Rae Dong

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“A happiness profile would be the profile of the kind of person who is most likely to be happy, as we can also see in the following classic description: “happy persons are more likely to be found in the economically prosperous countries, whose freedom and democracy are held in respect and the political scene is stable. The happy are more likely to be found in majority groups than among minorities and more often at the top of the ladder than at the bottom. They are typically married and get on well with families and friends. In respect of their personal characteristics, the happy appear relatively healthy, both physically and mentally. They are active and open-minded. They feel they are in control of their lives. Their aspirations concern social and moral matters rather than money making. In matters of politics, the happy tend to the conservative side of middle. (Veenhoven 1991: 16)” The face of happiness, at least in this description, looks rather like the face of privilege. Rather than assuming happiness is simply found in “happy persons,” we can consider how claims to happiness make certain forms of personhood valuable. Attributions of happiness might be how social norms and ideals become affective, as if relative proximity to these norms and ideals creates happiness.”
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Sara Ahmed, The Promise of Happiness

Highly recommended

(via gole-yas)

Always interesting to read Sara Ahmed’s thoughts. Her work on postcolonialism and feminist theory invoke important critical thinking on both subjects. What’s even more interesting is how Sara - half Pakistani, half English - discusses ingenuity and scholarship in terms of feminism, racism and queer studies. “Embodied Others in Post-Coloniality” by her is an essential read. I’d love to take her interview soon.

(via mehreenkasana)

June 25, 2013 by Rae Dong
June 25, 2013 /Rae Dong
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