Posts Tagged intergenerational feminism

Jack Halberstam’s Flying Circus: on postmodernism and the scapegoating of trans women

 

With mainstream discussion around trigger warnings circling the drain of bad faith and broken ethics, Jack Halberstam’s article on the matter was as inevitable as it is unhelpful.

It belongs to the peculiar species of toxicity that activists produce when we struggle manfully against the Jungian shadows created by our work: we stridently accuse others of what we ourselves are, in fact, doing.

This is not to say that Halberstam’s piece is entirely wrong. Trigger warnings are overused in a way that condescends to the traumatised, creating an activist tic that serves primarily to signify fealty to a norm rather than do real community work around the issue of trauma. It is also true that we have indeed built an ...

 

With mainstream discussion around trigger warnings circling the drain of bad faith and broken ethics, Jack Halberstam’s article on the matter was as inevitable as it is unhelpful.

It belongs to the peculiar species of toxicity ...

Intergenerational feminism and the path ahead

“So, what brings you to this luncheon?”

I smile. “I’m a writer with Feministing.com, a blog for young feminists.”

“Oh,” the woman raises her eyebrows. “How interesting! So are you a lawyer?”

I look around at the room full of human rights lawyers and smile again. “No, Feministing is a blog, like a website? Anyways, I’ll be live-tweeting the event today.” The woman gave me a politely confused look.

This was one of many funny learning moments I had at this event organized by Equal Rights Advocates, a national organization fighting for women’s economic and educational access and opportunities. The crowd at the event included a lot of feminists who might still measure the movement in “waves” and plenty who knew very little about the ...

“So, what brings you to this luncheon?”

I smile. “I’m a writer with Feministing.com, a blog for young feminists.”

“Oh,” the woman raises her eyebrows. “How interesting! So are you a lawyer?”

I look around at the room full of ...

Friday Feminist Fuck Yeah: Nonagenarian feminists

My grandmother turned 97 this week. She was born in 1914, which, as I reminded her several times throughout the day, was a very, very long time ago. Of course, the fact that she turned 97 on Wednesday didn’t stop her from kicking my sorry ass at Scrabble on Wednesday – twice. The second time, it was by a 107-point margin. That one still stings.

But this blog post is not about just how badly my grandmother trounced me at Scrabble. Nor is it about the trash-talking that took place during said trouncing (“I’m kicking your butt, little girl!”). It is about nonagenarian feminists. Why not simply “old” feminists? Because if I’m ever going to beat this woman at Scrabble, I ...

My grandmother turned 97 this week. She was born in 1914, which, as I reminded her several times throughout the day, was a very, very long time ago. Of course, the fact that she turned 97 on ...

Thanks, Mom


For keeping your last name and acting like it was no big deal, even though it was.

For marrying a feminist man who supported your career ambitions and helped you raise two feminist daughters.

For raising me with feminism in the water so that when I encountered the word and the idea, feminism seemed so unremarkable and obvious to me that I was astonished to find that there even was a word or an idea.

For not shuddering in dismay (at least, not visibly), at my childhood obsession with princesses, fairies and chasing boys.

For not shuddering in dismay (at least, not visibly), at my other childhood attraction – to really dangerous sports.

For doing your best to raise me to love my body.

For ...


For keeping your last name and acting like it was no big deal, even though it was.

For marrying a feminist man who supported your career ambitions and helped you raise two feminist daughters.

For raising me with ...

What We Missed

RH Reality Check has a breakdown of the most extreme candidates up for election next week and some of their positions. It’s a bit frightening.

Have you checked out the Feministing Campus blog lately? Pockets of Understanding by Winter Trabex, is one not to miss.

Author and Academic Judith “Jack” Halberstam publishes this response to Susan Faludi’s article about intergenerational feminism. (Halberstam is referenced in the conclusion of the piece).

The Village Voice has an indepth profile of Lt. Dan Choi, the prominent Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal activist.

A facebook page with 400 plus people “liking” it compares people who are against the Colorado fetal personhood amendment Nazis. Go to the page if you’d like to report it.

RH Reality Check has a breakdown of the most extreme candidates up for election next week and some of their positions. It’s a bit frightening.

Have you checked out the Feministing Campus blog lately? Pockets of ...