Read, Bitch, Read

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

April BOM: The House on Mango Street

How do race and gender come into conflict in The House on Mango Street? Does one triumph as the more important concern, or do both issues receive equal consideration?

Reply your answers to this post and/or attend a local meeting posted below.

Date: Wednesday, April 17th @ your local chapter (address upon request)
Locations: Salt Lake City and Moab, UT; Helena-West Helena, AR; Philadelphia, PA; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, M

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

March BOM: Reading Lolita in Tehran

Dr. Nafisi's question on the first day of class was: "What should fiction accomplish? Why should anyone read at all?" What do you think? Why was it so important to the women in the group? Is fiction important to you?

Reply your answers to this post and/or attend a local meeting posted below

Date: Wednesday, March 13th @ your local chapter (address upon request)
Locations: Salt Lake City and Moab, UT; Helena-West Helena, AR; Philadelphia, PA; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN

Opening Rendez-vous!

Why Bitch?

Initially it was a matter of re-appropriation. By taking ownership of a derogatory term one hopes to neuter it, to transform something malicious into something of value. Upon further reflection, however, I still resent the word. It means either a.) a man is behaving in a feminine and therefore unacceptable way. Or b.) a woman is behaving in a powerful and therefore unacceptable way. Either usage is wholly offensive.

Yet it remains prominently in the title of our gathering. Why? To remind us of what our challenge is. To reignite within us the desire to explore, embrace and understand the experience of being a woman. It is a rallying cry both against the subtle societal forces that (still!?) undermine and devalue women as well as a unifying call to emphasize how powerful and brave we are capable of being.

We are a community of sisters. We are bold. We are bitches. Let's read.

- Alexandra