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- Confetti: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Prevention Act
- Comments: fixed!
- Accommodation story - wwyd?
- Hair.
- Introduction
- More Recent Articles
- Search quench zine
So I've clearly been under a rock, because I somehow missed the fact that the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been expanded, in Obama's words, because "we must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits — not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear."
This is the first federal law explicitly protecting transpeople! Hope for momentum!
Sorry if you tried to comment on a post and couldn't. We had shut down commenting to deal with some spammers, but it's open now. So, comment away!
11:37 am
Dear Professor X,
I'm registered with the Student Disability Office and I'll need to use a computer to type the midterm. Blah, yak, blah.
Peace dude,
gromphus
12:14 pm
Dear gromphus,
I can't have any midterms written on a computer given the requirements of the class as written in the syllabus. Blah blah blah.
[NB: Professor X is concerned about internet access. This is just a couple of essay questions: no math, no diagrams. There is no real reason why using an internetless computer should present a problem.]
Harrumph,
Professor X
.......Interlude in which Student Disability Office Chats with Professor X........
4:35 pm
Dear gromphus,
If you are sure that you have to work via computer then you will have to vouch that you will not be using the internet and we will attempt to disable it. It might be really, really complicated to disable the internet on one of the computers the SDO has specifically for testing purposes, but if you really think it's necessary for you to use a computer even though I don't want you to...
[NB: The SDO computers, obviously, have no internet access.]
SIGH,
Professor X
??:??
Dear Professor X,
Great. Let's do that. I'm afraid it is necessary for me to use a computer, since sustaining rapid writing throughout a long exam, or for the short period of time I could keep it up, is the most efficient way to put me back on the list for physical therapy. /try 1
I'm sorry this is inconvenient for you, but I just kind of like being able to use my arm, you know? Especially since I'll lose my scholarship if I can't take a full load of classes on account of inability to do my work./try 2
No, goddammit, I am NOT going to tell you about my body. I'm already registered with the Student Disability Office; they've approved my accommodation request; is this not enough to tell you that yes, I do actually really need to use a computer to write your wretched midterm?/try 3
You've been my most interesting professor up to this point. You introduced me to actor-network theory; I was planning on taking all your classes. I always go to your office hours even though you're busy with other people because you look at our field with a usefully critical eye. Is it going to be really awkward next time I try to talk with you? Are you going to assume I'm just a troublemaker? /try 4
I love your work, but I'm not sure I would like you personally. Certainly I don't want to trust you with the knowledge of what is wrong with me. Capice? /try 5
I'm a bit surprised at your response, since no other professor has ever had an issue with my need for a computer./try 6
shit./try 7
Thank you for your understanding,
gromphus
What would you write?
How do you handle these kinds of situations?
Am I being unfair to Professor X?
(And don't these experiences make it all the more wonderful when we find people who are both intellectually badass and deeply good?)
(Finally, how much do we love, love, love the wonderful people at our SDO?)
I know, I know - we've been MIA. But I had something to write about, so here I am.
I wanted to talk about hair. I just watched the trailer for "
Good Hair" and it got me thinking.
I have curly Jewish/Italian hair. Or maybe it's wavy. Depends on the weather and the length. It's very thick. It's not sleek or shiny. It eats up conditioner and hair product. It's actually really soft when you touch it. It's big hair.
I've spent most of my life hating my natural hair. I've blowdried, straightened, re-straightened, straightened-then-curled, scrunched and pulled up. I spent most of high school in a ponytail. I've considered relaxers and thermal reconditioning, even though I know they destroy your hair.
Every time I straighten my hair, people who are used to seeing it wavy (not even natural - chances are that 90% of the time I've still blowdried it), always say "Oh, your hair looks so nice like that!" or "Oh, did you straighten your hair? It looks so good."
I always thank them, but every time I hear that, it makes me feel like they think my natural hair isn't as pretty. Straight hair requires me to use three different products, then blast it with a blowdrier and round brush for 20 minutes, then go over it all again with a flatiron. And then avoid rain, sweat or humidity for the rest of the day, because nothing is worse than straightened hair becoming straight frizz. It dries out my hair, makes split ends and makes it more difficult to actually wear it curly.
I'm not the only one. Half the girls I know do this to their hair. I know the telltale signs - the slight curl near their temples, the dead-looking ends, the fear of water.
The worst part is that I rarely believe that I'm more beautiful with curly hair. And that's something that really bothers me. I straighten my hair before job interviews, because people think curly hair is "messy." I straighten it before going out or taking group photos. I straighten it when I want to look sexy. Sometimes it's fun to do new things with your hair (and I'm a femme and love that girly stuff!), but only when you're doing it for you, not when it's something you do because otherwise you would feel less confident.
I have one friend from when I was younger, and he is the one person who I believe genuinely prefers my natural hair. And, partly for that reason, I feel like he also one of the people who knows me really well.
Recently, I was feeling a little brave, and so I left my hair curly. I went to dinner. As soon as I sat down, one of my friends said, completely innocently, "Your hair is so 80s! You should wear it like that more." I was like, "Well, this is my hair, guys. Let's talk about something else." But it bothered me. And I know the only reason it bothered me was because I have been taught by society that hair like mine isn't as beautiful.
So, if you have a friend with curly hair, don't just compliment her when she straightens it. Don't tell her it's "unique" or "big" or "wild." Never use the words "poof" or "frizz." Just say, "Your hair is pretty" and leave it at that. Oh, and go see Good Hair! It looks like it will be awesome.
Hello friends,
I'm writing this first post to introduce myself as - dare I say it? - a new quenchista. I also have a nascent personal blog but am very excited to be joining quench, blog re:all things near and dear to me. I am a current Harvard senior, although perhaps taking time off in the fall (!) before finishing up my concentration in the Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality (mostly the latter two).
This summer, I'm working at a fabulous, tiny organization that focuses on the rights and life chances of transgender, transsexual, and genderqueer people. I'm working on a range of projects, including support for the youth committee and creating youth-related resources, creating and kicking off a sustainable development plan, and serving on a committee dedicated to rewriting the organization's "Trans 101" workshop curriculum. My other past work experience is also in non-profit settings, and I hope to pursue a career doing community organizing and youth development work with trans and queer young people.
I think a lot about gender, including trans and sometimes intersex issues, and my other interests include (female, queer, and trans) sexuality, feminist praxis, and making room in academic work for activist and activist approaches. But I'm fun too! I'm a huge Red Sox fan, an aspiring foodie, and my most recent obsession is with my burgeoning collection of Nike kicks (picture to follow).
Anyway, I'm glad to be here, and I promise a real first post soon! Happy summer.
e
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