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Olivia and Raven are black, blind women, passionate about shedding light on issues regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Get political and personal with them as they share their perspectives on living at the intersection of disabled, black, and women in the US.
Episodes
Friday Apr 09, 2021
Friday Apr 09, 2021
This episode is push back against those within the femininity movement who promote a submissive woman as the ideal woman. Olivia and Raven talk about what’s flawed about equating submission with femininity, how this idea contributes to misogyny, and devaluing women by teaching them to base their value on what they can do for a man.
Discussion Summary:
00:33: We’re talking about why submission is associated with femininity.
1:25: Being a submissive woman is a one-dimensional view of femininity, qualities thought of as feminine, and whether or not there’s a standard definition of feminine.
08:46: Promoting the idea that the ideal woman is a submissive woman, and devaluing women by telling them their value is based on what they can do for a man.
11:15: The view that an essential part of womanhood is being a mother or having the ability to reproduce, arguing that people with certain anatomy should or shouldn’t behave in certain ways, and how these views contribute to misogyny.
15:44: Viewing strong-willed women negatively, and issues with saying women ought to allow their man to lead.
19:35: The meaning of providing has changed since women have increased independence, and what providing can mean outside of protection and financial support.
25:50: Exploring what people mean when they say there’s power in submission, leadership in servitude, and the problem with using this language regarding a relationship.
30:37: Telling women to be submissive is telling them to work against their own interests, and male entitlement in teaching women to be submissive.
36:43: The difference between trusting and submitting, how trust is encouraged in women, but not in men, and men aren’t expected to sacrifice their humanity as women are.
40:13: Why some men view spending time with their partner as a sacrifice.
44:56: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod,
and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Olivia and Raven talk about the various ways women are oversexualized, even in contexts that aren’t sexual, and the many factors that possibly influence why women are often treated as sex objects.
Discussion Summary:
00:33: We’re talking about how women are oversexualized and viewed as sexual objects, which is fitting since April is National Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness month.
05:09: Does how women dress affect whether or not they’re oversexualized? And men blaming their lack of self-control on women.
13:28: Viewing sex appeal as a defining quality of womanhood.
14:57: Men failing to understand how women are objectified, because they aren’t treated as a sex object first and human second.
17:26: Viewing smiling and eye contact as flirting or displaying interest in intimacy.
20:24: Sharing food or a meal with someone as a form of flirtation or affection.
22:02: The problem with focusing on decoding nonverbal signals of sexual interest, and failing to communicate effectively.
25:46: Men feeling entitled to sex when they treat women to dinner, and irrationally treating sex as the most favorable outcome of an experience with a woman.
29:43: People aren’t taught to value other types of bonding and connecting in intimate relationships.
31:31: Valuing and devaluing women based on their number of sex partners, and the double standard of demonizing women for being sexual, and praising men for it.
38:19: The damage being done by failing to adequately educate people about sex early on.
44:13: How we can move away from viewing women as sex objects, and teaching people to value others for more than just sex appeal.
47:49: Outro.
Reference: Male Microchimerism in the Human Female Brain
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod,
our Facebook page, and
our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Olivia and Raven talk about women being demonized for how sensitive they are, the emotional work women do, and the value in emotional awareness and emotional expression.
Discussion Summary:
00:54: Whether women are conditioned to be nurturing and sensitive, or if it’s primarily biology.
02:39: Women are expected to be sensitive, but they’re demonized for being too sensitive and for not being sensitive #enough.
05:31: Learning when there’s space for your emotions, the value in being sensitive to others, and the emotional obligations women tend to have.
10:57: Why some women are people pleasers, learning to put yourself first, and whether being a people pleaser makes you a good person.
16:27: What’s problematic with being a submissive woman, and the difference between being a submissive person and a people pleaser.
22:04: How living your life for others is still prioritizing your purpose, and why living a life as a mother and housewife is not necessarily submissive, even though it’s what’s expected of women who are taught to be submissive.
26:40: The push for black women to submit to a husband, and not be strong-willed and independent-natured, when that’s not in our culture.
30:25: Healthy ways of incorporating passion, compassion, and vulnerability, using our emotions as women to empower ourselves and others, and the need for both emotional awareness and emotional expression.
34:21: The focus on developing emotional intelligence, what it is, and how it can help in our interactions with others.
38:39: Black Beauty Highlight: Marley Dias.
39:26: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod,
and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Black Beauty Highlight background music: "Bass Walker" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Olivia and Raven discuss fragility as a defense, linking personhood to ideas, male fragility, and embracing vulnerability.
Note: There’s low quality audio on Raven’s end until 01:16.
Discussion Summary:
0:33: We’re talking about fragility as a defense, equating ideas with identity, and resistance to consciously adjusting one’s understanding when presented with new information.
04:59: Ideas and standards change over time, and a digression about different areas of the world using different calendars.
07:19: Linking fear of change to hating being wrong, pride paired with intelligence and knowledge, and people feeling attacked when someone points out that they’re wrong.
11:04: Male fragility, male entitlement, the one-dimensional view of what it means to be a man, and failing to recognize strengths in women.
14:05: Expanding upon what it means to provide and protect as a partner, men feeling emasculated because women’s roles have expanded, and sharing roles and responsibilities doesn’t lessen your self-worth.
20:37: emotional fragility in men, the one-dimensional view of vulnerable, and emotional vulnerability as a strength.
26:18: The tough guy persona as a form of male fragility, certain ways of being emotional are viewed positively when expressed by men,
30:59: Black beauty highlight: Kimberly Bryant.
31:46: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod,
and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Black Beauty Highlight background music: "Bass Walker" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Monday Mar 15, 2021
Monday Mar 15, 2021
This is the second episode in a series on honoring womanhood. Olivia and Raven have a lengthy talk about growing up black – generational trauma, black parental love, being devalued as a black woman, religion, sex and sexuality, and appearance.
Discussion Summary:
00:33: Today, we’re talking about being the daughter of a black woman.
00:54: The way generational trauma affects how black children are brought up, and tough love from black parents.
09:42: Setting boundaries, and not being empowered to establish healthy boundaries with all relationships.
15:28; Self-worth and self-esteem as a black woman when others don’t value you or teach you to value yourself.
19:57: Being cautious and suspicious as a black person, people downplaying when we get mistreated, and people dismissing us before they try to understand us.
30:19: Black womanhood, growing up in a religious household, and pressure to have your own family.
45:40: Messages and education regarding sex and sexuality.
50:25: Learning not to dress inappropriately and to look presentable.
52:40: Impressions and politics surrounding black hair styles.
62:42: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod, our Facebook page, and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
Olivia and Raven get into what it means to talk “white,” use Black English, and acting and thinking “white.”
Discussion Summary:
00:32: Both Raven and Olivia have been accused of talking and acting “white,” and the insult of being told “you speak so well” by white people.
01:38: What’s talking “white,” Black English, and code-switching for journalism and voiceover work.
03:50: Proper and improper English, assumptions about how a person speaks associated with skin color, and being judged based on the way you speak by white and black people.
13:33: Why talking and acting “white” is viewed negatively by black people.
16:15: Judging people negatively based on their accent or dialect, mocking accents, and using accents to illustrate negative characteristics.
23:01: What is acting “white?” Why do black people accuse other black people of it?
25:50: the focus on being familial in the black community, the struggles of being a black introvert, and the joys of being introverted.
30:14: What is thinking “white,” what Raven finds problematic about labeling a certain way of thinking as “white,” and dealing with criticisms of the choice not to have a family.
37:45: There’s no one way to be black, and people assuming you have certain preferences and taste in music because you’re black.
44:05: Black Beauty Highlight. GLADYS BENTLEY
The Great Blues Singer Gladys Bentley Broke All the Rules
45:52: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod, our Facebook page, and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Black Beauty Highlight Background: "Hard Boiled" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Monday Mar 08, 2021
Monday Mar 08, 2021
This is the first episode in a series on honoring womanhood. Olivia and Raven share their views on the ideas surrounding women as the weaker sex, sensitivity as a sign of weakness, and what keeps misogynistic attitudes alive.
Discussion Summary:
00:33: Why we’re trash talking the people who trash talk women.
02:58: People depicting women as weak people, normalizing microaggressions against women, and using woman as an insult all contribute to misogyny.
05:20: Women who consider themselves above other women and use misogynistic microaggressions reinforce the view that being a woman is unfortunate.
07:51: The irony of using “pussy” and “vagina” as an insult.
09:41: Considering women as inferior when we shoulder the burdens and stresses of society, and expecting us not to have anything to say about it.
13:07: Societal expectations for women exist regardless of socioeconomic status, and have expanded overtime, while those for men haven’t expanded much.
18:24: Gender and the Pain Experience, and the influence societal expectations have on how we tolerate pain.
23:04: The problem with suppressing how you feel or hiding that you’re hurt, and judging people negatively for crying.
25:06: There’s increased focus on Emotional intelligence, and the ways in which people reinforce concealing emotions.
27:44: Pain tolerance in male and female dogs, and illustrating that females, in general, aren’t the weaker sex.
29:27: Stop contributing to the degradation of women.
30:39: Black Beauty Highlight. Michelle Alexander Biography
31:25: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod, our Facebook page, and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits:
Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Black Beauty Highlight Background: "Hard Boiled" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Friday Mar 05, 2021
Olivia and Raven passionately discuss how America’s founding contributed to prejudice and discrimination faced by black people in the US today, and how and why structural racism and prejudice against black people are preserved.
Discussion Summary
00:33: Pro-black is anti-American, and the Preamble and Three-Fifths Compromise in the Constitution.
05:58: The founding fathers supporting slavery, and their anti-slavery sentiments.
11:49: Lincoln’s views on slavery, worshipping the founding fathers who dehumanized and discriminated against black people, and demonizing people protesting for black lives and against police brutality.
19:01: People advocating to preserve the history of racists, not fighting for black history, and minimizing the suffering of others by glorifying the founding fathers.
24:16: The religious foundation for inequality, Christianity’s role in enslavement, and barring slaves from Christianity.
26:30: Whitewashing Christianity.
28:43: Why black people aren’t comfortable with the confederate flag and what it represents.
34:19: Foundations of the police force in the United States, and how people haven’t taken the time to examine structural racism.
41:21: Falsely equivocating black power with black domination because of what white power has been, and teaching people to fear black people.
47:50: Whether or not people care about skin color, and talking about race is only problematic when black people bring it up.
53:59: Black-American culture as an export.
56:11: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod, our Facebook page, and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credits:
Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie
Closing: First Class - DJ Williams
References:
What the Constitution Really Says About Race and Slavery
(1964) MALCOLM X, “THE BALLOT OR THE BULLET”
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Raven shares why she’s always been uncomfortable talking about racism and misogyny, but why she’s even more uncomfortable avoiding these topics.
Discussion Summary:
00:21: The transition from focusing primarily on disability, to discussing race and womanhood.
01:59: Invalidation, gaslighting, and supporting insensitive people more than people who face prejudice.
05:11: Joking as a way to avoid accountability.
07:46: People being up in arms over censorship, and believing there shouldn’t be consequences for some of the things we say.
10:35: The usefulness in discussing these topics in the face of invalidation and insensitivity, and people don’t understand how larger issues start from seemingly harmless comments.
13:20: People claiming their not prejudiced when they display attitudes that say otherwise, being dismissive of others experiences due to feeling superior, and awareness exhaustion revisited.
19:23: Moving toward covering successes within the black community on the podcast, the laser focus on negativity in the black community in the media, and the impression that makes.
22:00: Attending a Black History Month celebration, and its lasting impact.
25:44: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod,
and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music credit: Thanks to Purple-Planet.
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Olivia and her sister, Bray, share their personal experiences participating in the marches for black lives last summer, their thoughts on hypocrisy surrounding racial prejudice, injustice, and black history, and how protesting is impactful.
Discussion Summary:
00:35: Intro to Bre.
01:19: Why the sisters started protesting, and hopelessness surrounding injustice toward black people.
09:21: Views on media coverage on the protests, hypocrisy related to injustice against black lives, and whitewashing history.
14:00: Supporting the fact that black lives matter, and not specifically BLM as an organization, and injustices against black women aren’t covered as much as injustices against black men.
16:33: Planning to protest, and getting friends and family onboard.
20:55: First experience at a march for black lives, safety while protesting, and police intimidation and violence against protesters.
29:31: People trash talking protesters, knowing black people doesn’t mean you understand their struggle, nonblack people being supportive of justice for black lives, and the flaw with allyship.
35:33: Experiences with support and solidarity continuing to attend marches.
38:06: Thoughts on kneeling in remembrance of George Floyd at a march, and responses to folks who played down his struggle during his dying moments.
43:35: The goal of attending the marches.
45:30: Walking in the March on Washington, traveling last summer with COVID-19 restrictions, and diverse populations showing up in support of black lives.
55:46: Pride in attending the marches.
58:50: Experiences with supporting black communities outside of marches.
1:02:53: How the sisters feel protesting has affected them as people, lessons learned about the logistics of protesting, and thoughts about social injustice.
1:13:04: Things to be mindful of as black women protesting.
1:17:07: Outro.
Social media: Twitter @I_squaredpod, our
and our public Facebook group, Intersectional Insights.
Music Credit: The Bone Train - Slynk