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Women's Studies - Coggle Diagram

- - - - When reading “Theory as Liberatory Practice” by bell hooks, I learned that theory is a tool for freedom. Hooks explained that theory should come from those who have LIVED it, especially from those who have been silenced or marginalized.
        
        This idea made me realize that Feminist Theory isn’t just an academic concept... it’s something that can guide how we live, communicate, and challenge systems around us every day.
        
        When reading “Why Stories Matter” by Clare Hemmings, I learned that even the way feminist scholars tell stories about feminism affects who gets included or left out of the movement. Hemmings argues that we often repeat the same stories of progress or loss without realizing how that limits our imagination... wow! Her work taught me that Feminist Theory should always question whose story is being told and who is missing from that story. It makes you think from different perspectives! There are so many sides to every story.
        
        When reading “Feminist, Queer, Crip” by Alison Kafer, I learned that feminism, queerness, and disability justice are all connected. Kafer talks about how imagining inclusive futures (perhaps ones where all bodies and identities are valued?) is a form of resistance. I never thought about how the idea of “the future” itself could be political until this reading.
        
        When reading “Transgender Studies: Queer Theory’s Evil Twin” by Susan Stryker, I learned that Feminist Theory and Trans Studies share common roots in questioning how gender and power are structured. Stryker showed me that feminist thinking expands when it includes trans perspectives, it becomes more about liberation for everyone, not just one group. Injustice for one is injustice for all!
    - - Feminist Theory was mainly about understanding women’s rights and equality. I also knew it focused on how patriarchy impacts people differently, depending on their gender and position in society. I have taken many WST classes, and picked up quite a few pieces of knowledge along the way.
        
        Feminist Theory has existed for decades, with its roots in social movements like women’s suffrage and civil rights. Over time, it expanded to include intersectional perspectives.
        
        I also knew that the field has grown from focusing only on “women’s issues” to a much broader project about justice, power, and liberation for everyone.
- - - - I knew that Trans Studies involved the general study of gender identity and expression. It also involved the idea that gender can exist outside of the binary (male/female). Trans Studies is a relatively new field, really gaining traction in the 2000s as society became more open to discussing gender diversity. The Obama administration even played a role in expanding trans visibility through policy and inclusion initiatives. Recently, the Trump administration rolled back several protections for transgender individuals, including limiting access to healthcare rights, restricting participation in the military, and redefining gender as strictly biological in certain federal policies. These moves were a setback for trans visibility and equality.
      - I knew that Trans Studies involved the general study of gender identity, embodiment, and the social, cultural, and political systems that shape how we understand being “trans.” It looks at lived experiences, representation through history, and the intersections of power. Some examples include race, disability, and class. Trans Studies emphasizes that it’s not just about how you identity yourself, but about how the power of knowledgey itself can transform how we think about gender (Stryker, 2004). It also involved the ongoing effort to challenge rigid gender norms and create space for people to define themselves on their own terms.
    - - When reading “Theory as Liberatory Practice” by bell hooks, I learned that theory can be a powerful tool for freedom and self-understanding. It reminded me that ideas should never be detached from lived experience. How we live is so important. Denying other people's experience is a one-way ticket to ignorance and oppression. This applies directly to Trans Studies! Theories about gender only matter if they help real people live more freely.
      - “Transgender Studies: Queer Theory’s Evil Twin” by Susan Stryke allowed me to learn that Trans Studies grew as its own discipline because queer theory often overlooked the lived experiences of trans people. Stryker did an excellent job highlighting these facts, helping me realize that trans theory demands a place in academic and social spaces.
      - I talked about how it is a relatively new term, but the concept has been around for a long time! Trans experiences aren’t just Western or recent. Before studying it, someone might assume trans identities are modern, but Trans Studies uncovers global and historical examples of gender diversity across cultures. The famous example from Two-Spirit people to Hijras to ancient myths!