Guest speaker discusses neoliberalism

"It is the aestheticizing of social difference that has led to discrimination in today's society," professor Shannon Winnubst from Ohio State University said at a speech on Monday.

Her speech titled, "Hot Pink Dresses or 'Adam Smith' Ties?" discussed the "queer" challenge faced by many people in a neoliberal's world. In her introduction, she shared the reason behind the title. Winnubst said, at a pro-gay rally, a male student of hers was wearing a hot pink dress. Winnubst said the title of her speech represented the contrast between the conservative ideas society adheres to and the freedom to be queer and accepted.

The dean's office of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department sponsored the speech at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 6, in the Brown-Alley Room of Weinstein Hall.

During the discussion Winnubst stressed that the definition of queer was often misinterpreted. "There are gays that are queer, just as there are heterosexuals that are queer," she said. "It is not something that can be tracked or monitored."

Drawing her main points from French philosopher and social theorist Michel Foucault, and establishing her main arguments against the theories of the American economist, Milton Freidman, her speech intertwined the relationship between philosophy and economy in today's society. According to Winnubst, neoliberalism erodes all categories of ethics, leaving the poor and minorities at the bottom of the opportunity scale.

"Neoliberalism has led to the mainstream culture of dictating what is socially right and wrong," Winnubst said.

In an effort to "map" the queer challenges to neoliberalism she identified the problems of this economic state and the changes that must occur to develop equal opportunities for all Americans.

Winnubst was introduced by the associate professor of leadership studies and psychology, Crystal Hoyt. Winnubst earned her B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy and specializes in queer theory, race theory, feminist theory, and psychoanalysis. She is currently the Associate Professor of Women's Studies at Ohio State University.

"The speech was an interesting marriage between WGSS and philosophy," Christine Parker, a junior, said, "A unique overlap between the two fields of study."

Claudia Soliz, a sophomore from Bolivia, raised the discussion of cultural diversity, on campus at the University of Richmond. "The University aesthetically delivers the outside view of being widely international, but the classrooms--for example in the business school--demonstrate nearly no diversity", she said. "It is a predominantly Caucasian and American environment."

Some students who witnessed the speech seemed to respond positively to the ideas and theories she presented.

"She was very knowledgeable in WGSS and her talk was easily relatable to the students on this campus," Justin Hempfling, a senior, said, "I especially enjoyed her connection to how neoliberalism views people as products rather than individuals."

In a final statement from Winnubst she emphasized the need for a change in the social idea of what society has labeled as 'cool'.

This version corrects Crystal Hoyt's title.

Contact reporter Nabila Khouri at nabila.khouri@richmond.edu.