Connecting Dots, Crossing Boundaries, Reaching Out. ISMLL 225-44

Anne Donadey and Francoise Lionnet describe their essay, “Feminisms, Genders, Sexualities,” as “a still photograph of objects in motion, some of which may be outside the frame entirely” (226), to assure that their work is in no way a comprehensive representation of the evolution within the field. In fact, the conversations on feminism, genders, and sexualities are so vast and on the move that any attempt at encapsulating it would be feeble at best. Therefore, Donadey and Lionnet humbly offer a revealing survey of some of the most pertinent scholarship out there, unveiling the connection of feminist study to various other fields of interest including race, post-colonialism, globalization, and even disability studies (to name a few). They offer a brief overview of “queer theory” and how it has come to represent the collective goals of LGBTQ, while acknowledging the load the term “queer” has taken upon its back. Further, Donadey and Lionnet report that with all its connections and disconnections the different angles of feminist studies have found refuge within the writing of memoirs. They describe the memoir genre as “a genre [that] brings together the historical and the personal, history and autobiography” and since “Feminist criticism always focuse[s] on the importance of theorizing from experience” (237) maybe there is an important correlation being made here.

In my opinion the memoir is a wonderful and potentially effective tool to be used within the layers of feminist studies. Now when I say feminist studies, I mean feminist studies in its vast connections (as reported in the essay) to other fields and sub-fields throughout academia as well as society. In the last couple decades the memoir has made a place for itself within the publication industry and has dug its roots into the soil of academic scholarship as well. Feminist studies is definitely a collective unit, but I would venture to say that it’s the individual experience of those within its sphere that drive what it has become and will become in the near and far future. The memoir is a way for both scholars and the general public to raise awareness on topics that for many years have been deemed taboo in most circles. With the proper application, both academic scholarship and memoir can be coupled to take the conversations both in and outside the lines of feminist studies to new heights. Although the memoir itself may not be enough to keep things in a positive direction, joined with the research, study, and survey within the academic aspect, the already far-reaching field of feminist studies will be able to stretch its arms even further.