Self-Evaluation

There are honestly no words to explain how much this class has changed my life.  Although learning the feminist academic "cannon" was "productive" and "useful", I think I have grown so much as a person, academic, and listener both in and outside of the classroom.  I have become more confident in speaking in MY VOICE--understanding that it is okay if other's do not "get" me and/or have experienced my journey through time/temporality.  Of course this has always been preached in the environments I have learned/worked in, but there has been NO TEACHER/PROFESSOR that actually embraces this theory through their own practice/pedagogy as Anne has.  

This was my favorite class this semester--in college so far--however I definitely got behind in my assignments, but after pulling through in the end I am very proud of my work.  Every paper I have written has been incredibly consuming: literal time, physical, emotional, and mental energy--but because I was able to discuss topics so tangible to me these papers meant so much more.  This practice of writing in my own voice has expanded many of my interests correlated to my “intended” career-path as a political talk show producer (NOT A JOURNALIST).  I don’t believe in this idea that journalism is “objective” because our voice is inherently present, through silence and literal voice (writing/speaking).  I realized this through interactions/dialogue via serendip and the classroom, but also internally as I have grown to understand the power of silence through my own thinking/writing process.  I have also discovered the power in using different forms of medium (images/writing/speech/art) to discuss social justice discourse, which has enabled a much needed creative outlet for my academic career.  Specifically in my last paper where I essentially took out my voice (with actual writing), instead I provided analysis through other voices by way of a mantrafesto.    

As I have discussed before, I really have enjoyed getting to know/working with all of my peers.  Although there were frustrating times... moments of uncertainty... uncomfort... I think by being an observing participant I saw overall growth as a classroom, but also individuals.  Many of you all inspired me to "risk myself", while also illuminating the overwhelming presence of fear that exist in the spaces that we had universally considered “safe”--such as the classroom or even Bryn Mawr…  I think “fear” illuminated the disabling structure of learning that we are situated in, but also fuels the perpetuating racial discourse that seems to go unresolved within this relatively liberal and open environment.  In my web event 2 I proposed the idea that Bryn Mawr is not a collective universal cohesive community, but instead fragmented communities that are forced to coexist and FIND common ground while coping with various tensions.  I think the biggest take away from the class was that feminism is undefined there is no common ground, but it has the opportunity to encompass all identities if we embrace these varied perspectives and recognize that our common ground is our difference.