Letters to the Editor
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heh
"Instead of the group hug approach, let's focus on tangible goals: fostering youth leadership, working from the margins in and using intersectionality as our lens -- instead of just a talking point."
Don't forget the ameliorative effect of an approach that utilizes disparate intergenerational currents, within a cross-cultural dynamic, in order to precipitate a palliative precursor to true social change among our key demographics.
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I thought the article was self-promoting of her career
Jessica has a book out about "young feminists" and she never misses and opportunity to support her own personal brand and slam "mainstream feminism." It's more about her sales figures than peace. Oh, and there are no young feminists in "mainstream feminism." She knows this. And none that support Clinton, apparently. She draws a line of opposition. And of course, she is on the more high minded side - in her mind.
How else do you describe an article, allegedly about coming together, that doesn't miss a chance to slam Clinton supporters while Obama supporters are wonderful? Older feminists are supposed to, in her words, support the leadership of younger feminists - I guess like her. How dare they ask for her support!! It doesn't cut the other way for her.
What is wrong for feminists to suppport Clinton and be very vocal in saying they believe it is the most feminist choice?
Jessica writes that the problem is all about the older feminists not listening to the younger feminists. Wow, that was easy. If only we had a book on the subject...hmmmmmm.... Of course, it does not cut the other way. For an older feminist to ask Jessica to listen to her about Clinton is apparently spliting heaven and earth and insulting. And they should go away, bow out, and stop making younger feminists so uncomfortable.
This is not the feminism we are all fighting for. It is ok for women to get behind Clinton and to question other women about their support of other candidates. And vice versa. It's ok that we do not all agree with Jessica. And it's ok for older feminists to do other tasks in the movement besides building Jessica's career and applauding her all the time.
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Best quote of the day
``Mainstream feminists''.
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Rude and Disrespectful
I'm a 51 year old woman and I suppose I can probably be considered a "mainstream feminist." After a lot of thought, I am supporting Barack Obama. What I most resent about the knee-jerk reactions from some other women (both older and younger than me) is the utter dismissal from them that thoughtful people can have different opinions. No matter who I support, it really honks me off to have anyone just dismiss my choice out of hand, treating me like a misbehaving child. Ultimately, it's rude and disrespectful.
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Youth v Experience
The younger generation has never been told that they shouldn't get paid as much as their male co-workers because they don't have "a family to support" and have never had to try to make progress in a company that thinks that women should all be beautiful and bubbly. They think that they're feminists because they've marched in a couple of "take back the night" marches (as if only feminists can be opposed to rape) and because they can tell a man that he has to wear a condom.
I realized that female Obama supporters didn't "get it" when none reacted negatively when Jesse Jackson Jr., Obama's national campaign co-chair, suggested that Hillary Clinton "cried" in order to gain voter sympathy. This was sexism at it's worst. Obama has been showing emotion every day on the campaign trail, and is known for his passion. Clinton was being insulted as an "ice queen". Yet when Clinton opens up and shows a bit of feeling it proves not that she isn't cold but that she is so calculating that she is willing to manipulate voters with tears. That should resonate with any feminist who has been accused by a man of crying in order to manipulate him, or has had to withhold her emotions because she woudln't be considered professional if she showed the same kind of emotions that men are encouraged to show.
Feminism is about more than being paid the same. It's about being allowed to be women and still be paid the same as men. It's about "rhymes with witch" and "shrew" being as socially unacceptable as "ni**er" and "boy". It's about not thinking that the ability to lead, a willingness to fight, and being tough are "masculine" qualities, and women who have those qualities are somehow "less" than women who are more passive. It's about not assuming that women's roles are limited to support positions and we shouldn't put ourselves forward as leaders.
I can understand how women can support Obama. I cannot understand how they can not criticize Obama for some of the sexist attacks that have come out of his campaign. Or how they can think that only old feminists would care. They are going to have to deal with the same issues we are, eventually. Their heads will bump up against the glass ceiling, and they'll have to battle a man for a position under rules that are completely unfair. They should be fighting the sexist sterotypes even if they don't agree with Clinton's politics.
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The this and thats of raving old bats
The Steinam generation is swiftly becoming the stone age generation. Do your last dinosaur dance and get it all over with for god's sake!
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@Manos
You've been flaming here, there and everywhere.
You're not an Obama supporter; you're an Obama idolater, and it's not helpful.
Now, it's actively insulting to a group of women of whom I have the honor to be one.
I'm sure you can think of more substantive things to say.
Or even how to spell Gloria Steinem's name.
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Feminists who support Obama
If you are a wholehearted Obama supporter who happens to be a feminist, why would you even care what Clinton supporting feminists say? Maybe if you have some mixed feelings?
I'm in my early 30s, consider myself a feminist and I decided to support Clinton. I did an online quiz and she is the candidate that best fits my beliefs and ideas and I like a lot of the things she has to say. I also am really enjoying finally being able to support a female candidate for president this far into the presidential race.
I find Obama to be very slick, vague in his positions and the sexism that has appeared here and there throughout his campaign bothers me a whole lot. If you are a feminist and you are okay with who he is as a candidate, it's okay. Just because you are a feminist, you don't have to do everything in your life "feminist" and that includes your political choices. But don't get mad at other people who point out to you the truth - that what you are doing is really just supporting yet another mainstream male candidate who vaguely blathers about "change" and won't be doing anything in particular if he gets elected to help feminism in any way.