Approaching Definitions - What is Gender?

In this reflection, we briefly recapitulate the broadly accepted notion that sex is a reflection of biology, gender social construction, but turn quickly to the suggestion of Judith Butler that even this seemingly uncontroversial couching of the matter is problematic. Perhaps the body itself is far more the outcome of a constructed process than is immediately obvious? Certainly, turning our thoughts in the direction of this analysis, we are led to look at identity itself in a different, dramatically different light.

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Approaching Definitions - What is Race?

Here, we offer some thoughts on the notion of race. We investigate the measure to which race is a social construction serving to conceal relations of power, rather than a category rooted in any 'intrinsic' or 'biologically determined' reality. In the latter connection, we allude to the manner in which an appeal to 'scientific' or 'scientistic' vocabulary often serves to conceal and distract from the injustices created by racial division, pointing to the need to consider more carefully what is intended by 'scientific discourse'. We look also at the analogous dynamics which arise in connection with ethnicity, and draw somewhat on the analysis of Franz Fanon.

Approaching Definitions - What is Class?

In this video, we take up the question of class, which flows readily enough out of our previous discussions of capitalism and socialism. Class, or the segmentation of a community, can unfold in various ways, or, according to different 'critera', whether they be economic, racial, ethnic or gendered in aspect. It becomes of import for us though as what accompanies that segmentation is a differential attribution of power that translates into an iniquity which is at odds with egality as a cardinal human value. This maldistribution is often masked by an appeal to 'necessities', but is ultimately the outcome of consensus, and thus amenable to to change. In fact, it is imperative that we work to move to such a change.