Traversing the Personal and the Political: an Ethnographic Study of Progressive Women in North Carolina Politics
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Traversing the Personal and the Political: An Ethnographic Study of Progressive Women in North Carolina Politics A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the Faculty of Humanities 2019 Skyler E. Hawkins School of Social Sciences Social Anthropology Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology 2 3 Contents Abstract 5 Declaration and Copyright Statement 7 Acknowledgements 9 Introduction 11 Chapter One 25 Intersections in the Field: Building a Black Feminist Framework for Conducting Ethnographic Research Chapter Two 39 Methodological Considerations in the Political Field Chapter Three 55 “Forward Together - Not One Step Back!”: An Essay of Photography and Commentary Chapter Four 107 1 June 2016: An Analysis of a Social Situation in Modern American Politics Chapter Five 129 Serving State-wide: Female Executive Officers on the North Carolina Council of State Chapter Six 149 Localizing Leadership: Black Female Representation in the North Carolina General Assembly Chapter Seven 167 Representation in Action: Combatting Food and Housing Insecurity as Case Studies in Progressive Policymaking Conclusion 183 Works Cited 191 Word Count: 63,939 4 5 Abstract Much has been said about the major figures and issues of the 2016 national election cycle, and yet, the bulk of what affects Americans in their everyday lives is determined by legislation and concurrent activist efforts at the state and local levels. Within these localized political structures, there are elected officials and influential activists whose work and careers examine the very relationship between the personal and the political, and embody the complicated interplay between governance, representation and civic action. In exploring the ways in and points at which female elected officials are, at times, supported and promoted, while at others, constrained and erased, this thesis will argue that gender, race and class continue to play an active role in the presentation, production and passage of public policy. Based on fieldwork carried out during 2016 and early 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina, among progressive female elected officials, activists and community groups, and non-profit organisations, this ethnographic project seeks to analyse how women work, interact and are understood in modern, American politics. Centring itself on the intersection of race and gender in the political lives, identities and experiences of women, the thesis explores the multi-faceted ways in which these women engage in political process. Citing extensive research conducting during the highly charged atmosphere of the 2016 election season, this thesis employs a range of ethnographic techniques, interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, and draws upon visual research and presentation methods to ask these core questions: What are the ways in which women work, interact and are understood in a modern, political environment? And how is this work influenced by concepts, experiences and understandings of race and gender? In doing so, this ethnographic project provides a nuanced understanding of aspects of women’s political, social and economic power that acts as a shaping force in modern, American political life. 6 7 Declaration No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning Copyright Statement i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and she has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance Presentation of Theses Policy iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trademarks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=2442 0), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/about/regulations/) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses. 8 9 Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank my supervisors, Professor Peter Wade and Dr. Angela Torresan. Without your time and attention to my project, and care and compassion for me as a person, this thesis would not have been possible. Thank you for pushing me when I needed it and allowing me space when I needed that, too. I hope that this thesis is a reflection of my growth under your tutelage and I will be forever grateful for my time here in Manchester. Also at the University of Manchester, I would like to thank my cohort and friends in my department, especially Lana, Jeremy and Jasmine, who all challenged me to be a more confident thinker; the women of the Feminooks reading group, for reminding me to trust the authority of my own voice; and my friends on the SoSS TA Committee, for showing me of the power of collective action. I want to offer a special thank you to my dear friend James for embracing me, pushing me and inspiring me to be a more honest, hopeful and happy version of me. Back at home, I want to thank Adele, Beth, Canaan, Carey, Christina, Gretchen, Maeve, Nicole, Rob, Taylor and Will for sending memes and words of encouragement in equal measure. This project required me to dig deep, both in the lives of my informants, but also my own; and in recognition of this, it is important that I share this project and this moment with the women in my life who selflessly entrusted their story to me and who tirelessly supported me: First, my deepest gratitude goes to Yvonne, Beth and June who, by agreeing to share their story with me, opened the door so much more than we could have imagined. I am so appreciative to you all, as my leaders and as my friends. Secondly, I’d like to thank my closest Manchester girlfriends – Gudrun, Mena and Caroline – for inspiring and loving me over these past five years. When you read my work and gave me helpful feedback, travelled with me to really fun places, held my hand through heartbreak, and danced along with me to live music, you showed me such support and kindness. And lastly, I must thank the women of my family – my Grandmother Louise, my Mom, Aunt Carolyn, Aunt Dianne, Aunt Linda, Aunt Pam, Tamara, Ashley and Miya – to whom I dedicate this thesis. As Romans 13:8-10 tells us, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” Thank you all for teaching me, showing me and filling my life with love. 10 11 Introduction Based on research during 2016 and early 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a group of left-leaning female elected officials and community activists, particularly women of colour, this ethnographic project seeks to explore the ways in which women work, interact and are understood in a modern, political environment. The women presented throughout this thesis embody the complicated interplay between governance, activism, race and gender, and my research rests at this particular intersection. In an effort to better understand the relationship between the past and the present, and the defining and practiced elements of racial and gender identifies both from and therein formed, the ethnography that follows navigates the shifting political landscape in which its protagonists, structures and sites exist. Engaging with the notion that extended participant observation and the employment of visual methods will allow for an analysis of current political structures, this thesis seeks to understand the difficulties facing women when running for and while serving in office, their obligations to personal and professional communities, and how one quite significantly influences or affects the other. This ethnography examines a wide range of personal and collective narratives in order to contribute to the existing literature about feminism and the wide range of political involvement among women, particularly for Black women, and give commentary on this emerging era of political figures and movements in the Southern region of the United States. In viewing, documenting and analysing the means by which women becoming actively involved in the political and legislative process on the local and state level, this project’s mission is to reveal the myriad of ways through which the historically and socially created concepts of gender and race are experienced and lived on a daily basis, and how these concepts are inextricably linked to the political identities of these women. The ideas are ever changing – at times, notions of historic definitions and stereotypes of a kind of racialised femininity are confirmed, at others, and sometimes simultaneously, they are challenged, revealing a reformation and refashioning of what it means to be a woman working and existing in a modern, political environment.