I recently read the post What’s So “Pinteresting”? on the blog, Shout Out
JMU (your source for feminine discourse). She had a great response to the critic. What she says at the end of her post is perfect.
So before we disparage Pinterest for putting feminism at risk, can we please remember that feminine is not anti-feminist, and at the end of the day, it’s just a pinboard?
Yes, it is just a pinboard.
What the article on Buzzfeed (the one that Shout Out JMU is referring to) is missing is that not everyone is a feminist (because it is true) and that not all feminists are alike (as Shout Out JMU nicely points out).
Woman-power symbol (clenched fist in Venus sign). עברית: כוח נשים (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I think that we should embrace our feminism because let’s face it… we do have different body parts and (like it or not) we do have a different biological role, and by that I mean we have the babies not our role as a nurturer. Instead of making women feel bad about not being feminist enough, support a sister for the challenges that they are facing and overcoming each day and then help them to be the change that we, women, will want to make (because as much as the world has changed, but there are still changes to be made).
Furthermore, I have heard criticism about wanting to stay at home and how that will cause the feminist movement to go backward. Odell kind of hints at this with her “Mormon housewife” comment. The way I see it, being a stay-at-home mom who wants to care for their family is not anti-feminist… it is a decision that I made (which I think is now kind of against the mainstream) because I chose to. I had that choice because of feminism and, personally, I appreciated having the choice. I would guess that a lot of the women appreciate the choices that they have now that were given to them thanks to the feminist movement in the past.
Yet, here is my question to her question… Does she think that the diet and skinny body stuff is going to go away or, at least, that women in general are not going to be interested in that kind of material? If she does, then she is dreaming. I say this because a lot of my friends who are into eating healthy, exercising, and designer clothes do it because they like it. They are not doing it because their husbands will divorce them if they are not a size 0. I am not saying that society has a part in it, but society or not, my friends exercise and eat healthy because they want to and seem to enjoy it (although I don’t share the fondness of exercise that they do). There will always be plenty of girls and women that have body image issues and men/boys that will try make the girls they “supposedly” love feel bad about weight or what they look like too, but that is why I think it is best to support other women to be strong enough to see that they are enough when they are just being themselves and if the one they love does not see it… then it is time to move on.
With that said, I will give myself a pat on the back for doing my part to fill Pinterest pinboards with pins that are exercise and dream body free…and I know she would like to thank me for it. Rest assured that the Cauliflower Crust Pizza will never show up on my “yumminess” board.
And now a little something from my pinboards…
via What’s So “Pinteresting”?.
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I had to take a women’s studies class in college. I always saw feminism as an ultra extreme view and that it supported women joining the workforce. That class taught me that it’s all about giving women the choice to do what they think is best like you said. I think it’s awesome you’ve chosen to be a stay-at-home mom. That would be my wildest dream come true (if I had kids). I’m sure you and your family benefit from it.
Ah! Thanks! I took a class on women studies too and that is what I got out of it too. I don’t think Feminism is about trying to make women more like men, but rather making women equal to men in our rights and in the workplace.
I totally agree with this point. Equal doesn’t mean better, and doesn’t mean same. It means equal. It’s nice to hear women talking about this, thanks!
I always feel a little torn as I think we, as women, still have far to go since we don’t have equal rights with pay or with safety or in many areas, and while we can say we have a choice to stay at home or work, I think that we need more in place (flex time, better maternity leave, etc) to truly call staying at home versus working a choice. I’m happy in my decision to stay at home, but I don’t think I had a fully autonomous choice.
I’m not on Pinterest so I can’t speak to that part
Love your insight! You are right there are still so many more things that can be done when it comes to the workplace. I think some of those things like family leave and flex time would be good for all workers too.
I know my husband stayed home for two weeks when our first was born and it was so wonderful for him to be there with us.