The War on Feminism and the Promotion of Faux Feminism
For my podcast, I will cover the political belief of feminism, it’s teachings, roots, misinformation, commercialization, misconceptions, sub-teachings, and how to apply it to everyday situations and unite rather drift apart.
I will also briefly cover radicalization, how it starts and appears, and how serious it can get, as well as ways to prevent it and notice it happening – as someone who has watched someone close become extremely radicalized.
This idea came from a similar project from last year.
Part one: Feminism’s history, phases, principles and goals
- Phases of feminism
- Patriarchal/white feminism
- 4B Movement
- End goal
Part two: Commercial and faux feminism (+ feminist subtypes)
- Brocialism
- Girlboss (2010s) feminism
- #MeToo
- Intersectional/Radfems/Marxist/Cultural/Eco/Socialist
- Choice Feminism
- Riot Grrl
Part three: The road to alt-right radicalization
- Celebrification of politicians/propaganda
- Crunchies
- Fandom
- Internet/Social media
- Word Treadmill
- German government collapse + AFD
- Pandemic
- Trad Wives
- Porn
Part four: Dealing with radicalization
Part five: Unite and Liberate
- Foundation
- Community
- Anarchy
- Education (history, media, etc)
- Disability
- Offerings
- Healthcare
- Inter-generational communities/bonds/connections
Overviews:
Venn diagrams & related:
Comparisons/Differences/Definitions:
Script (not word for word):
Part one:
Throughout modern history, feminism is broken down into ‘waves’ of different eras, time periods in which women and minorities felt it was especially prevalent to advocate for their rights.
First-wave feminism:
As we all know, feminism was birthed with the suffragettes (around the late 19th – early 20th century), this initial wave really only focused on legal inequality. Female suffrage was the principle goal of first-wave feminism, as the majority believed that if women could vote, all other forms of sexual discrimination or prejudice would quickly disappear. Unfortunately, as we know, that’s not how it works.
First-wave feminism had a lot of issues regarding inclusivity and an overall lack of understand for the patriarchy and the systems set in place to oppress us all. First-wave feminists really only cared about a very small number of women – as of course segregation and extreme racism were still at large at this time. The suffragettes did not consider, poor women, disabled women, women of colour, childless women, sex workers, etc. When women did finally receive the vote, for the first time in UK history,(1918) they had to meet a certain criteria – women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification to vote. And, although around 8.5 million women met this criteria, it was only approximately two-thirds of the total population of women in the UK.
People: Emily Davidson, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott
Note: Although first-wave feminism is considered beginning of feminism, feminist beliefs and values have been found throughout pre-modern history; dating as far back to the ancient civilizations of Greece and China.
Second-wave feminism:
1950s-1970s:
- Educational rights
- Work-force
- Equal pay
- Challenging traditional gender roles
- BIPOC (specifically black, especially in the USA) issues
- Sexual liberation
People: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, Kate Millet, Betty Friedan, Germaine Greer, Simone De Beauvoir
Third-wave feminism:
1990s-2000s
- Class inequality
- LGBTQ+
- A larger focus on BIPOC rights
- Working class women
- Working & single mothers
- Female punk and grunge
People: Rebecca Walker, Kathleen Hanna
Part two:
“In the days ahead, we must not consider it unpatriotic to raise certain basic questions about our national character.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Power at its best is love implementing the demand of justice. Justice at is best is love correcting everything that stands against love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“If we make the choice… to listen rather than speak and to see rather than look away, we will choose community over chaos.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now… [T]here is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“…for the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.” – Viktor Frankl
“Nothing is provocative anymore, even for kids. No room for imagining, cause everyone’s seen everything.” – Marina Diamandis
“They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body, but not for my obedience.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Part three:
Part Four:
I dream of the day minorities are presented in media and it is not seen as a statement, but rather people existing. Not viewed as a plot for profit or engagement, not seen as stirring the political pot. When one can look at another, and simply see a person. A person so full of life and passion, ambition and uniqueness.
Everyone encourages diversity – until someone is ‘too different’. Too light, too dark, too naive, too pessimistic. Everyone advocates for individuality until they actually see it. And they’d never sacrifice themselves at that stake – very few at least.
Because society views individuality as ‘bad’ and ‘self-absorbed’ (and the wrong kind of individualism is bad), but we need uniqueness and rebellion to progress as a society. Without creativity and defiance – humans would have never left their caves.
But no one ever talks about natural difference. Unlike difference through appearance/hobbies/actions etc, all conscious choices to some degree, natural difference is a lot more isolating. It is not chosen, not something you can erase.
When you are born into a mind that society deems ‘dysfunctional’, ‘chaotic’, and ‘abnormal’, you can never escape that. You can turn to others for guidance and explanation, but you’ll only be met with the running mantra that ‘different is a good thing and you should embrace it’, before the same people turn their back to you and discuss how ‘other’ you are.
I think everyone feels like that to some degree, at one point or another. But those who truly feel it in their core are scarce. A dark shadow, forever following you, constantly reminding you that you will never be what they expect of you.
Growing up mute, I think that it offered me a unique perspective. As draining, isolating and infuriating as it is, I’ve learnt to grow somewhat grateful for it – in ways. From the moment I could think for myself, I knew I wasn’t normal, I knew there was something wrong with me. I don’t think that of myself, but objectively – by societies standards – I’m basically defective.
There was nothing I ever wanted more than to be accepted, to be like the other girls, like the other kids. No matter how hard I’d try. And everyday I’d try so hard and it’d never work, no matter what I did. No matter how long I observed others, no matter how long I practiced in my head, no matter how different I’d be when I was alone – at some point I knew I just had to accept what I was given.
I feel like it made me mature quicker, grow up faster. I think growing up the way I did, seeing the things I’ve seen so far; watching parental figures – people I was supposed place my upmost trust in – do some of the things they did, listen the stories of my closest friends, and overhear the confirmation that everyone I know perceives me in the ways I always hated.
I believe it offered me a unique perspective that most would have to wait decades to experience and draw a conclusion from.
I try to be welcoming of everyone and give people the benefit of the doubt – I’m definitely not perfect but I try to hold myself to a standard. I know it forced me to consider different paths, views, walks of life, and understand how quickly everything can change – but nothing changes from nowhere, and very few things change without a cause.
I think that’s a large reason why I allow myself to be self expressive in how I physically present – not just because 99% of the time I can’t verbally, although that did force me to find other forms of expression that most people don’t have to think about – because I know that no matter what I do, how hard I try, it’ll all be pointless in the end.
Someone will always other you, snicker at you, judge you no matter what you do or who you choose to be. So if I have to live on this earth for another 50 something years, I’d rather do it in a way that brings me peace and comfort. I’d rather be thought of as ‘weird’ than spend my whole life trying to please people who will eventually be nothing but dust. If I’m going to be different – I’m going to do it loudly, and on my own terms.
I know I’m still young and obviously have a lot more to learn, and likely a lot more shit to go through, but I’ve been a lot of people in my life – some better than others. It’s hard not to get lost in your own mind when it’s the only mind you inhabit, but sometimes you have to force yourself open and try to imagine what it’s like to live from another perspective. It’s difficult – but not impossible. Just because you don’t personally experience or see something, doesn’t mean it is a lie or exaggeration.
If everyone could just be more tolerant of each other, and understand people’s strengths and weaknesses, individual struggle – no matter how pathetic it seems from an outside perspective – we could start to make a better, more accepting world where everyone is capable of reaching their full potential – no matter the barriers in their way.
Tolerance, patience, and understanding could change the world for the better if everyone chose to be a little less self-serving.
I’d rather be poor in an equal and just world, than rich in a corrupt one.