Feminism and race

[alias_sqbr]

This is an intermittently edited collection of ideas for a panel on "Feminism and Race" I ran at femmeconne. As such it's aimed at feminists/women, though anyone else is welcome to read it. I put all the links I found (and there's some really good stuff) in a separate post, since it's important that my argument can stand on its own (I can't give people links

Comments

[alias_sqbr]

I would suggest even more specific Australian issues and controversies to contextualise the issues. All the examples you've raised in your 'Feminism and racism' section are US examples, which kinda invites white people to dismiss anti-racism as being a "US-centric" perspective. Australia has its own history of sexualised racism, racist sexism, and racially dodgy feminism to talk about. I think US feminists/women of colour are capable of discussing these issues as they pertain to the USA, but we need a dialogue about Australia within Australia to really tackle them here.

Yes, I could not agree more, I've seen that "Oh, yes, sure there's racism in America but there's nothing like that here" attitude all over the place and it's infuriating.

Unfortunately, I haven't had very long to prepare this, and almost all the "WOC talking about her specific issues with the feminist movement" stuff I can find aimed at my and my audience's level (which is, lets face it, pretty basic) is american based. Most of the examples I do have I cribbed from your blog :) I think I'm going to have to make this panel very basic and then post more links and ideas etc to the community as I come across them (I know I've seen lots in the past which I didn't bookmark and can't remember very clearly), maybe do a more thorough version next year. Still, you're right, and I'll try to replace them with some good specific australian examples.

if you can, check out the book Talkin' Up To The White Women: Aboriginal Women and Feminism

Oh, that does look perfect. It's in the library system, so I'll reserve it next time I'm there, and if I'm very lucky will have a chance to read it by the con.

Ien Ang, Christina Ho, and Suvendrini Perera also discuss some of these issues in relation to immigrant women in Australia.

And see, I hadn't even heard of these women, so much for the research skills I learned during my Phd :/ Still! I will look them up and see what I can find.

recent Germaine Greer shenanigans

*googles 'Germain greer racist'*
Ew.
*finds much to read and think about*

Anyway, thankyou (a) For your wonderful blog and (b) for taking the time to give me some specific advice :)

[stephiepenguin]

I love Ien Ang, she is awesome.

When I get home, I will check my bookshelves to see what I've got in terms of other authors to suggest/books to borrow/etc.

[alias_sqbr]

That would be awesome! But remember to keep in mind the limits of my lowly maths graduate brain :)

[fire_fly]

Jackie Huggins' Sista Girl is even shorter than Moreton-Robinson's book, and probably more readily available. That has quite a few good essays in it as well.

[fire_fly]

thankyou (a) For your wonderful blog and (b) for taking the time to give me some specific advice :)

No worries.

(a) I wish I had more time & energy to update it, but at the moment it's sort of falling by the wayside. :-( It's a pity, cos I actually did see my writing skills improve when I updated more often.

(b) Again, not a problem. Glad it was useful.

[alias_sqbr]

Just a note to say: I googled Ien Ang, Christina Ho, and Suvendrini Perera and found some really fantastic essays available online, so thanks again.

*is off to the library this evening*