Gender, Colonialism & Rights

• These notes cover key concepts and definitions related to gender, colonialism, rights, and historical events.

Gender Apartheid

• Gender apartheid involves systematic segregation and discrimination based on gender.
• It marginalizes and oppresses women, restricting their rights and freedoms through dress codes, limited education and employment, and mobility restrictions.

Intersectionality

• Intersectionality is a framework to understand how various social stratifications like race, gender, class, and sexuality intersect.
• It highlights the need to consider overlapping systems of discrimination when analyzing social issues and advocating for justice.

Orientalism

• Orientalism, coined by Edward Said, describes the Western portrayal of Eastern cultures as exotic, backward, and inferior.
• It constructs the "Orient" as the "Other," feminized, passive, and submissive, contrasting it with the masculinized and rational "West".

Terra Nullius

• Terra nullius is a Latin term meaning "land belonging to no one".
• Colonial powers used this concept to justify the occupation of territories inhabited by indigenous peoples, disregarding their presence and rights.

Colonialism

• Colonialism is the practice of acquiring and maintaining colonies by exploiting colonized people and their resources.
• It has long-lasting impacts on the political, economic, and social structures of colonized regions, often justified by racial and cultural superiority.

Sovereignty

• Sovereignty refers to a state's authority to govern itself without external interference.
• It emphasizes the independence and autonomy of states in managing their internal and external affairs.

Stages of Genocide

• The stages of genocide include classification, symbolization, discrimination, dehumanization, organization, polarization, preparation, persecution, extermination, and denial.
• Each stage represents a step in targeting and eliminating a particular group.

Eugenics

• Eugenics aims to improve the genetic quality of a human population through controlled breeding.
• Historically, it has been associated with discriminatory practices like forced sterilizations.

Ethnopornography

• Ethnopornography depicts nude women of color in an objectifying and exoticizing manner, reinforcing racial and sexual stereotypes.
• It served to justify colonial domination by portraying women of color as primitive and hypersexual, legitimizing the control and exploitation by white colonizers.

Reproductive Rights

• Reproductive rights include the legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health.
• These rights include access to contraception, the ability to decide if and when to have children, and the right to receive reproductive healthcare services without discrimination.

Justice Freedom

• Justice freedom means the pursuit of justice and equality for all individuals, ensuring the protection of their rights and freedoms.
• This concept encompasses social justice movements that advocate for marginalized and oppressed groups.

Eurocentrism

• Eurocentrism is viewing the world from a European or Western perspective.
• It often marginalizes and devalues non-European cultures, reinforcing Western superiority.

Zionism

• Zionism is a political and cultural movement advocating for the establishment and support of a Jewish homeland in the historic Land of Israel.
• It emerged in the late 19th century in response to anti-Semitic persecution, aiming to create a safe and sovereign state for Jewish people.

Quiz 1: Ancient Egypt and European Imperialism

• Ancient Egypt became a product of European imperialism through colonial narratives and the appropriation of its history and artifacts.
• European powers sought to control and display Egypt's ancient wisdom and exoticism, often ignoring local contributions and perspectives

The Feminization of the "Orient"

• Monica Hanna argues the "Orient" is feminized compared to the masculinized "West" by Western narratives.
• Eastern cultures are depicted as passive and submissive to justify Western dominance and control.

Marginalization of Women in Archaeology and History

• Women are marginalized through the underrepresentation of their contributions and the focus on male-dominated narratives.
• Historical accounts often overlook women's roles and experiences, with limited recognition for female archaeologists and historians.

Egypt’s Identity

• Egypt was separated from "Africa" due to Eurocentric perspectives
• Afrocentrism challenged this by emphasizing African roots and interconnectedness in cultures.

Women's Role in Protecting Egyptian Cultural Heritage

• After the 2011 Revolution, women protected Egyptian cultural heritage.
• They organized efforts to prevent looting and advocated for cultural legacy preservation.

Quiz 2: Sex Ratios and Colonialism

• Sex ratios affected interracial relationships by creating imbalances leading to relationships between European men and local women.
• These relationships were shaped by power imbalances and colonial hierarchies.

Sexual Relationships with Enslaved Black Women

• Sex ratios did not impact relationships between white men and enslaved black women due to power dynamics of slavery.
• Enslaved women had little agency or choice in these interactions

Infrequent Relationships

• Relationships between colonizing white women and colonized men of color were less frequent due to societal norms and racial hierarchies
• Relationships between white men and women of color were driven by colonialism's power dynamics.

Role of Ethnopornography in Colonial Rule

• "Ethnopornography" promoted colonial rule by objectifying and exoticizing women of color, reinforcing racial and sexual stereotypes.
• This portrayal served to justify colonial domination by depicting women of color as primitive and hypersexual

"Staged Nakedness"

• Mireille Miller-Young defines "staged nakedness" as the deliberate presentation of nude women of color emphasizing exoticism.
• This was used to create a spectacle reinforcing colonial ideologies and white civilization's superiority

Viewer Guide: "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days"

Characters Otilia and Gabita

• Otilia is pragmatic, resourceful, and determined, taking charge of the situation.
• Gabita is passive, anxious, and dependent on Otilia, highlighting contrasting approaches.

Restrictions in Communist Romania

• Life in Communist Romania was characterized by severe restrictions and lack of personal freedom
• The government had strict controls on various aspects of daily life, creating an atmosphere of fear and surveillance

Mirroring Restrictions

• Restrictions on daily life mirrored restrictions on women's reproductive choices with a ban on abortion and contraception to control population.
• This limited women's autonomy, forcing them to seek dangerous and illegal alternatives.

Film: Illegal Abortion Risks

• Women were willing to risk illegal abortions because the alternative was even more dire with the lack of access to safe and legal services
• Fear of unwanted pregnancy in a repressive society outweighed the risks.

Historical Awareness

• Awareness of policies in Communist Romania and Nazi Germany is important to understand the impact of state control
• Romania's ban on abortion and Germany's sterilization policies serve as cautionary tales

Film's Stance

• It is a pro-choice film portraying the harsh dangers and realities women face when safe abortions are denied.
• It underscores the need for safe access to protect health and autonomy.

Solidarity with Women in Afghanistan

• First, raise awareness about the challenges they face through social media
• Secondly, support organizations that work directly providing education, healthcare, and assistance

Advocating

• Advocate for policies and lobbying governments against undermining their rights and freedoms

Afghan Women

• Promote economic empowerment through assistance and job opportunities.
• Support cultural exchanges that create unity through shared purpose.

Resisting Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan

• Women in Afghanistan resist through initiatives that safeguard rights and cultural herritage.
• They engage in education,advocacy, and legal assistance to fight oppressive practices.

Guardails againist "Gender Apariheid"

• The U.S has numerous guardrails including antidiscrimination laws, civil rights, and protections.
• They advocate for women's rights, but improvements are needed to address gaps and protections.

U.S Gender Apartheid

• Even with laws that promote equality, it doesn't mean that the U.S is immune to "gender based discrimination"
• Therefore, it requires vigilance to take place in any form of gender apartheid.

"Gender Apartheid" Term

• Used to highlight the serious segregation related to gender.
• Draws the need for systemic changes to occur with certain oppressions.

Women Rights

• It is a combination of both colonization and soverignty.
• Therefore, wome must fight for there rights and reclaim what's there's.

Personification Of "America"

• La Maliche and Pecahontas were used as a relation between America and Europe.
• To give insight on themes of cultural exchange, power and identities.

Tracy Moffat Film

• The film draws a comparison about a year when Australia was discovered, and then made a film of that event.
• Used past and present relationships of Aboriginal Australian Women as the main plot

Similarities of both Aboriginal and White Men.

• There share a history of exploitation and power
• It used both races in film to highlight the voices of those that are often overlooked

Subtlies

• It is important to hear and understand what history is saying when it comes to white men talking about colonolism
• To prevent silencing of what indegenous people have gone through

Ella Shohat

• The highlighting of Germany and Nazi Germany highlights that oppression and discrimination occurs when it comes to race, disability, and antisemitism
• It is important to focus on what's happening so it holistically tackles these issues

Government Targeting Those with Lenses

• This falls under discrimination where those with less quality are percieved to not be a contribution

Media Portrays

• The targeted audience starts to be seen as a burden

People Without Lenses

• This refers to harmful practices that prevent reproduction

Population Control Vs. Birth Control

• The growth of a population has to be managed by the goverment; This can result to measure in order to manage
• This means that individuals had a say in the decisions that lead into it, such as contraceptive.

Changes After 1980s

• Includes advancements in contraceptive methods
• Increased access to reproductive health care services, safety.