Pretty Politico

The New Young Feminists

(More Magazine)

I attended the  92^nd Street Y/MORE Magazine panel on “The New Young Feminists” with Naomi Wolf on Wednesday night. Here are some articles recapping the event:

Jezebel

Wall Street Journal Blog

Time Out NY

 While I appreciate the value of the intergenerational discussion, I would have loved more diverse representation on the panel.The constitution of the panel reflects what often happens in the media.

Panelist Courtney Martin said it best when she acknowledged that the media attempts to present her, and other cisgendered white able-bodied women as the main spokeswomen for the movement. It was a riveting discussion, but based on some of the questions that came from the audience, it is clear—we have a long way to go.

I'm so proud of Shelby Knox, Courtney Martin, and Lena Chen for their courageous activism and dedication to our central feminist value-- EQUALITY.

OH SNAP! Young Feminists: Anna Quindlen Has Our Back

One of my fabulous feminist friends posted a Facebook update musing that she wished that Anna Quindlen would have won an award at the Feminist Press 40 Under 40 event last night. Sandra Levine's acceptance speech purportedly stated that women under 40 don't call themselves feminists.

Appearently this remark was made a few minutes before an actual group of 40 FEMINISTS UNDER 40 were honored by the Feminist Press. As you know, I’m sick of this tired trope— hold me to it as I get older.

It’s a divisive pattern of thinking that I keep hearing in black progressive circles too. We all need to take responsibility and remain accountable to each other. We won’t be free until we can share power. Hegemony, condescension, and Feminism (i.e. EQUALITY) just don’t mix.

Check out this post from the fierce feminists at Feministing about Quindlen's statement of solidarity.

“I don’t want to hear anyone talk about how young women today aren’t this or that. Millennial women are the coolest, most capable, most together women ever.” --Anna Quindlen

SPARK A Movement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Manifesting a Movement—a Spiritual Uprising

Crosspost from Women's Media Center

Inspired by the women she met at the Omega Women and Power Conference, WMC’s Jamia Wilson explains why their visions of spirituality belong at the heart of feminism.

The Omega Sanctuary.

For me, feminism is God’s work. Yes, I am a pro-choice feminist who celebrates science, and is committed to protecting first amendment rights for all. Concurrently, I humbly revere the sublime presence of the creator in all things, people, and ideas, including our movement for equality.

When I reflect upon my experience at the Omega Institute’s Women and Power conference from September 24 through 26, I envision the convergence of hundreds of powerful women and allies, sharing space and time to contemplate a common vision—compassion for ourselves and each other.  As the Omega Institute website states, The Women and Power Conference empowers women “to bring hope, healing, and change to their own lives and the world around them.”

Many of the women I met at Omega dismantled the trite conservative notion that spirituality has no place within the feminist conversation. I encountered a cadre of such women as Gabrielle Bernstein, spiritual guru and former NARAL Young Professionals Council president, and Meggan Watterson, feminist theologian and executive director of REVEAL: Young Women Defining the Divine. Their faith fuels a passion for gender equality and feminist stewardship.

In a political climate where religious fundamentalism often corrupts, desecrates, and betrays, it makes sense that even some progressives are wary of the intersection of faith and politics. These women, however, exemplify the synergistic relationship between feminism, activism, and spirituality, representing many of us whose stories are often absent or minimized in the public discourse.

For three days, we allowed ourselves to return to nature and focus on “being the change we want to see in the world” in the spirit of Gandhi. Academics, activists, dharma teachers, yogis, performers, philanthropists, scientists, humanitarians, artists, mothers, poets, and educators, pondered the meaning of women’s leadership, with many concluding that guidance that is heart-driven and powered by compassion, love, innovation, and active listening will render a more powerful movement.

Among these courageous women were Leyma Gbowee, leader of Women of Liberia Mass Action, philanthropist Jennifer Buffett, and Malika Saada Saar, founder of the Rebecca Project for Human Rights (the name honors both the biblical Rebecca and beloved teacher and artist Rebecca Rice). These leaders call for a paradigm shift that privileges compassion, over destructive hegemonic manifestations of power that diminish humanity.

In listening to women’s stories over the three days, I gained a wealth of knowledge—including these seven potent ideas that inform how we can actualize our spiritual feminist power:

• Loving peace In the Giving Voice to Trauma: Spiritual Surrender and Leadership workshop, author and survivor of the Cambodian killing fields Loung Ung remarked, “loving peace is something you choose and work with on a daily basis.”

• Compassionate leadership Musician and feminist activist, Ani Di Franco described “autonomy” as a “masculine fantasy.” Di Franco argued that women “don’t think for one, we think for at least two—hopefully we think for all. It’s the motivation for our deciding.”

• Karmic flow Personal finance guru Manisha Thakor called for women to “share with each other in order to support each others causes.” Thakor advocates for women’s financial empowerment because “fighting money harms the natural cycle and the karmic flow.”  Thakor insists that “when women aren’t talking and sharing we can’t negotiate from a place of strength.”

• “Beloved” bodies Rebecca Project founder Maalika Saada Saar mesmerized conference participants with a reading from Toni Morrison’s Beloved, calling for women to “love [their flesh]. Love it hard” and honor their bodies by challenging the sexualization, violation, and trafficking of their sacred flesh.

• Mindfulness I met Cheri Maples, former assistant attorney general in Wisconsin, organizational consultant, trainer, and dharma teacher ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and asked her about her work. She emphasized that her organization was named the Center for Mindfulness and Justice because fostering mindfulness and compassion leads to peace and justice.

• Sisterhood and oneness Awadiya Ahmad Yahia, delegate to the Darfur Peace Talks, challenged women to practice solidarity with women around the world, stating “It is about us and our sisters who aren’t here, it is only us who can lead our people and ourselves to peace.”

• Reject fear Shaima Khinjhani, the Afghan government’s youngest gender equality consultant, proclaimed that she “learned to choose faith over fear” when she risked her life by providing women with education in defiance of the Taliban.

My most important takeaway from the conference was the idea that our success as a movement depends on our ability to respect spirituality’s role in the feminist conversation. Women are practicing feminism around the world by fighting for their values and beliefs, raising their voices, and demanding to be recognized in their spiritual communities. Current discourses related to women’s ordination, Islamic and Mormon feminism, Wiccan religious freedom, and many more conversations related to women’s spiritual lives provide us with new opportunities to discuss power and feminism with a perspective that will broaden our movement.  I have faith that loving peace, mindfulness, karmic flow, sisterhood, and compassionate leadership will drive our movement to create more inclusive spaces where interfaith belief systems and discussions related to spirituality are welcomed rather than feared, and celebrated instead of undermined.

The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author alone and do not represent WMC. WMC is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse candidates.

Everyday Angels

Last night, I experienced Gabrielle Bernstein's "The Universe Has Your Back" lecture and feel uplifted. I'm excited to start 30 days of meditation in order to take back my life, go within, and get up-close-and-personal with my divine feminine and my inner guide.

Gabrielle is a student of Marianne Williamson whose presentation at the UN Digital Media Lounge inspires me to continue to do the work I do, and bear witness by raising my voice, and remaining mindful and authentic.

 

 

Pretty Politico's Interview with Ani DiFranco: “Feminism Will Save the World"

At the Omega Institute’s 2010 Women and Power Conference last weekend, WMC Vice President Jamia Wilson spoke to Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco about feminism, spirituality and leadership.

Ani DiFranco marched and performed at the April 25, 2004, March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C.

Feminist icon, political activist, and raconteuse Ani DiFranco won a 2004 Grammy, and two years later the National Organization for Women (NOW) honored her with its Woman of Courage Award. In our short conversation, DiFranco, founder of Righteous Babe Records, displayed the wit, wisdom, self-definition and thoughtfulness that inform her music and political messages.

Jamia Wilson: Music has been your main medium for conveying powerful messages about social change. What are other sources that drive your power?

Ani DiFranco: More and more I realize feminism will save the world. Feminism is for everybody. You can’t start with a fundamental, crazy imbalance like patriarchy. Until we have gender equality we will have crazy social ills. Feminism is a tool for men as well to escape violence and inequality.

I was blessed with a feminist mom and her empowered friends who started a food co-op and were part of “Women for Downtown Buffalo.” We would always go door to door for progressive women candidates. I learned very early what it means to connect with other women, and I realized that these are the women whose respect means so much to me. I wanted the respect of the people I respect.

Wilson: As you may have already determined, this is a friendly feminist interview. How did you handle criticism from the opposition early on in your career?

DiFranco: I am getting more of the friendly interviews over time, but in the face of criticism I was secure that there was another world, an even better place to live on. That’s where my focus was. I never took criticism from the conservative media and patriarchal apparatus.

Wilson: You received NOW’s Woman of Courage Award at the Young Feminist Summit. What fuels your courage? What words of advice do you have for young feminists?

DiFranco: I turned 40 two days ago. I think that 15 years ago, I was not as clear. After struggling to get back to myself, I saw that the more you care for other people and put them next to you and provide an atmosphere where everyone is fulfilled, the more that atmosphere is created for yourself. Being benevolent and kind for someone else is doing it for yourself.

Wilson: Happy Birthday Ani! I’m honored that you’re spending it with us. I am turning 30 in a few weeks. We’re both Libras! [With her hands, DiFranco simulates the balancing scales that represent the zodiac sign.]

I have heard great things about the way you work with your band and staff. Do you have suggestions for how we can invoke more compassionate leadership within the movement? What does it look like?

DiFranco: It looks like mothers look. We need to look no further than the literal experience of your body that is my body, your blood that is my blood that puts us as women. Autonomy is a masculine family. We are one organism, different hearts, arms of one. Women have a heightened appreciation for this. You don’t have to give birth to know the spirit of this. It’s not about what’s right for me. It’s about what’s right for us. We don’t think for one, we think for at least two—hopefully we think for all. It’s the motivation for our deciding.

Conversely, there’s an important growing period for young women to know what we want and be able to act on our own behalf. Self-sacrificing is very female. Martyr can translate to anger. I inherited that anger and had to get a lot of that out of me to get the ultimate beauty and power of thinking like a woman. You’re not a martyr. You are one step ahead in something patriarchal society would do well to learn. You can’t think for one to have a successful world.

Wilson: I am emerging from that period in my life where I came to a similar realization about that level of personal awareness you spoke of. Spirituality centers me and allows me to listen more to my inner voice and needs. What does spirituality mean for you?

DiFranco: For me, God is a metaphor. All of the contexts in which God can be found are all based on a metaphor. Those that can think in terms of metaphor understand the consciousness that empowers us all. The more we recognize it, the stronger and happier we are. Spirituality is prioritizing, and focusing on serving that oneness.

Wilson: What role, if any, does spirituality have in the feminist movement? Is there synergy between activism and spirituality?

DiFranco: Spirituality has a different definition for each of us. Like love, it is inextricable—all of the great activists I know are spiritual, joyful, and loving people. They have discerned that working for your community and society is a way of being a more happy and fulfilled person, in a sense of being in touch with God.

Marches are all about driving fun, coming together in a positive space, and you meet people who make you feel less alone. That is where spirituality, activism and art become one.

The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author alone and do not represent WMC. WMC is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse candidates.

This article is a cross-post of a piece from Women's Media Center.

Same S#$% Different Article

When I read this article this morning, I was annoyed to be reading yet another piece about the work young feminists aren't doing and why we're stultifying the movement. Unbeknownst to some, young and younger feminists are driven, active, and awesome. We deserve respect and partnership, not blame.

I intentionally deployed the word AWESOME in this blog post, because the author argues that our use of this so-called "teeny-bopper" term is problemmatic.

Sure, its fine to utilize big GRE words when appropriate, but we have more significant issues we need to focus on like reproductive justice, racism, inequality, and hegemony.

I don't understand why people who hold much of the power and privilege are drunk off the haterade when it comes to power-sharing and mobility for their sisters. We will never move forward if some of our own sisters focus on maintaining a strong-hold on the direction of the movement.

If I disagree with "my elders" about the terms and tools of engagement, it doesn't mean I don't respect them or want to "kill my mother". I love my mother for many reasons, including the fact that that my mom understands the importance of equality driven, inter-generational movement building.

I'm sick of the judgment some of our more seasoned sisters bestow upon younger feminists. Conversely, this same negativity holds less power than the love and support that comes from many of our older allies who understand that we're engaged, we're committed, and we're dedicated.

In the spirit of Gloria Steinem, it is important to "defend their right to be wrong" and move forward in solidarity with our sisters, even if we're not getting the love in return. I wonder if those who don't understand continue to write pieces like this in order to remain relevant and draw attention to themselves, rather than focusing their energies on empowering the women they criticize.

 

Mozart and Tea

I am taking time to enjoy the quiet of the holiday weekend. Every once in a while, its important to stand up against the walls within ourselves and have frank conversations about where we are, where we're going, and where we need to be. Recently, I have experienced a whirlwind of change in many facets of my life. We are often swept away from our most authentic selves and our purest thoughts because of the hustle and bustle--especially in this fabulous and tumultuous city. Today, I treated myself to Mozart and tea, brunch with inspiring people, a beautiful pre-autumn stroll and meditation. We get one chance at this life, and its up to us to protect the sanctity and value of our own experience.

Happy Women's Equality Day

Please join me in celebrating 90 years of voting rights by taking action to eliminate barriers to equality. I am proud to take action by supporting Fair and Feminist's "THIS IS WHAT A YOUNG FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE" Blog Carnival. In two months, I'll be turning thirty years young. During this time of intense change and reflection, I am focusing on centering myself, exploring my truth, and being authentic. Today, I re-read a blog post I wrote in 2007 about what feminism means to me. It amazes me that even though three years have passed, I am still asking the same questions and facing many of the same obstacles.

The "younger" feminist inside of me is still working on owning her voice and fighting the fear that some with more privilege conjure up when they abuse and misuse their power and positioning. Every day, I gain knowledge, I get stronger, and I spark a revolution when I accept myself and remain committed to my values, beliefs, and moral compass in the face of criticism or abandonment. We must admit that oppression and marginalization exists with(in) and with(out) of the feminist community. Power and privilege that goes unchecked harms our movement, and alienates those we aim to uplift. We must become a much more “functional” family before equality can ever exist beyond our cadre of activists. We will never prevail unless we actively trust young women (without paying lip service or placing blame) and empower each other to create the kind of justice we purport to believe in.  

Still Breathing

It has been a really long time since I have posted on my blog because I was thrust into one of the biggest change cycles I have ever experienced. I left a job, moved house, started a new job that is really intense, and have not unpacked yet. I hit the ground running and I'm still sprinting even in my sleep. I'm still here though, and I'm still breathing, and I know that one day I'll have the time to reflect, to breathe, to pause, and sleep again. It doesn't look like its happening anytime soon though. ")

I thought my Saturn Return had come and gone--it is still in full force. I'll be back--stronger and brighter. Right now, I'm walking through the storm, and will keep moving towards the sunlight.