My CLS placement
involves a culturally diverse population of women bravely divulging their
familiar and cultural standpoint on sexual violence. At first I was
disappointed in the lack of bluntness with which they revealed their stories. I
thought, if only to myself; “here is your time, someone is listening, go ahead
and tell all.” Then something pretty wonderful happened; I reached a new
realization of my own position through a series of events: first, in watching
“Finding Dawn” there was a part where a mother was very passively saying how
she would “never give up,” she was not screaming it, she was demonstrating her
support through her action of marching. I tend to want to be bold and make
noise, yet the quiet walk of this mother touched my heart in a very powerful
way. The second event was the Mardorossian reading. As Mardorossian expressed
her concern over Cahill’s paper of “fighting back;” I thought, again to myself,
why not fight back? Mardorossian reminded me to be careful of the message we
are sending to society.
Our position of
power in life lends its responsibility to the carefulness with which we say
things. People listen to what we say and how we say it, and further derive
their own meanings to our words.
So as I combined
these thoughts towards my CLS ladies, I realized their action of just attending
a focus group spoke volumes. In their quiet way they are screaming their
opinions! A logical understanding of the differences with which people express
themselves has always been apart of who I am. This week; however, I am so
grateful for the learning process that brought me to a deeper level of
understanding.
Reference:
Ann
Cahill, “In Defense of Self- Defense,” Philosophical Papers (2009), Vol.
38:3, 363-380.
Carine
M. Mardorossian, “Towards a New Feminist Theory of Rape,” Signs: Journal of
Women in Culture and Society (2002) 27: 3, 743-775 (Oct. 22).
Welsh, C. (Director).
(2006). “Finding Dawn.” National Film Board of Canada
In my CSL placement, I am working with the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. The work I’m doing for my CSL is more theoretical, but I’ve had a chance to talk with the staff at the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, one of the shelters under the ACWS. One of the the aspects of CWES that really impacted me and stood out to me is the value they place around the idea of resistance (http://www.calgarywomensshelter.com/learn---approach). On their website, they write that individuals who are being abused “do many things to oppose the abuse and to keep their dignity and their self-respect.” But what I think is really important is their acknowledgement that resistance is often not obvious, and these acts of resistance often go unnoticed. However, that does not mean these things are not resistance! Being in a situation of domestic violence is dangerous, and certain forms of resistance could increase that danger. Often acts of resistance may be seen as ‘passive’, but they are a meaningful navigation of a difficult situation. For example, CWES highlights that something like imagining a better life could be a form of resistance.
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote about the different ways that people can ‘fight back’. Your line that “in their quiet way, they are screaming their opinions” really resonates with me. I think it’s so important to acknowledge women’s agency and to respect and encourage women in the different ways that they ‘fight back’ or show resistance. And to give them those opportunities to show resistance in their quiet ways, which your CSL definitely seems to be doing!
From my own personal experience, bold acts of resistance often seem to last for a short period of time, while quiet resistance endures over a longer period of time. And I definitely think there is need for both of these types of resistance! They are both powerful and important and they work together. However, I do have a lot of respect for those who I see engaging in quiet resistance. I think that that’s something that takes a lot of courage! Not to say loud acts of resistance don’t take courage, because they do, and I respect these as well.