Katelyn’s Comments (group member since Jan 07, 2016)

Katelyn’s comments from the Our Shared Shelf group.

Disappointed we didn't get to make it work! Hopefully we can coordinate a meet-up at any other events that may happen in the future!

Locking and archiving

Very interesting post.

I personally think that as long as you have, as you put it, "a liberal attitude towards others," your personal choices are not necessarily related to your personal identification as a feminist. I guess that's a bit simple, and I think Bunny hit the nail on the head when she talked about how complicated it can be (message 9). But as far as your personal identification, the two are not mutually exclusive, as long as you're willing to forego personal beliefs when considering the larger picture, and are aware that the word "conservative" has negative political connotations for most feminists.

P.S. In the Book Suggestions folder, there are a couple of different book lists coming together about feminism and religion. Last I checked, they looked like there were mostly focusing on Christianity. You should suggest some books related to Judaism if you have any :)

MeerderWörter wrote: "I wanted to read The Color Purple in English, but someone already borrowed it at the library until in a few days. And I know that I can't read that fast. So I've read the German version. I wil be q..."

For future reference, we don't have plans to close book folders when the month ends. For members who may not have the time to read during the specific month, you are welcome to continue discussing books past their designated month. After a couple of months, folders may be placed behind a cut off the home page, but they will still be accessible and open for discussion.

Moved to Feminism folder

Helen got it right! Any book announcements will be made very clear in the Announcements folder.

Locking and arching

Lisa wrote: "I would like to read 'I am Malala'! Since I watched a documentation in TV about her I'm very interested in her story. She is so young, but fighting for the right to education, altough it is incredi..."

Hi Lisa, you can make book suggestions by following the instructions here: How to Suggest a Book

The topic of revealing the books is actively being discussed, and once it has been worked out, we will let you know when to expect the announcements.

Thank you all for your reminders of this issue. We understand that it is important and hope that you understand that we are working as quickly as possible given the rapid growth of this group so early in its development!

Ashwin, great idea. There are some plans already in the pipeline that incorporate some of those ideas.

If members want to takes minutes for their group meetups, they can make monthly posts in the Meet Ups folder. I think that's a fantastic idea.

As for pictures, why not? They can be uploaded to the photos section.

And if anything is posted on social media, don't forget #OurSharedShelf !!!!!!!!

Hi all,

We try to keep the Book Suggestions folder exclusively for lists of books organized by theme, topic, genre, etc.

Topics like this can be placed in other relevant folders. Please also add the book to the Book Suggestion bookshelf and to any of the other list threads in the Book Suggestions folder.

Thanks!

Moved to Feminism folder

Simon wrote: "Finished the book and gosh I always forget to let you guys know I did... So here it it, my comment saying I finished it a week ago and I really liked it! I'm trying to get my hands on a copy of the..."

I'm planning to do the same thing. There's already an active thread making comparison between the book and movie, if i'm not mistaken!

Katherine wrote: "I actually learned a lot from the individual experiences that Gloria had with people she met. And I see how it influences others in the world just from reading the comments here.
It set into motio..."

I lived in Baltimore for a couple of years, just moved away this past summer. I miss Maryland so much! <3 It was exciting to read that section having a familiarity with the area!

Tadej wrote: "I believe there is actually a little problem with young people - 15-25 today. It happens that they take their opinions after watching TV, listening to adults, listen to school and make their own op..."

You could easily apply those characteristics to any other generation. Perhaps more than a few decades ago, you'd replace "TV" with "radio," and before that with "books" and other methods of storytelling.

Besides, how can you judge a 15 year old for having a limited view of the world? They probably have not finished school or moved away from home yet. So who cares if they're learning things from TV? Maybe they're watching documentaries! I didn't watch them all that often at that age, but I read a lot of books, and I know plenty of teenagers and young people in their 20s who don't watch much TV at all. I watch a TON of TV, myself. But I still do a lot of reading, I have two degrees, and I feel that I do not represent the characteristics you describe.

For sure, there are people like that. But it's definitely not a new phenomenon ;)

Janelle wrote: "My adoration for The Color Purple didn't really settle in until a few hours after I finished it.

Shug and Celie's relationship reminded me of an epiphany I had in middle school; at the time, I wa..."

I agree so much with everything you've said. The first half of the book is tough to get through, but by the end I definitely felt "wrapped in comfort." And now that it's been a week or so since i finished it, that is the overall feeling I get thinking back on it now.

Kodak wrote: "I have a question - while I'm unable to sleep!

Defining a strong woman, brilliant question, but: do you think we can ever describe ourselves as strong, or do you think an observer can only do tha..."

I think you can call yourself whatever you damn well please, and that is strength in and of itself ;)

I also think there is strength in knowing oneself in an abstract sense, as Elena says, but I'd also mention that outside of what it means to be "strong," self-identification is often used as a tool for creating communities, so sometimes calling yourself something can be useful. You can do that and be strong or not strong!

Megan, I like what you say about the "good girl" moment at the very beginning of the novel. It demonstrates that Celie is struggling with her own sense of self. And, related to Kodak's question, she is unsure of her own ability to define/identify herself.

The moments that stand out to me as best displaying Celie's strength:
(view spoiler)[
-When she signs her name with her pants-making business alongside it. Such a powerful symbol of strength and self-worth.
-When she flat out tells Mr.______, in front of a room of people, that she is leaving him. Nothing is more satisfying than "sticking it to the man."
-And of course, in the end, when Celie is able to forgive him and find common ground. I think this is the best example of not only her strength in general, but of the strength that is specific to her: her ability to empathize with others.
(hide spoiler)]

Aglaea wrote: "Good luck working in a position, which requires a PhD certificate, after self-studies. I'm learning a lot on my own, too, but if formal training is needed later, then so be it. Sounded a tad too un..."

Is a PhD certificate the same as a diploma or degree? Another name for the same thing, perhaps?

Anyway, I agree with you, just curious if it's different terminology or a different thing entirely.

In graduate studies here (USA), we have a few different kinds, including master's, PhD, graduate certificate, etc. Grad certificate is usually a sort of condensed track of study that does not require as many credits or as large a dissertation project as the PhD. So the combo of "PhD" and "certificate" to me is confusing!

Jason wrote: ""There are a lot of things that one learns in a rigorous academic course that are not learnable independently."
THIS is not one of those things. You're talking surgery, chemistry, practical things...."

I still disagree. You are completely discounting the humanities, which are equally as important and "practical" as medicine, law, and other field and trades.

There is absolutely a difference between activism and academia. But like I said, it is possible to do both. It is also possible to apply academic critical theory to activism.

Jason wrote: "There's nothing they can teach in three more years of drudgery that she can't learn independently on her own. She said as much in the interview although there's another in badly translated english ..."

I would disagree, though. Certainly school is not for everyone, and what i meant in my previous post is that we can't reduce the choices and experiences people undertake to only three categories. Most activities and choices wouldn't be classifiable as one and not another, anyway.

There are a lot of things that one learns in a rigorous academic course that are not learnable independently, just as there are a lot of things that you learn through experience and travel that are not learnable in the classroom, as Gloria Steinem discusses in My Life On The Road.

It is also possible to combine these approaches. One need not be an "armchair academic," as they say, in order to pursue that field. It's generally frowned upon these days, actually.

Anyway, my point is that you cannot make a blanket claim that one type of lived experience is more valuable than another, or that one is more boring than the other. Everyone is going to feel differently about these things and will benefit from different opportunities.

Jason, that's a bit reductive. What may be boring to you is not necessarily boring to others. Plus, I don't think you can just break it all down into three categories like that. Those who pursue graduate studies and careers in academia have contributed a great deal, and by no means is this trajectory mutually exclusive with "living." How do you define "living," anyway? There is no monolithic experience, and no one experience is greater than another.

That all being said, most gender studies are very rigorous and provide very limited time for outside projects, so it would likely be difficult for Emma to do this and maintain her position as Goodwill Ambassador with the UN. I may be generalizing, though. I think it would be useful and worthwhile for her (or anyone) to pursue the academic route, but her choice to pursue activism through her current position and work is equally valid!

Yes, Umberto Eco is definitely known and respected in the United States. Terrible loss :(

I'm going to go ahead and lock and archive this thread now that there are so many local threads going. If you don't see a thread for you area, feel free to create one! (you can "search discussion posts" on the right side of the page)

Crystal, I think it's great that you noticed the discrepancy in advertising and respectfully asked about it. I know a lot of people get annoyed when asked questions about racism and sexism in general, mostly because the responsibility falls on the victims to explain to the oppressor demographic, and general information is very easily accessible to all of us. But in this situation, you had a very specific question, the answer to which probably would not have been obviously found on the internet, so I think it's great that you took the time to ask it! Of course different hair types are taken care of differently, but it's unfortunate that there is such a huge difference in the way a salon, purporting to serve all types, advertises their services.