Women’s Reproductive Rights as Immigrants

April 2019

Introduction

    In April of 2018, it was reported that women in United States immigration custody were having miscarriages and stillborn babies due to a lack of medical care. The idea that immigrants to America are welcomed is an idea that is not supported by proof. From the time that immigrants are detained at the border, they are treated like “animals.” This leads to various negative outcomes later in life, including mental health worries and lower graduation rates. Most importantly, mothers of nursing infants are often separated from their babies, leading to serious health consequences. This will go over the current state of immigration in regards to family separations and will focus specifically on how immigration affects breastfeeding mothers, followed by some suggested fixes to the system, policies, and laws to better help immigrants adapt to life in America as mothers and as growing humans.

    The issues of women’s reproductive health while in United States immigration custody has recently come to light after an increase was found in the number of miscarriages suffered by women in United States immigration custody. Over twenty-eight women may have experienced miscarriages over the last two fiscal years. United States senators urged the Trump administration to reevaluate and reconsider their policies on detaining and caring for pregnant women. A letter was sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CPB) in early April of 2019 signed by senators Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Catherine Cortez- Masto after a Honduran woman delivered a stillborn baby a couple of months ago when she went into early labor at a detention center for immigrants in Texas. Senators questioned ICE and CPB over these allegations but they did not respond to those requests (Silva, 2019). The lack of transparency from the administration as proven by the lack of response in regards to this issue shows that the administration does not care about the lives that are in their hands when those lives are immigrants, and even more so immigrant women. 

Family Separations Policy

    Immigrant children have been targets of ICE and CPB lately, which is apparent in the Family Separations Policy implemented by Mr. Trump’s administration. In 2017, a group of researchers found that separating families that are seeking refugee or asylum in the United States leads to various sources of future stress in their lives. The researchers used quantitative data to test the connection between family separation and refugees’ symptoms for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and psychological quality of life and they found a significant relationship. They went on to recommend against separating families due to this (Miller et al, 2017).  There is much research that has been done on parental separations that finds negative outcomes and sees researchers calling for an end to this policy. An American Psychological Association study done in 2018 looked at the impact that United States immigration policies have on immigrant Latino/a- specific families in the United States. They found poorer mental health outcomes, with traumas from before and during migration to the United States causing the most fears. Researchers reviewed the flaws in current immigration guidelines and laws and followed up with alternative policies and resources that may better help these families adapt to live in the United States, much like Miller et al (Torres et al, 2018). It seems that no matter where an immigrant comes from, being subjected to inhumane and cruel conditions as a part of the process of moving to the United States will negatively affect them both in the short- term and in the long- term. With all of the research and pressure to make conditions reasonable for these humans- most of whom are fleeing to the United States in search of safety, the Trump administration should have already put a stop to this policy.

    Even more alarming is the negative outcomes for breastfeeding mothers and nursing babies. While formula fed babies can have a bottle readily available at any given time, mothers who breastfeed have to pump and store their milk. Being separated from their babies can leave mother’s suffering from various negative health outcomes, including sepsis due to mastitis, an infection that is caused by blocked milk ducts. Furthermore, essentially starving babies or forcing a new and unfamiliar food source on them can lead to serious long- term consequences in many regards. 

    Studies have found that immigrants breastfeed their babies at a significantly higher rate than American- born mothers. One study, done on both immigrants and American- born mothers in low socio-economic statuses was done to examine the differences in breastfeeding rates. Researchers found that rates of breastfeeding for immigrant women declined the longer they had been in the United States (Rosenthal et al, 2018). This speaks to not only the culture of breastfeeding in the United States, but also the lack of education surrounding it.   

    A study done on mothers specifically with Mexican-origins and their infants, aged 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3-and-a-half years showed the same results. Results showed dramatic differences in breastfeeding depending on how long the mother had lived in the United States. Separating mothers from their babies at the United States- Mexican border can, will, and does lead to early cessation of breastfeeding. Part of assimilating into the United States is adapting to new parenting habits, which includes a decreased rate of breastfeeding. It is important for Mexican mothers to protect their heritage and continue the breastfeeding tradition. Further education and support for breastfeeding Mexican-immigrant women who live in the United States is necessary to ensure that they are giving their babies the strongest start in life.

    There are various reasons as to why women from poorer countries have higher rates of breastfeeding. First and foremost, it is completely free. The benefits of breastfeeding are even more important in poor and underdeveloped countries. Breastfeeding has been linked to a decreased likelihood of suffering from ear infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, and more in infants. In mothers, breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of iron-deficiency anemia, prevent postpartum hemorrhaging, and helps with postpartum weight loss. Long- term, breastfeeding reduces the risk of food allergies in infants, lowers the risk of obesity later in life, decreases the risk of diabetes, and more. For mothers, long- term health outcomes include a decreased risk for breast and ovarian cancers, lower blood pressure, a decreased risk of heart disease, and more (Paintal, 2011). Breastmilk is not just food for babies, it’s medicine and a preventative factor. Those who live in poor or underdeveloped countries are healthier and their babies are more likely to have positive future outcomes if they nurse their babies for months or years.

    Unfortunately, when immigrant mothers flee to America, saving money and space with no formula, they are often separated from their babies if and when they are arrested by ICE, CPB, or other United States government immigration officials. An examination of families who were separated at the border was done by researchers just last year on families of parents who have children under the age of 6, including some nursing mothers of infants. They found that separations have a negative impact on children’s well- being and trust (Roth et al, 2018). Even babies, those young enough that they cannot speak, were found to have negative outcomes, including increased stress and trauma. 

    A similar study was done in April of 2019 through the use of interviews to explore parental separations and coping strategies that immigrant adolescence use. Researchers urge policymakers and others to help these adolescents cope positively with their immigration situation by utilizing “social support and activity engagement” as they are adaptable for use as coping skills with any and all cultures (Mueller et al, 2019). 

Suggested Alternatives 

    It is clear that the current immigration policies of the Trump administration are traumatizing, ineffective, and are in violation of various laws (Roth et al, 2018). Many other countries have successful immigration systems that do not include separating families who are seeking a new and safer life. 

    The current Family Separation Policy implemented by top government administration officials in the United States contradicts international and national laws and treaties. The United States Federal Courts ruled prior immigration policies implemented by the Trump Administration to be in violation of the Fifth Amendment right to equal protection and due process and the First Amendment right to freedom of religious persecution. Furthermore, the religious factor in these immigration policies violate the United Nations Refugee Act of 1980 and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (Iglesias, 2019). 

    Implementing more ethically and morally humane laws and policies will improve outcomes for immigrants and natural-born United States citizens alike. Studies have been conducted to look at the effects of the strict United States immigration policies on immigrants long- term. One study, done on Mexican-American youth who were both born in Mexico and whose families are from Mexico, was used to examine what eco-developmental factors predict high school and college graduation rates. Participants were evaluated between grades 7 through 11 and then surveyed 13 years later as adults. This study determined that positive aspirations about post- secondary plans, positive relationships with parents, and the GPAs of friends were all factors which predicted higher high school and college graduation rates (Chapin, 2019). Acceptance into the community and strong relationships with parents are two major factors that the current United States Immigration Policy neglects. This study proves that reversing those policies and accepting Mexican immigrants leads to many positive outcomes, both long-term and short- term.

Discussion

    Mothers should not have to raise their children fearing what Marta Garza, an undocumented Mexican mother, describes as “alienation, marginalization, and the threat of deportation” when they are seeking safety, happiness, and acceptance into a new and foreign place (Farfán-Santos, 2019). Various alternatives to the current Family Separation policy have been suggested by lawmakers, politicians, doctors, researchers, and more. 

    United States senators sent a letter to ICE and CPB requesting further information on the treatment of pregnant women in US immigration custody, calling on those authorities to restore presumptive release for these women. 

    "In the absence of compelling evidence that the detention of a pregnant woman is necessary because she is a threat to herself or others, or is a threat to public safety or national security, the civil detention of an expectant mother for potential immigration offenses is never justified," the letter read, urging ICE and CPB to release pregnant women from custody (Silva, 2019). 

    Furthermore, researchers have urged similar actions in regards to the Family Separation Policy, stating, “The government should pursue practice and policy options that keep families together in the least restrictive setting while their asylum claim is evaluated (Stone, 1999). One place to start would be to reinstate the Family Case Management Program, an alternative to detention approach that provides an affordable way to keep together families of immigrants until a determination is made in immigration court.” Miller et al agrees that prioritizing the family unit in immigration courts is a top priority. Another idea proposed is the use of monitoring devices worn by families until their day in court. Although this seems like a hassle, it allows undocumented residents to continue living in their communities while going through the immigration process (Roth et al, 2018). This idea falls in line with Laurie A. Chapin, who suggests stronger community ties to increase positive outcomes of immigrant adolescence (Chapin, 2019). 

    When it comes to breastfeeding, it is important that mothers’ cultural and ethnic backgrounds are taken into consideration when teaching about breastfeeding (Rosenthal et al, 2018). That includes ensuring that there are no communication barriers, that medical professionals are not denying women help due to lack of legal immigration status, and that they are followed up with until they have chosen to wean from nursing. Researchers conclude that “encouraging and supporting Mexican-origin women to maintain their cultural tradition of breastfeeding” can help them become culturally assimilated into the United States while also maintaining their original cultural traditions. 

Conclusion

    In conclusion, the Family Separation Policy of the 45th President of the United States, Mr. Donald J. Trump, and his administration are not only inhumane and illegal, but they damage the current and future lives of mothers and their breastfeeding children. When women come to the United States in hopes for a better future for their children, they anticipate that breastfeeding will be able to be maintained in the United States. They are currently being separated from their infants, locked in cages like animals, and deported back to the unsafe and unhealthy conditions that they are so desperately trying to escape. Revamping the immigration system and teaching our fellow citizens and neighbors to become more culturally aware and accepting to those who are not from this country are the two main ways to prevent further abuses to immigrants in the United States. “Culturally sensitive interventions, advocacy, and dissemination of research and policy” are necessary to prevent these occurrences from happening again (Torres et al, 2018). Currently, providing lawyers to those who are still in custody is a start to ending the current broken immigration system. Reuniting children with their parents, ensuring that the families have shelter, food, safety, clothing, and support and accepting them the way that the other countries who have agreed to the United Nations Refugee Act of 1980 and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees have will promote legal immigration and decrease the trauma and fear that immigrant children and families are facing. 

 

Works Cited

Chapin, Laurie A. “Longitudinal Predictors for Mexican Americans' High School and College Graduation: Individual and Ecodevelopmental Factors.” Taylor & Francis, Journal of Latinos and Education, 31 Mar. 2019, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15348431.2019.1588733.

Farfán-Santos, Elizabeth. “Undocumented Motherhood: Gender, Maternal Identity, and the Politics of Health Care.” Taylor & Francis, Medical Anthropology Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness, 27 Mar. 2019, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01459740.2019.1587421.

Harley, Kim, et al. “The Effect of Time in the U.S. on the Duration of Breastfeeding in Women of Mexican Descent.” Maternal and Child Health Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3957412/.

Iglesias, Hannah H., "National Security and Discriminatory Refugee Admissions: How President Trump's Immigration Policies Undermine U.S. International Legal Obligations" (2019). Law School Student Scholarship. 979. https://scholarship.shu.edu/student_scholarship/979.

Miller, Alexander, et al. “Understanding the Mental Health Consequences of Family Separation for Refugees: Implications for Policy and Practice.” American Psychological Association, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 15 June 2017, www.psycnet.apa.org/buy/2017-26158-001.

Muller, Holly A., et al. “A Qualitative Exploration of Parental Separation and Coping: Attachment         Disruptions Among Newcomer Immigrant Adolescents.” SAGE Journals, Journal of Adolescent Research, 5 Apr. 2019, www.journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0743558419839227

Paintal, Kajali. “Integrating Breastfeeding in Public Health Programming – Scientific Facts,  Current Status and Future Directions.” Public Health and Nutrition in Developing Countries (Part I and II), 1st ed., Woodhead Publishing, 2011, www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9789380308753/chapters/10.1201/b18288-11.

Rosenthal, Ayelet, et al. “Effects of Immigration on Infant Feeding Practices in an Inner City, Low Socioeconomic Community.” Science Direct, Journal of the National Medical Association, 1 Sept. 2018, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0027968418301445.

Roth, Benjamin J., et al. Detached and Afraid: U.S. Immigration Policy and the ...Child Welfare, 25 Sept. 2018,  www.researchgate.net/publication/325805662_Detached_and_Afraid_US_Immigration_Policy_and_the_Practice_of_Forcibly_Separating_Parents_and_Young_Children_at_the_Border.

Silva, Danilella. “Senators Urge Trump Admin to Ease Policy on Detaining Pregnant Migrants.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 8 Apr. 2019, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-        news/senators-urge-trump-admin-ease-policy-detaining-pregnant-migrants-n991856.

Torres, Stephanie A, et al. “Immigration Policy, Practices, and Procedures: The Impact on the Mental Health of Mexican and Central American Youth and Families.” The American Psychologist, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29504782.

Conference Proposal (Theme: Queer Immigration)

 The Dangers of Being a Transgender* Woman Immigrant

February 2019

Transgender woman immigrations face a high rate of persecution in being deported back to their home country. There are various stories that prove transgender women in countries like El Salvador are beaten and raped upon their deportation back home. One of those women, Johanna Vasquez, admitted to returning to the United States within minutes of arriving back in El Salvador upon deportation (Ngo 2018). Stories like these are backed by recent research into the matter. 

In 2016, research on depression in Latina men and transgender women found that Latina men and transgender women have a higher rate of being ethnically or racially discriminated against in addition to being sexually discriminated against (Sun, et al. 2016). Similarly, in Washington, DC, undocumented Latina transgender women were “significantly more likely to experience employment discrimination, recent unstable housing, and fear of deportation” (Yamanis et al. 2018). In New York City, it was discovered that with social support, alternative kinship structures and resilience, trans* women improve their health (Hwang et al. 2018). Despite the statistics, with the right interventions, trans* women immigrants can enjoy their lives and thrive as who they are and where they come from.

Further research on the topic at hand is needed. There are limitations on every study listed. They were all small studies. Most of them were done in specific cities, which are not representative of the transgender woman immigrant population as a whole. These studies show that further interventions are needed to protect trans* women immigrants from the threats and risks that are posed to them. 

 

Works Cited

Hwang, Sej J., et al. “Alternative Kinship Structures, Resilience and Social Support among                         Immigrant Trans Latinas in the USA.” Taylor and Francis Online, Culture, Health & Sexuality, 16 Apr. 2018, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13691058.2018.1440323.

Ngo, Binh X. “Women and LGBTQ Deportees Face Compounded Dangers Upon Return.” Center for American Progress, Center for American Progress, 10 Aug. 2018, www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2018/08/10/454637/women-lgbtq-deportees-            face-compounded-dangers-upon-return/.

Sun, Christina J., et al. “Depressive Symptoms among Latino Sexual Minority Men and Latina         Transgender Women in a New Settlement State: The Role of Perceived Discrimination.” Depression         Research and Treatment, Hindawi, 17 Aug. 2016, www.hindawi.com/journals/drt/2016/4972854/abs/.

Yamanis, Thespina, et al. “Legal Immigration Status Is Associated with Depressive Symptoms         among Latina Transgender Women in Washington, DC.” MDPI, International Journal of             Environmental Research and Public Health, 12 June 2018, www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/6/1246. 

Human Rights Watch 

US Transgender Women Abused in Detention 

Statistics on transgender suicide and life expectancy for immigrants 

Furiosa and Gender Roles

October 2015

Mad Max: Fury Road is about a dystopian world controlled by the dire need for water. This leads to fights between the societies that live in and inhabit this world. In Mad Max, the main character, Furiosa, takes on the job of watching after three women as she tries to get back to the “green place” with a semi truck full of water. During this journey, she is faced with the task of letting two men join her. At the end of the film, Furiosa is cheered on by her society, as Max- her right hand man, disappears into the crowd. As Max looks up at Furiosa, the hero of the story is shown- Furiosa, in all her pain and altruistic glory. This scene shows that the female is the hero this time, rather than the male.

Furiosa is viewed atop the semi in this scene, the camera zooming out into an extreme long shot of the people around her cheering for her and for the journey she made it through to bring water to them. This extreme long shot keeps Furiosa (and Max) in view, her body exhausted and her face showing pain as the people cheer. Despite the fact that she clearly needs medical help, she decides to watch the people around her experience happiness after much pain. Her selflessness is clearly shown in this scene. As she stands, the semi being lifted up atop the mountain, she shows no emotion. She is a hero yet she does not bask in the glory of this. She does not gloat, but rather takes it with a grain of salt, as it was her job and she did it the right way. This shows that even as a female, she has pride in the journey that she just accomplished, despite the exquisite danger it presented. 

As she watches water fall onto her people and the cheers erupt from them, Max disappears into the crowd. A transactional reaction occurs as she realizes he is leaving. Their eyes connect; both of their faces empty of emotion, but with a silver lining. Max’s work with her is done. She has been and is the hero of the story. However, she couldn’t have done this without him. 

This scene where Furiosa is the hero brings about a feminist view of women in this dystopia. In a world where women are not equal to men, this scene shows that women can be the heroes of the story. Women can save the world and Furiosa did just that. In this world, Furiosa is the hero. She has lost an arm, is cut and bruised from fighting, but has brought water to her people. She has saved her people. Furiosa chose to fight this fight and bring back the water at the end of the film. In this world, one might say that a man would have rather done this task- they’re stronger and harsher. However, in this world, Furiosa was faced with this task- and she was strong and harsh.  Her injuries and her disability are both obvious, yet ignored because of the tasks that she completed on this journey. From caring for a pregnant woman while running from Immortan Joe to escaping the motorcycle gang, Furiosa used her intelligence and skill to get back the water to her people. 

    This scene proves that in a dystopia, though there is an ongoing war through the desert and that relationships are strenuous, those at home will always be prepared for your return. Furiosa’s gender is ignored throughout the film. The separation of sexes can come to ends when there is a necessity for the more important things in life; in this case, water and health were the things that ended the separation of genders. 

 

Works Cited

Mad Max: Fury Road. Dir. George Miller. Perf. Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy. Warner Home Video, 2015. Film.

Dystopia’s Intersection with Women’s Power Roles and Sexual Image

December 2015

The 100 is a show that premiered on The CW. It is about a world where society was previously faced with a nuclear war so all of the countries teamed up and sent everyone to live in space. Now, about 100 years later, the space station where the surviving humans reside is running low on resources. In turn they send 100 juvenile delinquents back down to Earth to be sure that it is safe and inhabitable. The 100 provides a frame of reference for what the world would be like approximately 100 years after a nuclear war, including government control and sacrifice. During a scene in the episode “Bodyguard of Lies”, the two main female characters, Clarke and Lexa, begin a romantic relationship. This scene incorporates both women’s gender roles and women’s sexuality through the use of leadership and relationships. Through the interactions of these two women, The 100 portrays women in a non- sexually dominated light. 

Throughout the season, Clarke and Lexa are seen as leaders of their respective societies. In this episode, Clarke and Lexa team up to save their people from Mount Weather, where they have been kidnapped by members of another society. The men in their societies do not have much of a say in the way that the two women go about saving their people, other than making sure that the two women are safe in whatever way that they choose. This suggests that the women are in the highest leadership positions, with the men there to protect them from harm. In the beginning of the episode, Lexa fears that one of Clarke’s people is a threat to her and she sends someone to assassinate her. She changes her mind after some discussion with Clarke. She then lets the assassinator know that he should not kill the person. This is an example of Lexa having power as she tells the man to stand down and not kill someone who may have been a threat to her. After this, the women go to Lexa’s tent to discuss this situation. As the women talk in Lexa’s tent, the men spot something in the distance, causing them to sound the horn to begin the march to Mount Weather to war. As they march to war, Clarke tells a member of her society to move back into the mass of people to be safe. This proves, yet again, that she is a leader, as she is looking out for the safety and well being of a member of her society. Throughout this episode, both Clarke and Lexa make important decisions in regards to their societies, making themselves top leaders. 

The countless instances of women in leadership roles in this episode proves that women are not just pawns for men. In “Alternative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism” by Jenny Wolmark, Wolmark’s discussion of feminism and science fiction discusses various works where women are the main characters. This is apparent in The 100. Wolmark says, “It is important for a feminist cultural practice to recognize that popular narratives do not simply reproduce the dominant ideology but are involved in a constant renegotiation of those values in the dominant culture which sustain the dominant ideology.” (Wolmark, 1988). The leadership roles of Clarke and Lexa reject the dominant culture of science fiction as they are women who, in some ways, dominate the men in their societies. They take the masculine dominance that is apparent in the world today and in science fiction and dystopian works and reverse the roles into roles of feminine dominance. Wolmark goes on to say that “the alternative futures of feminist science fiction provide fictional landscapes in which the reconstruction of gender can take place…” which is precisely what the creators of The 100 are doing with Clarke and Lexa. By putting them in top leadership roles, they are putting them in roles that are normally male dominates roles. This is reconstructing gender in the societies in The 100, as women are and will continue to take on male roles in the show. 

As Wolmark made evident, the shaping of characters in regards to their gender can drastically impact the way that a work of science fiction is looked at. In this episode, the men in the society are used as protectors of the women, thus putting them on a lower level of social status than the women. This in turn makes the women more important. The men are mainly used as bodyguards to the women, seeking out and killing people who could harm the lives of the women- in this case, Clarke and Lexa. For example, one of the men tries to murder someone that Lexa saw as a possible threat, protecting her. When Clarke realizes that and proves that the person is not a threat, Lexa tells the man to stop trying to find and harm that person. This makes the men vulnerable to the women’s wants and needs, rather than the other way around. When both of the women decide that neither of them are being harmed, the men do what the women say. This situation, with Clarke and Lexa as women in social- status positions above men, proves their power and leadership roles in their varying societies in The 100.

The specific scene where Clarke and Lexa share a kiss introduces a new insight into women’s image in science fiction. "Sex in Utopia: Eutopian and Dystopian Sexual Relations" by Lyman Tower Sargent and Lucy Sargisson explores the feminist dystopian novel in the context of how sex is portrayed in utopian and dystopian works. Women in dystopia are used as sexual objects for reproductive purposes a majority of the time (Sargent & Sargisson, 303). In the scene where Clarke and Lexa share this kiss, it is apparent that both are female and cannot reproduce, in turn proving that this sexual relationship is based upon their own wants and desires, rather than the wants and desires of the men in their societies. In this particular scene, the women are in Lexa’s tent alone. The close- up shot of this kiss suggests the kiss is important both in terms of their relationships and in terms of their roles as women in this society. Both women begin the kiss instinctively and then relax into it. This shows that their fears about pursuing their relationship end once they accept that their feelings towards each other are more important. Sargent and Sargisson relay the message that “the treatment of sexual relations in utopia has changed very dramatically, from an aspect of a hierarchical, patriarchal society in which sexual relations reproduced the power structure (in dystopias, they still do) to a gender-equal assertion of the right to act freely that challenged (and still challenges) the power structure”.

It is clear by now that Clarke and Lexa are both in leadership positions and are romantically involved. In her study, “Genetic Transgressions: Gender, genre and hybridity in american science fiction television”, Lacy Hodges shows the incorporation of masculine and feminine qualities into the characters in recent and current science fiction television shows. She says, “SF action provides for a greater possibility of transgressive depiction of gender… some recent television series are more open to depictions of non-normative male and female characters” (Hodges, 100). In The 100, Clarke and Lexa have both feminine and masculine qualities, whether it is clear and apparent or not. 

In “Bodyguard of Lies”, especially, Clarke and Lexa’s gender identities are explicitly shown in relation to their power positions and budding romance. In various scenes, they are seen together, with medium long shots showing them looking directly at each other as they talk or walk in synchronization with each other. In every scene that they are in, they are both standing tall with their backs straight, a mark of their power. Even in the kissing scene, where they are alone and no men are in sight, they look at each other directly in the eyes. This shows that neither of them feel less powerful than the other. However, they are dressed in women’s clothing. Lexa wears heavy makeup and her hair pulled back into various braids while Clarke’s curls sometimes fall over her eyes and her cleavage is oftentimes shown as she wears looser scoop- neck tops. The costuming is not used to separate the women from the men in any way, but rather to dress them for whatever appropriate event they may be dealing with- in this episode, the impending war. The camera angles emphasize their equal heights in long shots and never sexualize either of the women’s bodies when they shallow focus on them. 

Many of the women in The 100 have been shown engaging in some sort of sexual activity. In their essay “Feminist implications of anti- leisure in dystopian fiction”, Margaret Daniels and Heather Bowen discuss the term “anti- leisure”, where those in a dystopian society have a distorted view of leisure activities. Daniels and Bowen say, “For dystopian women, healthy sexual relationships are not an option” (Daniels & Bowen, 434). In season one of The 100, another lead female named Raven instigates a sex act with her lover, Lincoln (“Unity Day”). In the same episode that Clarke and Lexa kiss, another lead female named Raven instigates a sex act with a friend and colleague, Wick (“Survival of the Fittest”). All of these are consensual and healthy, proving wrong what Daniels and Bowen stated. 

Wolmark’s discussion of feminism in addition to that of Sargent & Sargisson’s research on women as sex objects in dystopian and Hodge’s argument on masculine and feminine qualities in science fiction characters opens up a positive view of women in dystopia (that meaning all women, whether or not they are in leadership positions) who engage in sexual activities, despite what Daniels and Bowen say. The 100 inverts gender roles through the use of women in leadership roles, giving these women the power to explore their sexualities without doing so for the men or fearing the men’s opinions of them. With a continuance in shows and movies like The 100, women in society will begin to do the same.

Works Cited

Daniels, M. J., & Bowen, H. E. (2003). Feminist implications of anti-leisure in dystopian fiction. Journal    of Leisure Research,35(4), 423-440. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.indiana.edu/login?        url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/201121741?accountid=11620

Hodges, L. (2015). Generic transgressions: Gender, genre, and hybridity in american science fiction television (Order No. AAI3647902). Available from PsycINFO. (1735929513; 2015-99210-030). Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.indiana.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1735929513?accountid=11620

Lyman Tower Sargent. and Lucy Sargisson. "Sex in Utopia: Eutopian and Dystopian Sexual Relations." Utopian Studies 25.2 (2014): 3015-317.Project MUSE. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. http://muse.jhu.edu/.

“Survival of the Fittest.” The 100. CBS. 28 Jan. 2015. Television.

“Unity Day.” The 100. CBS. 14 May. 2014. Television.

Wolmark, Jenny. “Alternative Futures? Science Fiction and Feminism.” Cultural Studies (1988). 48-56. Print

Watch This

Emily Doe is Chanel Miller

Chanel Miller was raped by Brock Turner around the same time that I was sexually assaulted by a college student on Winter Break and just 9 months before I would be raped by a fraternity pledge. I told my story about the latter event shortly after it happened and you can find it simply by googling my name, "Hailey Rial" and clicking on any of the various links to it. Chanel Miller gave an inspiring and harrowing interview with 60 Minutes four years after the trial. Click above, listen, and discover why. Let's figure out how to end this epidemic of sexual assault and rape- especially in schools and universities.

In the wake of the sentencing, there was a national uproar. And after a contentious special election, Judge Aaron Persky became the first judge to be recalled from California's bench in more than 80 years. The case also led to significant changes in California law, setting mandatory prison sentences for anyone convicted of assaulting a person who is unconscious or intoxicated and expanding the definition of rape to include nonconsensual sexual penetration.   

 

Feminist Friday

Feminist Friday
Since this coming Tuesday is Election Day in the United States of America, this post will be about VOTING! This is a feminist issue, of course- especially this year.

As we all know, this election cycle has been a rather tense one. Midterms don't normally see as big of a turnout as presidential elections but due to the current state of US politics, it's been even bigger- and it's not even election day yet.

As a mom, it is my duty to vote to teach my children to use their civic duties to vote when they turn 18 and are able to do so. However, while they are young, I vote to spark a change in the world that they are growing up in. As a survivor of sexual assault, that is more important this year more than ever for a few reasons.

First, we have Betsy DeVos, the Director of Education, attempting to roll back and rewrite Title IX guidelines. We had accused rapist Brett Kavanaugh awarded a spot on the Supreme Court. Most notably, our current president admitted to sexual assault on tape. Despite this, I'm going to vote early, tomorrow on November 3 and my fiancé and I will be taking my children our children along so that they're exposed to the importance of voting from a young age.

If you don't know what will be on your ballot, click here and do a quick search to make your decision! If you don't know where to cast your ballot, click here and then determine whether you will vote early or on Election Day. Remember... it's your civic duty, so go vote!

Picture of Modern Feminism

This is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and she is the author of "We Should all Be Feminists". You may have heard that phrase recently as it's a phrase that current feminists have used as a slogan. Adichie gave a Ted Talk, part of which is featured in Beyoncé's "Flawless". She has written many books and done even more interviews and is one of the faces of feminism in 2018.

When preparing for motherhood, I opened my copy of her book "Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions" and drew the pages up in pen marks and highlights. I wanted to know how to be a better feminist while also being the best mom that I could be. The book helped me learn how to break typical gender stereotypes, teach my children about sexual education and sexual assault, and so much more.

If you want to know what a feminist mommy is, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is that. Even better is the fact that she is a black woman from Nigeria who went to Drexel and has won countless awards for her work. You can find her TedTalks here and her website, with further information about her and her work here.