Beginning this semester, I am excited for all of the discussions we will be having. Feminist conflict, and areas of difference and disagreement, have always been something that has been touched on in the women’s studies classes I have taken, but I’ve never gotten the chance to consider it so closely in a discussion/classroom setting. I am expecting that having a small group setting will encourage dynamic conversation. As someone who doesn’t always feel comfortable speaking in a larger classroom setting, I think that having a much more close-knit group will help me to feel more at ease participating and sharing my thoughts and opinions. Additionally, being in a class which is specifically focused on exploring conflict, or varying tensions and disagreements that arise in feminist groups and discourses, I hope will push me out of my comfort zone when it comes to discussing different topics and perspectives. Even though I try my best to be as open to different perspectives and opinions from my own, most of the people I have these conversations with in daily life tend to share similar beliefs and opinions to mine, with little to no variance.
Looking through the schedule, one of the topics I am most excited to get to discuss is the sex wars, as this is something I have previously learned of in other classes but don’t know much about. I also am looking forward to discussing how fictional speculation fits into everything we will be looking into this semester; I am always interested in the ways that fiction and world building intersect with and offer commentary on contemporary issues and social norms.