- What is feminist praxis, according to the text? What makes it “feminist?” What is your definition of feminism? How would you explain feminism to someone who had not heard this term before?
Based on the text, Michele Tracy Berger and Cheryl Radeloff define feminist praxis as the integration of learning with social justice. I believe what makes it feminist is the definition of praxis. Based off the text, praxis is applying your knowledge to challenge oppressive systems and unequal traditions. To me feminism is fighting for equals rights and representation all across the board, it’s about fighting social injustices, inequities and patriarchy. I would explain feminism as fighting for your rights. I would use the industrial revolution, the civil rights movement, or the LGBTQ movement as examples for what feminism is and what the movement is trying to do.
- Lorde writes about transforming silence into action. Select 1-2 quotes that you think capture her main ideas reflect upon what she is communicating to the reader. What is your response to Lorde? She also asks us: “What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to say?” How would you respond to her? Do you agree that language is needed for action?
While reading transforming silence into action, there was a lot of different things that Lorde said that stuck out to me. First of all, I love her writing, everything flowed so smoothly while i was reading. She must have been an amazing poet. Language is need for action because without language or communication how will you know if something is okay. How can you create change if you don’t speak up? Without language there is not action.What I got from the reading is that when moving through life you cannot stay quiet. We have to speak up on how we feel, you cannot wait for others to speak for you or hope that someone else feels the same way and speaks up. One quote that really stuck with me is “… the transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation…”. This quote stuck with me because I used to be a quite person, I didn’t really speak much at all. When I got to my second year in high school is when I really started to speak up for myself and use my voice for good. To me it is both a self-revaluation and self-revelation. This next quote captured the main idea of the whole article. “We can sit in our corner mute forever while our sisters and ourselves are wasted, while our children are distorted and destroyed, while our earth is poisoned; we can sit in our safe corners mute as bottles, and we will still be no less afraid”. I say that this quote captured the main message in the passage because the message that Lorde is trying to give it that you cannot be silent, you cannot more through life scared to speak up for yourself and others. If you do, then our world will be poisoned and there will be no change. I feel like as a 20-year-old college student there is a lot that I have to stay but often times when I do speak and voice my opinion I’m shut down or told that I’m too young, or inexperienced. Some words that I still struggle with is speaking up for myself, saying no and putting myself first.
Hey Alyssa! Well even though we pick the same question with feminist praxis, I like your answer with that one. But I love your perspective with the second question. You’re right, especially with everything hats going on in the world. We can’t stay quiet or do nothing. But also, actions also speak louder than words. But if we do speak with words, we have to be loud in order for people to hear us and our issues. I used to be quiet too so I get where you’re coming from. But as we get older, with more issues arising, as both quotes are trying to say, we can’t stay quiet any longer, or else we will succumb to the world around us and died without knowing that us making a change to it will better the world and us as humans.
Wonderful discussion, Alyssa! Yes, this is a perfect summary of praxis: “praxis is applying your knowledge to challenge oppressive systems and unequal traditions.” I agree that feminism is about fighting for change in various arenas- but what makes something specifically “feminist” (vs. about social change in general)? Or, do you think that all social change is inherently feminist? There is no one right answer- I’m curious about your thoughts.
And, I’m so (so!) happy that you enjoyed the Lorde essay + I love your insight about revelation and “re-valuation.” as an extension of Lorde’s argument, that speaking is also about claiming our worth, our value. The arc you trace about your own relationship to your voice and action is important + your self-reflections here show courage and a dedication to justice. The continued areas of growth– setting boundaries and speaking up for oneself– are also good to track. And, I wonder, are there times where silence is an action? Where not speaking is also a way to communicate or to maintain one’s dignity or worth? What do you think?