Barriteau/Ulysse

       In her article, Barriteau precisely and succinctly unpacks the issues surrounding white feminism, and points out that the power dynamic present in the systemic oppression of women applies just as significantly in the realm of race, and to ignore that fact is to rely on the very power dynamic that white women's feminism professes to oppose. The concepts she elaborates on are the ideas that make up the central tenets of black feminism, which gives a more thorough investigation of oppressive systems with the consideration of intersectionality. In the conclusion of her article, Barriteau asks "how black feminist theorising could be relevant to African women and women of the African diaspora, such as those in the Carribean? (26)". I thought this question was directly applicable to Gina Ulysse's work, Downtown Ladies. Barriteau's analytical framework and conceptual tools which she reiterates throughout her article are also utilized by Ulysse throughout her text.

       Ulysse's description of the higglers/ ICIs was particularly relevant to the framework of black feminism, as it explored all aspects of the lives and stigmas surrounding the work of the women in such positions. It also examined the circumstances which led to the seeking out of such employment. In chapter two, Ulysse writes, "The increasing role of Jamaican females in their household economy is due, in part, to the relative absence of a permanent male partner's income and the fact that female dominance of market activities is one of the Africanisms retained in the New World." This also relates to the perceived masculinity of the women who sought out these positions, and the connection it has to the trope of black women as being less feminine. This perceived lack of femininity is what caused, as Ulysse describes, the lady vs. woman trope, or the idea that black women cannot be held in the same regard as white women because of a lack of traditional femininity. Barriteau also spent some time exploring this idea in her article, pointing out on pages 18-19 that femininity has socially been associated with whiteness, and masculinity has been associated with blackness. This problematic connotation has led to the subsequent dismissal of black women as respectable, or as "ladies", since they stray from patriarchal gender roles. I wonder, since Ulysse closely examines the lady/woman categorization of women, if this is why she chose to name her work "Downtown Ladies" as opposed to using "women" in the title.

       In chapter four, Ulysse states, "The higher the class, regardless of informality, the more likely they are to consider themselves importers, whether or not they are officially registered." She goes on to explain that this is because of the stigma surrounding the label of ICI. Ulysse spent a considerable amount of time explaining just how profound of an impact class had on the perception of all Jamaican women, and especially the higglers, so it is interesting to see how that impact resonates today. I was interested to read Ulysse's research and descriptions of the workers in the ICI system, and to note their various attitudes toward their work.

       I was consistently reminded of our discussion from class last week while engaging with Ulysse's text. Her description of traveling to Jamaica for her research purposes brought to mind the questions we posed surrounding the issue of travel, and our participation in an exploitative system. However, I think Ulysse's account is sufficiently self-aware, and points out several supportive reasons why we should engage in international travel as a method of research, while bearing in mind that our actions and interactions should reflect our goals of understanding the power dynamic and challenging the oppressive system.