I couldn't resist

[eumelia]

lishablog asked me five questions... these are my answers:

When did you decide to study Women's Studies?

Well, even since I was in High School I knew I was going to study literature. That's what I expanded for my matriculation and that's what I love more than anything.

I started becoming interested in academic feminism when I was in the US and there were whole sections for "Women's Studies" in the huge and in the little indie book shops and I had no idea what they were on about.

So I googled and read up on the history of Women's Studies and Gender Studies and Queer Theory and I was hooked!
I then started looking into how I could study Lit and that WS at the same time for my BA in Israel.

The rest, as they say, is history (present and future, of course).

Are you planning to continue on in academia, or do you have other plans after you get your BA?

At the moment I am not planning to continue in academia. I'd much rather have that as a hobby than as a job. What I've been thinking of for the past few years, on and off, though currently I'm looking into it more seriously is getting a Librarian's certificate and working as a Librarian.
It fits well with my ideals that knowledge be uncensored and easily accessible to all.

Also, Librarians are sexy.

What is it you like most about Israel?

It's difficult for me to articulate, not because there isn't a whole lot to love, but because there is so much that I love.
I love the fact that everyone here is insane, but thinks our lives are utterly normal.
I love the sea (the Mediterranean), I love the food, I love that our culture is this weird fusion of Levant, Euro-Trash and Americana.
That almost all our swear words are Arabic, Russian and Yiddish - because the Hebrew ones are merely Biblical.
I love...
Oh, but you asked what I like and not what I love.

Well, in the regard, Israel is a bit like an over-bearing parents... you don't really like them, you sort of have to put up with 'em. But you love them anyway.
Even though you see them treat your other siblings like crap.

You've talked before about bisexuals being the invisible group in the queer community. Do you feel disconnected from the community in general if you aren't in a relationship with a woman at that time?

I've always felt more a part of a queer community rather than straight society, possibly simply as a part of the outsiderness I've always felt, possibly simply because the energy coming from the people in those communities felt better to me.

Even when I am with a man I am queer, which I feel kept me connected with that world, so while there is indeed an issue of visibility and biphobia within the LGBTQ community - I still feel more welcome there than in straight society - in which I'm considered a deviant.
Going to Lesbian events don't make me feel excluded any more than Gay events make me feel excluded - both kinds of events and atmospheres have something to offer me as a queer person.

Being with a woman mainly showed me and taught me how arbitrary the whole concept of privilege is.
It's an ugly and harsh reality and one that in the queer community I can better navigate, because while I'm not a total "lesbian" or completely "gay"... I am those things sometimes.
Because as a bisexual person, I'm always queer whether it "looks" like I'm straight or gay.

Do you believe that it's possible to wipe out "white privilege" and create a truly equal society? (If yes, what do you think would move us toward that goal?)

I was just talking about this today. Not regarding race specifically, but the notion of class and elitism. I don't suppose it comes as any surprise that, I myself, am an elitist :P
Personally speaking, I'm not sure if true equality is achievable. No matter how accessible (in the broadest sense of the word) people in their capabilities are not equal.
I don't think that's a bad thing, the badness is the social superiority and welfare put upon those differences.
Wiping out "white privilege" will only be possible if people acknowledge that this privilege exists, that people who come from different backgrounds, have different identities that intersect with each other and not look at oppression as layers (as in "the most oppressed person in the room is the neuroatypical physically disabled immigrant black muslim trans lesbian") - that's not how we work, it's not how we can get things done, because there is no easy answer.
I think if more and more people realise the versatility of the human condition and how we can't be put into ticky-tacky boxes, but rather on differently paved roads and paths that change over our lives...
Well, you get the picture.

If you wanna do this meme, well, you know the drill.

Comments

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

It is very true that librarians are sexy. Anything to do with books is pretty damn sexy, but librarians just have it on tap.

I... don't know the drill. Do I ask you questions now? Do you ask me questions? I'm all confused.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I ask the questions!

1) Have you lived in countries other than England? If so where? If not, what's your favourite place in the UK to live?

2) What got you writing fanfiction?

3) Why do you think Media (tv, film, lit etc.) is so influential for you (and "us" in general)?

4) Do you still ride horses?

5) If you could chose to live in any Time over the course of history, when and where would it be?

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Librarians rule.

Any questions for me? Fire away, if you like. ^_^

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Librarians are awesome!

1) What got you into Asian studies and translating Manga?

2) What would you categorize fandom as? A movement, a community, a religion, what?

3) (an old classic) What is your superpower and why?

4) What is the greatest challenge that we, women of geekdom, face do you think? Has fandom changed now that its previously silenced members (not just women) no longer so quiet?

5) Do you think there is something that is inherently human? Something that human beings have in common despite the differences between us all?

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

I answered you here (http://starlady38.livejournal.com/296014.html), since I am verbose.

[stateofwonder.livejournal.com]

My mama's a librarian. She is sexy ;) I've considered that career path as well.

Re: privilege, I'm not sure that it's something that can be "gotten rid of", simply because it doesn't relate to individuals so much as it does to global power structures. And those are hella-difficult to change. I think there's a huge difference between acknowledging your privilege and working to mitigate it by being an ally, and getting rid of your privilege entirely... namely because I don't think the latter can be done at all by an individual. Which is what makes it such a frustrating concept for people to grasp, I think, because it makes them feel powerless (which is ironic, to say the least).

[stateofwonder.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I guess I just wanted to recognize that there's a difference between saying "you're a racist" (which is based on individual beliefs and behavior, which an individual can change), and saying "you have white privilege" (which is based on social structures, not necessarily beliefs and actions, and is therefore extremely difficult/impossible for an individual to change).

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I totally get what you're saying, maybe my answer wasn't clear, because I was talking about the systemic reproduction of racism and privilege, not so much "people are racist and privileged" - get what I'm saying here.

I don't know how you can get rid of your privilege, being an ally is good and I hope that I'm a good ally and don't fuck up too much (though god knows I do) - but other than speak up all the time and go all Jay Smooth on people I'm not sure there is a real, proper strategy for eradicating privilege.
The concept of Human Rights and Equality have been around for a few centuries now - and when I hear people quote socio-biology as an explanation for human behaviour and why the "white man" rules... it's just frustrating and I do use my privilege to back away.

[stateofwonder.livejournal.com]

This is hilarious to me because Jay Smooth was a good friend of an old roommate of mine, and once he came to visit us and seemed awesome but pretty shy -- and now he's this giant internet celebrity and it's so weird!

Ughhhhh evolutionary biologists/sociobiologists make me want to kill myself. What do you mean when you say that you use your privilege to back away? You mean just by not speaking to that, or..?

Also... I think I've gotten questions from you before, but if you have any other burning questions, feel free ;)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

My Mummy also worked as a Librarian for a while.

*sigh* You grow up to be who raised you I suppose :)

[queenmab21.livejournal.com]

Ask me :)
Now i'm thinking what I like about Israel... interesting question.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

For you m'dear!

1) What do you most like about Israel? :)

2) If you could live anywhere else, where would it be and why?

3) You have so many books and you love reading, what would you say is the piece of literature that helped make you who you are?

4) Anarchy?

5) God?

[queenmab21.livejournal.com]

I promise I will answer the minute i'll have time. Where can I buy that?