This project looked at global and internal migration to better understand borders, race negotiation, politics, sexual expression, and global influence on movement Key takeaway: A movement, migration is Queer so long as there are Queer people within it making strides, contributing, constructing, leading, or just plain living.
This project is the result of the Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship and an internship
Interdisciplinary means I used theories and methods from: History, Gender Studies, Sociology, Education, and probably more
I'm also a T.A. for a course with the same name
Why does this even matter?
Learning must lead to LIBERATION!
This is KEY because our current (im)migration situation is interconnected and synonymous with several other social justice issues like: the Prison Industrial Complex, global Anti-Blackness, poverty, queerphobia, and more
If you are for immigrant rights then you are for queer rights, the abolishment of prisons and police, open borders, reparations, and other necessities for sociopolitical and economic liberation
Learning can't happen in isolation and neither can knowledge
If my parents and communities can't understand what I'm talking about, then it is all useless! Research and theory must be for the people.
When we apply different ways of thinking that build on each other, we get knowledge that is more well-rounded and informed from all walks of life
Also, different fields have different approaches! I know this first-hand as a History and Gender Studies double major. They approach learning and meaning so differently, but compliment each other beautifully. So, it's important to understand a topic like Queer Migrations from different points of learning.
This project let me be a historian, educator, gender theorist, queer theorist, and sociologist at the same time.
This fellowship TRANSFORMED my academic approach and I'm looking forward to bringing these lessons everywhere in my future.
Readings I used heavily and you could check out (most are online for FREE!): 'Time Binds or Erotohistoriography" by Elizabeth Freeman, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by Paulo Freire, "Mapping the Margins" by Kimberle Crenshaw, "Epistemology of the Closet" by Eve Sedgiwck, "Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale" by Maria Mies and MORE!
What About me?
I've sprinkled it in, but really this was transformative for my future... If you are someone at Loyola who really likes to learn and is curious about different fields, look no further! The way of processing information and applying it that I learned in this fellowship has made my other research endeavors successful. It's been one of the best decisions I made here at Loyola. This topic might be the one I present when I apply to PhD programs.
A big thank you to my mentor (DR. GARCIA) who encouraged my growth and challenged me every step of the way.
Here is the link to my official presentation (take a look for more learning :))- https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XzgUhfk5H_7b_iEb0_tNw0AhvVBXaFHntZmBzbboiQk/edit?usp=sharing