Shai Chang
Chalking
In preparation for an event on March 4, 2016, my team, Men for the Equality for Women, chalked the ground around the library. One of them showed a stick figure of a man next to a woman with an equal sign in between them. With this, we wrote statistics about the pay gap between men and women. For every dollar that men make, women would make 77 cents. That's a 23 cents difference. When we wrote it, we saw a lot of people coming around taking a look at what we wrote and what other teams wrote, too. We also chalked another one too. We wrote, "More Men should be for the Equality of Women." We wrote this one as close to the library entrance as possible. When we finished writing it, I was looking around and saw that people that were passing around was looking at our chalk art work. They were taking a picture of it. I felt that this was important because they took pictures of it because that means that they took it into consideration and the goals of our group was spreading. Some improvements that I would have like would have been to plan prior to chalking. When we got out there we didn't know what to chalk about. It would had been nice to have a plan before we went out there because we faced problems like not having enough chalk and not knowing what to write or draw about. It would had also been nice to have a plan and draw it out prior because we didn't know how to size it and what to do. When the results came out, it was not what I expected. It could have been much better. Also, our team didn't have anyone artistic so that made it a challenge, too. However as it was the first time that I chalked, I would call it a successful first time.
Shai Chang
Protest March
On March 4, 2016, there was an event. This event was called March Forth, On March Fourth. This is an event about protest marching. Many different people came out and tabled and marched with us. My group, Men for the Equality of Women, had a table in which we presented information about our goals and our purpose. We presented about the inequalities of women and how this fight is not just meant for women, but men should help and support women. In some ways when I was talking others, I noticed that when men came and talked with us they seemed a bit reluctant to step up and fight for the equality of women. They believed in it, but I felt that they didn't feel comfortable to do that. We mentioned that when a woman is being oppressed and you see them, you should stand up for them. To some they understood this, but also seemed to second guess themselves about standing up for women. I don't think it's because they don't believe in the goals, but I think it's because they don't want any confrontations. Some improvements when we table again or gather again to march would be that be prepared to persuade people. Talk to them and try to understand them and have them understand that not all situations will be lead to confrontational. Also as we march around, I noticed that some people were fighting over signs that our group made. I think that for improvements, we should make more signs and not be afraid to repeat the same signs again. When I made some protest signs, I wanted to be creative and come up with all different ones, but I should have realized that it was okay to make signs that were the same.
Shai Chang
Volunteer at the Gender Program and Services at the Cross Cultural and Gender Center
I volunteered at the Gender Programs and Services at the Cross Cultural and Gender Center at Fresno State. During this time, I helped them make gender pronoun buttons, in which they showed different pronouns that someone may associate themselves with. For instance, it can be he, him, his or she, her and they, them, theirs. There are also more gender neutral terms such as ze, zim, zer. These buttons were in preparation for a Gender 101 presentation, presented to staffs at California State University. In preparation for this presentation, I volunteered by tabling for them during the presentation. In the presentation, it showed about the different ways to address someone, but for the most part it is solo based on how the individual would want to identify themselves. They taught about the term transgender and how this term is used. Transgender is an umbrella term. It encompasses different people and how they would want to identify themselves. The most common way that this term is used is to identify someone who is born male/female, but feel that they are the opposite gender of what they were born with. Sometimes they go through a transition, sometimes they don't. However, this term encompasses both of them. When I was tabling during this time, I was passing out buttons and helping others understand the gender terms. I could have improved this experience by understanding the terms more. It wasn't until after when I asked questions and understood it more clearly. I think it would have been beneficial if I also over looked the presentation so that I may be able to give factual and informative information to the audience when they asked me questions, too. I felt that the audience gained a lot of information that they can take back with them to respect the different genders more and to learn and develop themselves more. I think it also helped bring light to this topic that is not mentioned many times.
Shai Chang
Movie: He Named Me Malala
We watched a documentary, "He Named Me Malala." In this documentary it showcased how Malala became who she is. I found it to be really interesting that she was one of the most influential people in the world, yet when I saw this documentary she did things any children would do, be silly, make jokes, and have fun. Watching this movie made me realized why many people like her. She is bright, strong, independent, faithful, and cares a lot. She is so young and yet so amazing. I think that she showed many of the world what a girl can do with education can do and that's what she is promoting. She is promoting that girls should be given education and that girls should get an education. She used her opportunity when she was shot in the face to show the world the power of education and the power a girl. I really like how we were able to relate the movie to our group, Men for the Equality of Women. As a male watching this movie, I felt more empowered to challenge others to push for more women to obtain education. I felt empowered to continue our group and bring a conversation and a dialog between groups. When watching this documentary, Malala's passion and drive made me feel the same. I think that this movie expressed one of our group goals. I think that if more men supported women and there strive for their passion and drive there would be greater understanding and peace.
Shai Chang
In Arizona, demonstrators block the road of a high way that would lead to a rally for the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, on March 19, 2016. During this time three people was arrested, one of them being Jacinta Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a leading immigrant advocate who locked herself to van's window to continue the blockade. She locked herself from her neck to the van. When she was arrested, she was sent to immigration custody. However, she is a U.S. citizen. U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement or ICE said, "Under current ICE procedures, all foreign-born individuals who are booked into the Maricopa County Jail are interviewed by ICE personnel to determine alienage and removability and whether they would be an enforcement priority for the agency." In response to this Sheriff Joe Arpaio from the office of Maricopa County mentions that it is a "systematic disregard for basic constitutional protections." This is a political opportunity by the group as Gonzalez used this opportunity to gain publicity about her cause and what she is doing it for. She was interviewed at Democracy Now.
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/22/meet_the_activist_sent_to_ice
In Arizona around Governor Doug Ducey's office, protestors gather outside to demanding that he veto House Bill 2451, one of the first bills in a series of anti-immigration laws. During this protest four protestors locked themselves together to block the entrance to Governor Ducey's office. However, five people were arrested during this protest. Maria Castro, one of the protestors, mentioned that she is willing to do anything for her community and that it is important for you voice to be heard, because in Arizona they don't care about your vote or democracy. She just wants to be heard. During this protest, Carlos Garcia, an executive director of Puente Arizona, was arrested even though he was not a part of the protest. He was doing interviews. If this group is able to use this moment and use it as a political opportunity, then they will be really be able to resource more people to support their cause.
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/31/headlines/arizona_protesters_block_gov_office_to_oppose_anti_immigrant_bill