Week 13:
Between weeks 8 and 14, each student should provide a weekly reflection (500 words) on the data you have collected to date.
How have the data you have collected this week changed/progressed you’re thinking about your research project?
This week I thought more critically about why immigrant women become the new means for the state to enforce its power. I know that we are no longer sterilizing black women now, but the immigrant represents the continuation of historical trend.
I also found some more investigative journalism from TIMES and Washington Posts to find some first-hand testimonials and more intrinsic details about their experiences about medical and sexual abuse. Also, I incorporated the framework of culture of silence from Gloria Gonzalez—Lopez’s book Family Secrets. A culture of silence will not only help me understand what is at risk for those women who spoke out such as abuses happening, but the role that ICE plays in preventing them from speaking out. ICE intentionally deports any women who has spoken out against the alleged abuse as a way for them to not be held accountable.
This week, I have developed my website a bit more and I feel content with choosing this as the medium for the project. I have also thought more critically about how unwanted medical procedures such as Transvaginal Ultrasounds by the medical professionals are ways to sexually assault women. I will use gendering of state punishment and the concept of impunity to examine how immigrant are put in these precarious situations and arguing that this act is rape. Many women have detailed the level of serve pain, bleeding for 3 months, and un-comfortability levels they experienced.
What are your next steps?
My next steps are to start on my presentation, schedule a meeting with Professor Greene to discuss about the possibility of doing a website than a traditional paper, and book an appointment with Beth Hoppe to discuss about my outline a bit further.