Image: Julian Tysoe Because it is still very early on in the new year (taking into consideration people only just stopped exclaiming "Oh yes, it's 2013! Gosh!" as they wrote down the date come about August time this could go on a while) and the media is trying to bulk out the 'new year, new you' stories and reflective 2013 (gosh can you believe it's 2014!?) stories and add a twist. 2014, it seems, will be the year of the How-to. And not the useful kind of How-to that shows you how to re-wire a plug, back flip, or take off the back of your phone (we all have different strengths) on Youtube. A kind of unwarranted sort. Mostly discussing how we can be better feminists.
It is a little bitter, odd and snarky to complain that feminism has been the subject of so many articles and fluff pieces. In fact personally I don't feel bitter, odd or snarky about it, just put out that nobody asked me. However because on the whole educated, white, middle class cis women are writing such pieces. And in spite of being educated, white middle class cis women have something unfavourable in common with educated, white, middle class cis men. We are a blind - or let's say partially sighted, when it comes to noticing one of us is just like the other.
It is only in the past couple of years I have become aware of this. I thought I was aware of this, but having attended a very white school, in a laughably white city I realised that I wasn't not sympathetic or willing to listen, I just wasn't tuned in. In the last decade my opinions about sex work, porn and trans issues have done a complete 180 and I hope this is because I tuned in. I can see why some feminists who are not white, not cis and/or not middle class are being driven to distraction on Twitter, in a weird oppression Olympics they have to perform for before their personal experience can be acknowledged.
It is only in the past couple of years I have become aware of this. I thought I was aware of this, but having attended a very white school, in a laughably white city I realised that I wasn't not sympathetic or willing to listen, I just wasn't tuned in. In the last decade my opinions about sex work, porn and trans issues have done a complete 180 and I hope this is because I tuned in. I can see why some feminists who are not white, not cis and/or not middle class are being driven to distraction on Twitter, in a weird oppression Olympics they have to perform for before their personal experience can be acknowledged.
| While it's quite possible for both 'sides' (sadly I think we are talking sides now) to miss the point, or be wrong on occasion it seems one side has credibility but uses their platform to explain why they are right and not to be questioned, rather than simply saying there's an aspect they don't and can't understand because they will never live that experience. | feminism does not begin and end with taking cute selfies in an amusing slogan t-shirt |
Vice ran a piece on improving feminism for 2014, the writer Sophie Heawood made some excellent points. However when discussing Jodie Marsh's documentary on sex work feminism 2014 got a bit iffy and bleak: "She got right in there, on their level, and gave a shit about them. One of the Manchester sex workers said she'd been beaten up by customers, strangled and left for dead in the road, but she was still on the game, because every day she spent out there her self-esteem eroded further. They must have filmed it about a year ago – I keep wondering if that woman is dead yet. Work on ad campaigns to rebrand feminism all you like, get upset about Taylor Swift not using the F-word, but it’s probably more helpful to work out how to stop that woman bleeding to death on a street in suburban England."
I feel similarly about Jodie Marsh, I feel differently about sex workers, who have different levels of self esteem, safety and opinions about their work and should probably get the last say on any impulse to 'save' them.
I am writing about this because it makes me feel like I don't want to even be feminist any more, I don't know if there is a place in the movement for me. Feminism is more than a witty T-shirt campaign, though in Kira Cochrane's How to Set up a Successful Feminist Campaign Nimko Ali stressed the importance of humour making a campaign more palatable and promotable, you can't pick your cause by how catchy it is. Uh, to clarify I'm not saying anti-FGM is a zhooshy campaign we should not get behind, I'm saying feminism does not begin and end with taking cute selfies in an amusing slogan t-shirt. Or I'd be president by now.
It appears that perhaps a specific feminist How-to is needed for us educated, white, middle class cis women. Step one - Be on your guard, be alert to why a person who ought to be a 'fellow feminist' is angry with your feminism. Step two - listen to those we are allegedly helping. And then stepping aside. No step three, your opinion is probably already out there.
I have helpfully condensed these steps down to the old child road safety slogan so you have something catchy to remember next time you want to disagree via Twitter with someone with a different experience from you: Stop! Look! Listen!
Squeamish Kate
I feel similarly about Jodie Marsh, I feel differently about sex workers, who have different levels of self esteem, safety and opinions about their work and should probably get the last say on any impulse to 'save' them.
I am writing about this because it makes me feel like I don't want to even be feminist any more, I don't know if there is a place in the movement for me. Feminism is more than a witty T-shirt campaign, though in Kira Cochrane's How to Set up a Successful Feminist Campaign Nimko Ali stressed the importance of humour making a campaign more palatable and promotable, you can't pick your cause by how catchy it is. Uh, to clarify I'm not saying anti-FGM is a zhooshy campaign we should not get behind, I'm saying feminism does not begin and end with taking cute selfies in an amusing slogan t-shirt. Or I'd be president by now.
It appears that perhaps a specific feminist How-to is needed for us educated, white, middle class cis women. Step one - Be on your guard, be alert to why a person who ought to be a 'fellow feminist' is angry with your feminism. Step two - listen to those we are allegedly helping. And then stepping aside. No step three, your opinion is probably already out there.
I have helpfully condensed these steps down to the old child road safety slogan so you have something catchy to remember next time you want to disagree via Twitter with someone with a different experience from you: Stop! Look! Listen!
Squeamish Kate
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