Women's Studies Final Overview - Comparative Analysis of Readings

Many views have been explored on the topics of women and the normalization of gender, sexuality, desensitization of violence and marginalization of minority women. In Lila Abu-Lughod's argument surrounding Muslim women, she challenges the ethics and morals by which American people view what they considered to be other or not equal to. The superiority of knowledge, power and civilization is often mishandled when the U.S. approaches transnational issues.

Even is the U.S., women whom are deemed minority often find themselves subjected to 'whiteness' and have limited access to healthcare, education and are often written off as second class citizens. Loretta Ross explores this in depth in her piece, The Color of Choice. She addressed the marginalization of the minority woman and the positioning of disadvantage applied to these women and African-American women more specifically. African-American women have less access to appropriate healthcare, family planning options including abortion and in the past have endured sterilization abuse and population control at the hands of white supremacy. She argues that the reproductive rights and the lack of these rights simply violates basic human rights.

Since the early seventies minority feminists have attempted to band together in the hopes of reversing the system that oppresses them on a daily basis. In the Combahee River Collective Statement Black Feminists addressed the issues of psychological stress of simply being a Black woman, structural oppression which results in unequal access of education and career opportunities and exclusion from white feminists movements. Intersectionality is dissected as well highlighting the balancing act of being a woman of color in a certain class, of a certain sexual orientation, of a particular faith and the multiple layers of discrimination faced by these women. Gloria Anzaldua's writing on Borderlands, The New Mestiza continues this conversation of intersectionality and the different aspects of subjectivity, self oppression and the hybrid identity that is formed blending the fragmented versions of the multiple identities. This is then used to navigate different spaces in order to remain complicit in the company of the majority or societal standard.

Women in general face unrealistic and unaccommodating standards placed on them by men who define femininity, sexual desire and even sexual pleasure for women. Virginia Braun wrote about female genital cosmetic surgery and how most of the marketed procedures are generally for increased pleasure of the man or increased aesthetic for his acceptance. These medical procedures again place the woman in the position of an object and her sole responsibility reduced to the pleasuring of a man. It also attempts to create a norm for the way female genitalia looks and silently reinforces the idea of the more virgin or prepubescent like, the better. Jane Kilbourne's work draws connections from the media images of women to the violence of women, rape, eating disorders and the constant objectification of women that has been normalized.

As the third wave of feminism continues, the struggle for equality of women continues as well. These authors and activists show it is important to gain the necessary knowledge of the past struggles and triumphs of the feminists movements overall. They challenge us to not become complicit and accept the so-called norms that exist today. The general themes found are that women must continue the push for change, bridge the gap, being careful to acknowledge the differences among themselves in order to reverse the systematic marginalization and oppression that they face everyday.

Women Studies Blog #2 - Race, Gender & Intersectionality

“In attempt to work out a synthesis, the self has added a third element which is greater than the sum of its severed parts. That third element is a new consciousness—a mestiza consciousness—and though it is a source of intense pain, its energy comes from continual creative motion that keeps breaking down the unitary aspect of each paradigm.”

-Le Conciencia de la Mestiza, pg 101-102

The overall bridging theme of Combahee Collective, La Güerra, La Consciencia de la Mestiza and La Prieta is the struggle of intersectionality as briefly discussed in class. These women are writing about the crossroads and multiple barriers they face as women, women of color and their sometimes unaccepted sexual orientation.

As referenced in the quote above, there is one thought described by Anzaldua that all of the pieces come together and sort of morph into this other being that defies all other definitions, transcending through multiple layers and preconceived notions of race, gender, class and sexuality. She describes this new thinking pattern of duality to be the answer to the segregation between any two groups; male and female, black and white.

In the Combahee Collective, the focuses is lent to the struggle factors facing women of color, specifically black women. The stigma of being the perceived lesser sex, being black, being poor puts these women into a multiple marginalized category. Their focus was to bring these women whom lived this experience everyday and mobilize a movement to pull themselves up from the bottom.

Both La Guerra and La Prieta focus more on the way women of color cope with intersectionality. The way women try to blend within different groups so that they don't feel as marginalized. Hiding your femininity with men, ignoring your ethnicity when among whites to avoid those uncomfortable conversations.

I personally enjoyed all of the readings and found my struggle written in their words. I do believe all women are oppressed in certain ways and I find it especially difficult to present my womanhood, my blackness, my religious beliefs and values at all times without conflict or marginalization. Even when I am amongst other women of color, a lot of times our value systems are different. Amongst my white peers, I may watch my “blackness” as to not offend anyone. In a classroom, I will keep my religious beliefs to myself as to not be labeled or considered closed minded. I can totally relate to that isolated feeling and that fear of always being controversial and different just by virtue of having my own set of ideas and thoughts.

A quote from the collective stood out to me; “If Black women were free, it would mean that everyone else would have to be free since our freedom would necessitate the destruction of all the systems of oppression.”

In the end we must navigate this life truthfully and balance everything that makes us an individual. Hopefully becoming fully who we are meant to be, learning from others and teaching someone along the way.

AA 4950 Blog #3 - Imitation of Life : African Americans and Art

The arts in all of its forms has always been a vehicle by which African Americans have been able to tell their own story. Reflecting back on the major Black Arts Movement which was the creative leg of the Black Rights Movement, African Americans were given a voice to shape and represent a more accurate representation of themselves and their lives.

Cinema, literature, music and art provide a platform for interpretation of the Black experience. Depending on the storyteller, the end product can often be controversial. From the Blaxploitation era we see a group of people who purposely take an extreme approach to the Black life, highlighting all stereotypes of that era turning them almost into caricatures. During the same time, more conservative Blacks frowned upon this art form and felt it showed us at our worst and played right into what Whites thought of us; as pimps, hustlers, drug dealers, promiscuous and socially deviant.

Today we still find ourselves torn over the proper representation of Blacks in the media, cinema and television. Movies created by our own show inflated stereotypes of mammies, irresponsible black fathers, crack addicted and over sexualized Black women. We struggle with this for two reasons; one, does this merely represent the cold, hard truth? Or, does it in someway glorify a minority of activity and perpetuate the continuation of it.

Some also believe Black producers, directors and screenwriters have some sort of responsibility to the African American community to demonstrate but not exploit the illnesses of our communities. When serious, devastating and detrimental behavior is shown in a comical, satire-like way through movies or staged reality television, it desensitizes the audience both Black and White. There seems to be a common trend in the representation of African Americans that is consistently negative and inferior.

A deeper concern lies in the conversation we have amongst ourselves in the Black community. With or without these art forms and representations, we would not still have these deplorable realities? Can art really perpetuate lifestyles? Does life really shape and bend around artistic mediums? I find more than likely that art has always been an imitation life. Lifestyles vary from person to person and while we find influences of art in everything, if all art forms stopped, African American communities as a whole would still find itself dealing with the same issues. The responsibility of art is to tell the story, not attempt to celebrate and condone the adversities we deal with.

A further responsibility is given to African Americans who are behind the scenes in the cinema world especially. We rely on them to tell our stories more accurately and with more sensitivity. It is acceptable to use comedy as Blacks have used comedy for years to cope with our experiences but we should at all costs avoid mockery and complicity.

It is a delicate balance of interpretation and creative freedom. African Americans also deal with the additional challenge of being held accountable for everything that is represented of us. This makes the decisions of Black art creators even more critical when determining what they will and won't allow the legacy of Black art forms to be.  

AA 4950 Blog #2 – Atlanta : The Great Black Hope

The Second Great Migration of Blacks from the south to the north, east coast and the midwest took place between 1940 and 1970. Blacks were seeking WWII industrial jobs during this era. The film industry took cues as well producing black films with back drops such as Chicago, Harlem and New York. Blaxploitation films began to emerge in 1971 and continued showing a theme of Blacks in midwestern and east coast cities.

After 1945 soldiers returned home from the war and in turn produced the baby boom. The GI bill passed allowing for new educational opportunities and this in turn developed the black middle class. A fair amount of children of this population of baby boomers would go on to attend HBCU's that are primarily located in the southern states. Around the 1980's a Black Reverse Migration began where Black families in high volume returned to their southern roots. With the advancement of education for Blacks and development of industries in Atlanta specifically a birth of young black professionals puts a spotlight on Atlanta.

Media and film often follows the cues of politics and socio-economics, therefore directors, producers and film companies alike started to see the benefit of having Atlanta which is viewed as this urban, progressive city full of opportunities for Black people as a backdrop for movies, television series and award shows.

The 1996 hosting of the Olympics in Atlanta brought a surplus of attention, focus and economic boom to the city of Atlanta as well, adding to the buzz. It was all of sudden was viewed as the place to be for any young Black, educated professional. I myself, moved to Atlanta in 2001 with the hopes of being a part of this progression of Black professionals excelling in various industries. Whether we believe art imitates life or that life imitates art, there some negative aspects to the relationship between the way Atlanta is perceived and the unedited and sometimes grotesque content of Atlanta based films, specifically reality shows. Currently, if you talk to people about the idea of Atlanta, it is often diluted by ideas of Blacks living above their means, exaggerated caricatures of Black men and women and the pie in the sky Hollywood aspirations of so many whom can't keep real jobs.

­Hopefully Atlanta can continue to move forward with the rich legacy and history it has and better leverage the film and media industry to promote a much more positive and enlightened view of the city and its residents.

AA 4950 Blog #1 - Preservation of Sweet Auburn Avenue

I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of Sweet Auburn Avenue. It was amazing to me the amount of rich history that is packed and hidden away in those few blocks. After the tour I found myself reflecting mostly on the Odd Fellows Building. Historically this space was used as theater for blacks as we were not welcome in other white owned theaters. In present day it still has a great charismatic charm, sitting on a corner barely noticeable to the average person walking or driving by.

Why hasn't Atlanta done more to preserve this space? That can be argued both ways. On one hand you can easily see the building has been preserved somewhat and can even still be rented out for space and leased for business. Maybe the obligation is on the black community to patronize these historic black areas more and therefore bring in additional revenues so that these businesses can thrive, reinvent themselves and make improvements if necessary.

I personally feel if the city gets too involved with a project such as this you are inevitable going to have a wealthy contractor or business owner put in a bid to buy out places such as Odd Fellows. They will quickly tear it down along with several other buildings and begin what they call enhancing and upgrading an area which is what we call gentrification. Other black businesses will be bought out and forced to move out of the area. Most of these businesses will become displaced and will not rebuild.

I don't think the goal of the city was to ever preserve Sweet Auburn Avenue and a black-owned business mecca but rather preserve the historical elements which are now housed in the Auburn Avenue archives.

On our tour of the Auburn Avenue archives it was interesting to see the effort that had been put into preserving historical documents, artifacts and information of the Black American experience. It was explained that nearly $10M went into building the Auburn Avenue Library. I find this to be a substantial contribution towards preserving black history. Perhaps the city of Atlanta has decided this is the extent to which they feel obligated. They may feel like black business owners, black consumers and black tourists should make it a priority to keep spaces like Odd Fellows and other businesses alike thriving so that they are preserved for future generations.