fall 2006 - ir.vanderbilt.edu

The WORDWORDwomen’s and gender studiesF

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Rosemarie Garland-Thomson

Fall 2006:

Rosemarie Garland-Thomson

WhatsIN a Word‘ By Monica J. Casper

atelyIhavebeenthinkingalotaboutfamilies:whattheyare,whovaluesthem,howsocietydefinesthem,whytheyaresofragile.ManyreadersknowthatIamaharriedbutdevotedmothertotwobeautifullittlegirls,Mason(5)andDelaney(3).FewerofyouknowthatIhavebeenmarriedmorethanonce(gasp!).Asmytolerant,wittyspousesays,“Let’shopethethirdtime’sthecharm.” Myoldersister,whoissingleaftermanyyearsofmarriage,isintheprocessofadoptingababy,probablyfromGuatemala.Thepoliticsofadoption,especiallytransnationaladoption,aredeeplycompelling,andsometimescontested,andhaveonlyrecentlybeengivenadequateattentionbyscholars.Iamwhollysupportive

The F Word: FamilyL ofmyonlysister,whoIlovelike

crazy,butIamalsotryingtoattendsociologicallytothemeaningsthisnewchildwillbringtoourextendedfamily. Mybestfriend,alsoasociologist,iscurrentlyexperiencingadevastatingbreakup.Sheandherpartnerhavebeentogetherover11years,andtheyhavetwogorgeous,smartdaughters.Butbecausemyfriendisalesbian,sheandherpartnerwerenotallowedlegallytocreateamarriage.Thus,theircustodyarrangementlooksquitedifferentfrom,andismoreprecariousthan,a“standard”legalagreement.Myfriend’smaritaldissolutionisfarmessierthanitshouldbegivenhowlittlecertain

relationshipsarevaluedintheUnitedStates. Theseissuesweremuchonmymindinmid-JanuaryasIparticipatedinaterrificconferenceinAtlanta,Georgia,sponsoredbyNewYork-basedNationalAdvocatesforPregnantWomen.RunbyattorneyandtirelessadvocateLynnPaltrow,

Continued on page 2.

What’s InsideHelming The Vagina Monologues......................2A Page From a Travel Diary ...............................3Global Feminisms .............................................4 Grad Student Accomplishments ........................5Fall Class Schedule ...........................................5Virtual WGS ......................................................5Alumnae News ..................................................6Movie Reviews ..................................................7Family: 3 Professors’ Reflections ............... 8 & 9Save The Date .................................................10WGS Photo Album ..........................................11

Spring 2007 Vol. XVII, No 1

At Vanderbilt University

n September 29, 2006, Women’s and Gender Studies sponsored a public lecture by renowned disability studies scholar Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, titled “Can Disability be Chic?: High Fashion Images of Disability in Late Capitalism.”

Garland-Thomson is an associate professor of Women’s Studies at Emory University and the author of Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Literature and Culture (Columbia UP, 1997), editor of Freakery: Cultural Spectacles of the Extraordinary Body(NYU Press, 1996), and co-editor of

Disability Studies: Enabling the Humanities (MLA Press, 2002). She is currently working on a book project that addresses the politics of staring. Garland-Thomson’s lecture chronicled the cultural politics of images of disabilities. As she explained, people with disabilities used to be stigmatized and pitied through visual venues like the “freak show” and the telethon. She argues that these representations have evolved in late capitalism, as images of people with disabilities have grown more prevalent in advertising and even fashion. But she cautioned that we still need to be skeptical. Recent images such as the Super Bowl ad in which a digitally altered Christopher Reeve rises from his wheel-chair and walks are more glamorous than ever before, but Garland-Thomson argues that these images often rely on the exoticization of difference and on problematic narratives of “progress.” And while provocative, they rarely address the complexities of disabilities. – Heather Laine Talley

on“Disability Chic”

WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES

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‘ a ?Whats WordIN

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poorcountrieswithinsufficientprenatalandpostpartumcare. Wealsoheard,horribly,aboutpregnantwomeninU.S.prisonsbeingforcedtolaborinshackles,strappeddownandsurroundedbyguards.Twenty-threestatesallowtheuseofsuchrestraints,whichIsupposearedesignedtopreventexhaustedwomeninexcruciatingpainfrombustingoutofjailwhennobodyislooking. SoIaskthis:Whatisthemeaningoffamilywithoutcorrespondingnotionsoffreedom?Canwomenbegoodmothers–forcertainlyweareexpectedandevencompelledbylawandpublicopiniontobenothingbut“goodmothers”–withoutpossessingthenecessaryautonomy?Canweexpectfamiliestosurvive,muchlessthrive,withoutenhancingtherightsofthewomenwhocreateandsustainthemandtherightsofthechildrenwholiveinthem? IadmitIdonothavealltheanswerstothesequestions.ButIdoknowthatifweasasocietyarecommittedtoprogressandhumanrights,thenweshouldembraceloveandfreedomwherevertheymayblossom.A“focusonthefamily”–allfamilies,howeverdefined–shouldnotbeforgedinhateandintolerancebutratherincompassionandanethicsofjustice.

NAPWworkstoprotecttherightsandwell-beingofallpregnantandbirthingwomen.Theconferencebroughttogetherscholars,activists,healthcareproviders,andothersworkingtoforgeacomplex,diversemovementforreproductivefreedombeyondthesimplisticconceptof“choice.” Thereweremanystoriestoldattheconference,manyofwhichmovedmeandotherstotears. Weheardfrommotherswhostruggledwithcrackcocaine,wereimprisonedandlosttheirchildren,overcameaddiction,andarenowworkinghardtobepresentfortheirfamilies. Weheardfromapro-lifemotherofeightwhowasforcedtoundergoacesareansectionagainstherwill–anarmedsheriffcameintoherbedroomasshewaslaboring–becausesheattemptedtohaveaVBAC(vaginalbirthafterc-section)againstthewishesofherdoctor. Weheardfrommidwiveswhowereharassedandprosecutedforattemptingtoensuresafeat-homedeliveriesforbirthingwomen.WeheardaboutAfricanwomenwhohaveenduredobstetricfistula,aholebetweenthevaginaandrectumorbladderthatcanresultfromdifficultchildbirth.Womenwithweepingfistulasufferseriousbodilydamageandareoftenostracizedbytheircommunities.Repairingtheconditionisextremelydifficultin

By Monica J. CasperContinued from page 1.VBy Reagan Bush I

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Captain’s Log:

On Helming The Vagina Monologues

at Vanderbilt ’llletyouinonalittlesecret:Ihadneverdirectedanythingbeforeinmylife.Well,notanentireproductionatleast!Andmostofthecastofthe2007Vagina Monologues atVanderbiltUniversityhadneveractedeither.Sowhatmadeusqualifiedtopresentthispowerfulproduction?Thefactthatwewere(andstillare)braveandwillingpeoplewho,forthemostpart,loveourvaginas.Andifnot,thenweareworkingonit! ToevenbeaskedtodirecttheproductionbyVickyBasraandKacySilverstein,twooftheremarkableactivistswhoworktirelesslyattheMargaretCuninggimWomen’sCenter,wasanincrediblehonor.Ithoughtthatwasasgoodasitgets.Butthenwehadauditions.Iwasawedbythenumberofbrilliant,strongwomenfromtheVanderbiltandNashvillecommunities.OurfirstcastmeetinginDecemberwasawonderfulgathering,whenallofthesewomenandtheirvoiceswerefinallyunited.Aftergoingovermanylogistics,includingthegruelingrehearsalschedule,weendedthemeetingwithaceremoniallightingoftealights,admiringhowthelightintheroomgrewbrighterasourcandlesglowedcollectively.Wethenwentaroundthecircle,eachofussharingwhywewereinvolvedwiththeMonologues.RangingfromtragicpersonalexperiencestoadesiretofinallyhaveachancetoactatVanderbilt(andnotbejudgedbybodytypeandsize),thevaryingreasonsonlyfurtherbondedus.Werealizedthat,whateverthereason,wewereallonthesamemission:toendviolenceagainstwomen.Andtomakepeoplecomfortablesayingtheword“vagina,”ofcourse. Throughoutourpreparation,Icontinuedtostresstothecastthattheyareactresses and activists.Andtheycertainlysteppeduptothetask.Notonlydidtheyfaithfullymemorizetheirlinesandshowupforrehearsals,buttheyalsopromotedtheproductionandraisedawarenessaboutviolenceagainstwomenwherevertheypossiblycould.Manyfacedoppositionfromfriendsandfamily,whileothersfoundsupport.Butallremarkedthattheyalwaysfeltfreeandunderstoodintherehearsalroom.Whatabeautifulthing. Rehearsalswerefurtherenhancedbytheadditionofalittle“series”lovinglycalled“VaginaTalk.”Eachtime,wefocusedonjustoneortwoofthemonologuesanddiscussedtheopinions,feelings,andemotionsthatitevoked.Youwouldn’tbelievesomeofthedirectionsthistookus!Althoughextremelypopular,wewereforcedtoeventuallylimitthesetalksto20minutesbecause,afterall,therewasthattinymatterofanentireproductiontoprepare.Nonetheless,wearestillthreateningtocreateaVaginaGroupthatmeetsregularlyoncampustodiscuss,well,vaginas.Keepyourcalendarsclear! Fromtryingtoteachmymalephysicaltherapisthowtosaytheword“patriarchy”(whichhehadneverheardandstillclaimsImadeup),toencounteringfriendswhocanbarelysaythenameoftheproductionwithouttheircheeksburning,nearlyeverydayofmylifeIexperienceamomentthatreaffirmswhyIspentmytime,effort,andloveonThe Vagina Monologues.Idon’tplantoletourmessageendonthestage,andIhopeothersfeelthesame.Individually,andcollectively,wemuststandupforanendtoviolence.

TA Page from a Travel Diary:

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wethesakeoftourism,then,the“natives”havetoperformtheirauthenticitywhenthetouristsdescendintotheirhomespace.A“Mayan”motherofsixchildrenhastogiveuphersiestatimeandweaveahammockinstead.ShealsohastomakesurethatallhermodernpossessionsliketheradioandTVarewell-hiddenfromthevoyeuristiceyesoftheaffluenttourist.Thewoman’schildrenhavebecomesousedtothetouriststhattheyneednoinvitationtoposeforphotographsortodemandcandiesofus.Itwasdistressingtoseeagroupofchildrenandyoungwomenlineupatthesideofthebus,theirpalmsopenandarmsoutstretched.Touristshavemadebeggarsofthepoor. Asthebusheadedbacktothehotel,ourtourguidecontinuedhischatter.Hethankedeveryoneaboardforjoininghistourandaskedusalltofilloutanevaluationformforhim.Hethenturnedtohisdriverandsaid,“okay,SpeedyGonzalez,let’sgetthesegoodpeoplebacktothehotelsafeandwell.”Everyonelaughed.Obviously,theuseofthename“SpeedyGonzalez”wasfamiliarandfunny.IwasremindedofaPatBoonesongofthesamenamefromthe1950s.

Idon’trememberthinkingthatthelyricsofthesongwerefunny.EventhoughIhadsmiledatthereference,Ididn’tthinkitmeritedaroundoflaughterfromtherestoftheaudience.SoIlookeduponitontheWeb.SpeedyGonzalezisananimatedmousefromtheWarnerBrothers’LooneyTunesandMerrieMelodiesseriesofcartoons.Hisstereotypicaltraitsarehisabilitytorunextremelyfast,his“Mexican”accent,andhisoversizedyellowsombrero. Thecartoonisracistinthewayitnaturalizestheculturalandphysicaltraitsofaparticularcommunityofpeople.Thedisturbingthing,however,isthewayinwhichthetermwasappropriatedandusedincasualconversationbythetourguide,whocanmaketheclaimtobelongtothecommunitythattheanimatedcharacterstereotypes.Evenifthetourguideunderstoodtheracialimportofthename,hisjobastheguideisnottoenlightenhistourists.Hisjobistoconnectwiththeminalanguagethattheyunderstandandfeelcomfortablewith,evenifthatcomfortrestsonahistoryof“racializing”agroupofpeople.Thisexemplifiesthenthetwistedlogicofglobaltourisminitslocalizedrelationships.

– Shubhra Sharma

a“belonger”must,inordertosurvive,participateinthetouristindustry.MostpeopleworkintheresortsandhotelsthatdottheshoresoftheMayanRiviera.Theyearnamere$50dollarspermonth.Theysupplementtheirincomethroughtips,butofferinggratuitiesisneitherculturallynorlegallycompulsory.Thismeanstouristlargesseistheonlywayabartendercanmakesomeextramoney(ornot)duringthemonth.Poverty,therefore,makestourismseemessentialfortheregion,buttourismisalsowhatkeepstheregionpooranddependentonit. AfterHurricaneWilmadevastatedtheentireregionoftheMayanRivierain2005and,withit,tourism,localpeoplefacedextremedestitution.Theirsurvivalthenbecamecontingentuponhowquicklythetouristindustrywasrebuiltintheregion.Thiskindofeconomicdependence(ofthelocalpeople/economyontourists/tourism)hasthepotentialtofosterculturalover-generalizationsandstereotypingonbothsidesofsucharelationship.Touristspaymoneytoview“native”peopleintheir“originalhabitat”becausethetouristbrochuresellsitpreciselyinthislanguage.Eventhetourguide,himselfaMayandescendent,deemssuchavisitto“realnative-styleliving”anecessarypartofthetouristexperience. However,theguideisalsoalltooawareofthefalsenessofanessentialMayannativity.Forsuchanidentityandspacetoexist,itwouldhavetobeunavailabletotourism.However,everyoneinthatMayanvillageworksforthetouristindustryindifferentcapacities.Tourismistheirlivelihood,yettourismisalsowhatessentializesthemas“poor”and“native.”For

hesunintheMayanRivieraonceagainbeatdownrelentlessly.Theair-conditioninginthetourbusfeltweakandineffective.Iwasn’tlookingforwardtogettingoffthebus.IhadsweatedenoughwhileclimbingtheMayanpyramidinCoba,afavoritetouristsite.Thelunchaftertheclimbwassettlingintomystomachandmakingmesleepy.ButIalsoknewthatIwasmakingexcusestonotdowhatwasnextonthetour:avisittoa“realMayanvillage.”Asananthropologist,Iwasalreadycriticalofthe“real”inthe“Mayanvillage.”Butmorethanthat,Ifeltalmostembarrassedaboutbeingatouristandwalkingthroughthestreetsofavillageandintopeople’shousestosupposedlyseetheireverydaylife. IwashappytovisittheMayanruinsofCobaandimagineacivilizationwithallitseccentricitiesthroughatourguide’sstoriesaboutit.Iwasn’thappy,however,tosuperimposeanimaginedpastonasetofpeopleinthepresentandexpectthemtobeandbehaveincertainways.Toputthisdifferently,wouldIbehappyifmyneighborhoodandhomewerestopsonatourist’sjourneythroughNashville?HowwouldIreactifagroupoftouristswalkedthroughmyhouseinspectingmyspaceandbelongingsinordertoidentifymy“reallineage”withinNashville’shistory,pastandpresent?Nomannerofpresentswouldmaketheexperienceacceptable.Butinthe“Mayanvillage”abagofassortedcandieswasexpectedtosufficeaspaymenttothechildrenandtheirmothersforthetouroftheirhomesandfordisruptingtheirafternoonsiesta.Ifthevillagewasmeanttobethepresentfaceofagrandcivilizationofthepast,thensuchapaltryofferingisaninsulttothatcivilizationandtoitsdescendents. Butthisispartofthetwistedlogicoftourism.Cancún’seconomyisbasedontourism,meaningthateveryonewhois

MayanThe

RivieraCancún-


By Brooke Ackerly

G

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GLOBAL FEMINISMS: Building a Sustainable Expertise at Vanderbilt University

witharesearchorteachingstrengthinanareaimportanttothepurposeoftheprojecthavebeendevelopingtheGlobalFeminismsCollab-orativethroughthreeprimaryactivities.Thefirstisaresearchgroupwhichprovidescriticalfeedbackon

members’scholarship.ThesecondisanexplorationofwhatitmeanstoenhanceGlobalFeminismsasafieldofstudythroughoutthecurriculumintheundergraduate,professional,andPh.D.contexts.Thethirdisanattempttodeveloptheimplicationsoffeministtheoryandfeministethicsforresearch,focusingonresearchthatworksexplicitlyincollaborationwithactorsinfeministpracticeandpoliticsinlocalandtransnationalspaces–Vanderbilt,Nashville,andtherestoftheworld. Participantsincludefacultyandgraduatestudentsfromacrosscampus.Asthecollaborationgrows,weinviteothersinter-estedintheseissuestojoinusinconversation.Pleaseemailbrooke.ackerly@vanderbilt.eduformoreinformation.

Globalfeminismsisanethicalperspective,too.Globalfeminismsperceivesofethicsasacollectiveproject,attentivetothepos-sibilitiesforalliance-building.Itexpectsself-reflectionatallstagesoftheresearchproject,fromepis-temologytopublication.Method-ologically,itexpectsaninclusiveunderstandingoftheresearchsubject,andtobotheducateandbeeducatedaboutintersectionalexperiencesofoppression.Itisattentivetopowerandtodiasporicandmarginalizedpeople.Inshort,globalfeministresearchpracticesareethicalpractices,andtheyarethemselvespracticesthatrequireethicalreflection. Globalfeminismsscholarsareengagedinthestudyofboundar-iesassociatedwithsex,gender,sexuality,class,race,ability,ethnicity,geography,identity,andmembership–usingboththeoreticalandempiricallenses.Theyareattentivetosilencesandmarginalization,tocitizen-shippolitics(includingissuesofmigration,refugees,rights,andparticipation),topoliticaleconomy(formalandinformal),tosocietyandculture,andtothe

environment(understoodastheplaceswherewelive,work,play,andpray).Globalfeministscholarshipismakingimportantcontributionstomanyfieldsofstudyandtomanywaysofliving.

Global Feminisms Collaboration at Vanderbilt

ThepurposeoftheGlobalFem-inismsCollaborationatVander-biltistodevelopandinstitution-alizeatransinstitutionalstrengthinthefieldofglobalfeminismsinresearch,teaching,andservice.ThecoreoftheprojectisaresearchgroupsupportedbytheCenterforEthics.Membersofthegroupwithanexistingexpertiseinglobalfeminismsor

Introduction to an Emerging Field

lobalfeminisms isaburgeoningfield ofscholarshipstrug-glingtocatchupwithacenturyoffeministandwomen’sactivismandinterests.Globalfeminismsisanimportantareaofinquiryinalldisciplineswherefeminismhasapresence.Why“feminismS”?Globalfeminismsisthestudyoffeminismsfromaroundtheworld,oflocalfeminisms,offeminismstransnationally,andofglobalpoliticsthroughfeministlenses.Somefeminismsdefygeography;somearehyperconsciousofgeo-politics.Thefieldisdynamicand,atitsbest,transdisciplinary.Butitisafieldwithitsownhistoryofpower.Byreferringto“femi-nismS,”wemeantobecommittedtonotingthepotentialforpowertoobfuscatediversityandsilencedifference.Globalfeministsnotonlystudythepowerofpower,wealsouseourcriticaltoolstoreflectonthewaysinwhichwepracticethatwhichwestudy.Globalfemi-nismsisatonceafieldofstudyandaprocessofstudy.

Global Feminisms collaborative at the World Social Forum in Kenya, January 2007.


Virtual WGS

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Women’s and Gender Studies Fall 2007 Course Schedule

COURSE # COURSE TITLE CREDIT HRS. DAY/TIME INSTRUCTOR

WGS115F-01FYS WomeninLaw&Literature 3 MWF1:10-2:00 Fesmire,J.

WGS150W-01 Sex&GenderinEverydayLife 3 TR9:35-10:50 Sharma,S.

WGS150-01 Sex&GenderinEverydayLife 3 TR11-12:15 Stahl,S.

NOTE: Service Learning

WGS150-02 Sex&GenderinEverydayLife 3 MWF3:10-4:00 Fesmire,J.

WGS240-01 IntroductiontoWomen’sHealth 3 TR2:35-3:50 Salisbury,M.

WGS250-01 ThirdWaveFeminism 3 TR1:10-2:25 Dicker,R.

WGS259W-01 Reading&WritingLives 3 TR11-12:15 Dicker,R.

WGS273-01 PsychoanalysisandFeminism 3 TR1:10-2:25 Lunbeck,E.

WGS280-01 ColonialGovernmentality&Education 3 W3:10-5:30 Sharma,S.

WGS281-01 GlobalizationandPolicy-Making 3 TR2:35-3:50 Sharma,S.

WGS291-01 SeniorResearchSeminar 3 W1:10-3:00 Casper,M.

WGS294A-01 SpTp:Trauma,Lit.,&WomenWriting 3 M1:10-3:00 Pierce-Baker,C.

NOTE: Limited to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors

WGS288A InternshipTraining

WGS288B InternshipResearch

WGS288C InternshipReadings

WGS289 IndependentStudy

WGS298 HonorsResearch

WGS299 HonorsThesis

WGS389 IndependentStudy

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Virtual WGS Virtual WGS anderbiltWomen’sandGenderStudiesrecentlylauncheditsbrand-newWebsite,redesignedwiththeexpertiseofCommunityAdvisoryBoardmemberLeighWilliamsandJohnWilliams.Visitwww.vanderbilt.

edu/womens-studiestobrowseourcalendarofupcomingevents,getquickaccesstoourprogram

requirementsandcourseofferings,downloaddigitalversionsofpreviousnewsletters,andmore!

V

Alyson Dicksonpresentedapaper,“FramingtheRelationshipbetweenFeminismandReligion:OriginsoftheEnemyPerception,”attheAmericanSocietyofChurchHistoryAnnualMeetingonJanuary6,2007. Darcy Freedmanpresentedapapertitled“HowParticipatoryisParticipatoryActionResearch?ReflectionToolsforExploringParticipantInvolvementinQualitativeDataCollection”attheConferenceofInterdisciplinaryQualitativeStudiesinAthens,GeorgiaonJanuary7,2007. Shealsoreceiveda$100,000grantfromtheLifeWorksFoundationinJanuary2007tocoordinatetheformationoftheFoodSecurityPartnersofMiddleTennessee,acoalitioncomprisedofpeopleandorganizationsrepresentingallpartsofthefoodsystem,fromfarmtofork,whoareworkingtocreateandsustainasecureandhealthyfoodsystemforMiddleTennessee. Monique MoultriewasawardedtheWomen’sandGenderStudies’SusanFordWiltshireGraduateStudentEssayPrizeinApril2006. Shealsopresentedapapertitled“‘BetweentheSheets’:TheBlackChurchandBlackWomen’sSexuality”attheSistersofAfricanDescent:ConnectingSpirituality,Religion,andVocationConferenceinAtlanta,GeorgiaonSeptember22,2006. Sheisthrilledthatherfirstpublication,“IntheWorldtoCome,GodWillSign:ChallengestoFeministTheologiesofEmbodimentandWholenessandaModelofInclusivityforPersonswithDisabilities,”willappearintheFall2007 Journal of Religion, Disability, and Health. Nicole Seymour presentedapapertitled“‘VisualLiteracy’andAbolitionistFiction,”onFrederickDouglass’sdeploymentofthelanguageofphotography,attheMidwestModernLanguageAssociationconferenceinNovember2006. Herarticle,“TheInterestsofFullDisclosure:Agenda-SettingandthePracticalInitiationoftheFeministClassroom,”willbepublishedinvolume17,issue3ofFeminist Teacher laterthisyear.

WGS Grad Certificate Student

AccomplishmenTs


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ALUMNAE NEWSThispastsummer,Katharyn “Kat” Christian ’05transferredfromtheUniversityofFloridaLevinCollegeofLawtotheUniversityofAlabamaSchoolofLaw,whereshewillreceiveherdegreeinMay2008.ThissummershewillbeworkingfortheSouthernPovertyLawCenterinMontgomery,Alabama,andisecstaticabouttheopportunity.SheisgettingmarriedonAugust4,2007toDillonBarker(A&S’05)atherhomechurchinGaithersburg,Maryland.

InMay2006,Melody Crowder-Meyer ’04receivedherMaster’sdegreeinPoliticsfromPrincetonUniversity.SheiscurrentlyworkingtowardherPh.D.,writingherdissertationonhowpoliticalrecruitmentprocessesaffectthesexofcandidateswhorunforandattainpoliticalofficeintheU.S.

Jacqueline LaPan Edgerton ’98 gavebirthtoababygirl,CarolineLaPanEdgerton,onJanuary20,2006.Jacquelineandherhusband,ColinEdgerton,relocatedthispastsummertoAugusta,Georgia.Shepracticeslawpart-timeandenjoysraisingherdaughter.

Stacie R. Furia ’03isinherfourthyearofgraduateschool,pursuingherPh.D.inSociologywithadoctoralemphasisinWomen’sStudiesattheUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara.Shewillcompleteherfieldworkforherdissertationinthecomingyear,bringingherintothehomestretchofherdegree.

Sarah Graham ’04isapplyingtolawschoolswhileworkingasaprobationofficer.ShewasrecentlyelectedChairoftheNashvilleCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolence.ShehasenjoyedstillbeingabletoparticipateinVanderbilt’sTakeBacktheNightmarchforthepasttwoyears,andwashonoredtobeaskedtopresentforProjectSafe’sHandinHandTraining.Sheclaimsthat“aweekdoesn’tgobywhereIdon’trealizewhatadifferencetheWomen’sStudiesprogramhasmadeinmylife!Thanks.”

Jennifer Howard ’02(M.A.Women’sStudies,George

WashingtonUniversity’04)iscurrentlyworkingattheCenterforSocialConcernsattheUniversityofNotreDame,coordinatingservicelearningopportunitiesforstudents.SheplanstostartaMaster’sdegreeinNonprofitAdministrationthissummer.JenstillservesontheBoardofDirectorsforSAFER(StudentsActiveforEndingRape)andisamemberoftheNationalCampusSteeringCommitteeforGrantstoReduceViolent

CrimesAgainstWomenonCampusfortheDepartmentofJustice.Only1.5yearsleftuntilherboyfriendfinisheslawschool,atwhichtimetheyplantomovetoNewYorkCity.

Deepalie Milie Joshi ’06isinhersecondsemesteroflawschoolinSanDiego,California.Overtheholidays,shewenttoIndiaforthreeweeks.Hervisitreaffirmedherdesiretofulfillalong-termgoalofestablishingaself-sustainingwomen’sshelterinthestateofOrissainIndia.

Lindsay Kee ’98willcompleteherfirstnovelandtheMasterofProfessionalWritingProgramattheUniversityofSouthernCaliforniainLosAngelesthiscomingspring.ShelooksforwardtomovingbacktoNashvilleinMay2007tobewithhernewhusband,songwriterFredWilhelm.

Katie Protos ’06 isnowworkingasanAdvocatesProgramCoordinatorattheDianaB.Torrey’82HealthandCounselingCenteratSt.LawrenceUniversityinCanton,NewYork.ShewasrecentlychosenfromapoolofnationalapplicantstoconducttwoworkshopsforattendeesoftheCaliforniaCoalitionAgainstSexualAssault’sannualconference.Herworkshopdesignswerebasedonherseniorhonorsresearch.ShewantscurrentWGSstudentstoknowthatalotcancomefromdoingathesis–asshesays,“ifyou’rewillingtotaketherisk,totravelthatextramile…alotcanhappen.Alotcanchange.”

AftergraduatingfromVanderbilt,Courtney Richardson ’04 movedtoSt.Petersburg,FloridaandbeganworkingforanIndyCarRaceteam,AndrettiGreenRacing.ShewasresponsibleformarketingandpromotionsfortheHondaGrandPrixofSt.Petersburg.Afterthatrace,shewentontheroadwiththeraceteamtoallof

theevents,doingclientservices.InNovember2006,sheresignedandrelocatedtoIndiana,wheresheandhernow-fiancéboughtahouse.Theymetatwork,asheisoneoftheownersoftheraceteam(the“Green”inAndrettiGreen).ThecoupleliveinCarmel,asuburbofIndianapolis,andgotengagedonNewYear’sEve.TheywillbemarriedinSavannah,GeorgiaonNovember9,2007.Courtneyisnolongerworking,butbusygettingthehousetogetherandpreparingtotraveltoalltheraces.Shesays,“lifeisverygoodandIamextremelyhappy!”Inherfreetime,shehasbecomeheavilyinvolvedincharityandvolunteerwork.

AttorneyArrianna Sales Sacks ’00 wasmadeamagistrateforatrialcourtinOhiolastSeptember.

Thisspring, Heather Souder ’04willgraduatefromHarvardLawSchool.Nextfall,shewillmovetoWashington,DCtobeginworkingatthelawfirmofBakerBottsLLPinthelitigationpracticegroup.

Thispastyear,Rachel Wagner Koppa ’00marriedLanceKoppainTuscany,Italy.Shesays,“itwasablessingtobesurroundedbythosewelove,”includingRonnieSteinberg(pastdirectorofWGS).ThecouplecurrentlylivesinDallas.RachelrecentlyfinishedallofhercourseworkandpassedthecomprehensiveexamsforherPh.D.inFamilyTherapyfromTexasWoman’sUniversity.Shewillspendthisyearworkingonherdissertationandtryingtostartaprivatepractice.

Pamela Williams ’04iscurrentlyworkingattheUniversityofIllinoisfortheHumanResourcesFrontEndprojectandlovingit.Sheandherhusband,JamesCheers,arestillinUrbana,Illinoisanddoingwell–“cold,butwell!”Shewishestheprogram,faculty,andstudentscontinuedgrowthandsuccess.


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WhenMexicandirectorAlfonsoCuarónmadeY Tu Mamá También,criticsexaltedhisdeftconversionofanadolescentgenrepictureintoamoviewithsocialrelevance.Thosesamecriticsbecamerap-turousonceagainwhentheysawanadolescentgenrepictureofnosocialrelevance,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,withhisnameinthedirector’scredit.Thistimeout,withChildren of Men,hetriessciencefiction,orapocalypticfuturism.Andheshowshimselftobebothamastergenrefilmmakerandonestillinterestedinadvancingsocialcritique:adaptingP.D.James’snovelofthesamename(alongwithsev-eralco-screenwriters,whohavecollectivelyearnedanOscarnod),hisfilminvokesthecriticalconcernsofpostcolonialismandreproductivefreedom.Thegistofthefilmisthatin2027,bywhateverunremark-ableepidemic,humanscannolongerreproduce.Atthemovie’sbeginning,everyone’sattentionisabsorbedbythedeathoftheyoungestmemberoftherace,“BabyDiego.”Britain,servingsomewhatanachronisticallyasthecenterofempire,usespolice-stateviolenceagainstalltheillegalimmigrantshopingforrefugethere.But,asironyhasit,it’sanillegalwoman,theWestAfricanKee(Claire-HopeAshitey),whobecomespreg-nantagainstalloddsand,thus,representsthefuture:whilethefirsthumanracebeganinEastAfrica,thesecondonebeginsinWestAfrica.CliveOwen,slouchinglyhandsomeBrit,plays

thereluctantherochargedwithshepherdingKeetothesafetyofthe“humanproject,”whichappearstobelocatedoffshore.JulianneMooreplayshisex-wifewhohascastherlotwiththeterroristsopposedtothepolicestate.Consideringthemainstreamappealofthefilm–anditsemploy-mentoftheaforementionedbeauti-fulpeople–wemightwonder:inayearwhenMexicandirectorsruledtheOscarnominations,hasCuarónabandonedtheparticularconcernsofhisnationalityforHollywood?Inshort,no.Thecause célèbreatthemovie’scoreistheimmigrationforcedbytheneoliberalrevolution.Andaseachrevolutioneatsitschildren,thestorymakesitplainthat,ifthechildrenarethefuture(toparaphrasenewly-free-from-BobbyWhitneyHouston),therewillbenoneifEmpiredoesn’tauthorizethese“illegals”asfullcitizens.

– Constance Watts

The Queen StephenFrears’sGolden-GlobewinningfilmThe Queenoftenfeels,andlooks,likeamade-for-TVmovie–butperhapswithgoodreason.Itssubject,theaftermathofPrincessDiana’sdeathin1995,appealstotheLifetime(“TelevisionforWomen”)addictinmanyofus.Indeed,Dianawasdubbed“ThePeople’sPrincess”forherabilitytoelicitsympathyfromso-calledcommoners,includingAmericanwomen.Evenwithherimmenseprivilege,thehigh-profileroyalsufferedthemostmundaneofindignities:anunfaithfulhusband,aneatingdisorder,acoldanddisap-provingmother-in-law. Butit’sthatmother-in-law,ElizabethII(playedbyanalmost-unrec-ognizable,uncannilypreciseHelenMirren),whoistherealstarofthisfilm.AndFrearsinpartseekstohumanizethatalooffigure,paintingherasaconcernedgrandmotherwhowantedtoprotectPrincesHarryandWilliamfromthesamelimelightthatostensiblykilledtheirmother.The Queentrainsitseyeontheagonizing72hoursafterthatterriblemoment,whensentimentturnedagainstthemonarchyforitsslug-gishpublicresponseanditsreluctancetochangeroyalprotocolfortheprincess’sfuneral. Atthefilm’sheart,then,isthestoryofawomantornbetweenhistoryanddutyontheonehand–adutyshehasperformedsinceshewasayoungwomanof25–andpersonalemotionsandpublicopinionontheother.(TonyBlair’swifebecomesaprominentemblemforthelatter;HelenMcCroryplaysCherieBlairasawitty,irreverentwomanwhobelievesthatmonarchismshoulddieaquietdeath.) ButThe Queenisnotunwaveringinitssympathyfortheembattledmonarch:itfeaturesmanystrikinglyambiguousmomentsthatrevealnotonlyacomplexwoman,butafilmwithsimilarlymixedemotions.Inonescene,asoloElizabethencountersamagnificentbuck,thequarryoftheprincesandherhusbandwhoareonahuntingexpeditionneartheirScottishestate.Thequeenandtheanimallockeyes,andwhatseemsanalmostlaughableinstanceofheavy-handedsymbolismbe-comessomethingmoredifficulttoread.Mournfullyvisitingthebuck’scorpseadaylater,asithangsinanabattoirbeingdrainedofblood,wewonder:isElizabethfinallymourningthedaughter-in-lawwhowascutdownjustasshewasmakingalifeforherself,ordoessheseeherselfintheevisceratedanimal–tossedasidebyamodernpublicwithwan-ingrespectfortradition?Orcoulditbeboth?

– Nicole Seymour

MOVIE

REVIEWS

Children of Men


8

wentyyearsago,JudithLorberwroteanessaytitled“DismantlingNoah’sArk,”inwhichshearguedthatitisimpossibletoendgenderinequalitywithoutfirsteliminatinggenderasanorganizingprincipleinsociety.Sheisparticularlyinsistentabout“de-gendering”families. Studentswhoreadheressayinmyclassesstrugglemightilywiththenotionofasocietysansgender–oratleastoneinwhichgenderisnomorecentralthanwhetheryouareleft-orright-handed.IadmittomyownresistancetoLorber’svision,butthereissomethingveryappealinginhernotionthatweshouldredefinethebasicbuildingblockoffamilyastherelationshipbetweenanadultandoneormorechildrenforwhoms/heisresponsible.AsIpointouttostudentsinourdiscussions,intheU.S.wealreadyhavefamiliesthatarenotcenteredonadultheterosexualcouples:unmarriedwomenormenwithdependentchildrenandsame-sexcoupleswithchildren,totakejusttwoexamples.Thisisaroundaboutwayofsayingthat,tome,awholehostofrelationshipscanbeseenas“family,”andthatsomeofthatdiversityisinstrumentaltochallengingwomen’sandmen’straditionalrolesinmarriageandfamily. Mostofmyresearchhastodo,inonewayoranother,withgenderinequalityintheU.S.Ihavestudiedwomen’sandmen’sjobsearches;genderdifferencesinneighborhoodnetworks;women’sentryintomedicine;theregulationofnursepractitioners;and,withHollyMcCammon,statewomen’ssuffragemovementsintheU.S.Itseemstomevirtuallyimpossibletostudygenderinequalitywithouttakingintoaccount,somehow,theroleoffamilyandthewaysinwhichgenderedfamilyrolescircumscribewomen’srolesbeyondthefamily.AndthatrecognitionisfurtherevidenceofthelinkthatLorberseesbetweengenderasanorganizingprincipleinsocietyandthestubbornpersistenceofgenderinequality.

–Karen Campbell, Sociology

T Family:

8


3

Professors’ Reflectionsheword“family”isatermofambivalenceforme–andwhilethistermassuchdoesnotdirectlyinfluencemyresearchandteaching,theambivalencerepresentsalargerquestionthatmotivatesmuchofmyworkinCommunicationStudies. Ioftenuse“family”torefertothesmallgroupofpeopletowhomIamrelatedbybirthandwithwhomImaintain,notalwayswithoutchallenge,meaningfulrelationshipsofmutualsupportandcare.Ialsosometimesuse“family”tomakereferencetomywonderfulpartnerof12yearsandourtwoadorablekitties.Iammotivatedtouse“family”inthislatterwaywhenI

feelaprofoundsenseofgratitudeforthecompanionship,pleasures,complexity,andoverallmeaningthatmypartnerandcatsbringtomylife. Yetitisdifficultformetocontemplatemyrelationshipto“family”withoutnotingthatthetermhasbeenpubliclyusedtounreflectivelydemarcateanddenouncecertainformsofintimaterelationshipforcrasspoliticalgain.Andthecontextofdifficultyisnotsolelypoliticalforme.Mypartner’ssiblingsuse“family”asatermofunqualifiedexclusionthatcastsmeoutsidetheirintimatesphereofrecognition,simplybecausemy

partnerandIarewomen.Worse,theydisavowtheirshareofresponsibilityfortheexclusionarydefinitionbyattributingitsexistenceto“thewordofGod.”So,forme,theterm“family”generallyrepresentsexperiencesbothpleasurableandpainful. Theinfluenceofthisparticularambivalenceonmyworkisnot,initself,significant.Buttheopposingmeaningssignifydefinitionalcontroversy,whichisonecommunicationproblemthatItakeupinmyresearch,andonethatIinvitestudentstothink

know,evenatthismoment,thatitwaslame. So,ofcourse,whatdo

academicsdowhentheyhavebeenthoroughlycaughtout?Read.Goingthroughtheorytextsalmostconvincedmethatitwouldhavebeenbetternottohavebeenborninto,well,a“family.”Thenotion–thenotion

inoperationforhegemony,mindyou–canbe,inlayman’sterms,“bogus”asallgetout.Imean,workwithmehere:theroyal“family,”the“patriarchal”privilegesassumedbythepost-colonialleader,the“insiderism”ofevenmyfavoriteSlyandtheFamilyStonenationalism:“Weareafamily!” However,whenIlookedaround

aboutintheirstudyofrhetoric,deliberativepolitics,andciviclife.

–Lynn Clarke, Communication Studies

atthepeopleIloved,fromwhomIhadlearned,whohadloanedmecompassionandmoney,andwhomadeupmymostimmediatefieldofresponsibilitiesand,yes,mypastandunfoldingHISTORY...whowerethey?Myfamily,tobecertain. IamaBlackAmericanmanwhogrewupinasegregatedSouthprotectedbyafatherwhowasmysimilarintemperamentandinclination.Hesavedmylifemorethanonce.Who,then,wouldbeamodelifnothim? Andtoday,asanacademic,Ifindgreatjoyinmycollaborationwithmywifeandthemotherofouronlyson,Dr.CharlottePierce-Baker,andwebothtakegreatjoyinourson,daughter-in-law,andthreegrandsons. Thereis,Iknow,awayofwhatIcall“autobiographicalcritique”andoftheorizationthatmovesnotagainstorininterrogationof“family,”but,letussay,viafamily.IhavehadoneortwoseriouslyFreudian-orientedspearscastatmyworkbyvery

smartwriterswhosuggestthatIhavenoteradicatedtheOedipalmiasmafrommyscholarlywork.Onehasthefeelingthattheyareaparaphraseoftheturn-of-the-nineteenth-centurywhitecriticwhosuggestedthatCharlesChesnutt’sprosewouldhavebeenbetterhadhenotbeen“sobitter.”Translation:IwouldbebetterifIwerenot“soOedipal.” Whattodo? Thereis,ofcourse,muchmoretosayabout“family.”ButIcannotdoithere.Ido,however,takeprideinmyOxfordUniversityPressbookwhichwillappearinsummer2007–ahopelesscommercialplug!–titledI Don’t Hate the South: Reflections on Faulkner, Family, and the South.Imightcautionallhigh-theorypartisansthatmydadplaysafineroleintheprose. Whichremindsme–whathappenedtothestudentwhoposedthetheoreticalquestionaboutmyuseof“family”?Heistodayaveryimportantpublicfigure…withalargefamily.

–Houston A. Baker, Jr., English3T

neofmyhaunting academicmemoriesisaclasssessionthattookplaceaftertheentryofhightheoryintothehandsofthemany.Iwasextollingthemeritsof“family”asamodelfor“community.”Akeen-eyedparticipantinthediscussionraisedhishandandasked,“Areyousuggestingthatthepatriarchalheteronormativityofthesign‘family’inallitsproblematizinghegemonyisamodelonwhichtobaseideasofanewinclusiveness?” Well,asthenovelistRalphEllisonphrasesoneofhisresponsestotheambushofinterrogation:“Cutoffmylegs,andcallmeShorty.”ThatwaswhatIthought.Idon’trememberwhatIsaid,butI

O

9

Lynn Clarke, in black blazer, with her Communication Studies colleagues.


10

Thursday, March 15th, 5 p.m.Location: Stevenson 4309

WGS hosts Linda Hirshman, author of Get To Work: A Manifesto for Women of the World, as our Spring guest speaker.

Ms.Hirshman,aformerprofessorofphilosophyandlaborattorney,isthetalkoftheblogcircuitforherviewsonwomen,work,andmotherhood.Sheiscontroversial,lively,smart,andanavowedfeministcriticofwhatshecalls“familyinjustice,”inwhichwomenbearadisproportionateshareofresponsibilityforchildrearingandhousework.Formoreinformation,seewww.gettoworkmanifesto.com.

Thursday, April 5th,10 a.m.-4 p.m.Location: Student Life Center

The Cuninggim Women’s Center, the Vanderbilt Police Department, and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program present a one-day symposium: “The Healing Journey: Surviving Violence Against Women.”

Thesymposiumwillbringtogetherfacultywhoseworkfocusesonviolenceagainstwomen,andstudentswhohaveeitherexperiencedviolenceoraresearchingforwaysandmeanstochallengeviolenceasapracticeintheireverydaylifeoncampus.Themorningsessionwillfeaturetwoprominentspeakers,andtheafternoonwillfeaturebreak-outsessionswherestudentswillinteractdirectlywithmembersofthefaculty,Women’sCenterrepresentatives,membersoftheVanderbiltpolice,andcommunityhealers.

Students need to register for this event. Email Kacy Silverstein at [email protected]. Deadline for registration is March 20.

Save the dateWGS graduate certificate students Lynette Jacobs-Priebe (middle) and Darcy Freedman (right) take a break from dissertation work to go bowling with fellow Community Research and Action Ph.D. student Carrie Hanlin.

Women’s& GenderStudiesPhotoAlbum


Darcy Freedman (far right) poses with members of

the community advisory team with whom she

coordinated The RiverWest Produce Stand participatory

action research project. From left to right are Mary

Wakefield, Richard Winston, Bola Teyinka, Finis

Stribling III, Frazier Beverly, and Eldridge

Ronnie Simmons.

11

Gay Welch, University Chaplain and WGS affiliated faculty member, visits an ecovillage in Denmark (left) and an ecology project called A Rocha in France (above). These visits were part of her research for the Ecology and Spirituality group at The Center for the Study of Religion and Culture. Such research in-forms the first-year writing seminars she has taught for the past two years, and the course in Ecology and Ethics - which will include ecofeminist theory - that she is proposing for Spring of 2008.

Corey Henning, Darcy Freedman, Domonique Moore, and Caitlin Skinner show off the RiverWest Produce Stand they managed last summer. The stand operated for 10 Sat-urdays in a vacant lot near the Preston Taylor Hope IV Housing Development.

Darcy Freedman (far right) poses with members of

the community advisory team with whom she

coordinated The RiverWest Produce Stand participatory

action research project. From left to right are Mary

Wakefield, Richard Winston, Bola Teyinka, Finis

Stribling III, Frazier Beverly, and Eldridge

Ronnie Simmons.

Newsletter co-editor Nicole Seymour and WGS’ office manager Gayle Parrott celebrate WGS director Monica Casper’s birthday in Nashville.


Editors Nicole Seymour and ShubhraSharma

Director Monica J. Casper AssociateProfessorofSociology

Associate Director ShubhraSharma SeniorLecturerinWomen’s andGenderStudies

Office Director Gayle Parrott

Student Assistants Sara Beth McLellan Sarah Hansen Heather Talley

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PERMIT 3698Nashville, TN

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