Comments on: When You Join the Teapot Tempest, You Know Your Bloggy Groove Is Returning

By: yami

yami — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 21:52:43 +0000

Has “feminist” ever been a shiny trendy identity, though? I didn’t live through the 70s (or, in any relevant sense, the 80s) but I seem to recall seeing lots of disparaging jokes about “women’s libbers”.

I think my leg hair is relevant to my life. It doesn’t have as large an impact on me as, say, bias against women in science, but it is a lens through which I can examine society’s expectations of myself and my body. Blogging’s greatest asset is also its greatest weakness: the personal voice that allows me to focus squarely on my body and my concerns. If I do it right, I can convince readers that because leg hair is a concern to me, it might matter to other women as well.

Insert caveats on how this approach can lead to racism and classism (my concerns are those of a white middle-class woman, natch) here.

By: asfo_del

asfo_del — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 20:41:53 +0000

It’s sad to me that the word “feminist” has taken such a beating. I have always considered myself a feminist and will continue to do so, but I feel that part of the responsibility for making the term unpalatable to many women — while the lion’s share of the blame lies squarely with the intentional disinformation spread by the right — is on the shoulders of feminists who are seen as quibbling over details, like worrying over proper terminology or fussing over slight, offhanded remarks, that many women don’t see as relevant to their lives. There are young girls who hate themselves because they don’t look like magazine covers and married women who are pressured by their extended families not to have any interests or even friendships outside their homes because it inconveniences and unsettles their husbands. If all we can offer them are discussions on whether it’s okay to shave our legs (just a recent example) how are we helping them to be able to recognize and fight the oppression that is crushing their own lives? Aren’t we making ourselves an easy mark? Wouldn’t a “role model” be someone who wants to know what’s ailing women and want to address their concerns rather than dictate what those concerns should be? Many widely read feminists on the web seem to me to be dictating more than listening. Dissenting viewpoints are often shunned, which only leaves preaching to the converted.

By: yami

yami — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:37:30 +0000

More like a transition to “stop daydreaming and work on your exam proposals, dammit”… but it’s quite possible.

By: Lab Lemming

Lab Lemming — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:59:53 +0000

Just out of curiosity, does your blog resurgence correspond with a research transition from “brainstorming new hypotheses and research directions” to “soul-crushing menial testing of those possibilities”?

I think the power of a role model is to demonstrate that a particular career path is in fact achievabe by real live human beings.

By: yami

yami — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 06:03:49 +0000

I see a continuum between a gentle “hey, is this really something you would want others doing to you?” and “you’re a role model, so act like it!”… and actually I think lots of people just feel entitled to tell others what to do, and justify themselves with whatever’s handy.

Chris: Awwww!

By: Chris Clarke

Chris Clarke — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:56:46 +0000

You know what? I want to be just like you when I grow up.

By: ilyka

ilyka — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:54:41 +0000

“I could never think of anyone, because I didnâ€™t consciously pattern my actions after anyone else in particular and wasnâ€™t especially interested in doing so.”

Yeah, exactly and me too, which is maybe why the whole concept makes me uncomfortable. I never did well with “who’s been your greatest influence” or other related essay questions, either.

I think Ron S. at Feministe registered confusion about one aspect of the role model concept that resonated with me even more: Where’d this idea come from that once you promote someone to role model, you’re entitled to tell them what to do? How to model better?

Clearly some feel differently about it, but “you’re a role model, now act like one” just strikes me as a very arrogant and presumptuous thing to do to a person. That may just be a gut-level response I have against years of religious instruction to “set an example.” I always thought that example business deprived me of the freedom to mess up, to make mistakes, to be human, which I think even Molly would agree is the one freedom women never have. We’re always on notice from someone.

Lots to think about here. Thank you very much for the link (and I’m relieved I’m not the only one who suffers periodic blog burnout).