First of all, I wasn’t quite sure where to find people knowledgeable about my topic to ask questions, so I instead chose to ask a random person about their opinions. I figured I would be able to write down any answers rather than tape-record (and have since decided that, next time, I’m definitely going to tape record).
Interviewee name: Danielle Chan
Place: The Quad, by Smith
Date: 5/19/07
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Education: Currently a UW student (junior)
Ethnicity: Chinese
Place of Residence: Dorms, Haggett
Place of Birth: Seattle
Occupation: Student
Religion: unknown
Politics: Democrat
Note: Some of this is paraphrasing. Some of it is direct quoting, but most is paraphrasing as I can’t write fast enough or legibly enough to be completely accurate.
Q: What are your opinions on the legalization of prostitution?
A: I don’t think there is much point in making it illegal. Child prostitution, of course, should be illegal, but I don’t really see why people should be arrested for having sex, whether it’s paid sex or not.
Q: What do you think would be the benefits of having governmental controls on prostitution?
A: *pause* Um…Well, prostitution can be dangerous. If it’s legal, it might be safer for the prostitutes. It could reduce the control pimps have over prostitutes too. Also, sexual disease control—the spread of sexual diseases.
Q: How would you think the government would be able to control the spread of sexual diseases?
A: Well, perhaps by requiring health check-ups. At least the prostitute would know that they had a certain problem. Maybe the government could require that those with certain diseases like HIV tell their customers. Though that probably wouldn’t work so well. They probably wouldn’t be willing to stop working or to tell their customers. *Shrugs*
Q: Do you think that there would be some people who would not want to be under governmental control and would not follow the directions of the government?
A: Yeah. There are always people like that.
Q: Well, thanks for talking to me.
A: You’re welcome. Bye.
Q: Have a nice day.
Reflections: My subject did not really seem too inclined to talk, though she was nice enough to do the interview. I thought that I might be able to get a little more out of her, but she seemed to be getting a little tired of my questions, so I stopped. I suppose some of the problem was that she probably didn’t know too much about the topic. However, this interview has cemented the idea that I really need to interview people with a tape recorder and that I probably need to pick and choose the people I want to interview rather than randomly going up to someone.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Buruma Reaction
First of all, my reaction to the Buruma book. I had to read the chapters over again as I read the book at the beginning of the quarter and have now entirely forgotten the specifics of what was in which chapter. However, a new perusal of the book was interesting. For one, I’d really like to comment that Buruma chooses some awesome quotes from everything said during or after the trial. The quotes seem to put it all in context—here are these people who are still at a loss: how could such a thing happen in our country, to such a person, by such a person. They seem confused and somewhat disoriented and Mohammed’s illogical speech, stated calmly and with hardly any tribute to the pain of anyone hurt by his actions, certainly didn’t help matters. I thought that was a very interesting part of the book. I also found the foray into Mohammed’s background to try and explain some of his actions interesting in a different way. One comment I found particularly interesting (and yes, I have now used interesting three times in the last three sentences) was Buruma’s note about Mohammed’s reaction to 9/11: “Violence, he told friends, was not the solution” (p208). Somewhat ironic, no?
As a side note, I find a cactus memorandum as extremely amusing for some reason.... And I have absolutely no idea what questions I have for Phil Shekleton. Mainly because I don’t really know what his talk is going to be about. Well, I suppose I will find out tomorrow. ^_^
Hmmm…I feel like sleeping. I guess I will be posting the interview assignment in the morning…
As a side note, I find a cactus memorandum as extremely amusing for some reason.... And I have absolutely no idea what questions I have for Phil Shekleton. Mainly because I don’t really know what his talk is going to be about. Well, I suppose I will find out tomorrow. ^_^
Hmmm…I feel like sleeping. I guess I will be posting the interview assignment in the morning…
Monday, May 14, 2007
Questions and more Questions make the World go 'Round
Okay, so I have ... just a few questions for my research project:
Questions
1. How will we find interviewees? Legal sex workers will probably be hard enough to get interviews with (though, thanks to Clifford and Julie, we have at least one likely interview), but illegals will probably be practically impossible to get interviews with, let alone find. One possible way to get around this is to interview people who have had contact/know a lot about illegal sex workers. Also, perhaps anonymous questionnaires are a possibility, but then the question would be how we would get the questionnaires to them. Additionally, what kind of interview questions would best get at the root of our topic? What would be the best way to phrase said questions?
2. How can we incorporate technology into our study? Clifford mentioned that it seems as though many legal sex workers in the Red Light District were using their cell phones for messaging and such. Also, technology is a good way to spread information, so even if we were unable to use it in gathering the information for our study, we might want to set up a website or something of the sort to help fill any gaps in the information that sex workers have easy access to.
3. Could we include some element of observation in our study? It would be nice if we were able to do so, and thus get another perspective on the topic. Where would good places for observation be? What would we be looking for specifically? If we were looking at behavior patterns of prostitutes in, say, a health clinic, how would we identify a sex worker?
Questions
1. How will we find interviewees? Legal sex workers will probably be hard enough to get interviews with (though, thanks to Clifford and Julie, we have at least one likely interview), but illegals will probably be practically impossible to get interviews with, let alone find. One possible way to get around this is to interview people who have had contact/know a lot about illegal sex workers. Also, perhaps anonymous questionnaires are a possibility, but then the question would be how we would get the questionnaires to them. Additionally, what kind of interview questions would best get at the root of our topic? What would be the best way to phrase said questions?
2. How can we incorporate technology into our study? Clifford mentioned that it seems as though many legal sex workers in the Red Light District were using their cell phones for messaging and such. Also, technology is a good way to spread information, so even if we were unable to use it in gathering the information for our study, we might want to set up a website or something of the sort to help fill any gaps in the information that sex workers have easy access to.
3. Could we include some element of observation in our study? It would be nice if we were able to do so, and thus get another perspective on the topic. Where would good places for observation be? What would we be looking for specifically? If we were looking at behavior patterns of prostitutes in, say, a health clinic, how would we identify a sex worker?
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
E-research
What is e-research? Well, actually, I’ve been wondering about that. Considering that it is hard to verbalize a decent definition of research (as seen in class yesterday), tagging on the e doesn’t help matters. Personally, I think research is a scholarly endeavor in which new knowledge is created with the purpose of adding to the overall knowledge of the community on the subject. Mayhap that is not a very accurate description, but that is how I think of it. E-research is the use of information technology to support said research or the study of the use of information technology in research. Again, this is probably an erroneous view, but there it is.
As for the part that e-research might take in my project…I think that it would be hard to base my project off research. Health information needs for sex workers isn’t, in my view, something that can be easily research online or by digital means. Perhaps some research could be done by looking up personal commentary on the matter, though I doubt that many sex workers sit down and start a blog or the like about their information needs. If anyone has any better suggestions for the incorporation of e-research into this topic, I’d be quite grateful ^_^
As for the part that e-research might take in my project…I think that it would be hard to base my project off research. Health information needs for sex workers isn’t, in my view, something that can be easily research online or by digital means. Perhaps some research could be done by looking up personal commentary on the matter, though I doubt that many sex workers sit down and start a blog or the like about their information needs. If anyone has any better suggestions for the incorporation of e-research into this topic, I’d be quite grateful ^_^
Monday, April 30, 2007
Irony
First of all, I’d like to mention that I find this entire story ironic. The fact that van Gogh was killed because his irony went over the top (in one person’s perspective) in a country where speaking out and saying one’s mind seems to be an essential quality. However, I find it hard to see how irony can be a vital component of any culture’s make-up. A culture can, on the whole, appreciate irony and say ironic things, but I have trouble seeing it as a part of their make-up. Additionally, sometimes I’d swear that Buruma’s definition of irony is not entirely congruent with mine. I suppose I am just being picky about his wording. Anyway, although humor can be a way of escaping blame, saying something with humor can often be the best way of making people listen and stop to think about the comment made. As Buruma mentions, rappers often employ irony in their compositions. (although I personally do not see the connection between them pretending to be murderers and irony). Their compositions are often a way of almost forcibly drawing attention to a certain topic. Irony is an attention grabber—I’ve noticed that incongruence and humor both draw the attention like nothing else. And, later, people will remember the words and phrasing and will think back on the meaning in those words and phrases.
I also enjoyed Buruma’s comment about religious clothing, because it is something I have also observed here in America. Some will display their religious affiliations proudly with their clothing, while some will hardly even care that they are wearing religiously-based clothing—it is something they have always worn, that they have been told to wear by their parents and if you ask them about it, all you get is an indifferent shrug. Of course, there are also the others, who dress religiously almost as a fashion, who seem to care less about the original meaning in the clothes, than in the “look” that it can give them. I found Buruma’s observations on this topic were quite accurate.
I had trouble finding a link between the Buruma and Wouters readings. Perhaps the trouble comes from the fact that I was mildly confused by the Wouters article. There were one or two points in the conclusion at the end that I didn’t realize was talked about at all. I will have to read it again later (I’ve already reread it twice, but third time’s the charm, after all). One thing that I would like to mention, though it has almost no relevance, was that I was very amused by this concept of “the science of science”. I am also amused that we are basically contemplating the “science of science” scientifically, so this article is almost the science of “science of science”. Yes, I am amused by random things. However, I would like to comment on Julie’s comment on “knowledge limiting knowledge”. Although I am sure that this can be true in some cases, I don’t quite see how it was brought up by the article. It seemed to indicate that the more that was learned about the topic, the more that could be done to improve STS.
As for the random thought—I still remember one comment by Buruma stating that 2nd generation immigrants were much more likely to be schizophrenic than the average Dutch, or the average 1st generation immigrant. I thought that was very interesting.
I also enjoyed Buruma’s comment about religious clothing, because it is something I have also observed here in America. Some will display their religious affiliations proudly with their clothing, while some will hardly even care that they are wearing religiously-based clothing—it is something they have always worn, that they have been told to wear by their parents and if you ask them about it, all you get is an indifferent shrug. Of course, there are also the others, who dress religiously almost as a fashion, who seem to care less about the original meaning in the clothes, than in the “look” that it can give them. I found Buruma’s observations on this topic were quite accurate.
I had trouble finding a link between the Buruma and Wouters readings. Perhaps the trouble comes from the fact that I was mildly confused by the Wouters article. There were one or two points in the conclusion at the end that I didn’t realize was talked about at all. I will have to read it again later (I’ve already reread it twice, but third time’s the charm, after all). One thing that I would like to mention, though it has almost no relevance, was that I was very amused by this concept of “the science of science”. I am also amused that we are basically contemplating the “science of science” scientifically, so this article is almost the science of “science of science”. Yes, I am amused by random things. However, I would like to comment on Julie’s comment on “knowledge limiting knowledge”. Although I am sure that this can be true in some cases, I don’t quite see how it was brought up by the article. It seemed to indicate that the more that was learned about the topic, the more that could be done to improve STS.
As for the random thought—I still remember one comment by Buruma stating that 2nd generation immigrants were much more likely to be schizophrenic than the average Dutch, or the average 1st generation immigrant. I thought that was very interesting.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Jessica's Clothing Assignment
Part I
Subject: UW Student
Sex: Female
Age: ~20
Race: Caucasian
Religion: no visual cues
Clothes: Subject wore blue jeans, slightly too large for her width. Jeans also seemed too long, as indicated by the wear at the bottom back of jeans were, presumably, the heels of shoes tread on the cloth. Shirt was a long sleeved dark green shirt with no visible wording or pictures. Had a green-black fleece jacket with hood to ward off cold. Subject wore mildly dirty blue and white sneakers showing definite signs of wear and tear. Socks were white with a rather cryptic “no nonsense” written in black. Brown hair (over 1 ½ ft long) was tied back in a braid with many a hair escaping the restraint. Subject wore glasses-presumably for distance as they were worn constantly rather than just when reading-which had dark brass metallic coloring. Braces were “ocean-blue” (this is my roommate’s description, remembered from a long-ago trip to the orthodontist).
Part II
My clothes were the result of me not really caring what I wear as long as it’s comfortable and does not clash mightily. It was also the result of me waking up before my roommate and not turning the light on, and then grabbing the top shirt and pair of pants in my drawer. The fleece was chosen because I had worn it the day before and had not yet hung it up. The jeans are too big because they are actually my mother’s, who is a little taller and wider than me (she gives me her clothes if they no longer fit comfortably). The sneakers have been my sneaker pair for the past two years and are quite nice and worn in. My socks…actually the only reason I remembered to mention the “no nonsense” thing is because I’ve been wondering for a very long time what the heck that meant and why it was on my socks. Of course, I’ve never bothered to actually look it up because that would take time and it would probably be some sort of inane marketing scheme and my personal imaginings on the matter are rather fun for when I am being sinful and am at my highest level of 21st century boredom. My hair is tied back in a braid in a way reminiscent of my entire middle school and high school time when my hair was much longer and much less troublesome tied up in a braid. However, as my hair is shorter now, it seems to be less satisfied in staying in the braid for the entire day. My glasses are actually trifocals, which means that without them I am sad. My braces are oh so enjoyable bits of metal cutting into my mouth from which my enjoyment mainly derives from being able to pick out the new color of banding every eight weeks.
Subject: UW Student
Sex: Female
Age: ~20
Race: Caucasian
Religion: no visual cues
Clothes: Subject wore blue jeans, slightly too large for her width. Jeans also seemed too long, as indicated by the wear at the bottom back of jeans were, presumably, the heels of shoes tread on the cloth. Shirt was a long sleeved dark green shirt with no visible wording or pictures. Had a green-black fleece jacket with hood to ward off cold. Subject wore mildly dirty blue and white sneakers showing definite signs of wear and tear. Socks were white with a rather cryptic “no nonsense” written in black. Brown hair (over 1 ½ ft long) was tied back in a braid with many a hair escaping the restraint. Subject wore glasses-presumably for distance as they were worn constantly rather than just when reading-which had dark brass metallic coloring. Braces were “ocean-blue” (this is my roommate’s description, remembered from a long-ago trip to the orthodontist).
Part II
My clothes were the result of me not really caring what I wear as long as it’s comfortable and does not clash mightily. It was also the result of me waking up before my roommate and not turning the light on, and then grabbing the top shirt and pair of pants in my drawer. The fleece was chosen because I had worn it the day before and had not yet hung it up. The jeans are too big because they are actually my mother’s, who is a little taller and wider than me (she gives me her clothes if they no longer fit comfortably). The sneakers have been my sneaker pair for the past two years and are quite nice and worn in. My socks…actually the only reason I remembered to mention the “no nonsense” thing is because I’ve been wondering for a very long time what the heck that meant and why it was on my socks. Of course, I’ve never bothered to actually look it up because that would take time and it would probably be some sort of inane marketing scheme and my personal imaginings on the matter are rather fun for when I am being sinful and am at my highest level of 21st century boredom. My hair is tied back in a braid in a way reminiscent of my entire middle school and high school time when my hair was much longer and much less troublesome tied up in a braid. However, as my hair is shorter now, it seems to be less satisfied in staying in the braid for the entire day. My glasses are actually trifocals, which means that without them I am sad. My braces are oh so enjoyable bits of metal cutting into my mouth from which my enjoyment mainly derives from being able to pick out the new color of banding every eight weeks.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Abstractedness: Abstract for Project
The practice of pragmatic tolerance in the Netherlands resulted in the legalization of prostitution in 1988. With legalization comes the ability to regulate and provide for the workers in this industry. Yet, despite legalization many prostitutes are still not registered or considered legal. A prostitute must pay to receive the benefits of being registered and must be a citizen. Illegal immigrants and prostitutes who do not pay to be registered miss out on the benefits of health care. This has led to gaps in the health information many prostitutes receive. This lack of information has led to higher instances of STDs, drug abuse, and other health related conditions prevalent in this marginalized community of sex workers. We are conducting this study with the intention of including both legal and illegal prostitutes in order to get an accurate depiction of the industry as an all encompassing whole. In our study, we will be researching the question: What are the health information needs of sex workers in Amsterdam?
Our research on site will mostly consist of interviews. Though we are exploring the option of supplementing this with anonymous questionnaires. Field sites will include the PIC and health clinics (found by inquiry) frequented by sex workers. The online component will be found in blogs and other discussions on the topic. Perhaps creating a blog or chat on the topic ourselves would also be useful. As our research will be done as a pilot study, we will also be supplementing our study with literature such as Vanwesenbeeck’s Prostitutes' Well-Being and Risk and When Sex Becomes Work by Mariska Majoor. We will also do a literature review of previous health information studies relative to our topic.
Preliminary methods: Because we will mostly be conducting interviews, our approach will be mostly qualitative in nature. We plan to use the information we gather to draw conclusions about what health information needs are missing in the profession. If this was not a pilot study, we would take our information and create a pathfinder for prostitutes to locate this information in the future.
Our research on site will mostly consist of interviews. Though we are exploring the option of supplementing this with anonymous questionnaires. Field sites will include the PIC and health clinics (found by inquiry) frequented by sex workers. The online component will be found in blogs and other discussions on the topic. Perhaps creating a blog or chat on the topic ourselves would also be useful. As our research will be done as a pilot study, we will also be supplementing our study with literature such as Vanwesenbeeck’s Prostitutes' Well-Being and Risk and When Sex Becomes Work by Mariska Majoor. We will also do a literature review of previous health information studies relative to our topic.
Preliminary methods: Because we will mostly be conducting interviews, our approach will be mostly qualitative in nature. We plan to use the information we gather to draw conclusions about what health information needs are missing in the profession. If this was not a pilot study, we would take our information and create a pathfinder for prostitutes to locate this information in the future.
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