#mmh183

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Mentor Plenary

Ah, microaggressions. You could say that this topic has been one of my most frequently visited this semester. This plenary was especially well suited for me because we are reading Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen” in another course I am taking, but I digress.

I loved the mock debate! It gave so many students who might have been unaware of the political views of real candidates a look into what they might be getting themselves into. Many people don’t have time to look up facts or watch debates when they have 85 assignments due so they just go by word of mouth and decide who they think the best candidate might be based on that. I’m hoping that we at least all fell the same about Ronald Clump...

Also, allowing students to speak up about the microaggressions they face was a great platform for people to understand themselves and the struggles of others. Too many times people go around saying insensitive things and not knowing that they are actually offending someone’s identity, I know personally all too well how that feels and I am glad that I have learned to call people out, even family members, on it.

Thank you, mentors! You all did an amazing job and your confidence shined through while you were all on stage! Special thanks to section 02′s mentor, Herling! Hopefully we’ve all had a great semester! <3

[drcknowledgeandpower]

Intersexion Plenary

The Intersexion Plenary was very interesting. While I was aware that there existed people who had a combination of both male and female genitalia, that was the very first time that I had ever heard the term “intersex”. I grateful for hearing it because otherwise I might have used an incorrect term to address these people.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about it is the fact that so many people are not informed about these people. I knew from a young age (maybe from about 10 years old) about intersex people (although I probably used the wrong term), but in the video, there are people who say that they didn’t know that such a phenomenon, being born with aspects of both genitalia, could exist. Do parents not feel the need to educate their children beyond what they thick they might encounter in the world. But perhaps its because the parents didn’t know themselves.

In the end, I think more people, perhaps when in sex ed classes, should be informed and aware of intersex people. Information can hopefully lead to less discrimination and more active inquiries.

[drcknowledgeandpower]

My Perspective on the Plenary

I thought it was rather interesting to see how similarly and differently women scholars of three different religions answered questions. For the most part, I did agree with most of what they said, but I cannot say I agreed with it all.

 ome things, especially, that Atiya Aftab, Esq. said (and didn’t say) struck a personal chord in me. As a Muslim who wears hijab, I found her word choice in calling it a “costume” quite offensive. Although she does not deem it as necessary, to many Muslims hijab is not something like dress up. Costume wasn’t the appropriate term. 

Also, being one of few Black Muslims on the entire Rutgers campus, I found myself more in tuned with what Dr. West had to say about intersectionality.  Atiya Aftab, Esq., perhaps because of the lack of time, was very dismissive about the current world views of Muslims and how culture affects Islam. She did mention that there is going to be a place made for Muslims on Rutgers campus, finally, but, had I though of this before the Plenary ended, I would have made a point in telling her about how Black Muslims on campus feel outcasted due to the racial divide and most likely STILL wouldn’t come to the MSA’s events because of that.

This is not intended to make anyone uneasy, it’s intended to bring a new perspective to how people of multiple marginalized groups often can’t find true safe-places because one or more of their identities often get disrespected or ignored. Had I been able to construct these comments and questions on the day of that Plenary, I certainly would have asked them. And I know I’m not alone. It’s for this reason popularized hashtags such as #BlackInTheMSA exist. This is a problem not just at Rutgers, but at universities all around America. We are asserting our POV in a world where we’re often quieted.