It was originally created in Spanish with the acronym ECO, which stands for “Escritura Crítica Orgánica” COW ( Critical Organic Writing), based on the mythology of the nymph Echo. It also stems from the idea that perhaps we are only repeating or reproducing the patriarchal framework when it comes to obedience to heteronormativity, and consequently, we are immersed in a binary version of things, victims-victimizers. In reality, we are complex and cosmic beings with diverse perspectives and the right to critical thinking and the transformation of realities, as well as discovering ourselves as fully human. Just like Echo, we only want to be loved, wanted, and accepted, and to make that happen, we only repeat the last word.
COW is a methodology I developed during my doctoral studies where I decode pedagogical violence in the teaching of writing. In this class, I’m going to ask you to go back to the origin of your writing, “writing by hand.” Each time you read, take notes on your reflections and spontaneous thoughts. When we use handwriting, we engage more of the brain’s cortex and connect with memory on a deeper level. Reading takes on another dimension. The notes may not be sequential or make apparent sense to the reader, but they have a lot of meaning for the writer. This week, you must read the suggested texts and take handwritten notes. You should share at least two pages of your notes. The notes won’t be judged as good or bad; they are simply a demonstration of your attention to the reading, and your first step to COW.
In this assignment, you must take into consideration what you read.
Assignment requirements:
Answer each question thoroughly and provide a 1 paragraph minimum PER QUESTION.
Submit your work through this assignment link as a WORD or PDF document and add a photo or screenshot of your handwritten reflection notes your COW notes, feel free to add map minds or drawings.
*Copy and paste each question above each corresponding answer.*
When you type your responses should be clear, concise, academic tone, and free of spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. Don’t forget to proofread!
Use size 12 Times New Roman font, double spaced, and always have a header with your name, the date, and the course name, as well as a title. Also, you must relate your handwritten reflection notes to your answers.
Important: You need to show evidence of your COW notes (two pages or more) You can insert a photo of your handwritten note into the Word or PDF document.
Questions:
From Reading: Introduction to Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies
Chapter 1: Theorizing Lived Experiences
1. Discuss the significance of intersectionality in feminist analysis. How does it challenge the notion of a single-axis approach to identity?
Chapter 1: Critical Introduction to the Field
2.Explain the concept of androcentrism and its impact on knowledge production in various academic disciplines.
Chapter 1: Critical Introduction to the Field
3.How did the Women’s Liberation Movement and Civil Rights Movement contribute to the establishment of Women’s Studies departments in universities, and how has the field evolved since then?
Chapter 2: Challenging Binary Systems
4.What are binary systems, and how do they contribute to the reinforcement of social inequalities? Provide examples from the text.
Chapter 2: Intersectionality
5.Analyze the critique of single-determinant and additive models of identity as discussed in the text. How does an intersectional approach offer a more nuanced understanding of social inequalities?
From COW and Echo
6. After watching The myth of Narcissus and Echo- Iseault Gillespie: “What does it mean to reproduce ideas? What is the moral of the story of Echo, and how does it relate to COW and to Gender?”
In the context of COW, it encourages students to break away from mere repetition and engage in critical thinking, originality, and personal reflection in their writing.
From Rita Segato;
7.How does Rita Segato conceptualize the relationship between economic neoliberalism and the feminicidal violence in Ciudad Juárez?
8. This question invites a deeper examination of Segato’s theoretical framework, specifically her distinction between types of violence, and asks how this distinction is crucial for understanding the specific characteristics and purposes of the feminicides discussed in the text.
Writing assignment due Sunday Sep 8th 11:59 PM