Reflection

I do not even know where to begin in relation to how this class and project has affected me. Before this class, I did not know about women’s issues nor were they important to me. This class, and helping Scrappy’s owner, has changed that. These past couple of months has changed me as a woman, and my knowledge of women’s issues, tremendously. Before, I have always wanted to be a volunteer and make a difference in the world by doing things such as planting trees, or helping clean up an environment. Not that these things are not important, but being a woman, helping Animal Safehouse has been way more rewarding than ever expected. This has been not only a learning experience, but a life-changing one as well.
Honestly, in the beginning of the semester when I signed up for a Woman Studies class I was not excited. Just like we went over in the first week, I had these stereotypes of feminists in my head and surely thought that I was not going to fit in. I thought that I was going to have to meet twice a week with man-hating, bitter girls whom I would have nothing in common with. I soon realized that I was wrong, and even more so after getting involved with Animal Safehouse.
I never thought that these issues would have such an impact on me. The things we learned about domestic violence, patriarchy, women’s health, and how the “personal is political” changed me. I remember getting defensive when I learned of how women are treated different than men in the work force, and thinking, “Whoa, what is happening.” But I am glad it happened.
What upset me the most was when we discussed women’s healthcare. After watching “The Business of Being Born” I was appalled. How the doctors schedule C-sections so they can go home for dinner, or how pregnant women are drugged up and caused more pain, then demand an epidural and other drugs which can be toxic, blew my mind. I could not believe that these things were so normal to us, if more women were more knowledgeable of this, I guarantee there would be more home births.
I was getting so into these women’s issues that for the first time in my life, I felt like a feminist, and even more so after fostering Scrappy. Seeing first hand a woman, who had three children, being forced by her abusive husband to seek shelter and safety really hit me hard. I remember driving back to my house after picking up Scrappy thinking how naïve I have been. I have been living my life day-by-day worrying about only myself, unaware of the bigger issues. I look at the world differently now, and I look at myself differently as well. This world is not perfect, and the issues concerning women are only growing. Through this class and service learning project, I am a changed woman. I go through every day with my eyes open, taking a different perspective on things. As much violence as there is in this world, there is even more people available to make a difference.
Now, I am not more educated than other women, but I am more aware. And I am better for it.

Service Learning Project Summary

For my service learning project, as you know, I chose to work with Animal Safehouse. What I planned to accomplish was to help spread the word of this new organization through word of mouth as well with being a foster. I chose this organization because I learned how many women do not get out of an abused relationship because they are worried about where their pets will stay, and it ends up being fatal. Women should not have to worry about their pets when they are trying to seek shelter, and Animal Safehouse is a great organization that is trying to make a difference.

            My biggest success was fostering Scrappy, a six month old Chiuaua. His owner was seeking shelter, and was absolutely not going to go in unless they found a foster for him. When I talked to Arielle she said that I was the thirteenth person she had called, and was so thankful I could help, and so was I. Knowing that doing this one little favor, something as simple and watching a puppy, made a huge difference in a woman’s life. My goal was to make a difference in at least one person’s life, and I know that I did. There were limitations to this project as well though. Since the shelter is based in Melbourne, there were times when Arielle needed a transporter, and I could not be there because of school or work. So for the most part, I accomplished my goal in helping someone in need, and spreading the word through my actions.

            The institutional framework I worked with was family and government. There was an act of domestic violence within Scrappy’s owner’s family, so she chose to seek shelter through a shelter. Animal Safehouse connects with families to resolve what can lead to a dangerous situation. Animal Safehouse also connects with families to get the word out about their organization to help as many people as possible.

            Before this class, I did not personally see or hear about domestic violence. Of course I knew it happened, but I did not know how big the issue really was. So many women are physically or emotionally abused in relationships and the issue goes unnoticed. I have never been involved in volunteer work like this, and it really hit hard. I was told that I was picking up Scrappy from another Animal Safehouse volunteer, but when I got there, I met the woman who was being abused. That moment changed me forever. I read about domestic violence in the text, but never was there a connection until that day. What I had read about in the text was real, and it does happen. In Scrappy’s owner’s situation, the issues in the text were definitely upheld. And in experiencing something so tragic like this first hand, broke my heart.

            I hope that my audience has learned that even if domestic violence has not happened to you or someone you know, it is still very real and the issue needs attention.