Locate an online example of feminist voice that you find thought-provoking. Share a link here with a brief (~250 word) critical look at why you find this voice powerful.
An amazing piece of feminist art is the installation "The Dinner Party" by Judy Chicago, housed at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Consisting of a triangular arrangement of three tables with place settings designed to represent 39 women in history, the installation includes the names of 999 other women on the Heritage Floor.
"The Dinner Party" uses religious iconography (silk runners, chalices) and domestic utensils (napkins, silverware) to create both an elevation of women’s lives and history and a celebration of women’s work and achievements. This is moving to me because my religious background emphasized men in positions of power and honour and I rejoice seeing women recognized and honoured in "The Dinner Party".
Work that combines historic research and creativity is particularly powerful for me. These works bring history to life, but also express the unique voice and vision of the artist. For me, the colours of the place settings against the white and gold of the runner create a sense of adoration and celebration of the women included in this piece. Chicago’s use of symbols on the runner and in the design of each place setting evokes a connection with the universal. I feel a connection with a long tradition of women throughout time.
The URL above takes you to a site where you can explore images from the exhibition including photographs of all of the place settings accompanied by text on each woman represented.
Let me before the first to admit that I’m a Degrassi junkie. I whole heartedly recognize that the everyday encounters faced by these high school cast members are well beyond my maturity level (or at least should be), but there’s just something about this show that soothes my inner teenage angst whenever I find the time to catch an episode here or there...or religiously. While Degrassi episodes over the years have tackled a number of issues that reflect a feminist voice (including but not limited to: rape, abortion, homophobia and violence) it is the most recent plot that has lead to my current choice. This year, for the first time in Canadian television production, Degrassi introduces a transgendered character. Adam Torres, played by Jordan Todosey (Life with Derek anyone?) is a FTM individual experiencing the ups and downs of high school life just like any other student. I am not trying to impose that trans issues and feminism are necessarily co dependant, but as a strong supporter of the LGBTIQQ2SA community and with genuine interest in gender perceptions and fluidity in Western culture, I find this latest development to be one of empowerment, inclusivity, and feminist voice. There is something to be said to the fact that trans adolescents can feel just a little bit more acknowledged/represented in a media outlet that is often intolerable. Furthermore, when a large bulk of the hostility and violence experienced by Trans students in high school stems from a lack of knowledge or understanding, this plot allows for a point of reference and the beginning of dialogue. In this way, I see a feminist voice: one that challenges the discourses of power and one that is targeted towards an age group that engages with social prescriptions on a daily basis without necessarily being aware that they are doing so (see: most of us in our pre Womens Studies days) I also understand that as an individual who do not identify as trans myself, it would be inaccurate for me to directly critique the perceived experiences of Adam. Furthermore, I’m curious about the creation process of Adam’s character and which producers/writers were involved in the formation. For instance, if Degrassi producers contacted the Trans community (particularly out of Toronto given that is the school setting) in order to ensure their representation was one of accuracy and reality. Overall, in a world where most geared to adolescent TV dramas emphasis couture fashion and killer abs as the “be alls and ends alls” of existence, I have a lot of respect for a programme that attempts to stay true to its “real kids, real experiences” motto. As for final thoughts on the inclusion of Adam: it’s about damn time.
The following link will allow you to view the first Adam focused episode of Degrassi. If you prefer your own streaming mechanisms, this is Episode 15 of Season 10 titled “My Body is a Cage”. For a powerful summary of Adam’s experience, I recommend viewing Episode 16 (part 2) as well. http://www.zshare.net/video/792509440dd3a375/
The International Museum of Women is an online museum that focuses on global women’s issues. It is a place of art, culture and social justice. Here, under various online exhibitions, women have contributed poetry, photographs, art of various kinds, essays and much more. Each exhibition has its own theme and each can be found on the website with links to the contributors and their work.
The I.M.O.W. uses women’s voices to create change and inspire justice for everyone. They recognize that women’s voices are often silenced, and it is through giving them the chance to be heard, that change can happen.
I am drawn to this site for several reasons. I am a social justice student and advocate, so I like the focus on social and global change within this site. I am also a big believer in awareness as a powerful tool to change. This site works very hard to create awareness of broad social justice issues that affect women, and how they uniquely affect women. The women’s movement continues to grow stronger as it connects globally, which this site helps to do as well. I am especially drawn to this site because of its use of artistic expression to create change. Art is a powerful tool and this site utilizes the talents of a global community to express need and inspire change. The site has links to its contributors and states the country of origin of each contributor. This shows how far reaching the project it, which is another reason I am a fan of this website. It is offered in multiple languages and therefore accessible to a wider range of women.
The International Museum of Women is certainly working to let women’s voices, from all areas of the globe, be heard through artistic expression.
It took me some time to find a "powerful feminist voice" which meant something to me, and then it hit me! I was going through my favourite songs on YouTube, not even thinking about this blog assignment, and I stumbled upon a song I had bookmarked back in 2009, a song I first heard in my Violence in the Lives of Girls and Women course. The song I am talking about is Endangered Species by Diane Reeves. The first time I heard this song I thought “wow this is inspirational, this is something powerful”. The lyrics speak for them self “I am an endangered species, but I sing no victim song. I am a woman, I am an artist. And I know where my voice belongs”. These words are powerful because as a woman she is stating that she knows where her place is, and it is not where others place her. She talks about women’s role in society, about rape and abuse at the hands of a husband. Through it all, her message is clear: as a woman she is powerful because she knows where she belongs, no one can bring her down without her rising up. An issue which I am passionate about is violence against women, it hurts me to know there are so many women in pain...which is why I one day hope to help those women. This is why I have chosen to use this song to promote what I find to be a powerful feminist voice. Indeed, this song is truly powerful.
The first link is a link to the song, and the second link is a link to the lyrics. Enjoy!
Thinking of a feminist voice was a bit hard because I wanted to choose someone that inspired me in different ways. So when I stared to think who inspires me, I thought of Betty Friedan.
Betty Friedan is one of the most well-known and infamous feminists to have ever lived. She is best known for starting the "Second Wave" feminist movement which occurred in the 1960s and for her bestseller book, “The Feminine Mystique”. Friedan has been central to the reshaping of American attitudes toward woman's lives and rights. Through decades of social activism, strategic thinking and powerful writing, Friedan became one of society's most effective leaders. Her timeless efforts on the feminist front were often challenged by other people because of the equality she wanted for women; however this never overshadowed her respectability as an activist. One thing is for sure, she was truly passionate about her work.
Being a woman’s right’s activist, author and organization founder, Friedan broke new ground by exploring the idea of women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles. All of Friedan’s work and research throughout her life came from her being ambitious and wanting change for women. Freidan ones wrote: “There is no question today, that woman feel differently now about themselves than they did twenty years ago. It has been great for women to take themselves seriously as people, to feel some self-respect as people, to feel that they do have some equality even though we know it has not been completely achieved. We are only beginning to know what we are capable of” (Freidan, 1976). Betty Friedan was one of the first to be a believer that women should be paid and respected for all domestic and volunteer work they do in their roles as wives and mothers.
I really enjoy reading her work and what she has accomplished over the years and I'm just so fascinated by her. And hopefully one day I could make a big impact like she did in woman's history. Here's her website and I hope you guys enjoy reading about her like I do.
When I first encountered feminist authors from the second wave of feminism I had reservations about their definition of the word Feminist. I couldn’t find commonalties between their interpretation of feminism with my culture and religion. It was a challenging battle for me, trying to find a space and create a voice for me which was silenced and ignored both in my community and in the western society as well. We were taught that feminism is white and secular and there is no room for religion or veiled women in this movement. At that time I was living between two worlds and looking for a world that fits me and values my voice. I started searching a reading about Arab feminists living in the West and how they were able to frame their values and perceptions about feminism. One day I came across a book called “Living Between Two Worlds” for an Iraqi activist and feminist who lives in Washington DC. She is also the founder and CEO of Women for Women International in the States and UK. I was very interested in her work and ideas and I find out that her personal life story is so similar to mine. I wrote a letter to Zainab explaining to her my own personal struggles that I live on daily basis.. Within two weeks I received a phone call from Zainab Salbi thanking me for writing to her and inviting me to join an Arab feminist salon in Washington DC. I was so happy to receive this kind invitation from Zainab as I was so excited to travel to DC to meet with her. After my meeting with Zainab Salbi and a group of Arab feminist in DC, I came to a conclusion that feminism should include women who live in places like Congo, Rwanda, and Afghanistan, Iraq etc. I learned that the biased media played a major role in promoting these negative values of the East. I used to live in a box designed by stereotypes and cultural boundaries which restricted me from expressing my voice. I grew up in a society architectured by negative images which are bombarded in media, literature, social, political and economic institutions. My veil, religion and cultural background forced me to occupy a space in society labeled as “oppressed” and “subservient. I sometimes wonder what someone who has never met ordinary Muslim woman thinks we are like. Perhaps they see us all as black-veil-wearing creatures in voluminous cloaks. Certainly those who search for images in Google under "Muslim women" are likely to think so. The Arab feminist Salon in Washington DC motivated me to start Women for Change Club at the University of Windsor to create a space for my own voice, and to escape from the black and white. I used to feel caricatured, forced to occupy a box defined by other people. I am trying to create a voice for myself that defines me as I choose myself to be, not how other people want me to be.
Please feel free to watch this inspiring video of how Women for Women Int. was founded:
Source: Pigtail Pals: Redefine Girly! http://blog.pigtailpals.com/ Date Published: December 15, 2010 Author: Melissa
The online example of a feminist voice that I believe to be thought provoking was found on a blog called “Pigtail Pals,” which is a site designed to “redefine girly.” The particular entry that I have selected, “Generations of Women, Finding Beauty Among Themselves” was an entry that spoke to me because it contains all my beliefs about how I feel women and girls should be valued within society. This blog acts as an important feminist voice for young women because it discusses how imperative it is for women, particularly mothers, to teach their daughters to define beauty in their own terms, and not to rely heavily on society’s stereotypes dealing with beauty. Melissa, the author, who is the mother of a young girl, says that it is important for all women to instil values in young girls and let them know that they are all beautiful in their own way. To conclude, she argues that women need to take back the control over the messages that reach young girls. As a future teacher, I am very concerned with how girls are viewed in society. Therefore, I want to use my knowledge of women’s studies to make a difference and to influence the lives of my female students to reach for their goals and dreams and not to feel like they cannot reach these dreams and goals because they are females. I find this mother’s voice very powerful, because I believe that if every mother believed that she had the power to positively influence her daughter(s), it would definitely be a meaningful and powerful movement.
As a feminist, I often feel unsatisfied with the representation presented in large, corporate televised news (with a few exceptions of course). I turn to the alternative media available online to provide me with various sources of news coverage that has an openly feminist perspective, such as Bitch Media, Feministing, and Gender Without Borders. One feminist voice, who has a strong online presence is Naomi Klein. Naomi Klein is a well known Canadian activist, that although might not be the first person to come to mind when thinking of current relevant feminists, she is definitely an advocator of feminism, taking complex views on labour, environmental and political issues. One of her most recent activisms involves dissecting the discourses and attitudes that “allowed” or “caused” major environmental disasters to occur, such as, but not limited to the BP Oil spill in the Gulf coast. Klein discusses these issues in the latest edition of TEDwomen talks. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. It is an non-profit that hosts lectures from theorists, activists, designers and the like, who want to share their ideas. This involves hosting speakers who present their ideas in a 20 minute lecture that is then posted online. TEDwomen aims to celebrate and acknowledge the women who have presented.
The reason I chose Klein as having a strong feminist voice, that can be found online is because her online presence is very accessible, and she presents her ideas in a mannor is easy to understand, and used by other activists who are interested in creating social change. Her ideas are also very relevant to the current political climate.
You can access her TED talk here: http://www.ted.com/talks/naomi_klein_addicted_to_risk.html
As a Muslim student in the Women’s Studies program at the University of Windsor, I have always longed for our program to be a little more inclusive. The majority of what we learn is based on “white feminism” (I mean we mostly read articles, journals, books by white feminists in Western culture). Although we are taught that we must be inclusive and that there are other women of minority groups that must be accounted for, I feel that we minimally apply this. Being openly Muslim in a Western Society came along with many hardships whether it be on the basis of discrimination, racism or ignorance. Moving into this program really helped me in forming my identity, but at the same time left me wondering why we know little about the different types of feminism that are happening all around the world.
This you tube clip I found talks about the Campaign For Equality that took place in Tehran, Iran in 2006. These women collected 1 million signatures that were presented to the Parliament addressing the reform of laws that discriminated against women.
Thousands of women rallied for equality between men and women. Some of their major concerns included equality for women in: marriage, divorce, polygamy, temporary marriage, equal compensation for injuries between women and men and the right for women to pass on their nationality. Although many of these women were put in prison for collecting signatures and raising awareness, they used that to benefit them as well by advocating and gaining more rights for female prisoners.
This related to me because these issues that the Iranian women are fighting against are used to control and subjugate women in many Middle Eastern countries (and Western countries as well). Keep in mind this is not because of the religion Islam, rather the culture and practices that value men over women and keep patriarchy practiced.
Wandering around cyber-space looking at difference interesting feminist blogs, comments, and quotes, I stumbled on this site which isn’t as inspiringly feminist as some more positive sites but it was extremely refreshing. Being a student at the UofW for over 4 years and living on Ouellette avenue most of that time I have spent a lot of time walking to and from school down Wyandotte street. For any one who knows this part of the city you are probably well aware of the seedy nature of the few blocks between Campbell and Ouellette. I have walked down this street for years careful to not be walking too late or too slow, to have my headphones in whether or not my iPods’ battery is dead to avoid hearing the calls and questions from the men who sit on porches and slow their cars to cars hoping I'm working the strip, but never have my music too loud in case any one is coming to close behind me and always having my cell phone at the ready in case of extreme situations. I by no means think that I am so uniquely special that men need to stop and ask me if I “need a ride ;)” multiple times on a single walk or dress provocatively to solicit these questions and cat calls nor do I believe any woman even dressed uberprovacatively unless explicitly trying to hail down vehicle for sex work deserves to be harassed merely walking down a common street. Especially during the summer I get extremely angered and upset dealing with this on walks and only sometimes ever hear anyone else getting quite so upset over similar situations. This blog ‘Hollaback’ has different, often hilarious, entries from different people experiencing similar ‘street assaults’. While in NYC this past summer I noticed a very Wyandotte-esque way about many areas but I’m so relieved to see so many other women not only realize how unacceptable this practice is but have a voice and place to express it.
As a biracial woman, I have always been interested in other racialized women’s views on feminist issues. Although academia does educate students about Black feminism, the majority of feminist discourse is taught from a White-feminist perspective. Therefore, it was refreshing to find an all Black feminist online blog. The Angry Black Woman is an anti-racist, anti-sexist blog that speaks towards marginalized issues from a feminist perspective. There are three bloggers that contribute to this site and posts are published frequently.
Black women are often stereotyped as being angry and I like that the authors of this blog are reclaiming this negative stereotype and transforming it into a forum for woman to discuss issues of prejudice that exist in society. Moreover, women are often taught that angry is not an acceptable emotion to display. I think that it is very progressive that these women are embracing their angry and turning it into something constructive.
I was first introduced to this site while doing research for a project for another class last semester. The first post I read was in October and spoke about how racial identities are not Halloween costumes. I found this entry very thought provoking, in that I had never considered how disrespectful and insulting it is for others to mock racialized groups by wearing their identities as costumes. After reading this post, I was eager to see what else this site had to offer.
I think that the Angry Black Woman is a very powerful online voice because it empowers Black women and gives them a forum to discuss racial and gender injustices. Although, only three bloggers contribute to this site, others are encouraged to comment and state their opinions as long as they are not prejudice. The Angry Black Woman is a blog that helps all women to consider feminist issues from a racialized point of view. Overall, I think that this is a very positive site for all women.
During the summer I started following some of the feminist blogs on BlogHer.com. I like this site because it is a collection of mainly women bloggers writing about the issues they find important to their daily life without feeling as though they need to censor themselves or that a topic they want to discuss is not important enough. There is one woman, Suzanne Reisman, who posts in many of the categories on the site, but commonly in the News & Politics and Feminism sections. I like reading her blog posts because she covers a wide range of issues relating to women that are considered feminist topics.
Admittedly I don’t check the site too much anymore, but I do remember one article that caught my attention in the summer and is representative of Reisman’s style of writing and the topics she covers: The “Financial Abortion” Option for Men. She writes about an article she read at theroot.com which is one woman’s take on a theory proposed by a sociology professor at Brown: that to create an equal playing field men should have the option to say to their female partner that if he does not want a child and she becomes pregnant that he does not have to be financially responsible. Reisman’s commentary on this is around the issue that women are not solely responsible for birth control, that men cannot be that irresponsible, and that there are other options for men (such as a vasectomy) if they want to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
I find her voice to be powerful because she is one of the most followed on the site and she writes about political issues happening in the world that are not only specific to women but will certainly be thought provoking and educational for the readers. To me, BlogHer is a non-threatening or non-intimidating way for women to communicate and be informed about all issues in life, and I think that we should recognize the power in that level of accessibility.
It took me a while to decide what feminist voice I wanted to share. My biggest issue was deciding whether the person could be considered a feminist. After intense thinking, I chose something that was really dear to me. As a Black student, I can identify that gender and race intersect and serve as a source of oppression. My family and other influential Black people in my life have always reminded me that I already have two strikes against me; I’m Black and a woman. Growing up hearing that added a great amount of pressure to my life. I feel that while academia does teach students about the concept of intersectionality, it merely grazes the surface. The ideas that we are taught are primarily drawn from the works of bell hooks. I wanted to find a piece that most would consider non-scholarly that spoke on both gender and race.
I wanted to present something that speaks volumes; something that I know I could never do. So I chose a spoken word piece from Def Poetry Jam. Def Poetry Jam is a forum created by entrepreneur Russell Simmons that showcased the talents of many established poets and up-and-coming poets. The artists would recite their poems in front of a live studio audience. Def Poetry Jam aired on television from 2002 until 2007. No topic was ever off limits, the artists were given free rein on what they wanted to talk about.
The piece I chose is titled Try Being a Lady by then 19 year old Sister Queen. I chose this piece because of the raw emotion that she displayed. This piece is about breaking down the stereotypes that women constantly face and acting the way that you want to act instead of ascribing to these socially constructed gender norms. I find this voice powerful because while we always talk about women breaking down these gender norms, I’ve never seen someone do it in such a raw fashion. She says what I always wanted to say when I was younger and she says it in such a relatable way to young Black females. She doesn’t hold anything back, and that is why I find the piece so powerful and chose to share it.
While she uses profanity, my hope is that you can look past that and listen to the deeper message she is trying to convey.
Enjoy!
Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx0HKvWOBis&feature=related
To look for a feminist voice can only appear to be difficult when you do not find something you can be passionate about, a certain voice, and an avenue to become involved in. About a month ago, a co-worker of mine invited me to attend the first annual general meeting of 2011 for Windsor Feminist Theatre. She enjoyed our discussions about feminism, and felt that I would become a wonderful new member of their team. With a great prior experience in feminist activity and Women’s Studies, and only some minor involvement with community theatre, I was eager to join. I attended the first meeting and loved what I heard as I felt their organization could provide a new framework to develop feminist thought and activism. Windsor Feminist Theatre is a non-profit theatre company in Windsor, Ontario that uses the diversity of women’s experience to “write, create, develop and present socially relevant and groundbreaking theatrical productions.” Their purpose is to provide opportunities for women to empower themselves through artistic self-expression and personal growth. By using art as a way to promote feminist activity and movement through our community and by allowing both women and men an opportunity to use their background experiences, Windsor Feminist Theatre can provide an avenue for voices to be heard. I am both excited and intrigued to begin working on different productions for this theatre company. By joining Windsor Feminist Theatre, I feel that I am allowing my own feminist voice to grow in my community while being involved with productions that can empower other women. One part of Windsor Feminist Theatre that I am most eager on exploring is the workshops that are provided to women who are either involved within the organizations, or who have just watched a performance. These workshops provide the audience themselves with resources and outreach programs that will advance women’s empowerment and progression towards healthier images of women. To learn more about this amazing organization, please feel free to visit their website at http://www.windsorfeministtheatre.ca/ or, if you prefer to view to receive more current updates on meetings, events and shows, look for them on Facebook under the group name “Windsor Feminist Theatre.”
Being in Women's Studies, I have had the opportunity to become engaged in many different feminist voices. One of my favorites, I think, is Eve Ensler- the author of the Vagina Monologues. I find that in her writing and speaking, the women that whom she creates the monologues for come alive. Both poignant and uplifting, Ensler gives women the tools to be comfortable in their own bodies. I must say, I wasn't exactly sure about my "cause" or raison d'etre until I read the Vagina Monologues, which made so much sense even after the first chapter. I couldn't put it down! I often found myself nodding in agreement to the importance of being able to think of my own vagina as a powerhouse and a symbol of my sexual well-being. Ensler often discusses traveling across America to ask for women's experiences and is very knowledgeable about different women around the world. I think this contributes very well to her message about the vagina's "assumed" (and rather limited!) role of motherhood and imposed chastity- being self-aware enables women to help out their friends or sisters in need of a voice and encourages us to act globally. I eventually want to be a sex therapist and I think that Ensler's masterpiece is a positive venue to my career choice. So many women are still ashamed and feel they cannot explore sexual venues without some kind of emotional reprecussion. Especially the ones who have experienced sexual trauma- Ensler creates survivors rather than victims, and it shows in this clip/ "monologue". She talks about sex slavery in the Congo and how to be a survivor, as a young girl she was also a victim of rape.
When I was thinking about Feminist Voices, the first ones that came to my mind were the countless numbers of authors, poets, and scholars that I had read through my years in University and outside as well. They are all excellent examples of strong feminist voices but I felt like I wanted to display someone who may not be the most obvious choice. I chose to talk about Carrie Bradshaw, the popular character from the TV series and movies, Sex and the City. She may not come across as a feminist but she does live by some feminist ideals. What I like about the character is the strength and independence she exhibits. The episode that exemplifies this in the best way is the one in which Carrie “marries” herself. It is called “A Woman’s Right to Shoes.” She attends a baby shower for a friend, where her shoes end up being stolen. The mom-to-be was not concerned with the missing shoes, (and if anyone watches the series, they would know that shoes are Carrie’s “baby”). Carrie felt that it was unfair that everyone else received all these gifts for having babies and getting married—neither of those things were priorities in her life and, at that time, she may never have decided to do. She decided to register herself—she was committed to a life dedicated to her. She was not going to let popular ideas about how to lead her life guide her; she was going to do it the way she felt suite her best. She even sent out invitations to declare her promise to herself. It was an interesting concept and a fun tongue and check idea that feminist activists have incorporated into their work. Carrie Bradshaw and the show itself are pro-woman. The four women the show is based around are all strong personalities who may appear sex-crazed, vulgar and unrealistic in some ways but they are a good example of women who go against the grain and do what is unexpected. Marriage, monogamy, and babies—these are not at the top of their lists. They have important jobs—a writer, lawyer, museum director and publicist. They have strong friendships and strong ideas. The issues being discussed may not be as important as those by bell hooks or Allison Jaggar, yet they do show modern women doin’ it for themselves. You can find the episode online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVchsrlP59I
Music has always been a big part of my life, so when I came across a blog called “Jukebox Heroines” I was interested in what it had to offer. This blog provides reviews, news and commentary about female musicians and their songs in all areas of music. It was started by a young musician name Emily, whose goal was to give respect and exposure to female musicians, who often would go unnoticed because the mainstream music industry won’t give them a chance. But it does also covers mainstream artists such as Pink, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga to name a few and what their music means to young feminists.
One entry that I found to be thought provoking was January 17, 2011 entry, which speaks about the fact that when female musicians are in the media, society cares more about their personal lives than the actual artistic merit of their music. The study posted compares the number of news articles that were about women musicians’ music and the number of articles about their personal lives. The results show that there were more articles published about women musician’s personal lives than the actual artist merit of their music. It seems that society cares more about what is going on in someone’s life than the meaning behind musician’s work.
This blog provides a voice to female musicians because when women musicians are in the music industry, society is more exposed to their skin than their artistic talent. This blog creates a positive environment for women musicians, where they can share and showcase their musical talents, without being objectified by the mainstream music industry. It also allows them to relate to other female musicians and feminists, who most likely can relate to them and their music in some way.
Here’s the link: http://jukeboxheroines.wordpress.com/ Enjoy!
I find this very inspirational because i feel on many levels i can relate to what is being said. I do find that i am a prisoner of words and that certain things have gone unsaid which not only made me suffer from the guilt, knowing that i should have, or could have said something to defuse or induce situation where i, myself, is used as a voice of reasoning or made my unhealthy thought reside within me causing me to internalize them; which i have been told, can result in stress and frustration. I feel that although words hold a lot of power and weight, silence can sometimes be just as powerful, if not more. Sometimes it’s not about what you have said, it can be about what you haven’t send.
In our previous classes we’ve discussed feminism and feminists and i believe that feminism, the movement, knows the power of words and can also be a prisoner of words. Feminist know all too well about tip-toeing around a topic or issue, or using silence as a means of being heard, in order to be valued as an equal in a patriarchal society. Feminists, who are not from a white descent, might sometimes be more familiar with this type of prison imagery, because they too, are so use to being misinterpreted as angry and aggressive. As a result, they may tone down their emotions and choice of words to lessen the possibility of the audience listening, are more comfortable in digesting these thoughts of concerns, voiced by the minority.
“Mostly i Say whatchu wana hear, could you take it if i came clear or would you rather see me stone on a drug of complacency and compromise.” – my take on this, is yes. Many people have this same dilemma, but if i had to find a parallel, id be incline to think that feminist deal with this consistently.
I find this very inspirational because i feel on many levels i can relate to what is being said. I do find that i am a prisoner of words and that certain things have gone unsaid which not only made me suffer from the guilt, knowing that i should have, or could have said something to defuse or induce situation where i, myself, is used as a voice of reasoning or made my unhealthy thought reside within me causing me to internalize them; which i have been told, can result in stress and frustration. I feel that although words hold a lot of power and weight, silence can sometimes be just as powerful, if not more. Sometimes it’s not about what you have said, it can be about what you haven’t send.
In our previous classes we’ve discussed feminism and feminists and i believe that feminism, the movement, knows the power of words and can also be a prisoner of words. Feminist know all too well about tip-toeing around a topic or issue, or using silence as a means of being heard, in order to be valued as an equal in a patriarchal society. Feminists, who are not from a white descent, might sometimes be more familiar with this type of prison imagery, because they too, are so use to being misinterpreted as angry and aggressive. As a result, they may tone down their emotions and choice of words to lessen the possibility of the audience listening, are more comfortable in digesting these thoughts of concerns, voiced by the minority.
“Mostly i Say whatchu wana hear, could you take it if i came clear or would you rather see me stone on a drug of complacency and compromise.” – my take on this, is yes. Many people have this same dilemma, but if i had to find a parallel, id be incline to think that feminist deal with this consistently.
I find this very inspirational because i feel on many levels i can relate to what is being said. I do find that i am a prisoner of words and that certain things have gone unsaid which not only made me suffer from the guilt, knowing that i should have, or could have said something to defuse or induce situation where i, myself, is used as a voice of reasoning or made my unhealthy thought reside within me causing me to internalize them; which i have been told, can result in stress and frustration. I feel that although words hold a lot of power and weight, silence can sometimes be just as powerful, if not more. Sometimes it’s not about what you have said, it can be about what you haven’t send.
In our previous classes we’ve discussed feminism and feminists and i believe that feminism, the movement, knows the power of words and can also be a prisoner of words. Feminist know all too well about tip-toeing around a topic or issue, or using silence as a means of being heard, in order to be valued as an equal in a patriarchal society. Feminists, who are not from a white descent, might sometimes be more familiar with this type of prison imagery, because they too, are so use to being misinterpreted as angry and aggressive. As a result, they may tone down their emotions and choice of words to lessen the possibility of the audience listening, are more comfortable in digesting these thoughts of concerns, voiced by the minority.
“Mostly i Say whatchu wana hear, could you take it if i came clear or would you rather see me stone on a drug of complacency and compromise.” – my take on this, is yes. Many people have this same dilemma, but if i had to find a parallel, id be incline to think that feminist deal with this consistently.
As fourth year Women’s Studies majors, we have become familiar with the works of well known feminists like Judith Butler, Sara Weir, Alice Walker, and Bell Hooks. Additionally, we look to Bitch Magazine, Ms. Magazine, and Jezebel for feminist related news and articles. What we as feminists, students, and most of all, as class mates have failed to do, I would argue, is become familiar with the writings and ideas of those closest to us: each other.
It is for this reason that I looked to a fellow student and friend, Steve Surlin’s, online blog, Post Binary Gender Chores, for inspiration. I revisited an article written by Nicole Beuglet, entitled The Consequences of Gendering Public Space: Opening the Potential of Gender Identities, and was quickly re-inspired.
In her article, Beuglet asserts that specific instances of gender divisions (e.g., washrooms) ultimately contribute to the widely held belief that gender is a biological inevitability. Specifically, Beuglet uses the example of bathroom markings, which are generally composed of images of a “man” or “woman,” made clear by the presence of either a dress or pants. She uses the works of well known theorists Judith Butler, Simone de Beauvoir, and Sandra Bartky, among many others, to describe how these gender symbols, and others like, them “demonstrate how gender performances construct social realities while enforcing the idea that gender is biological, by dividing spaces into ‘two’ sexes using the markings of gender1.” Beuglet argues that this tendency to define gender as representative of the “two sexes” not only perpetuates traditional gender-specific roles, but also excludes anyone who does not prescribe to these identities.
This example of a feminist voice is powerful as Beuglet provides not only insightful and well articulated arguments, but also because the content is relatable. Additionally, she provides useful explanations and strong evidence for her arguments while simultaneously promoting discussions of gender. I know that after reading her article, I cannot enter a washroom without considering gender performance as well as the many restrictive socially defined roles, which were referenced to, in her article.
Time is a precious commodity, I have felt time slip away from me when I’m online.
I have come to the realization that I do not use the full potential of the internet nor do I find myself drawn to blogs and websites online. Bloggers, blog followers and likely the majority of the population who have their ritual online “spots” probably cannot fully understand what I mean when I say “I feel disconnected to the internet”. As much as stupid videos are hilarious and facebook has so much to offer in the way of social networking, I do not find satisfaction in browsing. Although, I have had these thoughts about the internet enter and leave my mind, I have not taken time to self reflect about the internet. Asking me to find a feminist voice within the electronic socially constructed environment is stepping out of my comfort zone of written texts. However, I needed this push. It has forced me to critically think about the internet as a tool to use in the feminist movement.
For the past two years I have critiqued my life and tried to connect my identity, activities, work, school etc, to feminism. However, I have not been able to fully use the internet to its feminist potential. I have decided to take this on as a personal challenge. During this semester I am going to find feminist voices that motivate me, challenge my thinking and keep me focused on the movement. I have not allowed myself to venture far into the depth of the internet for my own personal growth and considering I am now using the internet for feminist growth I’d better do my research :P.
The use of the internet is continually increasing (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm) and connecting individuals from around the world. The internet has given feminists the opportunity to work together for world change. There are numerous individual feminist voices that use a variety of different mediums to get their ideas and thoughts out to the world, such as art, music, spoken word, videos, blogging etc. Although, these voices are unique in each way they all have at least one linking characteristic which is feminisms. The feminist movement is becoming stronger; I can feel the electricity in the air sometimes. The WSSA blog was the first idea/ “feminist voice” that came to my mind when we were asked to find a feminist voice. http://wssawindsor.wordpress.com/.
I chose to showcase the WSSA blog because it is an example of feminism represented at the University of Windsor. As a (paying) student I want to be able to have the autonomy within my school to be able to participate in feminism. This blog not only allows feminists voices to be heard but it is also a voice for WSSA, the student members, feminist events, and a safe space for social justice groups and movements to discuss their interests. The blog was designed to inform the general student body and public about WSSA events, what WSSA is trying to achieve and showcase the work the group has accomplished. It has discussed a variety of different social events as well promotes other feminist blogs and safe spaces. It’s most controversial topics have revolved around discussion about the discrimination within the Lance.
When I view the WSSA blog, I can see the work feminists are doing within our school community and it inspires me. It makes me feel like the work I am doing and the future work I do is contributing to a larger pool of advocacy. The WSSA blog was started just this past semester. It has great potential, those who can see this potential need to start writing for it more—which includes me.
The world is relying further on technology, in order for feminism to be reclaimed it also must “conform” to the ways of the world—which is technology.
Bowie’s lyrics in the 1972 album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” are by no means perfectly feminist, but they can be interpreted to provide a commentary on the social expectations which surround gender and sexuality.
The album tells the story of Ziggy Stardust, a fictional spaceman character who descends to Earth with his guitar in hand. While Ziggy rises to the status of rock n’ roll superstar he innocently explores Earth’s constructs of gender and sexuality – unaware of the social expectations which are placed on women and men. As Ziggy takes on an androgynous personhood, the lyrics discuss experimentation with gender performance, sexual identity and lifestyle and its social repercussions. On the whole, the album provides a positive statement of sexual ambiguity, and more broadly towards being who you want to be, not who or what you are told to be. Ziggy’s life is ultimately destroyed at the close of the album from being confused by restrictions of love and physical expression; it is the social and cultural expectations which contribute to his destruction.
The ideas and experiences which Bowie grapples with can be appropriately interpreted as feminist as the album’s themes are explored using positive language with its narrative-like lyrics. They are not in-your-face politics calling for social change and activism; the lyrics are silently charged with a political tone for acceptance and a tearing down of the expectations for women and men to comply with in constructing a personal identity.
As the album ends, Bowie shouts expressions of encouragement in that “You’re not alone! You’re wonderful! Give me your hands!” It’s a feminist voice which Bowie embraces as the album encourages the exploration of individual identity and acceptance of how the individual navigates social and cultural expectations. In other words, be who you want to be.
For me, this was the album that I turned to (and still do) when in need of a positive voice to encourage me in defining my own identity. As every day is a performance in presenting how you want people to perceive you and construct their understanding of you, the voice here encourages the listener to define yourself on your own terms; not one that is defined for you by committee or social codes. “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” is a voice of hope and reassurance. The album suggests that you have one chance to be you. Just like Bowie sings, “He’s told us not to blow it / ‘Cause he knows it’s all worthwhile.” Ignore the noise and do your thing – “Let all the children boogie.”
I was first introduced to this website over the fall semester while taking History of Women’s Movement. This website is one of the feminist voices; it allows women to confront and fight against discrimination, sexual assaults and any act of violation toward women through videotaping the event occur and post it to this website. While in the website, the whole world can have access to watch the video. In one of the video that we watched in the History of Women’s Movement classroom, it was about a woman who was sexual assaulted while standing in the subway, and when she realized she took her cell phone out and yelled to the men while taping him, other passengers were very helpful because they help the woman and made sure that he was taken to the police station.
I think this website gives a great voice to women because women are able to share experiences and make other aware of what is going on in the neighbourhoods, cities, communities or countries. This also means that giving the power to the women to fight back. Through videotaping the offender from the subway was prosecuted. This website reminded me of the reading by Walker “Silence Makes Us Complicit.” In her reading she argues that when we see a woman being degraded and we don’t do anything, and stay quiet, it means we are allowing the degrading or assault to be the norm and we are accepting it and acceptance becomes an encouragement of the behaviour which later continues. http://feministing.com/2010/11/23/subway-flasher-gets-hollabackd/ http://www.ihollaback.org/
my comment on Jessica's response: I am a fan of this website too Jessica. I like how you talked about art as a tool of activism and social and global change. We discovered this venue of activism in last year’s women and protest class where we tackled different ways of feminist activism. Art is one of the venues that I find really interesting and intriguing. What I like about I.M.O.W is it gives a voice for every woman and offering such opportunity to them can be a life changing experience .Women’s art should be publicized and supported by government institutions and funding programs that can guarantee the progress and the continuation of this venue of activism. I like to mention here that Judy Chicago’s dinner table is by far the most feminist art work that reminds me of all the struggles of first wave and second wave feminist; I just see the whole history of women’s activism resembled in this art piece.
my comment on zeinab's response: I agree with you Zainab. I think our Women’s Studies program at the University of Windsor should offer more classes that cover various women’s voices. But at the same time I really appreciate the efforts of women’s studies professors who are encouraging their students to shape their own feminism and to express their voices freely. Having said that, I would like to see more classes that cover the experiences and theories of non western feminist. Regarding the youtube video that you posted on Iranian women and their struggle towards equality, I find it really interesting that men are also joining women to achieve equality and they are standing side by side with women to achieve their goals. I was very inspired by all the efforts that Iranian women are striving for to achieve equality. I think some laws that are enacted by patriarchal institutions should be reformed and changed because some of the laws that are practiced in Iran are sexist and based on male interpretations of Quran verses and the prophet’s narration.
What can we do to challenge the violence against women in the media? Is there a possibility to sensor our media outlets? Can we frame our argument in the context of feminist framework to achieve substantial equality within the media?
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/home.php
ReplyDeleteAn amazing piece of feminist art is the installation "The Dinner Party" by Judy Chicago, housed at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Consisting of a triangular arrangement of three tables with place settings designed to represent 39 women in history, the installation includes the names of 999 other women on the Heritage Floor.
"The Dinner Party" uses religious iconography (silk runners, chalices) and domestic utensils (napkins, silverware) to create both an elevation of women’s lives and history and a celebration of women’s work and achievements. This is moving to me because my religious background emphasized men in positions of power and honour and I rejoice seeing women recognized and honoured in "The Dinner Party".
Work that combines historic research and creativity is particularly powerful for me. These works bring history to life, but also express the unique voice and vision of the artist. For me, the colours of the place settings against the white and gold of the runner create a sense of adoration and celebration of the women included in this piece. Chicago’s use of symbols on the runner and in the design of each place setting evokes a connection with the universal. I feel a connection with a long tradition of women throughout time.
The URL above takes you to a site where you can explore images from the exhibition including photographs of all of the place settings accompanied by text on each woman represented.
Let me before the first to admit that I’m a Degrassi junkie.
ReplyDeleteI whole heartedly recognize that the everyday encounters faced by these high school cast members are well beyond my maturity level (or at least should be), but there’s just something about this show that soothes my inner teenage angst whenever I find the time to catch an episode here or there...or religiously.
While Degrassi episodes over the years have tackled a number of issues that reflect a feminist voice (including but not limited to: rape, abortion, homophobia and violence) it is the most recent plot that has lead to my current choice. This year, for the first time in Canadian television production, Degrassi introduces a transgendered character. Adam Torres, played by Jordan Todosey (Life with Derek anyone?) is a FTM individual experiencing the ups and downs of high school life just like any other student.
I am not trying to impose that trans issues and feminism are necessarily co dependant, but as a strong supporter of the LGBTIQQ2SA community and with genuine interest in gender perceptions and fluidity in Western culture, I find this latest development to be one of empowerment, inclusivity, and feminist voice. There is something to be said to the fact that trans adolescents can feel just a little bit more acknowledged/represented in a media outlet that is often intolerable. Furthermore, when a large bulk of the hostility and violence experienced by Trans students in high school stems from a lack of knowledge or understanding, this plot allows for a point of reference and the beginning of dialogue. In this way, I see a feminist voice: one that challenges the discourses of power and one that is targeted towards an age group that engages with social prescriptions on a daily basis without necessarily being aware that they are doing so (see: most of us in our pre Womens Studies days)
I also understand that as an individual who do not identify as trans myself, it would be inaccurate for me to directly critique the perceived experiences of Adam. Furthermore, I’m curious about the creation process of Adam’s character and which producers/writers were involved in the formation. For instance, if Degrassi producers contacted the Trans community (particularly out of Toronto given that is the school setting) in order to ensure their representation was one of accuracy and reality.
Overall, in a world where most geared to adolescent TV dramas emphasis couture fashion and killer abs as the “be alls and ends alls” of existence, I have a lot of respect for a programme that attempts to stay true to its “real kids, real experiences” motto. As for final thoughts on the inclusion of Adam: it’s about damn time.
The following link will allow you to view the first Adam focused episode of Degrassi. If you prefer your own streaming mechanisms, this is Episode 15 of Season 10 titled “My Body is a Cage”. For a powerful summary of Adam’s experience, I recommend viewing Episode 16 (part 2) as well.
http://www.zshare.net/video/792509440dd3a375/
http://www.imow.org/home/index
ReplyDeleteThe International Museum of Women is an online museum that focuses on global women’s issues. It is a place of art, culture and social justice. Here, under various online exhibitions, women have contributed poetry, photographs, art of various kinds, essays and much more. Each exhibition has its own theme and each can be found on the website with links to the contributors and their work.
The I.M.O.W. uses women’s voices to create change and inspire justice for everyone. They recognize that women’s voices are often silenced, and it is through giving them the chance to be heard, that change can happen.
I am drawn to this site for several reasons. I am a social justice student and advocate, so I like the focus on social and global change within this site. I am also a big believer in awareness as a powerful tool to change. This site works very hard to create awareness of broad social justice issues that affect women, and how they uniquely affect women. The women’s movement continues to grow stronger as it connects globally, which this site helps to do as well. I am especially drawn to this site because of its use of artistic expression to create change. Art is a powerful tool and this site utilizes the talents of a global community to express need and inspire change. The site has links to its contributors and states the country of origin of each contributor. This shows how far reaching the project it, which is another reason I am a fan of this website. It is offered in multiple languages and therefore accessible to a wider range of women.
The International Museum of Women is certainly working to let women’s voices, from all areas of the globe, be heard through artistic expression.
It took me some time to find a "powerful feminist voice" which meant something to me, and then it hit me! I was going through my favourite songs on YouTube, not even thinking about this blog assignment, and I stumbled upon a song I had bookmarked back in 2009, a song I first heard in my Violence in the Lives of Girls and Women course. The song I am talking about is Endangered Species by Diane Reeves. The first time I heard this song I thought “wow this is inspirational, this is something powerful”. The lyrics speak for them self “I am an endangered species, but I sing no victim song. I am a woman, I am an artist. And I know where my voice belongs”. These words are powerful because as a woman she is stating that she knows where her place is, and it is not where others place her. She talks about women’s role in society, about rape and abuse at the hands of a husband. Through it all, her message is clear: as a woman she is powerful because she knows where she belongs, no one can bring her down without her rising up. An issue which I am passionate about is violence against women, it hurts me to know there are so many women in pain...which is why I one day hope to help those women. This is why I have chosen to use this song to promote what I find to be a powerful feminist voice. Indeed, this song is truly powerful.
ReplyDeleteThe first link is a link to the song, and the second link is a link to the lyrics. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtZBJsi56L4
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/dianne_reeves/endangered_species.html
Thinking of a feminist voice was a bit hard because I wanted to choose someone that inspired me in different ways. So when I stared to think who inspires me, I thought of Betty Friedan.
ReplyDeleteBetty Friedan is one of the most well-known and infamous feminists to have ever lived. She is best known for starting the "Second Wave" feminist movement which occurred in the 1960s and for her bestseller book, “The Feminine Mystique”. Friedan has been central to the reshaping of American attitudes toward woman's lives and rights. Through decades of social activism, strategic thinking and powerful writing, Friedan became one of society's most effective leaders. Her timeless efforts on the feminist front were often challenged by other people because of the equality she wanted for women; however this never overshadowed her respectability as an activist. One thing is for sure, she was truly passionate about her work.
Being a woman’s right’s activist, author and organization founder, Friedan broke new ground by exploring the idea of women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles. All of Friedan’s work and research throughout her life came from her being ambitious and wanting change for women. Freidan ones wrote: “There is no question today, that woman feel differently now about themselves than they did twenty years ago. It has been great for women to take themselves seriously as people, to feel some self-respect as people, to feel that they do have some equality even though we know it has not been completely achieved. We are only beginning to know what we are capable of” (Freidan, 1976). Betty Friedan was one of the first to be a believer that women should be paid and respected for all domestic and volunteer work they do in their roles as wives and mothers.
I really enjoy reading her work and what she has accomplished over the years and I'm just so fascinated by her. And hopefully one day I could make a big impact like she did in woman's history. Here's her website and I hope you guys enjoy reading about her like I do.
http://www.biography.com/articles/Betty-Friedan-9302633
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ReplyDeleteWhen I first encountered feminist authors from the second wave of feminism I had reservations about their definition of the word Feminist. I couldn’t find commonalties between their interpretation of feminism with my culture and religion. It was a challenging battle for me, trying to find a space and create a voice for me which was silenced and ignored both in my community and in the western society as well. We were taught that feminism is white and secular and there is no room for religion or veiled women in this movement. At that time I was living between two worlds and looking for a world that fits me and values my voice. I started searching a reading about Arab feminists living in the West and how they were able to frame their values and perceptions about feminism. One day I came across a book called “Living Between Two Worlds” for an Iraqi activist and feminist who lives in Washington DC. She is also the founder and CEO of Women for Women International in the States and UK. I was very interested in her work and ideas and I find out that her personal life story is so similar to mine. I wrote a letter to Zainab explaining to her my own personal struggles that I live on daily basis.. Within two weeks I received a phone call from Zainab Salbi thanking me for writing to her and inviting me to join an Arab feminist salon in Washington DC. I was so happy to receive this kind invitation from Zainab as I was so excited to travel to DC to meet with her. After my meeting with Zainab Salbi and a group of Arab feminist in DC, I came to a conclusion that feminism should include women who live in places like Congo, Rwanda, and Afghanistan, Iraq etc. I learned that the biased media played a major role in promoting these negative values of the East. I used to live in a box designed by stereotypes and cultural boundaries which restricted me from expressing my voice. I grew up in a society architectured by negative images which are bombarded in media, literature, social, political and economic institutions. My veil, religion and cultural background forced me to occupy a space in society labeled as “oppressed” and “subservient. I sometimes wonder what someone who has never met ordinary Muslim woman thinks we are like. Perhaps they see us all as black-veil-wearing creatures in voluminous cloaks. Certainly those who search for images in Google under "Muslim women" are likely to think so.
ReplyDeleteThe Arab feminist Salon in Washington DC motivated me to start Women for Change Club at the University of Windsor to create a space for my own voice, and to escape from the black and white. I used to feel caricatured, forced to occupy a box defined by other people. I am trying to create a voice for myself that defines me as I choose myself to be, not how other people want me to be.
Please feel free to watch this inspiring video of how Women for Women Int. was founded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR38GUWUcdQ
Source: Pigtail Pals: Redefine Girly!
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.pigtailpals.com/
Date Published: December 15, 2010
Author: Melissa
The online example of a feminist voice that I believe to be thought provoking was found on a blog called “Pigtail Pals,” which is a site designed to “redefine girly.” The particular entry that I have selected, “Generations of Women, Finding Beauty Among Themselves” was an entry that spoke to me because it contains all my beliefs about how I feel women and girls should be valued within society.
This blog acts as an important feminist voice for young women
because it discusses how imperative it is for women, particularly mothers, to teach their daughters to define beauty in their own terms, and not to rely heavily on society’s stereotypes dealing with beauty. Melissa, the author, who is the mother of a young girl, says that it is important for all women to instil values in young girls and let them know that they are all beautiful in their own way. To conclude, she argues that women need to take back the control over the messages that reach young girls.
As a future teacher, I am very concerned with how girls are viewed in society. Therefore, I want to use my knowledge of women’s studies to make a difference and to influence the lives of my female students to reach for their goals and dreams and not to feel like they cannot reach these dreams and goals because they are females. I find this mother’s voice very powerful, because I believe that if every mother believed that she had the power to positively influence her daughter(s), it would definitely be a meaningful and powerful movement.
As a feminist, I often feel unsatisfied with the representation presented in large, corporate televised news (with a few exceptions of course). I turn to the alternative media available online to provide me with various sources of news coverage that has an openly feminist perspective, such as Bitch Media, Feministing, and Gender Without Borders. One feminist voice, who has a strong online presence is Naomi Klein. Naomi Klein is a well known Canadian activist, that although might not be the first person to come to mind when thinking of current relevant feminists, she is definitely an advocator of feminism, taking complex views on labour, environmental and political issues. One of her most recent activisms involves dissecting the discourses and attitudes that “allowed” or “caused” major environmental disasters to occur, such as, but not limited to the BP Oil spill in the Gulf coast. Klein discusses these issues in the latest edition of TEDwomen talks. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. It is an non-profit that hosts lectures from theorists, activists, designers and the like, who want to share their ideas. This involves hosting speakers who present their ideas in a 20 minute lecture that is then posted online. TEDwomen aims to celebrate and acknowledge the women who have presented.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I chose Klein as having a strong feminist voice, that can be found online is because her online presence is very accessible, and she presents her ideas in a mannor is easy to understand, and used by other activists who are interested in creating social change. Her ideas are also very relevant to the current political climate.
You can access her TED talk here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/naomi_klein_addicted_to_risk.html
As a Muslim student in the Women’s Studies program at the University of Windsor, I have always longed for our program to be a little more inclusive. The majority of what we learn is based on “white feminism” (I mean we mostly read articles, journals, books by white feminists in Western culture). Although we are taught that we must be inclusive and that there are other women of minority groups that must be accounted for, I feel that we minimally apply this. Being openly Muslim in a Western Society came along with many hardships whether it be on the basis of discrimination, racism or ignorance. Moving into this program really helped me in forming my identity, but at the same time left me wondering why we know little about the different types of feminism that are happening all around the world.
ReplyDeleteThis you tube clip I found talks about the Campaign For Equality that took place in Tehran, Iran in 2006. These women collected 1 million signatures that were presented to the Parliament addressing the reform of laws that discriminated against women.
Thousands of women rallied for equality between men and women. Some of their major concerns included equality for women in: marriage, divorce, polygamy, temporary marriage, equal compensation for injuries between women and men and the right for women to pass on their nationality. Although many of these women were put in prison for collecting signatures and raising awareness, they used that to benefit them as well by advocating and gaining more rights for female prisoners.
This related to me because these issues that the Iranian women are fighting against are used to control and subjugate women in many Middle Eastern countries (and Western countries as well). Keep in mind this is not because of the religion Islam, rather the culture and practices that value men over women and keep patriarchy practiced.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7wIXWZ1oWg
http://feministvoiceuwindsor.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteWandering around cyber-space looking at difference interesting feminist blogs, comments, and quotes, I stumbled on this site which isn’t as inspiringly feminist as some more positive sites but it was extremely refreshing. Being a student at the UofW for over 4 years and living on Ouellette avenue most of that time I have spent a lot of time walking to and from school down Wyandotte street. For any one who knows this part of the city you are probably well aware of the seedy nature of the few blocks between Campbell and Ouellette. I have walked down this street for years careful to not be walking too late or too slow, to have my headphones in whether or not my iPods’ battery is dead to avoid hearing the calls and questions from the men who sit on porches and slow their cars to cars hoping I'm working the strip, but never have my music too loud in case any one is coming to close behind me and always having my cell phone at the ready in case of extreme situations. I by no means think that I am so uniquely special that men need to stop and ask me if I “need a ride ;)” multiple times on a single walk or dress provocatively to solicit these questions and cat calls nor do I believe any woman even dressed uberprovacatively unless explicitly trying to hail down vehicle for sex work deserves to be harassed merely walking down a common street. Especially during the summer I get extremely angered and upset dealing with this on walks and only sometimes ever hear anyone else getting quite so upset over similar situations. This blog ‘Hollaback’ has different, often hilarious, entries from different people experiencing similar ‘street assaults’. While in NYC this past summer I noticed a very Wyandotte-esque way about many areas but I’m so relieved to see so many other women not only realize how unacceptable this practice is but have a voice and place to express it.
sorry I dont know how our sites link got put there and not the one I was interested in and cant seem to delete it,
ReplyDeleteheres the actual link
http://www.ihollaback.org/
As a biracial woman, I have always been interested in other racialized women’s views on feminist issues. Although academia does educate students about Black feminism, the majority of feminist discourse is taught from a White-feminist perspective. Therefore, it was refreshing to find an all Black feminist online blog. The Angry Black Woman is an anti-racist, anti-sexist blog that speaks towards marginalized issues from a feminist perspective. There are three bloggers that contribute to this site and posts are published frequently.
ReplyDeleteBlack women are often stereotyped as being angry and I like that the authors of this blog are reclaiming this negative stereotype and transforming it into a forum for woman to discuss issues of prejudice that exist in society. Moreover, women are often taught that angry is not an acceptable emotion to display. I think that it is very progressive that these women are embracing their angry and turning it into something constructive.
I was first introduced to this site while doing research for a project for another class last semester. The first post I read was in October and spoke about how racial identities are not Halloween costumes. I found this entry very thought provoking, in that I had never considered how disrespectful and insulting it is for others to mock racialized groups by wearing their identities as costumes. After reading this post, I was eager to see what else this site had to offer.
I think that the Angry Black Woman is a very powerful online voice because it empowers Black women and gives them a forum to discuss racial and gender injustices. Although, only three bloggers contribute to this site, others are encouraged to comment and state their opinions as long as they are not prejudice. The Angry Black Woman is a blog that helps all women to consider feminist issues from a racialized point of view. Overall, I think that this is a very positive site for all women.
Here is the link:
http://theangryblackwoman.com/
http://www.blogher.com/financial-abortion-option-men
ReplyDeleteDuring the summer I started following some of the feminist blogs on BlogHer.com. I like this site because it is a collection of mainly women bloggers writing about the issues they find important to their daily life without feeling as though they need to censor themselves or that a topic they want to discuss is not important enough. There is one woman, Suzanne Reisman, who posts in many of the categories on the site, but commonly in the News & Politics and Feminism sections. I like reading her blog posts because she covers a wide range of issues relating to women that are considered feminist topics.
Admittedly I don’t check the site too much anymore, but I do remember one article that caught my attention in the summer and is representative of Reisman’s style of writing and the topics she covers: The “Financial Abortion” Option for Men. She writes about an article she read at theroot.com which is one woman’s take on a theory proposed by a sociology professor at Brown: that to create an equal playing field men should have the option to say to their female partner that if he does not want a child and she becomes pregnant that he does not have to be financially responsible. Reisman’s commentary on this is around the issue that women are not solely responsible for birth control, that men cannot be that irresponsible, and that there are other options for men (such as a vasectomy) if they want to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
I find her voice to be powerful because she is one of the most followed on the site and she writes about political issues happening in the world that are not only specific to women but will certainly be thought provoking and educational for the readers. To me, BlogHer is a non-threatening or non-intimidating way for women to communicate and be informed about all issues in life, and I think that we should recognize the power in that level of accessibility.
It took me a while to decide what feminist voice I wanted to share. My biggest issue was deciding whether the person could be considered a feminist. After intense thinking, I chose something that was really dear to me. As a Black student, I can identify that gender and race intersect and serve as a source of oppression. My family and other influential Black people in my life have always reminded me that I already have two strikes against me; I’m Black and a woman. Growing up hearing that added a great amount of pressure to my life. I feel that while academia does teach students about the concept of intersectionality, it merely grazes the surface. The ideas that we are taught are primarily drawn from the works of bell hooks. I wanted to find a piece that most would consider non-scholarly that spoke on both gender and race.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to present something that speaks volumes; something that I know I could never do. So I chose a spoken word piece from Def Poetry Jam. Def Poetry Jam is a forum created by entrepreneur Russell Simmons that showcased the talents of many established poets and up-and-coming poets. The artists would recite their poems in front of a live studio audience. Def Poetry Jam aired on television from 2002 until 2007. No topic was ever off limits, the artists were given free rein on what they wanted to talk about.
The piece I chose is titled Try Being a Lady by then 19 year old Sister Queen. I chose this piece because of the raw emotion that she displayed. This piece is about breaking down the stereotypes that women constantly face and acting the way that you want to act instead of ascribing to these socially constructed gender norms. I find this voice powerful because while we always talk about women breaking down these gender norms, I’ve never seen someone do it in such a raw fashion. She says what I always wanted to say when I was younger and she says it in such a relatable way to young Black females. She doesn’t hold anything back, and that is why I find the piece so powerful and chose to share it.
While she uses profanity, my hope is that you can look past that and listen to the deeper message she is trying to convey.
Enjoy!
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx0HKvWOBis&feature=related
To look for a feminist voice can only appear to be difficult when you do not find something you can be passionate about, a certain voice, and an avenue to become involved in. About a month ago, a co-worker of mine invited me to attend the first annual general meeting of 2011 for Windsor Feminist Theatre. She enjoyed our discussions about feminism, and felt that I would become a wonderful new member of their team. With a great prior experience in feminist activity and Women’s Studies, and only some minor involvement with community theatre, I was eager to join. I attended the first meeting and loved what I heard as I felt their organization could provide a new framework to develop feminist thought and activism.
ReplyDeleteWindsor Feminist Theatre is a non-profit theatre company in Windsor, Ontario that uses the diversity of women’s experience to “write, create, develop and present socially relevant and groundbreaking theatrical productions.” Their purpose is to provide opportunities for women to empower themselves through artistic self-expression and personal growth. By using art as a way to promote feminist activity and movement through our community and by allowing both women and men an opportunity to use their background experiences, Windsor Feminist Theatre can provide an avenue for voices to be heard.
I am both excited and intrigued to begin working on different productions for this theatre company. By joining Windsor Feminist Theatre, I feel that I am allowing my own feminist voice to grow in my community while being involved with productions that can empower other women.
One part of Windsor Feminist Theatre that I am most eager on exploring is the workshops that are provided to women who are either involved within the organizations, or who have just watched a performance. These workshops provide the audience themselves with resources and outreach programs that will advance women’s empowerment and progression towards healthier images of women.
To learn more about this amazing organization, please feel free to visit their website at http://www.windsorfeministtheatre.ca/ or, if you prefer to view to receive more current updates on meetings, events and shows, look for them on Facebook under the group name “Windsor Feminist Theatre.”
Being in Women's Studies, I have had the opportunity to become engaged in many different feminist voices. One of my favorites, I think, is Eve Ensler- the author of the Vagina Monologues. I find that in her writing and speaking, the women that whom she creates the monologues for come alive. Both poignant and uplifting, Ensler gives women the tools to be comfortable in their own bodies. I must say, I wasn't exactly sure about my "cause" or raison d'etre until I read the Vagina Monologues, which made so much sense even after the first chapter. I couldn't put it down! I often found myself nodding in agreement to the importance of being able to think of my own vagina as a powerhouse and a symbol of my sexual well-being.
ReplyDeleteEnsler often discusses traveling across America to ask for women's experiences and is very knowledgeable about different women around the world. I think this contributes very well to her message about the vagina's "assumed" (and rather limited!) role of motherhood and imposed chastity- being self-aware enables women to help out their friends or sisters in need of a voice and encourages us to act globally.
I eventually want to be a sex therapist and I think that Ensler's masterpiece is a positive venue to my career choice. So many women are still ashamed and feel they cannot explore sexual venues without some kind of emotional reprecussion. Especially the ones who have experienced sexual trauma- Ensler creates survivors rather than victims, and it shows in this clip/ "monologue". She talks about sex slavery in the Congo and how to be a survivor, as a young girl she was also a victim of rape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-Tiad_JQCw
When I was thinking about Feminist Voices, the first ones that came to my mind were the countless numbers of authors, poets, and scholars that I had read through my years in University and outside as well. They are all excellent examples of strong feminist voices but I felt like I wanted to display someone who may not be the most obvious choice. I chose to talk about Carrie Bradshaw, the popular character from the TV series and movies, Sex and the City. She may not come across as a feminist but she does live by some feminist ideals. What I like about the character is the strength and independence she exhibits. The episode that exemplifies this in the best way is the one in which Carrie “marries” herself. It is called “A Woman’s Right to Shoes.” She attends a baby shower for a friend, where her shoes end up being stolen. The mom-to-be was not concerned with the missing shoes, (and if anyone watches the series, they would know that shoes are Carrie’s “baby”). Carrie felt that it was unfair that everyone else received all these gifts for having babies and getting married—neither of those things were priorities in her life and, at that time, she may never have decided to do. She decided to register herself—she was committed to a life dedicated to her. She was not going to let popular ideas about how to lead her life guide her; she was going to do it the way she felt suite her best. She even sent out invitations to declare her promise to herself. It was an interesting concept and a fun tongue and check idea that feminist activists have incorporated into their work.
ReplyDeleteCarrie Bradshaw and the show itself are pro-woman. The four women the show is based around are all strong personalities who may appear sex-crazed, vulgar and unrealistic in some ways but they are a good example of women who go against the grain and do what is unexpected. Marriage, monogamy, and babies—these are not at the top of their lists. They have important jobs—a writer, lawyer, museum director and publicist. They have strong friendships and strong ideas. The issues being discussed may not be as important as those by bell hooks or Allison Jaggar, yet they do show modern women doin’ it for themselves.
You can find the episode online at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVchsrlP59I
Music has always been a big part of my life, so when I came across a blog called “Jukebox Heroines” I was interested in what it had to offer. This blog provides reviews, news and commentary about female musicians and their songs in all areas of music. It was started by a young musician name Emily, whose goal was to give respect and exposure to female musicians, who often would go unnoticed because the mainstream music industry won’t give them a chance. But it does also covers mainstream artists such as Pink, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga to name a few and what their music means to young feminists.
ReplyDeleteOne entry that I found to be thought provoking was January 17, 2011 entry, which speaks about the fact that when female musicians are in the media, society cares more about their personal lives than the actual artistic merit of their music. The study posted compares the number of news articles that were about women musicians’ music and the number of articles about their personal lives. The results show that there were more articles published about women musician’s personal lives than the actual artist merit of their music. It seems that society cares more about what is going on in someone’s life than the meaning behind musician’s work.
This blog provides a voice to female musicians because when women musicians are in the music industry, society is more exposed to their skin than their artistic talent. This blog creates a positive environment for women musicians, where they can share and showcase their musical talents, without being objectified by the mainstream music industry. It also allows them to relate to other female musicians and feminists, who most likely can relate to them and their music in some way.
Here’s the link: http://jukeboxheroines.wordpress.com/ Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ZVNKNxnjs&feature=related
ReplyDeleteI find this very inspirational because i feel on many levels i can relate to what is being said. I do find that i am a prisoner of words and that certain things have gone unsaid which not only made me suffer from the guilt, knowing that i should have, or could have said something to defuse or induce situation where i, myself, is used as a voice of reasoning or made my unhealthy thought reside within me causing me to internalize them; which i have been told, can result in stress and frustration. I feel that although words hold a lot of power and weight, silence can sometimes be just as powerful, if not more. Sometimes it’s not about what you have said, it can be about what you haven’t send.
In our previous classes we’ve discussed feminism and feminists and i believe that feminism, the movement, knows the power of words and can also be a prisoner of words. Feminist know all too well about tip-toeing around a topic or issue, or using silence as a means of being heard, in order to be valued as an equal in a patriarchal society. Feminists, who are not from a white descent, might sometimes be more familiar with this type of prison imagery, because they too, are so use to being misinterpreted as angry and aggressive. As a result, they may tone down their emotions and choice of words to lessen the possibility of the audience listening, are more comfortable in digesting these thoughts of concerns, voiced by the minority.
“Mostly i Say whatchu wana hear, could you take it if i came clear or would you rather see me stone on a drug of complacency and compromise.” – my take on this, is yes. Many people have this same dilemma, but if i had to find a parallel, id be incline to think that feminist deal with this consistently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ZVNKNxnjs&feature=related
ReplyDeleteI find this very inspirational because i feel on many levels i can relate to what is being said. I do find that i am a prisoner of words and that certain things have gone unsaid which not only made me suffer from the guilt, knowing that i should have, or could have said something to defuse or induce situation where i, myself, is used as a voice of reasoning or made my unhealthy thought reside within me causing me to internalize them; which i have been told, can result in stress and frustration. I feel that although words hold a lot of power and weight, silence can sometimes be just as powerful, if not more. Sometimes it’s not about what you have said, it can be about what you haven’t send.
In our previous classes we’ve discussed feminism and feminists and i believe that feminism, the movement, knows the power of words and can also be a prisoner of words. Feminist know all too well about tip-toeing around a topic or issue, or using silence as a means of being heard, in order to be valued as an equal in a patriarchal society. Feminists, who are not from a white descent, might sometimes be more familiar with this type of prison imagery, because they too, are so use to being misinterpreted as angry and aggressive. As a result, they may tone down their emotions and choice of words to lessen the possibility of the audience listening, are more comfortable in digesting these thoughts of concerns, voiced by the minority.
“Mostly i Say whatchu wana hear, could you take it if i came clear or would you rather see me stone on a drug of complacency and compromise.” – my take on this, is yes. Many people have this same dilemma, but if i had to find a parallel, id be incline to think that feminist deal with this consistently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ZVNKNxnjs&feature=related
ReplyDeleteI find this very inspirational because i feel on many levels i can relate to what is being said. I do find that i am a prisoner of words and that certain things have gone unsaid which not only made me suffer from the guilt, knowing that i should have, or could have said something to defuse or induce situation where i, myself, is used as a voice of reasoning or made my unhealthy thought reside within me causing me to internalize them; which i have been told, can result in stress and frustration. I feel that although words hold a lot of power and weight, silence can sometimes be just as powerful, if not more. Sometimes it’s not about what you have said, it can be about what you haven’t send.
In our previous classes we’ve discussed feminism and feminists and i believe that feminism, the movement, knows the power of words and can also be a prisoner of words. Feminist know all too well about tip-toeing around a topic or issue, or using silence as a means of being heard, in order to be valued as an equal in a patriarchal society. Feminists, who are not from a white descent, might sometimes be more familiar with this type of prison imagery, because they too, are so use to being misinterpreted as angry and aggressive. As a result, they may tone down their emotions and choice of words to lessen the possibility of the audience listening, are more comfortable in digesting these thoughts of concerns, voiced by the minority.
“Mostly i Say whatchu wana hear, could you take it if i came clear or would you rather see me stone on a drug of complacency and compromise.” – my take on this, is yes. Many people have this same dilemma, but if i had to find a parallel, id be incline to think that feminist deal with this consistently.
As fourth year Women’s Studies majors, we have become familiar with the works of well known feminists like Judith Butler, Sara Weir, Alice Walker, and Bell Hooks. Additionally, we look to Bitch Magazine, Ms. Magazine, and Jezebel for feminist related news and articles. What we as feminists, students, and most of all, as class mates have failed to do, I would argue, is become familiar with the writings and ideas of those closest to us: each other.
ReplyDeleteIt is for this reason that I looked to a fellow student and friend, Steve Surlin’s, online blog, Post Binary Gender Chores, for inspiration. I revisited an article written by Nicole Beuglet, entitled The Consequences of Gendering Public Space: Opening the Potential of Gender Identities, and was quickly re-inspired.
In her article, Beuglet asserts that specific instances of gender divisions (e.g., washrooms) ultimately contribute to the widely held belief that gender is a biological inevitability. Specifically, Beuglet uses the example of bathroom markings, which are generally composed of images of a “man” or “woman,” made clear by the presence of either a dress or pants. She uses the works of well known theorists Judith Butler, Simone de Beauvoir, and Sandra Bartky, among many others, to describe how these gender symbols, and others like, them “demonstrate how gender performances construct social realities while enforcing the idea that gender is biological, by dividing spaces into ‘two’ sexes using the markings of gender1.” Beuglet argues that this tendency to define gender as representative of the “two sexes” not only perpetuates traditional gender-specific roles, but also excludes anyone who does not prescribe to these identities.
This example of a feminist voice is powerful as Beuglet provides not only insightful and well articulated arguments, but also because the content is relatable. Additionally, she provides useful explanations and strong evidence for her arguments while simultaneously promoting discussions of gender. I know that after reading her article, I cannot enter a washroom without considering gender performance as well as the many restrictive socially defined roles, which were referenced to, in her article.
Time is a precious commodity, I have felt time slip away from me when I’m online.
ReplyDeleteI have come to the realization that I do not use the full potential of the internet nor do I find myself drawn to blogs and websites online. Bloggers, blog followers and likely the majority of the population who have their ritual online “spots” probably cannot fully understand what I mean when I say “I feel disconnected to the internet”. As much as stupid videos are hilarious and facebook has so much to offer in the way of social networking, I do not find satisfaction in browsing. Although, I have had these thoughts about the internet enter and leave my mind, I have not taken time to self reflect about the internet. Asking me to find a feminist voice within the electronic socially constructed environment is stepping out of my comfort zone of written texts. However, I needed this push. It has forced me to critically think about the internet as a tool to use in the feminist movement.
For the past two years I have critiqued my life and tried to connect my identity, activities, work, school etc, to feminism. However, I have not been able to fully use the internet to its feminist potential. I have decided to take this on as a personal challenge. During this semester I am going to find feminist voices that motivate me, challenge my thinking and keep me focused on the movement. I have not allowed myself to venture far into the depth of the internet for my own personal growth and considering I am now using the internet for feminist growth I’d better do my research :P.
The use of the internet is continually increasing (http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm) and connecting individuals from around the world. The internet has given feminists the opportunity to work together for world change. There are numerous individual feminist voices that use a variety of different mediums to get their ideas and thoughts out to the world, such as art, music, spoken word, videos, blogging etc. Although, these voices are unique in each way they all have at least one linking characteristic which is feminisms. The feminist movement is becoming stronger; I can feel the electricity in the air sometimes. The WSSA blog was the first idea/ “feminist voice” that came to my mind when we were asked to find a feminist voice. http://wssawindsor.wordpress.com/.
I chose to showcase the WSSA blog because it is an example of feminism represented at the University of Windsor. As a (paying) student I want to be able to have the autonomy within my school to be able to participate in feminism. This blog not only allows feminists voices to be heard but it is also a voice for WSSA, the student members, feminist events, and a safe space for social justice groups and movements to discuss their interests.
The blog was designed to inform the general student body and public about WSSA events, what WSSA is trying to achieve and showcase the work the group has accomplished. It has discussed a variety of different social events as well promotes other feminist blogs and safe spaces. It’s most controversial topics have revolved around discussion about the discrimination within the Lance.
When I view the WSSA blog, I can see the work feminists are doing within our school community and it inspires me. It makes me feel like the work I am doing and the future work I do is contributing to a larger pool of advocacy. The WSSA blog was started just this past semester. It has great potential, those who can see this potential need to start writing for it more—which includes me.
The world is relying further on technology, in order for feminism to be reclaimed it also must “conform” to the ways of the world—which is technology.
Through technology freedom can be found.
Oh Lookout You Rock n’ Rollers!
ReplyDeleteBowie’s lyrics in the 1972 album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” are by no means perfectly feminist, but they can be interpreted to provide a commentary on the social expectations which surround gender and sexuality.
The album tells the story of Ziggy Stardust, a fictional spaceman character who descends to Earth with his guitar in hand. While Ziggy rises to the status of rock n’ roll superstar he innocently explores Earth’s constructs of gender and sexuality – unaware of the social expectations which are placed on women and men. As Ziggy takes on an androgynous personhood, the lyrics discuss experimentation with gender performance, sexual identity and lifestyle and its social repercussions. On the whole, the album provides a positive statement of sexual ambiguity, and more broadly towards being who you want to be, not who or what you are told to be. Ziggy’s life is ultimately destroyed at the close of the album from being confused by restrictions of love and physical expression; it is the social and cultural expectations which contribute to his destruction.
The ideas and experiences which Bowie grapples with can be appropriately interpreted as feminist as the album’s themes are explored using positive language with its narrative-like lyrics. They are not in-your-face politics calling for social change and activism; the lyrics are silently charged with a political tone for acceptance and a tearing down of the expectations for women and men to comply with in constructing a personal identity.
As the album ends, Bowie shouts expressions of encouragement in that “You’re not alone! You’re wonderful! Give me your hands!” It’s a feminist voice which Bowie embraces as the album encourages the exploration of individual identity and acceptance of how the individual navigates social and cultural expectations. In other words, be who you want to be.
For me, this was the album that I turned to (and still do) when in need of a positive voice to encourage me in defining my own identity. As every day is a performance in presenting how you want people to perceive you and construct their understanding of you, the voice here encourages the listener to define yourself on your own terms; not one that is defined for you by committee or social codes. “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” is a voice of hope and reassurance. The album suggests that you have one chance to be you. Just like Bowie sings, “He’s told us not to blow it / ‘Cause he knows it’s all worthwhile.” Ignore the noise and do your thing – “Let all the children boogie.”
Check it out the playlist at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3DE0FBB83D4163FB
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was first introduced to this website over the fall semester while taking History of Women’s Movement. This website is one of the feminist voices; it allows women to confront and fight against discrimination, sexual assaults and any act of violation toward women through videotaping the event occur and post it to this website. While in the website, the whole world can have access to watch the video. In one of the video that we watched in the History of Women’s Movement classroom, it was about a woman who was sexual assaulted while standing in the subway, and when she realized she took her cell phone out and yelled to the men while taping him, other passengers were very helpful because they help the woman and made sure that he was taken to the police station.
ReplyDeleteI think this website gives a great voice to women because women are able to share experiences and make other aware of what is going on in the neighbourhoods, cities, communities or countries. This also means that giving the power to the women to fight back. Through videotaping the offender from the subway was prosecuted. This website reminded me of the reading by Walker “Silence Makes Us Complicit.” In her reading she argues that when we see a woman being degraded and we don’t do anything, and stay quiet, it means we are allowing the degrading or assault to be the norm and we are accepting it and acceptance becomes an encouragement of the behaviour which later continues.
http://feministing.com/2010/11/23/subway-flasher-gets-hollabackd/
http://www.ihollaback.org/
my comment on Jessica's response:
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of this website too Jessica. I like how you talked about art as a tool of activism and social and global change. We discovered this venue of activism in last year’s women and protest class where we tackled different ways of feminist activism. Art is one of the venues that I find really interesting and intriguing. What I like about I.M.O.W is it gives a voice for every woman and offering such opportunity to them can be a life changing experience .Women’s art should be publicized and supported by government institutions and funding programs that can guarantee the progress and the continuation of this venue of activism. I like to mention here that Judy Chicago’s dinner table is by far the most feminist art work that reminds me of all the struggles of first wave and second wave feminist; I just see the whole history of women’s activism resembled in this art piece.
my comment on zeinab's response:
I agree with you Zainab. I think our Women’s Studies program at the University of Windsor should offer more classes that cover various women’s voices. But at the same time I really appreciate the efforts of women’s studies professors who are encouraging their students to shape their own feminism and to express their voices freely. Having said that, I would like to see more classes that cover the experiences and theories of non western feminist. Regarding the youtube video that you posted on Iranian women and their struggle towards equality, I find it really interesting that men are also joining women to achieve equality and they are standing side by side with women to achieve their goals. I was very inspired by all the efforts that Iranian women are striving for to achieve equality. I think some laws that are enacted by patriarchal institutions should be reformed and changed because some of the laws that are practiced in Iran are sexist and based on male interpretations of Quran verses and the prophet’s narration.
What can we do to challenge the violence against women in the media? Is there a possibility to sensor our media outlets? Can we frame our argument in the context of feminist framework to achieve substantial equality within the media?
ReplyDelete