How Blogging Gets Sidetracked
Jill has come to the defense of Jessica Valenti and her book Full Frontal Feminism. I don't know all the details of the feminist blogging controversy with the book. I did leave this comment.
The debate about the book seems to take away from feminism as a way to make the lives of women better. Equal rights, pay, sexual respect in the workplace. etc. I haven't read Jessica Valenti's book. (I can't find it in a bookstore in Tampa.) My fellow blogger Litbrit was to review it.
Jill made an interesting remark in the post.
Jessica is also criticized for ignoring issues of non-white, non-middle-class women — and when I read those criticisms, I have to wonder if the commenters have read the book. Because Jessica recognizes the racism within the feminist movement.
My response.
Many of these women Jill mentioned will not have the opportunity to go to college. They won't read Virginia Woolf. They will wait tables and work two jobs to support their children. How can their lives be made better is a question not asked enough.
These women need health care, grants for schooling, daycare, transportation to work, quality housing and a laundry list of other things. Do these women even relate to feminism? It's hard to imagine grad school feminism arguments are something they would care about. They are living check to check. It has no bearing on their day to day lives.
Telling women about empowerment is one thing. Putting empowerment within their reach is what needs to be done. I'm not schooled in feminist theory. I don't claim to have the answers. We often lose (sight) of why we started blogging to begin with. We should be trying to make a positive impact on people's lives.
It is interesting how the inside-blogging-stuff distracts the left from making change. I'm as guilty of it as anyone else. We should take pause as progressives and ask ourselves why we started blogging to begin with.
Labels: blogging, feminism, feministe, jessica valenti, jill filipovic
posted by Michael Hussey @ 4:31 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Yes, I said that the other day to myself and in a sentence in a post I could have just not made but cut and pasted and threw out. I type fast but still ... no more distractions.
I fully recognize the gambit of those who distract, divide and conquer. And some of them attempt to steal our TIME.
This is crucial for them to accomplish during this upcoming season. And we have bigger fish to fry.
It's critical to remember where we came from because there was more help for women (and all) out there just a short time back. Since 2000 it is almost impossible for some single moms AND dads to find their way through college.
A much older person pointed out to me that the assholes are working tirelessly to create a permanent lower class. Part and parcel with the drug war and these witch hunts.
I really appreciate this commentary for the women.
Hats off to you. I don't like to see people helpless and some get MOST while most have very little.
Eventhough I have not been following what the trends are taking everyone regarding women empowerment, I take note of this sentence "Telling women about empowerment is one thing. Putting empowerment within their reach is what needs to be done. We should be trying to make a positive impact on people's lives". Does it occur to you people that women themselves don't understand what empowerment means? Does it ever occur to you that most of the women who understand empowerment, don't actually want to be empowered? It is in their best interest to stay victim and lick their wounds that they have inflicted on themselves. Women must wake up and realize that empowerment is CHANGE, change has a price. If you are willing to pay the price of change, you will be empowered beyond imagination. Freedom is the outcome, and it is not moral freedom or promiscuity that I mean. Spiritual, emotional and intellectual freedom are all positive outcomes. That is how you can influence your own lives and your loved ones' lives. Be ready to pay the price, forgo feminism, take action now and pay the dues. I guided some women to empowerment, most women couldn't pay the simple due of taking small action steps to self empowerment. Who could do this for you if you can't do it yourself?
perhaps a distributor of something amway-ish.
Does it occur to you people that women themselves don't understand what empowerment means? Does it ever occur to you that most of the women who understand empowerment, don't actually want to be empowered? It is in their best interest to stay victim and lick their wounds that they have inflicted on themselves
Are you speaking of women with low self-esteem or in abusive relationships? These are women that certainly need enpowerment. Change can be difficult. I know that from personal experience.
It is difficult to classify women to ones with low self esteem and to those with a high one. I have first hand experience with women in the Arab world mostly. Abuse is another difficult word to define in this part of the world. Most women who seek change here don't follow up on the steps or the program they have signed up for for empowerment. They fall back to their "what is the point" kind of mind. They have the education, the skills, but not the spirit. Big deal to open such a topic for discussion. Action oriented empowerment is not very appealing to women here. Magic is what they are after. A blink of an eye experience.Oh, I wonder if I am discouraged myself. Is this vision of mine attainable one day?
ummmm I think it is a VERY BIG DEAL to discuss it. Please explain exactly how you propose to help women empower themselves.
What would a woman who sought your consultancy expect as a result ? What is your program of help, please?
I know some women who might be interested.
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