Becoming a Feminist
As part of the theme #feministfriday, the blogger Translantic Blonde asked this week, “What moment triggered you to say, ‘I am a feminist'”.
To be honest, I am not really sure. I guess I have always been a feminist, but had never considered myself one. A feminist – one of those hairy-legged, dungaree-wearing, elderflower-wine-drinking, hemp-clothed women? That wasn’t me. Sure, I went through a gentle rebellious protest stage in my teens, but I didn’t go on protest marches, I had no strong opinion on feminist topics or politics (although I was always interested in politics in general).
When I moved to Germany, “Feminism” was not something that I was interested in. I would watch Alice Schwarzer on television and, yes sometimes – often – agree with her. When I read about the Frauenbewegung, I did not feel the need to join in, to assert myself.
I think that the first feminist woman who I admired (and this is a slightly embarrassing thing to admit, since she is a fictional figure) was CJ Cregg, the Press Secretary in the West Wing. Who could forget this scene:
http://youtu.be/7Kmo4R5Z7Rs
After I had my children, I started using the website Mumsnet. For the first time I read about the injustices that women suffered, and wondered if there was something that I could do. The first thread that I really got involved in was one about a young woman who was in Yarls Wood Detention Centre and had her children taken from her, despite the fact that she was breastfeeding the youngest child. It was the first time that I had emailed my MP, the first time I had gotten involved in a political “campaign” of any kind. The activists from Black Womens’ Rape Action Project were successful – Janipher was finally granted leave to stay in UK in 2008.
After this, I became more interested in what we normal women could do to help women in need, to protest against injustices. The Mumsnet Feminist board has grown over the past years. Highlights have included the ill-fated “Career Women Make Bad Mothers” ad campaign thread where Mumsnet activists forced the Outdoor Advertising Agency to remove the slogans from buses.
Twitter has made me even more aware of feminist issues around the globe. This week has been a busy one for feminists, with the Dominque Strass-Kahn alleged rape case and Ken Clarke’s faux pas hitting the headlines. The advent of Social Media means that feminist topics are reaching a wider audience, and it is easier to get involved. No longer cut off on the continent, I can be an “armchair activist”, firing emails to MPs and ministers, blogging and tweeting.
I suppose that this makes it easier for young mothers to get involved in feminist activism and explains the popularity of the Mumsnet feminist board, which is presently the most active feminist chat board in the UK.
My blog started as a way of informing the folks back home about our exciting new adventure in Switzerland, but over time evolved to be more about my opinions, my writing, my interests. My first cautious blog posts on feminist topics were reasonably well received. In the same way that I would not class myself a “mummyblogger”, I have to say that if you are looking for a “feminist blog” then you are in the wrong place here but I will continue to blog on feminist topics in the future.
18 Comments
emma bradley
Great post, really interesting I have not seen the mumsnet threads. Will defo be looking now. My effort is here http://www.emmaand3.com/wordpress/?p=1262
Anonymous
Thank you. Do pop onto the Mumsnet feminist board. The debate can get heated at times, but it is a good place. They have given me some good book tips for a beginner feminist.
Anonymous
Great post! Believe it or not I’ve never watched the West Wing; I went to Uni in Washington DC and everyone was OBSESSED with it so while I loved politics I rebelled by NOT watching it. Don’t ask me how that works, but it did for an 18 year old 🙂
I love that activism has become so much easier in the digital age; there are so many more avenues to get your voice heard. I would whole-heartedly recommend going on a march or attending a group activist activity if you still never have.
I attended the “March for Women’s Lives” in DC back in 2004 and was exhilarating and empowering to see over a million women all gather together and have their voices heard.
Anonymous
Thank you. Oh, you really must watch West Wing. I love it. CJ is my favourite character, she is the woman I wanted to be when I grow up. A feisty funny feminist.
Next time there is a march going on, I will go to it. Good idea.
lirazelf
CJ’s a great character. That scene, and the one at the end of “Full Disclosure”, where she goes to see Hoynes in his office & fires the warning shot – brilliant.
Anonymous
Oh, yes. She is my hero.
Lindsay Keith
Nice post MMe Lindt. I realised I was a feminist at about 23 – the same time I realised that my partner at the time was an oppressive egomaniac who didn’t like me to have views and opinions of my own. The other day an old school friend congratulated me on an article I had written (about why we need more female TV presenters, which attracted some pretty misogynistic comments) by saying “you didn’t come across as a feminist at all!”. It was genuinely meant in a nice way but I did have to reply saying that I was proud to be a feminist, and that it was still important that we identify ourselves as such. (I pointed her towards http://www.girleffect.org)
Anonymous
Yes, it is time to be proud of being a feminist. And for feminists to be viewed as ordinary women, which we are.
Thanks for that video, it is very powerful.
Muddling Along
Nice post
Mumsnet scares me – I’m a feminist and proud of it – having spent most of my career in a male dominated industry I fervantly believe in the right of women to equality
And recent work around support for new mothers has really highlighted the inequalities that exist in this country
Its shocking and it needs more articulate, vocal women to help further the cause
Thank you
Anonymous
Mumsnet can be scary but it can also be great fun, and wonderfully supportive.
Have a peek on the feminist board, and stay away from AIBU (am I being unreasonable).
Michelle
I love CJ and enjoyed reading about your evolution. It is said that often men become more conservative as they age and women more radical. You have reminded me of things from my own feminist history – am trying to find a pocket of time to write in today.
Anonymous
That is fabulous – men become more conservative and women more radical. Yes, there is truth in that statement.
Anonymous
That is fabulous – men become more conservative and women more radical. Yes, there is truth in that statement.
Pewari
The changing point for me was definitely having children. Before that, I really did think we had achieved equality, but the sudden shift to having virtually no status when I became ‘just’ a mother and all the subsequent assumptions made about me was a shock.
I love the comment from Michelle about men becoming more conservative and women more radical – definitely been true for me.
Anonymous
When I was at a function of my husband’s work, not long after having my daughter, I was chatting to a colleague. He asked where I worked and then basically walked away when I told him that I was a Stay at Home Mum. Complete disinterest. That was the first time that I felt worthless for not having a career.
Anonymous
When I was at a function of my husband’s work, not long after having my daughter, I was chatting to a colleague. He asked where I worked and then basically walked away when I told him that I was a Stay at Home Mum. Complete disinterest. That was the first time that I felt worthless for not having a career.
Mary Clark
I think having kids does really bring it all to the fore– what kind of Mom/Mum will I be? How will my kids know that I, too, have dreams, aspirations, an existence (apart from sustaining theirs)?
Anonymous
I must admit I admired the CJ Cregg character too, and wasn’t that a great series! I guess my first identification was when I was at University and I joined the very first feminist writing course in my final year. Funny how the word changes are we mature through life. I know it means different things to me than it did way back then, when I was 19.