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THE NEWS RECORD
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
NEWSRECORD.ORG
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015
Middle East expert discusses conflict-resolution, education ALEX MUTNANSKY | CONTRIBUTOR
With rising tensions in the Middle East pushing countries such as Egypt into economic and political disorganization, Abdul-Monem Al-Mashat, a professor at Egypt’s Future University, gave a lecture on revolutions in the Middle East for the political science department Friday at the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center. Al-Mashat began the lecture with a discussion of conditions in the Middle East, explaining how Egyptians line up in front of the American embassy to get visas to come to the United States. “There is no doubt that Arab revolutions in 2011 took the U.S. and Europe by surprise,” Al-Mashat said. Following the Arab Revolution, Mashat described the interactions between Egypt and the United States as “suspicion and distrust.” Mashat went on to discuss the United States’ support of certain dictators in the Middle East, under the assumption that they will create political stability, while opposing others, such as previous leaders in Syria.
Mashat says that this causes Egyptians to ask,“How could the U.S. side with nondemocratic regimes?” Following the Arab Revolutions, the Muslim Brotherhood regime took power through democratic processes, electing president Mohamed Morsi. Al-Mashat said Morsi is “trying to change Egypt’s identity,” leading to the 2013 overthrow of Morsi. Al-Mashat said the two major problems moving forward with Egypt’s stability include solving the almost daily involvement of war against terrorists and reviving the suffering economy Egypt has experienced over the past four years. “Egypt, which assisted the U.S. in its war against international terrorism, expects the U.S. to extend assistance in its fight against terrorists, whether they are in Sinai or in Libya,”Al-Mashat said.“[The] transfer of technology, economic assistance, U.S. corporations [and] US investors would help aid the ‘New Egypt.’ ” According to Richard Harknett, chairman SEE MIDDLE EAST PG 3
MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR
Abdul-Monem Al-Mashat, professor at Egypt’s Future University, speaks on Arab revolutions and U.S. policy in the Middle East.
SPEAKER ADDRESSES STRUCTURE OF GENDER STEREOTYPES
Tunnel of Oppression STANFORD PROFESSOR TALKS INEQUALITY visualizes, confronts discrimination CASSIE LIPP | CHIEF REPORTER
MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR
Cecilia Ridgeway of Stanford University visited TUC Friday afternoon for a talk about how gender inequality persists in the modern world. JOHNNA JACKSON | STAFF REPORTER
The worlds of high-tech start-ups and college hook-ups were examined in a lecture delivered on Friday by Cecilia Ridgeway, the Lucie Stern professor of social sciences at Stanford University. The lecture, titled “How Does Gender Inequality Persist in the Modern World,” was held in the Tangeman University Center at the University of Cincinnati. Ridgeway’s work frequently focuses on social hierarchies and the inequalities they create based on gender, race and class. Her lecture detailed her theoretical approaches to understanding how shared cultural beliefs around gender influence the ways we coordinate our public behavior. “Gender inequality’s staying power derives from our use of gender as a primary cultural frame for social
relations,” Ridgeway said. Ridgeway points to gendered stereotypes as cultural evidence of the ways we socially organize ourselves. These stereotypes require the assumption that we are capable of identifying the gender of the people we interact with. “We automatically and nearly instantly sex categorize any person we attempt to relate to,” Ridgeway said. Ridgeway said that whether or not we think gender stereotypes are valid, we expect people to interact with us based on the expectations surrounding them. Ridgeway said sociological studies that indicate gender stereotypes have only shown modest changes since the 1970s, even though the roles of women in society have evolved greatly over this period of time. While she recognizes that gender stereotypes feel outdated to some, she
argued that their level of social control is visible in the various ways we interact, notably within tech start-ups in the fields of information technology and engineering and within the intimacy habits of heterosexual college students. “The future of gender-inequality lies with sites at the edge of social and technological change,” Ridgeway said. Ridgeway said she believes the fields of IT and engineering are “gender stamped” as boys’ clubs. The sex-typing of these jobs then upholds gender beliefs that create biases against women’s competence. According to Ridgeway, these practices become institutionalized and are then transferred to current technology arenas. “What becomes ‘the Apple way’? The SEE INEQUALITY PG 3
University of Cincinnati students, faculty and staff opened their eyes to a whirlwind of injustice in past and present-day culture as they moved their way through the Tunnel of Oppression in Tangeman University Center Friday. The interactive exhibit was cosponsored by the UC Office of Disability Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Residence Hall Association, Resident Education and Development, Ethnic Programs and Services, the African American Cultural and Resource Center, the Women’s Center and the LGBTQ Center. Participants moved their way through TUC rooms A, B and C reading and looking at visual interpretations of various types of oppression that exist in society. Similar interactive programs can be found at other colleges and universities across the U.S. The movement started at Western Illinois University, where the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles served as a template for the first Tunnel of Oppression. Beginning with discrimination against people with disabilities, gender and sexuality-based oppression, and ending with racial and cultural discrimination, the UC Tunnel of Oppression was designed to introduce participants to the concepts of oppression, privilege and power and to challenge them to think more deeply about related issues. The tunnel began with a brief history of oppression and exclusion, beginning with the Holocaust. It then delineated the discrimination of people with disabilities, such as inaccessibility and unequal employment opportunities. Quotes from Mahatma Gandhi, President Barack Obama, Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr. showed participants how to change their perception of disability and inspire them to begin the change society needs. The exhibit continued through a candlelit room filled with posters displaying the myriad remarks women may hear directed toward them when they are walking down the street, such as “Where’s your man?” As participants made their way through the darkness, they faced the hurtful remarks directed toward transwomen and other members of the LGBTQ community. The darkness continued as participants SEE TUNNEL OF OPPRESION PG 3
Afro Fusion cultural show illustrates African, Caribbean influences KAILEY SCHNEIDER | CONTRIBUTOR
University of Cincinnati students gathered Friday night for the Afro Fusion cultural show that featured modern and traditional African-inspired clothing and music. The event was hosted by the UC African Student Association (UCASA) and featured the UC Caribbean Student Association (Cariba). UCASA brings together students from different African cultures, said Dominique Hosch, a fourth-year Asian studies and international affairs student. UCASA’s biggest event of the year began with a free African meal in the Tangeman University Center Atrium featuring a variety of traditional rices, chicken and salad. After their meals, the crowd headed up to TUC’s Great Hall for the show, which featured everything from acapella ballads and contemporary and traditional dance moves to a steel drum band, heavy poetry and a fashion show featuring the works of fashion design students. Segments of a play portraying the
importance of education over other societal norms, like marriage, were woven into the show. “I think that was a really unique spin to have a play going on at the same time as the fashion show,” said Jalilisha Dixon, a thirdyear English student who came to the event to support a friend.“I thought the concept for that was really cool.” Cariba aims to provide support for Caribbean students, in addition to bringing diversity and cultural awareness to UC. The organization provides a comfortable environment both for Caribbean students and those wishing to learn more about their culture. “[UCASA] gets them together to talk about issues affecting the black community here in America and issues happening in Africa,” Hosch said.“This year we wanted to do a mash-up of American culture and certain African cultures.” LB Carpenter, a fourth-year international affairs and German studies student, also SEE AFRO FUSION PG 3
DAN SULLIVAN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
The men of the UC African Students’ Association perform a mix of traditional and modern Africaninfluenced dances during Afro Fusion.
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