9 minute read
L&C: Intersectionality in feminism is crucial to a bet- ter movement
ADVOCACY
Intersectionality in feminism is crucial to a better movement
By Emmalee Krieg
@csucollegian
With this year being the 50th anniversary of Title IX, it’s worth recognizing other topics within feminism that have gained prominence, such as intersectionality.
Social movements can prioritize what’s mainstream and flashy, leaving behind marginalized groups in the process.
Feminism, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, social class and disability play different roles in life experiences, and intersectionality tackles the different factors of discrimination and how they affect someone’s life.
“What intersectionality means really is that intersecting oppressions — that kind of informs a person’s experience,” said Victoria Benjamin, the interim assistant director for victim services at the Women and Gender Advocacy Center at Colorado State University. “If a person has multiple marginalized identities, all of those work together to create multiple sorts of marginalizations.”
Benjamin, who earned a dual bachelor’s degree in sociology and women and gender studies as well as a master’s in ethnic studies, highlighted the importance of intersectionality and how it is often white women who are the main focus of feminism.
“When we are talking about feminism, oftentimes it privileges the experiences of cis(gender) white women,” Benjamin said.
Savannah Johnson, a student at CSU, pointed out her hesitation with feminism. She is a peer mentor at the Black/African American Cultural Center office, a Giving Back, Empowering and Strengthening Our Culture program leader and the financial officer for the Black Student Alliance at CSU.
“Personally, feminism for me is very cis and very white focused,” Johnson said.
White feminism is used to describe the focus feminism tends to have on white women. A lot of people, like Johnson, do not identify as feminists because of this. Women in minority ethnic groups are underrepresented, and the oppression they face is often not acknowledged. Media can hide under the broad blanket of feminism while only portraying white women and giving them the most credit.
“People have intersecting identities obviously, like someone’s race, someone’s economic status, someone’s sexual identity, gender identity — all that is going to affect how they’re affected in the whole fem bubble,” Johnson said. “It’s important to have these conversations so it’s not just uplifting one type of woman but all women.”
Recognizing different identities and how they intersect is key to a better social movement. Intersectionality in particular started gaining more prominence in the 1990s.
“Intersectionality is a term that was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who is a Black legal scholar,” Benjamin said.
Kimberlé Crenshaw is an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory. As a lawyer, she helped defend Anita Hill, who testified against Clarence Thomas with claims of sexual harassment in 1991. Hill was another Black woman facing discrimination based on her race and gender.
According to The Guardian, “Hill’s case cemented her idea of ‘intersectionality,’ set out in a paper two years before the hearing. The idea suggests that different forms of discrimination — such as sexism and racism — can overlap and compound each other in just this way.”
During Hill’s case, Crenshaw was also working on another paper called “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics and Violence Against Women of Color” on the history of Black women being sexually harassed and abused.
In “Mapping the Margins,” Crenshaw writes, “Although racism and sexism readily intersect in the lives of real people, they seldom do in feminist and antiracist practices.”
The next step toward intersectionality is education about different experiences.
“I think doing self-education (and) understanding what you can about folks with different experiences than you — (or) have different identities than you — is really important,” Benjamin said.
“Approach others with empathy because you don’t know what others’ backgrounds are and others’ experiences,” Johnson said. “Something that may seem obvious to you is not going to be obvious to another person.”
Benjamin highlighted how crucial privilege is and when it comes into play.
“If you’re a person with privilege (or) with privileged identities, it’s really important to contend with those and understand how both privilege and oppression forms your view of the world,” Benjamin said. “For me, I’m a cis white woman, right? And that means a very particular thing about how I’ll experience the world (and) how I’m treated in the world.”
While the first step is to acknowledge certain privileges individuals may hold, the second step is to actively combat ignorance. Learning new things happens all the time; choosing to act on and acknowledge those privileges holds weight and speaks volumes.
“Some people are ignorant, but I feel like ignorance is a willful act,” Johnson said.
Reach Emmalee Krieg at entertainment@collegian.com.
STRAIN REVIEW
EUREKA Strawberry Clemonade — a swift, palate pleasing high
By Taylor Paumen
@taytaypau
The world inside each dispensary is so different from building to building, but one thing that often stays consistent is their colorful displays, making stoners reminisce about being a kid in a candy store. One of those visual lures is the long lines of disposable dab pens draped across the walls.
EUREKA is one of many brands you can find across the board and falls under the products dispensaries almost always carry.
This week I headed to LivWell Enlightened Health dispensary to snatch a half-gram EUREKA Fusion Disposable reusable dab pen. LivWell offers several exotic flavors, like Mystery flavor or Melon Madness, but this time around, I picked up the Strawberry Clemonade strain.
Most of these pens are hybrids in a sense they’re more there for the flavor than the sole purpose of boosting your vibe or putting you to sleep. However, the high is definitely still there along with the incredible taste.
Strawberry Clemonade could be a bit much for some, but if you’re tired of normal tasting wax, why not spice it up with something more fruity? The strawberry is very potent but creates a smooth inhale to exhale with a nice citrus hint from the clemonade.
OK, EUREKA got the points for flavor, but does it establish a good high? The answer is yes, it does. The high follows the characteristics of a hybrid, calming the body but keeping it energized enough to keep up with your surroundings.
Don’t be fooled, though, by its cute and colorful appearance, as the high will get you quick. Like a battery dab pen set on high, these little disposables will get you blasted after one big hit. This can be useful for a solid puff before a big dinner or easy to puff if you’re on the go.
The high hits quickly but falls almost just as fast, so if you’re a fairly consistent smoker, these little halfgram disposable pens might last you a week, maximum. With the half-gram coming in at $25, these probably aren’t the best choice if money is tight, but they’re perfect if you want something different.
The biggest positive to purchasing these pens specifically is that they are rechargeable. If you’ve ever bought a disposable vapor device of any kind, when that flashing light blinks at you, cross your fingers that you’ll find a charging port at the bottom of the pen. EUREKA pens, when fully charged, can last on a full battery for a day or two, obviously depending on how much you hit it.
With a solid battery life, amazing taste and a rapid high, the price might be worth it. Pick up any flavor and enjoy the EUREKA pens with friends or simply a quick high for yourself. And remember, if you find yourself high in the clouds after a few hits, don’t panic; you’ll come back down to earth swiftly. Rating: 8/10.
Reach Taylor Paumen at cannabis@collegian.com.
BECAUSE I GOT HIGH
In-N-Out secret menu and thermostat hot box
By Guest Authors
@csucollegian Editor’s Note: “Because I Got High” content consists of community story submissions and does not represent the views of The Collegian or its editorial board. The Collegian does not promote underage or excessive substance use or impairment for the purpose of creating a submission. In-N-Out secret menu
One of the first times that I got high with my brother, he took me to an In-N-Out Burger. I was way too high to be reading a menu — not to mention I never went to an In-NOut before. I could not register the fact that the menu was so limited, and then my brother explained there was a secret menu. I was so anxious, and the interior of the place was low-key freaking me out, so I made him order me something he thought I’d like. I’d like to say that the meal was worth it, but I don’t even remember eating my burger. Also, the animal-style fries were mid. Thermostat hot box
Over fall break, I brought my three closest friends to my hometown for
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY
SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN Thanksgiving. My parents are well aware of my smoking habits and said we were more than welcome to smoke upstairs. I was shocked. I tried telling my parents that they were being too cool and that I didn’t want to smoke flower in the house because of how potent it was. I figured we would be just fine smoking in the garage, so one night, my friends and I decided to smoke a joint there. The next morning, my mom told us we were smoking right next to the air intake for the house thermostat, gassing up the entire house. Fortunately, my parents said it helped them fall asleep. You’re welcome, Mom and Dad, for a good night’s rest; next time we’ll smoke upstairs.
To submit stories, email cannabis@ collegian.com or fill out our Google Form, which is linked alongside guidelines in our Letter from the Editor.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AVA KERZIC THE COLLEGIAN
18+ MEDICAL
I T ’S SIMPLE
BEST MEDS, BEST PRICES, BEST SERVICE
$54.99 ounces! $5 1 gram pre-rolls
MUNCHIEMONDAY - 20% OFF ALL EDIBLES
CART TUESDAY - $5 OFF 1 GRAM CARTS / $2.50 OFF 1/2 GRAM CARTS. *** select carts and strains TOP SHELFTHURSDAY - 10% OFF ALL TOP SHELF AND PLATINUM SHELF FLOWER
SHAKE OUNCESUNDAY - $25 SHAKE OUNCES WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
WAXWEDNESDAY - 8 GRAMS FOR $64. KUSH MASTERS SELECT STRAINS. TIER 1 8 GRAMS FOR $80, TIER 2 8 GRAMS FOR $125, TIER 3 8 GRAMS FOR $142.48.
