01:920:108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Postmodern Feminism, Liberal Feminism, Asian Americans
16 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
•
Student presentations today in class on the Sakai articles
a.
Author argues--> Jewish success is a product not only of ability but also of the removal of powerful social barriers to its realization
b.
Institutional nature of racism and the centrality of state policies to creating and changing races.
i.
Extreme fear in upper class and "native" white Americans
c.
Jews were not considered white when they first immigrated here
i.
Gradual extinction of people or racial strain
d.
"Race suicide"--> coined by President Roosevelt
e.
Scientific racism used to justify the inferiority of Jews
i.
Dedicated to gain education for social upward mobility
f.
Jewish population excelled in education during 1910-1940
g.
Concept of "money whitens"
i.
Supported each other through interconnected businesses.
h.
Jews--> ethnic minority group--> part of 2nd wave of immigration--> had ethnic enclaves (Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan)
1.
“How did Jews become White Folks?” (Sakai article)
a.
Emphasizes role of structure
b.
No upward mobility--> left in some structure without openness of society
c.
Not all cases where working hard will automatically make you successful
2.
Professor's added words on 1st article
a.
Cultural relativism--> views and morals of cultures vary from one another but all are equally valid and not "better" from any other
b.
Western countries focus on religion and culture, rather than focusing on historical and political processes.
c.
Western whites view and frame Muslim women as in need of "saving" in order to justify their military intervention
d.
British rule in Egypt focused on the veil as a sign of 'oppression' but gave no support to women's education
e.
Colonial feminism--> liberation of women, used to justify colonial ambitions
f.
Many women saw the burqa (the veil) as a liberating invention because it enabled women to move out of segregated living spaces while still
observing the basic moral requirements of separating and protecting women from unrelated men
3.
“Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?” (Sakai article)
○
This article represents form of postmodern feminism
▪
Critique→some people go far off cultural relativism
○
Cultural relativism→understand cultures from their (the culture’s) own perspective
○
Ethnocentrism→perceive other culture from your own cultural views
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Liberal feminism→changes through regulation (slow)
○
Radical feminism→gender inequalities due to patriarchal society (need to uproot it)
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Black feminism→experience of white women is not same for other women of color
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Gender reform→equal treatment of men and women
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Gender resistance→legal and cultural changes
○
Gender rebellion→people are free to choose their own relationships and other forms
4.
Professor's added words on 2nd article
a.
Although Asian Americans as a group have attained the career and financial success equated with being white, and although many have moved
next to or have even married whites, they still remain culturally distinct and suspect in a white society.
b.
In the United States, groups initially considered nonwhite, such as the Irish and Jews, have attained “white” membership by acquiring status and
wealth.
c.
Asian Americans→They instead link their identities to specific countries of origin
d.
Americans of Chinese and Filipino ancestries are the largest subgroups (at 2.8 million and 2.4 million, respectively)
e.
Traditional ethnic enclaves in gateway cities help new immigrants cope with cultural and language difficulties. However, affluent and highly skilled
immigrants tend to bypass inner-city enclaves and settle in the suburbs upon arrival.
f.
Differences in national origins, timing of immigration, affluence and settlement patterns profoundly inhibit the formation of a pan-ethnic identity
g.
Pan Asianism is primarily a political ideology of U.S.-born, American-educated, middle-class Asians
h.
But while Asian Americans recognize whites as a frame of reference, some reject the idea of becoming white themselves
i.
Americans of Asian ancestry still have to constantly prove that they truly are loyal Americans.
5.
“Are Asian Americans Becoming ‘White?" (Sakai article)
▪
Reinforce myth that U.S. is country w/o racism→hard work does not equal success
▪
Pits other minorities against Asian Americans
▪
Stereotype puts to fulfilling high standards (compare to average Americans)
▪
Model minority channels them to specific professions (ex: science and engineering)
•
Consequence of model minority
6.
Professor's added words on 3rd article
Lecture: Day 23
Thursday, April 19, 2018
11:13 PM
Minority Groups in American Society Page 1
