Autoethnographic reflexion: Chicana feminist border/transformative pedagogies and human rights education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Through the methodologies of critical reflexión and autoethnography, the author illustrates how border/transformative pedagogies and Anzaldúa’s concepts of nos/otras and new tribalism proved useful in efforts to dismantle color- and colonial-blind ideologies, abstract liberalism, and binary and oppositional thinking among members of a graduate seminar in social justice and human rights. Investments in these discourses and unquestioned philosophical commitments to them limited seminars members’ ability to openly talk about racism, sexism, homophobia, and colonialism. Applying the principles of border/transformative pedagogies, nos/otras, and new tribalism required hard work, in-depth reflexión, and deep listening to each other. As a result of this praxis, some members of the seminar were able to name their philosophical and political positions to work across what seemed to be insurmountable borders. In doing so, seminar members were able to begin to build bridges among multiple intersectional identities and philosophical positions. The author argues that these pedagogical practices are beneficial for human rights education in particular and educational practices in general.