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sheehanistan 's review for:
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
This is a neat little book full of very useful information for someone looking for an introduction on both environmentalism as well as social justice, as well as an idea on how to get started in both. Very readable, nicely organized, and inclusive of activities for one to try.
Admittedly, for those with much reading already on these topics, you likely won't find a ton of new information. That's not to say the book doesn't include history on the content, but given the scope of it, the history overviews are largely contained to the stories that would be heard in most any introductory sociology class.
I have only two gripes, and I believe both to be innocent oversights by the author/publishers. First is the use of "latinx" throughout, which ISN'T for me to debate about, but feels like a bold commitment to something that has gotten very mixed or even negative reception from the community it's supposed to be representing (especially when considering the countries of "Latin" America where "latinx" is almost comedically ironically unnatural for pronunciation and "latine" is seemingly considered to be far more practical and fitting).
The second was in the short section on "identities". Admittedly I don't have the book with me at the moment, but if I remember correctly it laid out 9 specific identity categories in rather definite language. This was something I wasn't particularly fond of for two reasons... First, it read as if making the abstract notion of identity into concrete categories, when in reality there are near infinite identities and many (occupation, one's "beauty" compared to societies standards) could affect chances in life and actions by others. Second, in the using language that so strongly stresses identities, it risks missing the intention of intersectionality by pushing the very idea of categorization based on identity. The rigors of categorization (something very western in and of itself, especially when it comes to demographics (or the categorization of groups)), are in opposition to holistic and all-encompassing approaches by nature.
That's not to say that it's not important to stress and teach intersectionality and the greater disadvantages faced by different minority/oppressed/disadvantaged groups both historically and now (both as a result of historical events as well as continuing oppressive efforts), but I just feel the approach to teaching such was wrong here and needing language that suggested more unity and collaboration than the language that maintains ideas of some intrinsic "difference."
Note that I'm not assailing the book here, that section is only about a page or two if I remember correctly. As I said, overall this is a solid little surface-level primer and introductory read on the subjects of environmental and social justice, as well as their meeting points.
Admittedly, for those with much reading already on these topics, you likely won't find a ton of new information. That's not to say the book doesn't include history on the content, but given the scope of it, the history overviews are largely contained to the stories that would be heard in most any introductory sociology class.
I have only two gripes, and I believe both to be innocent oversights by the author/publishers. First is the use of "latinx" throughout, which ISN'T for me to debate about, but feels like a bold commitment to something that has gotten very mixed or even negative reception from the community it's supposed to be representing (especially when considering the countries of "Latin" America where "latinx" is almost comedically ironically unnatural for pronunciation and "latine" is seemingly considered to be far more practical and fitting).
The second was in the short section on "identities". Admittedly I don't have the book with me at the moment, but if I remember correctly it laid out 9 specific identity categories in rather definite language. This was something I wasn't particularly fond of for two reasons... First, it read as if making the abstract notion of identity into concrete categories, when in reality there are near infinite identities and many (occupation, one's "beauty" compared to societies standards) could affect chances in life and actions by others. Second, in the using language that so strongly stresses identities, it risks missing the intention of intersectionality by pushing the very idea of categorization based on identity. The rigors of categorization (something very western in and of itself, especially when it comes to demographics (or the categorization of groups)), are in opposition to holistic and all-encompassing approaches by nature.
That's not to say that it's not important to stress and teach intersectionality and the greater disadvantages faced by different minority/oppressed/disadvantaged groups both historically and now (both as a result of historical events as well as continuing oppressive efforts), but I just feel the approach to teaching such was wrong here and needing language that suggested more unity and collaboration than the language that maintains ideas of some intrinsic "difference."
Note that I'm not assailing the book here, that section is only about a page or two if I remember correctly. As I said, overall this is a solid little surface-level primer and introductory read on the subjects of environmental and social justice, as well as their meeting points.