Slogging Through

As far as the texts go, I did not really feel a strong connection with any of them up until Cixous. I do like many of Virginia Woolf's ideas, but obviously there are problems with implementing them. I actually think that the majority of the texts have embodied similar, fundamental contradictions. As we dug deeper into them we found that the authors often ended up over-turning their own ideas in the attempt to prove a point. That can make it difficult to pull out what seems important. And even when I think I have isolated the important points, I might not agree with them. For example, I really do not agree with Kauffman that we need to eliminate the personal from our discussions of feminism. I also have trouble with Allen's idea of looking at the background and foreground at the same time. The separation seems too ingrained in our society to make the change now. I liked Cixous because it was emotionally moving and inspiring (and maybe so at the expense of being less "academic"). I may not be ready to spill all of my unconscious yet, but it certainly stirred it up.
I liked that Cixous accepted the duality of a woman's nature without guilt or question; that we can be hot and cold, our desires simple and complex. I agree that writing can be a release from the front we present publically. Her ideas seem lovely in an ideal world, but again how do we move from a theoretical text to real life, or even from the classroom to the world? Obviously we will continue to explore that question, even if we never find an answer.
Using what I have gathered thus far, I guess that I will go out on a limb here, and say that right now I consider myself to be a second-wave feminist. I think that there are fundamental differences between men and women, but that it is most important to recognize those differences in order to appreciate them. I'm sure many in the class would disagree with that and I'm aware that at this point, the idea is much too simplified. Again, as always, it depends on the individual. Personally I do not want to take over the male domain. I'd like to be able to understand it, though that may be an impossible feat. I think it is more important to strengthen the female community in the world that we have. Again, these ideas are vague, I know, but it's a place to start.
One thing that I would like to get out to the world is that feminism is not evil, and that it's not confined to the stereotype of the bra-burning, man-hating women of the 1960s and 70s. It's also not that we want to run the world (though maybe some of us do!) and demote men to second-class citizens. Women at Bryn Mawr know that for the most part; it's those outside of this community that we should speak to. At home and in the workplace I have encountered women who have this narrow vision or even go so far as to say that they "hate" feminism. I find that to be disturbing. I think no matter what your specific views are you should be a feminist if you are a woman. Because to me, it's about making decisions for yourself and doing what you want, doing what's best for you, without feeling restricted by your gender. I think that battle must be taken on one person at a time, which makes it a daunting task. Don't they say though that even one person can affect change? I think that's true. However, that's the chore for when the class is over, when we are out there as women in a man's world.
In terms of the future for this class, I would like to read some novels, get past the theory and actually apply it to some works of fiction. I have recently discovered Edith Wharton and would love to know what Anne and others have to say about her work. I'm also always up for some more Virginia Woolf. In addition, I hope that we can explore some transgendered texts, since it is such a complex and intriguing issue.
Those are my ideas for now. I think we all have a lot on our plates at this point and may be experiencing slight indigestion. I hope that when this potluck is over I'll have picked out all the mushrooms and onions, but still be left with a satisfying dish.