User talk:JREverest/sandbox/Approaches to Knowledge/2020-21/Seminar group 5/Power

@Power in Architecture
@Uclqevy I really like your approach to the power of architecture and its phrasing, however, for others to gain a better understanding and develop a more broad interest in that discipline, it would be nice to add a definition of architecture on the first part, to understand the background. BonSchlonzo (discuss • contribs) 18:34, 8 November 2020 (UTC)


 * @Bonschlonzo Thank you for your message. In line with your suggestion I will add a definition about architecture. I agree, it will give to the reader a clearer point of view on the subject.

@Power in Families
Good afternoon,

I read your contribution and I really enjoy it.

It is interesting to see that power changes at the same time as the traditional structure. It shows the need to think more about our traditional structures such as our political system, who are often super old. Structure, as a social construction, is meant to evolve. We should remember that often the personal is political and the political is personal. That is to say that what happening in intimate circumstances is reflected in our society.

You talked about the home division of labour. I agree with you. Nowadays, it still difficult to recognize the real value of domestic labour. In our economies today, domestic value isn’t counted as a part of growth, shows how much mentalities are still behind. Measuring it maybe will help us to give more worth to domestic value and change the traditional structure.

You wrote about feminism and I wanted to mention that feminism isn’t just a clash between genders. I would like to bring a more nuanced definition about feminism. For me, feminism is the theory of the political economic and social equality of the sexes. It means that women shall have at least as much to say as men about everything in the arrangement of human affairs. Feminism is about honoring the preciousness of all life in accord with cultural, legal, historical and political understandings of gender.

Voila

Ps : i recommend the book We should all be feminists by Chimananda Ngozi Adichie. She talked about how gender is a social contruction and how it is connected to money, income and employment but also anger and agression.

Hey there! Thanks for leaving such interesting feedback! You're right, I should word it more in the way of feminist theorists than feminists as it is more applicable to what I am applying it to. Basc.blue (discuss • contribs) 02:04, 12 November 2020 (UTC) Jadaireu (discuss • contribs) 15:30, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

@The Power of Maps - Cartography
Hi! I found your contribution really interesting as the Mercator projection is something we’re taught (and thus expect to be accurate) at a young age, yet most fail to realise how its distorted to privilege the elite! Personally, I think that the positioning of countries on the map is also noteworthy; Gerardus Mercator was from Flanders (modern day Belgium) and he places the area very much near the centre of the map which emphasizes the idea of European (and perhaps personal?) self-centeredness.WoodzyMoodzy (discuss • contribs) 21:29, 8 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Hello !! @WoodzyMoodzy Thank you for your feedback. Feel free to add any content about the subject. I'm surprised that today newpapers or new textbooks still use this self-centered representation of the world. Unfortunately, change isn't quick. The Gall-Peters projection is almost 50 years old. Jadaireu (discuss • contribs) 10:29, 9 November 2020 (UTC)


 * I've added a short sentence on that point to the end of your paragraph! :) WoodzyMoodzy (discuss • contribs) 15:37, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

Hi! I really liked your essay on the Power of Maps as I studied it last year! I agree with @WoodzyMoodzy that maps are powerful in a way that they emphasize and influence our beliefs on what countries are part of the center of the world, just because they are represented in the middle. Undercoverfrench (discuss • contribs) 13:08, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

@Power in Volunteer Tourism
I completely agree with you when you state that to some extent participation in voluntourism is a way of self-fulfilment for many, thus justifying one’s volunteering actions but also fuelling the power dynamics between the “helpers” and the “needers”. However, I feel that people also feel pressured by society to participate in these social movements and hence may only get involved in voluntourism only to fit into society’s requirements. Today, people often unconsciously adopt a behaviour that is not in line with their personality, in order to meet others' expectations and be accepted in a social circle. Refusing to adopt a behaviour that is within the norms is deliberately putting oneself on the side-lines. We could hence wonder if living in society means losing some of our authenticity. Although self-empowering may be one reason for people to engage with social works, I also believe that in some cases their participation is not so related with improving their CVs or easing their conscious, but rather complying with society’s expectations, which intuitively states that if you earn enough money, you should share it with people in need. If not done, you are viewed as the greedy and avaricious person, not willing to share any of their belongings, which would be perceived as shameful, selfish and even revolting. If you wish to study in more depth this idea, I would personally recommend E. Goffman’s book, The Presentation of Self. In it, he compares everyday life to a theatrical staging, in which we all end up getting caught up in, whether our show is spontaneous or outlined. Audiences have expectations, which actors must meet in order to be accepted and successful.

As you very accurately said, Western countries ironically position themselves as the “Good Samaritan” of these less development countries that will save them from their misery, when they were arguably the ones who put them in this situation because of colonisation. Once again, beautification seems to ease the dark past and brutal reality and allows Occidental cultures to use to the fullest their power over others.

Finally, I took the liberty of adding a media file to your contribution, which I found strongly compelling. Feel free to change it or remove it, if it does not suit you. Also, there was a small spelling mistake (self-fulfillment) which I corrected.

Mathildem16 (discuss • contribs) 11:38, 9 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Thank you so much for your recommendation and your contribution to this! This has been incredibly insightful in showing another perspective of volunteer tourism. Please feel free to add more to my section about that if you'd like, it's a very important aspect of this industry to discuss. Djungelskog1 (discuss • contribs) 13:18, 9 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Thank you very much for your kind answer. I also feel I didn't stress that enough in my response to your contribution but you work was very thorough and entertaining. But most importantly, I believe you rightfully pointed out something that I find extremely regretful and concerning; the fact that today volunteering is not something selfless and how most people are willing to do anything to raise their self-esteem and the way others look at them. Mathildem16 (discuss • contribs) 12:38, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

@ Power in Cybersecurity corporations
In my opinion, the findings of your research are very compelling, that a change in the salary discrepancies is urgently needed to respond to current social change. Especially the evidence found by McKinsey and Company shows how society would profit from being more inclusive.

A suggestion I have for the paragraph is adding the source for the varying salaries of different groups, where I totally agree with the link made to low female participation in cybersecurity as a consequence.

I also have a question about the statement: “developing unique approaches to global issues to protect personal data and information is also primordial in cybersecurity; diversity enables this”. I understand how diversity enables better management of a company and fosters new creative ideas to circulate more easily and rapidly. However, I think there is not yet sufficient data to put a causation link between diversity and the specific development of cybersecurity technology. I would be very interested to hear your opinion on this! poccy3 (discuss • contribs) 14:50, 9 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Thank you very much for your kind words. Regarding the referencing, thank you for pointing that out. I have just added them.


 * For the second part, I feel like it is not a black or white situation, however we may see recurring tendencies emerging, which highlight that people from the same social classes and backgrounds tend to have the same educational journey, thus approaching and tackling problems in similar ways. However, bringing together a diverse group, would give new insights into addressing these challenges.
 * I believe we can all agree on saying that cybersecurity is an ever-changing demanding discipline, in which developing a unique creative way of thinking, to see the bigger picture in issues and not only thinking of one-dimensional solutions is primordial. In order to find new solutions to problems, the cybersecurity workforce must pay close attention to detail, but also broaden their horizons and mindsets to find creative and innovative solutions to pressing informatics issues. Hence, bringing together a team of diverse employees to reflect on these issues, may only be beneficial.


 * The report of the ISC2 mentions that, but I think we still have to be cautious when interpreting that piece of material (despite its reliability) and as you rightfully stressed out, not establish an empirical causation between diversity and problem solving in cybersecurity. Thank you though for pointing out this sentence, as I could have made it clearer in my work. I hope my answer helped and was clear enough. Mathildem16 (discuss • contribs) 13:00, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

@ Power in Fashion
The question of whether power in fashion will remain as an oligarchy or extend into a polyarchy is an interesting one due to the concept of globalisation. After reading your section, I found this article and thought that it may be of particular interest to you: https://www.repository.utl.pt/bitstream/10400.5/13444/1/DISSERTATION%20MAISA%20-%20Documento%20definitivo%20.pdf The author, Maísa Benatti, describes fashion as an "ecosystem" and analyses the fashion industry in a global context, they explore the "fashion capitals" and fashion week, recognising its vitality in the fashion industry. I hope this allows you to explore your interests further!--Ivoryallen (discuss • contribs) 10:48, 10 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Hi @Ivoryallen :) Thank you so much for taking the time to find the article, I will definitely have a thorough read once I find the time! I had a quick skim of it and I think it links very well with not only my contribution, but with the lecture we had on Systems as well. WoodzyMoodzy (discuss • contribs) 14:33, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

@The Power of Marketing over Gender Roles
Hey I read you contribution and I found it fascinating! It also reminded me of the Pink Tax phenomenon, which states that products marketed specifically towards women are typically more expensive than those marketed for men. I have linked the Wikipedia page for the Pink Tax if you would like to look more into it. --Lucky Lilac Lion (discuss • contribs) 14:19, 10 November 2020 (UTC)


 * Hi Lucky Lilac Lion, thank you very much for this contribution. I've added information about the Pink Tax to my second paragraph because I agree that it is a valuable point to bring up. Best, AurelieJane (discuss • contribs) 15:30, 10 November 2020 (UTC)

Hey there! I really liked your contribution as it is something that I have always thought about when watching TV or when I'm at stores. I feel like it would be an amazing topic to expand on outside of the sandbox (because it would go very long aha) to look at how this kind of advertising teaches children their gender! Making an experiential connection, my nephew recently told me what colours boys and girls liked, and it completely corresponded with that of the toys aimed at each gender on TV. This really interested me in topics like yours. Basc.blue (discuss • contribs) 02:05, 12 November 2020 (UTC)