i-hurt-worse fights and the democratic primary

[cimorene]

Race, Sex, Politics, and a bit of Radical Buffyism, by miriam_heddy, is highly recommended reading on the current Democratic primary race, "I hurt worse" fights, tokenism, and the apparently monstrously threatening (to the American psyche) spectre of women in power. I think I agree with everything she's said on the subject here, which was rather satisfying as I've been discomfited recently by said "I hurt worse" fights and some hurtfully virulent racism and anti-feminism that I've seen coming mostly from, as it were, inside the house.

Perhaps it's merely a symptom of how very much our culture is hurting from both racism and sexism that fairly sizeable contingents who should be more far-seeing are desperate to succeed (or in most cases, in a practical sense, to grandstand) at each other's expense. The worst offences have been in the form of some stupid quotes taken from some rather obsolete spokeswomen of two-generations-old feminism, as far as I've observed, but that's hit the blogosphere in an explosion of irrational responses directed at feminism itself, which - much like Hollywood - does not exist as an entity, is Not The Enemy, and isn't voting for Clinton.

Confusing feminism with the occasional loud voice from within the feminist movement is like confusing Islam with al-Qaeda. Unfortunately, in modern America I fear these mistakes are equally common. Feminism is a conceptual framework. Feminism is the acknowledgement that women are systematically oppressed in society and the belief that that sort of thing would be better off changed. It doesn't encompass methodology or political affiliation any more than it encompasses sexual orientation or personal hygiene.

I'm a feminist. And while I'll be equally happy to vote for whoever wins the Democratic party nomination - in fact, pretty much ecstatic with either one, should they become president - the unrest puts a bit of a fly in the ointment at what is otherwise a time of optimism, I feel. This race is making history, now, whatever happens.

Comments

[bibliotech.livejournal.com]

This is turning into a very difficult topic for me to discuss, because I'm starting to feel that no matter what I say, most people are just waiting for me to finish typing so they can go back to convincing me why I'm wrong (not saying you are/this post is! Just in general). I've pretty much given up and decided to keep my POV in "safe spaces", because there's no point.

And now that I've been a downer all over your post (sorry!), I have to say that I did read it and the link, and I liked them both. And I know it can be incredibly frustrating to have it seem as if a few loudmouths are officially speaking for everyone in the group.