Deconstructing binary opposition By Jacob Moore Bad feminist Deconstructing binary opposition By Jacob Moore

What are binary oppositions? A lightswitch is on or off A team wins or loses Water is hot or cold Opposites—concepts that can’t exist together Other examples?

Binary opposition is a key component of structuralism Structuralism: A theory of sociology that states that all elements of human culture can only be understood in relation to one another Binary opposition is a key component of structuralism What are some binaries that we place people into? Where have you seen these binaries reflected?

Take out a piece of paper Copy this chart onto it For each binary pair, circle the label that society ascribes to you— even if you disagree with it Can anyone think of some problems with these binaries?

Problems with binaries Creates boundaries and divisions between groups of people Often privileges one group of person over the other—makes one group the “default” Uses language that ignores the realities of people

So let’s mess with some binaries Let’s pick one of our societal binaries What are some aspects we (as a society, not you as individuals) attribute to each side? Are these always right, all the time? What is wrong with them? What are some things that challenge them? Deconstruction: A critical approach that challenges binary opposition

Bad Feminist Go through the essay—note 3-5 points in the essay where Roxane Gay points out a binary Does she agree with these binaries? How does she confront them?

What is a bad feminist? What is a good feminist?

Why does Gay define feminists as “women who don’t want to be treated like shit”? What are some other possible definitions of the term? What is unique about this one? This one is unique because it troubles the binary. In its simplicity, it challenges the notion that a feminist should fit into a rigid set of guidelines. It is so open and simplistic that it almost sounds too broad. It forces the listener to reconsider what they think of as feminist, what they don’t think of as feminist, and how many of those things are actually directly related to feminism

In-class assignment What is something that you identify yourself with? Make a T-chart for “good” and “bad” versions of that identity Think about where those ideas of what is “good” or “bad” are coming from Circle the attributes on your T-chart that you, personally, identify with

Did you get mostly “good” or mostly “bad”? What are some of the things that make you “bad” Do you agree that these attributes are good or bad? Why/why not?

For next class Read “Race, Ethnicity, Surgery” (Emerging, pg. 287-298)