CDE Reflective Journal 2

Time flies, and 5 weeks have passed by as fast as a flash. After 5 weeks, we have thoroughly examined the steady progress of both Chinese and American societies in various aspects, particularly gender inequality, and political apathy. The class presentations done in class so far give us a accurately-detailed insight about how women stand in both the eastern and western blocs in the world. In China, we learn that it is extremely hard for women to fight for gender equality against a traditional backdrop of Confucian male superiority. Nevertheless, the status of women in China has improved as compared to before.

When the People's Republic of China was established, employed women accounted for only 7 percent of the workforce; whereas in 1992 women's participation in the workforce had increased to account for 38 percent. Women’s representations in higher educational institutions have also increased ever since.  Women make up the backbone of production-line workers in China's private, export-oriented factories, and gravitate to professions such as medicine, journalism and teaching. However, there are still evident inequalities between men and women in the Chinese society of today. Few women have entered the government or positions of high power in the country, due to the old feudal system that emphasized higher social status for men as compared to women. It is often noted that a husband and a wife can start out at the same level in their career, but the husband will inevitably rise in his field.  It has often been reported that women lie about their marital status when applying for a job, for fear the employers’ rejection because of heavy commitments to the family.

Women in America, while perceived to be more liberalized do face gender inequality as well. Although notable great strides have been taken to overcome such an obstacle, but women still generally do less as well as men in various vocations. Men outnumber women at a rate of 73% vs. 27% in all sectors of employment for science and engineering as of 2009. No state has ever achieved federal or state judgeship gender equality. Women held only 23% of all federal judgeship and only 27% of state judgeship in the year 2010. Getting pregnant in America could even cost you a job. Thousands of pregnant women are pushed out of jobs they are totally capable of performing—either put on unpaid leave or simply fired, when they request an accommodation to help maintain a healthy pregnancy. Without proper law protection, pregnant women are reluctant to ask for the accommodations they need for their own health and for the health of their unborn children. For many women, a choice between working under unhealthy conditions and not working is no choice at all, particularly as there is a rise in cost of living as well.

We did discuss the political apathy of youths in China and America, but to a much smaller depth. In China, political roles are perceived to be dark and grim, and most parents have actually advised their children not to step into the corrupted world of politics. They are also coined as “Little Emperors”, spoiled by their parents and are therefore uncaring to anything around them except for themselves. The same trend occurs in America as youths are uncaring towards everyone around them, and are only interested in immersing themselves their computer games or social media.

There is definitely progress in the status of women in both America and China. Great strides have been taken, but much work can be done to achieve gender equality in both countries. America and China must allow their women to have gender equality in order to allow their economic competitiveness to be on par with each other. 

CDE Reflective Journal 1

This is my first time taking CDE this year, as I had opted for AACS last year, and did not have any chance to be exposed to this course at all. I was naturally keen and curious about what this course would entail and what I would learn when I embark on such a learning journey this year. I had also heard classmates talking about this interesting course last year as well, and was glad that there was an opportunity for me to take up these course.

On the first lesson on the course, we finally understood the importance of Cultural Intelligence, and that how a polite gesture in a country may turn out to be inappropriate or even obscene in other countries as well as cultures. The "OK" hand signal, connecting the thumb and forefinger and holding the other fingers straight, has obscene connotations in South American countries such as Brazil. It is therefore important to have Cultural Intelligence in today's contemporary world as we will be able to respect others by being wary and tolerant of the taboos and intolerably gestures in their culture or society. After accessing the wiki for CDE, I realised that the wiki is very detailed and does give us a deep and accurate insight of the stark differences between the eastern and western blocs in the world. For example, there are pages describing issues such as the stature of the Chinese women and the American election of 2008: widely controversial issues that are still discussed today. CDE does also requires us to present on topics we have chosen to our class, and that the audience are to question and engage the participants as well. As such, students have to do a lot of background information and make sure that they are adequately equipped against the audience's relentless questions to rebut the argument. I find it quite special as this course does ensure student participation, and that the teacher is not the only source of information, which serves as a huge contrast to the rest of our classes, where the teachers teach and there is reduced student's participation. Through expressing our viewpoints, we become more acutely aware to the cultural differences between the eastern and western culture as well.

What do I expect to benefit from the CDE lessons? I hope to delve and understand with greater depth about the cultural differences between the East and the West, as well as understand how the East and the West can cooperate and work hand-in-hand in times of crisis, despite being economic rivals in the global economy and arena. Through various learning platforms and opportunities such as the research paper, the class presentations as well as the consistent journal writing, we are able to put on our critical thinking caps on and demonstrate confidence and flair in raising our mature and valid opinions when experiencing global pressing issues such as gender inequality in both the western and eastern world, and how it is detrimental to the advance of both societies. Being well-read and well-versed in the issues that our fellow peers are discussing in class, allows us to raise objections or agree with their opinions as they showcase their insight and opinions towards a particular issue. It also allows us to be able to provide constructive feedback to our peer's speeches and point out the flaws or aspects worth commending about.

Although the course seems fun and enriching, I do habour some worries towards this course. Firstly, I do hope that this particular IHE course will not put too much emphasis in academic grading as all in all, it inevitably kills the students' interest. In my opinion, it should be tailored to suit our interest, and instead place emphasis on content to promote learning as well as interest in the subject. Also, there is a lot on student-initiated learning involved: which means that I must be studious and diligent in order to not benefit from these courses. I usually procrastinate most of the time and this would definitely affect my learning for the subject, should I not take steady action to curb my procrastinating habits.

Definitely, CDE is a course that I am looking forward to experience, and I hope to be able to pick up new information about the myriad of cultural aspects in both the eastern and western blocs around the world. These information will no doubt prove to be useful in the long run as we grow up and step into the global economy and arena.