| Is it worth fighting over?
Imagine you’re at a party. Drinks are circulating, people are talking in small groups. Over in the corner, there’s a lull in the conversation and someone interjects, "So would you all consider yourselves feminists?" It’s a strange question to ask at a party. And one likely to end an enjoyable evening. You may be surprised to learn that some of your friends may feel free to openly sport the label while some may not. Probably everyone will raise their hands quickly if you ask, "Are you in favor of women’s rights and gender equality?" Katie Kline, a student who works with Respect Line to organize homeless people in advocating on their own behalf has found, "the label of feminism is much more marginalizing than feminist practice is." Is it worth fighting over? Jess Champagne, a former member of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and a co-founder of Jews for Justice at Yale, would answer "yes." She reasons, "While the word ‘feminism’ may have negative connotations, so does any other term with real political import." Its political import is why not just your friends, but those who consider themselves actively involved in social/political issues are equally torn over when and whether to identify as feminist. Some activists strategically discern when it will be most (or least) effective. Some rely on personal skills to overcome negative conceptions. Some reject the label as incompatible with the causes they fight for. The experiences of activists tell us that the world’s sense of a shared fate, a belief that the fate of feminism is the fate of us all, is a long way off.
React >
Undercover feminists: diplomacy in activism Is it worth fighting over? |