Alaso: An Haitian Feminist Anthology (Neges Mawon)

bilingual edition: HT/EN

This third issue offers a peek at what's hidden behind the notion of family. The question of roles and (gendered) titles is essential to a feminist approach to family dynamics. The widely praised archetype of fanm potomitan - the pillar woman - figures among the bedrock roles in Haitian culture, and one that Doris Lapommeray calls on us to actively reject. The child has another role to play in the family. Darline Alexis encourages us to question their absence/presence/pretext in Haitian literature. We also discuss the idea of chosen family, with contributions from Michèle Lemoine on artistic families, and Jeanne-Elsa Chéry on women in politics. And on families we inherit, Sharma Aurélien gives an overview of feminist struggles in support of the single-parent families that women carry on their backs. Couplehood and family life remain ground zero for women in regards to patriarchal violence in all its forms; fictional pieces from Stéphanie François and Dorvensca M. Isaac offer stark reminders of this. One of the subjects explored is how incarcerated women are torn from their families, making it nearly impossible to rekindle ties with their children and relatives after release. Sometimes it is more about the families that choose us, as was the case for Sergina Trenti and Jessica Lundi-Léandre, both born in Haiti and adopted by white French families.

Contributions

Darline Alexis Sharma AurelienJeanne-Elsa ChéryStéphanie FrançoisDorvensca M. IsaacDoris LapommerayMichèle LemoineJessica Lundi-LéandrePéguy Flore C. PierreSergina TrentiNègès Mawon

Translation: Talie CérinDoris LapommerayNadine Mondestin Benaïah Jacques