Monday, December 01, 2008
Commemorating World AIDS Day
"In the criminalization of both drugs and sex, the state claims for itself the right to police consensual adult behaviors and punish willing participants."
Author Wendy Chapkis, professor of Sociology and Women and Gender Studies at the University of Southern Maine, is reading from her book Dying to Get High: Marijuana as Medicine at Bluestockings in the East Village this evening at 7 pm. What I would give to be in New York tonight!
Having previously tackled research on prostitution and published Live Sex Acts: Women Performing Erotic Labor and Beauty Secrets: Women and the Politics of Appearance, Chapkis turns to the war on drugs. I've only read the introduction - but I'm hooked and can't wait to read the whole book. She is one of those smart, fearless writers who doesn't pretend to be objective. It always makes me angry when researchers pretend they're unbiased - there are always cultural lenses at play, always feelings and perspectives and ideas that make up who you are as a human. Those aren't erased just because you're researching something; there's no clean slate to start from. By admitting who you are and where you're coming from in the first place, your research - your story - stands on more honest footing and is easier to understand. Folks in Chapkis' community have struggled with medical marijuana issues for years, and helped get Prop 215, California's Compassionate Use Act, passed in 1996. They went on to found a medical marijuana cooperative for patients and caregivers to help seriously ill folks grow their own medicine.
Her book investigates the struggle with the federal government for the right to use marijuana, and portrays the chronically ill - many dying of AIDS - and their caregivers fighting for their rights. She's a phenomenal writer, and dedicates this book "to the many WAMM [Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana] members who died during the decade in which this account was crafter, as well as to all those still active, still defiant, still demanding alternatives to war."
So. Get out and celebrate World AIDS Day today. Fight for a better future.
If you're in New York, go to tonight's event!
If you're in DC, join DC Fights Back.
If you're somewhere else ... well, I'm sure there's something. If nothing else, join the Facebook event Don't Be (RED)ICULESS on World AIDS Day - buy less and give more!
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Author Wendy Chapkis, professor of Sociology and Women and Gender Studies at the University of Southern Maine, is reading from her book Dying to Get High: Marijuana as Medicine at Bluestockings in the East Village this evening at 7 pm. What I would give to be in New York tonight!
Having previously tackled research on prostitution and published Live Sex Acts: Women Performing Erotic Labor and Beauty Secrets: Women and the Politics of Appearance, Chapkis turns to the war on drugs. I've only read the introduction - but I'm hooked and can't wait to read the whole book. She is one of those smart, fearless writers who doesn't pretend to be objective. It always makes me angry when researchers pretend they're unbiased - there are always cultural lenses at play, always feelings and perspectives and ideas that make up who you are as a human. Those aren't erased just because you're researching something; there's no clean slate to start from. By admitting who you are and where you're coming from in the first place, your research - your story - stands on more honest footing and is easier to understand. Folks in Chapkis' community have struggled with medical marijuana issues for years, and helped get Prop 215, California's Compassionate Use Act, passed in 1996. They went on to found a medical marijuana cooperative for patients and caregivers to help seriously ill folks grow their own medicine.
Her book investigates the struggle with the federal government for the right to use marijuana, and portrays the chronically ill - many dying of AIDS - and their caregivers fighting for their rights. She's a phenomenal writer, and dedicates this book "to the many WAMM [Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana] members who died during the decade in which this account was crafter, as well as to all those still active, still defiant, still demanding alternatives to war."
So. Get out and celebrate World AIDS Day today. Fight for a better future.
If you're in New York, go to tonight's event!
If you're in DC, join DC Fights Back.
If you're somewhere else ... well, I'm sure there's something. If nothing else, join the Facebook event Don't Be (RED)ICULESS on World AIDS Day - buy less and give more!
Labels: HIV/AIDS, medical marijuana
Posted by Vera Leone @ 3:28 PM 
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