Chivalry: Opening Doors to Oppression and Privilege // Keely Hirsch

 

Image from http://cdn1.theodysseyonline.com/files/2016/02/19/635915079772054201-1246344992_chivalry.jpg

Disclaimer: I’m sure that someone who reads that might want to throw something at me. But I am sharing my thoughts to create awareness.

I never had much thought about the idea chivalry growing up. I always thought it was polite when someone held the door for you or if you were chilly and someone offered their coat. To me, that was nice. But I always reciprocated those gestures when the opportunity arose (although, offering my little black cardigan to a giant man, seemed like a silly thing to do).

Recently, I had an enlightening experience with chivalry and uncovered the dark truth behind those courteous acts. I was visiting my sister in New York City and we were waiting for a bunch of her friends to meet up for dinner. We were at a trendy Italian restaurant (however, trendy in this instance meant a very small location). As her friends arrived, we were all kind of huddling around outside the restaurant. It was a little chilly out that night- in the low 50’s. One of the men who were with us decided that “the women should go inside, where it is warmer, and the men will stay outside”.  Wait… WHAT? I was immediately struck with frustration and confusion. Why do the women get to go inside and be comfortable while the men have to grin and bare the chilliness? The answer is oppression. I mean chivalry.

While chivalry has medieval roots, it is thought of today as men being courteous to women—holding doors, offering their coat when it is cold, etc. These are all very kind gestures, but when it is expected for men to act in a certain way towards women, it is suggesting that women are weaker and they need help or protection, or on the flip side, women have a lot of power and privilege. For some reason, I keep having a vivid memory pop up from a scene in a movie (or multiple movies), where there is a puddle on the ground and the gentleman puts his jacket on top of it, so that the lady doesn’t get wet. Every time I remember that scene I think about how terrible it is that the man just ruined his jacket so the woman doesn’t get wet, when clearly she could have walked a few feet down to avoid the puddle. Again, men are suffering (walking around with a soggy coat and probably going to have to get that coat dry cleaned) so that women feel taken care of (both oppression and privilege). 

I do want to take a moment and play devil’s advocate to my own stream of thought, though. Perhaps, when men engage in these gestures, it is not a matter of chivalry, but just a kind act based on who they are as a person. I mean, I open the door for men all the time (and I see the uncomfortable response some men have…). But, I think it is clear when kind acts can feel more like oppression to women (e.g.  “the women should go inside, where it is warmer, and the men will stay outside”). But a man, who opens a door for a woman, might be doing it just to be polite. Perhaps he opens doors for everyone. So I think it is important to not assume that all men who are opening doors for women are trying to oppress, perhaps they are being polite to another human being.

In conclusion, I believe that some men, probably unknowingly, are oppressing women through “courteous acts”. But it is important that feminist, like myself, do not assume that when someone opens a door for me it is oppression, it may just be a kind act from another human. So what I am not saying is that women should not accept a chivalrous act from a man (because remember it just might be a kind act from a fellow human being). But what I am saying is that feminism is about equality, so women have the opportunity to balance the scales and perform kind acts for men.

It’s all about equality, people. Let’s all do kind things for each other, despite gender.  

Making History More Inclusive // Vanessa Facemire, MA, LPC

Image from https://society6.com/product/respect-equality-womens-liberation-feminism-power-fist--raised-fist_print#1=45

As a graduate assistant, I have been incredibly fortunate to get a placement at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology. As home to the Archives of the History of American Psychology, the Cummings Center is not only an incredible resource to scholars worldwide, it also holds the distinction of being the most comprehensive research facility in the world, dedicated solely to the history of psychology. With its mission of preserving, organizing, and documenting the historical record of psychology, and with a special emphasis on making the historical record more complete by highlighting important underrepresented groups, my unyielding appetite and passion for social justice has been slaked.

Although the work that I get to do at the Cummings Center is incredibly gratifying, it can also be incredibly frustrating. One of the projects I have been privileged to be involved with includes doing research for the Center’s series of Five Minute History Lessons. I was tasked with doing research for a lesson about Ruth Winifred Howard, one of the first African American women to earn a Ph.D. in psychology in 1934. I was excited to delve into the history of Black women in psychology, but as I began to do research for the lesson, I quickly became dismayed by the lack of information that I could find on Dr. Howard. Other pioneers in psychology have rich and extensive historical records in various archives around the world, which are both easily searched and easily found. However, despite rising through the ranks of academia, during a time when women, much less African American women, were not readily pursuing college degrees, and despite her tireless effort to overcome rigid gender-role stereotyping in both academia and greater society, I was hard-pressed to find any primary source material to illustrate Dr. Howard’s incredible journey.

This illuminated how incredibly important the Center’s mission of making the historical record more complete is for both the history of psychology and its future. Where would we be without amazing female pioneers in the field!?

From trailblazers like Mary Whiton Calkins, who was denied acceptance to Harvard University, but persevered and completed her coursework, thesis, and examinations under William James. She went on to have a career of considerable accomplishment, becoming the first woman to establish a psychological laboratory and the first female president of the APA in 1905.

To Leta Stetter Hollingworth, who is arguably the most influential early pioneer in the field of the psychology of women. She despised the boundaries society placed on women and through a series of studies in the 1910s demonstrated that the purported variability differences between men and women did not exist. This work and other studies earned her the title of “the scientific pillar” of the women’s suffrage movement culminating in women gaining the right to vote and the subsequent passage of the 19^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

To pioneers like Inez Beverly Prosser and Ruth Winifred Howard, who became the first two African American women to earn Ph.D.’s in psychology, overcoming insurmountable odds (the intersection of their sex and race) through their tenacity and determination. Prosser’s dissertation provided a foundation for how to best educate black students and laid groundwork for issues relating to education, reform, social development, racial identity, and other prominent topics related to segregation. Whereas Howard, whose humanitarianism shown throughout her esteemed career and clinical practice, sought to assist the unemployed and undereducated, and troubled youth.

These women have paved a path that many generations of women have since followed; yet their stories are often overlooked and unheard.

The past 50 years represents a profound shift in psychology. Whereas women once represented a minority of doctorates, they now represent the majority. Feminist pioneers in the field, such as the aforementioned few, were instrumental to this shift. It is essential for current and future feminists to be able to explore the roots of their feminist ancestry and to appreciate the foundation that these women created in their fight against the status quo. For me, exploring the historical roots of the field of psychology of women is incredibly inspiring. I have found myself blown away by the tenacity, strength, and confidence of these women to go against the grain and fight for what they believed in. This has made my experience working at the Cummings Center very special and meaningful. 

Elizabeth Scarborough stated, “If we are to construct a fully-fledged women’s history of psychology, we need more than a record of women’s life experiences.  We need now to determine women’s effect on the field.” Making history more inclusive is certainly part of the mission of the Center, and I would argue, should be part of the mission of the new wave of feminist psychology. The number of collections representing female psychologists in archives is small and the number for female women of color is even lesser.  We need to advocate for the expansion of history to include the important contributions of women and women of color and encourage the donation of materials documenting the psychology of women to archives like those housed at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology.

Written by//

Vanessa Facemire, MA, LPC

Selected references and resources for further inquiry//

http://www.uakron.edu/chp/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1126154996/the-national-museum-of-psychology/description

http://www.feministvoices.com

http://www.feministvoices.com/video

Benjamin, L. T. (2014) A brief history of modern psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Benjamin, L. T. (2009). A history of psychology: Original sources and contemporary research. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

Scarborough, E. & Furumoto, L. (1987). Untold lives: The first generation of American women psychologists. New York: Columbia University Press.

The Mother-Daughter Effect // Lauren Jacobs

Picture from Google

Every day I become a little bit more like my mother, and I couldn’t be prouder.

At only twenty-six years old, others can pinpoint mannerisms that mimic my mom. Putting our pictures beside each other simply reinforces the similarities that exist between us.  She’s taught me a variety of things, from how to tie my shoes (that’s for you mom), to how to drive, and the secrets to making undeniably favored lasagna. More importantly, it was her lessons in dignity, confidence, and affection that have been engraved in who I am. While we often verbalized these topics, observation of her actions provided me with the foundation necessary to grow and continually evolve into the young woman I am today.

When reflecting on this, I’m aware that much of my behaviors were learned during my childhood.  Vicarious learning has been researched for many decades and has proven that children pay close attention to their caregivers and learn from the behaviors and choices they observe. When it comes to the relationship between mothers and daughters, a mother’s attitude about herself is automatically passed down. It ultimately is the precipitant to the way a daughter’s sense of self is established for her rest of her life.

A mother wears many hats in her position; however being a role model may be the biggest, brightest one of them all.  Young girls imitate and identify with their mothers in powerful ways, as witnessed by their efforts such as playing dress-up in their mother’s clothes or the way they treat their dolls. This imitation in play and other areas of their life is an unconscious, but prevailing trait. Much of what young girls internalize as acceptable and unacceptable comes from their mother, especially regarding body image. A mother’s opinion of her own image and the language she uses to express herself often conditions her daughters mind with attitudes that affect self-compassion about her body.

No elephant exists in the room when its stated that self-acceptance is difficult, especially for women, all ages and races alike. Females are suffering from a perpetual cycle of biases that have been created by the media depicting how youth, thinness, and beauty are the characteristics that measure a woman’s worth. I can’t quite recall these being the features that my mother taught me were important for success or happiness, yet they’ve become a widely acceptable aspiration in today’s society. The pressure to meet these standards not only adds stress to ones life, it can manifest as thoughts of inadequacy and self-hatred. Women are struggling to compete with one another, striving for an unattainable image of beauty, which results in depression and maladaptive behaviors. How can a mother battle this epidemic to protect their daughter’s mental health?

Teaching girls to love and appreciate their body for all that it does can help them learn that there is beauty in all body types, despite shapes, sizes, and color. Being able to reinforce a healthy attitude about weight, wrinkles, and aging will go a long way in society when the messages from the media will attempt to sway their thoughts otherwise. If a mother is able to demonstrate her own appreciation for the simple things, such as being able to laugh, breathe, smile, and think, it will aid in her daughter’s acceptance of herself. Helping her to understand how her body is unique to her, the only one she’ll ever have, and how her success is the result of focusing on who she is, will build her strength for facing adversity.

Strive to be your daughter’s teammate, her cheerleader, teacher, and best friend. Remind her of the way she is seen through your eyes and never overlook the importance of your existence in her life.

Wonder Woman: A Feminist Icon? // Jessica Johnston, M.A.

I have been watching a lot of superhero movies over the past few years. Every summer there’s always a new one to look forward to, whether it’s another Spiderman reboot or a more obscure character like Deadpool. And while these movies are great, I find myself holding out for a worthy female lead. I’m tired of fragile damsels in distress (I’m talking to you, Lois Lane), sidekicks that don’t get enough screen time, or oversexualized heroines. So when I saw Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) in theaters, I thought I might have caught a glimpse of the superhero I’ve been waiting for.

I’m referring of course to arguably the most famous female superhero of all time: Wonder Woman. I mean, look at her: she’s strong, confident, brave, and she holds her own in the boy’s club of the Justice League. Honestly, the introduction of Wonder Woman was the only redeemable part of Batman v Superman: she made Ben Affleck’s abnormally muscular Batman look incompetent, and she KICKED ASS. Granted, she was only a minor character, but it’s a start. However, not knowing much about the history of Wonder Woman, I’m cautious. Is she really a superhero feminist icon?

After reading a recent article in The Atlantic regarding the “ideal” male body image as depicted in male superheroes, I was curious how Wonder Woman’s figure impacts female readers. Clearly, her Barbie-esque narrow waist and large breasts are unrealistic. Here’s an artist’s rendition of a Wonder Woman with a more normative body type.

The Wonder Woman depicted by Gal Gadot in Batman v Superman isn’t perfect either. We still see a costume including a strapless top and exposed thighs that aren’t ideal for combat. However, I think this Wonder Woman looks more prepared. Her costume hails back to her Grecian heritage; it closely resembles armor, and she carries a sword and shield. She doesn’t appear comically thin, and I can actually see some muscles, which you’d expect in any superhero. When I saw her on screen, I wanted to learn more about Wonder Woman.

                  Here’s Wonder Woman’s costume in her 1941 debut comic. Clearly, American patriotism was an important theme at this time, as reflected in her red, white, and blue regalia. However, Wonder Woman’s costume lacks function—fighting crime in a skirt, heels, and strapless top must be hard enough without the impairment of only having bracelets as weapons. The Bracelets of Submission may be effective at blocking bullets, but their dual purpose as reminders of previous enslavement seem pretty questionable to me.  If you’re curious about Wonder Woman’s other costumes, check out this awesome infographic.

                  Ultimately, Wonder Woman is a character. She can be whoever we want her to be. I can identify with her empowered sexuality and value her more respectable qualities while pining for a future version of Wonder Woman that young girls everywhere can look up to. She’s imperfect, but she’s closer to the feminist heroine I’ve been searching for than any female character I’ve seen so far, although I also have high hopes for Spider Gwen. So what do you think? Is Wonder Woman the feminist icon you’ve been dreaming of?

                 

Missing the Obvious // Rosanna Shoup

 

As a behaviorist in a rural health clinic I see a lot of people struggling with a vast kaleidoscope of pathology across a wide spectrum of SES, primarily the upper and lower ends. As one seasoned physician stated, “One visit, I'll be working with a patient on how to navigate the food pantries in a way that will support his diabetes and the very next patient I might meet someone who wants me to work quickly—so he can go fly his private plane that afternoon.” Overall, our rural population struggles mostly with intergenerational trauma, addictions, and financial struggles related to high cost of living and lack of employment. Those who are flying their private airplanes, generally don't need to see their PCP. This aside, one of my favorite aspects of my position is getting to work with the medical residents, many of whom have had less than one course of mental health content and have had little experience meeting the mental health struggles that accompanies lifestyles within underserved populations.

One scenario ended up being a classic missing of the obvious. A future doctor, resident John Doe ,  arrived to ask me to see his most recent patient. “She's presenting with classic anxiety symptoms. She struggles to sleep, has a lot of tension in her body and back, and she reports having panic like symptoms such as shortness of breath. She's also tearful. I'm going to prescribe her a low dose of lorazepam.” At the sound of benzodiazapene my radar began to buzz. “Would you be willing to hold off until I check in with her about current stressors? What's going on in her life? Why is she crying.” The resident shook his head, “We didn't get around to it.” I nodded, hiding my ever growing suspicion.

When I walked into the room, I saw a tearful white woman about age 30. She was slightly overweight and very pretty. “Hello, I just spoke with the doctor and I understand that you have a lot going on with you right now.” The woman burst into tears and told me how her ex boyfriend was continuing to stalk her and her child. Several months ago, her ex had even picked up her son from day care for several hours without her consent. This led to the restraining order. She reported deep fear that it would not be respected...that he would take her son and disappear before he could be found and stopped, or before he hurt him in some way. I validated her experience, referred her to mental health, and provided her with crisis lines. Additionally, we made a plan and discussed ways to coordinate with friends and family to increase safety for the child.

According to Bancroft (2002), while it is argued that while partners regardless of gender or sexual identification may hurt each other abusively, it is only abusive men who pose a mortal threat to their partners after a break up. The risk of a severe life-threatening beating or homicide post break-up increases to 80%. Unfortunately, due to the increased hypervigilence of the victim, reports of stalking or strange occurrences are often dismissed by doctors and mental health providers as delusions or reminders of the trauma. It is rare that someone would not only take seriously this claim, but to ask for more details and to provide adequate support.

When I returned to the doctor-to-be John Doe, he listened and was generally surprised that so much could be happening beyond the physical manifestations of the symptoms of anxiety. He admitted to feeling intimidated by the tears and leaving before asking more questions. Fear of emotional expression and general misgivings about the mind body connection may continue to hamper the medical treatment of women experiencing partner violence and abuse. In a country where 1 in 4 are sexually assaulted, 1 in 5 molested as children, and 1 in 5 women experience interpersonal partner violence, we must ask questions and not take anxious and depression symptoms as an indication for medication, but they may be signs for action or support. It could be that anxiety or depression is a legitimate reaction to the situation.

As an early grad student working in an emergency department, I once had a physician who described their side of the equation through allegory by showing me an X-Ray of a leg, pre and post setting of the bone. “See?” he stated, “I saw the problem, I set the bone, got them casted, and sent them home. Mental health is ambiguous. I can't fix it like this.” Personally, I feel that physicians don't give themselves enough credit. They have compassion and care to do an effective job. They may just miss what appears obvious, if you know the language.

Here are some great resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_sofindings.pdf

A great resource to understanding cycles of IPV and patterns of abuse and why men, regardless of sexual orientation, are a particular risk:

Bancroft, L. (2002). Why does he do that?: Inside the minds of angry and controlling men. New York: Putnam's Sons.

This book has some great basic questions for PCP's to ask when physical symptoms appear without organic cause:

Clarke, D. D. (2007). They can't find anything wrong!: 7 keys to understanding, treating, and healing stress illness. Boulder, CO: Sentient Publications.

Feminist Networking and Social Support // Alexandra Nobel

Image from http://tastedaily.tumblr.com/post/51280065560/via-tastedaily-ridiculously-awesome-daily

When considering a topic for this post I wanted to discuss how much the feminist community of my colleagues and mentors has meant to me professionally as well as personally. After reading Marlene Williams’ piece on the stress reducing health benefits of feminism, published on FemPop on March 10^th, I was inspired and hoped I might be so bold as to add a 4^th benefit of feminism: social support. The process of identifying, sharing, and collaborating with other women who share similar viewpoints and experiences is extremely beneficial for the process of developing one’s feminist identity and finding a supportive community. These processes might serve as protective factors against internalization of discrimination, for example, and may ultimately buffer against stress.

Within academic and professional settings, women may experience sex-based discrimination and/or microaggressions and may feel variably confident that they can assert their objections and distaste for their organizations’ acceptance or management of these issues. It is possible (and I would argue likely) that women who identify as having a strong feminist support network (either within or outside of the setting) may feel more confident addressing microaggressions in professional settings. It may be that these women may actually feel more stressed in these situations because they have developed greater social consciousness, but arguably the support gained from the feminist networks could provide them with the confidence that they could address discrimination and enact change for themselves and other women. Gloria Steinem said, “the truth will set you free but first it will piss you off.”

When women are silent about their feminist identity in academia and other professional spheres, they deny themselves and their peers the opportunity to discuss what being a feminist means to them and how they may navigate situations that trigger frustration or discomfort. Perhaps they may also be able to learn from each other about intersectional discrimination (i.e., that one woman may be shielded from due to a privileged status). It is highly likely that many women observe, hear, and feel discrimination/microaggressions and may also experience dissonance in not asserting their thoughts and feelings for fear of being ostracized.

I am grateful that I have had mentors (faculty and peers) who helped to raise my consciousness to ever-present social injustices and inequities. They guided me toward a feminist framework to put these issues in context and introduced me to a network of women who not only felt similarly (i.e., “THIS IS NOT OK!”) but were also making their careers out of studying these issues and working toward real social change.

The process of identifying with women who share my/your identity as a feminist can be big or small. Sometimes it’s as small, but no less powerful, as having one relationship with someone who shares your views. The energy that can be gained from that one good conversation with a colleague - where the number of “YASS KWEEN!”s and “PREACH GIRL”s gets too high to count - can really carry you through the sexist experiences in daily life, which could be draining otherwise. The social support of feminist peers and mentors could influence your self-efficacy in identifying when you may be giving in to social pressures versus asserting your wants and needs. This support could also provide motivation to maintain self-care regimens in a stressful, demanding world.

I know there might be some people reading this post who identified as a feminist early on in your life and education. I was not one of those people. I was confused about what feminism meant broadly and in terms of my own identity. It wasn’t until graduate school that I started to recognize social inequities as malleable and worth advocacy. I will be forever grateful to my mentor in my master’s program and several women I met through my graduate education who provide me with support, validation, and inspiration. I gain enough energy at feminist minded conferences that I attend annually to carry me through the rest of the year! I also have plenty of conversations with feminist colleagues, reaching out when I want to get their opinion on something or asking them for advice on how to structure my schedule to include self-care. I urge you to reach out to your students and/or your colleagues (within or outside of graduate school) and get them involved in conversations, brainstorming sessions, and conference presentations. Let’s get more people involved in the process of understanding and developing their feminist identity and raising consciousness regarding how societal pressures, biases, and inequities may be negatively affecting our moods and motivations.  I acknowledge that the term ‘feminist’ has garnered criticism and that certain women may be hesitant to identify as a feminist if they think it means that they must believe (insert misconception here). But this is exactly the reason why we NEED to talk about it, especially with young women who may be trying to wade through all of the misunderstandings and skewed portrayals.

I will conclude by saying that, in my opinion, identifying as a feminist means identifying with a community of women who hear you and acknowledge your struggle as rooted within a context that wants to silence you. It means that you are willing to align with your fellow woman, listen to their trials and triumphs within their intersectional feminist experience, and feel connected to them in your mutual pursuit of social justice. Standing with fellow feminists and feeling them stand with you can bring unimaginable strength. Tapping into that feminist energy can bring you confidence in the pursuit of your goals and give you the platform to advocate for social change along the way. 

Calm Down, It is a Compliment: Thoughts on Street Harassment // Meredith A. Martyr

Image from http://hellogiggles.com/feelings-street-harassment/

It is that time of year again. That time of year when I feel the overwhelming need to throw off my parka, close my eyes, and bask in the expansive sunshine that is often hard to find in Minnesota. As I shut my eyes and begin to think about how lovely it feels to be in this moment, a hear a car slow down behind me and a deep voice yell out: “Nice legs! Are you seein’ anybody?” Yes, folks, it is street harassment season.

                  The truth is that street harassment is not a seasonal affect, in fact it occurs all year round and can occur in a variety of places, situations, etc. that are the least expected. I have had many behind-the-door and out-in-public conversations with women about this phenomenon, and it is striking the amount of women that can remember, in vivid detail, their first experience with street harassment. I believe there are several reasons for this. First, it is often times the first experience a young girl has where she realizes that she may be viewed as a sexual being. I was discussing street harassment the other day with a group of women who shared that their “first encounters” occurred between the ages of 10-12 years old. We live in a culture that sexualizes young girls via social media, advertising, and behaviors that we choose to praise young girls for (i.e. applying make-up, transitions in fashion choices, etc.) By consistently promoting messages that demand one meets the criteria of what society deems as sexy, we glorify young girls for engaging in self-objectification. I walked into a bakery the other day and came across a woman sitting with a young girl. The adult woman pointed out to the young girl that she looked better in dresses because she had “such a nice frame for dresses.” In that moment I was curious as to what type of feedback the woman was trying to communicate to the young girl: Your worth is tied to your body, how you choose to carry your body throughout this world, and in the feedback you receive from others regarding your body.

A similar reason that women tend to endure vivid memories of their first experience with street harassment may be that they are experiencing their first moment of feeling detached from their physical body. I believe that a woman’s sense of self is not intrinsically tied to how others perceive her body, rather I believe this to be socially conditioned. In moments of street harassment it may be too painful for a young girl to inhabit her physical body when experiencing unsolicited feedback from men.  When speaking with the same group of women the other day, one woman shared how “disengaging” with her “physical form” created a space of sadness and isolation like she had never experienced before. This sadness and isolation is an experience that is familiar to myself when I have experienced stress harassment.

Street harassment is not an act to be glorified, found humorous, or to be viewed as complimentary. Discussion of one’s body without that person’s consent is a direct form of sexual harassment that has and continues to leave a mark on the experiences of women everywhere. As we continue to mentor, work with, and raise young girls, it is necessary that we act as social change advocates on behalf of all girls and women everywhere that experience these daily occurrences of unwanted sexual objectification.  

A Feminist Perspective of Rachel Dolezal // Elizabeth Louis

 

          

Image from https://halipawz.com/category/relationships/

  The recent events surrounding race relations in the United States has prompted discussions around dinner tables, classrooms, in neighborhoods, social media, and other settings. One unique incident that has also fueled this discussion is surrounded around whether someone can be transracial which means “across or crossing racial boundaries.” I first learned this term when it was used during the Rachel Dolezal fiasco. Ms. Dolezal was the former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Spokane chapter. Her identity came into light when it was revealed that Ms. Dolezal is a White American who has been identifying as an African American woman under false pretenses. She went to extreme lengths to “pass” as an African American woman by tanning her skin to try to achieve a certain complexion she perceived would represent being a Black woman. She changed her hairstyles to portray “African American” hairstyles such as braids. She also hired a Black man to pretend to be her African American father. Her intentional actions created a façade of the person she was trying to become. She used her privilege as a White woman to try to become another identity that she used for personal and professional benefits at the expense of being dishonest to the same minority communities she was serving. Even after the truth came out about her identity and information about how she sued Howard University, a historically Black college/university for discrimination when she identified as a White women, she still adamantly to this day expresses that she is African American. While I can appreciate Ms. Dolezal’s commitment to the African American community, it is disappointing and appalling that she that misinformed a community that has already experienced a history of mistrust from systems and people with political agendas. I do not believe that transracial is the right term for Ms. Dolezal and I am not sure that I even agree with the term transracial because as a Black woman I cannot say that as of today, I will now be transracial and identify as a White woman. Nope, nah, nada! It won’t work for various reasons! Some of these reasons are due to my phenotype and I do not have the same privileges as Ms. Dolezal to alter my skin complexion, to decide when I want to be part of the minority or majority community, I cannot change my kinky hair, and I cannot hire someone to represent as my White father. There are many racial groups who do not have this privilege to choose to be transracial.

            I am still puzzled by how a White woman would go to extreme lengths to change her outer appearance, to engage in stereotypical African American mannerisms, attempt to acquire cultural traits that are part of community, while keeping her true identity hidden. How would a feminist perspective conceptualize Ms. Dolezal’s actions and her psychological state? I do believe as a feminist that it is unacceptable to disempower the population that you are serving by using your privileges to benefit yourself. I do believe that Ms. Dolezal put the populations she served in psychological risks because of the way she used the African American community to fulfill her own agendas and alleviate her insecurities about her identity. Also, it is important to recognize how complex racial and ethnic identities are and one cannot just turn them on or off because Ms. Dolezal jeopardized invalidating the lived experiences of African American women and other communities that she served by masking her true identities. I think instead of Ms. Dolezal writing a book about how to navigate between different races, I think educating White Americans or others who may want to use transracial and hide their identities, to critically think about the consequences of their actions and the impact on others. Whether you are a supporter or not a supporter of Ms. Dolezal, at the root of this matter, dishonesty, lack of transparency, manipulating a vulnerable group that you serve are unethical and invalidating. I hope that we can all reflect on areas in our lives that we may try to be transracial or cross certain boundaries that are not part of our identities to feed our own ego and insecurities, and instead be comfortable with our own identities within our own skin, hair, mind, body, and spirit.

Written by Elizabeth Louis

The Writing is on the Wall: Environmental Gender Microaggressions // Cecile A. Gadson, M.A.

Image from alphr.com

            From kindergarten to higher education to the workplace, women may share the experience of entering a space and having this subtle feeling of an unwelcoming environment. This unknown but noticeable feeling in particular spaces where women are not well represented or revered could manifest from environmental microaggressions based on gender. Broadly speaking, microaggressions are subtle, everyday verbal, nonverbal, and behavioral putdowns, slights, and indignities towards people who hold marginalized social identities (Sue, 2007). Those who are often targets of microaggressions include people of color, women, sexual minorities, and lower class individuals. Microaggressions are often experienced as interpersonal interactions that communicate subtle bias and prejudice. Although microaggressions are still implicit in nature, individuals whom experience theses slight begin to recognize and identify the direct source. Unlike interpersonal microaggressions, the direct source of environmental microaggressions can be somewhat invisible.

            Environmental gender microaggressions are like a spirit or presence that women can often feel but not always see. These type of microaggressions are messages that are embedded in the climate and at large the society. They do not belong to a person but they communicate to women that they are less than, less cable, and often times not welcome in spaces traditionally occupied by men. For example, college women having to take classes and give professional talks in classrooms that are decorated with past leaders who happen to be all White men. No one is saying that women who occupy these spaces are not welcomed but the walls of male leaders communicate that their presence is not typical and subordinate. The walls seem to empower those who are environmentally represented and threaten and sometimes silence those who do not favor the men on the wall.

            Environmental gender microaggressions can have a significant impact to women who occupy spaces that are not welcoming. The walls and policies communicate that spaces such as the classrooms, boardrooms, and workplaces are unequal and somewhat barrowed spaces. That is, women are not equal and valued members in these spaces but mere visitors, supporters, or inferior spectators. The impact of environmental microaggressions include under performance, stereotype treat, and psychological distress. For example, a woman engineer could experience anxiety and self-doubt as she presents her work to a male dominated audience. Even when one is aware of the source of the environmental microaggression they are often invalidated by those who are less vulnerable to this degradation. For example, moving symbols (e.g. photos of all White male leaders) out of shared spaces such as classrooms is often reduced to an aesthetic opposition when, in fact, the symbols displays and activates unwelcoming messages towards women and people of color.  

            So what can be done to combat environmental gender microaggressions? Although environmental microaggressions are very systemic in nature, women and individuals from other marginalized groups can advocate for small changes in their environment. For example, women and graduate students of color can discuss non-inclusive spaces on campus, such as classrooms. A simple act of diversifying or neutralizing the walls in a classroom could be the first step in making spaces more inclusive. These small steps can lead to bigger steps such as policy changes that can empower and not devalue women in all spaces.

By: Cecile A. Gadson, M.A.
 

Feminist Self-care: Revisited // Sarah Conlin, M.S.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/NDVHotline/self-care/

            While considering a topic for this post, self-care crossed my mind many times. Each time, I decided to try to think of something else. Self-care is a topic I have read and talked about often, and I was unsure whether I had anything new to add to the conversation. In the end, I returned to self-care because although it is widely covered, it is something that many graduate students, myself included, continue to struggle with. It is a topic discussed often, but maybe not often enough.

My self-care struggle centers on what seems like a common concern for feminist students – learning when to say “no”. Again, although this topic isn’t a new one, I think it is one worth revisiting.  For students interested in social justice, there seems to be an endless amount of possible opportunities, each one exciting in a different way. In the past, each time I was asked to join an initiative, take on a new role, or participate in an extra-curricular activity focused on feminism or social justice, I would say yes immediately. Saying yes was my first instinct because I was eager for the chance to become involved with something geared toward topics I am passionate about. Needless to say, this strategy was not maintainable. And, even after realizing that I had taken on too much, I often found myself continuing to say yes to new opportunities.

Now, I try to never give an answer immediately. Instead, I try to take time– following the chart above, to slow down - to consider whether the opportunity is something I would be able to give enough attention to, whether I would be part of a team with others supporting the effort, whether it’s something I could say no to for now but participate in later on, and so on.  I repeat these questions to myself often when considering each new opportunity. In this way, my conclusion about self-care parallels my writing process in highlighting the importance of repetition. I have found that the more I keep self-care in the center of my attention, and reflect on past experiences, the more I learn when to say “no”.

Written by: Sarah Conlin, M.S.

Raising the Glass Ceiling // Megan Mansfield

Kesha Rose Serbert was only a 17-year-old girl when she was first lured into the music industry.  Although she was clearly gifted in physics and math, achieving nearly-perfect SAT scores, her first love was music.  Between classes and extracurricular activities, Kesha wrote music and began recording demos, one of which was noticed by a well known producer who goes by the name Dr Luke (Leszkiewics, 2016). The supposed professional convinced the girl to drop out of high school and leave her family in Nashville, in order to pursue a music career with him in Los Angeles. Upon signing a contract with Dr Luke’s label, which might typically be looked at as a dream come true for so many musicians, Dr Luke then began to take advantage of more than this young girl’s talent and passion.

Now, at 28-years-old, Kesha is fighting to be freed from the contract she had signed as a teen due to continuous emotional, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her producer, Dr Luke.  Along with the allegations of emotional abuse, such as calling her “fat fucking refrigerator,” Kesha’s legal team has also shared detailed stories of rape:

“After forcing Sebert to drink with him, Dr Luke instructed Sebert to take what he described as “sober pills” in order for her to sober up. Sebert took the pills and woke up the following afternoon, naked in Dr Luke’s bed, sore and sick, with no memory of how she got there. Sebert immediately called her mother and made a “fresh complaint,” telling her that she was naked in Dr Luke’s hotel room, she didn’t know where her clothes were, that Dr Luke had raped her, and that she needed to go to the emergency room.”

Kesha filed an injunction, with the simple request of not being forced to work with her abuser any longer.  Rather than showing an ounce of empathy for a young female survivor, the judge stated, “I don’t understand why I have to take the extraordinary measure of granting an injunction… my instinct is to do the commercially reasonable thing” (Leszkiewics, 2016).  This is our legal system’s response to several allegations of emotional, physical and sexual abuse over a ten year period. Kesha and her legal team have since filed a hate crime case against Dr Luke as another effort to free her from being forced to work with Dr Luke to which the judge responded, “every rape is not a gender-motivated hate crime” (O’Keeffe, 2016). What will it take for our society to see ongoing sexual abuse as more important than financial profit? When will influential individuals and members of our legal system be held accountable for promoting rape culture?

More recently, we’ve seen a blatant example of the objectification of women in the music industry in comments made by self-proclaimed “experienced DJ,” DJ Justin James.  Aside from his apparent difficulty with counting, DJ Justin James perfectly exemplifies everything that is wrong with the music industry as it pertains to sexism (see below).  Claiming to be in search of female DJ’s for performances, he posted a list of requirements on a Facebook group titled “Support FEMALE DJs !!!!!!!!.”  Of the 8 requirements listed by him, not one pertains to musical talent or experience in the industry, yet height and weight requirements are listed (Rubinstein, 2016).  Of course, his ignorant comments caused a brief uproar on social media.  His response to the backlash included comments such as, “Sex sells. Period. Please don’t act like this is something that we were not aware of, and please do not shoot the messenger for relaying the message,” and “if they wanted talented DJ’s then they would just hire men” (Welsh, 2016).

 

(Image from www.factmag.com)

However, “vilifying just a single person (or two)… will never truly address or affect the root of the issue” (Rubinstein, 2016).  As with any social justice issue, action must be taken; we must use light to battle the darkness.  Luckily, there are wonderful organizations who have come together to combat the lack of feminism in today’s music industry.  NapGirls, “a collaborative organization whose mission is to connect and empower women by nurturing creative and professional growth,” has been gaining traction not only in the United States but also internationally (“NapGirls,” 2016).  Founder, Liz Garard, said she started the group upon moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the music industry.  “I had these preconceived notions of what jobs I’d be qualified for. I had one guy say he could get me a job, then he started sending dick pics every Sunday” (Hankins, 2016).  Although she started the group as a joke amongst friends, NapGirls has grown to a robust community of young women, specifically those interested in the electronic music industry, who provide each other with social support and career guidance.  Women in Music (WiM), is another inspirational group worth mentioning, with the goal to “advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment, and recognition” (Patel, 2015).  Led by an impressive group of member-elected women as the Board of Directors, WiM has been able to provide pro-bono legal counsel, seminars and workshops as well as fruitful networking opportunities for women in all areas of the industry (“Women In Music,” 2016). 

Although this topic deserves so much more than a short blog post, my hope is that this brief highlight raises awareness around this pervasive and disturbing issue in order to inspire action.  As a therapist and doctoral student, it is easy to stay involved with feminism from a scholarly perspective while overlooking the everyday aspects of our culture which promote rape culture and sexism; however, due to the intense and influential relationship between adolescents and young adults with pop culture figures and role models, it is imperative we are aware of these issues.  While there is an undoubtably overwhelming amount of sexism among the music industry, whether it be in the form of music videos and lyrics or hiring requirements and salaries, our focus as feminists must be to ensure that female artists do have a supportive community to turn to.  Young women need to have access to mentors and role models who encourage them to embrace their sexuality but also their talent, passion, and drive for the art.

Written by: Megan Mansfield

References

Hankins, M. (2016, October). #Napgirls – Inside the IRL gender equality movement in dance music. Nest HQ. Retrieved from http://nesthq.com/feature-nap-girls- gender-equality-movement/

Leszkiewics, A. (2016, February 22). How Kesha’s rape allegations spiralled into a celebrity feminism contest. NewStatesman. Retrieved from http:// www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2016/02/how-kesha-s-rape- allegations-spiralled-celebrity-feminism-contest

“NapGirls: About.” (2016, April 1). NapGirls. Retrieved from http://napgirls.com/about/

O’Keeffe, K. (2016, April 6). Kesha's hate crime countersuit against Dr. Luke has been thrown out of New York Court. Music.Mic. Retrieved from http://mic.com/articles/ 140106/kesha-s-hate-crime-countersuit-against-dr-luke-has-been-thrown-out-of- new-york-courtutm_source=policymicTWTR&utm_medium=main&utm_

campaign=social#.lcP1xcAD3

Patel, N. (2015, October). Gender in the Music Industry. Music Business Journal. Retrieved from http://www.thembj.org/2015/10/gender-inequality-in-the-music- industry/

Rubinstein, P. (2016, February 3). DJ Justin James shamelessly embodies everything that’s wrong with the music industry. YourEDM. Retrieved from http:// www.youredm.com/2016/02/03/dj-justin-james-shamelessly-embodies- everything-wrong-with-the-music-industry/

Welsh, (2016, February 3). DJ Justin James posts outrageous list of requirements for female DJs. FACT: Music News, New Music. Retrieved from http:// www.factmag.com/2016/04/04/bernard-herrmann-taxi-driver-vinyl/

“Women In Music: About.” (2016, April 1). Women In Music. Retrieved from http:// womeninmusic.org/web/about-us/