User:Queenfeline/Projectproposal: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:46, 18 November 2025

See also: Thesis Proposal
working title:
A Slip Of The Tongue ?
I also like "awareMess"

What do you want to make?

I want to organize consciousness-raising group meetings to discuss the hidden sexism in our vernacular. Along side these meetings I will create a website that documents these meetings in the form of a glossary, since each meeting will revolve around a word, term or sentence.

This project emerges from a personal realization: as a woman, I unconsciously reproduce sexist patterns in the way I speak and think. I feel alienated from my own language because I convey things I don't want to express and that I position myself against very strongly. So realizing that I actively uphold the oppression against women myself everyday was a shock. The words in which that becomes clear are going to be the ones we speak about.

The goal of this project is to spark curiosity and discourse around language and words, to see language as a powerful tool that can be worked with, shifted and shaped. I wish for the meetings and the glossary to become a critical and self-reflective tool to expose hidden bias in our vernacular and make people feel empowered to start a shift in meaning.

How do you plan to make it?

There will be monthly public gatherings in Rotterdam with whoever is interested and wants to join. I would describe my target group, realistically, as people who I speak to in my day to day life and, ideally, as people that differ in age and cultural upbringing to enable greater diversity and multiple perspectives. For each meeting we will talk about a word, phrase or term that holds (more or less hidden) sexism (e.g. bitch, bossy, to have the balls to do smth., feisty, hey guys, 'it's probably a stupid idea but...'). Words that I encounter in books or in other ways that I first didn't see a problem in. I will focus on the oppression of sexism, while still acknowledging that systems of oppression are built upon each other and you cannot extract one and cut loose from the others. The participants will discuss different understandings of, and unpack the sexism in words. Prepared theoretical texts (excerpts) from feminist linguists (like Dale Spender, Robin Lakoff, Deborah Cameron) will help us open new perspectives and widen our knowledge. This research will also feed my theory.

During these meetings we will document the process / discussion. The exact documentation strategy will be developed with the help of a questionnaire during the try-out night. Along that structure we will formulate and collect our thought on the glossary website. Because speaking about ones vernacular can be very triggering, there will be a code of conduct that the participants will agree on at the beginning of the meetings to make sure the meetings will happen in a safe(r) environment that allows space for realization and unlearning.

The glossary website will have an introduction about the project on the homepage (what it is and what it seeks to do) and why it is important to think about language as a feminist tool to reclaim power. I will research and test different styles of the navigation to create an accessible interface (e.g. list, map, pictures, drawings). Each entry will contain what the specific group discussed on that specific day. So it's rather a capture of a moment in time and an invitation to rethink and reflect, as I don't intend to dictate meaning in any way. I want to raise awareness and invite others into the process of unlearning, questioning, and rewriting. I see myself very much as part of the group that is still learning everyday. The personal reflection about the learnings of the process of compiling and making this glossary (project), how it changed the way I see language and the way I speak is also part of the thesis where I will uncover how participatory speech practices about sexist language become a feminist method of unlearning and redefining.

What is your timetable?

November / December

[x] prototype a workshop with the class
[ ] prepare a first meeting
[x] write code of conduct
[ ] make a consent/ethics from for participants
[ ] actually have the meeting
[ ] For the first public moment: showcase what i already collected and let people give me feedback on the structure
[ ] prepare the T4 assessment
[ ] Finalize the first entry + introduction
[ ] Thesis: draft the first chapter

January / February

[ ] collect more words and have more meetings
[ ] come up with a structure for website
[ ] come up with a layout for website
[ ] make prototype for website and get feedback
[ ] Thesis: continue writing (13.Feb first draft deadline)

March / April

[ ] continue with meetings
[ ] code the final prototype into actual website
[ ] revise thesis (6. March second draft deadline)
[ ] revise even further and finalize (17. Apr deadline)

June / July

[ ] continue with meetings
[ ] update / debug website
[ ] think about how my work can be exhibited
[ ] prepare the exhibition
[ ] prepare for the final assessment
[ ] enjoy the grad show and be proud :)

Why do you want to make it?

In her book "Feminism and Linguistic Theory" Deborah Cameron states , "Language is a weapon, used by the powerful to oppress their subordinates." Words hold power. Words help us validate and make sense of our experiences. Words make our experiences communicable. I think Language is not just a list of words but a system of power that we uphold and reinforce everyday through speaking. The words we use shape us and our experiences (Cameron, 1990) but that mechanism also works the other way around, we can adjust our language to shape the world around us. I want to make people notice, in themselves and others, how and in what ways language is used to oppress and how we can uncover and actively fight that. I want to spark curiosity around our vernacular and raise awareness about the hidden sexism.

Taking the consciousness-raising groups from the 60's and 70's Women's Liberation Movement as a role model, I want to break silence(ing) as a political act. Just like these 'Speak-out' meetings I want to open a space to share personal experiences, discuss and erupt taboos. I hope to create a sense of community and solidarity.

I call this project a glossary, because it deals with words that are important to a particular subject or activity. It provides me with the framework of a lexicon-like structure, but at the same time it still leaves freedom in structuring and writing the entries. I want to let lived experiences define our words and how we use them rather then a fixed and, claims to be, objective definition.

Who can help you and how?

I know that will need help in coding from my classmates and tutors. My friends, and the participants will help me with contributions and feedback.

I want to reach out to Michelle Teran, Ali Sahin from WdKA to get in touch and talk. They helped making the book "WOR(L)DING" which is also a glossary and i think they might have some useful and interesting insights and opinions.

I have also been referred to Clara Balaguer as a help for my role as the mediator during the meetings. I was told she knows how to navigate discomfort and mediate and guide group discussions.

Relation to previous practice

This is my bachelor project where I experimented with words and their meaning.
I worked for Pinkstinks Germany before starting my master. The feminist NGO does educational work all about feminism.
Our Alphabet Soup (shared glossary) we created during first year
My own glossary that I started during the first year

During my bachelors I visited Oswald Eggers course "Sprache und Gestalt" ("language and design") where we would read many different, mostly philosophical texts and then investigate and understand them. This was my favorite course and I was fascinated by what we would unpack in these texts. I really enjoy uncovering the hidden meanings of words. So for my bachelor I wrote essays and poems that would play with the understandings of words to show that a word can have different meanings.

Later I worked for the feminist organisation PINKSTINKS Germany. Here I helped develop a feminist glossary with technical terms around feminism. This is a more general glossary about new words that emerged in the feminist discourse in Germany that are not self-explanatory. The goal here was to keep the feminist discourse accessible and the vocabulary clear in order for people to understand the feminist mission.

During our first year we made our Alphabet Soup and I really enjoyed the process of experimental glossary writing. It opened new ways in which a word can be explained and understood and helped me further realize that we can have different understandings of the same words not just through usage but also because of different cultural upbringings. I further explored that in my own glossary which i called Idioticon. Here i collected words that I didn't know and concepts that are interesting to me. I eventually developed a habit of researching the meaning of words, even of those that are familiar to me. I soon came across the book ‘wordslut’ by Amanda Montell, which opened up new perspectives on the English language to me and made me realize how important language is in relation to feminism.

Relation to a larger context

In the broadest sense, my project relates to glossaries in general, as they are listing alphabetically terms or names important to a particular subject or activity. I am taking that approach as a base to then connect it with lived experiences and participatory speech acts. In order for me to do that I rely on technical feminist glossaries (like these from german magazines Pinkstinks, Missy and books like: "A Feminist Dictionary" by Cheris Kramarae and Paula A. Treichler(1985)) that enable an accessible feminist discourse for me and the participants of the meetings.

And I take it a step further as I question the static, man-made, inherited meaning of words and language and encourage to discover and create new ways of using and playing with language. For that I was definitely inspired by experimental glossaries like "WOR(L)DING" by Michelle Teran, Ali Şahin, Kari Robertson and Pablo Lerma and the "Glossary of Undisciplined Design" by Anja Kaiser and Rebecca Stephany because they expand the concept of a glossary.

Additionally there are projects like "wordmord" by Angeliki Diakrousi and the Manyfesto or how to dirtystruct the lexicon which break or dirtystruct (dirty + con/distruct/disrupt) the norms, rules and ideals of a standard language. These inspire me to also have the courage to actively shape and shift the meaning of words and not just list them, and to make language my own and allow myself to play with it.

During early stages of research I then encountered the BITCH Manifesto by Jo Freeman which further confirmed the importance and fun it is to actively reclaim a word. With and through Jo Freeman I was diving deeper in the topic of consciousness-raising groups from the late 60's and 70's Feminist movement, as they were a space to exchange and express injustices women experienced. These meetings were a powerful tool as they lead to a feeling of togetherness, validated single voices and shifted the focus from the individual to a broader, structural problem. Which ultimately resulted in a more aware and proactive mindset.

References/bibliography

Cameron, Daborah (1986) Feminism and Linguistic Theory Macmillian London

Cameron, Deborah (1990) The Feminist Critique of Language Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc. New York

Fritsch, Kelly ; O'Connor, Clare ; Thompson, AK (2016) Keywords for Radicals: The contested Vocabulary of Late-Capitalist Struggle AK Press Oakland

Kaiser, Anja; Stephany, Rebecca (2nd Edition 2024) Glossary of Undisciplined Design Spector Books Leipzig

Kramarae, Cheris; Treichler, Paula A. (1985) A Feminist Dictionary Pandora Press Boston

Lakoff, Robin (1975) Language and Woman's Place Harper and Row Publishers Inc. New York

Montell, Amanda (2019) Wordslut HarperCollins Publishers New York

Spencer, Dale (1998) Man Made Language Pandora New York : Distributed in U.S.A. by New York University Press

Teran, Michelle ; Sahin, Ali ; Robertson, Kari ; Lerma, Pablo (2024) Wor(l)ding: A Harvested Glossary for Social Justice in Arts Education and Beyond HumDurmPress & Meteoro Editions

Williams, Raymond (1976) Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society Oxford University Press

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<span style="font-size:40pt;">proposed proposals </span> </br>
+''See also:'' [[User:Queenfeline/Thesisproposal|''Thesis Proposal'']]</br>
-[[Graduate proposal guidelines]]
+working title: </br>
+<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size:40pt;">A Slip Of The Tongue</span> [[User:Queenfeline/IDIOTICON#A_slip_of_the_tongue|?]]</br>
-==<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size:30pt;">potential glossary</span>==
+I also like "awareMess"
 ===What do you want to make?===
+::I want to organize consciousness-raising group meetings to discuss the hidden sexism in our vernacular. Along side these meetings I will create a website that documents these meetings in the form of a glossary, since each meeting will revolve around a word, term or sentence.
-<div style="width:35%; float:right; padding: 2em; background-color:#F7D1D8; margin: 2em;">
+::This project emerges from a personal realization: as a woman, I unconsciously reproduce sexist patterns in the way I speak and think. I feel alienated from my own language because I convey things I don't want to express and that I position myself against very strongly. So realizing that I actively uphold the oppression against women myself everyday was a shock. The words in which that becomes clear are going to be the ones we speak about.
-<span style="font-size: 15pt;">'''WORD'''</span> </br>
+::The goal of this project is to spark curiosity and discourse around language and words, to see language as a powerful tool that can be worked with, shifted and shaped. I wish for the meetings and the glossary to become a critical and self-reflective tool to expose hidden bias in our vernacular and make people feel empowered to start a shift in meaning.
-''Personal reflection''
-::How I found out that term/word is sexist. How I was using it without really thinking about it
-::How is it used today? (everyday speech, media, popular culture +examples)
-''Research''
-::Does it demean, empower, exclude, or stereotype? Does it differ by region, age, or social context? What assumptions about gender, sexuality, or power does this word carry? Who benefits from its use? Who is harmed or silenced by it?
-::Etymology and Historical Context – Where does the word origins? How did it change over time?
-::(including visuals like screenshots/photos from old dictionaries or from social media / highlighting and scribbles)</br>
-''Reclaiming''
-::how have feminists or marginalized groups resisted or redefined the term? Is the term irredeemable and why? +examples on how to use the word in the future (scribbles/ handwriting over the dictionary entry with my new learned definition) </br>
-''Comments/ Discussion''
-::I would like if it not just a classical list of comments but a wall where they can put post-its or something like that
-::
-</div>
-::This project emerges from a personal realization: as a woman, I have unconsciously reproduced sexist patterns in the way I speak and think. I felt alienated from my own language because I was saying things I don't want to say and that I position myself against very strongly. So realizing that I actively uphold the oppression against women myself everyday was a shock. I want other people to see the sexism in language and take an active part in changing that. So I am thinking about making a feminist glossary with words from our everyday vernacular that I realized hold sexism (e.g. bitch, bossy, to have the balls to do smth., feisty, cunt). There will be an introduction about the topic on the homepage (what it is and what it seeks to do) and why it is important to think about language as a feminist tool to reclaim power. I also would like to have a personal reflection about what the process of compiling and making this glossary has taught me, how it changed the way I see language and the way I speak. The navigation to the entries is still unclear, it could be a list, a map, pictures, drawings... Each entry will unpack how a word reinforces hierarchy and how we can change that. Starting with a personal story on how I used the word before and how I found out its sexist meaning (through etymology, usage, connotation), and then offer new, reclaimed or more inclusive ways of implementing that word (plus quotes from cool books?). I want to make room for a discussion or contributions to that word or topic in form of a comment section (or how else?). Because language only works if the people you speak to, have the same understanding of the word. So I want to give people a chance to exchange their thoughts and give them the opportunity to make or shift meaning.
-::The goal of this project is to see language as a tool that can be worked with and changed. I want to start exchange and discussions around (sexist) language. And i hope to inspire people to question their own use of certain words or expressions. I wish for the glossary to become a critical and self-reflective tool to expose hidden bias in our vernacular and make people feel empowered to start a shift in meaning.
-::There is also going to be a tool for printing. You can select the words you find interesting / useful / important and make a .pdf that you can print and make a little zine out of.
-::I want to make it easy to share and so well explained, that everyone can understand it and no one feels excluded. I think it is very important that we keep the discourse accessible, so people know what it i about and what they can do about it.
-::IMPORANT NOTE: I don't want to dictate meaning, I want to raise awareness! I want to invites others into the process of unlearning, questioning, and rewriting.
 ===How do you plan to make it?===
-::Collecting words and terms + ask other people to contribute (public moments)
+::There will be monthly public gatherings in Rotterdam with whoever is interested and wants to join. I would describe my target group, realistically, as people who I speak to in my day to day life and, ideally, as people that differ in age and cultural upbringing to enable greater diversity and multiple perspectives. For each meeting we will talk about a word, phrase or term that holds (more or less hidden) sexism (e.g. bitch, bossy, to have the balls to do smth., feisty, hey guys, 'it's probably a stupid idea but...'). Words that I encounter in books or in other ways that I first didn't see a problem in. I will focus on the oppression of sexism, while still acknowledging that systems of oppression are built upon each other and you cannot extract one and cut loose from the others. The participants will discuss different understandings of, and unpack the sexism in words. Prepared theoretical texts (excerpts) from feminist linguists (like Dale Spender, Robin Lakoff, Deborah Cameron) will help us open new perspectives and widen our knowledge. This research will also feed my theory.
-::document my process of un-/re-learning
+::During these meetings we will document the process / discussion. The exact documentation strategy will be developed with the help of a questionnaire during the try-out night. Along that structure we will formulate and collect our thought on the glossary website. Because speaking about ones vernacular can be very triggering, there will be a code of conduct that the participants will agree on at the beginning of the meetings to make sure the meetings will happen in a safe(r) environment that allows space for realization and unlearning.
-::come up with a structure for the entries
+::The glossary website will have an introduction about the project on the homepage (what it is and what it seeks to do) and why it is important to think about language as a feminist tool to reclaim power. I will research and test different styles of the navigation to create an accessible interface (e.g. list, map, pictures, drawings). Each entry will contain what the specific group discussed on that specific day. So it's rather a capture of a moment in time and an invitation to rethink and reflect, as I don't intend to dictate meaning in any way. I want to raise awareness and invite others into the process of unlearning, questioning, and rewriting. I see myself very much as part of the group that is still learning everyday. The personal reflection about the learnings of the process of compiling and making this glossary (project), how it changed the way I see language and the way I speak is also part of the [[User:Queenfeline/Thesisproposal|thesis]] where I will uncover how participatory speech practices about sexist language become a feminist method of unlearning and redefining.
-::actually write the entries
-::Write the introduction
-::Think about the layout of the website
-::make prototypes
-::test how people experience them/ get feedback
-::edit the entries
-::always stay in exchange with other people along the way
-::target group: (most realistically) 20-somethings in my circle (and I hope it will spread out from there, but that is out if my hands) who are already somewhat feminist-minded and want to dive deeper (because they are most likely to speak the same zeitgeisty slang that I also speak)
 ===What is your timetable?===
-::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">Nov/dec</span>
+::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">November / December</span>
 <blockquote>
-– write one entry (draft) </br>
+[x] prototype a workshop with the class </br>
-– For the first public moment: let people contribute to it, (doesn't have to be the website yet) and give me feedback on the entry and ask how they see it displayed at a website </br>
+[  ] prepare a first meeting </br>
-– Finalize the first entry + introduction </br>
+[x] write code of conduct </br>
-– make prototype for website and get feedback
+[  ] make a consent/ethics from for participants </br>
+[  ] actually have the meeting </br>
+[  ] For the first public moment: showcase what i already collected and let people give me feedback on the structure </br>
+[  ] prepare the T4 assessment</br>
+[  ] Finalize the first entry + introduction </br>
+[  ] Thesis: draft the first chapter</br>
 </blockquote>
-::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">Jan/Feb</span>
+::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">January / February</span>
 <blockquote>
-– Collect more words </br>
+[  ] collect more words and have more meetings</br>
-– write their articles (better to have fewer in number, but more detailed research)</br>
+[  ] come up with a structure for website </br>
-– make prototypes for website
+[  ] come up with a layout for website</br>
+[  ] make prototype for website and get feedback</br>
+[  ] Thesis: continue writing (13.Feb first draft deadline)</br>
 </blockquote>
-::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">Mar/Apr</span>
+::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">March / April</span>
 <blockquote>
-– make the final prototype into actual website
+[  ] continue with meetings </br>
+[  ] code the final prototype into actual website</br>
+[  ] revise thesis (6. March second draft deadline)</br>
+[  ] revise even further and finalize (17. Apr deadline)</br>
 </blockquote>
-::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">June/July</span>
+::<span style="font-size:15pt; color: #d3d3d3;">June / July</span>
 <blockquote>
-– I would also love to make a book version of it at some point closer to graduation to have a physical version of it. (add dates when printed to it so people know its only a extract from a specific moment of time.)</br>
+[  ] continue with meetings</br>
+[  ] update / debug website</br>
+[  ] think about how my work can be exhibited </br>
+[  ] prepare the exhibition</br>
+[  ] prepare for the final assessment</br>
+[  ] enjoy the grad show and be proud :)
 </blockquote>
 ===Why do you want to make it?===
-::Why make it includes two main questions. First, ''why should one concern oneself with words and language?'' and second, ''why make a glossary?''.
+::In her book "Feminism and Linguistic Theory" Deborah Cameron states , "Language is a weapon, used by the powerful to oppress their subordinates." Words hold power. Words help us validate and make sense of our experiences. Words make our experiences communicable. I think Language is not just a list of words but a system of power that we uphold and reinforce everyday through speaking. The words we use shape us and our experiences (Cameron, 1990) but that mechanism also works the other way around, we can adjust our language to shape the world around us. I want to make people notice, in themselves and others, how and in what ways language is used to oppress and how we can uncover and actively fight that. I want to spark curiosity around our vernacular and raise awareness about the hidden sexism.
-::To answer the first question: Words hold power. Words help us make sense of our experiences. Words make our experiences communicable. Language is a human tool for organization, so inherently language is always a reflection of the society we find ourselves in. Our society is made by men for men, and everyone who does not identify with that is excluded and oppressed in one or many ways. To understand in what ways this exclusion and oppression takes place means gaining knowledge in how to fight it. So in using certain words we can reclaim power over the man-made language. Speaking is about representation. Who is allowed to speak and who is listened to? Who defines meaning and how does language reflect and reinforces power dynamics? Feminists are deeply concerned with language and linguistic to be able to speak and be heard in that and many other discourses. I also learned in researching this topic, that there are so many hidden sexist structures in our vernacular, that we uphold our own oppression without even noticing it. So i want to make people notice in themselves and in others how and in what ways language is used to suppress women and how we can actively fight that.
+::Taking the consciousness-raising groups from the 60's and 70's Women's Liberation Movement as a role model, I want to break silence(ing) as a political act. Just like these 'Speak-out' meetings I want to open a space to share personal experiences, discuss and erupt taboos. I hope to create a sense of community and solidarity.
-::To answer the second question: A dictionary claims to be neutral and encompasses every word ever. Even though there surely is a moment of deciding which words to put in and how to describe them, which cannot inherently be objective. Anyways, a glossary doesn't claim this neutrality and is in a classical sense a list of terms and words that are special to a certain context and that may be misunderstood (in that specific context) without explanation. I also see it as a moment to change the point of view on a word and recontextualise it. So what happens to a glossary if we abandon objectivity and embrace subjectivity? What if we let the lived experiences define our words and how we use them?
-::So all in all I really hope that on the way to a more equal society, i can contribute my little piece to the pie and help the progress of building a language that is more inclusive and representative of all kinds of experiences not just mens. I want to help people notice the ways they're keeping up the sexist system and how to change that.
+::I call this project a glossary, because it deals with words that are important to a particular subject or activity. It provides me with the framework of a lexicon-like structure, but at the same time it still leaves freedom in structuring and writing the entries. I want to let lived experiences define our words and how we use them rather then a fixed and, claims to be, objective definition.
 ===Who can help you and how?===
-::I know that will need help in coding from my classmates and tutors. My friends, and basically everyone I know, can help in contributing to the database, adding words and definitions / quotes / anything that comes to mind. I also set up a little list on the cord board for people to leave words that should be in a feminist glossary.
+::I know that will need help in coding from my classmates and tutors. My friends, and the participants will help me with contributions and feedback.
-::I want to reach out to Michelle Teran, Ali Sahin from WdKA to get in touch and talk. They helped making the wor(l)dings book which is also a glossary and i think they might have some useful and interesting insights and opinions.
+::I want to reach out to Michelle Teran, Ali Sahin from WdKA to get in touch and talk. They helped making the book [https://research.wdka.nl/index.php/publications/worlding-a-harvested-glossary-for-social-justice-in-arts-education-and-beyond/ "WOR(L)DING"] which is also a glossary and i think they might have some useful and interesting insights and opinions.
+::I have also been referred to Clara Balaguer as a help for my role as the mediator during the meetings. I was told she knows how to navigate discomfort and mediate and guide group discussions.
 ===Relation to previous practice===
-::It combines my interests in language and words and the feminist fight for equality. I find it so fascinating to research words and find out where they come from and what they really mean, how meaning changes over time and with the context we use it in.
 <gallery>
 File:BBF.jpg|thumb|This is my bachelor project where I experimented with words and their meaning.
-File:PinkstinksInstagram.jpg |thumb|I worked for Pinkstinks Germany before starting my master. The feminist NGO does educational work all about feminism.
+File:PinkstinksInstagram.jpg |thumb|I worked for [https://pinkstinks.de/ Pinkstinks Germany] before starting my master. The feminist NGO does educational work all about feminism.
-File:Alphabet Stew.jpg|Our [[Alphabet Soup]]
+File:Alphabetsoup-graph.png|Our [[Alphabet Soup]] (shared glossary) we created during first year
-File:Idioticon.png| [[User:Queenfeline/IDIOTICON|My own glossary]]
+File:Idioticon.png| [[User:Queenfeline/IDIOTICON|My own glossary]] that I started during the first year
 </gallery>
-::During my bachelors I visited Oswald Eggers course "language and design" where we would read many different, mostly philosophical texts and then investigate and understand them. This was my favorite course and I was fascinated by what we would unpack in these texts. Later I worked for the feminist NGO PINKSTINKS Germany. Here I helped develop a feminist glossary with technical terms around feminism. During our first year we made our [[Alphabet Soup]] and I really enjoyed the process of experimental glossary writing. It opened new ways in which a word can be explained and understood to me and helped me realize that we can have different understandings of the same words. I further explored that in my own glossary which i called [[User:Queenfeline/IDIOTICON|Idioticon]]. Here i collected words that I didn't knew and collected concepts that are interesting to me.
+::During my bachelors I visited Oswald Eggers course "Sprache und Gestalt" ("language and design") where we would read many different, mostly philosophical texts and then investigate and understand them. This was my favorite course and I was fascinated by what we would unpack in these texts. I really enjoy uncovering the hidden meanings of words. So for my bachelor I wrote essays and poems that would play with the understandings of words to show that a word can have different meanings.
+::Later I worked for the feminist organisation PINKSTINKS Germany. Here I helped develop a [https://pinkstinks.de/hilfe-erhalten/glossar/ feminist glossary] with technical terms around feminism. This is a more general glossary about new words that emerged in the feminist discourse in Germany that are not self-explanatory. The goal here was to keep the feminist discourse accessible and the vocabulary clear in order for people to understand the feminist mission.
+::During our first year we made our [[Alphabet Soup]] and I really enjoyed the process of experimental glossary writing. It opened new ways in which a word can be explained and understood and helped me further realize that we can have different understandings of the same words not just through usage but also because of different cultural upbringings. I further explored that in my own glossary which i called [[User:Queenfeline/IDIOTICON|Idioticon]]. Here i collected words that I didn't know and concepts that are interesting to me. I eventually developed a habit of researching the meaning of words, even of those that are familiar to me. I soon came across the book ‘wordslut’ by Amanda Montell, which opened up new perspectives on the English language to me and made me realize how important language is in relation to feminism.
 ===Relation to a larger context===
-::There are already some feminist glossaries out there:
+::In the broadest sense, my project relates to glossaries in general, as they are listing alphabetically terms or names important to a particular subject or activity. I am taking that approach as a base to then connect it with lived experiences and participatory speech acts. In order for me to do that I rely on technical feminist glossaries (like these from german magazines [https://pinkstinks.de/hilfe-erhalten/glossar/ Pinkstinks], [https://missy-magazine.de/glossar/ Missy] and books like: [https://archive.org/details/feministdictiona00kram "A Feminist Dictionary"] by Cheris Kramarae and Paula A. Treichler(1985)) that enable an accessible feminist discourse for me and the participants of the meetings.
-::– Kramarae, Cheris; Treichler, Paula A.(1985) [https://archive.org/details/feministdictiona00kram A Feminist Dictionary] , Pandora Press (Routledge & Kegan Paul plc) </br> "It places women at the center of language and uses definitions and quotation to take us on a fascinating journey through the development and use if the english language from diverse feminist perspectives. A Feminist Dictionary illustrated women's linguistic contributions: they ways in which women have sought to describe, reflect upon and theorize about women, language ,and the rest of the world."
+::And I take it a step further as I question the static, man-made, inherited meaning of words and language and encourage to discover and create new ways of using and playing with language. For that I was definitely inspired by experimental glossaries like [https://research.wdka.nl/index.php/publications/worlding-a-harvested-glossary-for-social-justice-in-arts-education-and-beyond/ "WOR(L)DING"] by Michelle Teran, Ali Şahin, Kari Robertson and Pablo Lerma and the [https://www.spectorbooks.com/book/glossary-of-undisciplined-design "Glossary of Undisciplined Design"] by Anja Kaiser and Rebecca Stephany because they expand the concept of a glossary.
-::– Feminist Magazines in Germany also work with glossaries, there are for example: [https://pinkstinks.de/hilfe-erhalten/glossar/ Pinkstinks], [https://editionf.com/politik-gesellschaft/feminismus-glossar/ Edition F], [https://missy-magazine.de/glossar/ Missy]
+::Additionally there are projects like [https://wordmord-ur.la/ "wordmord"] by Angeliki Diakrousi and the [https://stylianidou.com/manyfesto-or-how-to-dirtystruct-the-lexicon.html Manyfesto or how to dirtystruct the lexicon] which break or dirtystruct (dirty + con/distruct/disrupt) the norms, rules and ideals of a standard language. These inspire me to also have the courage to actively shape and shift the meaning of words and not just list them, and to make language my own and allow myself to play with it.
+::During early stages of research I then encountered the [https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/bitch.htm BITCH Manifesto] by Jo Freeman which further confirmed the importance and fun it is to actively reclaim a word. With and through Jo Freeman I was diving deeper in the topic of consciousness-raising groups from the late 60's and 70's Feminist movement, as they were a space to exchange and express injustices women experienced. These meetings were a powerful tool as they lead to a feeling of togetherness, validated single voices and shifted the focus from the individual to a broader, structural problem. Which ultimately resulted in a more aware and proactive mindset.
-::There is this project called [https://wordmord-ur.la/ wordmord] (by Angeliki Diakrousi and others) which "believes that the violence of language is not eradicated by merely deleting/erasing words, but rather by transversing their violent imposition through specific practices that trouble and disrupt grammatical consistency, semantic norms, ‘correct’ pronunciation, ‘proper’ bodily posture. The rupture of linguistic limits suggests the possibility of experiencing language in its materiality."
-::I also found [https://www.openspellbook.de/index.html the open spell book] (by Greta Lüdemann, Uma Grotrian-Steinweg 2024). They say: "Whilst reading into Feminist theory we dived deep into topics of all kinds. Along the way, we encounter key words that came up in different texts and give a sense of commons, controversies and struggles. By bringing together multiple voices that speak about these terms we want to capture the poetics of feminist theory, move beyond linear reading and open an experimental approach towards building knowledge. We invite you to dig trough, play with and contribute to our quote collection. This is not done. This is evolving."
-::The [https://stylianidou.com/manyfesto-or-how-to-dirtystruct-the-lexicon.html Manyfesto or how to dirtystruct the lexicon] is also super interesting as it "proposes a rhizomatic paralexicon-in progress as a way to dirtystruct (dirty + con/distruct/disrupt) the notion of a universal, formal and normative lexicon, which usually establishes linguistic norms and the ideal of a standard language."
-::The [https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/bitch.htm BITCH Manifesto] by Jo Freeman is a very empowering approach to change the meaning of a word and reclaim it.
 ===References/bibliography===
+::Cameron, Daborah (1986) '''''Feminism and Linguistic Theory''''' Macmillian London
+::Cameron, Deborah (1990) '''''The Feminist Critique of Language''''' Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc. New York
+::Fritsch, Kelly ; O'Connor, Clare ; Thompson, AK (2016) '''''Keywords for Radicals: The contested Vocabulary of Late-Capitalist Struggle''''' AK Press Oakland
+::Kaiser, Anja; Stephany, Rebecca (2nd Edition 2024) '''''Glossary of Undisciplined Design''''' Spector Books Leipzig
+::Kramarae, Cheris; Treichler, Paula A. (1985) '''''A Feminist Dictionary''''' Pandora Press Boston
+::Lakoff, Robin (1975) '''''Language and Woman's Place''''' Harper and Row Publishers Inc. New York
 ::Montell, Amanda (2019) '''''Wordslut''''' HarperCollins Publishers New York
+::Spencer, Dale (1998) '''''Man Made Language''''' Pandora New York : Distributed in U.S.A. by New York University Press
 ::Teran, Michelle ; Sahin, Ali ; Robertson, Kari ; Lerma, Pablo  (2024) '''''Wor(l)ding: A Harvested Glossary for Social Justice in Arts Education and Beyond''''' HumDurmPress & Meteoro Editions
-::Cameron, Daborah (1986) '''''Feminism and Linguistic Theory''''' Macmillian London
-::Fritsch, Kelly ; O'Connor, Clare ; Thompson, AK (2016) '''''Keywords for Radicals: The contested Vocabulary of Late-Capitalist Struggle''''' AK Press Oakland
 ::Williams, Raymond (1976) '''''Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society''''' Oxford University Press
-==<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size:30pt;">potential thesis</span>==
-===notes===
-What do you WANT to write? (what will the text </br>
-be about? What do you want to explore? </br>
-Be clear about HOW you want to tell your story.</br>
-''Outline 3 key issues you want to explore:'' </br>
-. The power that language holds </br>
-. how sexist language is and how it shapes the way we live  </br>
-. The power of reclaiming words as an activist act </br>
-:::::: I want to write an analytical essay. I want to dive into the sociolinguistics and uncover how sexist and man-made our vernacular is and how we can take a step into changing that. Language is about representation. Who you speak about and how, directly affects that groups position in society and their experience in this world. I want to write about the phenomenon that female words get devalued over time and why that is. Adding to that i want to write about the active work of reclaiming these words to reclaim power (for ourselves and ultimately how we're seen and treated in society). Words literally create the world around us and has an impact on or experiences in this world.
-''Chapter outline (what do i expect to find?)''
-::::1. The power language holds
-::::::Here i want to show how the words we use literally create the world around us. Language gives names to our experiences. It reflects and reinforces our believes, the existing power structures and structures of oppression. Language is strategically used to exclude certain groups from the societal discourse (e.g. in form of linguistic alienation).
-::::::Furthermore i want to write about the phenomenon that words who get connected to females, experience an devaluation over time. What seems like happens by accident is a reflection on the sexist society we find ourselves in. In comparison to that, 'male' words almost always experience an revaluation. Why is that?
-::::2. How sexist language shapes our lives
-::::::I want to uncover fields of everyday life that hold more sexism then we expect or are aware of. From address terms to curse words. Understanding that language itself is not sexist but the way we use it.
-::::3. The powerful act of reclaiming language
-:::::: This chapter is gonna contain how the reclaiming of a 'female' word needs active work to experience an revaluation.
-''holy shit is is all still way to broad...''
-::::::Uh maybe i do all this on the example of one word! (e.g diva/bitch/cunt...) Then the structure would more likely look like that:
-::::1. The etymology of the word
-::::::So to say a glimpse in the history of the word. How is has been used throughout the years and how the dictionary defined then and now.
-::::2. De- and revaluation
-::::::De- and revaluation of words in general. So how and why does that happen? Then more specifically on the example on the word. How and why did it happen in this case?
-::::3. The act of reclaiming a word for oneself and the societal consequences
-::::::Transitioning into: How 'female' words need active reclaiming in order to experience a revaluation. What reclaiming is and how it works (on the example on language).
-TO–DO
-– specify what i mean with 'female' word (wordslut)
-–
-FEEDBACK
-::–More clarity on the submissions!
-::–What feminist context? What context? Wie einkreisen? More intentional and smaller
-::–Words that have personal meaning - that are being understood / affect you in your life – Glossary for a specific place (online/offline) ?
-::–Public moment: collect in low tech form and let people contribute in other forms than website
-::–What makes mine different? What do I want out of this????
-::–Fred idea: Make the glossary a plug in? Make it to adapt to other applications
-::–Whats up with Scotland – Glasgow ? Why so different?
-::–Claiming/ reclaiming also happens in right wing/extremist circles
-===How has the feminist reclamation of the word “cunt” transformed a misogynistic insult into a symbol of empowerment, and what does this transformation reveal about language and power?===
-====Intro====
-::Introducing the upcoming chapters briefly:
-:::First, the relationship between language, power and representation. Why is language a feminist issue? How is it used to uphold and reinforce power structures? Who gets to speak and who is spoken about (in what way)?
-:::Second, the cultural taboo around “cunt”, its history (etymology) and its significance. When did this word emerge? What was the 'original' meaning and how did it change over time? How did the word became a site of misogyny? What is the “problem” reclamation is responding to?
-:::Third, the active fight for reclaiming a word. How does reclaiming work? Who gets to reclaim? How does the reclaiming of cunt teaches us who controls meaning?
-::State what i wish to transport with this essay: how reclaiming language reclaims power. Showing how reclaiming is a strategic act of resistance that exposes how meaning is socially constructed (embedding chapter one) and can be rewritten / changed.
-====Chapter 1====
-::This chapter explores how language shapes and sustains power relations.
-::Who gets to speak, who is spoken about, and in what way? Through feminist linguistic theory, it will uncover how everyday speech patterns and word meanings reflect patriarchal values and how this creates linguistic inequality.
-::Deborah Cameron – how language doesn’t just reflect reality but creates it. How language is a weapon, used by the powerful to oppress their subordinates. How words define social visibility. Being “unnamed” or “misnamed” is a form of erasure / silencing / invisibility.
-====Chapter 2====
-::This chapter explores the etymology of the word “cunt”.
-::What did the word mean throughout history and how did the once neutral anatomical term (referring to the female genitals) become one of the most reviled words in the English language?
-::– The connection between linguistic taboos and the societal control over women’s bodies and sexuality. How the changing attitudes toward sexuality, modesty, and female anatomy under patriarchy influenced the change in meaning, resulting in silencing of female sexuality, alienation from the female body, and internalized shame. (How there is a broader linguistic phenomenon where female-coded terms become devalued for example mistress, madam, hussy. But maybe thats too much)
-====Chapter 3====
-::This chapter explores how feminist movements and thinkers have reclaimed “cunt” as a term of empowerment and political resistance, and what this process reveals about who controls meaning.
-::How does semantic reclamation work? –> How marginalized groups reappropriate derogatory terms.
-::– Example: Inga Muscio’s ''Cunt: A Declaration of Independence'' (1998) and in todays pop-culture / internet
-::(The intersectional issues: race, class, sexuality. Who feels empowered and who alienated by reclamation? The critiques of white feminism and inclusivity within linguistic activism)
-::Making clear / showing that words have constructed meaning, made through societal consensus and not inherent meanings set in stone. Connecting to chapter 1, how meaning and power are connected and how reclaiming language means reclaiming power. Show how reclamation is also a refusal to let patriarchal discourse dictate women’s self-definition.
-====Conclusion====
-::Bringing back the research question and stating a short and concise summary of the main arguments from the text. How feminist linguistic activism does not just change words, but changes the worlds we inhabit through them.
-====Glossary====
-::My thesis needs (of course) a glossary duh! In here will we words like: woman / semantic reclamation / reappropriation / semantic derogation /  tbc...