Introduction

Kelly Hales
WST 3015
January 12, 2010
Nina Perez

Word Count: 513

Introduction

My name is Kelly Hales and I am currently a Senior at UCF. My major is Interdisciplinary Studies and I am minoring in Education. I love working with children and am excited to start working in my field. I hope that I can one day impact the life of a student the way certain teachers have impacted mine.

I am originally from Chicago; however, certain circumstances have led me to central Florida. These circumstances are the main cause for my interest in Women's Studies.

I was raised by my grandparents for the majority of my life, but in my earlier years I lived with my mother. I was born in Oklahoma and after my father became violent and burned our house and all of our belongings my mother left him and moved to Illinois. She met a new man who was kind at first but slowly became controlling and violent. We were trapped in a very dangerous situation and to this day I don't know if I would be alive now if my grandparents hadn't taken it upon themselves to remove us from the situation. My grandparents helped my mother find refuge elsewhere and took me and moved to Florida.

As I was raised my mother and the men she associated herself with had the greatest effect on my understanding about how men and women behave. I was wrongfully taught that men and women were planted in a home and plotted against each other. I understood that women work full time, pay all the bills, cook at least two meals a day, and are expected to simultaneosly keep the home clean. I also understood that the man was to either praise or punish the woman for her actions in the home at his own discretion. I thought every family worked as such, and was befuddled at the calm organization kept in the homes of my friends. My grandparents were the ones to teach me that life shouldn't at all be lived in the manner that I was exposed. They reshaped my idea of man and woman in society and taught me that there are no rules. There should be only happiness, and that my role as female in society should not be oppressed by anyone; especially someone that is supposed to love me.

I think that Women's Studies is especially important for everyone to learn about and become active in because there are so many different types of oppression that need to be addressed in terms of Women. After living through six years of hell at the hands of a violent man, I am aware of the necessity of awareness throughout the public.

This semester I would like to open my mind to new perspectives and seriously consider the Feminist movement. I would like to look further into Women's related organizations and perhaps work with a more active community partner. I would like to take everything that I can and more from this course.

I have fully have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus and the blogging protocols.