Friday, March 30, 2012
Company!
Granna and Mum are staying at the condo tonight after attending Uncle Al's play in Detroit. Tomorrow we have "Keep Making Peace" at the church. Shane Claiborne, leading of a new monastic movement, will be joining us to share his experiences. It'll be a fun day of seeing many Methodist friends from around Michigan.
859 Midterm!
I got my take-home midterm back for Anthro 859, my feminist methods course...4.0! And to think, I was worried about having started it the day before it was due...
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sleepover!
The Obingers are in town for Barb's spring break...the adults have run away for a few days, leaving the kids with Grandma and Grampa. I've got both of them tonight for a sleepover. Can you say popcorn, futons, and Netflix for tonight, and way too many bubbles tomorrow? Hope it's decently warm...
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
And life goes on
It's been a very quiet few days...nothing particularly exciting has happened.
On St. Patrick's Day, I did housework in order to avoid doing homework, and cooked Kelsey corned beef and cabbage (which I was not eating thanks to Lent). And that's really the most significant thing that's happened.
However, Friday should be fun. I'm helping to host a conference:
Expanding the Boundaries of Inclusion: (Dis)Ability, Diversity, and Social Justice
How do we define “inclusion”?
What are the connections between disability justice, civil rights, gender equality, socioeconomic justice, and sexual nondiscrimination?
What does social ...justice really mean for disenfranchised groups?
How can identity-based movements work together to promote common concerns?
Join us for the day or a single session furthering dialogue and capacity-building around issues of inclusion and justice on Michigan State’s campus
Conference Schedule:
9:30am – Registration and Opening Remarks
10:30am – ‘Gawking, Gaping, Staring: Living in Marked Bodies,’ a Lecture by Eli Clare
12:00pm – Luncheon Keynote by Duncan Wyeth
1:00 pm – ‘Moving Beyond Pity & Inspiration: Disability as a Social Justice Issue,’ a Workshop with Eli Clare
About our Speakers:
White, disabled, and genderqueer, Eli Clare happily lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont where he writes and proudly claims a penchant for rabble-rousing. Among other pursuits, he has walked across the United States for peace, coordinated a rape prevention program, and helped organize the first ever Queerness and Disability Conference. When he’s not writing or on the road, you can find him reading, hiking, camping, riding his recumbent trike, or otherwise having fun adventures.
Formerly the Executive Director of the Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns, Duncan Wyeth currently teaches in MSU’s Department of Counseling, Education Psychology & Special Education. Mr. Wyeth has also served on the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee, the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Services (NAPAS), the American Association of People with Disabilities, and United Cerebral Palsy Associations. Inducted into the Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame in 2001, he is a tireless proponent of athletics and people with disabilities.
On St. Patrick's Day, I did housework in order to avoid doing homework, and cooked Kelsey corned beef and cabbage (which I was not eating thanks to Lent). And that's really the most significant thing that's happened.
However, Friday should be fun. I'm helping to host a conference:
Expanding the Boundaries of Inclusion: (Dis)Ability, Diversity, and Social Justice
How do we define “inclusion”?
What are the connections between disability justice, civil rights, gender equality, socioeconomic justice, and sexual nondiscrimination?
What does social ...justice really mean for disenfranchised groups?
How can identity-based movements work together to promote common concerns?
Join us for the day or a single session furthering dialogue and capacity-building around issues of inclusion and justice on Michigan State’s campus
Conference Schedule:
9:30am – Registration and Opening Remarks
10:30am – ‘Gawking, Gaping, Staring: Living in Marked Bodies,’ a Lecture by Eli Clare
12:00pm – Luncheon Keynote by Duncan Wyeth
1:00 pm – ‘Moving Beyond Pity & Inspiration: Disability as a Social Justice Issue,’ a Workshop with Eli Clare
About our Speakers:
White, disabled, and genderqueer, Eli Clare happily lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont where he writes and proudly claims a penchant for rabble-rousing. Among other pursuits, he has walked across the United States for peace, coordinated a rape prevention program, and helped organize the first ever Queerness and Disability Conference. When he’s not writing or on the road, you can find him reading, hiking, camping, riding his recumbent trike, or otherwise having fun adventures.
Formerly the Executive Director of the Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns, Duncan Wyeth currently teaches in MSU’s Department of Counseling, Education Psychology & Special Education. Mr. Wyeth has also served on the Board of Directors of the United States Olympic Committee, the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Services (NAPAS), the American Association of People with Disabilities, and United Cerebral Palsy Associations. Inducted into the Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame in 2001, he is a tireless proponent of athletics and people with disabilities.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Islamic Awareness Week
Yesterday I wore a hijab as part of MSU's Islamic Awareness Week. People approach the hijab in a variety of ways, but the basic rules are to cover all parts of the body except the face and hands. For me, this meant a long-sleeve top, jeans, socks (I still wore flip-flops, though!), and a headscarf (tied myself - thanks, internet, for the tutorial!).
I had very few concerns about the day, since I wasn't going anywhere too exciting. (I had one class in James Madison College, a fairly liberal public policy college where most people are relatively educated about and open to religious and cultural diversity), a lunch meeting with a professor at a Middle Eastern restaurant (biggest concern there was feeling like a bit of a fraud!), and a meeting with a professor at a teahouse on Grand River.
Mostly, the day served as an opportunity to bring awareness and remind students about the many forms diversity takes. There were, however, a few rough moments.
I have Caucasian friends who are Muslims and wear hijab. I know of some people throughout the day who assumed they were experiencing hijab for a day, rather than truly Muslim. Don't judge a book by its cover!
People didn't stare or question...if anything, they didn't look at all. I think we have come too far in society along these lines. We know staring is rude, so we refuse to look at all. It was nearly impossible to make eye contact, people were overly apologetic if they bumped into me, etc. Part of this is nervousness, I think, and the simply worry that we don't know how to respond to people who seem different from the norm. But the truth is that we really have no idea how comfortable people are with eye contact, conversations with strangers, and the like from the way they appear. Again, don't judge a book by its cover!
By far the biggest concern I had was with (you'll never guess!)...certain feminists. I am a feminist. Let me make that very clear. I believe that men and women are equal and should be treated thusly by public policy and each other. I believe that a woman can do virtually everything a man can and vice versa (males and females biologically have some limits in reproductive areas, but that's about all). However, I also believe that empowerment, liberation, and the like take many forms. And I believe that Western feminists who argue very staunchly against things like the hijab without taking the time to recognize that it can, in some situations, be a powerful tool for women, not against them. To tell women they "can't" wear the hijab and believe in equality is to commit the same sin patriarchy does - assume you know what's best for another, attempt to improve someone else or show them their place.
Is the hijab a symbol of patriarchy in some situations? Yes. So are dresses, high heels, make-up, haircuts, bras, jeans...the list goes on and on. Can covering be used to try and control women? Yes. So can sex. And I don't think those same feminists would argue that sex should be completely done away with and is never empowering.
We live in a patriarchal world. Everything women do and associate with can and will be used in sexist ways by some people. But those same things can be used in very powerful, inspiring, liberating ways for others. What empowers you subjects another. Feminism is powerful and has a strong place in history. But feminists must be careful not to use their understandings of feminism to enslave other women to that view of the world. If we do, how are we any better?
I had very few concerns about the day, since I wasn't going anywhere too exciting. (I had one class in James Madison College, a fairly liberal public policy college where most people are relatively educated about and open to religious and cultural diversity), a lunch meeting with a professor at a Middle Eastern restaurant (biggest concern there was feeling like a bit of a fraud!), and a meeting with a professor at a teahouse on Grand River.
Mostly, the day served as an opportunity to bring awareness and remind students about the many forms diversity takes. There were, however, a few rough moments.
I have Caucasian friends who are Muslims and wear hijab. I know of some people throughout the day who assumed they were experiencing hijab for a day, rather than truly Muslim. Don't judge a book by its cover!
People didn't stare or question...if anything, they didn't look at all. I think we have come too far in society along these lines. We know staring is rude, so we refuse to look at all. It was nearly impossible to make eye contact, people were overly apologetic if they bumped into me, etc. Part of this is nervousness, I think, and the simply worry that we don't know how to respond to people who seem different from the norm. But the truth is that we really have no idea how comfortable people are with eye contact, conversations with strangers, and the like from the way they appear. Again, don't judge a book by its cover!
By far the biggest concern I had was with (you'll never guess!)...certain feminists. I am a feminist. Let me make that very clear. I believe that men and women are equal and should be treated thusly by public policy and each other. I believe that a woman can do virtually everything a man can and vice versa (males and females biologically have some limits in reproductive areas, but that's about all). However, I also believe that empowerment, liberation, and the like take many forms. And I believe that Western feminists who argue very staunchly against things like the hijab without taking the time to recognize that it can, in some situations, be a powerful tool for women, not against them. To tell women they "can't" wear the hijab and believe in equality is to commit the same sin patriarchy does - assume you know what's best for another, attempt to improve someone else or show them their place.
Is the hijab a symbol of patriarchy in some situations? Yes. So are dresses, high heels, make-up, haircuts, bras, jeans...the list goes on and on. Can covering be used to try and control women? Yes. So can sex. And I don't think those same feminists would argue that sex should be completely done away with and is never empowering.
We live in a patriarchal world. Everything women do and associate with can and will be used in sexist ways by some people. But those same things can be used in very powerful, inspiring, liberating ways for others. What empowers you subjects another. Feminism is powerful and has a strong place in history. But feminists must be careful not to use their understandings of feminism to enslave other women to that view of the world. If we do, how are we any better?
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Back to the grindstone...
We are back to the "regular" rhythm of school...work and classes! Amy made me participate in a friendly bracket competition for March Madness; that will be entertaining. I don't know that people understand just how much I DON'T know. Haha.
I think I have Kansas winning, but I don't even remember. (Nor could I tell you a single thing about the Kansas basketball team, other than I think they're from Kansas!)
I think I have Kansas winning, but I don't even remember. (Nor could I tell you a single thing about the Kansas basketball team, other than I think they're from Kansas!)
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Kids' "Joseph"
The Obingers and I went to a shortened version of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at a local theater today, meant especially for kids. They shorten shows to an hour and modernize them in fun ways, and then do a Q&A session after the show with the kids in the audience.
The whole thing was rather cute; they cut verses in the songs and didn't do majorly elaborate dance numbers. They also brought instruments on stage.
Potiphar's wife "seduction" of Joseph involved playing a flute, and Joseph crying "Please stop! I don't believe in flute love!" Personal favorite ridiculous moment, though - they didn't make Pharaoh Elvis, wanting to make it as kid-accessible as possible. So he was...guess, guess...JUSTIN BIEBER! Hilarity ensues.
The whole thing was rather cute; they cut verses in the songs and didn't do majorly elaborate dance numbers. They also brought instruments on stage.
Potiphar's wife "seduction" of Joseph involved playing a flute, and Joseph crying "Please stop! I don't believe in flute love!" Personal favorite ridiculous moment, though - they didn't make Pharaoh Elvis, wanting to make it as kid-accessible as possible. So he was...guess, guess...JUSTIN BIEBER! Hilarity ensues.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Chicago!
Kevin has abandoned me (okay, not really) for Prague with his mother and stepdad for spring break. So I chose to run away to Chicago to spend the week with the delightful Obingers.
Dad is taking some students to Nicaragua on a service-learning trip. We all drove down Friday and stayed the night...then up at 5 am to get to the airport. Tons o' fun!
The kids don't have school Monday but Barb does, so I get a full day with them. And then it's down to work to write a big chunk of thesis.
Safe travels to everyone who's wandering around.
And, on a side note - a happy late birthday to my darling mother who is...well...no longer 49, shall we say. ;)
Dad is taking some students to Nicaragua on a service-learning trip. We all drove down Friday and stayed the night...then up at 5 am to get to the airport. Tons o' fun!
The kids don't have school Monday but Barb does, so I get a full day with them. And then it's down to work to write a big chunk of thesis.
Safe travels to everyone who's wandering around.
And, on a side note - a happy late birthday to my darling mother who is...well...no longer 49, shall we say. ;)
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