(no subject)
I have noticed that many times when recounting my opinions I utilize personal narratives as the primary way to substantiate the way that I feel and even as a mode of persuasion in many cases.
For example, I am at a debate camp where I suggested that we have a voluntary seminar on the unique experience of being a woman in debate. This was at first taken up with enthusiasm but as the conversation about how to approach the seminar progressed there came out somewhat of a negative attitude. I had offered my person experiences with sexism and gender categorizations in the activity and how they had brought me to wanting to usher other young women into the activity by acknowledging some of these problems and identifying ways to still be a unique woman and a person who finds a forum and space in the activity despite the disadvantage. I received two criticisms, one was from a woman who seemed to think that I was going to use this forum as a soap box and that me just pointing out these things would be complaining and not positive, the other was from a woman who felt that we shouldn't just talk about the issues disadvantaging "girls" because they would enter the activity with the mindset that they a) were always disadvantaged and b) that they could blame their loses in debate rounds on their gender. Both I feel missed the point that I was not wanting to necessarily offer my narrative in the seminar but that I had recounted it to them to make them see my objective in wanting to have this discussion in clearer more personal way. They didn't understand my feelings and opinions based upon my narrative.
Keeping this is mind how valid do you feel personal narratives are as far as being the basis for opinion and action? And are they good forms of communication when it comes to situations such as this?
For example, I am at a debate camp where I suggested that we have a voluntary seminar on the unique experience of being a woman in debate. This was at first taken up with enthusiasm but as the conversation about how to approach the seminar progressed there came out somewhat of a negative attitude. I had offered my person experiences with sexism and gender categorizations in the activity and how they had brought me to wanting to usher other young women into the activity by acknowledging some of these problems and identifying ways to still be a unique woman and a person who finds a forum and space in the activity despite the disadvantage. I received two criticisms, one was from a woman who seemed to think that I was going to use this forum as a soap box and that me just pointing out these things would be complaining and not positive, the other was from a woman who felt that we shouldn't just talk about the issues disadvantaging "girls" because they would enter the activity with the mindset that they a) were always disadvantaged and b) that they could blame their loses in debate rounds on their gender. Both I feel missed the point that I was not wanting to necessarily offer my narrative in the seminar but that I had recounted it to them to make them see my objective in wanting to have this discussion in clearer more personal way. They didn't understand my feelings and opinions based upon my narrative.
Keeping this is mind how valid do you feel personal narratives are as far as being the basis for opinion and action? And are they good forms of communication when it comes to situations such as this?