Social Justice at Sierra College

Today was my favorite day of Social Justice Week at Sierra College, an event I host every fall semester.  Today was the day that students share their projects by spending the day in the center of campus diseminating information, raising consciousness and taking learning to a whole new level outside the classroom.  I love the energy.  I love overhearing conversations and debates.  I LOVE the comments from students who tell me that they now believe that they can be activists and be a part of social change.  This is the reason I teach and why I love my job so much.

Projects tackled racism, sexism, homophobia, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, the economics of education, body images, size discrimination, sexism in music lyrics, the importance of voting...and more!  The week has included similar workshop topics, speakers, and films--we even were honored to host Col. Anne Wright who talked about sexual harassment and sexual violence in the military.

And tonight, while I write, I am wearing a bracelet that was made by a woman in Cambodia that survived sex trafficking and forced prostitution and another bracelet made by women supporting Women for Women International.  The world feels so small right now.  I imagine that Cambodian woman's fingers braiding and twisting the yarn into the bracelet that I now run my fingers over.  I feel connected to her.  And while I can never know or feel the realities of her life I do know this....where a woman is violated anywhere in the world, all women are...everywhere in the world.  For violence against women contributes to an overall global consciousness the devalues women everywhere.  It must stop.  We must collectively say no more.  We must rise up and support our sisters, our mothers, our daughters. We must raise awareness, raise money, raise consciousness, and raise our collective voice. 

Tomorrow is the last day of Social Justice Week...if you are in the area, JOIN US!

The Status of American Electra?

Recently Susan Faludi wrote a controversial piece in Harper's Magazine (October 2010). The article, "American Electra: Feminism's ritual matricide" , has elicited a great deal of response in the feminist community--most notably from active young feminists. I share the frustration of many bloggers who have responded to Faludi, who seems to argue that the only goal of third-wavers in feminism is to discard older feminists. This is hardly my experience. While there are indeed issues of conflict intergenerationally, I rarely encounter feminist women my age (or younger) who don't care about, or recognize, the work of women before them. I don't think it is about disregarding 'veteran' feminists as much as it is about wanting to be listened to as well. To continue this movement we must foster an exchange of ideas and an appreciation for our generational realities. I wrote extensively about intergenerational feminism and intergenerational partnerships in my book Fight Like a Girl. In a chapter addressing these very issues I argued "to foster intergenerational leadership is to recognize the contributions that young activists have to bring to the table while honoring the work and perspectives of those who have built the modern movement. It is both of these sets of experiences and perspectives that collectively strengthen and further the women's movement." It is an exchange that is needed, not a further pitting of young vs. old that Faludi seems to perpetuate.

I also agree with bloggers that argue that Faludi's mis-characterization of young feminists as focused on popular culture, sexual escapades, and shopping is, as Jennifer Baumgarder responds, "as accurate as saying that, after 40, a woman is more likely to be killed by a terrorist than find a husband." As the writer and teacher of a new class at my college entitled "Feminism and Social Action," I witness every week the energy, the engagement, and the political awareness of students. They bring their activism into our discussions, into their assignments, and out into our community (a community by the way that constitutes some of the most conservative political attitudes in the country).

Having been a leader in the National Organization for Women (NOW) I certainly confronted entrenched authority that refused to incorporate young feminist activism beyond a supportive role. I have long since left the organization and therefore can't speak specifically to the O'Neil-Lyles election. However, I would hesitate to point to NOW as the primary resource for what young feminist activism looks like today, or as an example of intergenerational leadership. Instead I would encourage Faludi to take another look at bloggers who use the internet as a venue to vet ideas, raise consciousness, and organize. I would encourage her to look in community college classrooms all over the country that are bridging academics with community and civic engagement. Or to community-based activism that is challenging environmental racism, fighting for better access to health care, working for solutions to homelessness, or raising awareness of queer youth experiences. The examples are endless. And feminist activism is everywhere.

Here are a few blog responses to Faludi's article:
Reported by Maya on Feministing.com: Responding to Susan Faludi: On mentoring and “being seen” and Jennifer Baumgardner on Feministing.com