New Year’s Feminist Blogging Resolutions

It’s the end of December, and I’m still nibbling holiday meal leftovers even though I’ve forgotten what hunger feels like. So I think it’s about that time….time for some end-of-the-year reflection Last week, I posted the top ten international wins for women in 2009 (and resisted the urge to name the post “FTW”). This week, I’d like to offer a more personal take on the end of the year, and share my blogging resolutions with you, in the spirit of continued feminist[ing] progress and community-building.

It’s been an eventful and wonderful year. Being able to interact with you all, a fantastic community of people who just plain get it, has strengthened and invigorated my feminism in ways I’m not sure I could have anticipated when I first started writing for the site. I see feministing fodder everywhere- things and thoughts I’m eager to share with you on the subway, at work, in my daily interactions with people, and even in my relationship. And I’ve tried to reflect this passion for feminism and this community in my posts. I’ve posted quick hits and long diatribes. I’ve criticized one of the most powerful companies in the world for being unfair, and made fun of one of the most ridiculous anti-choice websites for being absurd. I’ve posted pictures- of renegade feminist street signs, of the NYC pride parade, and the Clinton Global Initiative- and videos- most notably a documentary featuring sex workers in India mobilizing for their rights, and a short film of quirky lovers dancing in their underwear and, later, getting an abortion. I’ve posted breaking news, and I’ve made some silly puns. I’ve also managed to write a post or two that I am pretty proud of, mostly because they solicited some truly interesting and thought-provoking comments from you.

That’s not to say it’s all been peachy keen- I’ve definitely made some rookie mistakes, and you were right there to point them out for me When I carelessly titled a post, you weren’t afraid to speak up and let me know. When I posted an opinion you completely disagreed with- well let’s just say you aren’t afraid to hold back!

So… what does 2010 hold? Well, in the spirit of transparent community, I thought I’d share with you here my personal blogging resolutions for 2010, and hopefully you’ll share some of yours- blogging-related or not- in comments.

Resolution #1: Hurry up and wait. In 2010, I’d like to post more quickly and decrease my post turnaround time, especially on breaking news items. At the same time I recognize the need to review and edit each post more thoroughly before hitting that publish button. It’s all about finding a balance on this one.

Resolution #2: Be brave enough to get personal. Sometimes it’s a helluva lot easier to post a feminist news item than it is to post on something more personal, like a life event. For me, this is especially true when it comes to race issues- I still have trouble sometimes posting on things that hit so close to home. But if there’s anything the Feministing editors have proven to me, it’s that getting personal is the key to community building. In 2010, I need to be braver.

Resolution #3: Say more with less. I can be wordy. I know this. I’m working on it!

Resolution #4: Get connected. There are so many amazing feminists doing visionary work, and I don’t want to blog in a bubble. In 2010, I hope to reach out more to other feminists to find inspiration in their progress and use this platform to highlight their work as well. This is something the Feministing editors are already incredibly good at, and something I’ll continue to work on.

Resolution #5: Be more creative. This one pretty much speaks for itself, although I have to admit, I’m feeling a lot of pressure to write a haiku about it or something…to demonstrate real commitment to the resolution!

That’s all for now, folks….HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!!!