I know I'm a "bad feminist" and I have learned to live with that. I question feminist authority. I ask for real conversation/discussion before making decisions. I don't fall in line. So I know that before the next President takes office I will have my feminist card revoked and I will be sent to the Island of Misfit Feminists.

Exhibit A: I continue to question the Susan G. Komen Foundation and after Kate tipped me off to their latest ad in DC, I have to say I'm done with them. I have in the past supported friends who did the walk, but sorry gals, I can't anymore. It has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with Susan. The pink-ification of breast cancer was one thing. The "we shop to live" mantra was getting old. Especially the "drive a car & emit cancer causing toxins to donate a dollar!" gimmick. But to objectify a woman's body AND use violent terminology? That's it. I give. Now to figure out what to do with my breast cancer ribbon charm bracelet AND my breast cancer MaryElla.

So that might seem a tad radical right?

Exhibit B: I'm not radical enough. I'm on a zillion listservs and half of them are feminist politics centered. I dared to send the Gloria Steinem article that I blogged about (kinda, yeah, I owe you all) a week ago. I kept my doubts about Hillary & Barak to myself. Just thought I'd throw that article out for discussion sake. I got smacked down the only way that second wavers can smack down. "I've been waiting my whole life for this!" to "This is what we fight for every single day and there should be no doubt!" *sigh* I have never ever been one to pick a race horse early on. I want to wait and hear them out. I had an inkling with Obama, but his lawyer-ese gave me pause. Even with Christine Cegelis, I didn't jump on her bandwagon until her second run at the seat! (I do have to admit that I did jump on a local campaign early, but never that story is still unfolding.) With Hillary? Honestly, it was the Cubs thing. How can you call yourself a Cubs fan, a Chicagoan, and diss the Cubbies...for the Yankees? Not to mention her voting for the war over and over. That said, perhaps CODEPink will be excommunicated. The emails I've seen on those listservs are heresy next to my measly doubts!

Of course the fact that I feel a psychic-ish connection to Hillary doesn't count. The hubby & her share a birthday, we were born in the same town, our hubbies have a weakness for Big Macs and we're both feminists! I'm just one real estate scandal away from being the Latina Hillary. Viva!

Pink Feminist Hellcat muses about how when feminists take offense to 'sexy' ads like the ones PETA puts out, that we get smacked down. I say it is the same when we question whomever thinks they are the high priestess of the day. I've had my feminist card revoked before, but I got a few lesbians & one trans friend to vouch for me and I got it back. Um, I'm only half-kidding on that one. Something to do with not burning my marriage certificate in protest.

So there you go. I'm a bad feminist. Add to the above the fact that I'm still pissed at Ms. Magazine for shutting down Ms. Musings. Yeah, I still subscribe - it's like taking my vitamins some issues. Doesn't mean I'm not still pissed!

In twenty years when I'm still a piddly D-list feminist, you all know why.

Labels: feminism, feministcard, politics