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YDEV 501: Blog Post #8

The introduction to Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown explores the transformtive potential of centering pleasure in activism, which is something I really resonate with.

In my opinion, Brown defines pleasure as a sort of human right and key measure of freedom, which also asserts that reclaiming joy and satisfaction oppressive systems is both healing and liberating. I feel like the content, between essays, interviews, and reflections, helped me understand how pleasure could intersect with personal, communal, and systemic liberation.

Something that also resonated with me is the belief that pursuing pleasure is a radical act that sort of dismantles oppressive structures and promotes justice. I feel this way because radicalism isn't easy, and pursuing pleasure in protest isn't either. It's almost as radical as the saying "kill them with kindness." Reflecting on this, it pushes me to think about how my desires to pursue pleasure can reduce shame and foster authentic connections in my life. 

I live for the thought of aligning our lives with pleasure-centered values, and that collective orientation towards that can generate new paths for societal change. Through this sort of mindset, I feel as though we can create a world where justice isn't a burden, rather a form of fulfilling joyous pursuits. Pleasure Activism is an amazing call to action for embracing pleasure as a powerful way to create societal change.

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