Geographies of Social Justice

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Posted by Risa Whitson on August 26, 2021

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Beyond Boundaries: My Journey from Bangladesh to USA

My journey from Bangladesh to the United States was not just a long journey of 40 hours. It was an exploration of identity, culture and the concept of “home.” As a girl, growing up in a Bangladeshi Muslim family, home was an idea that combined cultural norms, expectations from family, and the varied roles and restrictions that were imposed to women. From a feminist perspective, this journey has revealed the layers of navigating multiple identities and the fluidity of home as a space. In traditional Bangladesh, women are expected to play the role as a caretaker, good mother, obedient daughter, and potential wife at home. Here, the concept of “home” for woman often means numerous obligation and restriction. Home is not just a physical place here but also a symbolic space where one’s acts, behavior, freedom, and even dreams are controlled. This idea of women’s roles imposed by culture and society was pointed by Whitson (2017) in Spaces of Culture and Identity Production: Home, Consumption...

From Gai (Cow) Jatra (Festival) to LGBTQ Festival: Searching and Challenging Identities

image source: iStock "Festival of Cows," commonly known as Gai Jatra is a traditional festival celebrated in Nepal, particularly among the Newar community in the capital city and nearby areas. It usually occurs in August or September, following the lunar calendar. This festival started in Nepal during the Malla dynasty and has significant historical and spiritual value. The celebration is based on the concept that a cow guides the spirits of the dead to paradise. Therefore, families who have lost loved ones in the previous year lead a parade through the streets, often with a decorated cow, to honor the dead and ensure their peaceful departure into the afterlife. The purpose of this festival was also to celebrate death and understand the essence of life. , In recent times, this festival has been a celebration of joy and laughter, allowing a space for satire, comedy, and parody to challenge traditional societal norms. The use of comedy and sarcasm is one of Gai Jatr...

Using "Disabilities" to Create Possibilities

My mother, Carrie Spangler, has been a very influential person in my life as she has always shown me that with enough confidence and drive you can accomplish nearly anything you set your mind to. My mother was born with a hearing loss and her parents were unaware of this until she was four years old. This was a major setback in the early developmental years. She was not fully deaf, but there were certain frequencies in which she was unable to hear. As a young girl just starting school, Carrie had a hard time hearing her teachers talk, especially when in the back of the classroom. On the other hand, when a piece of chalk would make a horrible screeching sound, all the other students would react by covering their ears. My mother would sit in confusion and wonder what they were hearing. She is completely deaf to high pitched noises, such as chalk like I mentioned, phone calls, and even fire alarms. As a result of my mother not being able to hear these higher frequencies...

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