Current: A Journal of Transnational Inqueery

Current:
A Journal of Transnational
Inqueery
Volume 1 Spring 2015
Northern Arizona University
Dear Reader,
Current represents our desire as students to familiarize ourselves and our audience with contemporary issues
that move us. This journal is the experimental product of love, expression, and divergence. Inside, you will find
an assortment of poems and essays on an array of topics covering, race, gender, and sexuality, among other
important things. It is our hope that these pieces will inspire and motivate a response that is long lasting to
create a more just world.
We came together in mid-January of 2015 in a course called Womens & Gender Studies 499: Contemporary
Developments, which really translates to WGS class for those who had already checked off their liberal arts
credits and couldnt stay away. Some of us came into the class already friendly, but by the end, we were one
very comical and passionate unit. Together we swapped ideas, analyzed, and critiqued each others work until
we developed the excellent content before you.
We as the writers know that our efforts are not in vain, because if there are people like you, dear reader, who are
not afraid to care deeply, think radically, and achieve greatly, then we are already half way there.
Love,
The Authors of Current: A Journal of Transnational Inqueery
February 26, 2015
Table of Contents
Give us our space!..................4
Lashae Brown
Not Your Dream Girl.6
Justine Kobold
Educating Society on Masculinity...10
Rebekah Kamp
Education as Black Activism: Lessons from Birmingham..14
Connor Huenneke
Girls: Americas Greatest Untapped Innovative STEM Resource..18
Kristy Silva
Representations of Middle Eastern Women in American Media....25
Danielle Austin
Piestewa Peak Controversy..34
Danielle Mori
Game Data Not Found: The Absence of Queer Identities in Games...37
Gabriel Villarreal
Made in L.A.41
Rebekah Kamp
LGBTQI...A?...44
Harlee Baena
Winter of 1987.49
Mara Georgeff
Let Me Sit: My experience navigating bathrooms on campus as a trans woman....50
Jamie Leonard
Author Biographies..54
Contact Information.56

Give us our space!
Lashae Brown
We said to those who called us second-class, dismissed our intelligence, held the purse strings, reigned in the
government and went to school as the delegated that we
Stay at home, mind the children, get sold off in the guise a marriage, and were cultivated not to be a burden;
dear and know our place
We pushed, we wrote, we held conventions
We made progress.
Give us our space!

We demanded of those who treated us cattle, captured us like game, ignored our pleas, and turned a blind eye to
our plight then built a nation on our backs and thought it justified to start a creed we hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal as we
Sang our ballads in the field, worked in the houses, bellowed for our broken families, stayed silent as our bodies
were ravished and degraded for generations
The nation imploded itself over this one.
We fought, we nursed, we protected the home fronts, we provided shelter, and we finally sang free at last!
We rebuilt anew.
Give us our space!

We said in our many languages, as you broke treaty after treaty, introduced disease, provoked us, and
massacred our great leaders ,while you pursued things such as manifest destiny and ideas such as from sea to
shining sea as we
Ran to preserve ourselves, lost our lively hood, and we watched as our people were wiped away like an ugly
stain
We struck back.
Blood ran, more pacts created, marked off desolated land designated as ours, and were given scraps that are
called reparations, and were given a laughable bureau
We are still hurting.
Give us our space!

We chanted as the white sheets and triple letters roamed freely, you had better schools, voted, and did not care
if we were protected on your farms or lived in slums as we

Endured curfews, had our houses foreclosed, were not allowed to be certain places, drank polluted water on
your land, worked eighteen hour days, and had our houses and belongings confiscated because of war times,
forced us, citizens to move into camps and feared the police
This time, there was mostly one way violence against us on your part.
We marched for miles, sat in, boycotted, occupied, petitioned, and gathered, while you attacked us with slurs,
hoses, gas, legislation, dogs, bats, horses, mallets, bombs, nooses, jails, and guns
But on we went. We were not moved.
We prevailed.
Give us our space!

We shout over microphones and on newscasts, as you hide behind your hate, prejudices, confusion, warped
perceptions of faith, ignorance, and government officials, then silently approve or cover your eyes as we
Are beaten, harassed, bullied, murdered and even take our own lives because we
Destroy your rigid perception of a perfect family, we
Dont let our outsides determine our insides, we
Dont let your prejudices determine who we love
We will continue to change the laws, and vie for our protection, and we will conquer the discrimination
We are not afraid, and we wish you wouldnt be.
We will not quit.
Give us our space!

We say, everyday, growing stronger, as you continue to tell us my hands are tied, wait, and blatant nos but
we
Obtain the companies, write the books, get the education, infiltrate the powerful positions, build legislation,
create our biographies, spread the information, take the opportunities, inspire, survive, and thrive.
We will not give in.
We will not give in.
Yes, we are saying Give us our space!

But you see, what we are doing is
Taking it.
Not Your Dream Girl
damaging effects it has on the viewers perception

of women.
Think Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona
Flowers in Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World or Kirsten
Justine Kobold
Dunst as Claire Colburn in Elizabethtown, both of

these characters are prime examples of Manic Pixie
Dream Girls in film. While Ramona Flowers is
Imagine the standard American moviegoers
often mistaken for an anti-Manic Pixie Dream Girl,
favorite prototypical indie film: depressed, hipster-
the opposite is true. Ramona is impulsive,
esque, looks-like-he-hasnt-slept-in-two-weeks boy
mysterious, and full of angst. But when it comes
meets quirky, whimsical, happy-go-lucky girl and
down to it, this pink-haired pixie merely exists to
the boys life is changed forever, for the better. The
help Scott, the hero of the film, discover himself.
girls life, however, isnt nearly as important.
Kirsten Dunsts character, Claire, falls into the same
Unfortunately, this Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope is
category. Bubbly and eccentric, Claire is the
played out quite a bit. But be careful not to go
epitome of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Her one
placing a rather insulting label on every sundress-
purpose in the film seems to be to coax the
wearing girl with bangs. So what is a Manic Pixie
protagonist out of his crippling state of depression.
Dream Girl anyway, apart from all the previously
Neither of these two women are afforded any of
mentioned clichs? Film critic Nathan Rabin, the
their own character development, as they do not
coiner of the term, defines her as that bubbly,
attempt to meet or even set any of their own goals,
shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the
aside from making the men in their lives happy of
fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to
course.
teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life

and
its
infinite
mysteries
and
In
his
article,
The
Real
World
Consequences of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl
adventures.
Clich, Hugo Schwyzer says,
Essentially, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG)

only exists to make the lives of men both easier and
She [the MPDG] sends the message
better. This archetype is problematic for a few
that a bright and sensitive young man
reasons, in short: the character does not exist for
can only learn to embrace life by
herself,
no
falling in love with a woman who
backstory/development, she is often objectified, and
sees the dazzling colors and rich
she exists in order to fulfill the male fantasy of the
complexities he can't. Just as the all-
perfect woman. It is critical to evaluate the
too
MPDGs presence in film in order to reveal the
character uses mystical intuitive
she
is
provided
with
little
to
familiar
"Magical
Negro"
powers to help white folks tap their
Nathan Rabin offered his own two cents about why
God-given potential, the MPDG
Colburn is the essence of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl
reminds men that they need (and,
when he said, That day in 2007, I remember
more precisely, are entitled to) a
watching Elizabethtown and being distracted by
women's
and
the preposterousness of its heroine, Claire. Dunsts
encouragement to reach their own
psychotically bubbly stewardess seemed to belong
true destiny.
in some magical, otherworldly realm hence the
inspiration
pixie offering up her phone number to
For all intents and purposes, Manic Pixie Dream
strangers and drawing whimsical maps to help her
Girls exist and are written for men. Their roles in
man find his way. These women fall in love with
film perpetuate the myth of women as caregivers at
and then fix these men but there seem to be no
their very core, and this can have damaging effects
real reasons as to why they do. This is problematic
on those who buy into this idea. The creation of
because it implies that mens problems are to be
such a character sends not only men, but people of
solved by women and creates an atmosphere that
all genders alike, the message that women are
fosters such a fantasy.
expected to clean up the messes in the lives of men.
Because these womens only real purpose in
In Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World, the audience
film is to make the lives of their boyfriends better,
hardly knows anything about Ramona except for the
they are hardly ever given any real backstory or
fact that Scott is utterly infatuated with her. As the
development throughout the movie. This lack of
girl of Scotts dreams, literally, Ramona is only
development makes them seem less like actual
present in the film to be the object of Scotts desire
people and more like support services for the heroes
and to help him along the path of self-actualization.
of the story. It also makes it much easier for these
Scott, a deeply depressed 23 year-old suffering the
women to be seen and portrayed as objects. In fact,
aftermath of a brutal breakup falls for steampunk
the entire plot of Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World, more
Ramona Flowers and begins seeing the world
or less, revolves around the objectification of
through rose-colored glasses again. Ramonas
Ramona. At the beginning of Scott and Ramonas
attention toward Scott seems to be that only thing
budding romance, Scott finds out that he must fight
that enables him to defeat the darker side of himself.
and defeat Ramonas seven evil exes in order to
Claire Colburns character in Elizabethtown is
date her, literally transforming Ramona from a
really no different. To set the stage: Emo Boy is
person to a prize. This idea of Ramona as a reward
about to give up on life. Enter Ethereal Goddess
is not only dehumanizing, but also inherently sexist.
who, for whatever reason, gives Emo Boy positive
It does not take much for such a portrayal of women
attention and Emo Boy realizes life is worth living.

on-screen to become the ideal for women off7
screen, as well. Because the MPDG feeds on the
and development. Tom entertained his fantasy of
fantasies of men, its depiction in film seems to
the perfect woman who would make everything
ensure men that these women do actually exist,
worthwhile when he met Summer, but the film
leading them to see both the characters in film and
takes him on a dream-crushing journey that proves
the real-life women in their day-to-day lives as
that women of such nature do not exist and that it is
objects. This sexist ideal of women is obviously
up to him to be his own savior.
problematic as it not only strips them of their
Another example of an anti-MPDG is seen
humanity, but such an attitude toward women tends
in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Similar to
to lead to violence against them as they are no
500 Days of Summer, this film is meant to teach
longer seen as human beings, but things.
both the male protagonist, Joel, and the audience of
These films are sexist in more ways than
the film that, spoiler alert: Manic Pixie Dream Girls
one, though. More often than not, the female love
do not actually exist. Joel thought Clementine could
interest seamlessly embodies the males fantasy of
fix his broken ways but Clementine deconstructed
the perfect woman. This is unsettling as it
his vision of her when she said, Too many guys
perpetuates the idea that women exist for male
think I'm a concept, or I complete them, or I'm
enjoyment and are only worthy of attention if they
gonna make them alive. But I'm just a fucked-up
are somehow able to maintain the unattainable
girl who's looking for my own peace of mind; don't
standards set forth for women. In 500 Days of
assign me yours. By calling Joel out on his
Summer, Summer is the epitome of a mans ideal
misguided views, she taught both Joel and the entire
woman. Cute, quirky, down-to-earth, and most
audience of the film that women are real people
importantly, a Smiths fan; Summer is truly flawless
with their own problems and desires. This lesson is
in the eyes of Tom. An outspoken critic of this
enormously valuable as it serves to deconstruct the
portrayal of women, Schwyzer says, Here's the
oppressive ideals for women set forth and
challenge for men in general, filmmakers and
perpetuated
by
popular
media.
writers in particular. We need women who are lead
The MPDG trope, sexist and ultimately
characters, but that's only part of the equation: we
pathetic is clearly not the best depiction of women.
deserve to see men who love these women for the
Through its portrayal of women as objects, as
complicated, messy, decidedly non-ethereal people
having no real substance, and as sidekicks in the oh-
they are. However, do not mistake Summer for a
so-important lives of men, this clich has not done
MPDG. 500 Days of Summer was actually meant to
any good for anyone. It is safe to say it is time to lay
crush the trope altogether. Summer does exhibit all
this played out pixie to rest.
the classic traits of a Manic Pixie, but she is

definitely a character with her own goals, backstory,

Works Cited
(500) Days of Summer. Dir. Marc Webb. Perf.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
20 Century Fox, 2009. DVD.
Elizabethtown. Dir. Cameron Crowe. Perf.
Orlando
Bloom
and
Kirsten
Dunst.
Paramount Pictures, 2005. DVD.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Dir. Michel
Gondry. Perf. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.
Focus Features, 2004. DVD.
Rabin, Nathan. "Im Sorry for Coining the Phrase
Manic Pixie Dream Girl." Saloncom
RSS. Salon Media Group,
Inc., 15 July
2014. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.

Schwyzer, Hugo. "The Real-World Consequences
of the Manic Pixie
Dream Girl Clich."
The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 09

July 2013. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Dir. Edgar Wright.
Perf. Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth
Winstead. Universal, 2010. DVD.
Educating Society on Masculinity
example of desired male masculinity. When a child

is told this, he is automatically introduced to male
and female roles in society. Competitive sports
Rebekah Kamp
have become, for boys and men, as players and as

spectators, a way of constructing a masculine
Men and women in society play a role of
identity, a legitimated outlet for violence and
oppressor and oppressed. Society and culture tell us
aggression, and an avenue for upward mobility
that there are good ways of acting and bad ways of
(Lorber 13). Aggression can be looked at by
acting in regards to masculinity and fitting
individuals as a sign of dominance. This viewpoint
in. Masculinity is societys way of creating a binary
can instill thoughts of how men treat women,
way of acting, either feminine or masculine. There
regarding their norms of behavior. How are men
rarely seems to be a point where both are
treating women based on their acquired dominance
acceptable. To create a more ideal and livable place
through sports? Why has this way of thinking not
for women in this mans world we need to
been questioned by males? Fear of losing power and
challenge these ideas. If gender stereotypes were
dominance over another is one factor that plays a
not enforced at such a young age, then a whole new
huge part on our culture. But if women had been
generation of open minded children would grace
the historically dominant sex, our concept of sport
this planet with their presence. Knowledge of the
would no doubt have evolved differently (Lorber
differences, yet equal dreams of girls and boys can
14). Instead of aggression being the focal point of
help us raise our children by encouraging them in
sports, balance, flexibility, and strength would be
whatever they seem interested in. Instead, our
emphasized. Not only would this contribute to the
culture suppresses early behavior of female
equality of men and women in sports, but no longer
masculinity, and forms it into the right kind of
would there be the acceptance and promotion of
girl. Raising a new generation of people is the only
aggressiveness that leaks into home and social life.
way we, as a society, can overcome the male
Instead, balance and emotional stability could be
definitions of what a female can be. We need to
worked at. We could help accomplish these ideas
challenge and redefine the gender expression binary
even today, by promoting them in the home.

If non-aggressiveness was taught at home,
system that challenges a womans masculine role in
more men and women would be able to feel
society.
The first thing we need to do it recognize the
comfortable not only there, but in society.
promoted aggression of boys and men in society.
...Homeplace was the one site where one could
Children are being told that they can outlet their
freely confront the issue of humanization (hooks
anger in sports and it will make them the perfect
384). bell hooks, an author, feminist, and activist,
10
comments here on how she only felt safe from
Judith Halberstam comments that there
discrimination in her home. She talks about being
should be different forms of masculinity in society,
scared all the way until she could see the faces of
starting at a young age, Tomboyism generally
people she knew accepted and loved her. If society
describes an extended childhood period of female
changed, we could actually not be afraid of going
masculinity [It] tends to be associated with a
out and away from the home. Home is not always a
natural desire for the greater freedoms enjoyed by
physical building, or country, or city. Home could
boys (Halberstam 5,6). This gives only credit to
be constantly changing based on the person. If we
the males in society. There is no thought of
limit how women may act, then all options of
independence of women and girls forming their
culturally deemed masculine places are out of reach
own identities. If a girl wants to be a tomboy, it is
for women. There is no home in these places
viewed from a perspective of how boys act. There is
because society tells us so. Women and men need to
ultimately no credit given to the girl for standing
realize that there are more than two ways to act,
out on her own and saying, Yes, I am different,
besides over the top masculine, or very dainty and
and I am a tomboy. There are certain limitations to
feminine. Men and women have the right to choose
when and where tomboyism is acceptable in culture.
what parts of masculinity are acceptable to their
If ones parents are not progressive towards the idea
personalities without question.
of masculine femininity, then a girls inner tomboy
There is a distinct view of what masculine
(masculine side) is subdued.
femininity is. ...Female masculinities are framed as
Subduing a girls tomboyism is the first and
the rejected scraps of dominant masculinity in order
earliest stage of enforcing a male dominated society
that male masculinity may appear to be the real
on them. Some masculine traits are athleticism,
thing (Halberstam 1). Our society has created a
fields of study, manual labor, and clothing. ...
right and wrong way of being masculine. The right
Female masculinity is generally received by hetero-
way is male aggression and dominance. The
and homo-normative cultures as a pathological sign
wrong way is females trying to pick up the
of misidentification and maladjustment, as a
scraps of what is left over from men. This gives no
longing to be and have a power that is always just
credit to women who have more masculine feelings
out of reach (Halberstam 9). The whole concept of
or tendencies. Culture is telling these women, you
a woman knowing what she is doing is put to rest
are neither the real thing, nor will you ever be. Why
with our heteronormative culture. In this culture, a
does there have to be this divide between sexes?
woman is just confused if she possesses masculine
Why can we not have both male and female
traits. A personal example of how women are not
masculinities that contribute to different parts of
seen as knowledgeable of their actions is womens
society?
bodybuilding and other categories for women in
11
that field. My mother is an all natural bodybuilder
habits because it is seen as being a wannabe. If
and personal trainer. I remember her talking about
we could differentiate how men and women each
the guys at the gym, and never girls. The gym she
have their own personality traits, then the gender
went to was a famous powerlifting gym called
binary of masculinity can be broken down.
Quads, where about only four women worked out.
Educating young people to realize there is more
Quads was a grunge hardcore place to lift.
than a binary system is the only way to do this. By
Sometimes I would go with her and we would train
having a new generation that believes that both
together. The lack of presence of women in a gym
women and men should have equal opportunities to
like this raises questions. Are there not women who
express themselves, we can destroy the belief of
work out? Are there not women bodybuilders in the
proper gender masculinities.
Chicagoland area? The key here is the presence of a

male dominated gym and sport telling women to go
to the LA Fitness across the street instead. It is the
male dominated sport that tells women that being
too big is unapealing. Only when there is someone,
like my mother, who defies gender stereotypes of
masculinity, can true talent and passion be seen.
Many girls will not discover talents they possess
because parents and society tell them they should
not want to be like boys. If this idea of how a girl
should act in regards to masculine qualities went
away, there would be a whole new wave of talented
people pursuing their dreams.
The oppression culture has put on women
regarding masculinity is immense. This is a male
dominated society, therefore men make the rules of
how women should act. This backwards idea sets
limitations to what women can do and when. Only
when a girl is young and innocent can she bring out
the tomboy in her, but soon she will have to tuck it
away and hide it from the world. Once they reach
adulthood, women cannot or are discouraged from
partaking in any masculine form of recreation or

12
Works Cited
Halberstam, Judith. An Introduction to Female
Masculinity.
Duke
University
Press.
(1998): 1-43. Print.

hooks, bell. Homeplace (a site of resistance).
Yearning: Race, Gender, Cultural Politics.
Boston: South End Press, 1990. Print.
Lorber, Judith. Believing is Seeing: Biology as
Ideology. Gender and Society 7.4 (1993):
11-18. Print.
13
Education as Black Activism: Lessons from
Education is one of the most vital factors in

social mobility, and the connections between race
Birmingham
and class are important in understanding the ways

that this institution works in the lives of many
inner-city residents. Many educational policies put
into practice since the Brown vs. Board of
Connor Huenneke
Education ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court have

come from a color-blind perspective. This weakens
As a location central to the American civil
legislation, because when a system is set up to apply
rights movement of the 1960s, Birmingham,
similar rules in similar ways across many distinct
Alabama is a unique setting for examining the
situations, those rules are unlikely to address
issues that face inner-city communities today.
existing inequalities. Orfield and Lee indicate that
Inequality lingers and grows all across the country,
multiple Supreme Court cases in the 1990s
and education is an important means of both social
contributed to this issue by outlawing certain race-
mobility and class inheritance. Tondra Loder-
based integration programs (399). In fact, because
Jackson
at
of these shortcomings, America is experiencing
Birmingham looked to the insights of ten Black
increased and accelerating re-segregation in schools
women who teach in the community to find out how
as neighborhoods in urban areas become gentrified
their social contexts shaped their educational
or are further marginalized along racial lines.
philosophies and relationships with students. She
Loder-Jackson
used this to chart a generational analysis of how
middle class residents no longer reside in the same
these women relate their work to the concept of
neighborhoods as Black working class and working
activism and to explore whether their upbringing in
poor residents the Jim Crow eras close-knit, all-
a pre- or post-civil rights movement Birmingham
Black, economically heterogeneous communities
influenced these beliefs. Through this lens, Loder-
are no longer a reality for many Black residents in
Jackson shows that small everyday actions can be as
Birmingham (268).
of
the
University
of
Alabama
important in the process of social change as larger
The
emphasizes
fragmentation
that
of
many
these
Black
urban
structural shifts, and that much of the discussion
communities has led some scholars to theorize a
around activism and education has focused too
shift in the activist motivation and potential of
narrowly to properly accommodate some of the
Black educators. In the time leading up to the
work being done in urban communities.
integration of schools in the South, these teachers

and faculty worked with a wide range of community
members to secure resources and promoted
14
positive images of Blacks in a White supremacist
groups and movements. Collins argues that Black
culture, instilled a strong sense of racial pride in
womens activism can be expressed both as daily
their students, and spearheaded efforts to liberate
individual struggles for group or professional
Blacks through literacy (Loder-Jackson 267). So,
survival and collective struggles for institutional
can the continuing inequality in education be traced
transformation (Loder-Jackson 272). A discourse
to a deficiency in the activism of teachers? It is
that implies urban teachers are not doing enough to
tempting to look solely at structural factors instead,
carry on an activist tradition actively devalues
considering the long history of political and
individual struggles in favor of the collective ideal.
economic marginalization and disenfranchisement
The more individual definition of activism
in these communities.
can clearly be seen among the older teachers in
However, it bears mentioning that political
Loder-Jacksons study, those who were already in
disenfranchisement alone cannot always explain
the workforce at the height of the civil rights
issues in urban education. Though white and Black-
movement. One woman explained that when the
middle-class flight have reduced the school
children left their classrooms in droves in 1963 to
population and funding of Birminghams one urban
march, her contribution to this protest was to protect
school district, local organizers and media no longer
them from expulsion by not marking them absent
frame the issue as one of White city officials
(Loder-Jackson 277-8). The teachers often had the
oppressing the majority Black community. This is
tacit support of school principals when performing
because the mayors office, the city council, and the
these actions. Several of the older teachers also
office of school superintendent have been occupied
cited their efforts to educate their students about the
predominantly by Blacks since the 1980s (Loder-
civil rights movement as a form of activism,
Jackson 269). This representation in municipal and
believing that it was imperative to help their
educational leadership has not proved to be a
students understand why they were marching in the
panacea for the structural issues faced by residents
streets and going to jail (Loder-Jackson 278).
and students in the city. Activists are left to find
This emphasis on teaching the struggle is
ways of introducing change that fall outside of the
also present for younger teachers who came of age
formal political structure.
after the civil rights movement, and Loder-Jackson
To elaborate on some of this activism,
notes that they are more likely to self-identify as
Loder-Jackson calls on the work of Patricia Hill
activist teachers. One history teacher focused her
Collins, who argues that Black women in the
lessons on the struggle of black Americans rather
Southern United States have long been excluded
than on the whitewashed history that most students
from or marginalized within traditional activist
in U.S. schools are exposed to. Another worked for
15
a non-profit organization, and her role involved
against oppression through small actions in their
establishing partnerships between her organization
daily lives.
and schools and individuals across the city, state,

country, and even the globe, to expose them to the
citys and regions CRM history (Loder-Jackson
279). Couching modern education in important
social and historical context can help urban students
to understand and develop their own identities
separate from dominant discourses about Black
inferiority and inner-city education.
Re-emphasizing
Collins
point
about
everyday action, Loder-Jackson suggests that

conceptualizations of activism articulated by the
participants across cohort were flexible and broad
enough to encompass those subtle and clandestine
acts of pedagogical resistance that occurred behind
schoolhouse doors (281). These are exactly the
kinds of actions that have traditionally been ignored
in the discourse about activism and in recollections
of the civil rights movement.
The lessons learned from these women in
Birmingham have implications for educators across
the country. When it comes to the difficulties faced
by inner-city schools and students, there is no
miraculous solution to be found in the economic
and political sphere but neither should the
responsibility be set squarely on the shoulders of
teachers. Adapting conceptions of activism to
differing social, locational, and historical contexts
opens up alternative avenues of resistance and
increases the visibility of those already pushing
16
Works Cited
Loder-Jackson,
Tondra.
"Hope
and
Despair:
Southern Black Women Educators Across

Pre- and Post-Civil Rights Cohorts Theorize
about Their Activism." Educational Studies.
48.3 (2012): 266-95.
Orfield, Gary, and Chungmei Lee.
"Historic
Reversals, Accelerating Resegregation, and

the Need for New Integration Strategies."
Eds. Margaret L. Anderson and Patricia Hill
Collins. Race, Class, and Gender: An
Anthology. 8. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2013.
399-407. Print.
17
Girls: Americas Greatest Untapped
pursue STEM careers? If women are happy with the
Innovative STEM Resource
jobs they are pursuing, what is the problem? The

U.S. Department of Commerce (Beede et al.) has
researched women in STEM fields, or the lack
thereof. The problem is that STEM fields are key to
innovative growth in America and yet women are
Kristy Silva
highly underrepresented in these fields. By not

encouraging more females to pursue STEM, the
United States is leaving a potential resource for
American women have been making their

way out of the home and into the workplace in
innovation untapped.
So while there is nothing
greater numbers since womens rights movements
wrong with women choosing careers that are
in the 1970s. Women are earning college degrees
labeled feminine, there is something wrong with
and beginning to earn their own living. While the
women feeling as if they must choose feminine-
progress women have made can be seen as
labeled careers. Eileen Pollack, Yale physics
substantial, there is still progress to be made for
graduate and author of "Why Are There Still So
women today. Due to patriarchy in American
Few Women in Science?," discusses the connection
society, men and women are often both pressured to
between the lack of encouragement for girls to
fill specific roles aligned with their gender. As a
pursue science, and the lack of women in STEM. If
result, women tend to pursue traditionally feminine
girls can be told early on that their STEM skills are
careers while men pursue masculine ones. Caring
needed and valued, the US might see a change in
jobs, such as teaching and social work, are feminine
these fields in the future, opening new doors for
while corporate jobs, such as business and law, are
innovation.
masculine. Science, technology, engineering, and
The problem is more than just a shortage of
math (STEM) fields are known to be male-
women pursuing STEM studies. For some STEM
dominated, with only 25 percent of the jobs
degrees, the number of women is actually
currently being filled by women (Beede et al.).
decreasing. For example, only 18 percent of
There are many theories on why this might be the
computer science majors in America are women
case.
and that number has been decreasing over the last

Before exploring these theories, it is
30 years (Beede et al.). After years of womens
important to address a common question related to
movements and pushes for equality, why is there
the numbers of women in STEM fields: Why does it
such a disparity between the amount of men and
matter that there are not many women who want to
women in STEM fields? In order to break down
18
these barriers for women, we must first discover
translates over to being weak mentally as well. In
where and when the barriers are built. Although
David DiSalvos article Why are High School
there are currently women making progress in
Teachers
STEM, many girls continue to be dissuaded from
Do Math?,
the fields due to the perpetuation of negative
stereotype of boys being inherently better at math
stereotypes, gendered toy marketing, and a lack of
than girls. Despite many believing that this is
encouragement. As a result, women are left with
biological, making it not discriminatory towards
more limited career options and false ideas of what
girls, research has shown otherwise. In a study
it means to be a woman.
where high school teachers had to rate their
Convinced
DiSalvo
that
White
addresses
Girls
the
Can't
common
students math abilities, teachers consistently rated

girls abilities as lower, even when their grades and
Negative Stereotypes
test scores were the same as their male counterparts
Before most Americans are even born, they
(DiSalvo). When girls are expected to not do as well
are put into a gender category based on their sex.
in math, they internalize those expectations and that
Mom and dad find out whether their baby is a boy
limits their ability to succeed and pursue the
or a girl and then the nursery is painted blue or pink
subject.
respectively. The documentary The Pinks and the
While stereotypes are perpetuated at school
Blues demonstrates the way gendered stereotypes
and at home, they are even more prominent in
are developed for and taught early to children.
popular media. Television and movie stars can be
Parents use adjectives such as smart and strong to
seen as role models for many young girls, so what
describe their baby boys while using words like
happens when these role models perpetuate
small and fragile for their girls (The Pinks and the
negative female stereotypes? Donna Milgram, who
Blues). This expectation of physical ability can
wrote the article How to Recruit Women and Girls
affect how parents then treat their children when
to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
they are deciding whether to put their son or
(STEM) Classroom, claims that the simple fix to
daughter into football or ballet. Most parents even
the lack of females in science problem is to
claim that they would like to have a boy and then a
provide young girls with positive female scientist
girl so that the older brother can protect his little
role models, and lots of them (5). These are women
sister (The Pinks and the Blues). These stereotypes
who have excelled in STEM fields and send the
about physical ability are perpetuated throughout
message that it is possible for other girls and
life and follow children as they grow older. The
women to do the same. There are currently many
problem with this when it comes to education is that
negative portrayals of women in STEM, and women
the stereotype of girls being weak physically

19
in general, in the popular media. These images are
Toy Marketing
seen by millions of girls and from a young age plant
Walk into a department or toy store and it
ideas in girls heads of what it means to be a female
will not take long to identify which aisles and
and a scientist. One example of female scientists in
sections are targeted toward boys and which are
the media is the women on the highest rated
targeted for girls. As a matter of fact, according to
comedy on television, The Big Bang Theory
John Hull and his colleagues and their research on
(Goldberg). The show features a group of intelligent
The Impact of Color on Ratings of Girl and
male scientists and their neighbor Penny. While the
Boy Toys, as young as three years of age,
men are working to solve equations and win
children can apply common gender stereotypes in
awards, Penny is on the sidelines dumb and
correctly identifying toys that are for girls and for
confused with dreams of being an actress. In
boys. Children learn these stereotypes early and
contrast, there are two prominent women scientists
this is thought to be because children learn by
on the show, Amy and Bernadette; however, their
applying others behaviors to themselves. For
characters do not do much to help create a positive
example: I see that girls play with this toy and
image for females in STEM fields. Both the men
boys dont, so it must be a girl toy. I am a girl, so
and the women scientists are stereotypically nerdy
this toy is for me (Hull et al.). Of course children
and socially inept, whereas Penny, who is portrayed
should be able to play with whichever toys are most
as ditzy, is pretty and popular. Pollack, in her
appealing to them, but the issue is that children of
article, comments on what makes the show
both genders often see girl toys as less interesting.
problematic for young girls and boys: What
In Hull and his colleagues study, they found that
remotely normal young person would want to enter
girl toys were rated significantly uninteresting,
a field populated by misfits like Sheldon, Howard
while both and boy toys were rated as
and Raj? And what remotely normal young woman
interesting (Blakemore). Are girl toys really
would want to imagine herself as dowdy, socially
being marketed to what girls find interesting? It
clueless Amy rather than as stylish, bouncy, math-
seems that the marketing is actually more targeted
and-science-illiterate Penny? (3). Children and
to the stereotypes associated with girls, as opposed
teenagers of all genders want to be well received by
to the reality of what girls enjoy. Regardless, girls
their peers, and that is something that may never
are drawn to the pink aisle because it is what they
change. What can change is what is considered
have learned. Apart from being less interesting, the
cool and uncool, and that starts with the power
pink aisle has also been shown to be less
of marketing.
educational. The Impact of Color study found that

the toys rated as most likely to be educational and
20
to develop children's physical, cognitive, artistic,
engineer, and that liking math and science does not
and other skills were typically rated as neutral or
mean that you cannot also like things pink and
moderately masculine (Blakemore). These skills
frilly. In a society where children grow up wanting
are essential in building STEM abilities and
to be liked by their peers, girls do not want to have
interests,
in
to go down the boy aisle to pick out their toys. On
masculine/boy-targeted toys, girls are missing out.
the other hand, girls should not have to leave the
If their toys and activities, constructed by adults, do
girl aisle to find a building toy in the first place.
and
by
only
including
them
not tell them that they should be interested in

STEM, then who will?
Lack of Encouragement
One female engineer has taken it in her own
hands to make a change in the marketing toward
As one of the first women to earn a degree
girls. Debbie Sterling, a Mechanical Engineering /
in physics from Yale, Pollack shares her experience
Product Design graduate from Stanford, became
as a woman in science and speculates the reasons
obsessed with the notion of disrupting the pink
behind the lack of women in STEM fields in her
aisle with a toy that would introduce girls to the joy
article, Why Are There Still So
of engineering at a young age (Sterling). As a
in Science? She reflects on the trials that she faced
result, Sterling developed a toy targeted toward girls
as she pursued her bachelors degree, noting lack of
named GoldieBlox. GoldieBlox combines reading,
support as a substantial reason for her not pursuing
a common interest among girls, and engineering to
a graduate degree in physics. One crucial point that
[bolster] confidence in spatial skills while giving
Pollack
young inventors the tools they need to build and
performance in math declines as they grow older.
create amazing things (Sterling). Sterling has
The reason behind this is certainly not that girls are
created a toy that addresses the problem proposed
losing critical thinking skills or intelligence.
by Pollack that most girls lose interest in math and
Instead, Pollack suggests that boys receive more
science before those subjects reveal their true
support to enroll in and stick with hard courses such
beauty, a condition worsened by the unimaginative
as AP physics while girls, no matter how smart,
ways in which science and math are taught (9).
receive fewer arguments from their parents,
GoldieBlox teaches math and science skills in an
teachers or guidance counselors if they drop a
interactive way that counters Blakemores findings
physics class or shrug off an AP exam (4). As a
that girls toys are less interesting to children. One
result, girls drop out of science courses earlier in
of the many innovative parts of the toy is that it
their schooling, lessening their chances of building
teaches girls that they can be both a princess and
enough interest to encourage them to pursue STEM
makes
is
that
girls
Few
Women
interest
and
majors in higher education. Education aside, the

21
Economics and Statistics Administration states,
math test. In the first, the men outscored the
men are much more likely than women to have a
women by 20 points; in the second, the men
STEM job regardless of educational attainment,
scored only 2 points higher. (Pollack 4)
though research does show that higher education

levels
generally
correspond
to
an
How much girls are expected to succeed directly
increased
correlates to how well they do succeed. Milgram
likelihood of having a STEM job for both men and
states that Educators must plant the seed of You
women (Beede et al.).
Can Do It! and water it daily (6). Many women
What all of the factors influencing girls
have shared stories that prove this to be true.
disinterest in STEM have in common is that they do
Students, both male and female, need to be told
not
Yes you can!
encourage
girls
to
pursue
STEM.
Encouragement is a crucial part in the success of

girls. Meg Urry, quoted by Pollack in her article,
claims
that
Women
need
more
Conclusion
positive
reinforcement, and men need more negative
As a woman who plans on pursuing social
reinforcement. Men wildly overestimate their
work, I reflect on my younger years and remember
learning abilities, their earning abilities. Women
how I was never encouraged to pursue or be
say, Oh, Im not good, I wont earn much,
interested in STEM. I loved playing with dolls and
whatever you want to give me is O.K. (6).
playing house. I had always believed that I would
Women and girls have a tendency to underestimate
grow up and be a teacher. I did not even know what
themselves, a habit perpetuated by the expectation
engineering was until I was almost in college, I
that girls be passive. This ties back to the
never believed myself to be good at math even if I
expectations that adults have for girls performance
was getting As and Bs, and computer science
in subjects like math. Pollack discusses how
always seemed out of my ability. Researching what
important encouragement is when she shares the
causes females such as myself to run from science
results of a study where there were two groups of
has made the state of gender inequality in the
students given a math test.
United States very clear to me. From a young age,
In the first, the students were told that men
girls are told to think and act in feminine ways that
perform better on math tests than women; in
do encourage confidence or strength, but instead
the second, the students were assured that
dependency and compliancy. Women like Debbie
despite what they might have heard, there
Sterling, who are actively making change in the
was no difference between male and female
lives of girls, give me hope for the future of STEM.
performance. Both groups were given a
It may be too late for me to develop a passion for

22
STEM, but it is not too late for me to work with

young girls and get a fire burning inside of them. If
women can come together to make a change in
young girls lives, teaching them how there is not
one way to be a woman or a scientist, we may even
find a new passion sparked inside ourselves.
23
Works Cited
Beede, David, Tiffany Julian, David Langdon,
George McKittrick, Beethika Khan, and Mark
Doms. "Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to
Innovation." U.S.
Department
of
Commerce (2011). Web. 13 Apr.
2014.
The Pinks and the Blues. Dir. Veronica L.

Time-Life, 1980.
Videocassette.
Pollack, Eileen. "Why Are There Still So

Few
Women in Science?" The New
York Times.
The New York Times,
05 Oct. 2013. Web.
13 Apr. 2014.
Blakemore, Judith E. Owen, and Renee E.

Centers. "Characteristics Of Boys' And
Girls' Toys." Sex Roles 53.9/10
(2005): 619633. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 30
Apr. 2014.
Sterling,
Debbie.
"Toys
Innovators." GoldieBlox.
Inc, Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Chang,
Alicia. "Bridging the Gender Gap:

Encouraging Girls in STEM Starts at
Home."
The
Huffington
Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 27 Dec.
2013.
Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
DiSalvo, David. "Why Are High School
Teachers Convinced That White
Girls
Can't Do Math?" Forbes.
Forbes Magazine, 24
Mar. 2012.
Web. 01 May 2014.
Goldberg, Lesley. "How 'The Big Bang
Theory' Scored Record Ratings After
6 Years." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p.,
10 Jan. 2013. Web. 01 May 2014.
Hull, John H., Debra B. Hull, and Christina Knopp.
"The Impact Of Color On
Ratings Of "Girl"
And "Boy"
Toys." North American Journal Of
Psychology 13.3
(2011):
549-562.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 May
2014.
Milgram, Donna. "How To Recruit Women And
Girls To The Science,
Technology,
Engineering, And Math
(STEM)
Classroom." Technology & Engineering
Teacher 71.3 (2011):
4-11.
Academic
Search Complete.
Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
"Statistics." National
Girls
Collaborative
Project. EdLab Group, 2011. Web. 30
Apr. 2014.
Young.
24
for
Future
GoldieBlox,
Representations of Middle Eastern Women
images have specific women. For example, Middle
in American Media
Eastern women are often portrayed as exotic, and

thus, other. This problem of underrepresentation,
overrepresentation, and misrepresentation in the
media and the negative effects this has on women is
intensified when race/class/ethnicity/nationality/etc.
Danielle Austin
are considered.
There are many different groups of women
A feminist examination of women in the
who are additionally othered that deserve to be
American media demonstrates how oppression is
examined, however, this paper focuses on women
reflected and shaped by the media. Generally,
who are marked as Middle Eastern women in the
women are under-represented, objectified, and
United States. In the media, there is almost no
simplified. Though this problem is harmful to
representation of Middle Eastern women. But when
women as a whole, the effects are different for
there are images of Middle Eastern/Muslim/Arab
different
feminist
women, they are often dangerously simplistic; the
approach, or an examination through a lens that
women are usually wearing a headscarf or veil and
considers race, class, gender, etc., is important when
are framed as silent, oppressed, and part of a
looking at the media because there are a variety of
homogenous Muslim group of women. The
ways images in the media affect people. For
supposed oppression of Middle Eastern women
instance, women in the media are so often white, or
extends into societal views, and even into some
if they are women of color, they are not necessarily
feminist discourse. Thus, it is crucial to look at what
positively portrayed or main characters. The fact
images of Middle Eastern women contribute to the
that there are limited images of women in the media
inaccurate notions of what it means to be a Middle
is important because it affects womens ideas of
Eastern woman. This harmful representation of
themselves, what they should aspire to be, and
Middle Eastern women in the media warrants a
informs them where they are in the hierarchy.
post-colonial feminist analysis to identify problems
Images have implications on power structures
and work toward solutions.
women.
An
intersectional
(Sturken & Cartright). There is power in who gets

to shape the ideal beauty standards and hegemonic
In American and Western media, the
femininity ideals. This process of producing only
ultimate symbol for Middle Eastern women has
certain images is a form of colonialism when the
become the veil, and the veil has been constructed

25
as the ultimate symbol of womens oppression. But
The media almost exclusively shows Middle
particularly, the veil that is used as the symbol of
Eastern women as veiled. But those images are
oppression is connected with the practice of Islam,
misrepresentations because women from the Middle
and not other religions, like Hinduism, Christianity,
East are diverse- some are unveiled, veiled (in a
and Judaism that have historically worn veils
variety of ways), Muslim, Christian, atheist,
(McDonald 8). This focus on veiling and repressed
mothers, housewives, professionals, and have
identity is only a partial examination; an article of
millions of other different, unique identities. Even if
clothing cannot possibly stand to represent an entire
we examine a major sub-group of Middle Eastern
region of cultures and different identities. As Myra
women, the Muslim women, we can see that
McDonald describes this problem, debates about
Muslim women are each individuals but the media
veiling and unveiling have both hi-jacked and
promotes images and stories about Muslim women
belittled more thorough investigation of the political
as if they are all alike. Muslim women are diverse
and economic sources of womens oppression
in their opinions, appearance, spectrums of faith
(McDonald 8). To examine the oppression of
occupations, cultures, languages, heritage, and
Middle Eastern women, both in the West and in the
anything
Middle East, the discussion must transcend the topic
Representation Project). Since Muslim and Middle
of veiling. Thus, most of the public and feminist
Eastern women are so diverse, it is illogical to have
discourse around Middle Eastern women should not
the veil stand in to represent narrow identities and
be around the veil because there are many other
supposed oppressions, as the Western media has
indicators of oppression or freedom (though these
done.
are Western concepts), but should instead be on the
else
you
can
think
of!
(The
It is important to be aware of the variety of
institutional, structural, and colonial forces that
headscarves that Muslim women wear because it a
have negative consequences for Middle Eastern
visible
women. For example, why is there a lack of
manifestation
identities.
discussion around the history of the U.S. arming
The
interpretations
groups in Afghanistan during the Cold War? These
of
style
of
unique
depends
faith,
beliefs
and
on
personal
regional
context,
governmental rules, style, and culture. One style is
armed groups eventually became the extremist
the hijab, or a scarf that covers a womans hair and
groups the U.S. has targeted with the War on
neck but leaves her face open. Another style is the
Terror, and yet the discussion is still often based
niqab, or a covering that allows the eyes to be
around the symbol of oppression- the veil.
uncovered but covers the rest of the face and neck.

Popular in Iranian culture, chadors are another type
26
of covering. Chadors resemble a cloak and cover a
media. Additionally, Muslim women are not the
womans hair, neck, body, but leave her face open.
only Middle Eastern women. To adequately portray
Afghanistan and Pakistan are countries where the
Muslim and Middle Eastern women, the media
burqa is worn most. The burqa is relatively well
should show images of all different types of head
known in the U.S., since it is often used as an image
coverings, and also women who do not wear the
representing extreme oppression. The burqa is a full
veil. Instead of having singular images of Middle
body covering that includes a mesh piece over the
Eastern and Muslim women in the media, there
eyes. It is of course up to the circumstances, but
needs to be diverse representations that do not
women usually wear these head coverings with
perpetuate a simplified, poor, oppressed woman
loosely fitting, dark clothing. These examples are
who needs to be saved by the West.
generalized and oversimplified, and thus only give a
Though finding examples of Middle Eastern
slight glimpse into the factors of region, culture,
women
style, and religious interpretation. But they serve to
in
American
television,
film,
advertisements, and art is extremely difficult, it is
illustrate that Muslim women are incredibly diverse,
easy to find images of cultural appropriation of
as is their way of veiling (or not veiling).
Middle Eastern femininity. The process of taking
When the media only shows images of
another exotic culture to sell images and products
Muslim and Middle Eastern woman as wearing the
is not new; non-white women have historically
burqa or another vague type of headscarf,
experienced this phenomenon again and again.
Westerners and others who consume the media
When a culture is marginalized, their way of being
internalize the idea that those images are what
is put in a subordinate position unless a white
Middle Eastern women are. This oversimplified
person takes pieces of that culture onto their own
understanding is harmful to Middle Eastern women
identity temporarily. Once a white person has
because it perpetuates the notion that the West must
appropriated cultural components, then that image
save these supposedly oppressed women.
Many
is cool and can be used to sell products.
Muslim women wear headscarves as a way to foster

modesty, which is a major component of Islam. But
Sturken and Cartwright write about the
there are also many women who choose not to wear
Gaze and the Other, suggesting that when white
a headscarf and live a modest life in other ways.
women or women marked as Western are shown in
There is a lot of diversity in the way Muslim
exotic locations, power binaries are constructed,
women interpret and practice their religion and thus
subordinating the culture being appropriated.
these differences should be represented in the
Examples
27
of
these
binary
constructions
are
commonly found in the media. A couple examples
This image is an advertisement for Diesel, showing
of this process are an advertisement for Guess in
a white, tattooed woman wearing a jean burqa with
which (implied Western) models are posing in a
nothing underneath. Diesel is attempting to sell a
(implied Asian) rice paddy. Another example is an
product through altering a burqa to make the model
advertisement for Ralph Lauren in which a (implied
look exotic. Like the models in the rice paddy and
Western) model is on a (implied African) safari
on a safari, this woman is marked as not belonging
(Sturken and Cartwright 112-113). In both cases,
to the culture she is representing. If this woman

were actually wearing a burqa it would not have the
The image indicates that these women do
arms and sides cut out since the purpose is to foster
not belong there- they are not locals or actually
modesty. Instead, this version of a burqa is
working on a rice paddy- but yet they have access to
sexualized and thus imagines that instead of being
this glamorous adventure. The marked Western
demure, Muslim women are in fact sexualized even
women are using non-Western cultures as an exotic,
when wearing the burqa. This advertisement
high-class, spectacle to sell products. The same
situates Muslim women who wear burqas as
processes of cultural appropriation of Middle
subordinate to the white model and Western women
Eastern cultural are plentiful in the American
through the text that reads: I am not what I appear
media.
to be. In other words, a woman who wears the

A similar example of cultural appropriation
burqa appears to be oppressed, but this woman is
of Muslim women can be seen below.
not oppressed because she has tattoos- a symbol

constructed through this advertisement to stand for
freedom.
The
model
is
separate
from
the
oppression, hate, violence, harassment, political

controversy and ridicule that women who actually
wear the burqa in the U.S. often have to deal with.
This advertisement exemplifies one of the major
problems Middle Eastern women face in regard to
representation in the media- a lack of authentic
representation, and instead a subordinating cultural
Source:
http://djservicepack.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/08/BURQAART.jp
g
appropriation.
Continuing along the same theme of white
women sexualizing the burqa, Lady Gaga released a
28
song, Burqa, that made some Muslim women
not want to be sexually solicited. However,
upset. Accompanying the song, Gaga dressed in a
Do you wanna see me naked, lover? Do
translucent, pink burqa. It is significant that both the
you wanna peak underneath the cover?
advertisement for Diesel and Gagas song/outfit
implies that no really means yes. It adds to
focus on the burqa, which is widely seen as the
the perception that if a woman shows signs

of refusal, she is just being titillating and
playing hard to get; that she secretly wants
to be pursued and seduced. This perpetuates
violence against women and contradicts the
message in Monster, in which you
condemned the wolf in disguise.
In Burqa, you seem to suggest that by
tearing off your clothes he is fulfilling your
fantasy. It is a dangerous message that does
not just affect Muslim women but all
most
oppressive
form
of
covering
women. (Aimen)
and
demonstration of sexual oppression. For some
Gagas image is important because when
women, wearing the burqa is an effective way to de-
there is little representation of Middle Eastern
sexualize her self such that her identity is based on
women in the media, the images that are there are
things like her personality and intellect, and thus is
much more powerful because they have the burden
not necessarily sexual oppression. So when white
of speaking for all Muslim women. Having white
women take the burqa, alter the physical pattern of
women turn the burqa into a commodity and
it, and make it into a sexual image, they
misrepresent Muslim culture is inappropriate and
misrepresent women who wear burqas. For
perpetuates the notion that Middle Eastern women
instance, a Pakistani student in Texas- Umema
are oppressed and should be liberated like the white
Aimen- writes in The Washington Post to Gaga
women demonstrate. Instead of the media offering
about her burqa song and image that:
authentic images of Muslim or Middle Eastern
Contrary to the portrayal in Burqa, I, like
women, there are white women sexualizing and
most other Muslim women, cover myself
commodifying the image of the burqa.
because I am not interested in flirtation. I do

29

There is a complex, colonial history that has
The historical desire for colonists and the
shaped the notion of sexualizing or un-veiling
current desire for Western cultures (for example,
Middle Eastern women. The image of the harem has
Quebecs attempt at banning burqas) to unveil
contributed to the sexualization of Middle Eastern
Middle Eastern women reflect the power in the gaze
women that is difficult to escape today. Colonial
(McDonald 9). To change the Muslim woman from
imaginings transformed Middle Eastern women into
the object, to the Muslim women as the subject, one
belly dancing, sexually available women. The
only has to consider what it would be like to be
dichotomy of Middle Eastern women being
veiled. Women who are veiled often can see but not
completely covered in a burqa or as actresses in a
be seen. There is immense power in being able to
sort of sexual, exotic fantasy in the harem can be
view the world but remain hidden. The Muslim
expressed here: Even although the enticement of
woman, who wears the burqa or other coverings,
the
can control her gaze, and at the same time, resist
shimmering
diaphanous
veil
of
screen
representations may seem at the opposite end of any
being the object. In fact:
spectrum from the total obscurity of the burqa, the
During the colonization of the Middle East,
harem of the Western imaginary has left a legacy of

mystique
and
sexual
anticipation
that
the Europeans set upon civilising and
still
dominating the Orient; however, upon
contributes to the veils fascination (McDonald
arriving, the face veil, niqaab, was an affront
11). Western debates about and representations of
to their (male) gaze. Past literature and art,
the veil can be traced back to colonial imaginings of
depicting the mysterious, sensual and exotic
the harem. The notions of the harem were taken out
Orient had fuelled their imagination of what
of context and turned into a dreamy fantasy of
they expected the Orient, to be. They were
Middle Eastern women as seductresses in a private,
spectators inspecting the spectacle, yet the
exotic, far-off place. In many ways, colonial men
niqaab denied them the ostensible right to
relied on the process of sexualizing other women
see. Bullock invokes Fanon when discussing
to secure power (Stoler). Western fixation on the
the frustration and discomfort the colonizer
veil can be followed back to colonial interpretations
must have felt when seeing, yet not actually
of the womens harem space and the imaginative,
seeing the face of the Muslim woman. This
untrue stories that came out of those imaginings and
tentative relationship between the subjugator
then the subsequent sexualization of Middle Eastern
and subjugated was in jeopardy, for, Bullock
women.
contends,
seeing
is
possession.(Masud 516)
30

form
of
It matters who is in charge of the gaze. This
Middle Eastern womens stories so that Middle
structure of power is important when looking at
Eastern women can speak for themselves.
attempts to unveil Muslim women because it is
There are powerful examples of Middle
essentially taking away the power of the gaze that
Eastern women producing complex images of their,
they have.
or other Middle Eastern womens, identities. This
Feminist framing of Middle Eastern women
complex production of identities is important
can often be problematic. Though it is crucial to
because it works to transfer the images over into the
acknowledge that patriarchy is deeply ingrained into
media, helping to demystify and accurately
many Middle Eastern cultures, traditions, practices,
illustrate Middle Eastern women in a more realistic
and religious interpretations, that frame cannot be
way. If the problem is that the portrayals are
the only frame from which feminists discuss the
stereotypical, inaccurate, and oversimplified, then
problems Middle Eastern women face. Western
having images that show the complexity of Middle
feminists cannot speak for Middle Eastern women
Eastern women is a way to deeply challenge the
in the Middle East nor in the U.S. Importantly,
preconceived notions that all Middle Eastern
Western feminists also cannot compare and rate
women are the same. Though many women are
oppressions faced by Western women compared to
working to present the real and diverse identities of
Middle Eastern women. In a discussion at Northern
Middle Eastern women, one inspiring example is
Arizona University, Marjane Satrapi answered the
the group Muslima: Muslim Womens Art and
question Who is more oppressed- American
Voices. The group works to present the art, ideas,
women or Middle Eastern women? succinctly. She
and voices of Muslim women and works with the
said that we are both oppressed, and it may look
International Museum of Women. Muslima curator
different, but they are both manifestations of
Samina Ali discusses her choice to use the word
patriarchal society. Feminists must keep this in
Muslima as the title for the project to indicate an
mind when they aim to save Middle Eastern
identity either religious or culturally connected to
women. When Western feminist aim to present
Islam, therefore including a wide range of women.
Middle Eastern women as free, that is also
Ali writes about her intentional mission to highlight
problematic and we must ask ourselves how this
diversity as a method to combat harmful media
representation serves the needs of Western feminists
representations:
(Abu-Lughood). Feminists must take on a postcolonial approach and be self reflective, historically
aware, and culturally sensitive as they listen to
31

In a world thats grown accustomed to
we must listen to them instead of speaking for or
denying the rich diversity of Muslim
over them. Feminists who work in collaboration
womens thoughts and contributions, of
with Middle Eastern women must resist labeling
erasing their complex differences and
them as oppressed or free. Through post-
reducing them into an easy stereotype of an
colonial thought, Middle Eastern women and
oppressed group, into lesser human beings,
feminists
this exhibition title highlights the singular
representation in the media.
form of muslima in order to celebrate the

unique passions and accomplishments of
each and every Muslim woman who
contributes. (Ali)
The Muslima project targets the central problem of
misrepresentation by offering a new, heterogeneous
imagining of Muslim women, by Muslim women.
It is crucial that Muslima is a project created
by Muslim women, since they are speaking for
themselves and thus not misrepresenting their
identities. The diversity exemplified through the
Muslima project is an example of an effective
approach to changing how the American media
represents (or fails to represent) Muslim and Middle
Eastern women. Instead of supporting white women
in popular culture who appropriate Middle Eastern
dress, such as the burqa, to sell products, we must
support Muslim and Middle Eastern women who
are representing and speaking for themselves. For
example, Marjane Satrapis popular graphic novel,
Persepolis, does an excellent job of telling her story
and personal experiences in her culture. By
supporting Middle Eastern women, as Westerners
32

can
work
together
to
have
fair
Works Cited
Representations. Feminist Media Studies.

6:1. 2006.
Abu-Lughod, Lila. "Do Muslim Women Need

Saving?." Time.Com (2013): 1. Web. 9 Dec.
Muslim Women in Media. The Representation
2014.
Project. 2014. Web. 1 December 2014.
Abu-Lughod, Lila, Orientalism and Middle East

Feminist
Studies,
203-211,
Parekh, Shruti. The Diesel Burqa Ad:
McCann,
Fashion
Carole R. and Seung-kyung Kim. Feminist

Theory
Reader:
Local
and
Global
10
Sotsky, Jennifer. "They Call Me Muslim: Muslim

Women In The Media Through And Beyond
2010.
The Veil." Feminist Media Studies 13.5
Aimen, Umema. Dear Lady Gaga, Burqa Sends
(2013): 791-799. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
The Wrong Message. The Washington
Stoler, Ann Laura. Making Empire Respectable:
Post. 19 August 2013. Web.
The Politics of Race and Sexual Morality in
Ali, Samina. Curators Statement. Muslima:

Womens
Art
and
Twentieth-century
Colonial
Cultures.
Voices.
Dangerous Liaisons. Gender, Nation, and
International Museum of Women. Web. 8
Postcolonial Perspectives, edited by A.
December 2014.
McClintock, et al. Minneapolis: U. of Minnesota

Press, 344-373, 1997.
Fahey, Lucy and James Vyver. Explainer: Why Do

Muslim Women Wear a Burka, Niqab, or
Sturken, Marita and Lisa Cartwright. Practices of
Hijab? ABC News. 1 October 2014. Web. 9
Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture,
December 2014.
2nd edition. New York: Oxford University

Press, 2009.
Masud, Haleema. "Rethinking Muslim Women And

The Veil: Challenging Historical And
Modern Stereotypes." Implicit Religion 16.4
(2013): 515-518. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.

McDonald, Myra. Muslim Women and the Veil:
Problems of Image and Voice in Media
33

mtvdesi.com.
September 2013. Web. 9 December 2014.
Perspectives, second edition. Routledge,
Muslim
Faux-Pas.
religion,
Piestewa Peak Controversy
etc.
understanding
Intersectionality
of
how
allows
often
for
people
an
get
marginalized, because identities within dominant

groups do not consider other existing identities.
Danielle Mori
Equally as important, within oppressed groups there

are smaller different groups that experience
different systematic oppression. Mapping the
An understanding of how and why domination or
Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and
exploitation of nature is linked with women's
Violence Against Women of Color, written by
oppression is unjustified. The common perspective
Kimberle Crenshaw, discusses the fact that women
of conquering nature, thus conquering women and
of color experience more violence because of their
exploiting both has oppressed nature and women.
gender and race. Crenshaw draws attention to how
The natural environment that we live in has
sexism and racism have a direct link to patriarchy
inherently cultural beliefs, values, attitudes that
(Williams, Kimberl Crenshaw).
shape how nature and women are viewed from a

patriarchal perspective that stems from colonialism.
Language and history play a role in how a
Learning about history, colonialism, gives some
word gets perceived; in this case, squaw is
foundation of how history and language has shaped
viewed as a derogatory term towards Native
how people view nature as gendered. Often women
American women because it refers to a woman's
are not recognized for important contributions to
vagina. The historical context of the word is derived
society and are buried in history. In relation to
from eastern Algonquian morpheme meaning
language, colonialization has influenced the way in
"woman", which some people use to justify that the
which
as
word is appropriate to use. Still, "squaw" can be a
derogatory. Thus, people internalize colonialism
term to demasculinize men (Goddard., Ives. The
and as a consequence: cultural imperialism has
True History of the Word Squaw). This is an
made the narrative around Native American history
example of how language over time often has
invisible.
created a negative connotation based on the context
words
are
interpreted
over
time
that is used towards a group of people, such as
Intersectionality is a tool to understand how
negress for African American women. Similarly,
identity and oppressive institutions are connected.
the term "redskins" has recently been in the
This, can shape how an individual experiences
spotlight, and there is a movement advocating
oppression by different identities such as gender,
change for the football teams name due to the
ethnicity, citizenship, ability, sexual orientation,

34

history of the term. The word redskin was used as a
Piestewa Peak was formally called Squaw Peak; the
genuine
several
Oodham tribe called it Vainom Doag. Piestewa
languages from the Algonquian; however, the term
Preak is the third highest mountain within the
is believed to have its origins in the practice of
Phoenix, Arizona area. It was named Squaw Peak
presenting bloody red skins and scalps as proof of
from 1910 until April 17, 2003. Lori Ann Piestewa
Indian kill for bounty payments (Goddard, Ives. I
was member of the Hopi tribe and a mother.
AM A RED-SKIN). Some people do not take into
Piestewa was a member of the U.S. Army
count the impacts that Native American women
Quartermaster Corps who was killed in an attack,
have to endure due to this logic of colonialism.
making her the first American woman to die in
Native
American
idiom
in
combat and the first woman in the U.S. armed
Because of colonialism, Native American
forces killed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The
women have a higher rate of being sexually
mountain was named in her honor, because activist
assaulted, most likely by a non-native. "One in three
still wanted the Peak to keep the theme as a Native
Native women will be raped during their lifetime,
American woman. Her death has brought Din and
whereas for women as a whole the risk is less than
Hopi together and other numerous halls and games
one in five" (Steven W Perry. American Indians and
have been named after her. Recently, there have
Crime). Another current example is the grassroots
been challenges to change the name, but they have
campaign Missing Justice Collective that focuses on
not been successful.
missing and murdered indigenous women in

Canada, started in 1991. According to Missing
It is important to recognize that the
Justice Collective on their basic facts page
indigenous peoples of the area of Arizona are still
statements, "indigenous women in Canada are five
here and claim precolonial areas of the land of their
times more likely than other women to die as a
ancestors. Since the process of colonialism includes
result of violence and 60% of known perpetrators
taking
are white men" (Justice for Missing & Murdered
relationship to land is part of how they have
Indigenous Women). In relation to environmental
sustained culture and a way of life. Inherently
movements, many discuss violence against Earth as
cultural beliefs, values, and attitudes that shape why
the same as violence against women. They take into
women believe Piestewa Peak should not be
account that indigenous peoples have a different
renamed not matter what, because it is respecting an
way of viewing nature from a cultural perspective.
indigenous woman who has died for our country. At
Recently, a landscape, a mountain, has been
least it will not be called Squaw Tit Mountain as
named after a woman of color. Historically,
it historically has been called in Arizona. Being an

35
land
from
indigenous
people,
their
ally to the Native American community, includes
Works Cited
Native Americans and non-natives decolonizing our
Justice for Missing & Murdered Indigenous
thinking. Yet, there is still a road named Squaw
Women: A Grassroots Campaign Out of
Peak Drive and a business Squaw Peak Inn.
Montreal. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
Often, women are not recognized for important

contributions to society and are buried in history.
Steven W Perry. American Indians and Crime- A
Thus, people internalize colonialism and as a
BJS Statistical Profile 1992-2002, Bureau of
consequence cultural imperialism has made the
Justice Statistics, US Department of Justice,
narrative around Native American history invisible.
Office of Justice Programs, December 2004.
If they name gets changed to a males, then what
11. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
does that say for our society, the value of women,
Tjaden, P. & Thonennes. (2000). The Prevalence,
one that has seen as paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Incidence, and Consequences of Violence

Against Women: findings from the National
Violence Survey Against Women. National
Institute of Justice & the Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
Goddard, Ives. I AM A RED-SKIN: The Adoption
of a Native American Expression (17691826). Smithsonian Institution. 08 May
2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
Goddard., Ives. The True History of the Word
Squaw. Smithsonian Institution. 08 May
2014. Web. 27 Fe. 2015.
Williams, Kimberl Crenshaw. "Mapping the
Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics,
and Violence Against Women of Color". In:
Martha
Albertson
Fineman,
Rixanne
Mykitiuk, Eds. The Public Nature of Private

Violence. (New York: Routledge, 1994), p.
93-118.
36

The first major offense of the video game
Not Found: The Absence of Queer Identities

in Games
industry is leaving out any queer characters from

the protagonists role in games. As we know, the
protagonist is the person in the game you directly
control over. Yet so many times video game
Gabriel Villarreal
developers only create a straight male character for

these experiences to be played through. From the
In society there are major institutions that
origins of Super Mario to more complex game
serve as our influences that effect our social
series like Gears of War or BioShock all share the
perception of our self and the people around us.
common narrative of retrieving your significant
These institutions are media, family, school and
other female from some dangers of peril. If the main
religion. While the experiences we feel with our
character is not blindingly straight their sexuality is
family, school and religion vary across the board
simply not discussed. This regulates queer identities
depending on our location, media however is a
as the video game industry is making the statement
much more constant factor as large groups are
that they are not important enough to be significant
usually introduced to the same media. In academic
in theses narratives. It monitors what stories we
discussion on media most scholars focus on movies,
want to tell and if those stories have anything to do
books and music, but theres one vector of the
with non-sexualities outside of heterosexual then
media that Ive noticed has focused less on. That is
they are useless. While growing up if queer gamers
video games. Video games can be a much more
do not see any interest or exploration of their own
intense form of media influence as the users
identities they will not see any importance in their
experience usually stretches over a much longer
adult life. This feeling of isolation and the effects of
period of time. What do video games have to say
it
about gender and sexuality? Unfortunately not
and
its
perpetuation
Gloria
Anzalduas
from the normal culture and her own she wanted to
of
be accepted by something else. Alienated from her
heteronormativity, fuels the oppression of queer
mother culture and alienated in the dominant culture
identities as it regulates our ideas we have on
the women of color does not feel safe when in the
sexualities and dictates which sexualities and
inner life of herself ( Azanldua 20). Queer
relationships we should praise and which we should
identities are already alienated in their main culture
shame.
37

in
experience as a queer woman when she was isolated
denial of queer protagonists, vilification of other

characters
discussed
Movimentos De Rebludia Aznaldua recounts her
many good things. The video game industrys

queer
were
things like video games are used as an escape into a
Bisexual villain is Volgin from Metal Gear Solid
different fantasy world. Once they are alienated
who also happens to be a sadist. One of the most
from the video game world as well they truly have
damaging portrayal of a queer identity is Vincente
no place. Since we have discussed the absence of
de Santa from Red Dead Redemption. Vincecnte is
queer identities in major roles now its time to
once again portrayed as a villain as well as being a
analyze what roles queer characters is given and
homosexual per usual of queer video game
how damaging this is.
characters. Vincente also happens to be a pedophile

so we the gamer beats Vincente bloody towards the
In Rubin Gayles Thinking Sex Gail
end of the game it is justified, since he along with
discusses societys natural sexual hierarchy and
every other queer character is evil. This sends a
how some sexual acts are perceived to be okay and
message to the video game audiences that these
normal while others aren't. She discusses that queer
types of sexualities are low on the sexual hierarchy
sexuality is something that society sees as taboo,
because along with those sexualities comes mental
vilified and attacked so the rest of society thinks its
disorders and inhumanity. This creates an audience
okay to be against these people there is a

systematic
mistreatment
of
individuals
in which gamers will try to prosecute and regulate
and
queer identities because of these identities are not
communities on the basis of a Roddick taste and
seen as so low This could even lead to violence
behavior theyre serious penalties for the longing to
against queerer identities. Many arguments to this
very sexy sexual occupational caste(Rubin 310)
state that games exist were you can create your own
From what we have discussed we know that if
characters and relationships such as fable and since
heterosexuality is at the top of the video game
you are allowed to have homosexual relationships.
social hierarchy, they are constantly presented as
Over all these games are few and far between. What
the heroes. Where do either sexualities lie?
these arguments the fail to see is how this still
Fortunately, the popular YouTube channel Game
encourages heteronormativity and sexual hierarchy.
Theorist has conducted research on what roles queer

characters play in games. First most queer
characters
are
villains.
The
main
In Michael Warner Fear of a Queer Planet
enemy
Warner discusses
heteronormativity.
Heteronor-
for Resident Evil Code Veronica, Alfred Ashford is
mativity is the believe that everything in the human
not only a queer villain but is also mentally insane.
experience and things outside of the human
The Theme of metal insanity with queer characters
experience falls into the gender binary area of man
is very common. Trevor fromGrand Theft Auto 5 is
and woman as Warner said Het culture thinks of
shown to be bisexual but also bipolar. Another
itself is the elemental form of human association

38
very model inter gender relations and the individual
What video games have to say about gender
basis of all community and as that the means of the
and sexuality is quite scary. They claim that you
reproduction with out which society wouldnt
cannot exist as a queer hero you can only exist as
exist(Warner xxi). Warners example of the NASA
queered in the need to be punished. They also
pioneer 10 sending a picture a cartoon drawing of a
perpetuate heteronormativity. Video games have a
male and female into space as representation of
massive impact on the youth that play them and
humans is a great example of heteronormativity as it
what videogames are doing right now is regulating
assumes that aliens would understand our gender
how youth should feel about sexuality and gender.
binary.
support
They are making it normal that certain sexualities
heteronormativity? In games where you can create a
are bad and evil which will lead to everyday
custom character you are still always limited to
citizens trying to punish those sexualities. The way
male or female. Most of these games are fantasy
video games approach queer identities needs to be
games such as World of Warcraft in which there are
drastically reworked to make it open space for all
a multitude of different species but in those species
sexualities to be explored and celebrated.
So
how
do
video
games
you still can only be male or female. In kids games

like Mario party or Kirby, objects with
conscience
or
personality
are
unnecessarily
gendered. Things like books, stars and flowers are

all are either given bows or mustaches to show if
they are male or female. The most popular example
of this would be Miss Pac-Man as she is literally the
exact same design as Pac-Man but with a bow red
lips and eyelashes. Heteronormativity regulates
sexuality and gender because it makes a statement
that these male-female relationship is the only way
to have a relationship. Universally across species
and objects this is how relationships work so if you
are not like this you are something less than
inhuman. You are nothing because things that are
inhuman can maintain these relationships and you
cant.
39

Works Cited
Anzaldua, Gloria. Movimientos De rebeldia y las
Cultras Borderlands/La Frontera: The New
Mestiza. San Fransico.Aunt Lute Books.
1987. p.15-23. Print.
Patrick, Mattew Game Theory: Are Video Games
Anti-LGBT?. Youtub, LLC, May 4 2914.
Web. October 16 2014.
Rubin, Gayle Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical
Theory of the Politics of Sexuality From
Gender to Sexuality. N.P. 1984. Print.
Warner, Michael. "Introduction" Fear of a Queer
Planet. St paul: University of Minnesota.
40

Made in L.A.
Uncertainty, harsh conditions, and the

lowering of ones integrity were common themes
for the women in the film, Made in L.A. The women
talk of hating being employed as a garment worker,
Rebekah Kamp
but they have to deal with it. This is of course a

Globalization, the spreading of companies to
problem. How can it be possible that women in this
other countries for financial benefits, has created an
country be exploited in this way? Well, many, but
era where workers are undervalued, mistreated, and
not all women are undocumented immigrants that
underpaid. Even in America, the land of equal
must make ends meet; class comes into play here.
opportunity, we see globalization taking advantage
This usually means one of two options, become a
of a large group of people and exploiting them. In
garment worker, or a maid. If one person decides
the film, Made in L.A., we see the exploitation of
they do not like the conditions, there are ten more
garment workers in California, especially women.
people who are desperate enough to take the job.
The film targeted Forever 21 to show just how
One issue that makes these women want to stand
unfairly workers are being treated. Not only are
out and protest is having no place to go in the
Latina garment workers being targeted as a cheap
buildings where they work if there is a raid. Since
and easy means of production, but maid and nanny
California is near the border there is a more strict
lifestyles are seen in a similar light. Replaceability,
immigration policing. Being an undocumented
the idea that migrant women can be replaced by
immigrant, means uncertainty all the time. Not only
another in a minute and therefore devaluing the
is an escape route missing, but these buildings are
womans work, is a huge factor in keeping minority
not suitable for any hazard. Fires can happen, and
women down, and pushing them into lifestyles that
there would be no place to run. Not only is there a
they would never have chosen. The article Maid in
lack of safety exits in these buildings, but many
L.A., by Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, goes into
women complain of rat and cockroach infestations.
accounts of real women stories of being a live-in
These two things are unsettling and distracting. No
maid for families in Los Angeles. The correlation
one should have to deal with a building where these
between Latina women garment workers and Latina
creatures dwell. Clearly, there is a cleanliness issue
women maids or nannies is too evident to overlook;
with the area these women are working. I have
these women are being mistreated, and told they are
shopped at Forever 21 before (but dont plan on
replaceable in order to keep them out of positions of
again), and I cannot imagine the clothes I buy to be
power, or higher status in society.
made next to cockroaches and rats.

41
While
there
may
not
be
rats
and
(Hondagneu-Sotelo 271). This is a struggle many
cockroaches, the second option for Latina women is
Latina women deal with, whether it be in a live-in
hardly ideal. It is the rare California home that
work situation, or in the garment industry. What is
offers separate maids quarters, but that doesnt stop
important to look at it the way these women are
families from hiring live-ins; nor does it stop newly
being exploited by our system which is very
arrived Latina migrant workers from taking jobs
persistent in making immigration look bad. This
they urgently need (Hondagneu-Sotelo 270).
masks the injustice being done to undocumented
Having a job is having a sense of security. But,
workers, and even documented women of color.
what happens when security and privacy, which
Having no contract is essentially saying that you are
should be basic human rights, are taken away? The
replaceable, and if you do not conform to our rules
level of acceptance and citizenship is being
and regulations, it will be easy to let you go. Since
diminished. The women in situations like this are
these women are looking for job opportunities in
desperately needing a job, and going into one that
Los Angeles, the threat of replacement is real and
you do not know what to expect. Hondagneu-Sotelo
many would submit to lifestyles they do not want.
comments on where the nanny would sleep, from a
Migration
laws,
globalization,
and
corner of the childs room, to a comfortably
stereotypical racism has created lives for women
decorated room with its own bath. Many variations
that are always questioning their next move. What
of sleeping areas were described, including a
will happen next? Will I be deported? Will I lose
laundry room; but what is so important here is,
my job? What will happen to my family? These are
these women are barely being treated as human
all relevant questions to maids and garment
beings. Multiple stories involved lack of food,
workers lives that create an unstable foundation of
or especially limitations of what was available to
living. A woman in the film, Maid in L.A., said she
them. As a resident of a home, or any workplace,
had to throw my dignity on the floor. A live-out
there should be a right to proper and just treatment
nanny/housekeeper in Hondagneu-Sotelos article
that is not dehumanizing to a human being.
said she felt as if she would get arrested if anything
In both garment work and maid positions, we see an
happened to the children she was caring for. Every
acceptance to degrading work because these women
person who contributes to society deserves stability
are seen as replaceable. This is because newly
and reassurance to their future. Our society has
migrated or lower class Latina women are not given
turned migrant womens lives into dehumanizing
a fair chance at jobs in fields that would suit them.
positions that are not given a second thought. These
Almost no one works with a written contract
women are being seen as tools in a factory instead

42
of women working to make something of
Works Cited
themselves.
Hondagneu-sotelo,
Pierrette.
Maid
in
L.A.
Forever 21 does ninety-five percent of its
Domstica: Immigrant Workers Cleaning
production in Los Angeles. This is an astronomical
and Caring in the Shadows of Affluence
amount of production happening in one area. There
(2001): 269-285. Print.
are hundreds of stores across the country, which
Made
in
L.A.
means there are thousands of exploited workers
Independent
making these clothes. We saw a portion of these
DVD.
women in Made in L.A. Forever 21, in response to

these shocking facts, said that these women did not
directly work for them. The company also declined
to be a part of Made in L.A. This shows exactly
what globalization can do to a company. It allows
women and men to be exploited without any
recognition or concern. Forever 21 could care less if
women are making their products in horrible
conditions, because it is cheap and fast. Hardly
anyone realizes what is happening because Forever
21 is trying to maintain their image. When people
talk of exploitation of workers, and sweatshops, as
Americans we think of other countries that are not
as developed as we are. This could not be farther
from the truth. Exploitation is happening right here
in America, and seeing human beings as replaceable
is contributing to this travesty.
43

Dir.
Almudena
Television
Carracedo.
Service.
2007.
LGBTQI...A?
community. One such person is Jenn T. Grace. On

her blog post titled Why does the LGBT community
seemingly hate allies, she lists various tweets in
reaction to the 2014 Grammy awards. One such
tweet reads, "Man the way folks been going in on
Harlee Baena
this Macklemore dude is a perfect reminder why I
don't wanna be labeled as socially conscious or an
The issue of including representation in the
ally." This of course illustrates the previous point on
community for allies, while not exactly a frontline
why some people believe allies need to be accepted
topic in recent activism, is an important question to
by the LGBTQIA community. Supporters would
raise considering the current height of the
argue that this acceptance is facilitated partly by the
LGBTQIA movement. While the a in the acronym
inclusion of allies in the acronym. A second
is widely considered to stand for ally, there are
argument for inclusion is that it provides an out
many who do not agree with its inclusion, while
for allies to justify to anti-LGBTQIA individuals
others believe that it was really meant to stand for
that they are not themselves gay. Without the
asexual/aromantic. Each side has strong arguments,
widespread knowledge of allies being involved in
and so far, no real conclusion has been made. This
activism, assumptions could easily be made that the
paper will attempt to critically analyze the positives
movement
and negatives for each argument, and pose possible
individuals. On the surface, this argument may
next steps for further change and discussion. I feel it
seem shallow, and even offensive, that allies would
necessary to point out that when using the term
be afraid of being considered to identify as queer.
inclusion in reference to allies, it is in the context
However, a published study written by Patrick
of the acronym.
Grzanka, Jake Adler, and Jennifer Blazer suggests
consists
of
only
non-heterosexual
an alternative explanation. In this study, the authors
As many (including Northern Arizona
argue that by not having a clear ally identity, allies
Universitys materials) already assume the a to
are in jeopardy of losing their unique position in
represent allies, the arguments for inclusion of allies
activism as allies.
will be analyzed first. Proponents for ally inclusion

claim that it is a way of drawing positive attention
This is done in order to avoid being perceived
to other potential allies. Many supporters of
as queer, which could potentially result in

alienation from straight peers, colleagues, and
inclusion claim that would-be allies could be turned
family members and perhaps force allies to
away by fear of not being accepted by the

44

sacrifice certain social privileges that come
inclusion in the acronym. Listing allies alongside
from
heteronormative
marginalized identities can conflate the oppression
heterosexual. In this sense, doing allyship is
faced by queer individuals with that of allies, which
antithetical to heteronormativity, thus putting
arguably is very little. Illustrating the front and
the straight ally at risk of losing straight
center nature of allies in LGBTQIA activism, is this
privilege. (Pg. 11)
excerpt from a pamphlet from a university in Alaska
From this perspective, it makes clear sense
on how to come out as an ally; Straight allies are
that having a publicly recognized ally identity could
some of the most effective and powerful advocates
be crucial in preserving the real point of having
and sources of support for the gay, lesbian,
allies, which is their ability to speak on behalf/bring
bisexual, and transgender movement (1996). This
attention to oppressed voices from the position of a
sentence is problematic for a few reasons. First and
privileged majority, to the oppressors of said group.
foremost, it implies that the natural voices of the
identifying
as
LGBTQIA movement are not inherently the most
However, there are many in the LGBTQIA
powerful. When an oppressed group is not seen as
community who believe that allies have no place in
effectively able to represent itself, it opens the door
the acronym. A main theme for this sentiment is the
for the oppressors to decide what the needs and
occurrence of allies seemingly overshadowing the
goals are of the community without having to
voices of actual queer individuals. Madison Carlson
actually consult the people they represent. It also
voices this opinion, stating [Allies] voices should
opens the door for people to take advantage and do
not be heard above the voices of the people they are
harm to the community. One such example of this is
purporting to help. We should not have to feel as
a company called "Fckh8" which claims that it
though we arent allowed to speak about our own
allies itself with the LGBTQIA community, but has
issues. (2013). This viewpoint is not meant as an
done some terrible things. Their recent campaign
attack on allies, and recognizes the importance of
involves the blatantly transphobic tagline "I
including them in activism, but does not believe the
shouldn't need a penis to get paid." The company
acronym should include recognition. As Jeffrey
has been shown to be misogynistic, cissexist,
Bradshaw writes in his article, No one in the
contribute to erasure of bisexual, pansexual and
LGBTQIA community should hate on allies. They
asexual identities, and is a for profit company.
are important in our fight for rights, but the simple

fact is they are not an oppressed sexual orientation
A subgroup of those who dont agree with
or gender identity. This distinction is an important
the A in LGBTQIA standing for ally is the asexual
one, and highlights the necessity of each individual
and aromantic community. These people may either

45
agree that allies should not be included in the
For every asexual that wants a relationship, for every
acronym, or that they should, but both sides believe
asexual that does not want a relationship, for every
in
asexual/aromantic
asexual who has not yet come to terms with their
community. Arguments have been put forward that
identity, for every asexual who was told we were
the Q in LGBTQIA (queer) is able to encompass
abnormalities, for every asexual who was told we just
all non-heterosexual sexual identities. However,
werent doing sex right, that we needed a good
many
fucking, that we needed to be drunk, that we needed to
representation
for
asexual/aromantic
the
people
disagree.
relax, that we needed to be raped. We need
common theme on this side of the debate is that
representation, and we need visibility.
most people do not know what asexual/aromantic

means, or have never even heard of it. Aside from
just the lack of legitimization, not including
As an asexual, hetero-romantic nineteen-
asexual/aromantic identities leaves many people
year-old woman, I have had personal experiences
who would identify as such to feel that they are
that have driven me to believe that asexual
broken, or wrong. Without knowledge of the
representation is important. I have been in my
normalcy of this identity, these individuals are at
current relationship with my boyfriend for almost
risk of depression, anxiety, and many other griefs
three years now. For the first two years, our
that come with not experiencing sexual attraction in
relationship was filled with uncertainty and stress. I
our somewhat hyper sexualized society. A blog post
had never heard of the term asexual before, and this
on the importance of asexual/aromantic inclusion
was and is my first romantic relationship. At first I
details the struggles of both personally not
thought my lack of sex drive was due to my
understanding this identity, and the ignorance of
depression medication, which led me to switch my
others. Titled Reasons why I need the A in
medications around, and consequently experience
LGBTIAQ to stand for Asexual, not Ally, the post
about a two month period of severe depression
reads,
relapse. When that didnt change anything, I started

to question our relationship, which hurt me severely
as I really loved him, and he loved me. I was lost
for a while, before coming across an asexual
PowerPoint on the blog site Tumblr. Finally a light
went off in my head and I didnt feel so wrong, and
so guilty. Luckily my boyfriend was and is very
open minded and accepting, and things have only
46
gotten better. However, when speaking with my
suggesting a more encompassing term, such as
mom, she of course had never heard of it, and
"Gender and sexual diversities (GSD)". Still, others
offered her own explanations, (maybe hes just not
feel that erasure is more prominent without direct
the right guy, maybe you are a lesbian, maybe you
labels like LGBTQIA. With all things I strive to
just arent doing things right). Of course I was
keep an open mind, and would love to participate in
certain, but I have never been able to fully explain
further discussion. I hope this essay will open up
the legitimacy of the identity to her. Now, as a
more discussion on the topic, and possibly drive
white hetero-romantic person, I have many more
further research and insight.
privileges dealing with this. Because of this, I really

didnt believe that I should fight for asexual
representation, because I didnt consider myself to
be an oppressed person needing representation in
the LGBTQIA community. However, I recently
attended a panel on aromantic/asexuality and was
introduced to a man who had a very different
experience. He had also recently discovered the
existence of these identities, and provided his own
account. He was a black male who grew up in a
pretty dangerous neighborhood. He expressed that,
where he came from, if you didnt have a girl on
your arm for an extended period of time, you could
be assumed to be gay, which was a dangerous thing
where he was raised. His story inspired me to
research more on the topic, and that has lead me to
believe that for many reasons, asexual/aromantic
representation is very important.
Some solutions have been suggested to
accommodate both allies and aromantic/asexual
people, by changing the acronym to LGBTQIAA.
Others believe the acronym itself will always be
marginalizing identities by listing specific ones,
47

Works Cited
Bradshaw, J. (2013, January 1). Allies not part of
LGBTQIA community. Retrieved February
26, 2015.
Brathwaite, Les F. "Therapists Argue To Replace
LGBT With More Inclusive GSD."
Queerty. Queerty Inc, 23 Feb. 2013. Web.
26 Feb. 2015.
Carlson, M. (2013, September 3). Stop Telling
Queer
People
to
be
Grateful
for
Macklemore. Retrieved January 12, 2015

Grace, J. (2014, January 27). Why does the LGBT
community seemingly hate its Allies? - Jenn
T. Grace. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
Grzanka, Patrick, Jake Adler, and Jennifer Blazer.
"Making
Up
Allies:
The
Identity
Choreography of Straight LGBT Activism."

Sexuality Research and Social Policy 10.3
(2013): 1-17. Springer Link. Springer US, 8
Feb. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2015
McWhorter, L. (1996, January 1). Coming Out As
A Straight Ally. Retrieved February 26,
2015.
Reasons why I need the A in LGBTIAQ to
stand for Asexual, not Ally. Retrieved
January 12, 2015.
48

Winter of 1987
Mara Georgeff
Yesterdays coffee sits on the nightstand. The cold, black liquid rests quietly in a ceramic mug. Next to the cup
is a photograph. Two faces. Touching foreheads. Fingers laced. Palms kissing. The photograph is taken in front
of a house. The house is small with a large, Crape Myrtle blooming in the yard. Like large, red paint splotches,
the flowers are spotted across the grass. A cool breeze enters the room. The wind lifts the curtains showing a
barren tree. The leaves have fallen exposing bony branches. The trees branches extend in every direction with
hopes of warmth to cover its skinny limbs. A book falls to the ground. Capote and Russo and Wilde are piled in
a lopsided stack against the wall. The curtains lift again. They rise and fall as if they are breathing. Slowly
rising. Slowly falling. In and out, in and out. The clock chimes 6 pm. A book sits on the bed. Its pages are worn
lying exposed and open. Italy. The Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo. The Last Judgment. It takes him four years to
finish the wall. Four years of strenuous painting. Standing. Sitting. Laying. His ribs ache and his chest throbs.
He is tired. The clock chimes midnight. A cool breeze enters the room. The wind lifts the curtains showing a
fresh blanket of snow. They rise and fall as if they are breathing. Slowly rising. Slowly falling. In and out, and
in.
The coffee has been moved. The photograph is no longer on the nightstand. The window is closed and the
curtains are tied back. The books are piled in an orderly stack against the wall. A newspaper sits on the bed. Its
pages are crisp lying folded and concealed. The New York Times. Wednesday, December 30. AIDS: The End
of the Beginning.

49

Let Me Sit: My experience navigating
of the constant reiteration of trans narratives that
bathrooms on campus as a trans woman
essentialize gender by their knowing or feeling

their actual gender for as long as they can
remember there are no wrong or right bodies. I am
not
invalidating
these
peoples
experiences,
however I want to bring to light that these narratives
Jamie Leonard
have been constructed as a means of validating our

personhood in relation to the hegemony. I have not
always been a woman. Every cis woman has not
A short foreword
always been a woman either, though, and more

In writing this piece, I will have disclosed
women need to understand this. The only difference
far more information about myself than I ever
is that cis women get a head start they are allowed
would have planned to or liked to. However
and encouraged to absorb more information on what
uncomfortable it may make me, I feel that it is
constitutes womanhood. This is why Laverne Cox is
extremely important for me to be able to talk about
so fucking brave and amazing for her role as Sophia
my personal history as a trans woman, as our pasts
in OITNB because these realities are made visible.
are often not talked about, hidden, repressed, or

even falsified (for very legitimate reasons). I cannot
Let Me Sit: My experience navigating bathrooms
be visible to others if I cannot be visible to myself.
on campus as a trans woman
While I can only speak from my experience, I think
Gender aside, the bathroom has always been
that I and many other trans women have
a source of tension in my life. My bladder is
internalized the notion that acknowledging our pasts
probably just as active as it was when I was in
can delegitimize us as women. For me, this has
elementary school. I have always had to pee a lot,
developed as a self-defense mechanism, as a means
and I still do. Road trips were always awful; having
of veiling myself from the constant bombardment of
to ask for the bathroom always resulted in eye rolls
signals that remind me that Im not actually a girl.
and sighs from friends and family; bathroom passes
Sometimes, Ill even catch myself trying to revision
throughout school were the bane of my existence,
some of my own past, like ah, I liked dress-up
etc. It is almost kinda funny that the bathroom is
when I was little because I was actually a girl! as
now an even bigger farce in my life, and perhaps
opposed to the reality that I probably just liked
the constant ridiculing of my need to piss a lot has
dress-up. Im sick of doing this to myself. I am tired
made me more resilient to the issues that I now face

50
and have faced in not just using, but gaining access
My freshman year at NAU, I had no choice
to restrooms.
but to live in the boys dorms. The biggest reason

being that I was not out to my parents, but also that
Bathrooms are definitely one of the most
I wasnt aware of the fact that I had other options,
visible impacts that a gender binary imposes on
such as gender-inclusive housing, which I dont
society. They are the literal, physical manifestations

of
the
supposed
innate
and
remember reading about at all during the dorm
irreconcilable
application process. At this point, I had been
differences between men and women. Why do we
identifying with the word transgender since my
have separate bathrooms? Really think about it. My
senior year of high school in fact my
knee-jerk reaction to this question is, because I feel
identification with the T word was pretty
unsafe and threatened sharing a restroom with
concurrent with my discovering of it. I remember
men, but this is just informed by my personal
not feeling as if I had claim to the identity of trans
experience of having to share the restroom with
woman,
men. Theres a plethora of valid explanations that
(an
issue
of
more
transmisogyny on my part), but I was very adamant
can be given, especially regarding the historical
about my disidentification with any type of male or
formation of restrooms as a means of giving
masculine identity. The only thing thats worse than
modesty. However, there is just something deeply
being the only person to wear skirts in the boys hall
disturbing and discomforting about the idea of men
is having to be that person, and then also share your
and women sharing a bathroom together! Its
own personal restroom with all 40 or so of the boys
amazing that this universal human experience has
living there. This is not just using the bathroom,
become translated into a universally personal or
though, this is showering, shaving, all activities that
private experience, due to what we associate with
take place in the bathroom, since this was supposed
the act of using the restroom. Of course, I am not
to be my home after all. I could feel the stares, the
trying to say that we all need to hold hands and
very apparent uncomfortableness that my presence
relive ourselves together (though that may have
would bring. I used to plan my outfits around if I
some useful activist applications), but that we need
would
to question why we have this socially constructed
be
able
to
use
different
bathrooms
throughout the day, just so I wouldnt have to deal
notion of the bathroom, because we all know that
with it. The times where I was passing as a boy and
things are only constructed in relation to the
could go into the mens restroom were so dysphoric
hegemony.
that I would try to avoid it if I could.

51

internalized
Now that I am proud and able to call myself
days around the bathroom while also dealing with
a trans woman and am in a position where I can
the changes that going to college brings. However,
safely present and exist, the issue of the bathroom
these bathrooms are only a band-aid. Much like the
on campus is not as much an issue. While I may not
mens
look like a cis girl, as if I would want to degrade my
manifestation of the gender binary, these third
beauty by trying to pass as cis, I think its apparent
bathrooms become a manifestation of the Other and
that I am a girl. I am lucky enough to have never
how gender outside of the binary is only perceived
had any type of confrontation in either the womens
in relation to it. Ive heard that students refer to
or mens restrooms on campus. I feel immensely
these bathrooms as the Trans Bathrooms, to which I
safer and more comfortable being able to use the
have to say fuck you and choke on it. I refuse to use
restroom that I should, despite the glares and looks
the gender-inclusive bathrooms because I should
that tell me you dont belong here. However, off
not need to use them. I should not have to think
of campus, I will not go into a womens restroom
about what it means for me to piss in the ladies
unless I have a girl friend with me, otherwise I just
room; I should just be able to piss there because I
hold it. Using the womens restroom is all too often
am a lady!
the last thing that too many trans women do.
and
womens
restrooms
represent
We need to constantly be interrogating why
Having gone from being strictly non-binary
separate bathrooms are necessitated, or what it truly
to trans girl, my experience as a non-binary person
means to have the Other bathroom as a safety
in the restrooms was truly terrifying. Too feminine
measure. I find it interesting that the majority of
to use the men's room but too flat-chested to use the
people who seem to care about these bathrooms are
women's.
single-occupant
probably never going to be in a situation where they
restrooms that I knew of on campus was in Allen
need one. If you do not need a gender-inclusive
Hall, where I ended up spending a lot of time in as I
bathroom, you honestly should have no opinion on
had friends that lived there. I still dont know of
the issue because you do not have the experience to
many others, other than the gender inclusive-
inform your opinion. The bottom line is that you
bathroom in SBS West (this is mostly due to the
pose more of a threat to me than I do to you, and I
fact that Ive only been in a handful of buildings on
direct this to both those who are for and against.
campus).
gender-inclusive
The position of allyship implicitly means you are a
restrooms on campus is so important, because I do
contributor to the problem. What I wish cis people
not want any other queer kids having to plan their
who advocate for these bathrooms would do is think
One
The
of
the
inclusion
only
of
52

about the ways in which you have contributed to
ones doing the majority of the talking. I am beyond
making the bathroom an exclusive space. This is not
exhausted of seeing me talking about (almost
just within interaction directly in the bathroom,
always in terms that I would never describe myself
outside of it too (i.e. as I was writing this, I was not
with) in the news, on social media, in conversation,
able to use my own restroom because my cis partner
or in academic settings instead of being talked to.
was skyping her parents in the bedroom; they think
I can always sense the discomfort and
we are a typical straight couple, but little do they
confusion because its always very visible, and I've
know that we are actually lesbian separatist
learned to no longer let it ruin my day. I will take up
witches). Obviously, this comes along with the
as much space in the bathroom as I need, because it
larger, overarching project of social justice as a
is my space too. Refusal to let trans women into our
whole, the never-ending process of understanding
restrooms
how we are all implicated in the system.
is
an
act
of
violence
--
being
discomforted by our presence is an act of violence,
I support and advocate for implementing
because you are denying us our womanhood and
more gender-inclusive bathrooms on campus, or
our humanity. Let me sit and do my business, let me
even just more single-occupant restrooms, because
wash my hands and fix my makeup, and let me be
it gives an immediate solution to the real problem of
on my way without making me feel like I should not
violence in restrooms. However, it is not a complete
be able to do those things. If you degender me, I
solution, because it only tackles a symptom of the
will remember your face.
larger problem of not just gender inequality, but

gender exclusion and extermination. I think that it
undermines the lived experiences of individuals
who deal with the bathroom struggle daily to posit
gender-inclusive bathrooms as progress; I would
actually even say that this is violent. What does it
mean that it can be called progress when people
have a safe place to perform their basic bodily
functions? What does that say about our situation as
a whole? I think it means that we are still not seen
as human. I think it says that even though we might
be more visible and talked about, we are not the
53

pursue graduate school with the goal of becoming a
Author Biographies
museum curator.
Danielle Austin is a senior at Northern Arizona

University studying Womens and Gender Studies
Connor Huenneke is a student in Sociology and
with minors in Asian Studies and Environmental
Womens and Gender Studies at Northern Arizona
Sustainability. She is from Flagstaff, Arizona. She
University. He was born in Las Cruces, New
plans on going to graduate school in the near future.
Mexico and has lived in Flagstaff for the past 12

years. Connor has no concrete plans for further
Harlee Baena is a sophomore student at Northern
school but would like to relocate to the Seattle area
Arizona University. She is studying Social Work
after he graduates. He is excited for the opportunity
with a minor in Women and Gender Studies and
to contribute to a publication that represents diverse
Psychology. She regards Peoria, Arizona as her
voices.
hometown,
despite
being
born
in
Lompoc,
California. Harlee plans to have a job in social work
Rebekah Kamp is a junior transfer student at
after completing her Bachelors degree, before
Northern Arizona University; her major is Women
pursuing Graduate School.
and Gender Studies with a minor in Ethnic Studies.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she attended one
(Tasauna) LaShae Brown is an African-American
school there, and a school in Goshen, Indiana.
freshman at Northern Arizona University and is
Rebekah plans on joining the Peace Corps in order
currently double majoring in both International
to travel and gain experience in other communities
Affairs and Criminology. She grew up all over, as
after completing her Bachelors Degree. She will
her father is in the United State Army. After earning
then attend graduate school in the hopes of
her degrees, she plans to pursue a career in Human
becoming a college professor.
Trafficking Investigations, or some branch of the

U.S State Department.
Justine Kobold is a freshman at Northern Arizona

University. Though she has not yet decided on an
Mara Georgeff is a freshman at Northern Arizona
area of study, she plans to further pursue Ethnic
University. Her studies include Art History, Women
Studies as well as Women and Gender Studies.
and Gender Studies, and Political Science. After

completing her Bachelors degree, Mara plans to
54

Jamie Leonard is a sophomore at NAU. She is
Women and Gender Studies. He was born In
majoring in Womens and Gender Studies with a
Chicago Illinois and lived there for 16 years until he
minor in Music. Born in Sierra Vista, but a
relocated to Prescott, Arizona and now Flagstaff.
Tucsonian through and through. Also a lesbian. She
He plans to continue his studies into graduate work.
has no plans after school, other than to go back for

more school. Her areas of interest include trans
liberation,
abolition
of
the
prison-industrial
complex, and rights/protections for sex workers.

Danielle Mori is a Hopi, Pima, Mexican, and Yaqui
female from Phoenix, Arizona. Currently a student
at Northern Arizona University for a Bachelors of
Social Work and minors in Sociology and Womens
and Gender Studies. Danielle plans to go to
graduate school for a masters and to do activism
work around social justice for Native Americans.
Kristy Silva is a junior at Northern Arizona
University majoring in Political Science with
minors in Social Work and Women Gender Studies.
Though born in Modesto, California, Kristy
considers Phoenix, Arizona her hometown. After
finishing her Bachelors degree, she plans to pursue
a Masters in Policy with an emphasis in Education.
Gabriel Villarreal is a Puerto Rican-Mexican gay
male sophomore student at Northern Arizona
University. His Studies Include Sociology and
55

Questions or comments about our journal?
Email Us
Current.NAU@gmail.com
Follow Us on Twitter
@CurrentNAU
56

Current: A Journal of Transnational Inqueery

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Current: A Journal of Transnational Inqueery

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Current:

Northern Arizona University

February 26, 2015

Give us our space!

Give us our space!

Give us our space!

Give us our space!

Give us our space!

Give us our space!

Yes, we are saying Give us our space!

Not Your Dream Girl

damaging effects it has on the viewers perception

Dunst as Claire Colburn in Elizabethtown, both of

Imagine the standard American moviegoers

often mistaken for an anti-Manic Pixie Dream Girl,

favorite prototypical indie film: depressed, hipster-

the opposite is true. Ramona is impulsive,

esque, looks-like-he-hasnt-slept-in-two-weeks boy

mysterious, and full of angst. But when it comes

meets quirky, whimsical, happy-go-lucky girl and

down to it, this pink-haired pixie merely exists to

the boys life is changed forever, for the better. The

help Scott, the hero of the film, discover himself.

girls life, however, isnt nearly as important.

Kirsten Dunsts character, Claire, falls into the same

Unfortunately, this Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope is

category. Bubbly and eccentric, Claire is the

played out quite a bit. But be careful not to go

epitome of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Her one

placing a rather insulting label on every sundress-

purpose in the film seems to be to coax the

wearing girl with bangs. So what is a Manic Pixie

protagonist out of his crippling state of depression.

Dream Girl anyway, apart from all the previously

Neither of these two women are afforded any of

mentioned clichs? Film critic Nathan Rabin, the

their own character development, as they do not

coiner of the term, defines her as that bubbly,

attempt to meet or even set any of their own goals,

shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the

aside from making the men in their lives happy of

fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to

teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life

Consequences of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Clich, Hugo Schwyzer says,

Essentially, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG)

She [the MPDG] sends the message

better. This archetype is problematic for a few

that a bright and sensitive young man

reasons, in short: the character does not exist for

can only learn to embrace life by

falling in love with a woman who

backstory/development, she is often objectified, and

sees the dazzling colors and rich

she exists in order to fulfill the male fantasy of the

complexities he can't. Just as the all-

perfect woman. It is critical to evaluate the

MPDGs presence in film in order to reveal the

character uses mystical intuitive

powers to help white folks tap their

Nathan Rabin offered his own two cents about why

God-given potential, the MPDG

Colburn is the essence of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl

reminds men that they need (and,