Reflections on the Faculty Favorite Lecture Series

(originally posted 06/08 at wordpress)


by Emily Hutsell

This term I took the IST 499 engagement credit, which required my attendance at 6 PSU sponsored events. Because of the interesting subject matter, I chose to attend many of the Faculty Favorite Lecture Series, for which a faculty member is chosen to present their current work. The topics of the lectures covered sustainability, White Studies, interrupting oppression and why America isn’t ready for a female president. Each of these events was extremely thought provoking, and whether or not there was an opportunity for discussion, it has been part of my discussion with others.

Herstory: Barbara Lee

(originally posted 05/08 at wordpress)



by Katherine Johncock

Barbara Lee is a fearless leader protecting the American people’s rights. She is a member (democrat) of the House of Representatives for California’s 9^th district. Born July 16, 1946 in El Paso, Texas Lee moved to California in 1960 with her military family parents. As a young single mother of two, Lee received her Bachelor’s degree from Mill’s College in Oakland, California and went on for a Master of Social Work at the University of California, Berkeley. Barbara Lee is probably most well known for being the only elected representative (including both the house and the senate) who voted “no” on granting the executive branch unchecked military power after the September 11, 2001 attacks. This heroic act is often overlooked although it demonstrated unwavering dedication to the people’s freedom. After serving on the International Relations and Financial Services Committees in 2007 she joined the House Appropriations committee. Check out the video of her speech to the house after September 11^th! She sounds so prophetic. Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf1N-y9Mbo4For more information about Barbara Lee check out: http://lee.house.gov/

Interrupting Oppression // Discussion Post

(originally posted 05/08 at wordpress)



by mae stephenson

A few weeks ago, Sally Eck gave an inspiring lecture on interrupting oppression as part of the Faculty Favorite Lecture Series that happens every Thursday. An interruption is something you do when you notice someone making an oppressive statement or action. It could be any action you take from stating something like, "That's sexist" and walking away to sitting down and having an in-depth conversation with someone about the effects of oppression in our society. The lecture made me think of my father, whom I've always had a tumultuous relationship with, but of course, love dearly. Despite our frequent disagreements, he tries really hard to maintain a relationship with me and truly listen when I call him out on an action I disagree with (even if he doesn't always understand my point of view).

I'm not the best "interrupter," especially when it comes to my father. I often get upset and show frustration instead of calmly explaining how his statement is oppressive. But recently, when I interrupted him after making a racist joke, he actually apologized and said that he hadn't said a particular racist phrase since I had called him out on it several months ago. He explained that it's hard to "unlearn" all the racist jokes he's heard since he was child. It was definitely inspiring. But it was nothing compared to the way he made me feel this past weekend.

On Rape Culture

(originally posted 05/08 at wordpress)

 

 

by Katie Johncock

 

 

 

“Rape culture” is a scary phrase. At least I think so. The first time I heard it I was taking the basic advocacy training at Portland Women’s Crisis Hotline and I remember thinking: “Whoa, that sounds really intense…does our culture really support rape?” What I found out was that rape culture is so normalized that it’s easy to miss it. What exactly is rape culture?

Herstory: bell hooks

(originally posted 05/08 at wordpress)



by mae stephenson

bell hooks Born Gloria Jean Watkins on September 25, 1952 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. bell hooks uses lowercase letters for her name to shift focus from the author to the ideas within her writing.

bell hooks is arguably one of the most important authors of our time. A self-described "Black woman intellectual, revolutionary activist," "cultural critic," and "advocate of feminism," hooks has authored over thirty books and dozens of articles focusing on the interconnectedness of race, class, and gender oppression and domination. She coined the phrase "white supremacist capitalist patriarchy" to describe these intersections. She also writes with an important and somewhat unique emphasis on self-love. In her dedication to ending class oppression she uses a writing style accessible for people outside of Academia and makes appearances on television and radio programs. Some of her titles include Ain’t I a Woman?: Black Women and Feminism, Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, Where We Stand: Class Matters, Teaching to Transgress: Education As the Practice of Freedom, and The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. In addition, she's written a handful of children's books including Be Boy Buzz and Happy to be Nappy after having a difficult time finding children's books that didn't enforce patriarchal notions of boyhood and books that taught young black girls to be self-loving, respectively.

Feminist Community Dialog - Join in!!

(originally posted 04/08 at wordpress)

Topic: The Voting Feminist


by Blythe Pavlik

This is a critical time in the world. This is a time in which our vote is an extension of our voice and ultimately of our CHOICE. While every election is vital, this election offers two avenues of change in the status quo. As a person who identifies strongly as a feminist, I am intrigued by the debates rising from various feminist groups about loyalty to feminism through voting.

I would like to open up the SheSheet for a conversation about feminism and its role in this particular election. Nationally there is a fair amount of conflict and controversy over which candidate a person identifying as “feminist” should vote for. The controversy stems from feminist groups that believe the feminist vote should automatically go to a female candidate (Clinton) and that feminists who are Obama supporters are betraying the feminist cause. Do you agree or disagree... why?

Some news reports discuss the difference in feminist generation gaps as one factor in indicating the cause of conflict. What do you think?

The Women’s Resource Center
would be honored to have your opinion on the matter.

Where do you stand on this issue? Do you believe it is the responsibility of each feminist to support a female candidate no matter her politics or do you believe that the core point of feminism is to provide the freedom of CHOICE? Are you a feminist who also identifies as a conservative or Republican?

Dialog about our rights, votes and freedoms is vital and welcomed.

Please enlighten us with your respectful and thought provoking views.

We look forward to hearing what you have to say!!

On Women's Right to Vote

(originally posted 04/08 at wordpress)


by Susan B Anthony, 1873

"Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny.