The problem with movements is that, all too often, they are associated only with the most visible figures, the people with the biggest platforms and the loudest, most provocative voices. When feminism falls short of our expectations, we decide the problem is with feminism rather than with the flawed people who act in the name of the movement. For whatever reason, we hold feminism to an unreasonable standard where the movement must be everything we want and must always make the best choices. How do we reconcile the imperfections of feminism with all the good it can do? In truth, feminism is flawed because it is a movement powered by people and people are inherently flawed.
Feminism has helped me believe my voice matters, even in this world where there are so many voices demanding to be heard. Feminism has certainly helped me find my voice. How do we bring attention to these issues? How do we do so in ways that will actually be heard? How do we find the necessary language for talking about the inequalities and injustices women face, both great and small? As I’ve gotten older, feminism has answered these questions, at least in part.įeminism is flawed, but it offers, at its best, a way to navigate this shifting cultural climate. Rarely do women get to be the center of attention. When women are involved, they are sidekicks, the romantic interests, the afterthoughts. Movies, more often than not, tell the stories of men as if men’s stories are the only stories that matter. Singers like Robin Thicke know “we want it.” Rappers like Jay-Z use the word “bitch” like punctuation. We have all manner of music glorifying the degradation of women, and damnit, that music is catchy so I often find myself singing along as my very being is diminished. We have a comedian asking his fans to touch women lightly on their stomachs because ignoring personal boundaries is oh so funny.
The cultural climate is shifting, particularly for women as we contend with the retrenchment of reproductive freedom, the persistence of rape culture, and the flawed if not damaging representations of women we’re consuming in music, movies, and literature. These bewildering changes often leave us raw. The world changes faster than we can fathom in ways that are complicated.