Monday Meme – International Women’s Day Edition

This is a bit of a Franken-meme, in the sense that I’ve grabbed questions from here and there and made a few up myself. On we go…

Do you call yourself a feminist?

Absolutely. I’m what a feminist looks like. I’m perpetually sick of the term “feminist” getting dragged thought the mud, and people getting branded as some kind of militant, man-hating, so and so because they call themselves a “feminist”. I’m not pleased with the way our society treats women and girls, but I don’t necessarily hate men for it. I try not to hate anyone. I try to call sexist, derogatory bullshit when I see it, especially from those people who I think should know better, but it’s not like I’m entirely blaming the men around me for “our” condition. It’s way more complex an issue to just turn around and blame dudes, especially the ones around now. Anyhow, yes, I’m a feminist.

What do you believe are the most pressing issues as far as women’s rights & equality is concerned?

Very difficult question to answer. When I look at my own position (i.e. employed, white, middle-class, graduate-level education), I can certainly see how my “privileged” position my influence my views on these things. I’d like to say that the most important issue to me is pay equity, since that’s an issue directly affecting my life right now. There’s a lot of other forms of sexism I’ve noticed in the workplace. I mean, I work for the RCMP, so it’s pretty unavoidable in that whole culture. I won’t air all that dirty laundry right now, but probably will at some point. But that bugs me.

Other things that affect me directly – the usual beauty standards, body weight standards, and just the general expectations that I should want kids and keep my mouth shut and all that shit. It all gets to me and I wish it would fuck off. I’m fat, like, according to social and most medical standards. I’ve got curly hair. I don’t shave very often. I’ve got opinions. I have explored my sexuality and will continue to do so, perhaps to lengths that make some people squeamish. I don’t want to have kids right now (possibly ever) for numerous reasons, and barring some sort of contraceptive disaster, I will not have kids for a while. These are all things that I’ve been told to feel guilty about at one point or another in my life, and I think that’s pretty stupid.

However, there are lots of other issues that make mine look kinda weak – women still can’t vote in some countries, they’re the targets of “honour” killings and barbaric circumcision operations, they aren’t allowed to go to school, etc etc. I think those are huge issues that should be addressed. Even in Canada, hundreds of Native women go missing each year and no one seems to give a fuck. What the fuck is up with that? Why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?

Who is your greatest female role model?

My mom. She’s dealt with so much shit in her life, I don’t know how she has done it. She put up with me for all those years too. I don’t think I could put up with someone like me, at least through the teenage years.

Who are your favourite female artists?

Musically, the first one who comes to mind is Amanda Palmer. She’s awesome. I’ve followed her for a few years now, and she’s not perfect, obviously, but I’m a big fan.

Romaine Brooks is my favourite female painter, definitely in my top 5 artists of any gender. If you’re into gloomy paintings of androgynous women, she’s where it’s at. I absolutely love her work. I’ve never had a chance to see any of her paintings in person, but it’s on my to-do list. Here’s a painting… Peter, A Young English Girl (1923)

What stereotypically “girly” things do you do?

I cry a lot. I like glittery things and the colour purple. I have a handbag collection. I am regularly incapacitated by severe menstrual cramps. I think I’m fat. I’ve never negotiated my salary.

What stereotypically ”manly” things do you do?

I like getting my hands dirty. I like assembling furniture and doing fix-it-y things. I don’t think I’ll ever grow my hair longer than chin-length. I’m good at math and statistics. I love the smell of contact cement and turpentine and exhaust and gasoline. I like firearms and explosives.

What is the most anti-feminist thing you do?

I sometimes catch myself being catty and competitive about stupid shit with other women. I also occasionally beat myself up for not looking perfect, being perfect, having it all, doing it all… Obviously, none of these things are getting me or society anywhere positive. Hating on myself and other women will not help improve the status of women. We should all cut that shit out, especially as women. Then we’ll start getting somewhere.

Ok, that was longer than I thought it would be… here’s some comic relief from the Onion… Girl Welcomed To Womanhood with Four-Page Pamphlet