Feminist Top Ten List Reveals Crushingly Mediocre Year In Feminism
Women’s Rights editor Jen Nedeau has selected her Top 10 Moments of Feminism in 2008. But do these moments truly represent feminist milestones, or are they, rather, just ten things that happened this year? I decide!
1. Electing President Barack Obama.
Feminist Milestone. Hawaiian beefcake president Barack Obama along with storied train enthusiast running mate Joe Biden, pinky swore that they would work to further women’s rights this election season. Despite Obama having swapped one controversial religious figure for another (this time with more misogyny!) I’m going to give Barry a pass on this one and hope that when he drops the “elect” nonsense and gets to be President for real, no take-backs, he’ll get his Lady Issues cap on straight and start pandering to us.
2. Hillary Clinton: 18 Million Cracks.
Feminist Milestone. Concession Shmussceshion. Good speech, Hills!
3. Gov. Sarah Palin: Firing Up Feminists
Thing That Happened. Remember when every feminist in America was forced to submit an op-ed piece to her local newspaper to explain why just being a woman wasn’t the same as being a feminist, but who really cares because she didn’t appear to know what any other word meant either? Yeah, that thing. Well, the same rule applies here—just because everybody got mad at the dumb lady who thought she was running for president doesn’t mean we deserve a self-congratulatory “top moment” back-pat for doing so.
4. Unmarried Women Tip 2008 Election in Favor of Barack Obama
Thing That Happened.
5. Sex and The City Movie Inspires New and Old Generations
Thing That Happened. The writer of this list saw a movie this year.
6. Bitch Magazine Forges Ahead in Fiscal Crisis
Feminist Milestone, if only to show solidarity with lady-themed print offerings. Remember me when you’re profitable!
7. Workin’ 9 to 5 Goes to Broadway
Thing That Happened. The writer of this list saw a play this year.
8. Female Bloggers Take On The Internet
9. Sex Slavery Finds A New Face Of Justice
Feminist Milestone. “This year,” Nedeau writes, “Somaly Mam was awarded the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child in Sweden for her ‘dangerous struggle’ to defend the rights of children in Cambodia.” Wow, heh, must hurt to land after the Sex and the City movie and that Dolly Parton revival thing.
10. Female Human Rights Activist Released From Captivity
Feminist Milestone. So, Ingrid Betancourt was released after spending six years in captivity. Yeah, well, Parton had to wait 28 years to see her movie become a real live Broadway musical, so let’s keep things in perspective here.
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Linked From: December 31st, 2008The Morning After: Prenatal Care for the Aborting Edition - The Sexist - Washington City Paper
8:43 am[...] Hey, weird, someone has collected some of 2008’s top moments in feminism that are actually relevant to the women’s movement. Thanks, “The [...]
9:35 am
I don’t see how Obama’s election is number one. In regards to Palin, even if you don’t agree with her pro-life beliefs, do you really not consider her nomination a leap forward for women? I’m a pro-life Libertarian (yes, there’s such a thing *grin*) that often feels compelled to defend Palin when she’s criticized by pro-choice advocates, even though she was an unqualified neoconservative that I didn’t support. Although some may disagree with her beliefs, she probably inspired many young women and girls. I hope no one sends me hate mail after reading this, considering most Washingtonians yell at me in regards to my views on abortion.
IMHAPNO*, the order should be Hillary, Palin, Somaly, Ingrid, Bitch, then 5 other events not mentioned on the list.
*in my humble and possibly naive opinion
2:40 pm
First, Amanda Hess didn’t make this list. She clearly states that it’s from Jen Nedeau, and Amanda is just critiquing it. I’m pretty sure Amanda would have written a different list, especially given how many “things that happened” that this one includes.
Second, as Amanda explained quite well, being a woman is not the same as being a feminist, and Sarah Palin is firmly in the category of “antifeminist woman.” The nomination of an antifeminist is the opposite of a feminist milestone, even if that antifeminist is female. Sure, maybe she inspired lots of little girls to dream that one day they, too, can publicly deny the humanity of women…but I don’t consider that any kind of improvement.
6:22 pm
Hey, guess what. I never said Amanda wrote the list. I’m well aware it was written by Nedeau.
“Publicly deny the humanity of women”
Hmmm, what about those that deny the humanity of an unborn child? Do pro-choice advocates get to create their own definition of feminism to justify their beliefs? I ask because many early feminists were pro-life, and according to what you said, these women shouldn’t be considered feminists. If they were alive, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul would probably disagree with your analysis.
7:09 pm
I think one of the most interesting aspects of “third-wave” is the difficulty of defining what “feminism” means—for yourself or anyone else. But does that mean anyone can rightfully claim to be a feminist? Sounds like a good project for female bloggers…
6:54 am
I agree. It would be an interesting read.
2:16 am
agreed. i read this nedeau’s blog at change.org sometimes. not only does she not seem to understand basic rules of grammar and punctuation, but she also continually employs pop psychology as a means of feminist empowerment. if i have to hear about how important stiletto heels are to the women’s movement one more time, i think i’ll scream.