Thought I’d share one of the last things I wrote before school began – a fiction review of Edem Awumey’s novel Dirty Feet. I’ve somehow carved myself a niche of reviewing tales of migration. I like it.
All posts for the month October, 2011
I wrote a book review.
Posted by RK on October 20, 2011
http://jroselkim.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/i-wrote-a-book-review/
Am I still a feminist?
The trailer for the film “Miss Representation” seems very promising in its exposure of media’s harmful effect on young women. I hope to see it in Montreal theatres soon. This also seems to have come at an appropriate time, right when I’m starting to doubt my own feminist orientation after an incident like the photo below:
Image from Racialicious.com
The recent controversy surrounding the NYC Slutwalk involved a white woman marched with a sign that said “Woman is N***** of the World” – after the John Lennon/Yoko Ono duet. According to this Racialicious post, a black woman did ask the protester to take the sign down – but not before many pictures had already been taken.
Lots of good responses have been circulating on the internet already, like this one from Crunk Feminist Collective, so I’ll try not to be redundant.
It’s disconcerting to me that it took a woman of colour to point out the problem of the message. It also troubles me to see that some people are defending the sign because apparently John and Yoko had no racist intent (and here we are, talking about intention again).
Ever since I was 19 I’ve been calling myself a feminist. Yet, these days I find myself qualifying that word – I’m a feminist interested in anti-racist work, I’m a feminist interested in LGBTQ rights also, etc. If mainstream feminism is so race-blind that it takes a woman of colour to correct it, then where is the hope? If I continue to call myself a feminist will I just be a smattering of “diversity” at the mostly-white table of big-league feminists? I also see the insidious mark of capitalism seeping in, where feminism is now about book deals and speaking engagements at universities and/or luncheons that aren’t very accessible to those who might need it the most. Has feminism been co-opted so much that it’s only about expanding one’s social capital rather than growing a strong society? The proliferation of faux-”empowerment” books for women that has not translated into more representation of women in leadership positions in society certainly seems to indicate that. What have I, a 1.5-generation immigrant woman of colour, have actually done for women like me in the times I’ve called myself a feminist? Is it time to frame myself in another ‘-ism’ to actually give back to the community, rather than pat myself on the back for coming this far?
Posted by RK on October 13, 2011
http://jroselkim.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/am-i-still-a-feminist/
On student life and university as a workplace
Oh hi, remember when I used to have a blog? Or read the news everyday? It’s amazing how a month into school has changed that so dramatically. I used to have so much to say, but I found myself sitting in front of my laptop for an hour this evening drawing a blank, unable to come up with a blog post topic. Which is not to say I’m not enjoying school, but the myopia of being a full-time student isn’t very enjoyable. I find myself interested and engaged in what I’m learning but I also find myself making excuses about going to cool talks, or supporting causes I’m passionate about, all under the umbrella excuse of “I’m tired; I was at school all day.” These excuses are technically true, but it just makes me feel so one-dimensional and robotic to let go of the other parts of my personality for the sake of…what, exactly? Do I suspend my civic engagement for the promise of a greater engagement later, but what if that “later” never comes? These are just some of the issues I’m trying to work out these days in the brief two minutes I have before I close the awkwardly-sized course packs and head to bed.
But here is one issue I’d like to discuss, because it’s been an issue happening close to me. The McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA) has been on strike since September 1. The main issue MUNACA members demanded was the right to negotiate (or the fact that the administration had the unilateral right to change or take away pension or benefits after the members paid into it every year). Clearly, the administration is unwilling to do so because it is now week 6 of the strike. Not much negotiation has happened in the meantime – McGill did file an injunction to get the peaceful protesters off the university grounds, which only increased tension. The way that the administration came down on the strike has been disappointing to say the least – the unwillingness to negotiate, the constant finger-pointing and hand-wringing, as well as the rather forceful attempt to silence any discussion or disobedience has been disturbing to watch as a student. Here are Provost Masi and Vice-Principal Michael Di Grappa in an altercation with student solidarity protesters:
I understand these are tough economic times, when all that governments seem to do is cut budget. Yes, something’s got to give; but whose “something” always ends up giving and who gets to keep their larger-than-fair share? Why is it that students can only receive updates from the administration in their email inboxes but that they need to go to an external website to read the MUNACA perspective (which silences MUNACA’s position further)? Why is the administration threatening professors who are respecting picket lines by choosing to teach off-campus? I am not saying that this is a black and white issue with a clear right and wrong, but the administration sure isn’t making it easy.
And for that, I feel pretty disappointed in my university.
Posted by RK on October 8, 2011
http://jroselkim.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/on-student-life-and-university-as-a-workplace/
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