femifist

Ramblings From a Bleeding Heart

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Dec 21 2008

What Is This “Postfeminist Era” That You Speak Of?

Published by sisboombonnie at 12:36 pm under Feminism Edit This

post-feminist bumper sticker
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary,  postfeminist is an adjective, coined in 1983, that means:  “of, relating to, occurring in, or being the period following widespread advocacy and acceptance of feminism.”
Um…I don’t recall a time in history when feminism was widely accepted, do you?  The term “feminist,” even today, in 2008, still holds a negative connotation that just will not shake.   Believe me, I know.  I’ve been a self-described feminist for over half of my life (and I’m 27 years old).
Being a feminist is part one of many layers that are used to describe and define who I am.  I am a feminist, bisexual, liberal, vegan, derby skatin’, woman.  These simple words conjure up who I am and perhaps to some people these labels may be negative…especially “feminist”.   
To quote In These Times writer Susan J. Douglas, “Postfeminism is an invention promoted most vigorously by the right, and aided and abetted all along the way by the corporate media.”
post feminist
I’ve seen the term, “postfeminist” on many products, by or for women….books, magazines, clothing ads….
Postfeminism is often related to women wearing less clothing, having more sex, shopping more, and is reminiscent of Girls Gone Wild.   I’m all for sexual liberation and owning our sexuality, image, etc.  BUT…it’s almost like advertisers are saying “Whew, thank God the feminist reign of terror is over.  Now we can get back to controling women through exploitative imagery.  Women can start submitting to us again.”  
FUCKING WAKE UP!!!!!  Women are NOT equal to men!!!  This is not a time to retire our feminist activism because our rights are “good enough.”
  • Women still earn less than men in many occupations.
  • Women are still portrayed in a superficial manner in ads and on TV.
  • What about sports?  How many female leagues are as successful as their male counterparts?  Note:  This bullet is especially important to me because I am a female athlete who plays a sport that some people do not even consider a sport.  P.S. if you are one of those people that doesn’t think that roller derby is a sport-Fuck you!
  • Most governments are still composed primarily of men.
  • Women are often not given the same responsibilities as men based on the fact that they might become pregnant.
  • The number of sexual harassment suits has increased over the last decade.

As always, I urge you to leave comments and voice your opinions.  I’m very open to discussion on any topic that I blog about.

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