Working Ideas

I have not been able to get my hands on a copy of the book yet, but I am borrowing from Vaughan tonight!  I wanted to reflect on my experience with the Borenstein book. 

As stated in some of my earlier statements, blog posts, and sentiments in class I have come to this discussion apprehensive to immerse myself in the ideals of feminism.  Regardless of the socio-historical context in which many women have been left out of this movement, I struggled with Borenstein's use of sarcasm/satire in this workbook.  I will admit, as a social-science major, I am quick to find flaw and problems within a particular framework.  Although this is my personality (both of my parents are lawyers--I tend to argue/question.. ha!), I find myself to often be one of few in many of my classes that not only acknowledge the systematic oppression of minorities, but the more subtle/nuanced ways in which minorities face micro-level/macro-level racism/sexism/any of the isms today.  I realize that I am in a learning space which is hyper-sensitive to these various forms of oppression, but also we all come from different backgrounds and experiences which shape our lens of race/sexuality/gender/class/everything today.

With that being said, I recently read a quote from Professor Tricia Rose via Melissa-Harris Perry's twitter which states that satire requires shared knowledge and solidarity.  I guess I worry that Borenstein's use of satire does not necessarily consider, knowledge, but especially solidarity.  Coming from a stance that does not consider feminism to be "solid" or yet able to find solidarity amongst people across racial/class/culture/ethnic lines, I find myself at a loss in which I was eager to evolve through my gender identity more, but also left with a bad taste in my mouth that I do not belong in this conversation.

On Thursday, our activity of questions and mantra's provided a much needed boost of comfort for myself, in understanding our solidarity as a classroom.  Not only did my group open up via question's with one another, but also re-affirmed our critical lens at status quos and norms set forth by our society regarding gender's spectrum, but also intersectionality.

 As an admirer of bell hooks, I too would like to better understand what I can take away from a reading/theory but not only through criticism.  Personally, it has been difficult for me to decipher what matters to me, Kelly, and what also matters to me, as a black-american woman?  Do I have to ask questions that may be other-wise overlooked?  Is this a burden or just a part of my performance as a Black woman?  Is it a burden or just a part of my whole self?