feminish

As a political project, feminism at its most ambitious argues that Everything could be different, very different.

Feminism argues that the forces at work, the values and prejudices and perceptions flowing through national consciousness can all be transformed; that the complex dynamics of political, economic and racial gender inequality and oppression can change; that there’s a chance that sex can be beautiful, meaningful and fun - and not the site of exploitation and objectification.

This is the dream.

Feminism at its most realistic and down to earth argues that each of us in our own daily lives can make decisions, take choices and follow through with actions that can change these huge and complex political, economic, sexual and social dynamics, where and when our little lives engage with them - when we vote, when we buy stuff, say stuff, decide stuff or go off and do something.

I’m sure I’ve spent way too much of my life grazing placidy on the patriarchal green (( in the words of Twisty Faster )) - and I probably still do so in my ignorance. My life exists within the Big Beast, but the point is that my life is as much as site for change as the Beast itself. When I shout at the Beast I see I have to shout at and look to myself.

But all I can do is my best. I can keep asking myself questions, keep considering things carefully, forcing open my awareness to whatever is happening in my mind and the world around me. Who am I judging? What am I saying? Is this a good idea? Am I sure? And when it gets too much I take a break. I step out of the conversation, out of the office, out of the clothes shop, away from the News. I go for a walk and I stop thinking and I find a bug or hear a bird and I smile; I phone a friend, watch the clouds or put the kettle on. There are some corners of me the Beast can’t touch, and I’ll darn well take refuge in them when I need to.

Feminism is an active project, as personal as it is political. And it is hard to do.

And the point is to do what is hard to do and to take the road less travelled.

It’s hard to say no to a lot of money from a porn-promoter ((see Creative Destruction’s account of the controversy surrounding the selling of feminist blog Alas’s URL for porn promotion. The post links to posts discussing the hoo-haa. The strongest opposition has come from Heart. Other posts (each with a different take) by Sour Duck, Hugo, and Alas contributors Tekanji and Earlbecke are also worth reading. The issue is also now under discussion over at Alas. )), it’s hard to negotiate the feminist minefield that is getting dressed for work ((see this thread over at Happy Feminist )), it’s hard to decide whether to love or hate heels and feminine grooming (( see this post from Jill at Feministe, a discussion inspired by this post from the wisest of Spinster Aunts. You can also read zuzu there too )). (And it’s harder to write this post than to stay quiet.) And because it’s hard, and because it’s complicated, and because we are all actually still (STOP PRESS) more human than we are feminist, sometimes we’re going to fall a bit short - of our own ideals and of everyone else’s.

But dammit if I’m going to stop trying. Another world is possible but we have to do radical, hard, difficult things in our own lives to make this other world possible.

Like saying no when it’s easier to say yes.

As a political project, feminism at its most ambitious argues that Everything could be different, very different.

Feminism argues that the forces at work, the values and prejudices and perceptions flowing through national consciousness can all be transformed; that the complex dynamics of political, economic and racial gender inequality and oppression can change; that there’s a chance that sex can be beautiful, meaningful and fun - and not the site of exploitation and objectification.

This is the dream.

Feminism at its most realistic and down to earth argues that each of us in our own daily lives can make decisions, take choices and follow through with actions that can change these huge and complex political, economic, sexual and social dynamics, where and when our little lives engage with them - when we vote, when we buy stuff, say stuff, decide stuff or go off and do something.

I’m sure I’ve spent way too much of my life grazing placidy on the patriarchal green (( in the words of Twisty Faster )) - and I probably still do so in my ignorance. My life exists within the Big Beast, but the point is that my life is as much as site for change as the Beast itself. When I shout at the Beast I see I have to shout at and look to myself.

But all I can do is my best. I can keep asking myself questions, keep considering things carefully, forcing open my awareness to whatever is happening in my mind and the world around me. Who am I judging? What am I saying? Is this a good idea? Am I sure? And when it gets too much I take a break. I step out of the conversation, out of the office, out of the clothes shop, away from the News. I go for a walk and I stop thinking and I find a bug or hear a bird and I smile; I phone a friend, watch the clouds or put the kettle on. There are some corners of me the Beast can’t touch, and I’ll darn well take refuge in them when I need to.

Feminism is an active project, as personal as it is political. And it is hard to do.

And the point is to do what is hard to do and to take the road less travelled.

It’s hard to say no to a lot of money from a porn-promoter ((see Creative Destruction’s account of the controversy surrounding the selling of feminist blog Alas’s URL for porn promotion. The post links to posts discussing the hoo-haa. The strongest opposition has come from Heart. Other posts (each with a different take) by Sour Duck, Hugo, and Alas contributors Tekanji and Earlbecke are also worth reading. The issue is also now under discussion over at Alas. )), it’s hard to negotiate the feminist minefield that is getting dressed for work ((see this thread over at Happy Feminist )), it’s hard to decide whether to love or hate heels and feminine grooming (( see this post from Jill at Feministe, a discussion inspired by this post from the wisest of Spinster Aunts. You can also read zuzu there too )). (And it’s harder to write this post than to stay quiet.) And because it’s hard, and because it’s complicated, and because we are all actually still (STOP PRESS) more human than we are feminist, sometimes we’re going to fall a bit short - of our own ideals and of everyone else’s.

But dammit if I’m going to stop trying. Another world is possible but we have to do radical, hard, difficult things in our own lives to make this other world possible.

Like saying no when it’s easier to say yes.