Two good links from geekfeminism

[jtniehof]

Opposite sides:
Why I'm leaving feminism, on failure to recognize intersectionality.
It's not "them"--it's us!, on lumping too many causes/ideals together.
Q: what's the difference?

(BTW, I'm way overdue on a bingo post. I've got lots of notes for one, and it's going to be both long and painful, so...)

Comments

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

I have a lot to say about that first link, but for now I'll just point out that feminism is not now and never has been a monolith. And while I don't really care what label people use as long as they're doing good work, it is particularly disappointing to see radicals renounce the feminist movement as a tool of radical critique and activism -- and that such moves become self-fulfilling prophecies.

I sometimes feel like a lack of historicized contextualization prevents present-day radicals from understanding the trajectory of feminism as the truly radical movement it's always been, because they're seeing the movement's long-running limitations through a lens of up-to-date, forward-looking radicalism. But I learned everything I know about intersectionality from feminism -- from modern radical feminists including s.e. smith.

I've read that second one before. It's a good one.

[jnik.livejournal.com]

"feminism is not now and never has been a monolith"--nail on the head. I disagree with the author's renouncement, but I find it hard to disagree with her reasons, or her obviously very real frustration. And her inline links are well-worth reading, as well.

There was that article on BU Today a couple of days ago on "why feminism is a dead-end street." I haven't read it yet since I wasn't looking for a reason to get pissed off. The brief summary sounded like "cast down your buckets where you are."

(BTW, the question was neither rhetorical nor one to which I lack an answer, but I did find the juxtaposition interesting.)

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

You mean the one posted on INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY? OMG fail. The good news is, the comments (95% outraged) were heartening.

I wrote in response to someone's FB post about it: "Wow. WOW. Lisa, I agree that the comments are reassuring. Including the ones who point out that posting an anti-feminist interview on International Women's Day is a humiliatingly ignorant or insulting move on the part of BUtoday, as well as those from the conservative side who point out that if you're going to do an anti-feminism article at all that it needs to be academic, challenging, and fact-based -- not this nonsensical, hypocritical, misogynistic, knee-jerk conservative tripe (and, I would hope, it would still not be posted on IWD of all days). As a staunch feminist I can't even dignify this with a response other than deep embarrassment for our school. Also: single favorite comment: 'when life gives me lemons I will squirt them in the eyes of my oppressors'"

One of my colleagues pointed out, "Many comments engaged not just the content, but also the underlying logic/assumptions/mode of argumentation. They demonstrate not a mere 'difference of opinion,' but real critical thinking. I think all WR instructors should be proud." Heh, nice.

There was a response from a number of BU folks in the Daily Free Press a few days later: http://dailyfreepress.com/2011/03/09/dropping-the-f-bomb/

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

> her inline links are well-worth reading

I read the Racialicious link (and added the book to my to-read list) but I don't know if I clicked on any of the others... will have to go back and check. [ETA: Went back -- IT'S YOUR FAULT I WAS UP LATE AND MAD RRRGH]

> the question was neither rhetorical nor one to which I lack an answer

Yeah, sorry, I didn't answer the question. I wrote one, then decided not to post it, so it's sitting in a text file on my desktop.