Can We Tawk Talk?: Fashioning/re-fashioning and Mapping Myself as a Border Crosser

Sheri R. Klein

Sheri R. Klein

Abstract

Drawing upon anthropology, sociology, linguistics, cartography, and feminist theory, I use a layered account to map my experiences as a working class, first generation college graduate and professsor within higher education to better understand my struggles as a border crosser.â€1 Through word + image, I explore the intersection of gender, class and education and the construction of my overlapping and conflicting identities that have been subject to fashioning/re-fashioning throughout my life. I discuss the requirements, challenges and costs of border crossing. Suggestions for addressing class as an academic, feminist, and social justice issue are further explored.

Author Biography

Sheri R. Klein

Sheri R. Klein, PhD, MFA, is an artist, educator, and researcher. For the past three decades, she has taught courses in art and design, art education, and teacher education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is an exhibiting artist, conference presenter, and author of numerous publications on the subjects of art, education, and leadership. Her current research interests are to explore autobiographical, gender, social and cultural issues through writing and the creation of graphic narratives, drawings, paintings and garments. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the Department of Art Education and can be reached at: kleinsheri353@ gmail.com or or sklein1umassd.edu