Episode 5: Miss Elle on Blocking the Vote!

Think you have the right to vote? Think again! There’s been a lot of talk about voters suppression bills on Tumblr, so I’m here to help you through them. Know your states’ laws & get yourself registered!

Sources: 1, 2, 3

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On POC, Collective Memory & the Media

I’m not sure if anyone following me here follows Dionthesocialist, but last night he witnessed the aftermath of a boy being shot two doors down from his home. I haven’t really been following it on account of my own emotional/mental safety, but anyone who would like details is welcome to read his blog (TW for murder.)

There has already been news stories about the incident and of course, they are less than true. I really think any of person of color is well acquainted with the way media has been able to spin the truths of our deaths in ways that have been unfair and dehumanizing. Trayvon Martin is a recent example, but not even the epitome in which the ways the American media is capable of spinning on our deaths on us. 

But to be honest, I think this is the first time everyone is getting and up & personal taste of how it really works. The contrast is really amazing, I think. It’s cognitive dissonance at its finest—here’s what you know & here’s what they tell you. This is what you believe & this is what they want you to believe. Our first instincts as American citizens and as people well acquainted with American media is to take everything at face value. We know of bias, but we generally believe that the media cannot tell lies. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a person of color’s relationship with media & especially the news. There’s a lack of trust there, along with a lack of representation, a frustration with said representation if it happens, and a general sense of anxiety and fear. You want to be represented but you’re afraid in which you will be or if you will be at all. I can’t speak for the entire community and honestly don’t want to; I can only speak of my experiences and know that for the first time in a long time, I was really fighting a lot of my ingrained instincts as I watched this story unfold. From the incident to the aftermath to the headlines the next morning, I had to keep checking in with myself. This is what happened. This is what happened. They are lying.

Is this how a community feels after a tragedy? It must be hard to grapple with what you all collective know and what the media will tell about your neighborhood. I don’t know, I feel very strange. I’d like to keep following this, but I’m not sure if I really can.

Wage gap also exists for trans* individuals.

socialistexan:

[Note: article also includes information on pay gap affecting cos gay people as well]

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the pay disparity between cis men and women (and the even larger gap for PoC), however this discussion usually excludes how the pay gap affects trans* individuals.

The numbers are actually pretty shocking:

Transgender individuals also face significant wage disparities on the job. This is especially true for transgender women. One study found that the earnings of female transgender workers fell by nearly one-third [33%] following their gender transitions. Interestingly, that same study found that the earnings of male transgender workers slightly increased following their transition. As such, transgender men may actually experience a wage advantage rather than a wage penalty. This research strongly indicates that in addition to facing significant workplace discrimination in hiring and firing based on their gender identity, transgender women experience significant gaps in pay largely attributable to their gender.

This is actually comparable to cis men and women as well, as cis women make nearly 25% less than their cis male counterparts. However, trans women earn even less, and trans men do not make as much as their cis brethren. It also probably goes without saying (as the study ignored race data), that trans PoC most likely make even less than white trans people.

This is a very good point, and something that should be focused on when we discuss wage gaps in the future.

(via maarnayeri)

Source: socialistexan

Miss Elle (Episode 3): On Hiking the Interest

On July 1st, you and your loans are going to have to work something out. Here’s why!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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mtvpowerof12: The College Board put 857 school desks at the National Mall in Washington, DC. That’s not a random number — 857 is the number of students dropping out every single hour of every single school day. Among the many issues slated for discussion in the 2012 Presidential Election (and beyond!) is education reform and the drop out rate. While it is important to note that the rate is high, it’s also crucial to remember that the majority of those who drop out in the US are minority students. (2, 3, 4) Successful education reform will be sure to follow if the upcoming administration takes into account the factors that cause large amounts of black and Latino students to drop out (poor support from teachers and administration, lack of sex education and resources for young parents, an often racist and hostile school environment.)
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mtvpowerof12:

The College Board put 857 school desks at the National Mall in Washington, DC. That’s not a random number — 857 is the number of students dropping out every single hour of every single school day.

Among the many issues slated for discussion in the 2012 Presidential Election (and beyond!) is education reform and the drop out rate. While it is important to note that the rate is high, it’s also crucial to remember that the majority of those who drop out in the US are minority students. (2, 3, 4) Successful education reform will be sure to follow if the upcoming administration takes into account the factors that cause large amounts of black and Latino students to drop out (poor support from teachers and administration, lack of sex education and resources for young parents, an often racist and hostile school environment.)

Miss Elle (Episode 2): On the Napolitano Memo

Last Friday the Obama administration made some pretty interesting changes to immigration policy—and I’ll work you through them!

Sources: 1, 2, 3

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Miss Elle (Episode 1): On HB 5711 & Your Vagina

Haven’t heard about HB 5711 yet? Here’s your crash course.

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Check out the previous video: On Amber Heard and Coming Out

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