By Charleen Touchette
In response to the question posed by Lainie Alexander in Santa Fe, New Mexico –
"Is feminism still relevant in the 21st century?"
I feel as though the old school sisterhood feminism from the 1970's and 1980's is almost non-existent these days." Lainie Alexander, March 7, 2010
In response to the question posed by Lainie Alexander in Santa Fe, New Mexico –
"Is feminism still relevant in the 21st century?"
I feel as though the old school sisterhood feminism from the 1970's and 1980's is almost non-existent these days." Lainie Alexander, March 7, 2010
Calling Bees Home by Charleen Touchette 2009
In some ways, yes, the “old school sisterhood feminism” is gone, and in a lot of ways that is a good thing. The "old school sisterhood" turned out to be as exclusive, hierarchal, and classist as the "old boy network."
"Old school sisterhood feminists" in the ‘70s and ‘80s generally excluded women of color or invited us to be their handmaidens, do the work and not get any credit. Then when they write the history, they are the (s)heroes and leave out the rest of us.
Unfortunately, the "stars" of the feminist movement never learned that the core of patriarchy, which is hierarchal thinking that elevates some over others, must be abandoned for women to have true equity.
Ask Patricia Spear Jones about how it felt to be a crucial part of The Heresies Collective in NYC, then to be omitted from the recent Heresies documentary which focused on three women who are considered "gatekeepers" but who weren't there to do the hard work.
This is not just a race issue however, but, is one equally rooted in class. Sabra Moore who was instrumental in the Heresies Collective was also initially excluded from the documentary, which she attributes to her pride in her East Texas blue collar roots. Sabra was able to get herself and two women of color into the Heresies documentary, but many others who were instrumental to this work remain excluded.
This is how today's "herstory" is being written, with the same twisting of fact and exclusion of people and their stories that the second wave of feminist writers in the 1970s accused history of doing to women's stories.
Unfortunately, the "stars" of the feminist movement never learned that the core of patriarchy, which is hierarchal thinking that elevates some over others must be abandoned for women to have true equity. Until they change their faulty thinking and return to the egalitarian thinking and action of matrilineal thinking at the core of indigenous societies, they have just replaced a system run by men with one run by women who think like men and continue to oppress others to elevate themselves.
Women from outside the mainstream have often complained that "Feminism" neglected the fact that women outside of the white, middle and upper classes do not share the same need to oppose their men, sons, brothers, uncles and fathers who are often as oppressed as they are.
What is hopeful is that the women coming of age today are generally more open-minded and aware of race and gender and their complexity. I would like to see a new wave of feminism that returns to the core belief that no one should be discriminated against because of sex or any other real or perceived difference. "Old School sisterhood feminism" served few besides the "stars." I hope New School Feminists will think about looking back to our intact indigenous communities where women have real respect and freedom that depends on mutual respect, sharing and love of all our relations.
I hope New School Feminists will think about looking back to our intact indigenous communities where women have real respect and freedom that depends on mutual respect, sharing and love of all our relations.
______________________________________________________
By Charleen Touchette 2010
www.OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com.
In some ways, yes, the “old school sisterhood feminism” is gone, and in a lot of ways that is a good thing. The "old school sisterhood" turned out to be as exclusive, hierarchal, and classist as the "old boy network."
"Old school sisterhood feminists" in the ‘70s and ‘80s generally excluded women of color or invited us to be their handmaidens, do the work and not get any credit. Then when they write the history, they are the (s)heroes and leave out the rest of us.
Unfortunately, the "stars" of the feminist movement never learned that the core of patriarchy, which is hierarchal thinking that elevates some over others, must be abandoned for women to have true equity.
Ask Patricia Spear Jones about how it felt to be a crucial part of The Heresies Collective in NYC, then to be omitted from the recent Heresies documentary which focused on three women who are considered "gatekeepers" but who weren't there to do the hard work.
This is not just a race issue however, but, is one equally rooted in class. Sabra Moore who was instrumental in the Heresies Collective was also initially excluded from the documentary, which she attributes to her pride in her East Texas blue collar roots. Sabra was able to get herself and two women of color into the Heresies documentary, but many others who were instrumental to this work remain excluded.
This is how today's "herstory" is being written, with the same twisting of fact and exclusion of people and their stories that the second wave of feminist writers in the 1970s accused history of doing to women's stories.
Unfortunately, the "stars" of the feminist movement never learned that the core of patriarchy, which is hierarchal thinking that elevates some over others must be abandoned for women to have true equity. Until they change their faulty thinking and return to the egalitarian thinking and action of matrilineal thinking at the core of indigenous societies, they have just replaced a system run by men with one run by women who think like men and continue to oppress others to elevate themselves.
Women from outside the mainstream have often complained that "Feminism" neglected the fact that women outside of the white, middle and upper classes do not share the same need to oppose their men, sons, brothers, uncles and fathers who are often as oppressed as they are.
What is hopeful is that the women coming of age today are generally more open-minded and aware of race and gender and their complexity. I would like to see a new wave of feminism that returns to the core belief that no one should be discriminated against because of sex or any other real or perceived difference. "Old School sisterhood feminism" served few besides the "stars." I hope New School Feminists will think about looking back to our intact indigenous communities where women have real respect and freedom that depends on mutual respect, sharing and love of all our relations.
I hope New School Feminists will think about looking back to our intact indigenous communities where women have real respect and freedom that depends on mutual respect, sharing and love of all our relations.
______________________________________________________
By Charleen Touchette 2010
www.OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com.
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