Feminism has made the news again, only because someone thinks feminism is dead, again. Aaaanyway. When I read this article, What young women want from The Australian the incongruities in these young womens’ thinking hit me so hard that my head hurt.
Two things sprung to mind after reading this article. The first was a conversation I once had at a feminist mothers’ discussion group. I can’t recall the topic now but it was clear as the discussion unfolded that we, as mothers, were very intensively raising our children. I asked the other mothers what we thought our children were learning from all this – that they too can provide this kind of love and thoughtfulness to the world around them OR that it is a mother’s job is do everything. The young women in the Australian article seem to have concluded the latter.
The second thought I have after reading this article is remembering the time I heard feminist and entrepreneur Dale Spender (hmm, I just discovered she has a blog) speak about the mothers of today, now trapped by the near impossible juggling of work and family commitments - this is not what we were fighting for when we fought to give women more opportunities and choices, this is not what we intended for future young women. I’m paraphrasing her, so forgive my memory if I don’t have that exactly right. Spender went on to argue, as I often do, that the answer is more feminism not less. The feminists of the past broadened our opportunities but it will be up to us, the mothers of today, to broaden our expectations of male partners and workplaces to share fairly in the load.
Found another pet peeve of mine in the Australian article:
“”Feminism is seen as having a damaged brand image”
It’s not a fucking brand of toilet paper, it’s a human rights movement. Who in their right mind would assert in the national news media that the anti-racism movement had a “damaged brand image”, and remain unchallenged?
Oh you are so right. Even if we don’t want to be, we are still on the frontline. I wish I didn’t have to battle in that broadening of expectations, but I do, and I do it for both my daughters and my son.
I agree, and would add that valuing the work that women have traditionally done is absolutely necessary for real equality. The hidden, unpaid, nurturing jobs that salaried and non-salaried women perform on a daily basis in their homes, for their families, is essential, but somehow so underappreciated, and, I would go so far as to say, scorned. We women must learn to value what we do, and we must insist on a perspective shift in our society, so that if a woman or a man chooses to spend his/her time and energy nurturing, they are respected and valued according to the importance of this work.
[...] 8, 2008 by el burro I felt incredible frustration when I read BlueMilk’s post on Mother’s Not Making the Best Role Models.Not towards the author, just the issue. I feel [...]
The ‘brand image’ thing got me as well, as if we must try harder to sell ourselves rather than put efforts into actual change.
Is feminism taught in social studies in high schools? It annoys me that blame for the lack of understanding about the claims and achievements of feminism is laid at feminism’s door. I think there’s a need for students to be educated on all major social movements and philosophies, including feminism. It’s a major part of our cultural heritage.
Also, why do these articles always bring up the un-shaved leg issue? It’s like accusing those very slightly left of ’swilling Chardonnay’. Who cares?
I wonder whether my experience is in any way representative for under 30s? For a long time, I would not have identified as a feminist, although I would happily say my views were entirely feminist. This was for two reasons – I felt that a cause that championed half the population was outdated, and I was also less aware of the insidious sexism left in the world and so felt that identifying as a feminist implied I believed I had less opportunities as a female, and I did not feel that way.
The former problem I still have with feminism as a movement. The latter… I don’t know. I know I am expected to do more as a woman, and I know sexist attitudes are out there. Part of me feels like I am giving in by admitting there are limitations on me, but I also get that if you don’t admit there is a problem etc.
I can’t express this well. Maybe I think at least some of the problems women face are coincidental with them being female, rather than causal, and need to be treated as a societal rather than gender issue. Maybe none of that matters. I am just trying to get my head around why feminist thinkers don’t call themselves feminists.
el burro, nicely put!!