Blog Prompt #1

I do not feel as though I have many strong reactions to the material being presented in class this quarter. However, I know I will need to keep an open mind when it comes to social economic status in regards to addiction. When I think about someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol my mind imagines someone who is homeless or poor or struggling financially. I do not necessarily think of women over men, but when I imagine a women I also imagine she may use her body for drugs as well. I think I have a biased view because of media influences. In order to fully dive into this class, I need to let go of my negative prejudices and thoughts surrounding addiction and socioeconomic status.
I am interested to look at addiction and women from an intersectionality viewpoint. It is my first time being exposed to this concept in a class and what I’ve learned so far about the concept really does make sense. There are many factors that influence addiction and women. Throughout the first and second wave of feminism women were struggling for basic rights compared to men. However, third wave feminism is now looking to include women who are also struggling for equal rights due to other reasons, whether that be their sexuality, their race and ethnicity, or their socioeconomic status. To fully dive into this class I need to understand the complexity of intersectionality and look to dissect each area of oppression women may be experiencing. My personal weakness in understanding concepts is understanding the “big picture”. I hope through this class I can begin to learn how to look at the “big picture” through a more in-depth understanding of feminist theory and intersectionality.