Court Cases

LATEST NORTH SMITHFIELD DISCRIMINATIONCASE RESOLVED

The ACLU of Rhode Island has settled a discrimination complaint against the Town of North Smithfield on behalf of Thomas Bourgeois, who was denied appointment as a school coach last year solely because of his gender.

The settlement, agreed to by the town school committee at a meeting last night, resolved an administrative complaint filed by the ACLU in December with the R.I. Commission on Human Rights. The complaint, filed by volunteer attorney Lynette Labinger, alleged that last February, Mr. Bourgeois was passed over for selection to serve as the North Smithfield Junior High girls’ softball coach solely so that a woman could be hired for the position instead.

After Bourgeois applied for the position, he was told he was the only candidate. In addition, his name appeared as the recommended candidate on the advance agenda for the School Committee meeting. On the night of the meeting, however, his name was struck out, and that of a woman written in his place. When the school superintendent, who is no longer employed by the district, was asked to explain his actions at a school committee meeting the next month, he stated that he believed that a woman should be appointed to the position, and that he had searched out a woman candidate, instead of recommending Bourgeois, for that reason. 

At the time Bourgeois was denied the appointment on the stated basis of his sex, North Smithfield employed other men as coaches and assistant coaches for girls’ sports. Bourgeois had ten years’ experience coaching softball in the town’s Little League program when he applied for the school position.

Last night, the school committee unanimously voted to appoint Bourgeois to the coach’s position. In settlement of the case, the ACLU agreed to waive its entitlement to attorneys’ fees. RI ACLU executive director Steven Brown said today: “I am pleased that this matter has been resolved, and that Mr. Bourgeois will be able to start coaching in a job for which he is eminently qualified.”

The settlement follows on the heels of the ACLU’s closure of its successful lawsuit last year against the Town when it attempted to hire as the municipal fire department the all-male, all-white private fire rescue service serving North Smithfield.

I decided to pick this case because it hit close to home. This case proves the men can be easily discriminated like women.  A man who was over qualified for the position, and the only one who applied for the job was denied strictly by gender. Most people would look for money in this kind of case, but Bourgeois was just looking for justice. Most coaches coach for money, and winning seasons, where as he was coaching for the love of the game, and wanted to turn around North Smithfield Softball. In compensation, Mr. Bourgeois was guaranteed the job the following season, where he served as head coach for the next 4 years. He then got offered, and received the job as head Varsity coach for North Smithfield where he accepted. He is still the coach there, and in 2011 he received Coach of the Year. 

Occupy Providence--WE ARE THE 99

The Occupy movement is sweeping the nation. A movement that started on wall-street has now over 350 different cities throughout the country supporting their cause. In the world there is almost 100 different occupies taking place in several other countries. More people need to be informed of the good things this group can do for our country. We are the 99% is a political slogan, and implicit economic claim that emerged from the Occupy Movement in 2011. It is a reference to the difference in wealth between the top 1% and all the remaining citizens of the United States.  Something needs to change, and this is where we need to start. The 99% needs to come together and be one. 

Being able to visit Occupy Providence was quite an experience. It was amazing to see the hundreds of people there, in tents willing to support this cause.  Many people have donated hours of their time, food, blankets and other materials to help this cause stay alive. The city has providence has given these people a hard time about this, but these people do not care. They want to stay there, and support there cause. I believe that these people have a lot of courage, and I respect them tremendously. Spending some time at Burnside Park I have learned that people can make a difference if they work together and put in effort to accomplish a common goal.

I found this picture online, and I believe that it can relate to many people in my age group.  It honestly terrifies me that I will not be able to find a good job when I graduate from college, and I will be so deep in student loans, that it will take me a long time to get out of debt. Although Rhode Island College is a fairly low cost school, compared to other schools, it still is a lot of money for students who work part time jobs, and is paying for college by themselves. After reading peoples stories on an tumblr i was more aware of the effect this movement has on people.  There is many things on the internet that people can read to help them gain knowledge of Occupy Providence.  The Occupy Providence Facebook Group gives daily updates of what is going on in the park, and ways the people in the state can donate to the cause. 


I can connect this movement to some of the articles we have read in class throughout the semester. I believe this movement has a direct connection to the movie we watched "People like us." The film looked at many social classes in the United States. Showed lifestyles where people did not have to worry about money, and then ranged all the way to people who are living below the poverty line. This movie sometimes could take offense to people who watch it because it classifies people into social groups, when sometimes they don't even belong to that group. This film interview a lot of people, and you got to see different prospectives of peoples lives.  In one case, they interviewed a single mom who works at burger king, and her own children were embarrassed of her. I was ashamed to watch and very touching, because you should never be ashamed of where you came from.  This film connects to the occupy movement because this is what is trying to be elimanted. If you are in the 99 it is almost impossible to leave this state and become the 1 percent.  It reenforces the hardships many americans face by being labeled to social classes. 


Another article that we read in class that i can connect to occupy providence, is the article written by Blanchard. In his article Blanchard argues that racism is not just an intentional act committed by 'mean spirited' people but also acts committed out of lack of knowledge. From what I saw at Occupy Providence, I believe that people of all racises came together and put aside their differences to achieve the one common goal. The 99 is made up of many different kinds of people, but in order to become most successful you have to put away those differences on gender,race,ect and unite as one country, or nothing will ever change. 


My last connection I can make to Occupy Providence is to an article written by Audre Lorde. In her article, Lordes point she is trying to get across is that women need to acknowledge that we are all different, and we need to acknowledge our individual strengths and weaknesses, and we need to somehow manage to make our weaknesses strengths so we can move forward in our goal for empowerment. I can connect this to Occupy, because you just have to replace "women" with "99%".  The millions of people who are considered to be in the 99 are very smart, talented,unique people, whom just seem to not be able to reach the 1% because of things that are placed by the US government. The 99 is such a larger group, that if everyone really does work together, and put all of their own skills, and talents the group can become utmost successful in this fight, that once originally started on wall-street but is now sweeping the nation. 


So how can I connect Occupy Providence to feminism?? Feminists seeks gender equality, and that people can live without having to worry what their race was, gender, and many other componests. I believe that Occupy Providence is an act of a Feminist movement. Although, it is men and women working together to achieve this one goal, and not just women, I believe it doesn't matter. Some feminists also fight for mens rights, because they are just looking at the overall goal, and that is to have complete equality.  In this case, it is people of lower social classes just trying to make it in the world. If you are part of the 99, most of us have to struggle with day to day bills, income, health care, where are the 1% it is the complete opposite. The people in the 99 are being taxed more then the people in the 1, where is should be the opposite. THe people in the 1% actually have money to spend, where as thousands of people in the 99 are living pay check to pay check.  Occupy Providence, and every other occupy movement is most defiantly considered to be a feminist movement. 


I really enjoyed spending my time at Occupy Providence. It gave me a whole new outlook on life, and it shows that if you truly believe in something, then you will do what you have to do to achieve that goal. People have been sleeping out in Burnside Park for about a month now. Through the heat, cold, rain, snow. No matter what mother nature put them through, they stayed out there because this is something they truly believe in. I have the most respect to anyone who is helping with this cause because they are really making a difference in this country. 

Racism and Women's Studies

Reflection

It was interesting to read this article this week. I found it to be vary bias in that saying that white women are still racist. I feel as though everyone in america is still racist and you cannot narrow it down to one single group. Some white women may be racist towards black women and some black women are equally racis.

I am interested to hear what the other people in my group thought about the reading, and interested in teaching my classmates about this reading.

RANDOM POST

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share this youtube video with you because its simply amazing. I went to middle school with this very talented singer, and her and her friend put together a cover of adels song "Someone like you. for the Perez Hilton Cover contest.  In less then a week, her video had over one million views and she ended up the winner of the contest. Yesterday she preformed on the Ellen show, and Ellen offered her to sign with her record lable. I feel like she is a very inspirational person because big things can happen to anyone! Please listen to her song. It will take your breath away! :) Hope you like it!

Compulsory Heterosexuality.

Reflection

It took me some time to read this article and fully understand what Rich is saying, but I am glad we were assigned to read it. It really opens your eyes and makes you question events/things that has happened that brings in topics such as being a lesbian. I used google a lot to help me find links and weblogs to help me analyze the text better. Most of the articles that I read said that "Compulsory Heterosexuality was a word coined by Rich in her essay.  Throughout the reading Rich suggested that heterosexuality keeps women from actualizing their full sexual and emotional capacities.

I chose to add this photo to my blog because i found a very good article on Ellen. It says that when she first started her show that she was just trying to find herself. Later when she finally "came out of the closet" and it became natational that Ellen was infact a lesbein, she was not refered to as "that lesbien, or that gay women." Things should never have come to this, and you should be able to express yourself how ever you want.

I am excited to go to class and to listen and share with everyone on our views of this topics and weather they agree or disagree with the words of Rich.

The F Word

sorry this is so late!! better late then never though! :)

Extended comments


For this blog I decided to do an extended comment on Yemi's blog. I thought it was very interesting and I agreed with the points that she brought up. I agree that the women who were giving out free condoms should not have been arrested. The women were only protecting each other. If you are going to have sex its important that you do it the right way and use protection. Its not fair that if a woman has a condom then she is assumed to be a slut, when really she is only looking to protect herself, where as if a man has condoms hes considered to be a pimp. Its funny how things work these days.

PEOPLE LIKE US

REFLECTION

I spent quite a lot of time exploring this site and I found it to be very interesting.  It was very interesting to play the games, and to see what class you belonged to. When I took the quiz to find out what social class I was in, it said that it was confused because I picked things that were from a variety of different social groups. I did not find this surprising. I buy things that I like, and I am fortunate enough to not be on a strict spending budget. Although I love to find some great bargains if it is an item that I really want, Ill find a way to make it happen.  I found this quiz that also helps you define what social class you are in. Although these quizzes may give you a hint as to where you belong, it can never really define you, it only puts you in a stereotypical category.  You are your own person.

Economic inequality is a feminist issue because it always seems that women get classified as being lower then men. In most jobs, if a male and a women have the same degree and the same qualifications, the women will get paid less then a man. Also more women are classified as living below the poverty level rather then men, because in poorer communities, there are usually not a male figure in a womens life with children. The women is working to support herself and her children on lower pay causing herself to fall below the poverty line.

Oral History Project

Reflection


For my oral history project I have decided to interview my grandmother. She is currently 60 years old and grew up in Pennsylvania. I chose to interview her because although I have heard countless stories from her childhood I was interested in learning more. Also this was a good chance for us to spend time together. Although she lives less than a mile from my house, I haven't got to sit down and talk with her in a while because our schedules always conflict. She made me dinner and we just talked for about two hours, while the interview lasted about 45 minutes. I am excited to learn more about her life in the interviews that will follow.

First Post

Hi Everyone!!

My name is Stephanie Bourgeois and I am a Phys Ed/Health Ed double major. This is my second year at RIC. I am taking this class to fulfill the gen ed requirement and because Dr. Bogad is an awesome professor! :)  I love to be active in my spare time. I am on the woman's lacrosse team here at RIC, and was on the women's volleyball team last year.

Im very excited to learn more about this class and to see how this semester unfolds.