Killing Joy: Feminism and the History of Happiness
"Killing Joy: Feminism and the History of Happiness"
Sara Ahmed, Department of Media and
Communications
Goldsmiths, University of London
This paper examines the history of happiness through a feminist lens. The paper proceeds by suspending belief that happiness is a good thing, and explore feminist histories as struggles against happiness. Happiness is how social norms become social goods. Reflecting on feminist critiques of the happy housewife, the paper suggests we can revitalize feminist languages of raising consciousness and false consciousness, thinking of feminist consciousness as a reorientation to the causes of unhappiness. Consciousness of unhappiness is not necessarily a form of self-consciousness but a world consciousness in which unhappiness can disturb the happiness of the familiar. The paper reflects specifically on Black feminist consciousness as a consciousness of what does not get noticed when happiness provides a horizon of experience. It calls for a feminist ethics and politics of killing joy.
A collaboration with
听