Jadaeja Brown

Journal #19
Final Reflection
During my time as a member of the Gender Excellence Learning Community, I have
been enlightened on so many subjects. I have been informed about feminism, the LGBTQ
Community, equal rights for women, and the rights of abortions and birth control. Before coming
into the class, I had a very small amount of knowledge on any of these subjects. However, now I
feel like I have a valid argument with stable statistics against anyone that tries to object to
anything that we have discussed in class.
Feminism was the foundation of this class. One may ask, What is feminism? In August
of 2015, I would have answered unsurely with, I dont know, maybe women wanting to do
whatever they want. Now here we are in December, if someone was to ask me what feminism
was today I was answer with, Feminism is what you want it to be. It is a lifestyle, women all
over searching for equality, not just for the man and woman but for each other as well. You dont
have to be an activist to be a feminist because it is what you make it. Feminism has come a long
way from when it first started. I learned that not all feminist run down streets naked, demanding
pay raises, neither do they burn bras. Feminism is very much often misinterpreted and
feminists are stereotyped. Where do these stereotypes even come from? I feel like this course has
prepared me not only mentally but also academically.
During this course we read Manifesta, Full Frontal Feminism, and Feminism is for
Everybody. These books were a little challenging to read, only because my mind wasnt on this
level just yet. If I were to go back and read these books over, I feel like I would actually

understand them more. Each day after we were assigned a few pages to read, we would discuss
the topics in depth. By doing this, I heard other peoples comments on the subjects and it opened
up a new path of thought for me.
Learning new things is always great but especially when you enjoy what you are
learning. I never knew that I would enjoy this course, I only knew that by taking this class I
would be housing in Lynch (Im sure Im not the only one ). However, I ended up enjoying
coming to class because the topics were things that I was interested in.
We attended the Ian Harvie show, and we also went to the Queer History Receptions
earlier in the semester. This semester was my first time actually being exposed to what LGBTQ
meant and I was so interesting in learning more. At first, I was a little judgmental but taking this
course has really been and eye-opening opportunity. I would always avoid the subject, but
attending the Ian Harvie event was by far my favorite event. Ian talked about what no one wants
to. He was so easy going and the way he delivered his message made it so much easier to talk
about. I never really understood how transgenderism worked but now I have a full
understanding. I have a totally different outlook on everything after going to this event and
listening to the different speakers throughout the semester.
Abortion has always been an egg-shell subject in our household growing up, just like
homosexuality, we often tried to avoid talking about it. By taking this course, I often discussed
edgy subjects but thats what made this class so unique. Coming into my freshman year, my
views on abortion were pretty straight forward, I believed it was wrong. I had a mindset that no
one could change. I didnt agree with abortion at all, but I guess thats due to my religious
background. However, now I am pro-choice. I believe that women should have the right to do as

they please with their bodies. If we cant trust a woman to make an independent decision about
her body, how can we trust her to raise a child?
Reading Manifesta was very challenging. Most first-year students still have narrow
minds. I feel like if the reading had been switched to reading Manifesta last, I would have been
more prepared on writing the journals. There was plenty of times where I didnt fully understand
the content we were expected to read, therefore, the journals were thought-provoking. The other
two books were a little less intense, so it made it easier to have an input in the class discussions.
Jennifer and Amy are two very intelligent women and I feel like their level of writing is intense,
especially since they are talking about a subject they are so passionate about. In the beginning of
the semester, I think about half of us were confused on what feminism was in the first place, so
reading Manifesta to get introduced to it was difficult to swallow.
I can tell that by being involved in this group, I have a broader outlook on life. I honestly
do not recall being confronted about feminism until after I arrived at UNCC (Thank God!). I am
so relieved that I was taking this class because I was prepared to have a valid definition and
argument. I noted that I began to accept and stand up for gay individuals. There were a couple of
incidents where I had to give my opinion on the subject, and I feel like if I was involved with the
Gen X.
I am so grateful for taking this course because it has expanded my knowledge on subjects
that I would not usually discuss. I have made so many friends as well, and we also share the
same opinion on certain things. Without this course, I would know be as knowledgeable as I am
on abortion or feminism and I feel like this opportunity has definitely prepared me for the future
and has equipped me with resources and tools that I can use.