I don't understand. I honestly don't understand. Despite bell hook's explanation on the history of the stigma of a "feminist," I just doesn't make any sense how girls can STILL support the negative connotation.
I had a conversation with my friends this evening (which was made up of 4 other girls and 1 boy) about feminism, and just to clarify these girls aren't anti-feminist they just grew up in an area that was very fem-power in the way that it became over-bearing. Not to mention they are all in the male dominated professions of math, chemistry, and law. It basically came down to this:
Me: "So what do you want and what do you believe"
Them: "Well I want a job, I want to be independent, I want the right to vote, and I want equality"
Me: "So you ARE a feminist"
Them: "No, because society has given feminism a negative connotation. So, I don't consider myself a feminist."
Me: "So even though you believe in all the same things, you're not a feminist?"
Them: "No. Because most feminists are considered crazy. We go by the social definition, not Webster's"
Me: "So even though, you yourself could be/ are a feminist and could CHANGE societies perception of what a feminist actually is, you don't want to because...?"
Them: "Because we don't care that much. We're apathetic to the issue."
Again, this isn't a statement against my friends, and I'm not saying they're apathetic to womens' rights, this is just a comment on how society has changed the definition of feminism.
Alright, so I understand this. Relatively. I get that you don't want to be grouped into the stereotype of some crazy extremist double-X supremacist. I also understand that you already have most of what you want (really the only thing missing is full control over your ovaries and equal pay- which are both almost completed) so you don't feel the need to really fight.
But, if you embrace the stigma, if you go along with society's definition of what feminism really is, than you aren't helping the cause; YOUR cause.
So here's how it started out. Basically the media, which was made up of rich white males at the time the movement began, had no interest in spreading what real feminism was. As a result, the real goals of feminism weren't spread. Jump ahead a few years, the 70s. Now was the time of social change, a revolution for everyone. Feminism still had a stigma, but now feminists were in politics able to explain their goals. Not to mention the "institutionalization of womens' studies helped spread the word about feminism" (bell hooks). Yet, eventually, there was a backlash. And more backlash.
Look, you aren't helping yourself. Why deny the word? Why punish the title? THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING A FEMINIST. It's all what you allow to be played into. Fight back against the stigma. Fight for what you believe in. Christianity used to have a negative connotation, too. They were crazy cult followers. Now look at the title. People are proud to be Christians. So don't let society's twisting of the word stop you. CHANGE IT. EMBRACE IT. MAKE IT YOUR OWN.
If you prove to others that you ARE a feminist, and that you AREN'T hell-bent on supremacy, then THEY will spread the word, too. Pay it forward, and change will come...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Oppression, Sexism, and the Women who keep it Alive
So I'm reading Feminism is For Everybody by bell hooks, and I just have to say, so far this is the best book about feminism that I have encountered. Straight from the beginning she explains why feminism is not necessarily a fight against "the man," literally, and is against sexism and oppression from every source possible: male, female, young, or old.
First of all, this comes into play with people like Sarah Palin and Phyllis Schlafly. Both of these women are/were in politics, so both of them were in a position of power; both of these women also have/had a strong voice to influence the public; and both of these women, are women. But, for some reason, Phyllis Schlafly was against the Equal Rights Movement and Palin is an advocate for women in the home. So here's the deal: both of these women act like feminists, but mentally they both give into sexism.
Palin is an advocate for women being in the home, for strict motherhood, and she is pro-life, so no abortions.
To quote bell hooks:
"If feminism is a movement to end sexist oppression, and depriving females of reproductive rights is a form of sexist oppression, then one cannot be anti-choice and a feminist. A woman can insist she would never choose to have an abortion while affirming her support of the right of women to choose and still be an advocate of feminist politics. She cannot be anti-abortion and an advocate of feminism."
Now, back to motherhood. I'm not saying if you want to be a mother then you're not a feminist- in fact, I can't imagine growing up and not having kids; being a mother (eventually) is one of the things I have to experience. The difference is that Palin believes that women should fulfill their role in the home as a mother BEFORE they pursue their career in business and politics. Basically, the female's first and main priority is to have kids and to raise them.
Well, that right there is the problem. It is ok if a woman wants to be a mother and raise kids, that is her choice; but that is eactly it, it is HER CHOICE. If a woman does not want to have a child, she shouldn't have to. She should have the power to pursue a career, to have kids, or to do both. By forcing a woman into the role of the mother, that is oppression, that is sexism. Excuse me for this relatively distasteful analogy, but it's the best way I can get the point across:
Sex. It's natural. People do it. It's their choice. Nothing is wrong with coitus.
Rape. It's technically sex, only forced. That is what is wrong with it.
Forcing someone to become a mother, or to have a child, is basically rape. Obviously sex is a part of life. The problem is when it is forced upon you. There is nothing wrong with a woman cooking, a woman doing the laundry, a woman wanting to be a mother. You can do these activities as a female and still consider yourself a powerful woman, a feminist. In fact I enjoy all of these activities and do them in my leisure time. The problem is when motherhood is forced upon you. When you have someone in the government REQUIRING you to raise kids, stay in the home, and maintain the "housewife" image; that is no longer freedom but instead oppression.
So if Palin considers herself a feminist she needs to re-think the laws she supports. I understand if you believe that life starts at conception; I understand if you believe that abortion is murder; BUT not everyone does. If the woman's life is in danger, if it wasn't her choice to become pregnant, she needs to have an option, she needs the freedom to chose.
Feminism is about supporting freedoms and rights for women.Women hold their own stigmas, their own ideals against the actions of what other females do. That is sexism. Their own minds have an expectation, a requirement for the roles of women in society. That is sexism. Women put other females down because they disapprove of their life choices. That is sexism, too.
Feminism is for everybody, and oppression can come from anybody. So watch your thoughts, because even you could be adding to the limitations of females in society.
"Sisterhood could not be powerful as long as women were competitively at war with one another" -bell hooks
First of all, this comes into play with people like Sarah Palin and Phyllis Schlafly. Both of these women are/were in politics, so both of them were in a position of power; both of these women also have/had a strong voice to influence the public; and both of these women, are women. But, for some reason, Phyllis Schlafly was against the Equal Rights Movement and Palin is an advocate for women in the home. So here's the deal: both of these women act like feminists, but mentally they both give into sexism.
Palin is an advocate for women being in the home, for strict motherhood, and she is pro-life, so no abortions.
To quote bell hooks:
"If feminism is a movement to end sexist oppression, and depriving females of reproductive rights is a form of sexist oppression, then one cannot be anti-choice and a feminist. A woman can insist she would never choose to have an abortion while affirming her support of the right of women to choose and still be an advocate of feminist politics. She cannot be anti-abortion and an advocate of feminism."
Now, back to motherhood. I'm not saying if you want to be a mother then you're not a feminist- in fact, I can't imagine growing up and not having kids; being a mother (eventually) is one of the things I have to experience. The difference is that Palin believes that women should fulfill their role in the home as a mother BEFORE they pursue their career in business and politics. Basically, the female's first and main priority is to have kids and to raise them.
Well, that right there is the problem. It is ok if a woman wants to be a mother and raise kids, that is her choice; but that is eactly it, it is HER CHOICE. If a woman does not want to have a child, she shouldn't have to. She should have the power to pursue a career, to have kids, or to do both. By forcing a woman into the role of the mother, that is oppression, that is sexism. Excuse me for this relatively distasteful analogy, but it's the best way I can get the point across:
Sex. It's natural. People do it. It's their choice. Nothing is wrong with coitus.
Rape. It's technically sex, only forced. That is what is wrong with it.
Forcing someone to become a mother, or to have a child, is basically rape. Obviously sex is a part of life. The problem is when it is forced upon you. There is nothing wrong with a woman cooking, a woman doing the laundry, a woman wanting to be a mother. You can do these activities as a female and still consider yourself a powerful woman, a feminist. In fact I enjoy all of these activities and do them in my leisure time. The problem is when motherhood is forced upon you. When you have someone in the government REQUIRING you to raise kids, stay in the home, and maintain the "housewife" image; that is no longer freedom but instead oppression.
So if Palin considers herself a feminist she needs to re-think the laws she supports. I understand if you believe that life starts at conception; I understand if you believe that abortion is murder; BUT not everyone does. If the woman's life is in danger, if it wasn't her choice to become pregnant, she needs to have an option, she needs the freedom to chose.
Feminism is about supporting freedoms and rights for women.Women hold their own stigmas, their own ideals against the actions of what other females do. That is sexism. Their own minds have an expectation, a requirement for the roles of women in society. That is sexism. Women put other females down because they disapprove of their life choices. That is sexism, too.
Feminism is for everybody, and oppression can come from anybody. So watch your thoughts, because even you could be adding to the limitations of females in society.
"Sisterhood could not be powerful as long as women were competitively at war with one another" -bell hooks
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Cosmopolitan Magazine
Now I'll go back to the part about me being a hypocrite. I totally and completely indulge in this monthly matron magazine. I look forward to the tips on how to make my skin better in the summer, winter, spring, and fall. I measure my face in order to find the best way to have my hair styled so I don't look chubby cheeked. I even question my guy friends on whether or not they really would appreciate if their girlfriend stocked their food supply. I have been brainwashed by society; and it is brainwashing, because I am not overweight, yet I feel the pressures of the models on the pages; my hair falls perfectly fine, yet I spend hours researching the best way to keep a curl; and I put on make-up for 10 minutes every morning just so I feel confident enough to go outside, even though I have been told on multiple occasions that 1) I don't need to wear make-up and 2) most guys like a natural girl without all the make-up. SO WHY DO I DO IT?! I DON'T KNOW! It's just there. I've been bred this way. I have been exposed to these "perfect people" and fashion magazines for 19 years and I have succumbed to the wills of business.
But, at the same time, Cosmo is for female empowerment. There are articles about the best ways to nail an interview, the ways to mimic body language so that people are more comfortable around you, the ways to get ahead in the work force, and the best things to eat so that you are healthy rather than just aiming to lose weight. So maybe that's what happened. I started out looking at the business articles, and maybe the make-up tips, and eventually I was hooked. I needed to check out what the new tips were, how to keep up with what was in- I miss the days where I could say I honestly couldn't care what I wore or how I looked.
So when I think about it, which is stronger? What effects women more? The back-handed "ways to look better" or the "ways to act better?" Considering there are magazines, stores, websites, medicines, so on and so forth dedicated ONLY to physical appearances of women, I say there should be a change, a new "Bible" so to say. We need a magazine that tells you the best ways to maintain yourself emotionally, physically, psychologically, and socially. When that happens, I believe we have overcome female oppression; and it IS oppression, because women are SUFFERING. Women are emotionally distraught because they feel like they don't fit in or aren't good enough. Just ask any girl whether or not she feels overweight. Most likely the only ones who are o.k. with their bodies are those who either don't care if people judge them or have accepted that they ARE beautiful; and that's how it should be. No one should be judged on physical appearance to the extent that they feel like they aren't beautiful.
So way to go society, you have officially bullied the female gender into a corner. But I guess that is partially my fault, after all I did buy the magazine, I do read the website, and in this way I contribute to the company and allow them to continue the brainwashing. Boo.
What is Feminism?
I guess this would be the best time to define what I think feminism is here and now, because this will probably change by the end of my blog, or at least alter a little bit. That is the point of learning.
Feminism, in my mind, is the believe/movement that women are equal to men.
They deserve the same rights, the same privileges, the same expectations, and the same standards as men. Obviously certain things won't be the same, like who will be the one actually giving birth (unless science becomes so advanced that men can carry the fetus!!) BUT both parties who contributed to the new born should be EXPECTED to have the same responsibility in the child rearing process. Men should be able to stay home while the woman works without any stigma assigned to either party. Women should be able to cook without having to "make her husband a sandwich" for any reason other than she enjoys it and thought it would be a nice gesture. The glass ceiling should be broken. Whether or not the statistic that women make, on average, 30% less then men is "grossly out of proportion," there should be no difference to begin with.
Basically, feminism is not some crazy movement of lesbians trying to take over the world and make men pay for their oppression of women; and while a little more respect and acceptance would be nice, that is not the point. Feminism, pure and simple, is just about equality in every aspect of life.
Feminism, in my mind, is the believe/movement that women are equal to men.
They deserve the same rights, the same privileges, the same expectations, and the same standards as men. Obviously certain things won't be the same, like who will be the one actually giving birth (unless science becomes so advanced that men can carry the fetus!!) BUT both parties who contributed to the new born should be EXPECTED to have the same responsibility in the child rearing process. Men should be able to stay home while the woman works without any stigma assigned to either party. Women should be able to cook without having to "make her husband a sandwich" for any reason other than she enjoys it and thought it would be a nice gesture. The glass ceiling should be broken. Whether or not the statistic that women make, on average, 30% less then men is "grossly out of proportion," there should be no difference to begin with.
Basically, feminism is not some crazy movement of lesbians trying to take over the world and make men pay for their oppression of women; and while a little more respect and acceptance would be nice, that is not the point. Feminism, pure and simple, is just about equality in every aspect of life.
From the Beginning...
Well, here we go:
today I start on an adventure into my past, present, and future. For those who do not know, my name is Sarah Perry and I consider myself a feminist. Right now I am a student at Ithaca College, I am a double major in Drama and Television-Radio, and if I could, I would minor in French, Art History, and Womens Studies; but alas, I do not have time. Which brings us to this blog:
For a long time now I have been interested in the history of women, their role in society, and their advancement through the feminist movements. I have made a name for myself in every group of friends I have ever had: I am the loud, sometimes obnoxious, feminist...and, yet, surprisingly, my friends stick with me, which I am incredibly thankful for. This semester I decided to finally take a Womens Studies course. Now my first assignment? To blog about thoughts, commentary, and considerations when it comes to anything feminist-related. This is basically a blessing. For the next semester I will use this blog to talk about anything that comes to my mind, which will probably relieve the ears of those closest to me, but I will also discover what feminism truly is, what it means to me, and how it affects each and every one of us.
My past has already been influenced by women, obviously. First of all I was born, so thank you mother! Secondly, I was able to receive an education, I can vote, and I have the right to go to the doctor and receive birth control if I so choose; so without the women sneaking around cross-dressing as men, the suffragettes, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Margret Sanger, and so on so forth, I would never have been able to enter a school house, voting booth, or have access to control my own ovaries.
Now a warning: I'm not quite sure on the language that may be used or how grotesque my subjects may be, but this is a blog about my feelings and views, as well as a scholastic assignment, but if something offends you, I am dearly sorry and will try to restrict my blatancy in the future. But for now, read on!
today I start on an adventure into my past, present, and future. For those who do not know, my name is Sarah Perry and I consider myself a feminist. Right now I am a student at Ithaca College, I am a double major in Drama and Television-Radio, and if I could, I would minor in French, Art History, and Womens Studies; but alas, I do not have time. Which brings us to this blog:
For a long time now I have been interested in the history of women, their role in society, and their advancement through the feminist movements. I have made a name for myself in every group of friends I have ever had: I am the loud, sometimes obnoxious, feminist...and, yet, surprisingly, my friends stick with me, which I am incredibly thankful for. This semester I decided to finally take a Womens Studies course. Now my first assignment? To blog about thoughts, commentary, and considerations when it comes to anything feminist-related. This is basically a blessing. For the next semester I will use this blog to talk about anything that comes to my mind, which will probably relieve the ears of those closest to me, but I will also discover what feminism truly is, what it means to me, and how it affects each and every one of us.
My past has already been influenced by women, obviously. First of all I was born, so thank you mother! Secondly, I was able to receive an education, I can vote, and I have the right to go to the doctor and receive birth control if I so choose; so without the women sneaking around cross-dressing as men, the suffragettes, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Margret Sanger, and so on so forth, I would never have been able to enter a school house, voting booth, or have access to control my own ovaries.
Now a warning: I'm not quite sure on the language that may be used or how grotesque my subjects may be, but this is a blog about my feelings and views, as well as a scholastic assignment, but if something offends you, I am dearly sorry and will try to restrict my blatancy in the future. But for now, read on!
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