Quick Hit: Damsel Q&A with Courtney

Check out the Q&A that Damsel, a blog for and by feminist 20-somethings, did with me. I thought that they asked some great questions. An excerpt:

Damsel: I’m not going to lie: It really pisses me off when women who subscribe to feminist beliefs (and reap the benefits of the movement) refuse to call themselves feminists. Frankly, I think they’re ingrates. You, on the other hand, have said you “don’t actually care much” whether people wear the label. And you write for Feministing.com! Help me understand your reasoning.
CM: First off, I champion you for feeling so strongly about the feminist label. I get it. I really do. But for me, the history of feminism is so complicated and the continued class issues so entrenched, that I really empathize with women who want to distance themselves from the label. Feminism was historically seen as a very white movement, and too often, it still resides in the upper echelons of society (colleges, fancy feminist organizations etc.). I hope that young women of diverse ethnic and class backgrounds identify, but if they don’t, I don’t want them to feel like they can’t fight for gender justice alongside me and the other card carrying Feminists.

Read the rest here.