EXPLORING POLITICAL IDENTITY USING THE GLOBAL FEMINISMS PROJECT

Nicola Curtin, Kristin McGuireand Abigail Stewart

University of Michigan

WHY USE THE GLOBAL FEMINISMS ARCHIVE?

Different historical and cultural contexts (even within countries) Different racial, ethnic, class , education,

sexualities, and generations Discussions of identity, activism, and

awakening of feminist attitudes

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Research Questions

What are some of the situational and personal origins of feminist activism? Childhood events/experiences as they make

sense later in adolescence and adulthood “Moments” of politicization/coming to awareness Are there commonalities/differences across multiple

contexts? What do these narratives tell us about political

identity?

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METHODOLOGY AND ASSUMPTIONS Qualitative

Comparative narratives Began with one woman and then used her to

develop “hypotheses” A comparative study that allowed for individualized

portraits of each woman We do not assume the women are “typical”

of all feminist activists Each interview grounded in the point of view

of the individual Comparisons across differences: not to make

generalizations but to think about how the local and the global intersect

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WHAT IS POLITICAL IDENTITY? Identity: A person’s psychological relationship to social

categories (gender, race, class, sexuality, etc.; Frable, 1997; Sherif, 1982)

Exposure to “similar others” enhances people’s likelihood of developing a sense of “group consciousness” (shared sense of identity with “like” others)

When group consciousness is associated with an analysis of social differences, that group identity is likely to become politicized (Gurin, Muller, & Gurin, 1980; Duncan, 1999)

Political identity: A political analysis of one’s own social position/power incorporated into one’s understanding of one’s self 5

Importance of Childhood Childhood as the “beginning of identity” (Erikson,

1963) Childhood often provides formative experiences that

may become assumptions we make about the world (Stewart & Healy, 1989)

Shape negotiation of identity development in adolescence and beyond

Childhood and the development of political identity Childhood experiences may come into conflict with

later experiences (creates tension that may lead to politicization)

Childhood experiences may not make sense until adulthood

Feeling that something is “unfair” or “not right,” may later transform into sense of social (in)justice 6

Li Huiying (China)

Understanding of self is deeply rooted in the historical moment of her childhood: Cultural Revolution She describes the context of her childhood as

“genderless”

My mother loved to say that the boys and girls were all the same in our household.

As a result of this environment, she was “passionate,” “idealistic” and “persistent”

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What we learn from this “moment”

Historical, the cultural and the individual meet

Conflict of sudden change Not only within her family but in China

1980s: Society’s demands for young women and young men were changing. Our differences reappeared.

Li interpreted the changes in her household and in society in personal terms and insisted on her own uniqueness Rejected the cultural norms that defined reasons

to marry 9

Themes/hypotheses: Li Huiying

Childhood did not emphasize her difference from others (exactly the opposite)

Difference is not important? Believed in the system

A belief in the system is important to political identity development?

Strong sense of confidence as an adolescent Strong sense of self/self-confidence is key?

Viewed herself as someone who did not go along with the mainstream

Sense of self as “unique” or rebellious is important? 10

Sista II Sista (United States)

Two women from a community-based organization (in Brooklyn) Verónica Giménez Loira Limbal

Early childhood experiences of immigration Realized at young age that they were treated

differently from others

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Verónica, emigrated to US at age 7:…comparing the United States to Venezuela and being really let down, being really upset, being really angry at my parents for ...for having brought us…to live in the United States …I started really looking at people are being shot every day-- I don’t remember this in Venezuela... Plus, also the coldness of New York in terms of the culture, and even though there’s tons of different people, I just wasn’t really relating to anybody except new immigrants that lived on the block who were my age or something. And then in terms of racial understanding, my racial consciousness… it was a big difference for me when my family moved from [Venezuela] to a community full of new immigrants from all around the world

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Themes/hypothesis testing: Sista II Sista

Childhood experiences emphasized differences Differences may be important (not necessary)

Realized early on that the system did not work Belief in the system not necessary

Both have clear sense of early politicization Both work outside of “systems”

Collective Don’t identify as “feminist” or “activist”

Self confidence? 14

Barbara Labuda Does not describe her childhood as explicitly political

I came from a discordant, unharmonious family, where there was a lot of this damaged love.

[School was]…very difficult, as something… as a difficult experience, hard and difficult, traumatic… a school like army barracks

Very early. I’d get involved in these community-related issues as early as in elementary school and in high school. I was always elected a chair of something or other, of a class or of some other group, or I would organize some clubs myself.

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What these narratives teach us about political identity and childhood

Childhood may not always be an explicitly political period Yet the “background” it provides seem to have

lasting effects Not necessarily just feelings of difference in

childhood that affect later political identity At the same time, not necessarily “moments” of

conflict either Not all activists see their childhood as part of

a larger “narrative” of political identity The role of “trauma” in development of

political identity 17

Thank you!

Global Feminisms Project Team Gender & Personality in Context Lab

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