I went to a Women's Studies Conference and heard a talk on "blogging" and how it is changing the way the legal system works and more pertinent to me a place where third wave feminists can communicate to each other. There is apparently alot of criticism from second wavers to this third wave medium as being "lazy activism." I starting reading some blogs and learning more about this online community and I have to say I am intrigued enough to put my voice out there.
I have been out of graduate school and in the work force for about a year. I have to say my brain has needed an outlet to be stimulated outside of academia and I think this blog may be just the spot. I don't know if anyone will even read this, but I feel like I have some thoughts on current events and things I see that I can share.
Also, one of my close friends who happens to be brilliant writes a blog very eloquently about his passions. We often have conversations about the intersections of our two movements. So here I go....
7 comments:
I love that you started a blog. This is awesome. You've inspired me to do so as well. I just have to find the time to take my chicken scratch notes that I've written on just about anything that's around and type them up.
Is Language an action? I ask you this for two reasons. You mentioned how blogs are changing the way the legal system works. So in that respect, I would answer my own question with a yes, language is action. But, I would go further to ask, is it enough? I think about the 2nd wave of feminism and they were out there protesting, being seen and heard. We get alot of slack b/c we as a movement have lost our radical nature. We rely so heavily on academia being our center that we've come to rely on writing as kind of our way of chagning things. Isn't there a more effective way?
I agreee with you that this is a way to get talking and that's awesome! B/c we probably wouldn't have had this "conversation" if you didn't have a blog.
Anyway, I'm not trying to discourage or talk bad about your blog or blogging in general b/c it's great. The 2nd wave didn't just come about with no one talking to eachother. Let's find a way to take this "talking" and make even more moves.
I guess this is the equivelent (sp?) of consciousness raising groups in a world riddled with technology!
Great title for your inaugural post! I'm so happy to have met you and hopefully we can meet up soon. Also, I was referenced on http://feministlawprofs.law.sc.edu/ and in return, I mentioned your new blog. Look to the post "Blogging: A Third Wave Feminist Method" Best of luck blogging...hope to speak again soon!
In responce to: "Is language an action? and is it enough?"
I agree that our generation is stuck in academia and that most feminists of our generation are women who are highly educated and aware of various cultural and political issues. However, I have to stick to my English Degree roots and say that language is power. If we have enough talk and reach new people via the internet who may not have the means to be in those ivory towered classrooms then maybe these words are enough to plant the seed.
In terms of effectiveness of blogs I feel like there is a whole subculture that is out there that can connect enclaves of feminists to each other.
So, I was thinking about it and yes, I have come across some other feminists blogs in the past and yes this is an awesome way to plant the seed. And we both know that many more seeds need to be planted!
My seed has grown and still continues to grow but I'm at a place where I feel just talking about problems and talking about different ways to fix them just isn't enough.
I was sitting in class last night and we talk about language and writing etc. and I found myself being really frustrated with the class, feminism, and most of all myself. I want to actually go out there and make change, not just talk about making change. I used to think that if we could just change the language we could change American culture. Now I'm not so sure.
I have to do something. I started volunteering becasue of this need that I have to actually be working to make change. But I'm not making any change. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying volunteering (the little that I've done so far) and I like the idea of helping, and empowering these women but the work that I'm doing isn't attempting to fix the problem at it's core. The Safe House, soup kitchens, homeless shelters etc. are all just band aid's. They're necessary but they're not changing anything.
I have to tell you again how much I love that you started this blog. I've found it to be extremely empowering for me to be able to exchange ideas with you.
Congrats on starting a blog. I've read both your posts and I look forward to reading more.
Yay Rebekah! and I want you to know that I share your frustrations. The idea of the ivory tower vs. reality and grassroots work is very palpable. I think that there has to be a better way for the two to work together more effectively.
You said it sista!
So instead of just talking about how academia and the "real world" need to work together more effectively. Let's figure out how we can accomplish this, or at least let's figure out the first step in figuring out the bigger problem at hand.
This my dear is a difficult challenge that I hope you're up to.
If you're up to, I think the 1st thing we need to do is figure out where and why there is a disconnect.
Any ideas on this matter?
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