What does Feminism mean for me? (24.09.06)
I love Witchy Woo. Her posts are insightful and usually make sense. This post (Sunday 23.09.06) had me almost clapping at the puter.
When I was at school, admittedly a little later than Witchy, I was one of the first girls to have a go at metalwork. The teacher did everything for me. It was very isolating. Today I still have a fascination with metal and the way it can be shaped but not the skill or knowledge to work with it. I did woodwork too. There were other girls there but they made jewellery boxes. I made a chess board, I still have it. I’m teaching my son to play chess on the board that I made. But when O level options came up I ended up doing Art. I hated art, still do. But woodwork and metalwork were for boys. I don’t remember being told that but the awareness was there. I failed Art after being booted down to the lower level class. I wonder if I would have got anywhere with woodwork?
From school I started teacher training - because that was a suitable career for a woman. It was what my Mum did. To be fair, I do remember lengthy discussions on what I wanted to do with my life with not that many restrictions on what was suitable. But I did feel steered towards the caring, feminine professions. I was 18, I had no idea what I wanted from my life. I have more of an idea now, at 37 but it is still pretty fluid.
I suppose that could be where it started - at school. Then at college I discovered I prefered women to men and that (obviously) made me a feminist. I tried to be a political student but somehow got lost along the way. Feminism was a word, a title that I could apply to myself without really understanding it.
Only now, through talking with other people I regard as Feminist, do I begin to really understand what it means for me.
And I know that this blog is read by some who feel their feminist journey is just beginning so this post is by way of a warning, really. Because once you start looking, you start to see more, and more… and yet more of the sexist injustices and patriarchal assumptions and oppressions of women that simply serve to keep things the way they are - the way the patriarchy likes them - for women as people; no matter how they’re dressed up to appear somehow different or appealing to women/girls. Once your feminist journey has started it doesn’t stop. It does become part of who you are. It becomes undeniable.Round of applause for you for that Witchy. Thanks for the warning but you are about a year too late. Since I stopped being a little nervous of you and got to know you properly you have opened my eyes and the view is frightening. I’m glad I have you to hold my hand while I look and try to understand what I am seeing.
My journey has been a wander on the edges for a while but is now going into places that are scary, but I can’t stop. Once you have started to tread this path you discover it is a one way street. There is only forwards.
Anyone want to walk with me?
Comments pasted from OP on other blog!
At September 24, 2006 3:34 PM, witchy-woo said…
I’m there
At September 26, 2006 8:24 AM, simply wondered said…
fuck walking - let’s nick the bastards’ cars, convert them to biofuel, and drive thelma and louise fashion towards the bright dawn - for goddess’ sake mind that fuckin cliff.
and of course…come away come away to the birdbath
err Sarah - have just noticed your amazon ad for Witchy Poo - have you anything to say about this? surely not witchy’s recycled drafts for rejected posts? we should be told!!!
At September 26, 2006 4:21 PM, Sarah said…
Solar powered milk float? Horse drawn caravan?
However the journey is made it will be an interesting path to follow and we will see more if we go slowly.
The Amazon ad is meant to be created from the text of the blog post - it’s focused on “Witchy” and come up with that album. When i post again it’ll be summat else, unless I end up worshipping at Witchy’s temple again.
At September 27, 2006 12:55 PM, simply wondered said…
if a weblog is a blog and a web book is a blook (why oh why?), are web groupies woopies? if so the witchmeistress has her fair share
At September 27, 2006 4:36 PM, Sarah said…
Surely it’s the addition of an “L” that creates the web specific. In that case are we Witchy’s fLans?
At September 29, 2006 11:37 PM, simply wondered said…
maybe she has a mix of flans and gloopies - you wouldn’t want that for dinner.
At September 29, 2006 11:43 PM, Sarah said…
Oh I dunno, sounds like my cooking….
Comment by ethicallyspeaking — October 2, 2006 @ 7:56 pm