Ednie Kaeh Garrisons talk on resistance was very much compelling and opened up a new perspective. The formal definition of resistance is the event to prevent something from happening by actions or argument. There is constant resistance everywhere throughout the day and many different forms of resistance. A very powerful quote was mentioned by the lead singer of Bikini Kill, Kathleen Hanna, as she said “Resistance is everywhere, it always has been and always will be. Just because someone is not resisting in the same way you are (being a vegan, an ‘out’ lesbian, a political organizer) does not mean they are not resisting” (146,147). Garrison goes and shares a great example that gave me a new perspective of resistance. Garrison stated, “being told you are a worthless piece of shit and not believing it is a form of resistance” (147). My thoughts of resistance were always physical methods such as the ones mentioned by “Rebecca Walker, a young African American woman” as she voiced out and said, “I intend to fight back, I have uncovered and unleased more repressed anger than I thought possible” (147). I’ve noticed some of these different forms of resistance in Alice Bag Violence Girl. Two perfect examples of resistance were mentioned as she shared her experiences of domestic violence from her father. Bag showed physical resistance when trying to stop her father from hitting her mother. She shared, “…I rushed over and grabbed his arm…I tried to pull him back, but he pried my finger from his arm…” (19). Bag also shows us a form of verbal resistance when her father ordered her, “You spit on her!” but Bag resisted as she replied, “NO” (20). Resistance is everywhere, from large scale resistance to small scale resistance. It is sad but true, everyone has their own way of resistance and that’s something that will never change.
Citations
Ednie Kaeh Garrison, “U.S. Feminism-Grrrl Style! Youth (Sub)Cultures and the Technologics of the Third Wave.” Feminist Studies, Vol. 26, No. 1 (PDF)
Alice Bag, Violence Girl, Selection (PDF)
jay.lyons.class 