Crunk Feminist Collective Article

Read this!!http://crunkfeministcollective.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/whats-love-got-to-do-with-it-attacks-on-reproductive-justice/

Learning Module 6

LEARNING MODULE SIX
Due Saturday (2/26) by noon
After reading the essay, “And So I Choose,” by Allison Crews place her discussion of “rights” in conversation with the article you read for class this week, “Beyond Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life?”  First (2 paragraphs), in your own words, please describe why each of these terms are in fact problematic or limiting to our larger discussion of reproductive rights.  Why were each limiting in Crew’s reflection?  What does a “reproductive justice” paradigm offer instead?  Second (1-2 paragraphs) reflect on the recent arguments surrounding legislation addressed to congress (see links below).  What do you think is at stake in politicizing women’s bodies and reproduction?  What would a reproductive justice argument look like in response to this legislation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/planned-parenthood-fundin_n_825258.html?ref=fb&src=sp
http://reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/Center%20for%20Reproductive%20Rights%20Testimony%202%2014%2011.pdf

Learning Module 5 REDO

LEARNING MODULE FIVE (REDO)
Due Wednesday 3/2 no later than Noon

Imagine you are participating in a conversation with the Combahee River Collective and, in a consciousness-raising group, you read the following article.  Using the Combahee River Collective Statement and what you have learned in the past weeks, discuss a black feminist perspective to this issue (In 2-3 paragraphs).   How would the Collective approach the issue, especially with regard to privilege, interlocking oppressions, “the personal is political”, and a critique of the limitations of dominant feminist and anti-racist approaches to hierarchies of inequality.  What new perspectives might they offer?  Be creative…imagine you are sitting at the table with them!
http://www.theroot.com/views/recy-taylor-symbol-jim-crow-s-forgotten-horror

Learning Module 5

LEARNING MODULE FIVE
(due Saturday by noon)

Imagine bell hooks joins the Combahee River Collective and in a consciousness-raising group reads her article “Straightening Our Hair”, and shows the film clip “A Girl Like Me”.  Based upon your readings for this week, discuss a black feminist perspective to this topic.  How would the Collective approach the issue, especially with regard to privilege, interlocking oppressions, “the personal is political”, and a critique of the limitations of dominant feminist and anti-racist approaches to hierarchies of inequality.  What new perspectives might they offer?  Be creative…imagine you are sitting at the table with them!

http://www.understandingrace.org/lived/video/index.html

online module 4

A Partial List of Heterosexual Privileges

The most unfair advantage of being heterosexual is being about to love who I want and furthermore being able to “legally marry the person I love.” I think if you are able to love you should have the opportunity to get married and spend your life with that person. Number three is another one I never really thought about “I can hold hands, touch, and dance with the other person I love in public without fear of others’ reactions.” Living in the south my whole life I believe that most people are judgmental towards gays and would be offended if they saw two guys or two girls kissing. However, I wish that would change and the world would be open to every ones choice to love whoever they want. Finally number twenty “I can live life fully and openly with my family and friends.” Being a dancer I have several friends that are gay and to me this is the hardest part watching them live a lie to their family and others who are not accepting. I am able to bring my boyfriend around my friends and family with no hesitation, and I wish the same for my friends who are gay.

A List of My Privileges

1. I can cry my way out of getting a speeding ticket. (If the cop is white, and not a complete jerk I can cry until he feels bad for me)

2. I can walk into a classroom in Tuscaloosa knowing my race will be the dominant one. (There are more whites than blacks in Tuscaloosa)

3. I can love my boyfriend and not fear disapproval from my peers. (I am straight so they will accept him)

4. I can go on vacations during the year. (This would be because of my class, but being able to enjoy life and take vacations).

5. I can stand on the side of the road without being called inappropriate names according to my color. (We all know about the racial slurs happening in Tuscaloosa, and this needs to stop).

Examples and Privileges

The first of my three examples is from the Black male checklist and it’s “When I read African American History textbooks, I will learn mainly about black men.” I can see where this notion comes from. I remember in middle school we had assigned reading, and most of the books we read had to do with white male main characters. I can see this being the same with someone who reads African American literature. An example from the Heterosexual checklist that appealed to me was “ I can legally marry the person I love.” I do have that privilege and sometimes it’s easy to forget the struggle that so many other people have to go through because a state refuses their approval. Makes me feel grateful for the already circumstances, but motivates me more to be involved in the GLTB community, so that is finally something we can both equally celebrate. An example from the Male Privilege that caught my eye was “If I seek political office, my relationship with my children, or who I hire to take care of them, will probably

Not be scrutinized by the press.” This is very interesting to me, because it makes me think of Sarah Palin and all of the bad press she got about her personal life and family. Makes me wonder if it were a male in that position if it would even matter as much. This is just making me think of all the growing pains of equality that are still present in politics.

1.I will be more successful in acting because it’s easier for woman to pull emotion

2. I am not offered certain scholarships because I am white.

3.I am classified as ethic because of my dark features

4.If I wear a thong to the pool I am slut.

5.I will not walk by myself in a parking garage because I am woman.

The first privilege I listed has to do with acting in film, and theatre, and speech. It seems like woman are constantly more successful in the roles they play because of the abilities to channel “real” emotion to the audience. Time and time again in speech woman are winning first place in the acting events, because of how well they can portray emotion, tears, and headache. Very rarely is it when a male wins because of his ability to do all of those over a woman. When it does happen, people are wowed. The second one I wanted to talk about made me think about when I was a senior applying to schools. It was imperative for me to get whatever scholarships I could. My teachers gave websites and guides to where you can find them. I remember getting stressed out because the numerous amounts of scholarships that only pertained to an African American descent. There were so many cool one ‘s I wish I could do, but I couldn’t because I am white. Not to say there wasn’t any for white females, but the ones that seemed the most interesting and enjoyable were restricted from me.

My third checklist is something that has really stuck out to me since I transferred this fall from South Florida. I can’t even tell you how many times since I’ve been here that I have been out at a bar and some man has come up to me and asked me what ethnicity I am, because I have super dark hair and dark eyes. I understand those features are not dominant here, but I get comments like “ What island are you from, what country are your parents from, are you Spanish, Latino ect ect.” I find none of that offensive but I never got asked that so much until I moved here. The fourth ties into the third. It is very normal to see thong bathing suits on woman at the beach or at pools in South Florida. I believe it’s because there are so many people down there from different cultures and countries where nudity is more exceptional. Here it’s quite different, considering the reactions I got from people over summer when I wore just a bikini (not thong) cut bathing suit. Won’t be doing that again till I go home. The last one I think is one that all women are privileged too. Parking garages can be very scary, and there are so many instances where woman have been abducted. I can relate to a place I used to work at. It was a policy for no woman to walk to their car without escort from one of the male employees. Now I can recall times being frustrated because of having to get out of there for whatever reason. But in the end it’s something I’m thankful for.