Gender in a Global ‘State’ The University of Texas at Austin Issue 4, Fall 2006 Intersections: Women’s and Gender Studies in Review across Disciplines is a graduate student publication committed to promoting the interdis- ciplinary research of women and gender. Published by graduate stu- dents at The University of Texas at Austin, Intersections seeks to create a feminist-centered space in which members of all academic disciplines can explore the depth and breadth of the study of women and gen- der. Intersections is building a community of voices across disciplines by: (1) Creating a space in which graduate students can participate in the process of academic publication; (2) Encouraging an environment in which academics and advocates can explore the intersections of their work, drawing connections between and among the multiple com- munities associated with women’s and gender studies; (3) Facilitating a conversation of powerful voices joined in dialogue about women’s and gender studies. Subscription Information: Intersections is printed in electronic and printed format. For questions regarding subscriptions, email [email protected] or contact a member of the editorial staff at: Intersections: Women’s and Gender Studies in Review across Disciplines, The Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, 405 W. 25th Street, Suite 401, Austin, TX 78705. Guidelines for Submissions: Contact a member of the editorial staff or visit the Intersections web site at http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/ wgsreview for the latest call for papers, information about the current theme and the submission deadline for abstracts. All submissions should include the author’s name and department, contact information, title of submission and word count. Papers should conform to MLA (Modern Language Association) style or to a publication style appropriate to the author’s field. Book reviews should be of recent texts (published within the last two years) and should be 750-1,250 words. Please include pub- lication information about book(s) reviewed. Contact us via email to receive a copy of the book that you would like to review. Scholarly essays and creative writing should be limited to 5,000 words. Artwork should be formatted in .jpg format, 600 dpi; the print size should be no smaller than 8-1/2 x 11. Direct questions to the editors at the following email address: [email protected]. For permission to reproduce, store in a retrieval system, transmit or dis- tribute Intersections in any form, contact the editorial staff via email or postal mail. Intersections is produced annually. It is partially supported by The Cen- ter for Women’s and Gender Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, the Gender and Sexuality Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the University Co-op. Copyright © 2006, Intersections: Women’s and Gender Studies in Re- view Across Disciplines. Intersections Staff EDITORS Rebecca Moody Andria Salucka Sindt Chauntelle Tibbals Amy Vetter MANAGING EDITORS Adria Battaglia Valerie Little ART DIRECTOR Melissa Cofer COPYEDITORS Beverly Anderson Melissa Cofer Naminata Diabate Elizabeth Erbeznik Jeanne Fruge Milanne Hahn Melissa Hamilton Erin Hurt Becky LaVally Jane Saunders Matt Thrond Wei Zhou Editors’ Note On a Sunday afternoon last fall, the 2005-2006 editorial staff of Women’s and Gender Studies in Review Across Disciplines gathered for the first time to get to know each other, to become better acquainted with the journal and to explore the ways in which we would articulate the journal’s mission through its content. Starting with that initial conversation, we began to envision Intersections: Women’s and Gender Studies in Re- view Across Disciplines. Issue Four bears a new name and a new look, but its mission remains true to that of its founders: it is a graduate student publication committed to promoting the interdisciplinary research of women and gender and to creating a feminist-centered space wherein members of all academic disciplines can explore the depth and breadth of the study of women and gender. The name Intersections is significant to us as it reflects the interconnected nature of the study of women and gender. Our research can seldom be neatly identified or confined within one discipline or department, nor can the constructions “women,” “men,” “gender,” or even “GLBTQ.” Rather, all intersect, each one build- ing off another. Our theme, “Gender in a Global ‘State,’” grew out of our recognition that the “state” of gender is ever-changing. From the state of women’s and gender studies in the academy to issues centered around women, gender and feminism in the political context of a state, we as students, activists, researchers and feminists both enjoy and struggle with the all- encompassing and amorphous nature of a “state.” When we set the theme last fall, we recognized its timeliness and hoped it would help us bridge different academic disciplines, further articulate our mission and promote critical consideration of women and gender. We hope the content of Intersections will encourage and inspire people to think cre- atively about the current state of women’s and gender studies locally, globally and across disciplines. This year’s essays respond to the theme by exemplifying the interdiscipli- nary and transnational nature of women’s and gender studies. Kyle Brillante’s essay “Men as Students in Women’s Studies” highlights the often misunderstood and undervalued experiences of men students in the academic realm of the Western feminist movement. Nandini Dhar’s essay, “Narratives of Everyday Resistance and Politics of Feminist Self- Representation in Fatima Mernissi’s Dreams of Trespass,” elucidates how the feminist politics of an African-Arab feminist scholar shaped her rep- resentations of the agency and resistance of other North African Mus- lim women. In her essay, “Prosecuting Juveniles: Gender Bias in Juvenile and Criminal Cases,” Meredith Worthen examines how juveniles in the United States are prosecuted differently for the same crimes based on their gender. The evocative poems of Elisabeth Sharp McKetta illumi- nate the complexity of the global construction of “woman.” Finally, Shara Lange’s and Thuy-Van Vu’s compelling photo essay and accompany- ing descriptive text highlight the state of female immigrants in France and the rights of Muslim women as depicted in their forthcoming (Fall 2006) documentary entitled The Way North. The book reviews represent contemporary scholarly work endeavoring to reconceptualize mandates of the state, and thus the state itself. Gloria González-López’s book Erotic Journeys addresses Mexican immigrants and their sex lives. Given the current rhetoric surrounding immigration and citizenship, consideration of this notoriously erased population is imperative to discussions of the state and its impact on a multiplicity of persons’ lived experiences. Maureen Sullivan’s book The Family of Woman addresses iterations of the contemporary family and parenting. Considering the current social and political climate regarding who and what constitutes a family and an acceptable parent, this work is also integral to discussions of the changing state. Our mission for this issue of Intersections included highlighting voices from the community in order to continue and maintain dialogue with those involved in feminist activism. Lisa L. Moore, an associate professor in the English department and Women’s and Gender Studies, offers in- sight on the challenges of queer organizing and activism in her piece “A Doorway Instead of a Wall: The Gender and Sexuality Center and Feminist Community at UT.” Sherri Greenberg, a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, contributes a piece about the myths and realities of women entering political careers, highlighting the chang- ing “state” of political careers for women and drawing connections between past and present themes of the journal. Both Moore’s and Greenberg’s articles highlight aspects of activism and politics that influ- ence the current state of women’s and gender issues within various communities. Acknowledgments The editors would like to thank all of the people and organizations who have supported Intersections. Thank you to the faculty, staff and stu- dents associated with UT’s Center for Women’s and Gender Studies for providing us with many financial, physical and metaphysical resources. We are grateful to the University Co-Op and UT’s Gender and Sexuality Center for funding and support. Thank you to everyone who donated to, worked for or bought things at the summer yard sale. We would also like to acknowledge the work done by many anonymous reviewers. This project could not have been completed without each of your con- tributions. Contents Essays Men as Students in Women’s Studies Kyle Brillante 7 A Woman Needs Two Countries Elisabeth Sharp McKetta 14 Narratives of Everyday Resistance and Politics of Feminist Self-Representation in Fatima Mernissi’s Dreams of Trespass Nandini Dhar 15 Prosecuting Juveniles: Gender Bias in Juvenile and Criminal Courts Meredith G. F. Worthen 34 Thirty Elisabeth Sharp McKetta 46 Rapunzel Elisabeth Sharp McKetta 46 The Way North: A Documentary about Maghrebi Immigrant Women in Marseille, France Shara K. Lange and Thuy-Van Vu 47 Book Reviews Gloria González-López, Erotic Journeys: Mexican Immigrants and their Sex Lives Chauntelle Anne Tibbals 60 Maureen Sullivan, The Family of Woman: Lesbian Mothers, their Children, and the Undoing of Gender Corinne E. Reczek 62 Community Corner A Doorway Instead of a Wall: The Gender and Sexuality Center and Feminist Community at UT Lisa L. Moore 65 There is No Superwoman: Myths, Realities and Women Politicians Sherri Greenberg 67 Contributors 71 Last Look Rebecca Moody 72 Men as Students in Women’s Studies Kyle Brillante At the beginning of one of my courses last year, we participated in a “Finding Voice” seminar. Reminiscent of women’s liberation consciousness-raising groups, the activity was designed to not only encourage us to find our voices as students, teachers and activists, but also to create and foster community within the classroom.