Recently a new issue has come to light in the service sector. Suddenly social service organizations are faced with the task of determining policies pertaining to transgendered people. This is an often ignored issue in mainstream culture. We choose not to think about this very difficult and hard to understand issue. However, when providing social services, it cannot be ignored.
Shelters, including ours, determine services based on gender. However, for some people, gender is not a clearly defined entity. At my organization, we provide services only to women. However, if a person who appears ambiguously gendered comes to receive services, we ask them only once how they define their gender. If a person who appears rather man-like comes, but states that they live their life as a woman, we have no choice but to offer them services, for it is discrimination to deny them.
This is a hot-button issue facing us today. The social services sector is forced to adjust policies out of necessity, but I wish that the larger society could adjust attitudes, perceptions and policies to be progressive and accepting.
A huge issue facing us is the way that the other clients respond to our transgendered clients. Our women are not at all accepting, and we spend time each week addressing this issue with them. This is a unique Colorado challenge, because Trinidad, CO is the sex-change capital of the United States. I feel that this is more prevalent here than in other places.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
World Religions and tolerance
As a part of our community day this past friday. we visited the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya outside Fort Collins. This monument is a buddhist monument to human kindness. I learned alot about Buddhism and I think that it is not wholly incompatible with Christianity. A lot of my fellow community members did not appreciate the discussion. I was upset that they felt that by engaging in meditation at this retreat center, they were somehow being disloyal to God. My roommate Jeff's only comment was, "Where was God?" That is not the point! Buddhism is actually not a religion, but a way of viewing the world. There are actually alot of parallels between Buddhist attitudes and the Christian attitude of Grace. I am planning on researching this a bit more.
I feel like we could learn alot by just opening ourselves to new things. I always try to approach my world with the attitude, "know that you might be wrong". I just cannot understand people who think that they are right. Jeff was just so convinced that Christianity is the RIGHT WAY that he will not even entertain the idea that perhaps someone else might have a better idea. Sometimes I get accused of being a relativist, but really, I think that I am just enlightened.
I feel like we could learn alot by just opening ourselves to new things. I always try to approach my world with the attitude, "know that you might be wrong". I just cannot understand people who think that they are right. Jeff was just so convinced that Christianity is the RIGHT WAY that he will not even entertain the idea that perhaps someone else might have a better idea. Sometimes I get accused of being a relativist, but really, I think that I am just enlightened.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Away from the situation
I have spent the last few days away from work and from my community for Christmas, and I miss both. I always thought that it was hard to return home from College, this is way more difficult. This is the longest that I have been away from my community, and it is hard. In just the four months that we have lived together, we have bonded very closely, and now, I cannot imagine my life without them. I never dreamed that I would be so close to seven people.
I also miss work quite a bit. I have grown to love my coworkers and the clients that we work with. I know that they need me too, so I will be anxious to get back to work tomorrow.
Seperating myself from the situation, by about 1000 miles has given me some perspective. I really appreciate what I am doing, and I am so glad that I am not working at an ordinary job!
I also miss work quite a bit. I have grown to love my coworkers and the clients that we work with. I know that they need me too, so I will be anxious to get back to work tomorrow.
Seperating myself from the situation, by about 1000 miles has given me some perspective. I really appreciate what I am doing, and I am so glad that I am not working at an ordinary job!
Friday, December 02, 2005
The holidays where you find them...
Last night we decided to make our own Christmas by decorating our house. The extent of our holiday decorations is very slim. We have the pieces of approximately 2 1/2 fake trees in the basement, some battered gold garland and exactly six glass Christmas balls. We assembled the fake tree, and it is bedraggled and leans precariously to the left. It is hung with some lights we borrowed from a roommate, the glass ornaments (down one since I dropped it on the floor) and some construction paper snowflakes. We cannot hang popcorn since we do not want to increase our chances of having mice.
However, we played Christmas CD's and drank hot chocolate and had a great time. It is really not about the stuff. It is about the people. The holidays are really what you make of them.
However, we played Christmas CD's and drank hot chocolate and had a great time. It is really not about the stuff. It is about the people. The holidays are really what you make of them.
Our motivation
The other day, my roommates and I were discussing our motivations for serving this year as volunteers. The reasons are as varied as we are. However, I have not really examined why I am doing what I am doing. I just do it.
I decided to participate in this program last April. I wanted to do something for a year that would be beneficial to the common good, would offer career development, would offer me a chance to do some self- actualization and learning and would be better than some entry level job.
What I was not expecting is how massive the problems of poverty and homelessness are. My year of service is merely a drop in a great bucket. I was not expecting to see systems of poverty and injustice perpetuated by the government, families and the homeless themselves. I was not expecting to meet people who were not willing to help themselves or better their situations. I was not prepared for my response to these people, I was surprised by my own lack of empathy and feelings of sympathy for the people I work with. I try to be kind and giving, but I have always been a realist and I have become a cynic.
What motivates me to come to work every day is the fact that I feel that I am called to do this. I feel like I am doing at least something in line with God's will. I derive satisfaction from my j0b, knowing that I am working towards a better society. Not like if I was working at some bank somewhere or some office building, shuffling papers. Also, I am preparing for a career in this field, and every day is professional development.
I decided to participate in this program last April. I wanted to do something for a year that would be beneficial to the common good, would offer career development, would offer me a chance to do some self- actualization and learning and would be better than some entry level job.
What I was not expecting is how massive the problems of poverty and homelessness are. My year of service is merely a drop in a great bucket. I was not expecting to see systems of poverty and injustice perpetuated by the government, families and the homeless themselves. I was not expecting to meet people who were not willing to help themselves or better their situations. I was not prepared for my response to these people, I was surprised by my own lack of empathy and feelings of sympathy for the people I work with. I try to be kind and giving, but I have always been a realist and I have become a cynic.
What motivates me to come to work every day is the fact that I feel that I am called to do this. I feel like I am doing at least something in line with God's will. I derive satisfaction from my j0b, knowing that I am working towards a better society. Not like if I was working at some bank somewhere or some office building, shuffling papers. Also, I am preparing for a career in this field, and every day is professional development.
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