READING GUIDE FOR MODULE ONE (1/31 - 2/11)

Our theme for this module is "Why Women of Color?" Why is it important to think about women color? Why did so few of us hear about Mary Church Terrell or Patsy Mink or Dolores Huerta in high school history class?

This first set of readings approaches that question from different perspectives. Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz is going to give us a very different way to think about U.S. history and the “manifest destiny” language we learned in school. June Eric-Udorie will think through her own understanding of what it means to be “a feminist” when it comes to racialized identity, family, culture, and religion.

As for the two videos, one will take us back to high school to think about influences on our ideas about gender. The second will introduce of the idea of intersectionality which will allow us to bring all of these ideas together.

I know it’s a lot, so don’t stress. We will be working out these terms for the rest of the semester, so just try to grab the key terms in each and we’ll go from there…..

Study Questions to keep in mind

Eric-Udorie, Can We Be Feminists?

In what different ways does June Eric-Udorie struggle with the idea of feminism?
What is bell hooks' definition of feminism?
Who was Sojourner Truth?
How does she interpret Crenshaw's idea of intersectionality?
What is a TERF?
Why does she think is it problematic to call for "unity," "common ground," or "sisterhood"? (These are not easy answers....don't worry....we'll be thinking about this all semester!)

Crenshaw, "Intersectionality" - What case brings Crenshaw to coin the term intersectionality? How did she arrive at this term? Is it useful? Have you heard it before? How would you explain intersectionality to a stranger? Can you apply an intersectional analysis to another example?

Dunbar Ortiz, Intro to Indigenous History

Dunbar-Ortiz very clearly states in her opening chapter why she thinks it is important for us to know her native history, but she also makes us think about how the way we think about history has changed over time.... .

What is "settler colonialism"?
What is an "origin narrative"? What are some of the origin narratives you learned as a child?
How does she describe "multiculturalist" history?
What is the "trap of a mythological unconscious belief in manifest destiny?"
What is genocide, according to the UN? Examples?
What is the size of contemporary indigenous communities?

Adichie, "Single story" - What is the single story? How does Adichie arrive at her understanding of the single story? Is this a compelling presentation? Why or why not? Did she make you laugh? When? How does she finish the phrase, "The problem is not that stereotypes are inaccurate, but..."