Roots and Wings...

As a diverse group of scholars we invite exploration of ideas, sharing of insights, and the creation of new directions for research on emerging issues for intersectional scholarship. The goal of the Intersectionality Scholar Reading Group is to examine and honour the roots and historical context of intersectionality, while grappling with epistemological concerns and prospects for intersectionality across diverse areas of study, and inclusive of the shifting sites of practice from academic, research, activists and community-based. Considering intersectionality as it applies to social and structural determinants of health as these pertain to specific case studies and examples related to health outcomes and health systems and services. Active co-construction of intersectional scholarship through engaged dialogue is key in the reading group. The group is sponsored by the Institute for Critical Studies in Gender and Health (ICSGH) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) under the Research Chair of Dr. Olena Hankivsky and with leadership by PhD candidate Natalie Clark.



Sunday, October 31, 2010

Lynn Weber hosts the reading group...

This week our reading group met at the Afghan Horseman restaurant and considered the topic of intersectionality and "disaster capitalism".  Lynn Weber shared her writings and led us in a discussion of how intersectionality can better inform our understanding of disasters - in particular the role of "disaster capatilism", and the "intersection between superprofits and megadisasters".  In the reading entitled "Blank is Beautiful: Three Decades of Erasing and Remaking the World" (from the Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. For an interesting youtube summary on this book see the film http://www.pakistan.tv/videos-shock-doctrine-disaster-capitalism-short-film-%5BVuqudFSt-Uc%5D.cfm).  This is a powerful book, and chapter, but while both Klein and Weber trace this historically back to economist Milton Friedman, and the 1950's however I would argue that the beginnings of North America are routed in this behaviour.  I think of colonization and the role of fear, propaganda, and genocide firmly rooted in colonization - from the handing out of smallpox blankets, to the residential schools, and the role of the Indian Act.  I would be interested to hear from others about where this reading took them in their thinking, and as it relates to your research, teaching or practice.
We also discussed the reading "Feminist Research and Activism to Promote Health Equity" by Lynn Weber and Jennifer Castellow (forthcoming) and will be continuing our discussion on the relationship between biomedicince and intersectionality this week at the conference the "Odd Couple" Biomedicine meets Intersectionality" (november 1-2nd, 2010 SFU).  This innovative conference is a response in many ways to this chapters' call to dialogue with science, rather than rejecting it which only contributes further to its dominance.  They cite Patricia Hill Collins (2000b, p.275) where she states that "Mainstream science operates as such as powerful discourse and set of social practices that, to many, it appears invincible".   This is a new area for me, as I was likely one of those critical of biomedicine but as a proponent of dialogue ... I look forward to this one.   


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