Symposium: “Defending Indigenous Land: Indigenous Women's Art, Narratives of Reclamation & Transformation” & “Examining the Marginalization and/or Affirmation of Black Adolescent Girl Representations”

St. Norbert College faculty will offer brief presentations on their scholarship and creative work related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. This hourlong session includes two presentations as well as time for Q&A; feel free to come and go as you’re able.

Note for faculty and instructors: If you plan to attend this session with a class, please register for yourself and all your students so organizers can have an accurate headcount. 

Maia Behrendt (Sociology) presents “Defending Indigenous Lands: Indigenous Women's Art and Narratives of Reclamation and Transformation”
This presentation will examine the intersections of race, gender, and colonialism through a settler colonial and Indigenous feminist theoretical framework. In this presentation, I will highlight key narratives and works of art by some of the Indigenous women artists who describe the personal and cultural challenges of environmental justice. Their stories and their art articulate perspectives and realities that have been often marginalized in the mainstream. By giving space to these vocal and visualized narratives, I intend to demonstrate the transformative power of Indigenous women in the reclamation of their traditional lands through both personal and collective efforts.

Michelle Falter (Education) presents “Examining the Marginalization and/or Affirmation of Black Adolescent Girl Representations in 19 Young Adult Texts”
Black girls have often been subjected to the margins of society. Not only has this been the case on a large scale but particularly in the educational setting, Black adolescent girls have largely gone unnoticed. Seeking to focus our lens on that of Black girls, this qualitative inquiry included a critical content analysis of 19 young adult literature texts featuring Black female main characters. Through the lenses of frameworks that address and combat racial and gender oppression from multiple points of view—of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Critical Race Feminism (CRF)—this presentation explores how these texts demonstrate a conflicting and multifaceted Black adolescent girl experience filled with both joy and sorrow. Implications for readers and educators are discussed.
 

Faculty Development | Website | View More Events

Contact the organizers