This week I've been thinking about being a modern feminist; obviously I'm not first or second wave, but I'm really not third wave so where does that leave me? As far as I know there hasn't been any academic discussion of a fourth wave so I'll go with modern feminist, which I'm stealing from Caitlin Moran. I don't know much about her, but from an article I read in Stylist, How to Be a Modern Feminist, I like her.
I completely agree with her on Lady Gaga, fashion and bitching. Have you ever seen Gloria Steinem up close and personal? I have and she is stunning; immaculately stylish with long, manicured nails. Does that make her less of a feminist? Does that change the amazing writing she's done or devalue her activist activities? No. You can be a feminist and get manicures. Hell you can be a feminist and wear short pink dresses and heels; I personally prefer flip-flops for most occasions but I just bought a pair of amazing Steve Madden nude wedges today.
I think for me a large part of being a modern feminist is tackling the image the general public has of feminists. The de-feminization of feminists is clearly part of the backlash and tackling that is one of the much needed steps to turn the "F-word" into a title young women and girls want to claim. I think many women are hesitant to claim their feminist identity because they are worried of what people will think of them.
I went out to happy hour in DC one night in my "This is What a Feminist Looks Like" fitted t-shirt and I had some guy come up to me and say "So do you shave your armpits?" Much to my friend's dismay I rolled up my shirt and said "Yes I do, you want to see my legs, too?" I'm not sure where this "hairy-legged women's liber" stereotype has come from but if we aren't eschewing hair removal then we are butch lesbians.
Feminists can be pretty. Feminists can wear pink. We can wear dresses and hell, even ribbons in our hair if we so choose. Feminists can come in every shape, colour, size, style, age and sexuality. Do some feminists not shave their legs? Probably. Are some feminists lesbians? Yes. Note the word some. Vast generalizations do not do any movement good and the sooner we cast off these generalizations clearly put upon us to scare off women who like being feminine the better it will be.
I hate when I hear women say they aren't feminists. (So what are they then? Masochists?) Maybe it's just me, but I think a lot of them are just afraid of the label. This feminist is proud to wear the label and I'll do so while wearing a pale pink dress and fabulous wedges.
Feminist Friday X
Here's how it works. Write a blog about being a feminist mom, raising a feminist child, a rant or anything that falls under the realm of the theme for the week. Come back and link your post and post the button on your blog.
That's it.
You don't even have to be a blogger to take part - just send me your post and I will publish it on my blog for you. You don't even have to include your name if you prefer.
When you've published it, come back on Friday and via a widget thing you can add a link to your post and share it with everyone. The link remains open for 4 days.
Visit others, comment if you like them or feel inspired by them. Just go out and encourage and support other feminist Moms.
The more support you give, the more you will get back! I can't wait to meet and interact with other feminist moms around the world!
10 comments:
Can I give you my last-week's Feminist Friday post instead?
It's a bit silly.
http://screenfulofwords.blogspot.com/2011/06/apparently-its-feminist-friday.html
I definitely recommend Caitlin Moran's book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Be-Woman-Caitlin-Moran/dp/0091940737)
Really interesting stuff. I do have a bit of an issue with the body hair stuff - OK a tidy up is fine, but wanting to remove all your body hair to look like a little girl I've always found a bit odd. If I get a mo I'll write something. You always get me thinking!
Clever and well thought out post. Maybe we need a new word instead of feminist or maybe that is a betrayal of women of the past. Let's just all accept that the world still gives a very raw deal to very many women indeed and then try and do something about it.
I'm really glad to hear that I get you thinking! That's what it's all about :)
I'm not sure so much that we need a new word, but we just need to help other women claim it! Feminist isn't a bad word and it's one label I wear proudly.
My OH bought me Cailin Moran's book today for my birthday, I just started reading it. I will try to do a post today, I've had a few thoughts, but I've also been drinking Pimms so I'm not sure if I'll manage to slip one out by Friday!
Totally agree with you about people not identifying with feminism - what do they agree with then? Not getting paid as much as men? Not having pensions rights? Or the right to choose? Or to say no if our husbands want sex? Or to vote? Or a million other freedoms the 'modern' woman has (even if we do have a long way to go)? I think it was cosmo who did a survey showing that will only 5% (or something) of their readers called themselves feminists, 99% (or something) actually agreed with women's rights when they were broken down.
Hope you have a great time tomorrow.
Hi, my name is Teddi and I am a HUGE feminist! I absolutely love this idea and I am definitely a new follower.
The link is up until Tuesday! Next week is an open theme as well :)
Welcome! How'd you find us! Feel free to comment, link and share :)
Feminist or masochist is a weeeee bit of a simplistic either/or choice :) Whilst I can appreciate a feminist perspective now and again and in some instances, I do so no more than I appreciate a marxist one. The perspective I am most comfortable with is social constructionism - I find feminism has to twist itself in some pretty spectacular knots to come up with the goods sometimes!
So yeah... I'm not a feminist, but certainly not because I am afraid of the label or don't know any better - I just prefer a social perspective that covers more iykwim?
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