Hello blog, long time no see.
Feminist theory has really made me stop and think about some of my actions recently. I'm a woman who lives with three men. It's still a little surprising to some when I sit down with the guys to play video games. I must be "one of the guys".
So why can't I play video games? What's the big deal if I played with Legos as a little girl?
The "one of the guys" label has boggled my mind for a little while. I think the real-world consequences that Tonya Krouse mentioned play into this. A woman that engages in tradition "guy" activities is rejecting the cultural expectation. Men might then question into what category that person falls into. Since I'm not fulfilling expectations of shoe shopping, I probably automatically get lumped into being that guy.
So where can I get my voice as a female? The idea of an essential woman identity is nonexistent.
In my mind, this leads to the question of who can be a feminist. Short answer: everyone. I would love to never get a confused look in response to me sharing my hobbies. I would love to have a female identity amongst my male household. My first thought was "what if the guys accepted me as a female?" I think this has serious implications. I'm still looking to men for acceptance of whatever identity I am. Being a feminist sure has a lot of political implications...
As far as my own identity, I still have a lot of thinking to do, and I should probably stop ranting about myself.
I have two more things I'd like to address: pornography and the question of approaching texts and culture from a feminist perspective.
Yes I think pornography degrades woman in an almost violent manner. Pornography has a voyeuristic effect that increases the objectification of women. Is there a way to reform pornography without abolishing it? What if a woman directed a pornographic movie? I don't think pornography can escape objectification in the current state of patriarchy. Anti-pornography feminists see this as a deep rooted form of oppression. Simply reforming pornography would do nothing.
Addressing the second question, there seems to be a lot to gain from approaching texts and culture from a feminist perspective. This opens the door so getting so many more voices heard, and so many more capable people advancing in society. Someone NOT looking at texts and culture like this is on the same level as a racist. What power is there to lose from this approach? The power just seems to be an illusion.
I'd like to end this post with an off-topic story.
My favorite band, The Smashing Pumpkins, has a woman bass player named D'arcy Wretzky. A woman in a rock band is a huge deal, oh wow. An interviewer once accused D'arcy of only caring about hair and make-up. D'arcy then attacked him with her lipstick.
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5 comments:
I like that term, "one of the guys". Not because it implies that because you play games you should be labeled as an odd female but rather because I appreciate your company during a competative bout in Street Fighter II, or even Alpha. That said I expect a match in the near future.
I liked your comparison on anti-feminism and racism, I forgot to mention that on my post but even though both are liberating in a sense---"opening new doors" sometimes I think by marginalizing the mainstream ideology we completely reject grabbng a full understanding of meaning. I say we incorporate both, and we can have us a good mix. what do you think...?
Thanks for a thought-provoking post. You made a really good point in saying that you "don't think pornography can escape objectification in the current state of patriarchy." The fact that some people, apparently, think it could be reformed seems a little disturbing, and I thought your response was pretty insightful.
Thanks for going against everything I just said Matthew.
Regarding the racism thing...
They're alike in a very broad sense. I sort of just had bell hooks in mind when I was writing that part, especially Ain't I a Woman? I feel that she does a great job incorporating them both.
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