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Feminism's Frankensteins
"Feminism's Frankensteins" is Courtney E. Martin's phrase, not mine. And she's right.
Writing in TAP, she argues that, "The era of the singular feminist agenda is over. But that doesn't mean gender-based activism is."
If it's Tuesday, that means the feminist movement has been declared DOA again. This time, though, the analysis is actually worthy. Usually what that means is that women are not, and perhaps never were, discriminated against; the movement is over because it is no longer, or never was, needed. In other words: Bitches, quit your bitching. The absolute worst of these 'feminism is dead' dirges are the ones written by young female wannabees with nothing to offer the world but their quest for unearned fame. Martin's saying something quite different. Attending an old school feminist forum, she writes:
Now these women are older, many of them happily shifting into what Jane Fonda calls "the third act"—a stage of life when they don't give a shit what anyone else thinks, and they want to see the world live up to its God damn potential, once and for all. They start dying their hair funky shades of red. They urge their husband to get a hobby as they head out for another expletive- and laughter-filled lunch with their friends—other women who are funding feminist causes, editing feminist publications, and leading local feminist efforts. In some ways, it's a return to their earnest youth—a time less fraught with the compromises that come with juggling families and careers. They're prioritizing changing the world again. And as such, they seem to experience an old hankering for an unapologetic women's movement that they can see, hear, and touch.
I don't blame them. All of their stories—about marching in the streets, about taking over offices, about riding around the country in vans, falling in love—not only sounds like they had a whole lot of fun, but also managed to make some profound political changes. But I also recognize that it is a time that has passed. Not only is the women's movement—as it was known in the 1960s—over, but women my age don't even agree on what a "woman" really is.
Sometimes I feel as if my generation—women in our 20s and 30s—are feminism's Frankensteins...
We march in the streets when we're called to (the March for Women's Lives in 2004, Take Back the Night each year on most college campuses) but more as a matter of solidarity and fun than out of any real conviction that protesting still creates change. Many of us, myself included, believe that change is created through strategic communication, alliance-building, and a million little grass-roots movements all over the country that fight for justice and may or may not call themselves feminist (I don't actually care much).
OK. I'm busted.
This is the argument I've been making about the future of the civil rights struggle for years, the argument that makes me a pariah on the black left—the time for protest is past, the maddest of props to those who made it happen. But the best way to honor their legacy, to deserve the name of civil rights activist, is by forging and wielding weapons suited to the present (like the Internet) and not the past (bullhorns), and certainly not for simple self-aggrandizement. Now is the time for mentoring, op-eding, doing O'Reilly, communicating strategically, and in particular, those million little grassroots movements. Damn.
I have no illusion that Martin had me in mind when she wrote this, but she might as well have. It was respectful, humble, clear-eyed, unapologetic, and spot on. I asked what young women were doing for the movement. This is a very good answer. Most of the responses to my two posts on abortion providers and feminism were so high school bitchy and self-righteous, all I could do was move on. I do my best to avoid the all too typical left-wing circular firing squad (and believe me, I got lots of calls to continue that "discussion"). But responses like this one were what I was after. And sorta dreaded getting.
I can assure that if any anonymous person who spent a year walking to and from work during the Montgomery bus boycott, or helped legalize abortion, wants to talk to me about my own race or gender activism, I'll give an answer like Martin's (and I have for the last dozen or so years in my work). I'll give an answer that can't be easily dismissed no matter how annoying grumpy oldsters—who worry themselves to death over you—can be.
Martin's article is being used on another site
Who are these guys?
http://www.online-dating-rights.com/forum/index.php?topic=1622.msg6353#msg6353
Selective memory?
Deborah, I find it telling that you focus on this article by Courtney - which you misrepresent as a "feminism is dead" piece when it's obviously not - as a response to your post about young women not being feminist activists. (I believe you called us "pole dancers?")
Courtney put together a series of posts on Feministing directly responding to your claim that young women aren't working on repro rights issues called Fire in the Belly - profiles of such young women: http://www.feministing.com/fire-in-the-belly-series/ Yet I see no mention of it here...curious.
It seems to me that you need to believe us "high school bitchy" young women aren't doing any feminist activism, because if you admitted the truth - that feminism is more youth-led and energized than ever before - you'd be out of things to write about. (Plus, you wouldn't have any more excuses to deride young women as bitches, pole dancers, chicks, etc - and what fun would that be?)
More proof of my point
Debra J. Dickerson
Amazing how self-regard can negate basic reading comprehension, let alone Logic 101.
Again, my hat's off to Courtney.
I can read just fine, though
I can read just fine, though thanks for more insults! I just think that you owe the young women you trashed as apathetic an apology, and an admission that young women are doing a lot more work than you give them credit for.
Feminism defined in terms of self interest
Most feminist women, when they are pressed to define feminism, typically state that it is whatever they say that it is. In other words, feminists tend to define the ideology in terms of their own self-interest. That is essentially what the movement it about: women’s empowerment. Feminist empowerment is defined in very individualistic terms.
This is problematic for men, because nowhere in this definition is there any concept of equality. The word may be used, but it has no meaning in terms of the arguments that feminists are elaborating. In fact, men are often defined as the “other”, and are frequently viewed as the antagonist in the feminist worldview.
Feminism is basically based in gender conflict. It isn’t based in any conceptualized view of cooperation. This fundamentally hampers its appeal as an ideology, because nowhere within its scope of thinking does there appear to be a role for men. Men are just a minor detail, and often are viewed as a very irritating detail in feminist ideology. The ideology has essentially no role for men unless they are willing to give in to feminist demands. Those demands are ostensibly viewed as innately reasonable, regardless of their content, simply because they are made by feminist women.
Men's participation in feminist activism
I assume, based on your post, that you would like to work toward gender equality but are looking for how to participate in a movement you see as hostile to you simply based on your gender. I used to feel the same way about racial justice. I saw racism and knew it was wrong, but since I am classified as “white” I was, I thought, marginalized and denied legitimacy in groups of people of color working for the same cause. I soon realized, however, that it was not an attack on me, or even on white people. It was simply that my role, as a member of a group that has traditionally benefited from the oppression of non-white people, is different. There are some things I will never understand about racism. Therefore, there are times when it is my role to listen, and some times even when it is my role to not be present. That can hurt at first. I get it. But once you understand that it is not because the group you identify with is inherently “bad” or “wrong,” but simply because those who have suffered the same abuses need time with each other to build solidarity, it is easier to participate without resentment. It’s the same thing with sexism.
Your frustration with feminism as expressed here is something I hear quite often from men. While I understand that it may sometimes be an accurate interpretation - that women are sick of being oppressed and try to function outside of the "very irritating detail" of patriarchy, I don't see that as wrong. Because gender-conforming men rarely experience sexism in the way that women do, it is hard if not impossible for them to understand women's experience. This is true of all oppressions, as discussed above. Those of us who do not experience them do not always see them, and need to educate ourselves by listening compassionately to those who do. And sometimes temporary isolation - removing oneself from contact with members of a group which has hurt you (whether personally or through their unacknowledged privilege) - is a step in the healing process. It is by no means the goal. But it is legitimate for women to look to other women to reclaim their identity, and this particular step is something men can not participate in.
However, since men are half of the world's population, and active participants in the gender order, there is plenty of space for them in the feminist movement. I find the allegation that men must "give in to feminist demands" slightly irksome, because it implies that men have no legitimate interest in gender equality, or in female empowerment. In fact, pro-feminist men are everywhere. And they're not lap dogs. They are aware of how very much the oppression of women under patriarchy hurts everyone, including themselves. Much like anti-racist white people and LGBTQ allies, they join the movement because they recognize their deep personal interest in equality.
If you are looking for way that you, as a man, can engage in the struggle for gender equality, look up the White Ribbon Campaign at http://www.whiteribbon.ca/. It’s a male-led group that works against men’s violence against women worldwide, and an excellent starting place for men who wish to educate themselves and engage in issues of gender inequality.
I think you will find that if you listen to feminists with an open mind, you will find that they do not wish to exclude men, but merely to create an equal space for themselves as women in the world. That could be interpreted as self interest. It can also be interpreted as justice.
True, men need not give in to feminist demands...
...while having a large loving family with a dedicated wife. How is that? Well, Western feminists represent a very small percentage of all women on the planet so they are easy to avoid. If you want a feminist, you know where to find them. If you don't, well, it a candy store out there...for American men who expatriate that is. American mail order husbands have it made. Awaiting the "good riddance" and "can't handle equal women" and other hackneyed tired old responses, so fire away.
Well, what else does a
Well, what else does a hackneyed, tired old sexist remark deserve but a hackneyed, tired old response?
You're absolutely right. Women never should have gotten the vote, the right to own property, or consideration in custody of children. We should have been content to remain barefoot, pregnant, chained to the kitchen sink. By all means don't let the door hit ya where the good Lady split ya.
Feminism's Frankinstein
tagged as:- solution
It has ALWAYS been the people who were willing to do the drudge work that Courtney describes who actually made the difference. No one would know my mother's name, but as a divorced women in NY State in the '70's, she worked tirelessly with her state and local government toward obtaining the right for women to have credit in their own names. Prior to that no woman, even a doctor or a judge, could buy a house, get a credit card, etc even with exemplary employment and finances ; a male signature was required. She attended no rallies, protests or exciting events. She gathered petitions, talked to people and networked. She worked within the system. Exactly what Courrtney describes. Protests have their definite place for galvinizing opinion and bringing attention to a situation, but in the end, it is the attention to process and the means if effecting change that gets it done. Always has.
"But the best way to honor
"But the best way to honor their legacy, to deserve the name of civil rights activist, is by forging and wielding weapons suited to the present (like the Internet) and not the past (bullhorns), and certainly not for simple self-aggrandizement. ... I have no illusion that Martin had me in mind when she wrote this, but she might as well have. It was respectful, humble, clear-eyed, unapologetic, and spot on."
:)
Thanks Debra J. Dickerson, you certainly seem to be doing quite a lot by dismissing everyone with whom you disagree as a bitchy youth. Very productive indeed.
No matter whether I agree
No matter whether I agree with you or not on any issue, Debra-- and both have occurred-- you're one of the few people I know of who displays genuine courage, which I see in this case as being willing to speak one's genuine opinions even when it's pretty sure it'll offend those one considers one's own in any way or degree. Or even just make you a pariah, however true that has been in the cases you mention above. Keep doing what you're doing. So says this enemy of stupidity, mediocrity and extremism on the left no less than on the right.
Aside from the main
Aside from the main discussion of social action and activism, and so forth, you may also care to remember, Ms. Dickerson, that the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the women's movement which followed it, involved more than protesting and marching. Public protests were simply one tool within the arsenal of organizers of the Movement. Remember that the Movement also involved a great deal of strategizing, planning, organizing(of course), and negotiation(such as the talks which King and the leadership of the Movement often held with both Kennedy and Johnson).
The current struggle of African Americans for liberation may not require a movement arranged and configured similar to the Civil Rights struggle of the 50s and 60s, but simply as citizens, we should never distance ourselves too much from the right to assemble and protest, if need be. Sometimes the courts fail or the press will not allow you to voice your opinion, and your only option may be to assemble.
Why do we always need these
Why do we always need these pronouncements from on high about what "the movement" (whichever one being discussed) needs to do and be? I'm kind of tired of it. Here's the short version. Feminism isn't dead, feminism is nothing to be ashamed of, and we should each of us do what we're most comfortable doing to keep the movement vibrant and relevant to all people who might be touched by it in their daily lives. There. Was that so hard?
I swear... MoJo has lost its collective mind... Just because we have a Democrat in office now doesn't excuse a shift to the right, of even half an inch. I keep seeing stuff like this and I can't believe I'm seeing it in a leftist publication. You are still leftist, correct?
Thank you!
I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank "Concerned Feminist" for his thoughtful and well written message. We would all do well to not so quickly feel insulted, offended or excluded when any historically marginlized group takes some time to reconnect with each other.