Although the structure of our syllabus has us 'tackling' different nodes of identity, we are all living in combinations of identities all at once. More simply put, you aren't just your gender one moment and then your race another. This also means that we have to be vigilant about paying attention to how privilege and oppression come in different combinations and position us differently. For example, to have consciousness about oppression as a woman of color doesn't mean that I 'get' what it feels like to be gay or transgender in this society. It is impossible for me to talk about race without talking about gender, but I also know that (stemming from our class discussion) I never have to sweat which bathroom I'm going to use. It's a nonissue, which means that I enjoy the huge privilege of having my gender identity rewarded; I have relative privilege there and encounter discrimination in other ways. This is what is important about intersectionality: understanding that our positions in society are an amalgamation of different aspects. This is a key concept to our course, so I've included lots of resources here.
First, a criticism of the lack of response from white feminists on the tweet about Quevenzhané Wallis. This is a great piece that should spur along thinking from the "gender" class on what the response to this tweet tells us about societal ability to respond to intersectional microaggressions.Second, a string of links to hear the person with a mic right now speaking the most incisive truth about the socialization of men and women. Junot Diaz. If you haven't read The is how you lose her, do so. In the back of your mind (or maybe the front!), note that many other women, several who are mentors of Diaz, have been making these same points for quite some time, but he is getting the airplay on it. Worth noting and still listening to what he has to say.
Here's an NPR interview where Diaz discusses how, for most men, actually recognizing that women are full human beings is, well, it's a step. Have a listen:
Another NPR interview, this time based in Boston. Noteworthy here is how gracefully yet honestly Diaz handles the question of his personal experiences of racism in Boston.
A quick-read interview where the point is how our relationships (of course) have on full display larger ideologies about race, class and gender. Put another way, who is seen to be cute/fly/insert-your-terminology-here does not exist in a vacuum devoid of racism/white privilege, patriarchy, and heteronormativity.
A provocative essay from Mia McKenzie (a fantastic writer who is also a stunning social critic) she published shortly after President Obama expressed his support for same-sex couples. There are many smart essays on this site about intersectionality and institutionalized privilege.
And finally, a wonderful reminder of how the best way to think, reflect, talk, and act to interrupt some pretty vicious patterns of violence in society is with humanity and connection (and maybe cake)
I appreciate Junot Diaz's description of masculinity and patriarchy as a learned behavior. Our society upholds patriarchy, which, as we read in Thorne's article "Crossing the Gender Divide" is the understanding of female-ness as being a lack of positive, male characteristics, or as Junot describes, not fully human. Another important element of male-ness in the patriarchal system is dominance and power. However, many men, through incarceration, unemployment, racism and otherwise, are stripped of the ability to be self reliant, let alone fill the male societal role of provider. Instead, I believe they compensate for their lack of control through becoming what Freire would call "Sub-oppressers" and exert dominance through the denigration of women that Diaz describes.
ReplyDeleteAs to why white feminists did not speak out on behalf of Quevenzhané Wallis, I believe that white women and black women remain largely segregated, and have not come together in feminist theory as we have not come together in many other spheres of life. I also think that feminism, which is largely concerned with the intimate subject of male/female relationships is especially touchy issue between black women and white women, given power dynamics that have carried over since slavery and how they historically influenced sexual relationships between black men & white women, and white men & black women.