Service Learning Log Week 1

This week, the things we had been working on previously have seemed to be coming together. We have been collectively amassing the knowledge we will need in order to launch this letter writing campaign. A couple weeks ago, I wrote the preliminary draft of the letter that we plan to send to everyone from student organizations to members of congress. Writing the letter presented a challenge, because it entailed condensing a lot of information into a relatively brief statement of our intentions. The group is currently researching and compiling a definitive list of the places we need to send the letter, while we wait for our professor and community partner, Nina, to proof my draft of the letter. We have met with our community partner more than once to work out the specifics of what we are doing.

Another thing we have done is create a Facebook group for our cause. The group has seen an overwhelmingly positive response, and we are approaching six hundred members, but it has also presented some unique challenges. Personally, working in a group is always somewhat of a challenge for me, and working collaboratively on this project has presented me with an opportunity to improve my skills with regard to working with others. As Seely recommends in "Fight Like A Girl," “involve others- delegate responsibility” (19). Also, there has been some negative response on the page, and it has been disheartening to see some of the ignorant and hateful things that some people have posted in the group. A lot of them seemed to originate from common myths and stereotypes about feminism. As Seely states, “the word has been distorted, diluted, misrepresented, stolen” (2). Though we have deleted the offensive comments, I think we were unprepared for that type of reaction, and we have had to discuss ways to minimize the effect that such responses have on our effort as a whole.

Though we have faced some glitches so far (some expected, some unexpected), I wholeheartedly believe in the importance and worth of what we are attempting to accomplish. Whether we succeed is important, but the lessons in activism that we are gaining are just as valuable.