Welcome to the blogosphere, IntLawGrrls. In a widely-distributed email, Professor Diane Amman (UC Davis) announced the group blog:
[W]e hope that that this newest entry to the blogosphere will add new voices to discussion on matters of global import — not only overarching questions of war and peace, but also less-noted events, such as detention of children and unionization efforts in the developing world. You are most welcome to join our project….[O]nly women will be primary bloggers, [but] we welcome men’s visits and comment posts.
Regularly-scheduled contributors to the IntLawGrrls blog include Jaya Ramji-Nogales (Beasley School of Law at Temple University), Elizabeth Lutes Hillman (Rutgers School of Law-Camden), Elena A. Baylis (University of Pittsburgh School of Law), Hari Osofsky (University of Oregon School of Law), Naomi Norberg (PhD candidate in comparative law, Université de Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne)), Karen E. Bravo (Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis), Diane Marie Amann (University of California, Davis, School of Law), Hélène Ruiz Fabri, Université de Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne). This is a great group of scholars; the blog will be one to watch.
Three aspects of the blog are particularly curious. First, the blog’s name appears to be a nod (at least in part) to the “Riot Grrrl” movement of the 1990’s. But why would a group of adult professional women, mostly law professors, choose to call themselves “grrls”? Is this one of those Foucauldian reverse discourse/reclaiming moves? If so, I’m not sure it works.
Second, as Professor Amman announces above, men are not welcome as “primary bloggers.” There are convincing cases to be made for female-controlled or female-only space, but I’m not sure that IntLawGrrls have made one.
Third, the “primary bloggers” have adopted as semi-pseudonyms “names of foremothers in the hope they will inspire crisp yet care-full commentary, delivered at times with a dash of sass.” The blog’s “Voices” section lists each author’s real name and professional affiliation. Writing as Mata Hari, Professor Hari Osofsky (University of Oregon School of Law) says, “Rather than essentializing either our foremothers or the current generation of intlawgrrls, the blog simply includes us.” Huh?
-Bridget Crawford
But why would a group of adult professional women, mostly law professors, choose to call themselves”grrls”? Is this one of those Foucauldian reverse discourse/reclaiming moves? If so, I’m not sure it works.
There is precedent: Profgrrrrl who teaches at “Tranquility University”.