Comments on Jump off the Bridge: To Be or Not to Be... A Feminist

I agree with DaisyDeadhead! As feminists we look t...

2009-02-18T00:26:00.000-05:00

I agree with DaisyDeadhead! As feminists we look through the world with a different lens and as feminist bloggers we can't help but have these ideas serve as undertones in our writing.

Personally, I am proud of my self-proclaimed feminist label. If I weren’t a feminist I wouldn’t be the same person nor would I look at the world in the same way. I’m thankful that I’m a feminist b\c it allows me to examine the world in a different way.

As feminists however, I don’t think we can be held responsible for the racist or homophobic things other feminists say. Of course it would be ideal for feminists not to say racist or homophobic things but we don’t live in an ideal world.

If it’s part of who you are and how you look at the world and react to it then I think it’s important to hold onto your feminist label. Why deny something that you are? What would happen to the movement if we all denied our feminist label?

If I write about ____, it's a feminist thing. P...

2009-02-17T16:37:00.000-05:00
If I write about ____, it's a feminist thing. Period.

It's funny, because I used to approach blogging that way and suddenly stopped. Thanks for the kick in the ass on that one! haha

I haven't had a real "feminist" post in weeks, ...

2009-02-16T15:34:00.000-05:00
I haven't had a real "feminist" post in weeks, not only because I haven't had time (though I really haven't, which sucks anyway), but also because I just don't know what to say.

If I write about ____, it's a feminist thing. Period. If someone wants to argue about that, they can bring it on. Do not get upset you don't have "feminist content"--because of course you do! You view the world through a feminist lens.

I call myself "feminist" since I was there at the beginning, back in the Medieval Feminist Era, so I feel that feminism "belongs" to me in some particular way. But if I did not feel that way, I might be inclined to let the title go. As it is (like "deadhead")--I can't quite bring myself to do that, it is an integral part of my identity. If you find this is also true for you, then keep the label, and explain why these other women are not true to what YOU believe the label means.

It's a dirty job, but!... etc.

Good reading!

I think this past election was the first time many...

2009-02-15T17:01:00.000-05:00
I think this past election was the first time many feminists had to do more with their privilege than just give it acknowledgment or yell at others. There were tensions going around that definitely dealt with privilege and oppression olympics and I think as part of that, instead of becoming more integrated the feminist/womanist/woc blogosphere became way more divided

I think it started even before that. Ever since Ob...

2009-02-14T14:59:00.000-05:00
I think it started even before that. Ever since Obama won the nomination, I'd say, possibly even earlier. I guess it was the first big moment where politics met feminism, and differing opinions caused a power struggle of sorts. People felt they had to defend themselves and their decision no matter what side they were on. But definitely after the election season was over, it's almost like the level-headed voices took a step back and everyone else took over.

Mind you, this is all happening while I'm already questioning feminism, so it certainly hasn't helped a darn thing.

To be honest, I have felt that since the election ...

2009-02-14T13:08:00.000-05:00
To be honest, I have felt that since the election comment sections have just not been as productive as before. I'm not sure what happened but I've noticed that the progressiveness of commentors (especially at feministing) has really devolved.

I definitely agree with you on the difference in c...

2009-02-14T12:19:00.000-05:00
I definitely agree with you on the difference in community. I've always felt that the smaller blogs (indy fem blogs is what I usually call them), there is more dialogue, more openness, etc. Bigger blogs get wrapped up in labeling you a troll for having a different opinion and don't really listen as much. There's no dialogue.

I actually haven't commented on feminist threads in a long time either. I almost feel it's not worth the effort to say anything if other people are just going to pounce on it.

I think I follow what you're saying. I think for ...

2009-02-14T10:32:00.000-05:00
I think I follow what you're saying. I think for me some of the blogging drama that I've seen taken on by some "well-known" white feminist bloggers is the biggest turn off. That's part of the reason I love Renee's place, or BFPs or Ren's. You don't feel like you're watching a dialogue for 3 or 4 other people who are letting you into their world, you are actually participating in their world. Also, denying the label or claiming the lable, actions and what you put out there are what matter and I think tha'ts why Renee's website is so popular. It's not what she's identifying as, it's what she's putting out there, and people that are serious about this understand that's what's important. I also feel, with the exception of Feministe. I get more dialogue and deeper discussion at smaller blogs than at the main ones.