anythingbutadoormat

I am new to the feminist blogosphere, relatively. On tumblr, I follow various bloggers who’ve been at it for years. I didn’t necessarily set out to follow just strident, politicalized women, it just kind of happened. It’s been eye-opening, and enjoyable.

There’s a spectrum: proudly promiscuous women with bright red hair and nose rings, and feminists who “bake cupcakes too”, and women who show off their bellies and their hairy armpits, and women who tell other women about sex, and “feminist dyke whore”s, and girls who tell each other how to lose weight, and women who rant, and women who are wimmin, and wimmin who are grrls. You get the idea. 

Recently, this post appeared from commentator Latoya Peterson

“Advice for young feminists? Do something else besides feminism. I’m serious. The feminist blogosphere is oversaturated in my opinion. Please, find something else you love and take feminist theory there[…] We need more feminist minded business bloggers, feminist theory wielding finance bloggers. Labor organizers with a feminist lens blogging. […] Talk about class issues and feminism. Whatever it is, apply your feminism in a different space.”

 [Latoya Peterson] (http://latoyapeterson.com/about/) applies her feminist theories to aspects of culture that would have previously been considered masculine – if not inherently so, then definitely dominated by men: video games, film and television. She examines the deeply ingrained heterosexual, patriarchal and racial stereotypes seen throughout Western culture.

It’s interesting to see a woman, who made her name commenting on culture with a feminist eye, state that there’s too much ‘commenting’. As anyone can see if they type in “feminist tumblr” to Google, there are thousands of women writing about their experiences and troubles and thoughts on culture, online. 

But how soon can ‘comments on culture’ just become self-assuring shpeels on how ACTIVIST and RADICAL women could be? How much, to a certain extent, is it just speculation? It is this, I think, to which Peterson is referring. 

When I first started looking at these writers/artists/models/idealists, I was too excited to really consider what it is they were actually doing. Too impressed at the vehemence of their thoughts, and too relieved that there were women who felt as passionately as I do about a lot of things.

They’re often discussing important issues. Abortion, body perceptions, self-confidence, safe sex, but a lot of these blogs (of which mine, much to my disgust is becoming), are those that merely reblog images and statements from others, abstaining from even commenting on the affect the images have on them.

By doing so, by just clicking ‘Reblog’, do I really think that I’m being a vocal and proud feminist? What ideas am I contributing to this inspiring circle of women who are trying to break down perceptions of what it means to be ‘female’?

That’s why Peterson’s words struck such a chord with me. In an age where physical activism is often overtaken and absorbed by its younger, more viral sibling (sister, in this case), it is important that whatever it is we upload as activism is active, in some – any, small – way.

Evidently, whatever we do to raise awareness is important – patches, writings, zines, conversations – but one must be careful not to fall into the trap of just ranting. No one likes rants. They’re intimidating and long and normally fail to have effective paragraphing.

Further, if one relates comments to tangible examples – to evidenced parts of our culture – then the educative effect of one’s actions will definitely be more affective. It gives the reader or the recipient more chance to connect with what you are talking about.

Essentially, it is all very well to talk about feminism with feminists in a feminist sphere, but it is also vital that such discussion is taken apart, and broadened, and taken to cover all aspects of our culture with people outside that sphere. Without expanding the audience, only limited change can occur. The feminist blogosphere is preaching to its strident choir, and this needs to change. 

• be thin
• have a vagina
• give birth
• cook for you
• have long hair
• wear makeup
• have sex with you
• be feminine
• be graceful
• shave
• be white
• diet
• be fashionable
• wear pink
• love men
• be the media’s idea of perfection
• listen to your bullshit