sigelphoenix

Yesterday I had what I would term "a good anti-oppression day."


My English class, which is the one with "fat people are lazy" dude and the subject of my earlier doubts, pleasantly surprised me. We discussed that article by conservative race-writer Shelby Steele, and, well ... people were smart. A lot of people pointed out the crap that Steele's argument is, since he goes from good premises (such as, black people should work for their own advancement) to bad conclusions ("black people don't need institutional help anymore!" "we're making white people feel bad, and that's the true crime!"). There were a few people who seemed confused about the whole "yes, we still need to work against racism" thing - they gave me the impression of being from the "color-blind" camp - but for the most part they asked questions instead of arguing. Whether this was out of the desire to sound PC or they actually wanted to listen, I'm not sure, but I was glad for it.

My professor also raised my expectations. I'd been disappointed by her failure to address issues of gender and race oppression, even though I know she has at least some knowledge of them. Yesterday, though, she spoke much more freely about sexism/feminism and anti-/racism than she has been lately.

I also had my political philosophy class, with the professor who recognizes that eradicating sexism is a basic part of human rights. What impresses me about him is the way he will bring up sexism and feminism even when we aren't discussing "women's issues." In other words, he doesn't consider women's equality a "special" or "biased" issue that doesn't belong in "objective" discussions of human rights (like many philosophers do). He understands the connections, both practical and theoretical, between feminism and "normal" philosophy.

At one point, he brought up Catharine MacKinnon (and Andrea Dworkin) to criticize them. Specifically, he expressed disagreement with their idea that women's agency is so limited by sexism that their choices are never exactly free. (This is the idea that is often connected to their views on sex, and may underlie the accusation that they came up with the "all sex is rape" quote. Which, by the way, they didn't.) In other words, he brought up one of the more extreme views of radical feminists in order to criticize it.

And you know what? It didn't piss me off.

Normally, people in a non-feminist context - especially men - who bring up feminism for the sake of criticizing it annoy me. Since this is often the only mention of feminism that occurs in the setting, it reduces feminism to whatever unreasonable or mockable view they're criticizing. It also pushes feminism off to the side as something "other," an illogical theory that "normal" people wouldn't agree with - which, of course, feminism is already seen as. It just contributes to the impression of feminism as something you bring up to laugh at, not listen to.

But my professor didn't anger me, because it's obvious that he doesn't hold that opinion. Like I said, he's brought up feminism before, in order to highlight its usefulness in philosophy. And when he did criticize MacKinnon/Dworkin, he made it clear what his specific target was - not feminism in general, not even MacKinnon and Dworkin in general. His message was clear: "I disagree with this idea, but that doesn't mean that it, its author(s), or feminism in general are stupid."

He didn't have to couch his criticism in nice language, didn't have to bow and scrape at the feet of feminists, didn't have to flash his credentials as a feminist. He just had to make his criticism straightforward and civil.

I bring this up because, so often, people rag on feminists for not being able to take criticism. The thing is, we can accept criticism - just don't be a dickhead about it. It's not hard.



Last night I also had a C.O.R.E. presentation. I got to hang out at ratzeo and zinjadu's apartment beforehand, and maho_kiwi and laylah were over too. This was a nice change, seeing as usually I go to my presentation straight from work. This time I got a nice send-off.

When I met my partner, I got a little worried, because she said that C.O.R.E. had been having difficulties with the president of the fraternity we were presenting at, and he said some rude stuff. But once we got to the house and started our presentation, my worry went away. The president was fine, and more importantly, the guys of the house were respectful. There was some laughter, and side-talking, and jokes - some more tasteful than others - but for the most part they listened to us and actually paid attention to what we were saying. There were a few guys who really stepped up and said some important things, particularly about male-on-female sexual assault.

I think my favorite bit was when one guy made a borderline victim-blaming comment about how women should be careful about their own safety (like we AREN'T already, jeez). Essentially he was saying that women are responsible for preventing sexual assault (on themselves) because they can control what situations they're in and what happens to them. Another guy interrupted him, "What I think _____ is trying to say is, women have superpowers ..." At which point I asked if he could tell me about them, because I'd like to use them. XD Everyone laughed, and I think the first guy got the point.

There were other good things, and a lot of insightful comments made by the guys in the audience. I always like that better, because our audience is more likely to listen to their peers/housemates than us. I even found myself hoping some of the guys would join C.O.R.E., because of how well they spoke - and at least one of them talked to my partner about becoming a volunteer. :D :D :D

I really needed a good presentation like that. I feel better about my job now.


Today, I went downtown to get a flu shot. Not a happy or fun thing, I guess, but I'll be glad if I don't catch the flu. :P

While I was downtown, I also stopped by Golden Age to pick up a new set of dice. And yes, I needed a seventh set. XD;; My character for irishninja's game didn't have a set especially for her ... *blatantly justifying* Also, it was this gorgeous royal blue set that I've had my eye on for months. :D

Thanks to everyone who gave me well wishes this week. It seems to have worked. :o