In this text, Ahmed discusses happiness often, which makes sense, as a killjoy entails killing joy, or happiness. In her words, “Happiness is used to justify social norms as social goods.” As we live in an unjust world, being happy in it would signify complicity in these wrongdoings. In being visibly unhappy, we can denounce …
Author Archives: Dr Lothian
The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism by Audre Lorde
A large focus of this piece is aimed at black woman to confirm their right to anger from a lifetime of oppression coming at them not only from the institutionalized racism and sexism, but also from white women who they are supposed to be working in conjunction with. Lorde’s voice is directed individually to Black …
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Gould, “The Emotion Work of Movements”
Deborah Gould’s piece, “The Emotion Work of Movements”, looks at the ways in which the AIDS activism of ACT UP challenged notions of how displays of emotion should and can be used to accomplish the goals of a movement. Gould draws attention to how ACT UP redirected feelings of shame about homosexuality to government shame …
Learning from the 60s-Audrey Lorde
This piece makes the point that “there is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” Lorde finds this to be a central issue when looking back on what happened in the 60s. She describes feelings of animosity within the black rights movement that went horizontal–all different black groups …
Opening Reflection
I am an introvert who is also quiet. So, just a fair warning, my participation and presentation skills are awful. Don’t get me wrong, I am a great active listener; however, when it comes to talking in class, I either talk a little or not at all. There are also times when I get overwhelmed …
Opening Reflection
My identity and community is made up of being a huge advocate for equity, combating hate, and supporting the LGBT community. Both of my brothers are in the LGBT community and that has brought this community very close to my heart since I was in middle school when they both came out. I am bringing …
Opening Reflection
I come from a conservative upbringing, so I’m no stranger to conflict. Debating (mostly arguing) with my family has become such a regular occurrence that I almost enjoy it now. It has given me the opportunity to construct and defend my beliefs from a unique standpoint. I’m excited to learn more about feminist conflict because …
Opening Reflection – Katie Dallimore
My name is Katie and I am a current senior at UMD. I am majoring in Government & Politics and Women’s Studies and minoring in International Development and Conflict Management. My career goals are to work in the field of international development, specifically working on projects and programs created to help empower women in developing …
Opening Reflection
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. …
Julie’s Opening Reflection
Hello all, my name is Julianne McHugh but you can call me Julie. I am a senior Public Relations major and I am also pursuing a certificate in Women’s Studies. I decided to pursue a certificate in Women’s Studies after taking WMST250 my freshman year. I absolutely loved the course and how different it was …