I’ve been reading a little about the waves of feminism this week. Each wave is quite distinctive in its nature and context. Wave 1 and 2 feminists had to stand up, be present, put their lives on the line and be committed to their beliefs. Wave 4 feminism is fuelled and propelled by social media and technology (case in point) and the criticism of this is how little commitment and passion is really required within this forum.
It’s true, I have signed more petitions than I can count this month so far. I wouldn’t even be able to recall them all. I believe and feel strongly about each one, but all I have to do is click. Nothing more is asked of me, other than a donation. The only time something has been asked of me in support of a cause I felt strongly about was a march. A march! I’m up for that….hold on….in London (3 hour drive or £70 train return for 2.5 hours), on a week day (day off (not allowed in schools) and the school run) and with 3 days’ notice. Instant dampener. Now, absolutely if I was truly passionate and committed, I would have made it happen. So what does that mean? I’m not truly standing up for a cause I believe in? I don’t know.
Maybe it is simply reflective of where I’m at in my life – give me 3 weeks’ notice and a plan can be made, but a few days notice for almost anything is an instant headache. I am itching for a chance to stand up with a crowd of like-minded people, but I fear this is simply a romantic notion and the practicalities of it all are just too much.
Maybe it is the social media age where everyone has a voice but no influence or presence without selfies and thousands of followers. Do hundreds of thousands of virtual signatures hold as much impact as people standing together? Is it simply that you can only stand up with those people if you live in or near a city? In our isolation in rural England are we isolating our passion and drive too?
Inclusion has been a reoccurring theme for the last month within my job and the sad but obvious truth is that if you are surrounded by diversity, it’s an awful lot easier to be inclusive. If there is a minority of one, inclusivity is significantly harder without pointing fingers, being tokenistic and facing ever-looming prejudice. So it would make sense that in areas of less diversity there are fewer opportunities to stand up with like-minded people, because standing up is somewhat ‘other’. Not simply because of closed-minded people but because of open-minded people who are only active on social media.
There are no judgements here; simply curiosity. #timesup #likeagirl #metoo No one can argue with the power and resonance of these #. Is it enough? Does what happens on social media stay on social media or does it infiltrate into the real world?
I have no conclusions for this. All I have is hope that the movements, momentum and online passion bleeds through into our society so that the ‘Everyday Sexism Project’ becomes irrelevant? I hope so.
“Everytime I move, I make a women’s movement,” – Jennifer Baumgardner
I like the idea that we are all walking around making our own personal but noticeable statement to the world but my fear is that it’s not enough. I so often ask the question: What would Amelia Pankhurst say? This question pushes me forward; to question, critique, support and do whatever I can. But I also remember that while she had to ‘shake society’ maybe our generation just has to methodically poke.
Do Better 