Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

You are here

Home » Feminism

Feminism

This Is Horrible

By ndifrank
September 21, 2014 - 16:53
ndifrank's picture

The fact that no one is doing anything to shut this organization that just happen to have Towson students down is what disgusts me. It's where the line of freedom of speech has to be drawn. I mean the part that really scared me was that fact he has a license to carry a weapon in 32 states and is willing " to do anything to help save someone".He doesn't have recognized club on camous so nothing is being done while he is carrying a gun and beleives that crime is committed by mostly black men. This is how situations like the horrific death of Trayvon Martin happen.

Reflecting On Riva's Visit

By ndifrank
September 21, 2014 - 16:34
ndifrank's picture

During Riva's powerpoint she mentioned artists who portrayed issues with race, class, age, disability, as well as a size. This really struck me because I rarely hear fatphobia being talked about. I can not distinctly remember the image that she showed but, the concept of including size along with societies categories that other people really resonates with me. I think that within the classroom size discrimination is rarely talked about. The demonized word fat is compared to the words queer and crip. In recent years campaigns like  Let's Move led by Michelle Obama have systamically ostracized children of various size. While Fat Acceptence movements (mostly done through social media) are constantly critiqued or ignored.

Representing Camphill

By Anne Dalke
September 19, 2014 - 07:11
Anne Dalke's picture

In your Monday evening posting this week, reflect on your experiences @ Camphill: What expectations did you have of our field site? What did you notice once we arrived? What did you learn on the visit? What surprised you? What questions do you still have?  What thoughts do you have now about the possibility of  "ethical representation" of the villagers?

Identitarianism

By khinchey
September 19, 2014 - 01:40
khinchey's picture

A friend just forwarded me this video about the "White Student Union" at Towson University. The leader identifies as an "identiarianist" which is basically an crazy way to justify racism in the name of watered down eugenics. It's gross but brings up an interesting (/terrible) view of identity politics in light of our own identiarianists on campus. 

They also spend their nights being "campus watchmen" because they believe Towson has a black on white crime problem. 

Conflicted

By abby rose
September 15, 2014 - 22:42
abby rose's picture

I agree with much of what nbarker has posted in Cautiously Optimistic, particularly the corncerning lack of support systems in place for trans women (as well as many other demographics that are already quite present on campus). The main questions I have been grappling with are: Is it wrong to welcome people into this environment if we do not have the proper support systems in place to ensure their comfort and safety at Bryn Mawr?

Cautiously Optimistic

By nbarker
September 15, 2014 - 17:25
nbarker's picture

 The general is evident: trans women are women, and thus belong at womens' colleges. The specifics and nitty-gritty are what make this issue an incredibly frought one. Let me bring up a few of the issues I've heard in various spaces and try to address them. I'll try to present a nuanced view for a nuanced problem.

Bryn Mawr as a Place for the Celebration of Difference

By abradycole
September 15, 2014 - 17:20
abradycole's picture

In Freaks and Queers, Clare discusses how the LGBT community has taken the word "queer" out of the hands of homophobes and transformed it into a word of pride and coalition. He says, "The word names a reality. Yes, we are different; we are outsiders; we do not fit the dominant culture's definition of normal. Queer celebrates that difference rather than hiding or denying it" (113). 

The Bryn Mawr Environment

By smalina
September 15, 2014 - 16:50
smalina's picture

I talked a little bit last class about how I feel like, as a student at Bryn Mawr who is visibly gay, I am often reduced to a character ("the gay one"). As I say this, I recognize that I am one of many, many gay women on campus, many of whom are open about their sexuality, reflect their sexuality in their clothing choices, and actively take part in the campus gay culture. For this reason, the thought of welcoming trans women onto Bryn Mawr's campus seems both an obvious necessity (as doing otherwise would deny their womanhood and assume we have the right to make any sort of gendered distinction), and one about which we must be very careful.