Resisting the War on Woke
Description
In Resisting the "War on Woke": Autoethnographic Narratives of Struggle, Resistance, and Hope, a collection of scholars working across the United States - in both red and blue states alike - present first-hand, evocative autoethnographic accounts of the profound effects that anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) legislation and policy have had on faculty, staff, students, and the broader public in the wake of the so-called "war on woke".
As radical right-wing politicians continue to use pseudointellectual tactics to target what they consider divisive ideologies in both scholarly and everyday contexts - finding ground by leveraging insincere and manufactured "concern" for the safety of groups like women and children - scholars argue that combatting these narratives by centering the lived experiences of directly-involved stakeholders is more crucial now than ever.
Through diverse, honest, and compelling personal narratives, an impressive roster of contributors assembled by editors Lori West Peterson, Lisa Tillmann, and Nicole Richter harness the power of autoethnographic methods to demonstrate how "anti-woke" backlash threatens academic freedom, compromises personal and professional wellbeing, and endangers safety for the very demographics this legislation claims to protect. Just as importantly, these narratives also shine a light on how both individuals and communities continue to resist oppression and uphold their own values, even when the current landscape seems poised against them.
Ultimately, Resisting the "War on Woke" adopts a hopeful outlook as contributors reflect on what can be learned from their struggles and how we might apply these lessons to fight back against regressive agendas in both academic and civic contexts.
More details
Persons
Lori West Peterson is Professor of Communication at St. Edwards University in Texas, USA.
Lisa Tillmann is Professor of Critical Media and Cultural Studies at Rollins College in Florida, USA.
Nicole Richter is Associate Professor of Critical Media and Cultural Studies at Rollins College in Florida, USA.
Content
Introduction
Lori West Peterson (St. Edwards University, USA), Lisa Tillmann (Rollins College, USA) and Nicole Richter (Rollins College, USA)
Part I: Struggle
1. A Child of the '60s Riffs on 60 Years of Culture Wars
Christopher N. Poulos (University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA)
2. Grieving the 2024 Presidential Election in the Classroom
Anum Ahmed (Texas A&M University, USA)
3. DEI Threat/enedness All Around Me
Rona Tamiko Halualani (San Jose State University, USA)
4. DEI: Didn't Earn It
Jayna Tavarez (University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA)
5. The White Woman Professor
Lisa Tillmann (Rollins College, USA)
Part II: Defiance
6. H.B. 1775: Killing the Flower Moon in Oklahoma
Chad Perry (University of Central Oklahoma, USA)
7. Florida as a Five Alarm Fire for Democracy
Laura Finley (Barry University, USA)
8. Treading Hate on a Florida University Campus
Peyton Silbert (Florida Atlantic University, USA)
9. Teaching and Mothering in Post-Roe Texas
Stephanie Martinez and Lori West Peterson (both St. Edward's University, USA)
Part III: Hope
10. Feminism on the Front Lines
Rachel Silverman (Boise State University, USA)
11. Signs of Inclusion: Niqab and Diversity in Academia
Sophia Koleno (Ohio University, USA)
12. Space-Making as Surviving and Thriving
Stevie Munz (Utah Valley University, USA) and Leandra H. Hernandez (University of Utah, USA)
13. Student Readiness and Success Beyond the Classroom
Brandale Mills Cox (Howard University, USA)
14. Navigating Anti-DEI Politics in the American Midwest
Susan Harper (Iowa State University, USA)
Conclusion
Lori West Peterson (St. Edwards University, USA), Lisa Tillmann (Rollins College, USA) and Nicole Richter (Rollins College, USA)
About the Contributors
Index