World-Traveling With Professor Maria Lugones

¶ … World"-Traveling with Professor Maria Lugones

Feminism and Culture

-What is Pluralistic Feminism?

Professor Maria Lugones' essay

an exploration of Pluralistic Feminism

Lugones' findings

"Worlds"

"World"-traveling

"Playfulness"

"Loving Perception"

"World"-Traveling with Professor Maria Lugones

What are "worlds"

How to travel to other "worlds" and why

The development of "playfulness"

How this culminates into "loving perceptions"

"Worlds" reflect barriers

"world"-traveling helps to break down these barriers

"Playfulness" can be achieved once barriers are broken down

"loving perceptions" are the possible outcome of "playfulness"

In gender studies, we find a variety of varying perspectives concerning how it is women view themselves and the world around them. Naturally, this reflects the basis for feminism and feministic studies. And more specifically, there is a branch of feminism which is of interest here; and that is Pluralistic Feminism. In regards to this, one author, associate professor of Binghamton University Maria Lugones, addressed certain issues within the subject of Pluralistic Feminism in respects to race and what she referred to in one essay as certain "worlds." The essay titled "Playfulness, 'World'-Traveling and Loving Perception," deals chiefly with how women, or more appropriately non-Anglo women, engage these "worlds" in which they find themselves, interact with others within and outside this "world," as well as how these interrelations affect young women as they develop their own individuality. A method that Lugones employs which encourages interaction between these "world" is what she refers to as "world"-traveling; where one manages to imaginatively and perspective-wise adopt other women's "worlds." Through this exercise Lugones is confident that a more cross-cultural and cross-racial understanding can be achieved. But even more, by increasing one's understanding of others' perspectives, also a "playfulness" in virtue of one's own world is possible. This "playfulness," when thought of correctly, can further lead to a "loving perception" of other's and one's own self as a woman (and a man ideally). Here we will explore the terms professor Lugones has introduced, elaborate on them and demonstrate how they are constructive methods in self and social perception.

Initially, Lugones introduces her readers to a false perception she had of her mother and herself growing up. She referred to this perception as an arrogant one where hierarchies develop, similar to those developed in classes and racial divides in the culture she found herself. As such, her mother treated her as her inferior just as she had been treated. However, Lugones noted that in observing her mother she found elements of her character abhorrent and thus those same elements she saw in herself she was ashamed of. but, some may ask "how is it these situations arise?" Well, Lugones explains that they are the result of what she describes as "worlds" women, or for that matter all people, find themselves in. These "worlds" are not definitive however but suggestive of how women in particular view themselves. The "worlds" can be the cause of racial, or cultural, or professional, or mere idiosyncratic in nature. Nonetheless, they are the primary structures we as humans are found in socially and intrapersonally. And since this helps shape values and personal esteem, it is important to try and understand other "worlds." For one, understanding other "worlds" helps break down cultural and racial barriers built up by isolation and an "outsider" mentality.

Unfortunately, in these "worlds" very little interaction is typically engaged. And not just that, but when "worlds" are developed based on an inferiority stemming from racial divides-in this case that of Lugones' family in an Anglo-centric society-then poor loving relations are established. So, Lugones finds that in order to reaffirm loving relationships where arrogant perceptions prevail, first, one must employ "world"-traveling. This is an exercise where one consciously and willfully travels, in a perceptual manner, to other persons' "worlds" where some understanding of the other's perspective can be achieved. Once this occurs Lugones tells us that not only does the individual gain knowledge about another's world but also can see one's own "world" from a different perspective. What this does is when the individual is then back in their own "world" perceptually they can have a more relaxed and less negative perspective of themselves; this is what she refers to as having a "playfulness." Ultimately, this "playfulness" then allows one to have a positive perception of themselves and thus others. Then and only then can one have a "loving perception" of themselves and others in their "world" and others.