Should we stay or go? Image: WWarby So, last week we had the feminist debacle where people, or rather Twitter feminists (who are people, this is just the preferred medium for them to converse in) were torn over the Lily Allen video. In which a few things were perhaps unintentionally overlooked in order to get a slightly botched feminist message across. One message at the expense of two others on my last count. 'It is the new feminist pop, you can't dismiss it, it has feminist intentions!' or 'this in-fighting weakens feminism.' If you truly think putting on a united front is more important than getting the front right then it's possible you haven't thought the end result through as much as you believed.
A peculiar and unintentional competition between racism and sexism was thrown up, with people bickering over which was worse and which we had time for and which should take precedence. As though we can't address them simultaneously. Just as class is intertwined with feminism so is race. Women do not necessarily have the privilege to pursue feminism due to race and/or class. It is often a concern for intersectional feminists, the accessibility for women held back or put off due to such factors. However this does not automatically mean no minorities are engaged (fortunately, and for which I'm grateful) and it seemed very sad to see their contribution questioned or dismissed as suspicious 'how do they have the time to be offended?!'
There has been much said and much dismissed about intersectional feminism. With some feminists wondering if it isn't too dense for others to access and other feminists (the intersectional ones) insisting any feminism that doesn't acknowledge intersectionalism is bullshit. I think you know what feminism (if we are talking about sides, I'd rather not) we comprehend better, but just in case... it's the latter.
There has been much said and much dismissed about intersectional feminism. With some feminists wondering if it isn't too dense for others to access and other feminists (the intersectional ones) insisting any feminism that doesn't acknowledge intersectionalism is bullshit. I think you know what feminism (if we are talking about sides, I'd rather not) we comprehend better, but just in case... it's the latter.
| I am not saying 'Why do we have to choose' (you must choose!) I am saying 'why do we have to bulldozer down criticism?' If I do something wrong, annoying as it is when someone points it out to me the most gracious and healthy response for me is to acknowledge and take this criticism. I'd never have mastered the apostrophe if I hadn't. | Why are we marching in Reclaim the Night events then? Why not a parade for those who make running shoes - 'Thanks for giving us the means for running away...' |
Which brings me to Elle and a few other women's media groups who have had a go at rebranding feminism. Recently I was invited to attend a panel which would feature the usual suspects. Do they have something to say? Yes. Is it valuable? Absolutely. Have I heard it before? Meh. Yeah I kind of have. If we are talking about a potential 'rebrand' (whatever that even means) do we want the recognised people deciding on any changes? If we do then we have no right to expect any changes. Or certainly no right to those expectations. You want changes then don't pick the people who are happy to continue in the current format.
Lucy Mangan wrote about the potential rebranding of feminism: "Feminism doesn't need rebranding. It just needs to overcome the people-pleasing instincts of its majority members and focus on a few core issues, and then beat the shit out of everything and everyone in its way until those issues are satisfactorily resolved." as did Hadley Freeman: "I have time for Whedon: sure, his female characters spend an enormous amount of time being beaten up (hello, Dollhouse) or being devastated by male characters (hi, Buffy), but, heck, at least he isn't Michael Bay, right? And for the feminist fan of modern pop culture, you have to be a glass half-full kinda person."
The current dominant feminism seems to be too focused on taking what we can get. No, not just taking what we can get. Being grateful for what we can get. At least Joss Whedon isn't Michael Bay! High five everyone, our work is practically done. Let's forget this and have cold frosty one. Why are we marching in Reclaim the Night events then? Why not a parade for those who make running shoes - 'Thanks for giving us the means for running away from our attackers when our skirt's are too short!'
People-pleasing is a big problem in feminism. But we aren't trying to please the people who are saying 'hey, I want to be a part of this, but there is a problem here' we are trying to please the people who are saying 'oh man, I don't want to have to re-examine my beliefs again.'
Here's a revelation for you all. Feminism is not a religion. It has literature and theories behind it but there is no feminist deity that we are going to have to answer to when we pop our clogs because we didn't die in Birkenstocks. We don't owe anybody - human, beast or supernatural any wild adherence to The Female Eunuch. This is our strength. We can grow and develop and CHANGE precisely because of this. So let's. Only I agree, let's not call it a rebrand. Let's call it a rethink.
Squeamish Kate
Lucy Mangan wrote about the potential rebranding of feminism: "Feminism doesn't need rebranding. It just needs to overcome the people-pleasing instincts of its majority members and focus on a few core issues, and then beat the shit out of everything and everyone in its way until those issues are satisfactorily resolved." as did Hadley Freeman: "I have time for Whedon: sure, his female characters spend an enormous amount of time being beaten up (hello, Dollhouse) or being devastated by male characters (hi, Buffy), but, heck, at least he isn't Michael Bay, right? And for the feminist fan of modern pop culture, you have to be a glass half-full kinda person."
The current dominant feminism seems to be too focused on taking what we can get. No, not just taking what we can get. Being grateful for what we can get. At least Joss Whedon isn't Michael Bay! High five everyone, our work is practically done. Let's forget this and have cold frosty one. Why are we marching in Reclaim the Night events then? Why not a parade for those who make running shoes - 'Thanks for giving us the means for running away from our attackers when our skirt's are too short!'
People-pleasing is a big problem in feminism. But we aren't trying to please the people who are saying 'hey, I want to be a part of this, but there is a problem here' we are trying to please the people who are saying 'oh man, I don't want to have to re-examine my beliefs again.'
Here's a revelation for you all. Feminism is not a religion. It has literature and theories behind it but there is no feminist deity that we are going to have to answer to when we pop our clogs because we didn't die in Birkenstocks. We don't owe anybody - human, beast or supernatural any wild adherence to The Female Eunuch. This is our strength. We can grow and develop and CHANGE precisely because of this. So let's. Only I agree, let's not call it a rebrand. Let's call it a rethink.
Squeamish Kate
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