Introductory Letter :-)

Hello!!!

My Name is Julianne Sautner. I was born in Honolulu Hawaii and was raised in Windermere Florida. I commute to UCF weekly for classes (which is quite a drive).  I am finally a senior with one semester left until graduation in August!!!  To be completely honest I had no interest in taking a women's studies class from the get go because of all of the negative stereotypes the class has hanging over it. I started the first day of this semester running around like a chicken with my head cut off after being told to drop all of my classes by my advisor. Long story short, I ended up enrolled in this Women's Studies course and thrust into thinking about things I have never given much though to before.
I am not sure what counts as activism. I do frequent the battered women's shelter in Downtown Orlando. Not only do I see that as an amazing organization, but I feel like volunteering there as a young woman helps to give perspectives to healthy and unhealthy relationships. I am involved in coalition for the homeless and volunteer there as well. I don't know that volunteering and activism is the same thing (doubt it is) As far as activism goes, I am not sure I am entirely comfortable yet grabbing my sign and marching for a cause. I haven't found my voice yet as an "activist."
I think my parents and the way I was raised has the biggest influence on my understanding of the behavior of men and women. You learn "proper" gender roles growing up at home and that foundation is built upon as we get older and move up in the education system. My parents somewhat break the mold of these normative gender behaviors. My parents are both equal bread winners in my family, but their home  roles are different. My dad is a counselor for veterans of war and runs the Orlando Vet Center. While my mom is a dean at DeVry University in Orlando. My mom is the disciplinarian at work and at home. My dad is the passive voice in the household and my mom is the decision maker and finance manager. While they make equal pay in their jobs, my mom is the dominant in my household. I have been raised by a strong woman, therefore my ideologies are more aligned with the power playing women in the world. I've never in my life been a passive voice and do not plan to become one any time soon.
I hope to learn and understand more about what being a feminist means and definitely educate myself on the historical women and events which allow me to be speaking now, airing my thoughts without hesitation and striving toward my academic and professional goals for the future!


I have read and understand the syllabus and I agree to its terms and the terms of managing this blog.

Take care
<3 JS.