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Intersectional feminism is...  co-constructed meaning making

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Intersectional feminism is...  co-constructed meaning making

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- complex
- viewing a person as a whole and not individual parts
- My understanding is that there are so many things that go into our identities, and intersectional feminism is the understanding that we are multiple facets; we are not described or determined by one aspect of ourselves
- the naming of power as it relates to identity(ies)
- A framework/lens

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What does Dr. Love mean when she invites us to “welcome struggle”, and how can we use this principle to help us in our work in higher education in prison? (8)

Although reform can be good, what are some ways that it can hinder radical change? (10)

What is Dr. Love’s understanding and definition of anti-darkness? (14)

What are the factors that contribute to rendering the American school system a locus for dark suffering?

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1) ) the reality of holding multiple social identifiers/identities
2) when two significant events occur simultaneously

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1)   a political orientation for analysis of patterns of social inequity as well as a commitment to identifying how systems of oppression impact those with multiple marginalizing identities.

2)   A lens that illuminates the burdens shouldered by people existing at the crossroads of two or more marginalizing lived realities

3)   “Black, Chicana, indigenous and other feminist communities of color continue to be tasked with demonstrating the ways in which mainstream feminist activism fails to attend to the needs of women who are endure multiple forms of structural inequity” (Crenshaw, 1989).

4)   Comes from critical legal studies – legal studies neglected to attend to the needs of black women (critique of legal scholarship and second wave feminist scholarship)

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My first name, Sierra, means mountain range. It is Spanish in origin. It was chosen by my mother, who almost named me Naomi instead. When I was born, though, I seemed like Sierra to her. My mother was raised by a teacher and a high school guidance counselor, and her summers were spent taking road trips. Her experiences with her parents in the Sierra Nevadas were meaningful to her, and her family appreciates nature.

My middle name, Nicole, is French, and was given to me because my paternal grandmother wanted me to have a French name. If my naming had been up to her, my name would have been Jolie. I am glad this was not up to her, though, because I do not want to carry any more reminders of my father's family beyond my last name.

My last name feels like a weight on my chest when I write it or hear it spoken. I have even considered changing my last name to my maternal grandparents' name. My father is hard to describe in few words, but he is a volatile, unpredictable man who spent most of my childhood ignoring me. Because of him, I did not have enough to eat, did not feel safe at rest, and had to cobble together my own education. When I mentioned some of this to his parents in my teen years, they asked me what I do that makes him hit me. Their name is an insult to me.

I prefer my first and middle names because they are my own and my father did not provide much input into them. Without his last name, I do not believe anyone would believe my father and I were related. I do not look like him, I do not share his beliefs, and most of my names have no connection to him.

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My name was chosen by my father, as to why – I always got a snide remark from my mom when asked. My dad said it was the name of a singer/songwriter, my mom says that singer/songwriter was an old girlfriend. I have never been curious about the etymological or historical significance of my name. Culturally, in my family it holds no meaning besides maybe being a sore spot. I think because of that I never liked my name, and combined with my middle name I think it sounds silly.

If I could choose a new name, it would be Pilar, but with a Spanish pronunciation. That was the name I chose in high school Spanish my freshman year because it was defined as ‘of strength’. I am a juxtaposition of three cultures, I am Anglo and Vietnamese, but my earliest memories are living in Lima, Peru.

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My name is Billy, which is a derivative of William or Wilhelm – Will=desire, Helm=helmet, protector. Babycentre.co.uk says “Resolute Protector,” so we will go with that, and it has been a self-fulfilling prophecy until late. You see, helmets do not get to choose what battles they are participating in, they just get chosen, go, and come back in some condition or another. They take the blows to protect what is under them. Hmmm, as I am writing this, I never thought about it like that. Helmets protect. Helmets serve. Helmets do not choose battle, depending on what type of helmet they are, battles choose them. As the first child of both of my parents, this makes sense on levels I never thought about until the moment of writing.

What exactly does it mean to be resolute? Merriam Webster says it means “marked by firm determination, resolved, bold, and steady. I will have a moment of transparency here. I did not start to have a clear determination or a firm resolution about a lot of things until I was an adult. I was not bold, nor was I steady, though I could give off the appearance of both. I lacked confidence from years of undermining and fear. Those habits die hard and those are things that I struggle with.

So, what was I protecting? What was I supposed to be determined about, resolute in my guard? I still do not have the answers for that one. All I know is that I was named after my father. Yes, I am a junior. I do not know why I was named after him. I am the last of my name. We, my father, and I, have had an interesting relationship, full of its share of turns and complications. He represents a lot of things to me and for me. He is a southern star that I continue to move away from through practice, learning, and principles. We are on great terms, and I love him dearly, even if he does not make the best decisions. Like my siblings, I am learning to love my parents where they are, while realizing that they are not only products of the generation before them, but that they may or may not be working through their own trauma at any given time. He has become softer, or the correct words are a little more understanding in his willingness to listen. I blame the grandchildren for this turn in behavior and attitude, as it was not exhibited to me as a child. He was a self-centered, hot-headed, lustful man, who would get what he wanted by any means; but lessons from that type of living have opened pathways for us to learn and grow together. I am grateful for that.

I have never given much thought to how people react to my name outside of my family. Lies, because there have been plenty of shocked faces of receptionists when the interviewee is a black man with my name. I do not know if it was my parents' way of playing the game, or if it was just my father being selfish, but that is where they landed with my name. I am not sure if I would ever change it. It has grown into becoming my own, and I have people and things that I want to protect, I can comfortably and confidently say that now.

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I fear that I have lost touch with how gender, race, and culture are experienced outside the walls of academia.

I fear that it has not changed much in the years since I have studied it.

I fear that the older I get the less patience I have to make a difference - see the first two fears.

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I am looking forward to the discourse. A space where we can openly share ideas and thoughts. I am looking forward to the possibility of community building around a topic that I explored extensively in my undergraduate years but have woefully neglected to nourish as a working professional.

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Fear: it will all go too quickly

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Building community

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My three names symbolize hurt and pain.  They were given to me, but nobody asked for them; like when somebody you do not know  (do not care for) gives you advice you do not want (did not ask for).

I would have been Juanita Maria, named after my maternal grandmother.  Then maybe I wouldn't have felt the embarrassment of having a "White" name.  Between cousins Anjelica and Maria, I would have fit.  I like to imagine how people would similarly struggle to pronounce my name correctly.

My names were assigned while my mom was recovering from birthing me.  They are the names of a woman I never met, the names of a woman my dad once dated.  They are names that burned.

In the 1980s, I would have chosen "Sheira," an Arabic name that means "thankful."  I don't know why.  Today, I don't think much about having a new name. Maybe I would pick a letter like Z or a number like 3, something uncomplicated.

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Welcome to our first meeting! Please answer the following questions. You can keep it anonymous or write your name. You can also add photos, music, locations, voice memo, videos etc.

Please read Chapter 1 before our first meeting on May 5th at 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM.

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*Connect this back to the section "Reform Ain't Justice" we have to refuse the ways that terms such as intersectionality have been co-opted and made meaningless. Abolutionist teaching is refusing and abandoning "teaching gimmicks"