TEDx Connecticut College April 16th
I was unable to attend the Beyond the Classroom event, but I was able to go to the TEDx event at Connecticut College on April 16th. At this event, I heard from a variety of speakers, including current students and faculty members at Connecticut College as well as professionals unassociated with the college. Their presentations were only 15 minutes each and ranged in topic from fostering kittens to police brutality. The presentation that struck me the most was the last one, which began by two seniors literally jumping onto the stage and throwing glitter into the crowd whilst screaming âWeâre gay!â These students, named Rachel and Sal, specifically discussed being gay, genderfluid people of color.
The main topics they covered were being âexoticizedâ in the classroom, the problematic element of essentializing, homonormativity, and destructive ways of dealing with all of these experiences. Many of these topics were very enlightening. For instance, Sal and Rachel talked about how damaging it is to constantly feel like an outsider in the classroom when a teacher or professor cannot pronounce their last names. They addressed the double-edged sword of shows like Empire and Straight Off the Boat, explaining that although it is important to portray the culture and real-life experiences of people of color, these shows also further ingrain racial stereotypes, or, essentialize different races. Homonormativity is also rampant in the media, which Sal and Rachel pointed out when discussing the fact that the token queer character in TV shows and movies is normally portrayed by a white gay man. One of the most striking parts of their presentation, though, was when they told the audience that coming out as queer was not a startling or hurtful experience, as they were already used to being oppressed because they were people of color.
                 Obviously, these topics directly relate to many concepts we have discussed in class. The basis of Sal and Rachelâs presentation was being âso intersectional that it hurt.â Intersectionality is a topic we not only specifically explored with KimberlĂ© Crenshaws reading, but a concept we apply to all topics, as it truly is a lens for looking at the world.  Additionally, a major part of the talk was about existing in âgrayâ areas, or, not fitting a certain binary. For instance, Rachel works with young kids and they sometimes ask her âare you a boy or a girl?â and she replies âI literally donât know.â In class, we have assessed terminology like feminism, queer, woman/man vs female/male, and lesbian, just to name a few. Authors we have read that have attempted to also define some of these terms include Bell Hooks, Judith Butler, and Gloria Anzaldua. These authors struggled to redefine terms, as they often had hurtful connotations for their identities. For instance, Bell Hooks advocates for saying âI advocate for feminismâ rather than âI am a feministâ so as to not indicate certain lifestyle preferences, like valuing her gender over her race/ethnicity. We have attempted a similar endeavor in class multiple times, as we think about who may be described by certain terms and who may not want to be. I liked the fact, though, that Rachel and Sal were incredibly comfortable with not trying to fit into any identities. This openness was eye-opening to me, as it was the first time I considered that maybe we do not need to define new terminology to describe identity⊠maybe people can just be who they are.
                 The final element of their presentation really tied together many topics we have discussed as well as brought them to life. When talking about sensitive subjects like gender, sexual orientation, identity, etc we always end up talking about oppression and the pain that it causes. However, these two college seniors brought these realities of oppression alive as they told an auditorium full of people their history with self-harm. Additionally, they listed statistics, like that 18-28% of gay and bisexual students experience dating violence. Although we have considered gay people and the oppression they face, as well as sexual assault and violence, we have not specifically looked at these overlapping factors. Overall, Rachel and Sal personalized and further explored the ideas and terms we have studied in class.
                 Other presentations in the event also related to Rachel and Salâs. For instance, there was a presentation about the importance of intergenerational outreach programs and defying ageism. Although this presentation was focused on destigmatizing old age, I think a major element of Rachel and Salâs presentation was not feeling validated in the current school system. For example, they stated that much of the anger and depression they experienced, which led them to self-harm, was because of the expectations that their teachers put on them. Thus, in this way, both presentations spoke about the harmful nature of age, whether it is high or low. This, again, is not a topic we have explored in depth in the classroom, and it was very interesting to hear about, especially from two different perspectives. Â
                 Finally, a presentation on police brutality and the reality for black people in America by Nathalie Etoka was very similar, especially to Rachelâs points, as she is black. For instance, Nathalie really focused on the past of black people in America and its influence on today. One quote that really stuck with me was: âThe color of nostalgia is white.â Nathalie said this because white people have dominated America and history, leaving very little room for other races/ethnicities. This domination has continued, as Nathalie also stated that the humanity of black people is denied. To support this point, she explored the story of Scott Walker, a man who was fleeing a white police officer and was shot eight times in the back. With the evident oppression and fear that black people continue to experience, it is no wonder that Rachel said she felt like she was âclimbing out of two holes at onceâ as a black queer person.
                 In the end, I feel so fortunate to have been able to attend this event. TEDx events are very honest, personal, and eye-opening. I have developed both an academic and personal passion for womenâs, gender, and sexuality studies this semester, but to see so many of the topics we have discussed brought to life by a real person has really furthered my understanding. For instance, making a direct connection from police brutality to intersectional queer identity was not something I would have found so seamless and rational before this event. Additionally, I had never considered the vast repercussions ageism has. Finally, the true expression of oppression in the form of self-harm was something I had subconsciously considered, but its reality was undeniable as I listened to two captivating speakers tell their own stories. I certainly feel more educated after attending this event, as well as motivated to create more connections between various themes/topics in our class and consider their overarching results, like sexual assault, homosexuality, and age.
NOTE: I was unable to attend Beyond the Classroom because of a professional conflict. Dr. J-D granted me an extension, so I could attend a different event and write on it. Â