PLS 319 Final Exam

who are the women of pussy riot? How do they protest and why do they protest that way?

Feminist punk group that advocates against sexism, excessive nationalism, state established religion in Russia, and for general civil liberties (pro-LGBTQ). They protested by doing a performance at an Orthodox Cathedral (the punk prayer), but have staged protests in various other public settings. They want to call out the extremely authoritarian and conservative patriarchal environment that is present in Russia. Pushing for modernization and progressive policies. Young college educated, cosmopolitan women who came from middle class backgrounds. Ethnically and racially the same, yet they are pushing for political and cultural change. Think about feminism in terms of collective justice.

explain the postmodern application of intersectionality to political practice

If who you are is constructed by interlocking power system, claiming identities is accepting power. Based on this belief, everyone should reject these identities and to stop reproducing the meaning imbued within these identities. It is a more radical application of intersectionality.

How prevalent is sexual harassment in Egypt and Morocco? What forms does sexual harassment take in these countries ? Who are the victims and why?

In these societies the policing of womens bodies and the promotion of men's sexual power over women are foundational principles of daily life. Prevalent in the form of stalking Torturing and harassing women, women are frequently stalked and followed on the streets Victims are people of all ages and across demographic groups. Many young male perpetrators.

What is the gay liberation movement? What is lesbian feminism? why did these movements emerge?

Stonewall riot marked the shift from homophile movement to gay liberation movement. Militant application of gay pride. embraced sexual liberation and fought to defend commercial spaces catering to homosexuals. Marked by the emergence of the Gay Liberation Front in New York (influenced by New Left and Black Power movements) Lesbian feminism- emerged as a separatist faction of gay liberation movement inspired by autonomous women's organizations of the time. included organizations like the Combahee River Collective. Packaged lesbianism as an act of political resistance through the rejection male domination and continued the tradition of consciousness raising movements.

What role did women play in this movement? Why? What did they contribute to the LGBT movement as a whole?

Females founded the Daughters of Bilitis in 1955, founded by four lesbian couples. Objected to the treatment of lesbians as second class citizens by gay men. Urged other homophile movements to do more for women's rights.

What is hegemonic masculinity? What is hegemonic femininity?

hegemonic masculinity is the dominant and favored expression of the male gender at a given point in time in society. men do not see sexual harassment as something that is bad, some even think that it flatters women. hegemonic femininity- women are expected to be submissive. women perform normative femininity through their silence, acquiescence, and modesty.

what tragic event contributed to the emergence of multiracial feminism? What key publications contributed to the emergence of multiracial feminism?

1971 rebellion at Attica Prison in New York that led to death of Black Power members (white feminists were not able to see this as a feminist issue) Combahee River Collective Statement, "The Bridge Called My Back"

based on lecture, what is a protest repertoire? How do protest repertoires emerge?

A protest repertoire is the particular way that a person or a group of people protests. Also known as protest tactics or protest techniques. Examples include pickets, rallies, squatting, marches, etc. Protest repertoires allow meaning to be conveyed through performance (exposing government action, creating shock value, bring sympathy to their cause, accuse someone). Protest repertoires emerge out of people attacking things that they think are causes of community problems. They emerge out of specific experiences and specific places. An example would be protest barricades which emerged in France in the 1500s and then came back in full force during the French Revolution. This method of protest started with the urban poor whereas techniques like strikes emerged out of workers movements.

what three streams of African American ideas have contributed to the idea of intersectionality? Why did these ideas come about, key differences between these three streams of ideas and between each and the idea of intersectionality

African American Academic Though of the 1870s and 1880s- educators began civil rights work that made the argument that education was necessary to lift people out of slavery and poverty. And Ana Julia Cooper went even further to claim that educated women were also necessary, and that educating blacks needed to emphasize educating black women. Multiple jeopardy arguments- Pauli Murray coined the term "Jane Crow" to show that laws affected black women differently (have to approach problems from both the perspectives of blacks and of women). Postcolonial theory- Angela Davis established this during the 1960s and 1970s. A form of neomarxism that believed racism and sexism were integral parts of capitalism. The argument is that women perpetuated these institutions by birthing new slaves and creating new capital for the owners. Her argument is that in order to fight sexism and racism, you have to change the entire political system.

How did the Arab Spring affect the way this generation of Moroccan and Egyptian women feel about their activism and label it and why?

Arab Spring led to more democratization and political participation in these countries which created a mental landscape to explain why these young women and men became mobilized. Allowed them to see their actions as human rights work and allowing them to use religious justification and pro-democracy justifications for womens rights. They are not as quick to label their activism as "feminist" because they equated that with old, upper class, elite women who are more in line with the old regimes. Also they want to be provocative and use more radical tactics. Labeling confines the multiplicity of their actions.

what were the "border skirmishes"? what were the sex wars?

Border skirmishes were debates over who should be included in the lesbian feminist movement (bisexual women and pre and post-op trans women). Some people argued that only "womyn born womyn" should have been included in the movement. Sex wars- debate over opponents of pornography and unorthodox sexual behaviors and people that advocated for a wider range of sexual representations and practices.

What is brokerage? How is this form of repertoire diffusion different from the direct network form?

Brokerage takes place when people are not actually interpersonally connected and spans a larger space (such as leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA drawing on some of Gandhi's beliefs)

what criticisms do some feminists level against the concept of intersectionality? why/how do other feminists think intersectionality can positively contribute to an agenda of women's equality?

Criticisms- Some feminists believe that it is only obscure academic jargon. Some people believe that it highlights division within social movements and dilutes the target goal of the movement. Some people also believe that the arguments are too deterministic, meaning that not all power structures are occupied simultaneously. Positives- intersectionality is crucial for coalition building because it sheds light on tensions that already exist, looking at power structures more closely helps investigate issues in women's identity that are happening under the surface, intersectionality also shows how identities are shaped by power (expanding women's rights while also expanding the rights of Native American women and Black women). It also leads to more inclusive gender and women policies in government.

How did multiracial feminists impact white feminists? According to the author, what strategies for political action can today's feminists extract from second wave multiracial feminism?

Cultural institutions established by multiracial feminists allowed women to examine their work and adapt into mixed-gender, multiracial grassroots organizations Strategies for social justice embedded in MR feminism: belief in building coalitions that are based on a respect for identity based groups, attention to both process and product but little tolerance for "all talk" groups; a recognition that race cannot be viewed in binary terms; recognition that there can be limits to pacifism when fighting against the most powerful state in the world.

What do activists behind these initiatives seek to accomplish and why?

Disrupt patriarchal logic and puncture the silence that normalizes sexual harassment as part of everyday life.

According to the film "What Happened Miss Simone?" what was freedom for Nina Simone? How did her race, class, art, gender, sexuality, mental illness, and activism inform this view of freedom? Why was she angry?

Freedom is the absence of fear from of power contraptions, which is why she felt most free in performance. Race- over time she became much more in touch with her racial identity. Her race denied her opportunities early on in life, like being denied entry into music school and having to watch her family be treated like second class citizens. Since race was the source of conflict in the south she felt that becoming involved in the civil rights movement was important. Following the church bombings in Birmingham, she started becoming more political in her music. Class- financial security is how she felt that she could be more in touch with her identity. She wanted to be a "rich, black bitch". And wanted others to be inspired by her wealth. Personal liberation could be achieved somewhat by entering the system that oppresses you to get benefits. Gender: she was subjected to domestic abuse and this led her to partially believing hegemonic gender norms. Eventually she learned to fight back against this violence and unlearn some of the gender socialization. Mental illness- her struggles with mental illness made it much harder for her to achieve freedom. She was on medication that prevented her from being successful; but it also allowed her to convey a wide range of emotions on stage. She was angry because of the pain that she felt due to her mistreatment

Why does the author call this feminism "hegemonic feminism"? What organizations and ideas best represent this type of feminism?

Hegemonic feminism is white led and marginalizes the activism and world views of women of color, focuses mainly on the United States. Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, National Organization of Women, Consciousness raising groups

How does the history of second wave feminism look like from a "hegemonic feminist" perspective (highs and lows)?

Highs: peak is 1969 following founding of NOW, mass mobilization in 1973 following Roe v. Wad, Lows: abeyance of feminism following failure to ratify equal rights amendment in 1982

how does the history of second wave feminism look like from a multiracial feminist perspective (highs and lows)? What events do multiracial feminists cite as evidence of this trajectory?

Highs: peak is 1978-1981 continuing into the 90s due to large numbers of women of color who were politically organized.

explain the identity politics application of intersectionality to political practice

Identity politics is a reformist, moderate idea that claiming identities and making these identities visible in public is the best way to fight power structures.

Why was the punk prayer performance so controversial? Who criticized it and why?

It was controversial because it offended the religious authorities of the Orthodox church as well as many regular citizens. People in Russia saw a threat to their religious rights as an imminent threat to their entire well-being, so people opposed Pussy Riot for that reason. But they did not want to tone down their message to match conservative values because they wanted to encourage other young feminists like them to join the movement.

What was the role of lesbians in the Marriage Equality movement that emerged in the 1990s. Why? What lesbian groups are representative of the Marriage Equality movement? What lesbian groups have been critical of the movement and why?

Lesbians were extremely invested in the marriage equality movement from the outset of the movement in the 1950s. Women saw marriage equality as an issue that they were not going to be marginalized in. Lesbian "baby boom" took place in the 1990s due to advances in medical technologies.Protest by wearing wedding dresses which evoked stronger messages to the public. Marriage Equality California, Human Rights Campaign critics who argue same sex marriage is assimiliationist- Gay Shame

What are modular repertoires? How do they diffuse?

Modular repertoires- protests that can be used by different actors for different reasons against any state. Anyone is able to use these protest methods and they are easy to transfer and have great historical significance. Modular repertoires diffuse though direct, interpersonal connections. They can also diffuse through media and imitation.

What are young women in Egypt and Morocco trying to do about this? Examples of initiatives in the reading.

Online initiatives such as mapping sexual harassment in Egypt (Harassmap), creating discussions about gendered issues on forums on Facebook, building coalitions with other groups (Nazra for Feminist Studies). Aim to create a safe space for victims to express frustrations without fear of being judged by family or being dismissed by police. Women Shoufouch in Morocco is trying to emulate slut walk movement in Canada and has support of both women and men through online organization. Youth led movement that is pushing for better treatment of women in the public sphere.

What is a protest cycle and how does it affect modular repertoires?

Protests carry significance over time, such as human barricades being used at different points in French history. People being able to have attribution of similarity and being able to adapt and resignify meaning.

What goals characterized the gay and lesbian movement during the 1980s and 1990s. How did lesbians contribute to anti-AIDS activism and why? What organizations are representative of this period? How did they shape the LGBT movement. What ideas and forms of protest charactersizes queer activism? When and why did it emerge?

Protests- Dyke marches and National marches to protests the New Right political climate of the time. Wanted to expose the inequalities of treatment by the health care system and government neglect and helped community organization to assist gay men with AIDS. Militant responses occurred with ACT UP chapters, starting in 1987. Week of outrage protests outside of the CDC. Gender politics split into two different camps in the movement at this time. Queer activism in the 1990s mirrored the same radical ethos as the gay liberation movement.

How did Pussy Riot see its protest performance? Why the disconnect? How effective was the punk prayer and why? What do you think of the trial and the sentence?

Saw it as a way to produce shock against the patriarchal culture and also brought international attention to the Russian judicial system. They gained a large audience of people that supported them following the trial. Their successes were more in attracting international attention since it was difficult for them to overcome the combined power of church and state.

What are the slogans "sisterhood is powerful" and "the personal is political" about? What did second wave multiracial feminists think about them and why?

Sisterhood is powerful- slogan of popular feminism, multiracial feminists encouraged white women to realize that not all women are equally oppressed, wanted white women to realize that they needed to do some bridge work. The personal is political- principle associated with liberal and radical feminism, that issues like abortion, battery, birth, and illness are all deeply political. Multiracial feminists want people to realize that you do not have to be part of a subordinated group to known an injustice is wrong and stand against it. Also that an entire movement's struggles is greater than personal struggles. If people only can see issues that they personally experience, their frame of reference is destined to be narrowly defined and exclusive.

Why do repertoires matter? Are some repertoires of protest more effective?

They must incorporate many people, so protests cannot start from scratch each time. They also decrease the cost of coordination in social movements. They also make protests more palatable and attractive to the public. Protest repertoires matter because it shapes how the government will respond to the protest and can also be important for symbolic expression. Effectiveness of repertoire depends on the specific contexts that exists within a political regime (political mediation theory)

What factors may in general fuel anger into struggles for women equality? What positive and negative roles may anger play in struggles for women equality?

anger inspired participation and passion; but anger must be channeled in proactive ways to create real change. Containing anger is also problem because it may lead to more violence and irrational behavior.

based on "women in the LGBT movement", what was the homophile movement and why did it emerge (lavender scare)? What organizations are representative of this movement?

homophile movement started in the 1950s and was motivated by WWII and Cold War since gay men were discriminated against in the military Military required psychological screenings designed to eliminate homosexuals. Lavender Scare was postwar crackdown on homosexuals being employed in the government, similar to Red Scare targeting communists. male homophile groups were Mattachine Society (similar to a consciousness raising group) and ONE (distributed magazines and other publications)

based on lecture, what is intersectionality?

intersectionality was coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in a series of works published between the years 1989-1991. It is an idea that human experience is best understood at the "intersection" of multiple power structure . It is not a "double jeopardy" argument meaning power structures do not add to each other; it is an institutionalist view of power that structures must intersect in order to be maintained. Individual identity and power status is a reflection of multiple systems of power. Intersectionality impacts both how the state and how the laws influence people.

What are the main debates surrounding the issue of whether some repertoires of protest are more effective than others?

level of violence needed to match demands of the movement how coordinated and normalized are the protestors (to prevent rogue actors), some argue that there should be no centralized leadership (Occupy Movement) movements have been successful with both large and small numbers, and not all movements need to put thousands of people on the streets.

based on the movie "pussy riot: a punk prayer," what are the main ideas and political goals of Pussy Riot? What concept of democracy do they have?

liberal democracy

What is multiracial feminism? why did it emerge? what organizations and ideas best represent this feminism?

liberation movement spearheaded by women of color in the 1970s that was characterized by its international perspective, attention to interlocking oppressions, and its support of coalition politics. emerged out of post-colonial and anti-racist thought Hijas de Cuauhtemoc, Asian Sisters, Women of All Red Nations, National Black Feminist Organization (1973-75) inspired the Combahee River Collective

What is the circle of hell? Why does it happen?

mass attacks against women in public settings

What organizations are representative of the gay liberation and lesbian feminist movements? How did the gay liberation movement view women's participation in the homophile movement?

positively, Allowed for more identities to be included in the movement.

According to "Young Women and Social Media", what is sexual harassment? what types of behaviors are example of sexual harassment?

sexual harassment is a gendered expression of power. it falls within the broader framework of gender based violence. Results in the physical, sexual, or psychological harm/suffering to women. Curbs participation in the public domain and limits women the ability to practice their full citizenship. Includes- physical contact and advances, sexually colored remarks, showing pornography and sexual demand whether by words or actions.

how did queer theory influence the idea of intersectionality. explain Judith Butler's main contribution to the ideas of intersectionality.

she believed that there was a mismatch between biological sex, gender identity, and self-identity. Believes that there is nothing biological about sexual identity; instead that it is socially constructed. Argues that binary gender categories are mechanisms that are used to marginalize any deviance from the norm, which she refers to as sexual disciplining.

How and why did social movement activism contribute to the idea of intersectionality?

social movement activism depends on bringing a large number of people who have relatively little in common. social movements depend on a diversity of experiences in order to achieve broader goals.

How do women protest? What internal movement factors explain why women protest the way they do?

squatting is an important repertoire for women because they were frequently excluded from the public sphere. Some women protest when ever they do not have land because it impacts their homemaker identity. Gender and sexuality also impact the ways that women protest (often because they face bodily oppression and are not given autonomy) External factors- openness of political regime, access to technology, gender regimes (exchange in power between genders and system of gender relations), culture (importance in creating shared meaning) Internal factors- personal identity and grievances; mixed organizations versus centralized organization shapes the outcome of the movement; class, race, and gender of the women in the movement; ideologies of women in the movement (radical vs. conservative values); memory of social movement culture in the location (people wearing white today in homage to early suffragettes)

based on "multiracial feminist: recasting", what is the second wave of feminism? How did feminists of this period view themselves?

took place in the 1960s and 1970s, feminism in both the United States and internationally. Refers to women's movements that ignore class and race analysis. Treats sexism as the ultimate form of oppression. These are feminists who had the equality with men as their only goal, so it was not a justice based vision for social change.