In her last year teaching at North Polk High School, Tia Stubbs starts her day with her last period of the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Women’s Writers Course.
The course revolves around what the title entails, female written- and often female led- pieces of writing from different time periods. The way that Stubbs teaches it, students focus on the three waves of feminism; the first wave consisting of suffragists, the second wave calling for expanded rights both culturally and socially and the third wave focusing on intersectionality.
For the first wave, the students of the class read a variety of authors from Emily Dickinson, Virginia Woolf and dedicated their time to an array of Kate Chopin’s work- specifically to her standout novel, “The Awakening.”
For the second wave, the students read Sara Teasdale, Sylvia Plath and more, with their novel for the unit being “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry.
For the final unit, the class read “The House of Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros, and will be reading a modern novel of the students choosing.
Throughout the semester, the students have been able to be immersed into time periods, cultures and perspectives that they may have never experienced before. Moreover, throughout several in class discussions, a sense of representation has become evident in relation to the novels and student experiences.
Faith Lukak, a junior taking the course explained that Hansberry’s play listed above, was one of only two assigned readings written by Black female authors throughout her high school career, with the second being one of her choosing from a set list of novels.
Lukuk recounts that although when she was younger she was immersed in her culture and many others due to the diversity of where she lived, it all seemed to change after moving to a more suburban space.
“I became insecure about my heritage. I tried to fit in with my white counterparts by dressing like them, speaking like them, straightening my hair,” and more, Lukuk explained.
Lukuk then explained that though there may not have been much representation for herself growing up, with more shows and movies centered around African heritage, her younger siblings are able to see themselves more and more often.
“When my siblings watch…cartoons and movies with African characters, they get really excited seeing their culture, which is considered rare media on the big screen, even though Africa is heavily populated. Now they’re superheroes, cartoons, movies for them; it makes them really happy, making me happy,” expressed Lukuk.
Moreover, in an oftentimes negative world, Lukuk uses the representation seen on screen as affirmation to her younger siblings.
“I love that my siblings have the representation in media that I did not have, but it’s not enough. I have also noticed that people are now comfortable being openly racist, online and in-person; I try to remind them that it is okay to not to fit in, it’s okay to be different” Lukuk ended.
When discussing Cisneros’ novel, Lukuk noted the representation felt through the story of Esperanza, a first generation Mexican American, as well as the pressure felt among first generation children.
By having representation on different mediums such as books, movies and shows, all groups of people, not only the ones being represented, are able to benefit. People of different cultures and backgrounds are able to not only learn about one another, but appreciate the differences of one another, and the people not often represented are able to see themselves and know that, like Lukuk said, it is okay to be different.
