Full Description
One of the few Mexican American women philosophers across the United States and Mexico redefines philosophy and pedagogy through a groundbreaking exploration of identity, culture, and language.
For more than two decades Manuela Alejandra Gomez has been teaching on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. In the first book of its kind to critically analyze how Mexican Americans connect to philosophy she draws on a five-year study, her experience, ethnographic observations and testimonies to show a constant navigation between two nations, two cultures, and two languages.
Leading us through this complex negotiation of intersecting worlds, Gomez explores how to teach and learn philosophy from a Mexican American perspective. She makes us question what it means to be a philosopher, challenges conventions about what it truly means to philosophize and redefines the boundaries of philosophical thought: her aim is to add a new chapter in the narrative of academic inclusion and diversity that makes more room for Mexican American perspectives.
Reimagining and broadening the parameters of philosophy, she offers invaluable pedagogical insights, providing a rich and practical roadmap to more effective teaching methods, while empowering students through the recognition of their identities.
In the United States, more women and students of color are going to college than ever before, but philosophy as an academic field continues to be one of the least diverse and untouched by their vantage points. This much-needed book marks an important contribution to local and culturally informed ways of teaching and learning.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction:
- The Value of Navigating Intersecting Worlds
- Methodological Approach: Philosophical Capirotada
- Understanding the In-between: Core Insights on Borders and Intersticios
- Importance of a Mexican American Perspective
- Being Mexican American and Breaking Through Walls
Chapter 1: My Philosophical Journey
- Back and Forth
- Who Put Me in This World and Why?
- Crossroads
- Alone or All One?
- Lo Doctor No Quita lo Pendejo
- Say Their Names
Chapter 2: Desenterrando Conocimientos/ Unearthing Knowledge
- Desenterrando Conocimientos
- Labels: A Double-Edged Sword
- Difficult Choices
- Mexican American Philosophy: A Philosophy of Tranzas y Cruzes
- Can you Name a Mexican American Philosopher? Lack of Representation and Delegitimization in Philosophy
Chapter 3: El Que No Tranza No Avanza: Mexican American Students in Philosophy
- Philosophy, Education, and the U.S.-Mexico Border:
- Phenomenological Study of Mexican American Students of Philosophy
- Testimonios
- Double Majors: Philosophy as an Intersticio
- Transformative Role of Border Suffering
- Metaphorical Tattoo
- Al Otro Lado/ On the Other Side
Chapter 4: The Gender Dimension: Filósofas y Feminismo and the Role of Language in Philosophy
- Are You a Philosopher?
- Mothers and Desmadre
- Mija, Yes You Can
- Two "Fs" Filósofas y Feminismo
- Physical, Textual, and Philosophical Bodies
- Philosophy as Very Fancy English
- No Sabo
- Dichos
- Pleito with Plato
Chapter 5: Reimagining Philosophy Education Through Pedagogical Tranzas
- Role of Educators
- Making Minds Fizz
- Pedagogical Tranzas
- Importance of Feedback
- Trees in the Forest of Philosophy
- Plato's Allegory of the Cave and Self-Identity
- Socratic Dialogue
- Hidden Meaning
- Modern-Day Socrates Exercise
- Philosophy, Halloween, Selfies, and Extra Credit
- Philosophize This!
- Philosophy and Netflix
- Enseñanzas and Conocimientos
- Outside the Classroom: Feeling Human
- Future Selves and Owl Tattoos
Chapter 6: Conclusion: Golden Rugs
References
Index
