A surface reading of The
Project Chick by Nikki Turner might yield an interpretation that that the
themes and characters presented in the novel represent a rhetoric that
encourages traditional gender roles, and the submission and objectification of
women. However after looking deeper within the text and taking account of
intersections of race, class and gender, details of the story contain a more
feminist framework than what might initially be assumed. A good way to identify
feminist tendencies in this novel is to pay close attention to the women, the
ways in which they exercise power and agency, and understanding the
complexities of the roles the men in their lives play.
Looking specifically at Tressa, it is important to
understand that class, access and income are factored into her romantic relationships,
thus forcing her to be cognizant of her financial well-being when making
decisions regarding the men in her life. While her reliance on men might seem
at first to fall within the bounds of gendered norms, much of it is rooted less
in companionship and more in the affordances, both material and otherwise, that
the men she is involved with can offer her. In the same vein, she must consider
what can be lost in severing ties with the men in her life and how it might impact
her reality. This is evident in all of her relationships as she closely
considers what each potential partner can offer her, measuring the risks
against the rewards. The men who are allowed to be in Tressa’s life must have
something significant to offer up that will benefit her life and her
circumstances. Her relationships with men, while on the surface, seem to
revolve around and run by them, are actually motivated by her personal
necessities and desires. The men in, or potentially in, her life, are valued
for their resources and serve as a source of Tressa’s survival. Tressa’s
priority is the well-being and safety of herself and her family, and her
environment is set up in such a way that a part of ensuring that security has
to do with how a man might able to contribute. Her decisions then, are
strategic and while they might not overcome historicized and instutionalized
gender, racial and class oppressions, she exercises power by working within her
reality and being the ultimate decider over those actions that fall within her
control.
If we bind notions and definitions of feminism to specific traits
such as, independence, financial and otherwise, from men, we disregard other
ways in which women might claim or exercise independence. This therefore excludes
as well as disregards, narratives in which women are navigating intersections
of gender, class and racial oppressions. Turner’s A Project Chick, and Tressa herself as an embodiment of
intersectional feminism, to a substantial degree, help to expand an
understanding of feminism which makes it possible to view it through a variety
of lenses and from multiple angles. One of the most important characteristics
of feminism and feminist thought is its plurality. It is important to be aware
of the bounds in which some women with certain identities might be working within,
that are different from those narratives that have in the past, and today
still, represent [mainstream] feminism.
Sundai,
ReplyDeleteYou’ve made a really amazing point that I did not think about. When analyzing A Project Chick I had the mindset that Tressa had to fit into my “definition” of feminism. I had come to the conclusion that Tressa wasn’t promoting “true feminism” since in some ways she relied on men for money and used her sexuality to get it. However, instead of thinking that she used her body or femininity to get money, if you think about her actions as necessary to provide shelter, safety, food, resources, child care, and much more for her children it almost seems justified. You wrote that men were often a valued resource for Tressa and her children’s survival. This would justify why Tressa had to be picky about who she began a relationship with. She picked her men based on the amount of money, services, and protection they could provide her family. As we talked about in class these behaviors can classify her as a gold-digger, however, when you look at the bigger picture it’s almost as if she had no choice. Under the circumstances that Tressa was placed in she often had to sacrifice things and do things that she ordinarily may not choose to do. Many women are often put in similar positions where they have to make tough decisions and think like Tressa (Will he help me make ends meet?). It would be wrong to look at women in these situations and negatively judge them because they often don’t have the privilege of making decisions like those who are more fortunate. This makes me wonder if people’s definitions of feminism are made to exclude those belonging to lower SES classes. Some ways I think Tressa could identify as a feminist is her use of choice. She set boundaries about what she would do and wouldn’t do and she never kept herself in a situation that she felt threatened her autonomy. The fact that she doesn’t allow anyone to take away her ability to choose the situations she decides to be in and requires people to respect her boundaries shows her feminism. In my opinion, although on the surface her actions do not seem to support feminism, when considering her situation and lack of better options the way she upholds herself demonstrates strength and independence.
Jasmine Johnson