Do We Need Feminism in 2011?

[ismnotwasm]

"Yes, says noted feminist scholar Beverly Guy-Sheftall. From young American girls writing rappers to protest lyrics about bitches and hos, to the women standing up in Egypt, Libya and Ivory Coast, feminism is indeed alive, well -- and needed -- in the 21st century.

As part of Women's History Month, The Root is exploring the role that feminism plays in African-American lives, from its role in hip-hop to black men embracing the term to radical women who waged war against oppression over the years. We asked noted scholar Beverly Guy-Sheftall, the former president of the National Women's Studies Association and a pioneer in black feminism, to weigh in on where she sees the movement heading today. Here are her thoughts.

As we celebrate Women's History Month this March, it is important to reflect upon the continuing struggle of women around the globe to live better lives -- in peace and with justice. Given the horrific circumstances facing our sisters and brothers over the past weeks in Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt, Ivory Coast and now Libya, it is imperative that we envision a world in which every one of us is free from the ravages of poverty, greed, discrimination, war and authoritarian regimes.

It is my black feminist politics that propels me always to think deeply about the human condition: global realities, especially as they affect people of color, women and children; and the urgency of our need to eliminate racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, religious intolerance, xenophobia and all other oppressions that plague humans wherever they live."




http://www.theroot.com/views/do-we-need-feminism-2011?gt1=38002


While this is a great article, I've been seeing waaay too many of these type of 'why do we still need feminism' headlines. It's bullshit. It's part of standard good old boy misogynist framing of issues and I'm sick of it. Evidently the media wants to acknowledge women and women's growing power, but not feminism or the role feminism plays, or has played in societal changes.

[ThomCat]

1. Trying to take feminism out of the successes...

Isn't that the way those who have power Always respond to any group under them that starts to succeed? Acknowledge that some successes have happened, but try to separate those successes from the framework and support network in which they happened.

Try to move enough people who are perceived to be influential away from that framework and support network, into their own, the dominant one, and give those people what seems to be a little bit of influence or fame or power. Make them representatives of the mainstream. Make them enforcers of the mainstream.

Then declare that the framework and support network that produced those successes and advances isn't really needed anymore. See, the mainstream system seems to be trying to incorporating everyone. It seems to be evolving. Isn't that so much better that bringing in something radical and new?

Ignore the fact that power isn't really changing hands, and inequality is staying essentially the same. Their goal isn't really change. It's the appearance of change so that they can neutralize the real change.

That's what Patriarchy is trying to do right now with Feminism. It is happening with pseudo-acceptance to LGBTQI people too. You see it all the time in places where racism "officially" isn't tolerated, but in reality racism flourishes, and you're simply not allowed to mention it because of a lot of unspoken but well-enforced rules.

[efhmc]

2. Well said.