UFV’s Philosophy Association now offers a reading group for students who yearn for feminist discussion and literature. You might be curious how feminist philosophy departs from standard philosophy; to borrow Wikipedia’s succinct definition: “Feminist philosophy is united by a central concern with gender.”
The group is hosted by Sarah Pahladsingh, a psychology student and member of the Philosophy Association. The group’s first meeting was held on Jan. 24, 2020, with a small group of attendees, and ran from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pahladsingh’s introduction emphasized the importance of keeping conversations intersectional, especially on the unceded land of the Sto:lo Nation. Members are encouraged to suggest reading material and tailor their participation in discussions to whatever makes them most comfortable.
“We are building our own community here, and I want it to be a safe place,” Pahladsingh said.
Her passion for feminist philosophy ignited during an independent study with Anna Cook, an assistant professor at UFV.
“The conversations that took place in the study were really special in that all of those involved were able to discuss feminist theory and feminist philosophy freely and safely from a personal and educational perspective,” Pahladsingh said. “I hope to be able to recreate similar stimulating conversations that connect one person to another, and help people consider situations in a way they haven’t before.”
Pahladsingh intends to replicate that success by making the reading group as accessible as possible.
For the debut session, the group read the first chapter of Nancy Tuana’s ***Women and the History of Philosophy, which featured the ancient story “Susanna and the Elders” from the ***Book of Daniel. The chapter covered Tuana’s dissection of the tale, how Susanna isn’t awarded agency within her story, and how ancient philosophers have excluded women from their “universal” teachings. We analyzed and theorized how these instances appear within our culture today, and discussion expanded into topics of feminist portrayals in film, including Greta Gerwig’s ***Little Women (2019) and Patty Jenkin’s ***Wonder Woman (2017). Notably, both films feature a female director and female leads.
While two hours is about the length of a class, the time spent in discussion and analysis allows it to pass quickly, and the group appeared enthusiastic about the coming Monday’s reading. When asked about her impressions after the first meeting, Pahladsingh said: “I thought it went great! It was really fun being able to connect with such a kind and understanding group, and they were very patient with me while figuring out the best way to run the session together.”
If your interest in philosophy is broad, the Philosophy Association also hosts open philosophy discussion groups on Tuesdays from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Abbotsford campus in room A227, and a Nietzsche reading group on Fridays from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Abbotsford campus in room S3102.
The feminist reading group meets every Monday from 4 – 6 p.m. in room S3123B. The next meeting will be held on Feb. 3, 2020, and will feature Sandra Lee Bartky’s “On Psychological Oppression” and Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege and Male Privilege.” Those looking for more information about the group or who would like to join the email list for the readings can reach out to Pahladsingh at ufvphilosophyassociation@gmail.com.
Image: UFV’s Philosophy Association Facebook Page
