The 20th Century saw the most progress in women’s rights in history in the western world, thanks to the Suffragettes and subsequent gender equality movements. With more work required to further equal-rights in the 21st Century, it could be thought that feminism still has an important role to play. However, if the advertised examples of the upcoming conference proceedings are anything to go by, feminism is losing its direction.
As opposed to be a movement to bridge the gap between the genders by working toward equality in many social sectors, on the basis of the given examples, feminism seems determined to be a social and political wedge.
The sub-heading for this year’s conference is “Dictated by Authority: Feminists Confront State Violence”, but, within those cited, only a couple of examples deal with the issue. What about judicial protection of rape victims during trial? What violence towards women in the mass-media? What about the slack attitude towards religions which are inherently negative towards women? Whilst on wider issues, what about the corporate glass-ceiling or post-natal vacation, for example? Instead of being all-encompassing, the issues seem to be hand-picked from a particular political perspective which would sure alienate women who do not share the same agenda. The question could be asked, “Is feminism solely for the Left and the ‘
Despite these overall issues being interesting, this brief article presents a quick synopsis of and raises questions about the articles featured on the ViF page.
Featured contemporary issues:
- the lack of funding for needle exchange programs
Enlightening article, without a gender bias. It highlights the prominent racial/class problems while describing the main causes of HIV/AIDS being drugs and promiscuity, which effects both genders. Why do ViF wish to make it a female specific issue? This problem, no matter how important, is out of place for a conference on gender issues and I can only assume it is placed here for political gain.
- the Hyde Amendment, Stupak-Pitts Amendment, & Sen. Ben Nelson’s amendment
Broken link
- prostitution free-zones and their enforcement
The issues of prostitution, and its link to the sexualisation of women, are obvious. Both parties described in this article are missing the point. The powers that be see it as a disgusting pseudo-profession that should be removed from the streets without solving the social issues that cause it. However, the feminists go further by outlining, in this article, that prostitutes should be aided not by rehabilitating them, but by supporting their trade! To even hint that women should condemn their bodies to the whims of clients, pimps and drugs should rightly cause anger amongst women. But these self-proclaimed bastions of woman-kind support this condemnation! Do they think stripping is a form of empowerment too? This should have had the conference attendees ripping their tickets up in anger.
- the long-lasting effects of welfare reform of the 90’s
“Welfare reforms have reduced both the probability that women aged 21-49 will attend high school and that those aged 24-49 will attend college, by 20-25 percent.”
I am not sure when 21-49 are due to attend high-school. Maybe a typo, but to use that as a subheading to the article suggests lazy editing and, by reasonable assumption, lazy research? However, taking the article at face value makes for interesting reading one of the valid inclusions for the conference due to its effect of welfare reforms affecting motherhood. I assume this is a side issue for a conference focusing on ‘state violence’, but this should continue to be at the forefront of the feminist agenda.
- police brutality against 92 year old Kathryn Johnson
This is a tremendously heartbreaking story about the horrendous cold blooded killing of a senior by the brutal hands of the police.
It is disgusting, then, that this event would be exploited for political headway and that the suffering of this woman and those close to her would be used as a focal point for the conference. Included in this story is this gem which highlights the mindset of those involved in the so-called emancipation of women:
“White men have a history of particularly brutal violence against black women. Our multiple skin tones to this day bear evidence of the brutality that has been our lifes lot. We are the ultimate ‘unwoman’; our bodies are deemed unrapeable and therefore we are not considered to exist with the ability to be violated. The realities of the intersection of race, class and gender play out in our lives leaving us at the bottom of all social hierarchies.”
This sensational, vitriolic generalization speaks well for the blinkered views of the author and the fawning, self-flagellating supporters. White males are essentially in charge of ALL our lives, that includes other white males. This could be argued to be a racial/gender issue, but its more one of class. Although it is not clear which of the two authors was responsible for this vitriol, Aziza Ahmed clearly misses the demographical elephant in the room that is her Islamic cultural background that is arguably responsible for more physical sexual-oppression than your average white male. The blinkers of political-correctness hides the contemporary degradation of women by non-white males within mainstream culture and religion.
If you subscribe to such a perspective, then you are just as ignorant as those whom you condemn.
- police brutality against Duanna Johnson
Broken link
- sheriff Joe Arpaio’s restriction of inmates’ reproductive autonomy
This is not specifically a feminist issue, more one of prisoners’ rights and institutional responsibilities. The restriction is not limited to ‘reproductive autonomy’ as is highlighted by the case of the marrow donor, but of course, certain groups will try and use specific incidents to create political capital. I would assume that males who require similar medical visits fall foul of Arpaio. As these inmates are in prison under the jurisdiction of the powers that be, it should naturally be the latter who should take responsible for any expenses incurred.
- the No Child Left Behind Act
This is not a feminist, but more a class and, subsequently, a racial issue. NCLBA has failed many bright children by holding them back from their individual progress and those at the opposite end by not providing them with the required education needed to perform adequately in society.
As an aside, while the article focuses on non-white members of society, it should be noted that, in general, the male members of this demographic performs much worse than their female counterparts. (Reference - PDF)
- the recent escalation of the war in
Life under the Taliban was horrendous for the women who were treated inhumanely at best. The article well highlights the plight of 3 women, but misses the cultural focal point of Islam. Its name is being used, not only countrywide like in Afghanistan, but worldwide where women are being forced to cover-up in Europe under the dictum of the religion and where innocent children in Africa undergo the most excruciating and horrendous practice of ‘kneeling’, more commonly known as female circumcision. This is something that the supporting power-base of feminism, the Left, continually ignore, while condemning as racist nazis those who rally against it. Islam is a major issue for women and, further, for LGBT individuals who are executed in such societies, one which cannot be ignored any longer.
