Author: pham.402

Text Review Assignment: Joey Del Marco of the Netflix Original Show “Grand Army”

by

In the television show, Grand Army, various issues are addressed that create a realistic appeal to audiences. The plot of the show revolves around high school students that encounter identity crises’ which play a role in their social development as they transition into adulthood. It realistically depicts the lives of teenagers without romanticization of the plot or the happy, unrealistic endings. These characters are forced to deal with adult issues at an age that is meant to be enjoyable. By watching the characters in Grand Army who experience such issues firsthand, the audience is able to understand and empathize with such characters they feel they may know personally. One character in particular, Joey, is someone who voices her opinions, fights against the objectification of women, and explores sexuality without caring how it’s perceived. Through her, we witness realistic conversations that arise during adolescence which aren’t commonly portrayed in television. Overall, it shows the value in bringing awareness to such topics which are commonly dismissed because of their heaviness. 

In the show, we follow Joey, a high school student advocating for feminist beliefs that heavily focus on the objectification of women. She is a character who unapologetically remains confident in her femininity, and is heavily supported by her three male best friends, George, Luke, and Tim, who are all considered the most popular students of their class. Most of her class supports her in these empowering endeavors, but in the third episode, we see an unforgivable betrayal when Joey and her friends get drunk. On that night, George and Luke rape her while Tim silently watches. When she finally speaks out concerning her rape, many of the same classmates who formerly supported her refused to believe that her own best friends could do such a thing. She is then accused of being perceived as a “slut” and a liar for being open about her sexuality and assumed to be the one who initiated the events that had led to the “alleged” rape. Throughout the rest of the season, Joey rapidly falls into a state of depression and uncertainty, showcasing the effects of sexual assault/rape as a high school student. In conversations with her therapist and lawyer, she came to the conclusion that her words didn’t hold as much value over the boys who were simply trying to protect themselves while she was looking for justice. In a session with her therapist Joey explains that, “They were acting like nothing happened. Or no, like it was just some f*cked up orgy. And the whole week I was questioning what I was remembering, which is.. Which I couldn’t. And I’m just so f*cking angry. They don’t get to do that to me. But now I’m the bad guy.” … “I’m already getting texts. I’m ‘f*cking them over.’ And even though they did what they did, and they did, I’m still f*cking them.” … “And it’s probably obvious, but you know what sucks more than anything?” … “They’re my friends. And I love them. Or I loved them. And part of me feels like I’m betraying them. And then I also don’t regret what I’m doing, so I’m just-” (Episode 5, 22:52).

In connection to Gayatri Spivak’s theoretical work, “Can the Subaltern Speak?”, the audience witnesses Joey and her experience ignored by many she once believed supported her. Regardless of the truth, others quickly assumed that it was Joey’s fault and that the boys had played along in a game that she started. While the boys are given the benefit of the doubt despite their being guilty, Joey is shamed for being the victim and for being honest about her rape. Throughout Grand Army, it is evident in the way that people easily assumed the events without truly listening to the victim. The show addresses the fact that these events do not affect survivors only once, but rather long term through their lack of trust, uneasiness around men, and the inability to fully process their traumatic experiences. For Joey, it does not end in high school, but will remain with her for the rest of her life.

George: You were all up on Tim’s d*ck, then five minutes later, you’re up on the both of us. I mean, that’s on you. Luke: Did you ever say no? (Episode 9, 17:32)

Joey: I was hysterically crying. I tried to push you guys off of me. I f*cking bled. (Episode 9, 17:32)

 

Yo, Is This The Blame Game?

by

A Written Podcast by Nico Rarick, Haley Bullock, Ytien Pham, and Andrea Maynard.

Nico: It is difficult to imagine if you have not experienced it yourself, but take a moment to visualize being a target simply due to your race which is a part of yourself that you cannot change. Asians no longer feel safe being alone taking their daily walks because there is a potential chance that someone decides to hurt them. Imagine the feeling of isolation, where you no longer feel connected to society because it has decided that you no longer belong. You know you are not at fault for the spread of the pandemic, but because of their ignorance they continue to cause harm among your community, making a trip to the grocery store as dangerous as walking on a tightrope between two high rise buildings. Despite the pandemic being out of the Asian community’s control, Asians now feel like they have to warn their loved ones before they step outside to partake in daily tasks. It has only been recently that the government has incited reform in order to be more inclusive to AAPI (Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders). These changes, although still ongoing, have been the first steps towards ensuring that they are protected during a time when there are people who truly believe that they are the cause for the pandemic. In America, xenophobia has remained a prevalent issue that has remained intertwined in its history. This “Blame Game” has caused many to disregard the blatant insults that have been targeted to Asians throughout this pandemic which wrongfully upholds the ideology that committing violence against Asians would also mean the eradication of COVID-19. Overall, by making reforms in response to these events, taking the time to read reliable information, and understanding the problems with these hate crimes, we can do our part in helping the Asian community.

Haley: The initial spread of the Coronavirus has incited numerous counts of Asian hate crimes in its time-frame. The blame being placed on Asians has caused awareness to rise on the rampant spread of xenophobia. Although they are not at fault, this false narrative has escalated on social media. With the internet being a place where one can hide behind a screen, it is much easier for others to harshly discriminate and disrepute Asians beyond what is being done in accordance to hate crimes. However, this is not the first time in which xenophobic remarks have been commonuse on the internet. Not long ago in June 2020, during the Black Lives Matter Movement, Claire Janover had posted a video on her TikTok page in which she had commented on the issues with the All Lives Matter movement. In response to this video, she was sent disheartening messages. In an Insider article, “Uproar over her video, Janover said in a follow-up TikTok, led to a deluge of death threats, harassment, and racist comments” (Harris, 2020). This shows that it was not unusual to witness xenophobia to be used in response to statements that others do not agree with. It is not just in response to the pandemic, it has become a joke and a bad one at that. Countless memes and tweets have been made in response to this pandemic in blaming Asians which shows the gravity of this situation. While in office, Donald Trump was consistent in  calling the pandemic “The Chinese Virus” across news press conferences and across his twitter account. This then resulted in hate and backlash towards Asian-Americans although the information that China had created this virus had been debunked and proven wrong several times. Members of the younger generation of the Asian community have also faced hate that could potentially have a long term impact that negatively affects how they view themselves and their country. Many latch onto the idea that Asians are at fault for the severity of this pandemic as a way to cope although their ignorance has easily been proven wrong. 

Former President Trump Uses Offensive Rhetoric to Refer to the Coronavirus

Ytien: In light of the pandemic, these attacks on Asian-Americans have been crippling to the Asian community. Asian youth and elders have been targeted as a result of the blame placed on the Asian community which have caused them to become fearful throughout the duration of COVID-19. The violence against Asian-Americans has been disguised as justification for the creation and spread of the pandemic. However in reality, the pandemic has only highlighted the xenophobia that has run rampant long before this pandemic. It is not uncommon to witness the marginalization and discrimination directed to specific races during this current political climate, that had been intensified as a result of Donald Trump’s term. From inappropriate and insulting language regarded to Asians throughout this pandemic, there have been debates on whether what is happening to Asians is really acts of hate or simply a result of someone’s “bad day”. We can witness this in the recent shooting in Atlanta, Georgia where Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Xiaojie Tan, Hyun Jung Grant, Delaina Yuan, Paul Andre Michels, and Daoyou Feng lost their lives due to the assailant’s “bad day”. As stated in an article by the New York Times, “A sheriff’s deputy will no longer serve as his agency’s spokesman for the investigation into the Atlanta-area spa shootings after he drew criticism for saying that the suspect in the attacks had ‘a really bad day’ before the shootings, and for anti-Asian Facebook posts that he made last year” (Bogel-Burroughs, 2021).  Former president, Donald Trump, was not the first to be explicitly racist, however his high position only offered others the chance to do the same without regard for the dangerous narrative that it caused. The racist remarks and name-calling, and the fact that the virus had originated from an Asian country, the degradation and hate against Asian-Americans have significantly increased within the past year. The media coverage on these incidents do not fully showcase the fear that has embedded itself in all Asians in America. As these hate crimes are commonly not reported due to language barrier, and in response it is incredibly important to make efforts to make emergency lines available in their fluent language, whichever it may be.  Now that President Biden is in office, he has taken steps to approach this topic and do what he can for the Asian community. In his statement he addressed, “The Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic by the geographic location of its origin.  Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI persons” (The White House, 2021). President Biden announced that “the subcommittee will lead policy sprints to develop actionable recommendations for advancing cultural competency, language access, and inclusion towards Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders as the United States ends and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic” (The White House, 2021). These crimes against Asian-Americans are correlated to the xenophobia that has lived discreetly in this country, and it is time for society to acknowledge that there is a community that needs help and support because they have been overlooked for a long time. It is also important to not overlook the value of reliable information during a time when a worldwide pandemic and its unfavorable effects have been placed on the shoulders of all Asians. This blame does not absolve the fact that we have to do what we can to keep ourselves and others safe by taking necessary precautions.

Andrea:  These violent hate crimes committed against the Asian community have been occurring over years, but as of late, the older generation of Asians have been targeted most severely. Recently, an 84 year old Thai man was murdered in San Francisco, a 64 year old Vietnamese woman robbed of her Lunar New Years’ money, and a 65 year old Filipino woman beaten in New York. These are only a few incidents out of the hundreds this year which have been reported and deemed as racially motivated. Recently watching an interview with Olivia Munn on MSNBC, she addresses the fearfulness that Asians have had throughout the pandemic and that oftentimes, Asians are expected to “be quiet and not be disruptive” in order to maintain the peace. Munn states that the Asian community is enduring a “mental health crisis” while also living in fear of being attacked due to the misconception that being Asian also meant being the source of the coronavirus (Munn, 2021). With the harmful rhetoric of “The Chinese Virus” and the “The Kung Flu”, it is sadly not surprising to see that this issue has maintained longevity in the duration of the pandemic. Asian-Americans are not being heard and they are crying out for people to understand that they are not the issue and are not the ones that have created nor spread this virus. We need to stand together as Americans and fight against these hate crimes, it is not enough to express discontent with these events but rather to incentivize others to understand the history of xenophobia, the harm it causes, and how to protect those in the Asian community as it is difficult to protect themselves as they are the targets.

Nico: In the past year, the violent attacks towards the Asian community have risen significantly and these incidents have all been racially motivated. Through the negative narrative being spread along social media and the ignorance reflected in the rhetoric used by former president, Donald Trump, it is simple to see the harm it has caused for the Asian community. The deep rooted effects left on the Asian population from social media enforced beliefs that have forced the elderly to be fearful and dehumanized and the youth to feel unprotected and misunderstood. The xenophobia that has existed prior to the pandemic has only been highlighted due to the origin of the coronavirus, but it also highlights the failure of others in trying to understand that the pandemic was a circumstance that the Asian community could not control. The United States has proclaimed equality and liberty for all, yet our society has not fulfilled these goals in regards to the Asian community. Many join with those who support these violent acts to avoid being targeted themselves, or stay silent on these issues to avoid confrontation or to excuse their lack of support shown towards Asians. To start change, society needs to fight for the Asian community and become vocal in these issues to spread awareness against Asian hate, and remain united in order to overcome the hate and degradation the Asian community has been enduring. Although reform is beginning to appear in government, there needs to be a societal understanding of the history of xenophobia and what we all can do to make sure that discrimination is not allowed to fester even further.

“Asians Are Not Viruses, Racism Is.”

 

Works Cited:

Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas, et al. “8 Dead in Atlanta Spa Shootings, With Fears of Anti-Asian Bias.” The New York Times, 26 March 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/17/us/shooting-atlanta-acworth#bad-day-captain-jay-baker-atlanta.

Harris, Margot. “A college student says she lost her internship after posting a satirical TikTok video criticizing ‘All Lives Matter’ statements.” Insider, 2 July 2020, https://www.insider.com/college-student-deloitte-internship-anti-all-lives-matter-tiktok-2020-7.

The White House. “FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Additional Actions to Respond to Anti-Asian Violence, Xenophobia and Bias.” The White House, The United States Government, 30 March 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/30/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-additional-actions-to-respond-to-anti-asian-violence-xenophobia-and-bias/.

MSNBC. “Olivia Munn: We ‘Are Living In A Country That Is Attacking Us Simply For Just Being Us’ | Deadline.” YouTube, YouTube, 17 Mar. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcllJFcgNI0. 

 

Week 13: The Representation of Black Women in STEM

by

An underlying theme in the film Black Panther, is the representation of Black women and their active involvement in the progression of their country and their desires to improve lives beyond their own. The release of this film was an overall representation of Black people that was unlike most media, but it also showcased and celebrated a Black woman, King T’Challa’s 16-year-old sister Shuri, who excelled at STEM and became a valuable piece in finding solutions to problems that many did not know how to handle/solve. 

Wakanda, the country in the film Black Panther, revealed a world in which the women were essential to its growth and survival. “. . . Black Panther helps us to envision a technologically and intellectually advanced African nation in Wakanda, one in which Black women play important roles. Princess Shuri, Ramonda, the mother of Shuri and T’Challa, and Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, are the very definition of ‘Black girl magic,’ a term coined by CaShawn Thompson in 2013 ‘to celebrate the beauty, power, and resilience of Black women.’ As with the case of imagined technologies, one can hope that these visions will also become reality for the futures of Black women” (Allen 20). Shuri in particular was a character who emulated the gain in creating a space in STEM for women, especially Black women, to feel safe in. In witnessing such representation in this film, it allows for more Black women to feel inspired and motivated to work in an environment that has proven to be difficult and hindering. “. . . we cannot expect women and underrepresented minorities to remain in work environments where they cannot grow and thrive. We also cannot expect girls to enter fields where they do not see positive role models. It is imperative that we stop the constant drip from the leaky STEM pipeline by working hard to retain women — and especially underrepresented women of color” (Jefferson 37). It is valuable going forward to showcase Black women in valued and respected roles as the immense history of antagonization of their race and gender has caused them to falter within the scope of their self-identity. This issue then affects their willingness to pursue a career that they cannot visualize themselves partaking in. 

Black Panther has particularly incentivized more Black women to feel represented and motivated to go on to working in STEM which proves the influential status of the entertainment industry. “The success of American black women is dependent on the information, direction, encouragement, education, influences, and what others can offer (Clewell & de Cohen, 2010; St. John, 2010)” (Grant-Horsey 8). By highlighting the value of Black women in the film through Shuri’s intellectual feats in technology and being vital to her country’s economic progression, her technological prowess became a tool to improve lives beyond her own rather than upgrade weapons to demonstrate power. Having the ability and intelligence to improve her country and well beyond it, Black Panther shows the positives in having more women of color in STEM.

 

Works Cited:

Allen, Marlene D. “If You Can See It, You Can Be It: Black Panther’s Black Woman Maji.” Journal of Pan African Studies, vol. 11, no. 9, 2018, p. 3. Gale Literature Resource Center, http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=3c20728d-a876-4da5-b07a-d63569a5b439%40sessionmgr4006.

Grant-Horsey, Wyn. “American Black Women in STEM Finding Their Voice: An Ethnographic Study.” 2020, p. 161. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/openview/63efa646e290289b86b136dbfb63d79e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=44156.

Jefferson, Erika. “Where Are the Black Women in STEM Leadership.” US Black Engineer and Information Technology, vol. 43, no. 3, 2019, p. 1. JSTOR Journals, http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=8867dd6f-25a9-4aa2-85f8-cc5914668c57%40sessionmgr4008.

Ytien Pham Diary of Systemic Injustices Showcase

by

It is only natural that the surprise of a worldwide pandemic would invoke a drastic shift throughout all parts of societies, especially throughout all governments. In the U.S, one noteworthy part of the government that has been struggling is the foster care system There has been a difficulty of handling issues and finances that has caused difficulties in the operation of finding homes for children and ensuring their safety. It is important to not overlook that these problems are being dealt with in the foster care system, and have been persistent well before the pandemic. It is the pandemic that has highlighted these issues that show that the problem isn’t coronavirus, but rather the setup and lack of cultivation of an environment that successfully prepares children for a future where they will be a high probability of having to rely on themselves. The foster system is composed of children who are placed under government care because they are not able to provide for themselves while their parents/families are unable to properly care for them, and they deserve that the government does right by them. Overall, in being placed in the system, they are not able to have a stable or predictable future in which they will remain safe and comfortable, and this means it is incredibly important to understand why there needs to be reform in this system and more value should be placed in these children.

Children in the foster care system are directly impacted by the shortcomings of the government and the system itself, which can/will follow them into adulthood and affect their abilities to maintain relationships with others. Their social skills and mental health are already put at heavy risk the longer they remain in the system, and as they grow older, they are less likely to be adopted and have the chance to return to their families that had previously been unfit to support them. As a result of not many children being taken in, there comes the issue of overpopulation in the system. With the delays in foster placements that occurred because of the pandemic, there is the issue of availability in space to house these children and the homes become stressed with the pressure they receive to foster. “States have shown it’s possible to conduct adoptions and foster care placements remotely and effectively but caseworkers say it has made their job considerably more challenging to serve the more than 400,000 children currently in the system” (Dodge). As children and child welfare workers struggle to find proper placements during the pandemic, the children approach the age out limit of 18 years old, which launches these vulnerable individuals into a world they were not prepared for. Without sufficient funding from the government, those in the system are unable to receive high level education and are unlikely to continue in academics when they age out. Those who age out are more likely to be incarcerated, more likely to become victims of sex trafficking, more likely to experience homelessness or poverty, and overall not given a chance of a successful life. “There’s nothing like a crisis to show how truly vulnerable this group of young people are as they transition to adulthood” (Dodge). From my perspective, we could offer a solution that addresses the shortage in certified foster parents and suggests that the system pushes the age out limit back several years to offer unprepared children support during such a stressful time in their lives. It is important to constantly look for solutions to improve the state of this system and there have been an emergence of potential solutions that have been in place as a result of understanding the issues that resume in the foster care system. “Some states, like California and Ohio, were quick to implement policies to prevent youth from aging out of the system for the duration of the pandemic — and allow those who have recently aged out to opt back in. But many other states have not, leaving youth to fend for themselves” (Dodge). Although the scarcity of foster families was a common concern prior to the pandemic, the economic impact has made fostering children more difficult. Considering that the intake of foster children puts families at risk because of the constant movement of residence that occurs for these children, along with the financial stress placed on foster parents who have been heavily impacted by the pandemic, it is understandable that the system has been in more trouble as of late. As long as there is a constant progression in this system, the pandemic could lead to societal understanding of the severity of the issue and proper support for these children who had no choice to be placed there.

In looking at this issue in its entirety, it is evident that the issues that were highlighted as a result of the pandemic had surfaced well before then. Amidst the high probability of failing after aging out of the foster system, it is difficult for them to envision a brighter future for themselves which leaves them figuratively backed into a corner with the increased likelihood of mental health issues. They are then incapable of maintaining relationships and encounter challenges of self-taught independence which only causes insecurities to emerge that do not benefit them in procuring a life that can guarantee them safety and comfort. In connection to the novel, The Leavers by Lisa Ko, we read about the impacts of the foster care system and the absence of the emotional support that Deming desired from his foster parents. He struggled with accepting his identity and was unable to maintain many relationships with his peers or his foster parents, which followed him into adulthood affecting the way he treated himself and how he viewed himself. Having such a disconnect between himself and how he wanted to be perceived by others became the root of his inability to form connections with those who saw themselves as his friend. He was unable to be a stable person for others because he grew up without stability with his self identity and social life. Although he was homed with a family that generally treated him well, he struggled with assimilating into a culture that affected his mental health which was not addressed. By not addressing this issue that he had, many issues appeared as he became an adult. This is not an unlikely situation that occurs among foster kids which only highlights that there should be priority on the mental health for foster children throughout their experience in the system and when they get out of it. We should hold the system accountable and make sure that they are informed and do what is best. Make sure that they are properly funded. Bringing this to the forefront of conversation is important because there will sadly be more children being placed in the system in the coming years. These children should have the opportunity to grow and see a better life for themselves going forward without the anxiety and fear of a future they do not know how to set forward into.

COVID-19 Strips Safety Net for Foster Youth ‘Aging Out’ During Pandemic

“Foster Care: Here’s a bit of good news!” – Gov. Mike DeWine

 

Sources:

Dodge, David. “Foster Care Was Always Tough. Covid-19 Made It Tougher.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Jan. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/01/08/parenting/foster-care-coronavirus.html. 

Sorrell, Cyndi. “51 Useful Aging Out of Foster Care Statistics: Social Race Media.” National Foster Youth Institute, 26 May 2017, nfyi.org/51-useful-aging-out-of-foster-care-statistics-social-race-media/.