A New Vocabulary

This fall while taking the class in Feminist Theory I have learned many new words and new meanings or specific meanings for words I thought I knew.  I have been at times exasperated at the rather obtuse and complicated vocabulary in our readings but I am also beginning (sometimes) to appreciate the need for words that have a richness of meaning for the field.

Let's start with "intersectionality."  Feminism needs to recognize diversity.  Concepts of oppression do not act  independently of each other.  You need to think of race, class, age, disabilities, economic status, radicalization, language, as well as gender.

And then there's "standpoint."  Knowledge is socially situated.  You start with inquiry from the "marginalized."  (There's another word--marginalized!)

And "performativity."  Performativity produces a series of effects.  Nobody is a gender from birth.  Performance is what produces the individual. (from Judith Butler)

And "discourse."  The language you use--how you talk about something

And "discursive constructions."  Discourse can create reality--example, referring to  transgender as a disorder.  I always thought discursive meant rambling, but not in this context.

And "Othering."  Dehumanizing--making an object of someone.

And "praxis."  Practice, as distinguished from theory.  Why not just say practice?

And "identity politics."  This is highlighting just one aspect of one's being.  Can there be a "feminist standpoint?"  Coalitions are what are needed.

And "heteronormativity."  This assumes desire is for opposite sex.  Is this performative?

And "historisizing."  This is making something seem as if it is history or real, such as trying to historicize stereotypes.

And "fields of power."  Juridical power produces what it claims merely to represent.  We are born into certain constructions of power--interpersonal, disciplinary, cultural, and structural--that can be found in family, classroom, workplace, government, police, etc.  And what is "juridical?" Just relating to administration of law.

And "geneology."  How did man and woman come to be?  What is the origin of these concepts?

And now we're getting into "queer theory" and the definitions of transgender.  More to come.