Annabel Hillstrom
Overview
Tina Gentry was a senior at TCU in 1985. According to an article written about her by a student reporter in The Skiff, TCU’s daily newspaper, Gentry had lived in five different countries before coming to Texas Christian University for college. Different than the other 220 international students, Gentry was the daughter of a diplomat, and is an American citizen with an American father and a Japanese mother. Her unique experiences abroad led her to pursue work with the International Students Association, serving as its President in 1985. Although she is American, her position as a President allowed her to serve as a liaison between both communities on campus.
Connection to Feminist Theory
One main connection to feminist theory that is relevant to the article about Tina Gentry is that of Intersectionality from Kimberle Crenshaw. The intersecting marginalized identities of her womanhood and her race as a half-Japanese woman uniquely impacted her experience at TCU. In addition, because of her experience living internationally, Gentry led a very different life than other American citizens attending the university. Another part of her identity which I found interesting is her life as the daughter of a diplomat. Surrounded by political conversations and in social spheres with those in government, I wonder if Gentry experienced a level of class privilege. As someone who has the opportunity to travel and experience various cultures, she is advantaged in relation to various other students at TCU.
I was also reminded of Haunani Kay Trask’s piece called "The Color of Violence" that discusses the concept of peaceful violence. Although Gentry doesn’t discuss violence in her piece, she mentions the ignorance of TCU students who continue to taunt and demean international students. By asking “Do you have toilets at home?”, domestic students assume that international students are less advanced and less civilized. This separation as hierarchy and as racism is an act of peaceful violence that continues to oppress people of color in society at the hands of white individuals.
Lastly, in Anzaldua’s Borderlands, the author writes about the struggles of navigating between life as a Hispanic woman operating in a white American world. This conflict between culture and geography seemed to fit well with Gentry’s experience at TCU. As a woman of color with experience abroad, yet still an American citizen, Gentry operates in multiple spaces between white culture and those of oppressed identities. She herself identified as a liaison between both groups, having to navigate in almost a “double bind” as mentioned by bell hooks. Gentry advocates for those groups who hold citizenship in international countries while still operating in her own space as an American citizen.
Language and Women of Color in the Article
One interesting aspect of Gentry’s article was a discussion of what it is like being an international student at TCU, and also what it might be like as a woman in foreign countries. Gentry states that “the main complaint that [she’s] noticed from international students is Americans’ lack of awareness about foreign countries. Americans don’t realize the level of development in other countries. International students encounter questions like - ‘Do you have toilets at home?’” Questions like this signal ignorance of different cultures and countries, as well as the belief that international students are uncivilized and uneducated. Interestingly, TCU’s mission statement includes that students should have a level of responsibility to understand the global community, which is not shown here.
While it starts out on a good note, the article turns to address the roles of women in America compared to other countries around the world. For instance, Gentry comments that “there are more advantages for women living in the United States than in most other countries.” This may be true, depending on the various advantages that could be considered in this comment. However, by framing the United States as a land of opportunity and privilege, it not only minimizes the shortcomings of American life, but also creates a dichotomy between the “Global North” and the “Global South.” The Transnational Feminist theory used these terms not to describe the geographic locations of different countries, but to emphasize the Western perspective on different cultures and their positions. For instance, countries in Africa or various regions in Asia are considered the “Global South” because of the difference in resources and technologies when compared against the more industrialized and capitalized systems of the United States and other “first-world” countries. Global North doesn’t mean north per se, but above or higher than the other countries based on the social positioning of the nation in a western perspective.
Another part of this conversation was the idea of women at work. Gentry shared that women in Japan at this time were “considered basically homemakers. Even though some women work, the opportunities aren’t as great as for women in the States.” Gentry lived in Japan for sometime and had a Japanese mother, so she had (at the very least) some exposure to Japanese culture. What strikes me as interesting is her view on women working, “going on to higher heights,” versus women staying at home. Gentry is passionate about the opportunity for women “competing with men in the workplace” which is more of a possibility, in her opinion, in America.
One reason this might be true is because of the historical context. Written in 1985, this article was positioned between the end of second-wave feminism and before the third-wave feminist movement. Second-wave feminism, lasting from the 1960s to late 1980s, was largely defined by the movements for reproductive rights, family, legal discrimination, and the workplace. By the mid 1980s, women had more freedom to pursue various careers outside of the home. This created a tension between many women that believed the position of “stay-at-home mom” was a result of oppressed and weak women and those who still hoped for that role.
I do acknowledge that in my position as a 21st century feminist and Women and Gender Studies student, I am critical of Gentry’s preference of America and its educational and workplace opportunities compared to other international countries. I am able to use my understandings of post-colonial and transnational feminism to promote a more inclusive and global approach to these issues facing women that Gentry might not have considered. In her time at TCU, however, she passionately pursued equity of women in the workplace, seeking out opportunities to excel and to include her peers, both international and domestic students. Pictured in other Skiff volumes and The Feature, TCU's yearbook alternative at the time, Gentry is shown preparing for other International Students Association events such as International Students Week (see above). She was often working hard as a student leader to provide resources for international students to “tell them about the United States” and to “give [Americans] a taste for International culture” that they haven’t seen before.
The Relevance Today
While TCU has many more international students than they did in 1985, the problems mentioned in this article are still prevalent in 2019. Many international students are often separate from domestic students and not included in campus-wide events. An interesting note was that in 1985, the ISA had a designated week to promote and educate domestic students on the experiences of international students during International Students Week. In 2019, this event no longer exists. In addition, there are still examples of microaggressions similar to those mentioned in Gentry’s article. For instance, in a course discussing global business and its importance in domestic success, a student made a claim about China’s current government that was misinformed and ultimately, completely false. Had an international student from China not been in that class to clarify and defend the true structure of the country, the class and the initial speaker would have continued to believe false information about the country, solely because they were ignorant and had not taken the time to conduct research.
Gentry's Impact
Instances like this and so many others impact the experiences of international students on campus, which is why Gentry’s dedication to the International Students Association was and is to this day such an important contribution. Until international students, students of color, and all women feel they belong at Texas Christian University, there is still much work to be done. Gentry, although she is American, advocated on behalf of international students to pursue inclusion and understanding at TCU. She, as a half Japanese woman, used her position to advocate for others and make TCU a better place, which is why she is an integral part in TCU’s history. Gentry’s current Facebook profile picture is featured above.