Simona’s comments

I. Reflections on the simulation:

• All the problems explored by the groups originate from structural inequalities. As a result ONLY interventions designed to bring about systemic change are likely to go beyond the symptoms of the problem to address its root causes.

Green’s example about the ways in which people deal with homelessness

My example about violence against women – shelters as important but only addressing symptoms; the same applies to prisons

• Will problems such as the ones explored in our class exercise be non-existent in a true democracy?

II. Comments about Equality

1. Most of the texts explored in the program so far --Freire, hooks, Feagin and Marx’s can all be viewed as texts which outline both theories and struggle of equality.
2. Despite their different domains of inquiry and emphases, all these texts have in common the following points:

• They focus on the transformation of structures of inequality NOT ONLY the Transformation of unequal relationships

As hooks points out: “feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression” not “only about women seeking to be equal to men” (p.1)

·All texts are inspired by a vision of a society rooted in equality, democracy and justice, which is fundamentally different from the society we live in

3.Conceptualizing change in relation to POWER. All texts involve a critique of existing power structures and relationships

4.The tension between the equality IDEAL and the REALITY of inequality?

As Feagin point out “from the early 1600s to the present day, the subordination of black Americans contradicted the political ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. . . These grandly stated ideals were certainly radical in their day, and the documents of the American Revolution wre banned in many European countries.As white men with property, however, the founders had in mind their own freedom and equality.However, once the genie of freedom was let out of bottle, many other groups of Americans have pressed for their inclusion under these great ideals” (pp. 245-6)

5.What are some of the mechanisms designed to insure equality or to mediate

--Difference between governmental and non-governmental initiatives

--Difference between solutions/mechanism vested in maintaining the status-quo and those designed for social and political change 

5.The relationship between equality, democracy and justice

Is equality a pre-condition to democracy or a result of democracy?

 

	Freire	Hooks	Feagin	Marx
Structure	Domination	Sexism	Racism	Capitalism
Relationship	Oppressor-Oppressed	Men-women	White-People of Color	Ruling class-Working class
Theory	Education for Liberation	Feminism	Anti-Racism	Marxism
Strategies of change	Critical pedagogy	Consciousness raising, identity politics, grassroots organizing	Consciousness raising, identity politics, grassroots organizing	Education, creation of unions

Resources:

Governmental initiatives:

http://www.cre.gov.uk/

Britain’s Commission for Racial Equality: a publicly funded, non-governmental body set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.It works in both the public and private sectors to encourage fair treatment and to promote equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their race, color, nationality, or national or ethnic origin.The commission provides information and advice to people who think they have suffered racial discrimination or harassment and works with public bodies, businesses, and organizations from all sectors to promote policies and practices that will help to ensure equal treatment for all.The commission also runs campaigns to raise awareness of race issues, encourages organizations and individuals to play their part in creating a just society and makes sure that all new laws take full account of the Race Relations Act and the protection it gives against discrimination. 

http://www.equality.ie/

Ireland’s Equality Authority is an independent body set up under the Employment Equality Act 1998. It was established on 18th October 1999.The Equality Authority replaced the Employment Equality Agency, and has a greatly expanded role and functions. The Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the Equal Status Act,2000 outlaw discrimination in employment, vocational training, advertising, collective agreements, the provision of goods and services and other opportunities to which the public generally have access on nine distinct grounds. These are: gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief and membership of the Traveller Community.
 

http://www.equalityni.org/ ThThe Equality Commission of Northern Ireland is an independent public body established under  the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Commission's general duties include: working towards the  elimination of discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and encouraging good practice,  promoting affirmative / positive action, promoting good relations between people of different racial groups overseeing the implementation and effectiveness of the statutory duty on public authorities and keeping  the relevant legislation under review On 1 October 1999 the commission took over the functions previously exercised by the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Fair Employment Commission and the Northern Ireland Disability Council.

Non-governmental/grassroots initiatives:

http://www.equalitynow.org/

 

EQUALITY NOW is an international human rights organization (based in New York City) and dedicated to action for the civil, political, economic and social rights of girls and women. Taking advantage of both traditional and "high-tech" action techniques such as letter-writing and fax campaigns, video witnessing, media events and public information activities, EQUALITY NOW mobilizes action on behalf of individual women whose rights are being violated and promotes women's rights at local, national and international levels. Some of the many human rights issues of urgent concern to EQUALITY NOW include: rape, reproductive rights, domestic violence, trafficking of women, gender discrimination, political representation, female infanticide, sexual harassment, genital mutilation, and pornography http://equal-rights.lesbigay.com/ The Equality Project was created on March 15, 1997. The ideas behind The Equality Project are rather simple. The members of this project wish to encourage the web public to show their support for equal rights for all humans as well as to encourage the general public to educate themselves about different sexualities, genders, religions, races, cultures, physical/mental abilities, etc. The site includes links to numerous current cases of inequality around the world as well as to various organizations dedicated to eradicating inequalities.The site also includes a learning center with articles, poems, letters and action alerts related to equality and inequality.
http://www.projectequality.org/ vProject Equality is a national program with over 35 years of experience in working to change employment practices by utilizing the purchasing power of its members to encourage and motivate suppliers of goods and services to take affirmative employment actions.Project Equality is the premier organization uniting individuals, religious, non-profit and corporate partners to lead the transformation of the work force to true inclusiveness. We help member organizations and employers to demonstrate their commitment to people of color, women, persons who are differently-abled, older adults and others who encounter discrimination, regardless of sexual orientation. http://www.gov.bc.ca/mcaws/default.htm onal program by religious, non-profit and for-profit organizations, to assist employers to achieve equal employment opportunities for