Erica’s Comments (group member since Dec 06, 2013)

Erica’s comments from the Reader with a Cause group.

I also didn't think that I would like the book as much as I did based on things that I heard. I ended up really enjoying it though and part of that really has to do with me being pregnant and hearing the vastly different ways that people discuss work and parenting with my partner and I. At several points in the book, she really hit the nail on the head with what I have been experiencing. It validated that experience for me and made me more confident that I could be just as valuable at work as I am at home. It also made me realize how we start to question ourselves and our ability to contribute to the workplace. I definitely enjoyed it primarily because that part felt so applicable, although I completely agree that it's written more for women who want the "C-suite". I'm not sure if I would have felt differently if I had read it a year prior.

I think that they can conflict, but not always. Too often, we have an individualistic workplace culture that is all-or-nothing - you are either a team player or individually ambitious. But I think there's a way to be part of your team, aware and helpful to the broader issues, but still outspoken in a diplomatic way about your needs and your achievements. I've watched many women excel, not because they were only after acknowledgements for just their work, but because they worked to highlight both their work and others work. I think Sandberg got to this a little when she talked about some powerhouse women getting together and sharing their work - they couldn't go back and toot their own horns as much as they could brag about each other. I think an eye out for others, your team, and your organization can go a long way in allowing women to speak up, advocate about the work being done, and not see all the backlash. Part of it is that while men may be less judged when they seem individually ambitious, they are often still not liked very much or respected - the cut-throat seeming drive for success is just more expected. It's not that they are playing into well-liked roles, but just expected roles. Because we expect it, it causes less gossip and resentment. Maybe...

I found this fascinating as well, although not really surprising. It makes sense to me and I believe that it's true. There is an expectation that women will be caring and nurturing, both in and out of the workplace and those who don't participate in helping others but pay more attention to their own work can be looked down upon and judged. Men who do the same thing can be seen as just ambitious.

I wanted to learn more about all of them!! I read an article recently that talked about the goal of the show's creator to expand on their lives more.

"The show's creator, Jenji Kohan of "Weeds" fame, told National Public Radio last year that Piper was her "Trojan horse" to get American audiences thinking about prison reform:
"In a lot of ways, Piper was my Trojan Horse. You're not going to go into a network and sell a show on really fascinating tales of black women, and Latina women, and old women and criminals. But if you take this white girl, this sort of fish out of water, and you follow her in, you can then expand your world and tell all of those other stories. But it's a hard sell to just go in and try to sell those stories initially."

I think racism and classism significantly impact both the experiences of people while serving time and when attempting to re-enter society. The biases that come from both can make life much easier for some and much, much harder for others. Some of the guards were automatically nicer to her and thinking that they could relate to each other were based completely on their assumptions of her just by looking at her.

The privileges of a white woman whose family has some resources will make re-entry easier and more successful. Discrimination can keep people out of good apartments, certain neighborhoods, and decent-paying jobs - the factors that can help someone get back on their feet and not back behind bars.

I agree with Emily - they should be viewed as different things so that you're not disappointed in either. I was really surprised at how different they were, but they both are entertaining and interesting in their own way.

Something I really appreciated about the book that isn't in the show was her comments on prison life and the prison system as a bigger picture. It wasn't too detailed as to get heavy or away from the details of her story, but helpful to keep in mind that there are these much larger issues at play. She's now doing a lot of public speaking and advocacy for prisoner rights and I'm not surprised having read the book. But, so far (I'm almost done with the show) I wouldn't necessarily see that as what her character in the show would do after getting out.

I was annoyed and terrified with the idea that people would walk away and think that this is what domestic violence looks like. That it's what women, in general, are capable of. There ware way too many misconceptions about this floating around.

This exact issue was the topic of a blog post in the guardian just the other day. Interesting read about the use of violent & dead images of women. It's disturbing to realize how much these images are used. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandsty...