when people speak of difference, for some it becomes a practice of
objectification, of distancing and demeaning. for myself, i relish
difference. i see it as the source of energy for change and growth (mostly
within myself as i work to make meaning of the difference). i welcome the
new information, the opening up of my understanding, the view from
different perspectives.
some people speak of equality and the assumptions are based on a neutral,
universal, essentialized version of a person that represents us all. but
language supports a changeless, gendered person embodying a limited number
of attributes that leave many (most, perhaps all) individuals with
deficits as compared to this universal Man.
what about a personalized, subjective, context-dependent approach? what
about supporting teachers who each, individually, reflect on their own
practice and identity and values and motives, and think aloud some of this
confusion and ambiguity with their students? i think of belenky and her
co-researchers' conception of the midwife-teacher.
i think of donna haraways "situated knowledge."
and the journey of a thousand miles that begins with one step.
the step towards my self.
kathie
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
life's backwards,
life's backwards,
people, turn around.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^sinead o'connor and john reynolds
fire on babylon: universal mother^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Katherine_Goff who-is-at ceo.cudenver.edu
http://ceo.cudenver.edu/~katherine_goff/index.html