Weekly Activism Blog 2

Activism:
This week we had to submit our final draft to Emily V. We also had to have our weekly meeting and run through in the Women’s Studies office with Emily V. We got comments back from Emily V. about our final draft. She was concerned we were straying away from our goal of focusing on the body and having fun. There was quite a bit of confusion amongst the group because we believed we had changed our lesson plan to focus more on being active and having fun. We met on Friday for about an hour and a half. With Emily V.’s suggestions we changed some parts of the lesson plan. We took out our kickball game and replaced it with a series of races (wheel barrow race, three legged race, etc). We also added in a craft activity that would connect the race activities with thinking about the functionality of the body. It was a bit stressful because our project is taking place in two days. So there was definitely some frustration in room. We worked hard and completed the editing of the final draft and I believe we have a solid workshop now. Hopefully it will run smoothly and the girls will enjoy themselves.

Reflection:
This project has definitely allowed me to deepen my understanding of health more. While I believe I have always known, on some level, that health entails more than simply physical aspects. However, I think it is so easy for us to automatically think about health being physically based. These other factors like emotions and happiness play such a huge role. In our meeting today Grace mentioned how her personal definition of health barely considers physicality as a part of it. I thought this was incredibly interesting. It also shows that health looks differently for everyone. I think that is what Nomy was trying to portray in her article “Fishnets, Feather Boas, and Fat.” That we each have our own definition of health and what makes us happy and that is ok. Health doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Reciprocity:
I won’t lie, this project has been incredibly stressful. However, I have learned a lot. I have learned how vital everyone is to being a part of a team. There have been a lot of difficulties but I think this can only make us all more effective as individuals entering group projects from here on out. In our college careers many of us have had positive group experiences, but working together on the level we have had to for this project is not the norm. I think this is a benefit to us because we weren’t able to simply meet up once or twice, turn it in, and be done with it. We have been meeting almost every week since the beginning to mid semester. We have had our trials and difficulties but our first workshop was very successful and I think our workshop on Sunday will be as well. So overall, this project has helped me learn more about working in groups and being an effective member.

Lamm, Nomy. "Fishnets, Feather Boas, and Fat." Body Outlaws. Ophira Edut. 2nd ed. expanded and updated. Emeryville, CA: Seal Press, 2003. 219-224. Print.