Brainstorm #4

Natalie Stagnone

Sandoval highlights the position of queer individuals inside cultural groups, saying that they do not belong “in the dominant world, nor completely in [their] own respective cultures” (24). Individuals who are at the intersection of identities create new identities in the middle, Sandoval refers to as “Borderland Conscious.” This is similar to the experience of people from México living in the US, Chicano/a/x. This background of fighting for their rights showcases the resilience of these individuals. The Womxn Who Rock Archive explains how new technology has the power to “preserve and tell different stories.” These newly preserved stories reflect the intersecting identities that people hold in the globalized world. Coalitional building has been a large part in forming new identities. As we have discussed in class, the Chicana movement sought to unite other feminist and marginalized groups to form a united conscious. A larger group would give them more political power to fight against the discrimination and violence. Therefore, coalition building must first be done in one’s own culture with the inclusion of queer individuals and including their stories in that of the culture. Looking with one's own culture, you will find someone, regardless of sexual identity or gender orientation, that more closely reflects your own then someone else outside of your culture. This coalition building brought people together to talk about their differences at conferences, like the Womxn Who Rock, and in technology, ultimately, allowing for people to recognize their similarities over their differences.