You might think I would jump right to Jessica's defense when she muses about how second wavers don't treat third wavers with any respect. Well, I'm not. I'm not going to be an Auntie Tom either and apologize for the second wavers.

Being a feminist is hard enough without having to defend yourself from attacks from within.

I've been attacked personally many times from within and yes it pissed me off. I saw one of the offenders on the news in the background of a victory party and it was like a fresh attack. Yes, it's kinda like running into that ex. Except I know that Cinnamon run into her, she slinks away in shame. The "attacks" on Jessica's feminism are logical ones for a generation that is in deep flux with our identity as human beings and as feminists.

Being told you’re too young to speak on a panel...being lectured about how your opinions are naïve or misinformed...having your accomplishments looked on warily because you didn’t “pay your dues,” getting emails about how all of your hard-working feminist blogging is for naught because your logo is sexist.

I'm 32, older than Jessica, with I'd dare to say just a smidge less experience than her (at least in the glamor department, I haven't worked for a series of top-tier feminist orgs, etc...It's not sour grapes, just reality.) and I'm ok with being told that I'm too young for somethings. Because you know what? Sometimes I just am. Experience counts for A LOT in this world. At 32, I'm still exploring ideas and concepts. So I expect to be naive on some ideas. I do expect respectful criticism when I am naive. I respect that the second wavers had WAY more dues to pay than the typical well-known third waver. I say that knowing that many well-known third wavers went to some pretty nice colleges, seem to have some socioeconomic privilege, and white privilege as well. I'm not bemoaning my poor Latina background. Believe me, it pays nothing in street cred. As for your logo...we all know that the spectrum of feminists is almost as wide as the color spectrum. Someone will object to it. You chose it. Deal with it. Just as some feminists and women will not read Bitch Magazine or attend a Stitch-n-Bitch, it's their cuppa tea.

Telling young women that they’re not feminist enough is the same thing as telling them that they’re not good enough for feminism. What young woman wants to be a part of a movement that doesn’t want her?

I've learned in the past 4 years that you have to separate the individuals from the institution. Yes, it pains me that some organizations keep on racist, classist, and even ageist members in authority lines. But the way some orgs are set up, there is no place for impeachment. Then you have to blame the members or other org members who keep that person on. Sometimes you just cut off part of an org so you can keep working with the better part.

Honestly, I think every slice of feminism says "you're not good enough" when you look at the definition. That's why I call myself a bad feminist. I don't adhere to one theory of feminism. Some issues I'm a liberal. Some I'm a freakin' radical.

While I don’t know that all of this is consciously done to keep certain women away from feminism, I do believe that some of the second-wave founders want to keep a movement that’s recognizable, and comfortable, to them. And if that means only accepting and reaching out to young women who are recreating their paradigm, or who fit into their mold, then so be it.

See here, Jessica, you're lying to yourself. Hell *I* know that some second wavers are uncomfortable with third wavers & our philosophies and thus keep us just at bay. It's not about keeping us from feminism, but from certain leadership roles. That said, I think EVERY group wants only their own. That's why we have old boys clubs. And yes, feminism is old enough, strong enough to have an ol' feminists club. Bask in that slice of "woo-hoo, shit" moment. I agree that the mainstream feminist orgs are failing at reaching out to the non-converts. We've missed opportunities and aren't fully seeking new ones.

But the public face of feminism is institutional—Ms. Magazine, Feminist Majority Foundation, NOW—they’re what the world thinks of when they think of feminism...But there needs to be more—more feminists, more public faces, more room for movement-building. After all, alienating a generation of women isn’t the stuff social justice is made of.

This is why movements either die or evolve.

The suffragists went thru similar issues. Do we play nice with the boys or do we raise hell? Sometimes it is not about feminism itself, but tactics. Are we going to embrace our sexuality with push-up bras & Christina Aguilera music or privately in our bedrooms? It's not even a virgin-slut split. I think there is enough room for both - with limits AND with debate. How far do we let our inner slut out? How long do we keep her locked up in our pantie drawer? What's the ONE issue that defines feminism? Abortion? Access to health care? White Privilege? Peace? Child care? That question alone can splinter even the most homogeneous group.

I think that this issue is a very important one. We are at a pivotal moment in feminist history. The baby boomers are retiring. Gen Xers are just tasting real power. We have a full on debate on whether or not a feminist woman is good enough to be President. A FEMINIST WOMAN. Hell, 10 years ago we all would have said "D'uh, yes!" Our movement is starting a huge growth spurt and you know what, it's gonna hurt. Feelings will be hurt and some of us will get left behind or unheard. (Speaking of which, anyone still reading?)

Bottomline. To quote Jimmy Dugan from "A League of Their Own": If we're going to be leaders of this movement, it's gonna be hard. "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."

Labels: abortion, feminism, feministcard