Dear Solana, Thank-you very much for this and I would say you have un-muddled yourself exceptionally well!
I am completing my doctoral dissertation. It is an auto ethnographic exploration of my childhood reading via critical pedagogy and postcolonial theory. My three theoretical frames are Otherness and hybridity; space, place, and landscape; and wonder. The reason I bore you with these details is that I would like to cite you if I may, especially your point #2 which addresses the value of story and other modes of communication in child development. Do I have your permission to do so?
Thanks in advance and I greatly look forward to next post.
I mean, yes, you're welcome to. That's very flattering. Makes me feel like a real 'public intellectual'. ;) Though that point was a composite of some of the things I've experienced as a mom (and wife, daughter, granddaughter, friend...), and lots of other people's ideas I've absorbed in my reading over the last many years. I can't think of all of them off the top of my head, but there were some ideas about storytelling and oral traditions versus written, which I want to say I got from Clarissa Pinkola Estés's Women Who Run With the Wolves, but I can't find the exact quote(s) right now. Sorry. Message me if you need more details.
Great list. Recognizing the nuts and bolts of how humans reproduce and raise our young ( aka that we are placental mammals, a framing that informs my own writing on related topics) is critical to creating a world that respects pregnancy, child rearing and abortion rights too.
Have you read The Subsistence Perspective? Most of the book is vignettes on how different people around the world take a direct role in caring for themselves outside of the traditional market economy. It's not a "back to the land" polemic at all, but an urging for people to recognize how subsitence - the everyday work of staying alive and keeping people alive is what the world is built on and how it's supported in large part by women.
Thank you. No, I hadn't heard of that book, but it looks very interesting, and I've added it to my list. I was reading a book on social reproduction theory recently, and one of the essays was about how the expanse of capitalism relied a lot on coercion - i.e. taking away people's means of subsistence (land enclosures, migratory employment, changes in child labour...), and how removing citizens' ability to be self-reliant necessitated a shift to state provision of social welfare. I'm sensing this book will cover some similar themes, and look forward to learning more.
#11-#14 really resonated with me. My wife and I are often at odds the choices we should be making around home making, and you articulated many of the fundamental problems here.
Looking forward to reading part II! I'm curious if you plan to make some mention of universal basic income, which is the systemic social reform proposal I'm personally most optimistic about.
Thanks. I'm glad this landed with you, though also not glad to hear of your frustrations. I think disagreements in this area are inevitable, especially when trying to make life's most important choices with limited options.
Yes, I am interested in UBI. There's certainly overlap with the issues here. They're slightly different conversations, but both largely about how we value citizens and their time. If there are any resources about UBI you think are particularly good, please send them my way.
Scott Santens writes on Substack about UBI, he's a good source.
Andrew Yang wrote a book The War on Normal People which touches on unpaid caretaking and UBI as a solution, as well as a number of other societal problems and proposed solutions.
Dear Solana, Thank-you very much for this and I would say you have un-muddled yourself exceptionally well!
I am completing my doctoral dissertation. It is an auto ethnographic exploration of my childhood reading via critical pedagogy and postcolonial theory. My three theoretical frames are Otherness and hybridity; space, place, and landscape; and wonder. The reason I bore you with these details is that I would like to cite you if I may, especially your point #2 which addresses the value of story and other modes of communication in child development. Do I have your permission to do so?
Thanks in advance and I greatly look forward to next post.
I mean, yes, you're welcome to. That's very flattering. Makes me feel like a real 'public intellectual'. ;) Though that point was a composite of some of the things I've experienced as a mom (and wife, daughter, granddaughter, friend...), and lots of other people's ideas I've absorbed in my reading over the last many years. I can't think of all of them off the top of my head, but there were some ideas about storytelling and oral traditions versus written, which I want to say I got from Clarissa Pinkola Estés's Women Who Run With the Wolves, but I can't find the exact quote(s) right now. Sorry. Message me if you need more details.
But you ARE a public intellectual! All reflective writing is a composite of this and that with our own interpretations. Own it, Sister. And thanks!
I guess if someone calls you a public intellectual, that makes you one. Right? Cool! Thank you! :)
Great list. Recognizing the nuts and bolts of how humans reproduce and raise our young ( aka that we are placental mammals, a framing that informs my own writing on related topics) is critical to creating a world that respects pregnancy, child rearing and abortion rights too.
Have you read The Subsistence Perspective? Most of the book is vignettes on how different people around the world take a direct role in caring for themselves outside of the traditional market economy. It's not a "back to the land" polemic at all, but an urging for people to recognize how subsitence - the everyday work of staying alive and keeping people alive is what the world is built on and how it's supported in large part by women.
Here's a link to the book: https://transversal.at/transversal/0805/mies/en
Thank you. No, I hadn't heard of that book, but it looks very interesting, and I've added it to my list. I was reading a book on social reproduction theory recently, and one of the essays was about how the expanse of capitalism relied a lot on coercion - i.e. taking away people's means of subsistence (land enclosures, migratory employment, changes in child labour...), and how removing citizens' ability to be self-reliant necessitated a shift to state provision of social welfare. I'm sensing this book will cover some similar themes, and look forward to learning more.
#11-#14 really resonated with me. My wife and I are often at odds the choices we should be making around home making, and you articulated many of the fundamental problems here.
Looking forward to reading part II! I'm curious if you plan to make some mention of universal basic income, which is the systemic social reform proposal I'm personally most optimistic about.
Thanks. I'm glad this landed with you, though also not glad to hear of your frustrations. I think disagreements in this area are inevitable, especially when trying to make life's most important choices with limited options.
Yes, I am interested in UBI. There's certainly overlap with the issues here. They're slightly different conversations, but both largely about how we value citizens and their time. If there are any resources about UBI you think are particularly good, please send them my way.
Scott Santens writes on Substack about UBI, he's a good source.
Andrew Yang wrote a book The War on Normal People which touches on unpaid caretaking and UBI as a solution, as well as a number of other societal problems and proposed solutions.