Reflections on the Elliot reading: Global Empowerment of Women

So I'm feeling a bit frenzied with this entry (considering that I'm leading discussion w/ Lindsey in a few hrs) but it's because I've needed more time to process today's reading than what I originally thought that I would... there's my disclaimer ;-)

The preface and intro to the book do a good job framing the scholarly contributions that each of the essays contribute to the notion of women's empowerment in a global sense. I appreciate that the work is guided by the explicit commitment to developing analytical and practical alternatives to contemporary global hegemonies. As Chow (p. 95) argued: "Empowerment is dialectical and paradoxical. What constitutes empowerment in one context may be disempowering in another" therefore it is necessary to further our processing of these complex issues by delving further into each case study.

Here are a few general questions that I hope we can address during discussion today:

How has "empowerment" (specifically women's) been defined, measured, and deployed? Examples? Problems with these definitions? How do you interpret the word?

Are there theoretical intersections between gender, globalization, governance, violence, politics, and diversity? Such as?

As allotted, I'm focusing on the second half of the reading for today (chpts. 4-6... 7 seems like an outlier to the initial arguments) so I will offer my thoughts and questions regarding this section here:

Chow: Empowerment of Women Migrant Factory Workers in South China

As evidenced by the reading, how/why is labor migration gendered?

In this case, beyond economic empowerment, what are some other benefits that women migrant workers take away from their work? Can we elaborate on these notions? (p. 94)

Silvey: Transnational Domestication: State Power and Indonesian Migrant Women in Saudi Arabia

What should individual states do to better protect women migrant workers? Is there an ideal normative role of the state?

Lingam: Domains of Empowerment: Women in Micro-Credit Groups Negotiating with Multiple Patriarchies

As evidence by the increase in dhairyam (self-confidence) and thelivi (awareness) by women in the three villages that were investigated, why is it imperative to support women in discovering their voice as citizens?

From the reading, what are some examples of community-level empowerment and/or presonal/private empowerment that the women experienced?

Not Without My Rod... or My Pork Products

Well it's another pooptacular spring semester... hence my renewed fervor for this blog. I'll be posting about random observations as well as my weekly log for WS 6800: Global Feminisms: Space, Place, Race and Class. Should be interesting.

So on to the personal updates! I'm in a better place now as far as the leg goes. I'm not bionic anymore folks. Over break I finally had the hardware taken out of my leg as well as the meniscus tear in my knee repaired. Still feeling REALLY stiff (and I know the weather isn't helping.) Trying to get the swelling down and going to physical therapy twice a week for a month. I'm pretty happy about the results... except for the Frankenstein scars. I'll be REALLY happy as soon as I can get back on the treadmill!

In other news, thanks to the ''show money" I finally had a chance to replace a few things in my abode. I'm happy that I was able to get back to Ohio intact and replace my dryer... still have to unpack the rest of my car... but I'm almost done. I also invested in a new food processor! Made bean soup today and the mirepoix practically appeared out of nowhere! Accompanied by a few other gadgets that I unexpectedly received for Christmas (a totally bril panini press, mp3 player, and Sony Reader) I should be occupied for a while as far as readjusting to new stuff. Oh yeah, and I also got a new phone over the weekend in Chicago... lovin the Droid.

So my bfff and I had a really good time there as usual. Was glad that I was able to get around as well as I did! Also sampled the wares of some "exclusive little shops." Went to The Bleeding Heart Bakery and ate some punk rock pastry. Drank lots of coffee. Smoked lots of cigarettes (I'm back on the straight and narrow now... 4 days without any.) Watched The Lovely Bones, Up In The Air, and It's Complicated all in one weekend. Schaumburg and IKEA were extremely welcoming to my hop-along self. I found a wonderful new duvet cover (to replace my dingy old one courtesy of the suggestions from KWKE and many others) and some other stuff to reorganize my disaster of a bedroom.

The best part of the visit was the impromptu early birthday dinner on Friday night at The Publican (aka "The Pelican" if you ask Rae to remember.) IT WAS EFFIN AMAZING!!! I'm always happy to share a meal and try new things with my fave. Here are a few highlights:

house-made pork rinds... also on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Totally Fried" as (ironically) chef Michael Symon's pick

beets, satsumas & ricotta

Sweetbreads, endive, blood orange & almonds

and the infamous frites WITH (MAKE SURE) Louis's organic egg

If you love food and/or "pork products", you should definitely check this place out. Always trying to do the right thing... one slice of pig at a time ;-)

Oh well. Enough for now. That seems like a lot of narcissistic updates. Off to search for some bacon-riffic recipes for Dr. Cyn's Baconfest minana =)