot more powerful than the British when it came to trading companies. The Dutch took control by shipping and producing cloves, cinnamon, nut meg, and mace. They also seized control of small spices. Additionally, they forced smaller islands to sell their goods. The dutch also gained power by killing people on the islands and implemented slave labor, selling goods for 14%-17% more than the actual price.

In comparison to the Dutch, the British was less financed and less sophisticated. The British ended up depending on India because the dutch took over the rich spices island. British took over Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. The British also bribed the Mughal authorities with admission to Indian market because they were not capable of "trade by warfare". Both the British and Dutch were able to purchase Asian goods without using silver and gold to pay for the traded goods.