Living by Feminist Principles
My ponder for today is about just how easy or hard it is to live by my own feminist principles - and, consequently, how many of them I do actually live by. It was this blog entry that got me thinking. Laura has decided to grow her leg hair and only shave them when she makes an active choice, unaffected by conforming to social norms, to do so. Which is easier said than done. Because why would one shave unless one's legs were to be seen and/or touched, and one wished the person doing said seeing/touching to appreciate their hairlessness?The same principle seems to apply to quite a few areas of my life. I don't always shave my armpits and legs or wear make-up - but when I do, why is it that I do it? The blunt answer is that it is to conform to social, patriarchal norms: because I do, undeniably, feel more confident and attractive when I've done them.
When I look back on myself as a teenager, I am frankly horrified by what I see. Insecure as the next person, unsure of my own identity and desperate to feel attractive and popular, I was neither as confident as I appeared nor brave enough to live according to my opinions. I was always friendly to everyone at school, but I freely confess I didn't want to be one of 'the sad group', so I often underplayed my intelligence, for which I had been mildly bullied. I was also incredibly naive - until my 'friends' laughed at my unshaven legs (I was 13) I hadn't even looked at a razor. I went home that evening and borrowed my mum's razor to shave my legs, but even then, I just shaved the front of my lower legs, thinking that was all that was necessary. My friends soon pointed out my mistake …
Surrounded by girls whose worth as a person seemed to be determined by whether they had ever snogged anybody, and if so, how many, I did not protest at the stupidity - instead, I went to my local disco and, like my friends, my evening was considered a success if I 'pulled', no matter how unappealing the 'conquest'. I always 'dressed to impress'.
All right, I was young, and peer pressure and insecurities are highly influential. Many, many girls (and boys!) have similar - and far worse - tales to tell. But it makes me realise, with sadness and nausea, how indoctrinated I was from an early age. Even now, as an educated and fairly confident adult, I live by many patriarchal rules without questioning them. If it is so hard for me - someone extremely opinionated and not afraid to disagree with the majority - is it any wonder that these issues are ignored by so many?
I'd be interested to know others' experiences of this kind of thing. I find it hard to justify wearing make-up and revealing clothes any longer. The traditional answer is often 'I do it for myself' but this doesn't cut any ice, because it's only to make myself feel confident and attractive within an existing patriarchal culture. But perhaps we need well-dressed and well-made-up feminists, if only to challenge the stereotype of dungarees and hairy legs?!
I am, as a fledgling feminist, beginning to realise that challenging myself and my own hypocrisies is going to be as much of a task as taking on the lads' mags, pro-porn brigade and every other misogynist out there …
posted by Growlergirl @ 3:39 pm
1 Comments:
You're pro education and anti animal testing? Interesting combination. Where do you think much of our knowledge about biology, medicine, physiology, anatomy, etc. that we teach in the education system comes from? There are many sources but, if you forget to name animal testing and experimentation, you are leaving out a source of data that our current level of knowledge could never have been archived without. This is quite literally true. We could not have the level of scientific and medical sophistication that we enjoy today without animal testing and experimentation. If you don't understand that then you need to educate yourself, because anyone who makes attestations to the contrary is either deliberately lying or doesn't know what they're talking about.
Don't bother responding with some nonsense about simulations or telling me about the horrors of animals that have been senselessly abused in the name of science. It may surprise you to know this, but scientists were aware of simulation technology long before you were. And as scientists they understand - far better than you - that there are limitations to what can be done with such technology. As for the abuses, those caught performing unethical or illegal experiments should be punished. I think we can agree on that. What I will never agree to, nor will any rational and educated person, is to the abolition of animal testing. Such a step would hinder our ability to conduct the scientific and medical testing that allows our society to develop wonderful new technologies and medicines. Yes, I know that some animals must suffer for this to occur. Now, this may shock you, but I fervently believe that the benefits are worth it.
You're opposed to porn as well, eh? That's a fairy prudish, not to mention personally intrusive, position for you to take. Who are you to determine that men or women shouldn't be able to take pictures of themselves engaging in sex? Who are you to determine that other people cannot see these pictures? Who are you to decide what is sexually moral or immoral? Who are you to decide what is decent or indecent? Who are you to decide what is or isn't degrading for the people involved? If you think it's wrong, immoral, degrading, etc. to make or view these materials then simply don't. But please, don't presume, like some mighty matriarch of morality, to make such decisions for everyone else. Your morals are not superior to those of anyone else and you have no business forcing them on others. As a feminist who is obviously very sensitive to the issue of having values you do not share forced onto you, I should think that you would be more tolerant of other peoples moral and ethical choices - not to mention their innate right to make those choices for themselves. Perhaps, though, I am wrong to think that you have learned such lessons. Perhaps the only thing you learned from your experience with the patriarchy is that the best way to deal with those who think or choose differently than you is to denounce and oppress them.
It really sadness and disgusts me to see the direction that radical feminism is dragging the movement. I wish they would teach critical thinking instead of critical theory in our womens studies classes. Maybe then we'd have more honest, thinking feminists who respect the nobler aspects of western civilization such as rational though, the primacy of individual rights, and the scientific method. Instead, our universities are churning out brainwashed neo-Marxists who seem hell bent on opposing the very principles that allowed the feminist movement to be born and thrive in the first place.
- A disgusted Feminist
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