This past week I took the break I needed but may have gotten too comfortable. On the bright side, I did read and also watched a TED talk over the break. I took a look at Kimberle Crenshaw’s TED talk about intersectionality. In this video she spoke about intersecting identities but she also talked about how intersectionality was at the height of social injustice. In regards to my interviewees they have interacting identities as well. Their race being African American, possibly pronouns other than she/him, and being an athlete are identities that carry weight along with possible trauma. According to an article written by Jane Coaston at VOX she said, ” To many conservatives, intersectionality means “because you’re a minority, you get special standards, special treatment in the eyes of some.” It “promotes solipsism at the personal level and division at the social level.” It represents a form of feminism that “puts a label on you. It tells you how oppressed you are. It tells you what you’re allowed to say, what you’re allowed to think.” Intersectionality is thus “really dangerous” or a “conspiracy theory of victimization.” I find it very interesting how one word could have so many different definitions. The definition that states “being the minority you get special standards, special treatment in the eyes of some” stuck out to me a lot. In regards to my project, with these athletes being successful in their respective sport but also being looked at as entertainment you would think its special treatment but I don’t think it is. How can it be special treatment, when on the court or on the field racism/sexism/discrimination can still be experienced?
I had the chance to meet with two of my committee members before and after the break. As for my chair we’re going to set up a zoom call so we can get the ball rolling for my research side of things. For my other committee member, he suggested that I go down the rosters of different sports and pick out players whom I think would be a good fit and report back to him with the list. I’m kind of lost though. As far as next steps because it’s like I’m in full control now and I have to report back to all of my committee members. So, hopefully this zoom meeting with my chair will settle some uncertainty I’m having.
Citations: Coaston, J. (2019, May 20). The intersectionality wars. Vox. https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination
Crenshaw, K. (2016, October). The urgency of intersectionality. Kimberlé Crenshaw: The urgency of intersectionality | TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality
