Western to Host Pair of Talks by Rutgers Professor Deepa Kumar Feb. 29

Western Washington University will host two talks by Deepa Kumar, a professor of Media Studies and Middle Eastern Studies at Rutgers University, on Monday, Feb. 29.

The first talk will be from noon-1:20 p.m. in Fairhaven College Auditorium, and the second talk will be at 4 p.m. in Miller Hall 138. These talks are free and open to the public.

The first talk, “In Search of Monsters to Destroy: Islamophobia, the War on Terror, and U.S. Imperialism,” will discuss why 15 years after 9/11, anti-Muslim racism has only continued to grow. Kumar will argue that islamophobia isn't simply about hate crimes; rather it is an ideology tied to a set of practices that serves the interests of various sections of the imperial state. According to Kumar, islamophobia is central to the logic of the War on Terror.

The second talk, “Gender, Race, and War: Why Women Do Not Benefit From Imperial Feminism,” will begin with an introduction to the kind of feminism that Hillary Clinton espouses, one that is supported by other powerful white women such as Madeline Albright and Gloria Steinem. In opposition to this corporate imperial feminism, Kumar argues that a genuine grassroots transnational feminism is what is needed to liberate women the world over. She will discuss how cultural products have internalized the logic of imperial feminism. Her presentation includes clips from films, television shows, and oil paintings from the 19th century.

These talks are sponsored by Western’s Ethnic Student Center, the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies World Issues Forum, the History Department, Social Issues Resources Center, Women’s Sexuality and Gender Studies program, and the American Cultural Studies program.

For more information, contact Shirley Osterhaus, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, at Shirley.Osterhaus@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3680.