|
Blog
|
| Quiet revolution? |
30 Jul 2010 |
| Far be it from me to be overly optimistic, and sometimes being a feminist means being cranky at cranky-making stuff out there, but it does seem that the F word is making a comeback of sorts – or perhaps it never really went away, it was just drowned out by bad press!
Obviously working at a feminist press and having a degree in women’s studies, I’m attuned to “women’s talk”, but everywhere I turn at the moment the words “feminism” and “gender” are being widely used. And not just at events like the one to celebrate the brilliant essay, Temple of The Female Eunuch: Germaine Greer Forty Years On, by Monica Dux in Kill Your Darlings (in response to the cranky-making essay by Louis Nowra in The Monthly) or in a phone call to the wonderful Women’s Bookshop in Auckland, whose owner Carol says she’s spoilt for choice at the moment.
In the letters pages and opinion columns of the paper; on TV shows as distantly removed as The Circle to Q&A. In writers festival and film festival programs. In books and essays. From an acquaintance who’s part of a “women’s group” and on the tram. Not to mention as the buzzword of Election 2010 here in Australia. But more of that in a minute.
And I’m not the only one feeling positive. Author Emily Maguire commented on Radio National’s Book Show yesterday that she doesn’t brook the question “What’s wrong with feminism?”, countering that she sees feminism in all aspects of life: “There isn’t just one monolithic movement, but it’s out there everywhere…”.
So have the feminists taken over? With a new female PM it kind of feels like it. Not that there’s a sudden flurry of feminist legislation or the like, but certainly a sense of “It’s (about) time”. The “gender agenda” is being questioned in the campaign, and despite attempts to sledge using the F word (Julie Bishop on Julia Gillard “coming from a background of a left-wing feminist”) the general consensus seems to be that it’s about the policies not the sex of the candidates that really matters.
Despite real, cranky-making stats about women’s participation in industry and pay inequity etc, there are plenty of strong, feminist women in our businesses, unis, schools and media, so it makes sense that “feminism is everywhere”. Let’s hope we can see this as a strength in our politicians and leaders. That strong, intelligent women are seen as critical to a strong, intelligent society.
But back to the fun stuff. It’s gatherings of women using the word feminism as a means of coming together that excites me. I don’t think this would have happened a decade ago, when the F word seemed stigmatised, deemed bad, at least in polite company. Two great new Melbourne initiatives are Cherchez la femme and Women of Letters. The first, a salon, with the emphasis on women and the issues of the day. In a pub, fun! The second, a monthly forum which “brings together Melbourne’s best and brightest writers, musicians, politicians and comedians in celebration of the beautiful lost art of letter-writing”. So popular is it that tickets sell out within days and a bigger venue is being sought.
And these gatherings are not just full of lefty 30-somethings weaned onto feminism at the breast of Greer, there are loads of younger women, happy to grab onto the label or not, but all up for a good yarn, interested in power, strength, intelligence and, even, humour. So it seems feminism is thriving in multitudinous and multifarious ways and that women (and men) of all ages are getting into the mix.
Kate Jennings concurred at a recent talk in Melbourne, saying she has hope for future generations and that “every generation comes to feminism in their own way”. She even joked about the “pepto-bismal pink” she sees little girls dressed in left, right and centre, predicting a backlash: “they’re the radical feminists of tomorrow!”.
So with all this positivity, I’m somewhat bemused by the upcoming IQ2/Wheeler Centre debate entitled, “Feminism Has Failed”. Ok I realise debates need to be oppositional, yet this premise seems overly negative. But it’s the line-up that mystifies me most. I won’t name names, but take a look and draw your own conclusions. There is however one place remaining, so my recommendation: email the organisers with your suggestions of who you’d like to see on stage! |
|
|
| Comments |
Thanks for your comments on the Kate Jennings event - it was great to have her along and she offered some great perspectives.
We're still finalising the line-up for the Feminism Has Failed event but staye tuned for some big names soon: http://wheelercentre.com/calendar/event/feminism-has-failed/ |
| Posted by Wheeler Centre | 30 Jul 2010 |
|
You might just be onto something.
The Atlantic Monthly has a cover story in its latest edition called The End of Men: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/ which includes reference to parents choosing girls over boys and how the workforce in the states has tipped to be dominated by women. Things could be looking up but how will men deal with change? |
| Posted by George | 30 Jul 2010 |
|
| There's an interesting article about British feminism in The Guardian about new energy of feminism - sounds positive http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/24/feminism-not-finished-not-uncool |
| Posted by Susan_Hawthorne | 31 Jul 2010 |
|
Ah, how marvellous to have the feminist obvious acknowledged clearly and plainly amidst the howls and catcalls of the screaming Right.
Happily, yes, the feminist menace is thriving - the menace demanding the choice, the autonomy and the diversification that was *always* the point. Maybe the New Hopefulness is a gift from the internet goddess, blessing us with the networks, means of expression and visibility that remind us we are not a dwindling faithful but a vibrant congregation.
And hooray for the little girls in their pepto-bismal pink. Rather than our feminist instincts provoking us to shudder in the presence of fuschia, we should pay attention to how the little boys are shuddering and be aware: here comes the banner-colour of the new autonomy. |
| Posted by Van Badham | 01 Aug 2010 |
|
| Debates are meant to be oppositional but calling it 'Feminism has failed' seems to be overly antagonistic of the Wheeler?! They haven't done something similar for any of their other events to date...? Will look forward to seeing the debate! I would vote for Emily Maguire to join the panel - she's my hero! |
| Posted by Lisa | 02 Aug 2010 |
|
I consider myself a proud feminist but have spent the last four years in rural Australia constructing a way of being one while a "stay-at-home mum". I've NEVER experienced disenfranchisement like the rug-pull of advantages I didn't really consciously know I enjoyed as a 'free woman' until they were removed. And I used to work with surgeons, possibly the most patriarchal boys club environment outside of the legal profession in this country. That was a cake-walk compared to the invisibility of pushing a pram in a small town. Or birthing in a hospital. Or dealing with Centrelink. Or grimacing as everyone gave me clothes in musk pink for my children.
This is not a whinge - I've found ways to insist that I still function as an intellectual being while having small children - but it hasn't been easy. And I've seen some fellow-travelling high powered businesswomen "mothering" like they were family CEOs, which a scary look. This is an old area of debate but still very releva |
| Posted by hedge | 03 Aug 2010 |
|
| We're sorry, but you must be a registered user to post comments on this entry |
|
Out Now
 In the cold winter of 1875, two rebellious spirits travel from the pale sunlight of England to the raw heat of Australia....  Beautifully written by First Nations women on Gurindji country where the fight for equal wages began. This book...  I am seen by many as a danger. As having failed to understand the new rules, the new paradigm of successful motherhood.
 NEW EDITION
The women in this book may be among the last to have babies without the medical stamp of approval.
Today's... |
