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Critical Feminist Studies 2013
![Anne Dalke's picture Anne Dalke's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-39.jpg)
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Welcome to the on-line conversation for Critical Feminist Studies, an introductory-level course offered in the English Department and Gender and Sexuality Program @ Bryn Mawr College in Fall 2013. |
Who are you writing for? Primarily for yourself, and for others in our course. But also for the world. This is a "public" forum, so people anywhere on the web might look in. You're writing for yourself, for others in the class, AND for others you might or might not know. So, your thoughts in progress can contribute to the thoughts in progress of LOTS of people. The web is giving increasing reality to the idea that there can actually evolve a world community, and you're part of helping to bring that about. We're glad to have you along, and hope you come to both enjoy and value our shared explorations. Feel free to comment on any post below, or to POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE.
![Celeste's picture Celeste's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1302.jpg)
Wrapping up with my gender--or not?
I was laying in bed the other night, thinking about whether I'm a very effective student. My most recent example that says otherwise is my reaction to the Bornstein's Gender Workbook. I am not sure if gullible is the right word to describe myself--easy to trick, easy to please--or if I simply err on the less critical side as I read. I watched many of my classmates make effective, concise arguments against the many issues with Bornstein's method of judging how we view gender and identity, mainly through the use of multiple choice quizzes. It's been repeatedly noted that the quizzes featured a certain bias. Although I was able to see that I was being herded like an intellectual sheep, I could still find value in the perspectives that were presented by the featured replies. For me, this provided an interesting, albeit directed opening perspective to the idea of gender fluidity. As Anne said in class, it is often as good an opportunity to read with an open mind as it is to read with a critical one. Like the glass of water metaphor, I found a fair amount of information to reflect upon after picking out the "dirt" in the glass of water. I found myself questioning what I consider to be male and female traits--something that truly hadn't crossed my mind before opening the book. It also became clear to me that my perceptions of gender rely heavily on the exterior, such as appearance and clothes and the way a person speaks of themselves.
![Ann Lemieux's picture Ann Lemieux's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1294.jpg)
Group post- Statements
There is no such thing as a "perfect" male or a "perfect" female (someone who conforms to all gender stereotypes).
Stereotypes will never be truthful when talking about gender because gender is constatly changing and everyone has their own individual identity.
Identity is the only thing that all humans have in common- it both separates and binds us together.
Together, we can break down the socially constructed views that condemn any one person for their preferred gender identity.
groups members: vhiggins, pialamode, sschurtz, Ann Lemieux and Christina (also not sure of her username)
![Elizabeth's picture Elizabeth's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1108.jpg)
Hopes for Persepolis
I read Persepolis and its sequel two summers ago in the shadow of the movie's popularity. Now, I get to read it again, and I'm really excited to see what I'll get out of it now. Most of all, I'm really looking forward to seeing how her younger self changed over the period of time that The Complete Persepolis covers.The two books were originally published over the course of three years, so I'm also interested in seeing the change in how Satrapi tells the stories. I think Bornstein tried to show the fluidity of gender in her book, but I think Persepolis will highlight it in a more digestable form. Persepolis doesn't summarize a whole lot, it presents a series of events that is from a very specific point of view. The summarization in Bornstein's workbook made me feel like her point of view was really being forced on me, and I hope Satrapi's, because it's presented in such a different form, won't be. Bornstein recognized that she had a point of view that was very specific, but I really didn't think that Bornstein's disclaimers were enough or presented in the appropriate places. Placing the book within a different nation and, actually, throughout several nations, as well as over a period of years, will, I think show more of a progression in gender presenattion and will allow us to see gender in a different way than Bornstein even said she was able to.
![Amoylan's picture Amoylan's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1300.jpg)
Binary Slam
So this post sort of relates to a conversation we've been having in all of our classes not just the most recent ones. The sex we are assigned comes with gender roles that are forced upon us and carried through generations. the realtionship between father and son is one that is extremely different from the relationship between mother and daughter. I came across a video of a poetry slam in which Lily Myers performs for Wesleyan University her piece entitled "Women Shrinking" she addresses the roles of gender in their family and how there is such a divide betwen the men and women in her life. Her gender roles were inherited and as she so wisely states "inheritance is accidental." I've attached the video of her performance, it is truly powerful.
![kwilkinson's picture kwilkinson's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1318.jpg)
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.
![ccassidy's picture ccassidy's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1298.jpg)
Kate Bornstein's workbook format
I thought it was interesting that, for the most part, the class was in agreement that Kate Bornstein’s ‘My New Gender Workbook’ was very hypocritical in that her gender assessments encouraged a sense of ‘either/or,’ which she had been insisting that we stay away from for the majority of her book. I also was a little irritated with the way that she presented these quizzes and with the summaries that were given about your personal score. Like a lot of people in our class, I sensed negativity and a condescending attitude that really made me feel like I was not a welcomed reader.
However, it was mentioned in class that Bornstein’s personal stories were more relatable and actually taught more about the process of discovering your identity versus all the steps, quizzes and theories she was throwing at us. For me, the mini biography she included and the tweets from real people who were in the process of discovering their identity are what made me want to continue reading. I know we touched on this the first day of class, whether or not we wanted to learn about gender and sexuality with an objective or subjective lens, and we came to the conclusion that we needed a little bit of both. Based on this conclusion, I think that was Bornstein’s intent with the structure of this workbook. She presented us with some objective theories and steps for processing your identity but she tried to balance it out with some relatable evidence.
![ccassidy's picture ccassidy's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1298.jpg)
Question and Statement
Why does society need to label a person's gender or sexuality?
Is is always society, don't people also label their own identity?
How can we separate what parts of our identity have been forced on us from what parts we define ourselves?
Do the parts forced on us also define us?
In what ways are parts of our identity forced on us-and is it unconscious or conscious?
Is discovering your identity ever a personal experience?
Fuck Gender Violence
Violence should not be a reaction to someone's identity.
Identity is personal and should be protected.
Protection is necessary for ourselves and others, but we too frequently ignore the protection of others.
"Other" is the second side of binaries that cause oppression.
![juliah's picture juliah's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1312.jpg)
Will I Declare?
In class on Thursday, during our modified version of the “Question” activity, as well as during the new “Statement” exercise, my group identified one overarching concern: not one of us “answered” the questions, or even made a succinct, declarative statement in response to the issue at hand. We seemed utterly incapable of distilling a broad question (like mine, “Where does gender begin?”) into a concise, concrete statement. All of the responses merely bloated the issue at hand with nebulous words such as “universe” invading almost everyone’s question series. Our responses were also riddled with shaky, timid statements that could easily be retracted, or our words were hedged with disclaimers. Why is this? Why are we seemingly (I am noting my inability to write fully declarative sentences here, as I automatically used a weak word like “seemingly”) unable to make decisive statements and stand behind them? Why are we afraid of answering our own questions?
![pipermartz's picture pipermartz's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1296.jpg)
Questions and Statements
Have I questioned my gender enough?
What defines "enough"?
Is being aware of your gender enough?
Is it ever over?
When did it begin?
Why did it begin?
Gender is the best sex toy!
Toys are the best part of sex!
Sex evolves.
Evolution is essential for change.
Change those toys!
Toys aren't just for children.
![EP's picture EP's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1308.jpg)
Views of Gender in Persepolis
One of the major issues in Persepolis is how the views and expectations of women changed in revolutionary Iran as author Marjane Satrapi grew up there. The contrast between the more "liberal" views of her parents and the "conservative" ones of the people like Marji's schoolteacher shows the importance of cultural perspective when it comes to looking at gender. People forget that when coming to understand gender and gender roles in society, you also must consider other factors, such as culture and class. Gender does not exist on its own. Gender exists within an individual, but the roles that come with it exist around the individual. It is important to remember that, when studying gender, one cannot do so effectively looking exclusively through their own cultural lens. It is important to understand gender and gender roles throughout many different cultures.
![yj13's picture yj13's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1299.jpg)
Breaking Barriers, Making Barriers
I'm looking forward to our discussions on Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis this coming week. I studied the first half of Persepolis in my 12th grade English class, though I'm curious to see how my analysis and understanding will change with a more focused study. One thing I found interesting was the choice of medium, namely the undetailed comic style. When I originally took the art style into consideration, the point was made that since the drawings were very simplistic, it made the story more relatable. Since non-Iranians would be reading this book, the simple drawings could allow readers to not feel like they were reading the story of an "other", someone whose experiences were fundamentally different and ergo unrelateable. However, the style also leads to an enforcement of gender stereotypes due to its simplistic nature. It is very clear which figures are meant to be men and which are meant to be women based on external characteristics, traits that are meant to be clearly read as male or female. The style does not really allow for any variance in gender; it shows only two possible points on a the amorphous ball that is gender identity.
![EmmaBE's picture EmmaBE's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1305.png)
Emancipation in Persepolis
While reading Persepolis, I struggled with the term “emancipation”. A religious man tells Satrapi that the veil she is forced to wear is emancipation – from the male gaze, leaving her free to worry about other things. But some women rebel against this ‘emancipation’ with things that attract the male gaze – makeup, hairstyles, tighter clothing, etc. It made me wonder: is it still rebellion if the women are rebelling by playing into their roles in a patriarchy? (to be more feminine, to please men, etc.) However, I have come to realize that emancipation is about freedom of choice and that these women were choosing to attract men when/because their society refused to let them do so, and that this is an act of rebellion.
![ari_hall's picture ari_hall's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1322.jpg)
"Choice is a function of expanded awareness"
The more you know, or are informed about things, the better equipted you are to make better choices for yourself. But sometimes knowing more also confuses you. As I have been learning more about gender, I am more aware and conscious of my own identity, and being cautious of not labeling other's identities. However, the more information I recieve, the more I also become confused. Even in Persepolis, I see Marjane Satrapi adjusting and reconfiguring the choices she makes when given more knowledge about the social revolution happening right outside her doorsteps, yet she too is sometimes confused by the different (sometimes contrasting) information she recieves.
The more I know also seems to place a burden on me. I feel like having information many others may not, puts me outside the sphere where the majority live, and creates a barrier. Knowing and understanding the oppresive institutions that operate against marginalized groups and not feeling able to help because the mainstream accepts, perpetuates and encourages them is defeating. The question activity in class really got me thinking, why doesn't society question more, and push boundaries instead of accepting them blindlly? Is it becuase its more comfortable to live in blissful naivete? Do they also feel defeated or afraid to fight for a cause that may seem impossible? Or is it because they benefit from institutionalized racism, sexism, genderism, etc. that they choose to do nothing?
knowledge is a gift and a burden
![vhiggins's picture vhiggins's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1341.jpg)
Who is one or the other?
This question was inspired by the exercise we did in class on Tuesday 09/10. I had difficulties answering the question "Why do we have to be one or the other?" with another question. I began to think of the characteristics that make men "men" and women "women": Do all women have to know how to cook? Do all men have to be emotionally blank? Do both women and men aspire to be great parents? It is interesting to think of my own gender, and how I have seemingly lived according to my sex assigned at birth, not willingly but because my parents understood the implications of what it meant to be giving birth to a baby girl. They brought me up implementing values that made me into the "perfect little lady", and denied me things that were said to belong to little boys. Still, I pursued a number of active/ contact sports, loved to wear sneakers, and liked to be dirty, all of which were said to belong to little boys - so according to society's view of gender I was both male and female. My older brother played Barbies with me, and helped me cook in my Easy-Bake oven (but ate everything we made) - and so he was also both male and female. This stream of consciousness led me to the question that is the title of this post: "Who is one or the other?"
![vhiggins's picture vhiggins's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1341.jpg)
New Avatar Post
Hello class! We haven't officially been introduced (and of course I mean on Serendip), but my name is Vaughan and I am a senior Philosophy Major.
I expected the choosing of my avatar to be an easy task. However, in wanting to connect the avatar with my personal narrative it was a bit more difficult to find one that could encompass what I am going through at the moment. I feel that it is representative of the new journey that I am embarking on in my life, one that shows promise of helping me to understand my gender and racial identity and how it affects my personal, social, and professional life. As someone who has never questioned the implications of what it means to be a young “woman”, through taking this class I hope to gain knowledge of what my gender identity is and means, as well as how to exercise agency over it. There is a compass and a map shown in my avatar, both of which are vital to beginning a new journey and being able to see it out to the end. I am hoping that this class will act as the tools shown to help me along my path.
![vhiggins's picture vhiggins's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1341.jpg)
Questions Exercise
Original question: Is it wrong to feel unangered by the exploitation of your gender?
As a gender collective, is every single person in that identity group required to react or defend the group from being marginalized?
Is it a bad thing if you have not questioned your gender?
Can we become activists for the gender fluid and want there to be no gender in society if we have never questioned our own gender?
Why does it seem like we are simultaneously praising gender identity and claiming your own gender AND pushing for a no-gender society? If we take pride in our genders, how can we also be asked to give them up?
Group Members: vhiggins, pialamode, sschurtz, Amanda and Christina (not sure of their usernames)
![ari_hall's picture ari_hall's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1322.jpg)
Group Statements and Questions Activity
Questions:
Is gender meant to serve a purpose?
Who made gender?
What is gender?
Why do people like to put things in boxes/categories?
Should we try to break out of those categories, make new ones, or keep them?
Statements:
We are all human
Humanity is allowed within people in accordance with their identities
Identitiy is a complex component of a person
Person-hood is defined by identity
Identity can change
EmmaBE, EP, Taylor 11, Elizabeth
![Fdaniel's picture Fdaniel's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1320.jpg)
Do we really want to get rid of categories ?
After reading Kate Bornstein's workbook I was very confused as to whether I was questioning my gender and sexuality enough. Was I not being open minded because It never crossed my mind that I might want to kiss a girl? Or was it Kate Bornstein that needed to lay off on the questions! After reading this workbook I have came to the conclusion that I am for sure a cisgendered woman. However, I questioned whether I should even label myself anything other the name I'm most comfortable with, Faith (my first name). Do I want to deminish labels? Or do I want to keep them and continue categorizeing people that dont nessarily want to be categorized. When talking to Sam today I got a new perspective. Sam discussed the idea of actually being comfortable in one's box and not being asshamed of it. Well I second that! I think that labels are a sense of comfort but they can also be something that categorizes people in a negative light. So, to hell with all this confusion!!! For once there is an answer to this conflict. The answer is ... to do what ever the hell you want! If you want a label be my guess and if you dont simply inform people what you'd like to called. However, ultimately it's not just "society" that creates these categories its US! We renforce them everyday. We use pronouns like "he" or "she" without asking and we check boxes that say male or female on it. I think companies ask female or male for identification purposes not nessarily to oppress us as a society.
![ari_hall's picture ari_hall's picture](https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/files/pictures/picture-1322.jpg)
Just Do You: a reflection on Fine. A Comic about Gender
Only having been a part of this class for a day i have already learned so much. Talking about my gender was never a problem for me because i am cisgender, but for my younger sister it is different. Not knowing about the gender spectrum, I labeled my sister; who has always loved Spiderman, always played the boy when we used to played dolls, and loves basketball shorts, as a tomboy, and when she got older and still dressed like a "boy" I thought: welp, shes gay, but im okay with that. Being so young, she herself may not know her sexuality, but for me I realized that just because she dresses and acts a certain way, reflects nothing about her sexuality. Maybe she's just a girl who likes to dress in "guy" clothes, maybe she will perfer the personal pronoun he, maybe she wants to wear makeup and baggy jeans and Jordans and a dress on occasion. I never looked at gender as something that could be fluid, but I am so glad I now know, not only for my own understanding, but to help my sister love herself for who she is, and know that I love her for whoever she wants to be.